WELCOME FRESHMAN PARENTS! Class of 2018

Goals for the Evening To help 9th grade parents: Understand the importance of making good choices NOW. Follow a time line leading up to the college application process. Prepare for sophomore year. Introduce Naviance - Family Connections.

To-do List During 9th grade, students should consider the following items: Meet with Mrs. Graham to discuss your future plans. Review your schedule to make sure you're enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Join a club, sport, or activity. Figure out what it takes to acquire a leadership role.

To-do List (Continued) During 9th grade, students should consider the following items: Sign up for a community service activity. Activate student and parent accounts in Family Connections.

Meet with Mrs. Graham Sign up for an appointment that doesn’t interfere with class time (before school, during lunch, during study hall or after school). Feel free to join your child if you’d like.

Testing No PSSAs Keystones for those in Algebra II PSAT in October of sophomore year

Mid-terms and Finals Exams will be administered to all students in 5 subject areas (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language) Testing Times: January and June Each exam counts for 10% of final grade

Mid-terms and Finals (Cont.) Please keep the final exam dates in mind when scheduling summer vacation. Exams cannot be given in advance, and to earn a credit for a course, the student must take the exam.

Classroom Testing Teachers will assess students frequently. (tests and quizzes) Do not get behind! Do not cram! Review notes nightly. Stay after if a teacher offers a review session.

Academic Success By the end of 9th grade, students have already completed 1/3 of the academic work that colleges consider as part of their acceptance criteria. Success during freshman year is critical.

Help is Available Teachers are almost always after school to provide support. Free tutoring is offered by honor societies. Other tutoring services are available.

A student quote… “It’s my first year of high school, so I just want to take it easy.” Anonymous

GPA (Grade Point Average) GPA is a cumulative, numerical expression of a student’s average grades in ranked courses. (Multiply the credit for a course by the numerical value for the grade earned.)

GPA (Grade Point Average) A+ = 4.33 A = 4.00 A- = 3.66 B+ = 3.33 B = 3.00 Example: A- in English 3.66 x 1 credit (take average of all classes)

Class Rank Rank is where a student stands among his/her peers. It is determined by the degree of difficulty AND the grade earned in a course.

Class Rank in other words… An ‘A’ in a level 1 class is worth more “points” than an ‘A’ in a level 2 class but only when it comes to class rank NOT Grade Point Average (GPA).

GPA and College Admission Keep in mind, if you do poorly in one class, your entire grade point average will go down, even if you have good marks in everything else. Colleges see the grades that you earn during freshman year. These grades count toward the cumulative GPA (the average of all semester grades since 9th grade).

What appears on a transcript? All courses including rank level Final grades (not quarter grades) GPA (current and cumulative) Class rank Attendance Credits earned

Michael’s 9th Grade Profile Final Course Grades: 73 80 79 79 80 GPA = 2.40

Michael’s 10th Grade Profile Final Course Grades: 81 87 82 85 89 GPA = 2.60

Michael’s 11th Grade Profile Final Course Grades: 86 91 90 98 82 GPA = 2.80

When Michael applies to college… …his choices may be limited. Aim for a GPA in the 3 – 4 range. Options will be much greater!

HAC (Home Access Center) Check HAC regularly. Students are ultimately responsible for their own grades. Use HAC to facilitate conversations with your child.

Course Choices It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do after high school---but it’s important to make good course choices NOW. If you hope to attend college you should select courses that are part of the college preparatory curriculum. The caliber of subjects you choose and the grades you earn become the most important record colleges use in making admissions decisions. (Course Selection begins in February.)

Basic Course Requirements 4 English 4 Social Studies 3 Science 3 Math 1 additional year of math OR science Reach second level of World Language PE every year Health 10th grade

Another student quote… “I took all level ones because I thought it would look better on my transcript, even though I’m getting C’s in all my classes!” Anonymous

A Balancing Act Make realistic choices. Take recommendations from teachers seriously. Aim to challenge yourself. Be ready to put forth the time and effort it takes to be successful in higher level courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) Availability: sophomore year Benefits: prepare for college course work; earn credit to off-set college course work Weight: AP courses are weighted higher than a regular level 1 course.

