Freshmen/Sophomore Parent Information Night Wharton High School February 26, 2015 Presented by WHS Guidance Department

Welcome Parents – Classes 2017 & 2018 Agenda Welcome Remarks/Introductions Kevin Stephenson, APC Role of Guidance Dept./Graduation Requirements Cindy Rogers, Dept. Head, Alpha SH-Z Assessments Kevin Stephenson Guidmii Sherry Ware, Counselor, Alpha DAV-HOR Community Service Procedures for Bright Futures Robert D’Agostino, Counselor, Alpha A-Dau Acceleration Opportunities – Ways to set up for success! Sara Theiss, Counselor, Alpha MOO-SE AVID Patricia Daniel, WHS Avid Coordinator Options to stay on track & 8 Great Tips to help your Child be Successful Sherry Ware, Counselor, DAV-HOR Staying Connected – Information is Key! Magda Rodriguez, College Career Counselor

Role of Guidance Dept. Cindy Rogers – Dept. Head Go to Hillsborough County Public Schools Website. Link: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/ Click on STUDENTS Scroll down to GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS View by graduating year (in English or Spanish)

Upcoming Assessments 9th and 10th Grade FSA Writing – 1 session: 3/2 – 3/6 Algebra 1 EOC Make-Ups – 1 session: 3/23 – 3/31 10th Grade FSA Reading – 2 sessions: 4/13 – 4/17 Biology EOC – 1 session: 4/20 – 4/24 9th Grade FSA Reading – 2 sessions: 4/27 – 5/1 Alg 2 EOC – 2 sessions: 4/27 – 5/1 FSA Geo EOC – 2 sessions: 5/4 – 5/8 FSA Alg 1 EOC – 2 sessions: 5/11 – 5/15

Guidmii- Lighthouse Guidance Systems Sherry Ware Guidmii, your academic planning and tracking solution. Log on to Guidmii http://www.lighthouseguidancesystems.com/guidmii.php & login with EDSBY user name/password. Watch 6 minute video tutorial Helps you create an academic plan Assess GPA’s View FCAT performance Track graduation requirements View grade history See SAT & ACT scores Log community service hours Explore Bright Futures & scholarship information Manage the college entrance process

WHS Community Service Hours Procedures for Bright Futures Scholarships WHS Community Service Hours Procedures for Bright Futures Scholarships WHS Contact: Mr. Robert D’Agostino FORMS AVAILABLE IN GUIDANCE LOBBY, OR HCPS WEBSITE UNDER “COMMUNITY SERVICE FORMS”, OR ON GUIDMII Bright Futures Scholarships hub. PLEASE READ COMPLETELY. MUST HAVE PROPOSAL PACKET PRE-APPROVED BY MR. D’AGOSTINO MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!! SIGNED LOG FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE GRADUATION DATE!

Acceleration Options – Ways to set up for Success! Sara Theiss Advanced Placement Courses Dual Enrollment Virtual School District Approved Summer Programs

What is AVID? A structured college preparatory system A direct support structure for first- generation college goers, grades 4-16 A schoolwide approach to curriculum and rigor THIS SEEMS TO FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF WHAT WE DO ((vs. what we ARE): A professional development program providing training throughout the world

Average to high test scores 2.0-3.5 GPA (initially) The AVID Elective student profile Has academic potential Average to high test scores 2.0-3.5 GPA (initially) College potential with support Desire and determination

Why does AVID work? Places AVID students in rigorous curriculum and gives them the support to achieve Provides the explicit “hidden curriculum” of schools Provides a team of students for positive peer identification Redefines the teacher’s role as that of student advocate

AVID DATA in Hillsborough County 80% Applied/60%Accepted to a 4 year College or University 99.4 % Graduated from High School 88.8 % Completed 4 year college requirements 79% Took 1 or more AP course 76% have above average GPA: 3.62 Opening access to Advanced Placement courses for all students, regardless of ethnicity or economic background, is essential to leveling the academic playing field. AVID students, who take many AP tests every year, show greater ethnic diversity than AP test-takers do overall. The proportion of Latinos taking AP exams is over four times higher among AVID students than among U.S. students overall. [IS THIS SUPPOSED TO SAY “FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN OTHER LATINOS OVERALL”? IF SO, I HAVE THE ARROW POINTED TO THE WRONG NUMBER AND THE STAT IS INCORRECT.] ALSO, I’VE MOVED THE DETAILED SOURCE INFORMATION OFF THE SLIDES AND PUT IT INTO THE NOTES, LIKE SO:

Staying on Track! Credit Recovery Options - Sherry Ware Credit Recovery-(school based) Offered in the IMPACT Lab Program is computer based. Not all classes are available for recovery Available every morning at 6:45 am and/or 6th lunch Applications are available from your school counselor Classes can be recovered and used for grade forgiveness May NOT count for NCAA Hillsborough and Florida Virtual Online Classes (HVS & FLVS) www.online.mysdhc.org (HVS) www.flvs.net (FLVS) Classes can be recovered and used for grade forgiveness Students request classes and classes are approved by their school counselor

Ways To Help Your Child Be A Successful 9th/10th Grader: Make sure your child gets acquainted with his/her counselor. Have your child join something. Join a club; try out for a sport; sign up for marching band, chorus, or color guard. This will help them find friends who share their interests. Encourage your child to not change themselves to fit in. Be themselves and they will eventually find students who share their same interests. Prepare them for situations that might happen. Create scenarios about what they will do or say if someone offered them a cigarette, alcohol or drugs. Still ask the questions and stay connected! Know who their friends are… Set high expectations! They will have to work hard. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. Keep them balanced. They need to have time for fun and time for work. Teach them to be PROACTIVE, ORGANIZED, INDEPENDENT, TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND GO TO THE SOURCE or you/they can just Google it!

Staying Connected – Information is Key Staying Connected – Information is Key! Magda Rodriguez, College Career Counselor By email: Magda.Rodriguez@sdhc.k12.fl.us or call 631-4710, ext.218 Wish to See Forms – Found in Guidance office Follow her on Twitter: @whartonccc All events are posted on her Eventbrite page: whartonccc.Eventbrite.com TV morning show announcements https://www.remind.com/ “Remind” text messages- 81010 and in messages type in @whs2018s (freshmen) @whs2017s (sophomores) Check out bulletin boards outside her office in Guidance: SAT/ACT, Scholarships, Monthly Events, College Scholarship Council Boards Monthly Guidance Newsletter sent at the beginning of each month through ParentLink email. If you haven’t signed up with HCPS My Spot, go to https://myspot.sdhc.k12.fl.us FYI – NACAC COLLEGE FAIR, SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 12:00-3:00PM AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER!