Welcome Junior Parents! Ms. Kathleen A. Kreke Guidance Counselor Class of 2016

Tonight’s Agenda Transcripts Diplomas offered, Recognizing High Achievers ACT- College Entrance Test; ACT benchmarks PSAT- taken only ONCE, junior year KEES money- each year is “stand alone” Governor's Scholar Program (GSP) Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) Resources for preparing for college ◦Academic Common Market information ESS & Intervention for students Junior Counselor Contact Info

DCPS Career/College Prep Diploma* DCPS Career/College Prep Diploma*— 24 credits, including personalized career/college readiness course and testing selections DCPS Honors Diploma* DCPS Honors Diploma*—24 credits, including specified AP course completion and testing (*STARTING with the class of 2013) DIPLOMAS OFFERED

Beginning with the Class of 2013, Apollo has moved to a college model of recognizing seniors at graduation.  Summa Cum Laude ”with highest praise” (4.0+ GPA)  Magna Cum Laude ”with great praise” ( GPA)  Cum Laude ”with praise” ( GPA) Recognizing Students at graduation

The DCPS will reimburse students $87 for the following:  Taking an AP Exam and earning a score of 3,4 or 5 – May 2015  Taking a tuition-based course at Apollo or OCTC and earning an A or a B in the course- Senior Year  Taking an industry certification exam and earning a passing score- Senior Year  Taking a CLEP test and earning a passing score- Senior Year FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

A= B=80-89 C=70-79 D=65-69 F F=0-64 The grading period this school year is every 12 weeks with progress reports given to students to take home every six weeks! GRADING SCALE

Trimester Grading Periods Fall term: Aug 13 – Nov 7, 2014 o 9/19 – end of 1 st six weeks; progress reports went home; P/T conferences were 9/23 o 11/7 – end of fall term; report cards go home with students on Friday, November 14 Winter term: Nov 10 – Feb 13, 2015 o 11/14 – report cards will be sent home o 1/9 – end of 1 st six weeks; progress reports will go home o 1/13 – progress reports will go home o 2/13 – end of winter term; report cards go home with students on Friday, February 20

Junior Year TRIMESTER Class Schedule English 11 Chemistry Math (Most take Algebra II or Pre- Calculus) US History Foreign Language (two yrs of same) Electives (based on career interests)

ACT PREPARING FOR THE ACT  Number2.com (free access to students)  – enter ILP career cruising site (each student has access to his/her ILP).  ACT packets are available in guidance, or students may register online at ; also able to prepare to take ACT online as well!

ACT DATES October 25, LATE deadline is… December 13, deadline is 11/7/14 February 7, deadline is 1/9/15 April 18, deadline is 3/13/15 June 13, deadline is 5/8/15 ALL JUNIORS WILL TAKE THE ACT MARCH 3, 2015 in our building! It’s free! The ACT scores will go on transcripts– used for college admissions/scholarships.

College & Career Readiness ACT BENCHMARKS English = 20 Math = 22 Reading = 20 Science – 24 These scores are needed in order for student to enter college taking college level courses Scores below these will result in remedial college courses (cost the same but do NOT earn college credit).

Why is the ACT important? College admission College placement & success Scholarships & awards More info at

What Juniors should be doing for college readiness. Take the ACT-once in the fall (IF GPA is 2.8 or higher), then on March 3, FREE!! Visit college websites, look for requirements, costs, deadlines, etc. Visit colleges of high interest if able to do so…DURING FALL BREAK (10/4-10/11)! Be on the lookout for Junior Fling Days at Universities. Students will attend a Junior College Fair in the Spring of 2015.

PSAT Wednesday, October 15, 2014 $18.00 fee -pay in guidance with check to AHS Sign up in guidance no later than Sept 30 Who should take the test and for what reasons?

Create a KEES money account! Go to Look under students tab, guidance, the KEES money You will be taken to the KHEAA (Kentucky Higher Ed.) webpage. At the top there is a prompt to create a log-in, “zip access”. Very convenient way to keep track of your student’s earnings.

KEES money GPA Amount $

KEES Money ACT Score and above Bonus $

Governor’s Scholar Program (GSP) Information about GSP is available at Application is online & is to be completed online THEN printed & given to Ms. Kreke Requires TWO teacher of recommendations from required class teachers (English, Math, Science, Social Studies DEADLINE for completed application to Ms. Kreke is Thursday, December 4. See next slide for more info…

GSP cont. Want to know more about GSP? The Governor's Scholars Program is a stimulating, five- week, residential summer program for outstanding Kentucky students completing their junior year in high school. To be eligible for nomination and selection, a student must: Be in the 11th grade at the time of selection and intend to return to a Kentucky school district for the next school term. (Students skipping their senior year to enter college are not eligible.); Be a current resident of Kentucky; Have taken the ACT, PSAT, or SAT in the 9th, 10th or 11th grades. Students must be nominated by their school districts or private schools to be considered for admission. They attend free of charge, needing only "pocket" money for personal and incidental expenses.

Governor's School for the Arts ARTSHOPS will be held for those artistically inclined-art, music, theatre… The closest artshop will be in Bowling Green on Saturday, November 15 from 9- 4 p.m. at Bowling Green High School. More information to come as we receive it. See next slide for more info…

GSA cont. Eligibility In order to be considered for the Governor’s School for the Arts, you must meet the following selection criteria: Be a resident of Kentucky and currently be a sophomore or junior in a Kentucky high school or home school. (Students attending conservatories outside of the state may be considered, but the parents still must be residents of Kentucky.) Complete the application packet and return it to the GSA Office by December 31, GSA will not consider incomplete applications. Complete the School Recommendation process. Follow all Audition and Review guidelines outlined in this packet. Complete the Audition and Review process.

Resources –click on guidance.

ESS & Testng Center schedule Every Monday – Thursday morning from 7:00-8:00; math tutoring in room 328. All other subjects & testing center are in the library. Every Monday – Thursday afternoon from 3:30-4:30; math tutoring in room 315 on Tuesday & Thursday.

MISSION POSSIBLE Apollo is implementing a daily “Mission Possible” time for 30 mins for all students. Intentional ACT prep sessions will begin after fall break (for March 2015 ACT test). All juniors took a practice ACT test on Thursday, Sept 18. ACT scores are available from Ms. Kreke ( me, PLZ).

CHECKING GRADES ONLINE ~ IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CHECK YOUR SON/ DAUGHTER’S GRADES ONLINE IN INFINITE CAMPUS, PLEASE CONTACT JACKIE FULKERSON IN GUIDANCE. HER IS

Contact me anytime! Kathleen Kreke, Junior Counselor ext. 419 YOUR PRESENCE IS A PRESENT TO THE WORLD. YOU'RE UNIQUE AND ONE OF A KIND! YOUR LIFE CAN BE WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.. TAKE THE DAYS JUST ONE AT A TIME!