Welcome OTMS to Ridgeland High School Home of the Titans

RHS Administrators and Counselors School Website www.rhstitans.com Counselors Ms. Culliver Mrs. D. Cutrer Mrs. S. Hawkins Mrs. S. Henry Principal Mr. T. Dowdy Assistant Principals Mr. B. Goodloe Mrs. K. Harness Mr. C. Zumbro

So what should you know about being a student at Ridgeland High School ?

What courses will you need to take next year at RHS?

Required courses for all 9th graders: Your first 5 class periods will be used to take: English (English I or Accelerated English I) Math (Foundations of Algebra, Algebra I, or Geometry) Science (Foundations of Biology or Biology) History (all 9th students will take World History and World Geography) Technology (all 9th students take Freshman Focus) Then you select the remaining 3 class periods from “Elective” course(s)

Freshman Focus Freshman Focus is a class designed to introduce 9th grade students to career pathways and career decision-making. The content areas that will be covered by this class include self-development, career clusters, career pathways, college planning, financial planning, and presentation and research skills. At the conclusion of this class, students will develop a 6-year plan that will guide them in making decisions about high school courses, college courses, and their future careers.

So, tell me about Career Academies 9th graders can choose from… Orientation to Culinary Arts Engineering Fundamentals

Academy of Engineering

Engineering Fundamentals Engineering Fundamentals is another RHS Career Academy program and is designed for those students that have an interest in the field of engineering and the careers associated with this field. Through this program, students will also learn the foundations and fundamentals of robotics, electronics, engineering and materials. To qualify to take this class, 8th grade students must: Have completed STEM; Have an overall “B” average and strong grade in Math; Have no major discipline issues; Complete an “application” to enroll in this class; and be approved by selection committee for admission to the program

Academy of Culinary Arts

Orientation to Culinary Arts Orientation to Culinary Arts is part of the RHS Career Academy program and is designed for those students that have an interest in Culinary Arts (food preparation, restaurant management, hospitality & tourism, etc.) To qualify to take this class, 8th grade students must: Have an overall “C” average; Have no major discipline issues; Complete an “application” to enroll in this class; and be approved for admission to the program

What Are the Elective Choices What Are the Elective Choices? (a 1 credit course is a full year; a ½ credit course is one-semester only) Arts Visual Art I ½ credit Visual Art II ½ credit Ceramics I ½ credit Ceramics II ½ credit Drawing I ½ credit Photography I ½ credit Theatre I ½ credit Theatre II ½ credit Choral Music 1 credit General Music 1 credit Band 1 credit Business Graphic Design I ½ credit Graphic Design II ½ credit Personal Finance ½ credit Business Fundamentals 1 credit Communications Debate 1 credit Oral Communication 1 credit Foreign Language French I 1 credit Latin I 1 credit Spanish I 1 credit Spanish II 1 credit

Elective Courses (continued) Health Contemporary Health ½ credit Journalism Foundations of Journalism 1 credit Military Science JROTC I 1 credit PE & Personal Development Child Development ½ credit Drug Education ½ credit Family Dynamics ½ credit Nutrition & Wellness ½ credit Resource Management ½ credit Physical Education ½ or 1 credit (can take either one or both semesters) Driver Education ½ credit Technology STEM 1 credit Science Environmental Science ½ credit Culinary Orientation to Culinary Arts 1 credit Engineering Engineering Fundamentals 1 credit Sports 9th Grade Sports ½ or 1 credit (sports may be either one or both semesters)

RHS Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2022 (24 credits total) 4 credits of English 4 credits of Mathematics 4 credits of Social Studies 4 credits of Science ½ credit of Health ½ credit of Physical Education 1 ½ credit of Technology 1 credit of Fine Arts 4 ½ additional credits of Elective courses

College Entrance Requirements in Mississippi For a 2-year Junior/ Community College Any RHS student who earns his or her high school diploma and has taken the ACT is eligible for Freshman entrance into a 2-Year college in Mississippi. No specific ACT score is required. To attend a 4-year College or University Any RHS student who earns his or her high school diploma, has a minimum score of 18 or higher AND has taken 2.0 credits of additional “Required Electives” is eligible for entrance into a Mississippi 4-year college or University. The list of courses a student may choose to fulfill the “Required Electives” are as follows: 1 credit must be taken from first year of a Foreign Language or Advanced World Geography The remaining 1 credit must be from the second year of a Foreign Language, an additional credit of math above Algebra II, or an additional credit of Lab- based Science.

When completing your Pre-Registration Form Please be neat and print legibly Please fill out ALL Information Including Alternate courses. Please return form ON TIME Due on Wednesday, January 31st. Please choose your selections CAREFULLY Talk with your parents about your choices. Talk with your teachers and school counselors.

What else should I know about RHS What else should I know about RHS? What type of clubs, activities or sports are available to me next year?

RHS Clubs and Organizations Band Choir JROTC Yearbook Staff Newspaper Staff Student Government Association RHS School Ambassadors RHS Junior Diplomats Fellowship of Christian Athletes RHS Newcomers Club Academic Competition Team Speech and Debate Team Forensics Team Anime Club Art Club Beta Club Book Club Chess Club Multicultural Club Drama Club Photography Club FCCLA

Clubs and Organizations (continued) French Club Future Business Leaders of America Honoraries: Mu Alpha Theta National Honor Society National Art Honor Society Key Club Latin Club Spanish Club Technology Student Association (TSA) Titans Against Bullying (TAB) Club Volunteer Club

RHS Athletics and Activities Golf Power Lifting Soccer Softball Slow Pitch & Fast Pitch Swimming Tennis Track Volleyball Archery Baseball Basketball Bowling Cheerleading Cross Country Dance Team Football

So there’s a LOT to look forward to at RHS next year, but first things first! Right now you should focus on: Choosing the best courses for you to take next year as a 9th grader; Working hard to learn and make the best grades you can now… so you will be prepared for taking your high school classes; and Thinking about the clubs, organizations, and sports you might like to be involved with next year at Ridgeland High School!

So enjoy your tour of RHS and what we have to offer … and we’ll see you again (with your completed choice sheets) at OTMS on TOMORROW!!