Welcome to Glynn Academy’s 9 th Grade Orientation

Tonight’s ppt will be on my websites at GMS and GA: “Feb. 20 th, th grade parent advisement/orientation ppt.”

Administrators Dr. Scott Spence, Principal Jeff Parker, Assistant Principal –Attendance and Athletic Director Dr. Randal Harvey, Assistant Principal Names A-K Deborah Williams, Assistant Principal Names L-Z Diann Meeks, Assistant Principal for Instruction

The Nuts and Bolts School starts every day at 8:20 and ends at 3:30 Students take anywhere from 4 to 8 classes per day, classes are either 90 or 45 minutes in length A 90 minute class is worth 1 credit per semester A skinny (45 minute class which will meet all year) is worth.50 credit per semester-an entire credit will be earned by May Students have a half hour lunch 1 st lunch: 11:40 to 12:10 2 nd lunch: 12:30 to 1:00 3 rd lunch: 1:20 to 1:50

2 nine week terms=1 semester Pass class=earn a credit A “skinny” goes all year. Usually pared with another skinny for the year. Earn credit at end of year (May) A “block” goes until the end of the semester. (Dec.) 5 th block classes include band, drama, and weight lifting.

Nuts and Bolts continued… Be familiar with Glynn Academy’s Homepage GA's Homepage Be familiar with the School Calendar Know the school rules – cell phone, dress code Know the attendance/tardy policy-where to take attendance notes Attendance tied to learner’s permit Student IDs Get an Infinite Campus Account~! Make sure you are signed up for Mrs. Belechak’s newsflashes Athletic Eligibility

How are grades different from Middle School ? Final grades = units of credit 26 credits required to graduate Final grades of the semester go on a transcript (Dec.&May) Again, check IC weekly!! Download the IC app!

Why do units of credit matter? Credits determine grade level and promotion* To be promoted to 10th grade =6 credits To be promoted to 11 th grade=12 credits To be promoted to 12 th grade=18 credits You want to be on track your junior and senior year so you can earn your Platinum Card! * non promotion does appear on transcript

What is necessary to graduate? 4 English credits 4 Math credits 4 Science credits 4 Social Studies credits 1 Health/PE* 2 Foreign Language** 7 CTAE, fine arts or other elective credits *3 credits in ROTC can be substituted **necessary for 4 year college 8 EOCTs 1 GHSGT(writing))

End of Course Tests (EOCT) (Graduation Rule for class of 2017) 8 Content Area Assessments: 9 th Grade Literature/Composition American Literature/Composition CCGPS Coordinate Algebra CCGPS Analytic Geometry Biology Physical Science United States History Economics (these tests count for 20% of your final grade) )

When are grades posted? Progress report every 4 1/2 weeks (does not go on transcript) Final grades posted every 18 weeks (end of December and end of May) Final grades go on your transcript! How am I doing? check Infinite Campus? Ask your teacher!

Why all the fuss about grades? GPA calculations start your 9 th grade year! Google any school and see what the average GPA for the freshman class is….

GPA’s at some Georgia schools: UGA-3.83 Ga Tech-3.9 Ga Southern- 2.0 Valdosta-3.08 Georgia College & State-3.59 Harvard- 3.84/4.37 weighted Duke- 3.79/4.31 weighted

8 th Grade Registration 8 th grade teachers are making academic class recommendations for your 4 core subject areas. Paperwork being sent home Registration mtgs (week of Feb th) You need to pick 6 electives and rank them in order of preference information-very important!

TThis top row is where your teachers have already made a reommendation for you. Some elective choices… You need a total of 4 electives but we are asking you to pick 6 and rank them 1-6.

On the back side of form are more common elective choices including world languages… Remember pick 6 total. On the back side of form are more common elective choices including world languages*… Remember pick 6 total. *Going to a 4 year college? Then you need 2 consecutive years of a world language.

Front inside: Name and parent signature. Also, these two inside pages contain all the options at GICA (Golden Isles Career Academy). We are now going to allow freshmen to attend GICA if there is room in their schedule. Any class taken at GICA will be attended for 2 hours: You will select the first 2 classes in a pathway. Please note that in tiny writing at the bottom of the pathways it tells which school the courses will be offered.

