1. Beginning Your Freshman Year at Century High School

2. What does a credit mean? 24 Total Credits are Required for Graduation
1 course per semester = .50 credit 
Semester grades are put on your transcript
These grades determine your GPA and rank
6 courses per semester = 3 credits
6 courses times 2 semesters per year = 6 credits
6 credits per year times 4 years = 24 credits
24 Total Credits are Required for Graduation
These Credits Include Required and Elective Courses

3. What is a Passing Grade?
A passing grade is required to earn any credit for a class
If a failing grade is earned in a required course, the course must be retaken
• Passing grades are: A B C D P • Failing grades are: F

4. What is a GPA?
Grade point average (GPA) is the numeric average of your semester or overall semester grades.
Add up the numeric equivalent of your semester grades and divide by the number of classes = GPA
• Passing grades are: A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 P = Neutral • Failing grades are: F = 0

5. COURSE/CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Page 5 in the course guide
Courses Credits Required
English ………………………………………….4
English 9 (1.0 credits)
American Lit (1.0)
World Literature (1.0)
English 4 (0.5)
Speech (0.5)
Math (through Alg. II)…………………………..3
Science ………………………………………….3
Biology (1.0)
Chemistry (1.0)
Physics (1.0)
Social Studies …………………………………...3
World History (1.0)
American History (1.0)
Human Geography (0.5)
Government (0.5)

6. COURSE/CREDIT REQUIREMENTS (cont).
Page 5 in the course guide
Courses Credits Required
Economics .5
Physical Education .5
Health .5
Fine Arts 1.0
Arts, Music, Interior Design,
Fashion Design, Intro to Engineering,
Culinary Arts, Drama, pg 37-40
Electives 8.5
Total Credits =24

8. Required 9th Grade Courses
Page 23 in the course guide
English Options
(Full Year)
English Learner Program
English Foundations
English Foundations Honors

9. Required 9th Grade Courses
Page 62 in the course guide
Social Studies Options
(Full Year)
World History
EL World History

10. Required 9th Grade Courses
Page 57 in the course guide
Science Options
(Full Year)
Biology
Biology Honors
PLTW: Principles of Biomedical Science

11. Required 9th Grade Courses
Page 49 in the course guide
Math Options
(Full Year)
Intermediate Algebra
Intermediate Algebra Honors
Geometry Honors
Algebra 2 Honors

12. Required Course: PE
Page 53 in the course guide
0.5 credits of Physical Education is required to graduate
Students must take one of the following introductory courses to meet graduation requirements:
Foundations of Fitness
Individual Movement and Fitness
Introduction to Weight Training and Conditioning

13. Electives in Many Subject Areas
9th Grade Courses
Pages are marked on your blue registration sheet
Electives in Many Subject Areas
Business Speech
Engineering Physical Education
Culinary Arts Industrial Technology
Agriculture Art/Music
Science World Language
Information Technology

14. Filling Out Your Registration Sheet
You will have at least 6 classes
Important – If you want music as a 7th class include it on 7th line
Other 7th choices will be awarded on a space available basis
Page 12 Career Pathways

15. Alternates
The Alternate section on your card will be used for alternate choices in the event your first choice for an elective in line 5 and 6 are unavailable
Alternates are important in the event that we have to cancel or restrict availability of a particular class
Not a bad idea to have a first and second choice for your language
Prioritize the order of alternatives-Pick what you would be happy with.

16. Balance/ Prioritize

17. Get Involved! In Activities & Athletics….
25 Boys and Girls Sports
Danceline
Drama and Art Club
Vocational and Business Clubs
Model UN
Service Clubs
Student Council
Chess Club
Math League
Speech
Many other ways to get involved and have fun!

18. Returning Your Registration Form
Bring completed forms with courses for 9th grade chosen to Century Panther Night on January 25
Or return it to your school by January 28 if you or your parents are unable to attend Panther Night

19. I wish I had known…
Read EVERYTHING the teacher tells you to read, even the textbook stories.
Time management
Honors classes will have more homework
A lot of writing (5 paragraph essays)
Don’t procrastinate
Group work

20. I wish I had known… Do the packets and worksheets Take notes
It is difficult to catch up if you fall behind
You need to study/review notes
Important to ask for help when you need it/take advantage of the help that is offered
Pay attention!!
Math homework seems repetitive, gets boring, but it helps with the learning

21. Questions???

22. Contacts If you have questions please contact:
Eileen Strabala-Backus, 9th grade counselor ,
Kurt Verdoorn, registrar
Molly Murphy, 9th grade administrator