Career and Tech Ed Students can apply to Delaware County Technical School toward the end of 9th grade. DCTS offers course in a variety of areas such as building trades, cosmetology, landscaping, medical careers, and early childhood education. DCTS students graduate with a Penncrest diploma. Students can attend the presentation in December.

Extracurricular Activities Colleges are interested in: Non-academic interests. Your long-term commitment to an activity. If you’ve made a meaningful contribution. If you can manage your time and priorities.

Extracurricular Activities (Cont.) If you haven’t already done so, make sure to join a sport, club, or activity. Don’t join too many at once---focus on your ability to make a long-term commitment to only a few. Aim for leadership roles.

Service Requirements All Penncrest students are required to participate in at least 2 school service activities and at least 2 community service activities before graduation. This is equivalent to 1 activity per year.

Service Requirements (Cont.) School Service (2): Participation in a club, sport, or activity counts as a school service. Office aides also get credit. Community Service (2): Volunteerism outside of school counts as community service. There is no specific time requirement.

Community Service Once an activity is completed, retrieve a pink card from the guidance office or the main office. You must have the activity coordinator’s signature to earn credit for the service. Opportunities for service are advertised on Penncrest’s website (“Curriculum” link), on the desk in the 10 / 12 office, and on morning announcements.

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association has eligibility requirements for student athletes who wish to play sports at the Division 1 or Division 2 level: a minimum GPA of 2.0 at least 14 specific core courses Please let Mrs. Graham and your coach know if you are interested in playing sports at the college level.

Work Experience Working, whether paid or volunteer, can help a student identify career interests and goals. It’s also a good way to start earning money for college. Students should periodically check the job board in the Career Center.

Obtaining Working Papers Students must be at least 14 years old in order to secure a part-time or vacation certificate for work done after school or during vacation - including summer vacation. Papers may be obtained in the Main Office (8:30 - noon). See Mrs. Kilpatrick. Bring a proof of age such as a birth certificate or passport.

Job Shadowing Arrange for a job shadowing experience during sophomore year. POWR---Penncrest Opportunities for Workplace Relationships Mrs. Louise Naismith is located in the Career Center. She can arrange job shadowing. To set up an appointment, contact her at 610-627-6344 or lnaismit@rtmsd.org.

Behavioral Expectations It is our job as an institution of education to prepare you for life after Penncrest High School. Follow the rules and respect yourself and others. Teachers and administrators are more likely to give you a recommendation for a job or college if you are in good disciplinary standing.

Behavioral Expectations Make Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts private. Make sure posts are free of inappropriate comments, pictures, and bullying.

Sophomore Interview You will meet with your counselor during the spring of 10th grade. Items discussed will include general information about college searches, college visits, course choices, and academic progress.

Counselors for Grades 10 - 12 A - D Mr. David Harple E - K Mrs. Lori Rice-Spring L – Q Ms. Karen Kerr R – Z Mrs. Helen Douglass- Garrett

NAVIANCE: Family Connections http://connection.naviance.com/penncrest Every Penncrest student has an account. This program is designed to serve the needs of students and parents as they go through the entire college planning timeline.

NAVIANCE: Family Connections Program Features College Search Scholarship Search Career and Personality Inventories Organizer for college acceptances, test scores, extracurricular involvement, letters of recommendation, etc.

How do you register? Students received a registration code Parents received a separate registration code Registration codes are used to create accounts Codes are random and alphanumeric for security reasons Codes can be used only once Naviance can be reached by going to the Penncrest homepage and clicking on the link on the right hand side

New User Registration Page Enter Registration Code

Complete the Registration

Common questions How much homework should I have each night? Am I responsible for make-up work when I’m out and how do I get it? How do I find out about clubs and activities to join? Do my grades count?

Contact Information Mrs. Graham 610-627-6207 sgraham@rtmsd.org Have a great year!