Other side of inside: More pathway options and our ROTC elective is here. In addition, you can see the choices that a student can have to earn college credit by taking courses through ATC.

Available Electives (at GA) Foreign Language AP Human Geography MJROTC Computer Applications Business Essentials Food, Nutrition & Wellness Web Design Computing in the Modern World **G* Fundamentals of Drama Visual Art I Choral Ensemble Intermediate Band Beginning Orchestra Beginning Guitar Marketing Principles Intro to Fashion Marketing

CTAE Electives – Need to Know: Golden Isles Career Academy

So…what should I put for my 6 electives?? 1. Health/pe (which counts as 1 elective) Back page 2. Will you start your foreign language? Back page –(Probably should be a strong A/B student) 3. AP Human Geography? (student who is self directed, good time management, likes to read and study) Front page 4. A computer/business class? Inside pages 5. Fine arts? (band, chorus) Back page 6. A class at GICA?- remember, this=2 electives. –Inside pages

2 nine week terms=1 semester A “skinny” goes all year. Usually pared with another skinny for the year, A “block” goes until the end of the semester. (Dec.) 5 th block classes include band, drama, and weight lifting.

“Who is my counselor?” Mary BelechakFreshman x3204 Angie VotsisSophomore x3182 Loren DittmarJunior x3181 Patrice HallSenior x3206 All staff addresses: First Initial Last For example: School website:

Counseling Office Staff Counseling Secretary: Tammy Cirmotich x3203 –Homework requests, mailings, transcript requests Registrar: Julie Spires x3196 Registrar’s Secretary: Susan Alexander x3197 Student records, transcript reviews, master schedule, enrollments, withdrawals, grading windows

Other Support Staff Mary AndersonAttendance Secretary Notes for absences, check in/check out Steve O’CainSchool Psychologist Pamela ThompsonSchool Nurse Kristine HicksonSpecial Education Amy CrabbCommunity in Schools Dr. Melissa PurcellMedia Specialist Amy BradleyMedia Specialist

Counseling Services Counselors handle questions or difficulties that a student might have, from class schedules to personal problems Counselors make referrals to other local professionals in the area for concerns such as substance abuse or long term counseling. Counselors help students serve as a resource to parents and teachers regarding performance in classes, which may include arranging teacher conferences.

Counseling Appointments Counseling appointments for parents or students can be made by calling or ing or x3204 Counselors are also available on a drop in, first come, first serve basis every day during school, lunch as well as before and after school. When Mrs. Belechak is not in her office, leave her a note- slips attached to her door with a pocket folder to put it in.

Ways to Support Your Student

Register for Infinite Campus Infinite Campus enables you to: –Monitor attendance –View Missing assignments –View current grade status –And more –Infinite Campus has an app!

Mrs. Belechak is on Facebook!

How Can You Get Involved? Please join the GA Parent Teacher-Student Association~go to website and then it is under student/parent tab. Ways to Help GA: Supplies are especially needed this year due to budget cuts. Please consider donating: –Reams of copier paper –Boxes of tissue and hand sanitizer –Extra school or office supplies –Your time as a volunteer

“RED” flag statements: “I don’t have any homework…” “I did my homework at school” “I know that IC says that I am failing, but I’ve got everything under control.” “That assignment is not worth very much.” “I don’t need the class to graduate.” “I’ve already lost credit, so why bother?” What are some warning signs that indicate your student may be struggling?

Attendance Matters: Student Attendance=Student Success Goal: 100% Attendance Students with good attendance do better in school, have more friends, like school and are more likely to graduate. Successful students miss 8 or fewer days of school per year. Goal: 100% Graduation School attendance is the strongest predictor of High School Graduation 87% of high school students who missed less than 8 days of school per year graduated on time. A high school graduate will earn about $300,000 more than a high school dropout over a lifetime. High School drop outs are more likely to be unemployed, live in poverty, receive public assistance and go to prison.

Where can students go for help? Teachers stay after until 4:00pm-some appts before school Initiate contact with teachers Honor Society tutors may be available Find a study partner in your classes Paid tutors Links to online resources from the media center Counselor, administrator, mentor, teacher, CIS

Clubs at Glynn Academy:

Sports at Glynn Academy: