Welcome to OCHS! CLASS OF 2014

High School vs. Middle School Classes earn a credit. Credits earned determine grade-level placement and graduation status. Classes earn a credit. Credits earned determine grade-level placement and graduation status. More responsibility is placed on the student. More responsibility is placed on the student. There are more elective course options. There are more elective course options. There are more extracurricular opportunities (sports, clubs). There are more extracurricular opportunities (sports, clubs).

Different Types of Courses Core classes – the specific English, Math, Science, Social Studies courses required by the state. Core classes – the specific English, Math, Science, Social Studies courses required by the state. Electives – courses (sometimes in a sub area) that students can choose to take. These can be academic, CTAE, fine arts or PE Electives – courses (sometimes in a sub area) that students can choose to take. These can be academic, CTAE, fine arts or PE Academic Electives – additional required courses that must be from English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language or selected CTAE courses. Academic Electives – additional required courses that must be from English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language or selected CTAE courses.

What Do These Terms Mean??? AP – Advanced Placement. These are college- level courses sanctioned by the College Board. Students who score well on the nationally standardized test in May can earn college credit. Courses expose students to college rigor. AP – Advanced Placement. These are college- level courses sanctioned by the College Board. Students who score well on the nationally standardized test in May can earn college credit. Courses expose students to college rigor. CTAE – Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education. Formerly known as vocational classes. These course are open to all students and teach real-world skills in addition to academic content. CTAE – Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education. Formerly known as vocational classes. These course are open to all students and teach real-world skills in addition to academic content.

New Terms, cont. EOCT (End of Course Test) – State- mandated final exam which counts as 15% of a course grade. Given in 9th Lit, American Lit, Biology, Math I, Math II, US History and Economics. EOCT (End of Course Test) – State- mandated final exam which counts as 15% of a course grade. Given in 9th Lit, American Lit, Biology, Math I, Math II, US History and Economics. GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test) –Five- part test taken during the junior year. Tests writing, English, math, science and studies. Students must pass all parts to graduate. GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test) –Five- part test taken during the junior year. Tests writing, English, math, science and studies. Students must pass all parts to graduate.

Pathway – Sequence of career-focused courses offered in the CTAE Department. Allows students to increase depth of knowledge in a chosen career area. Pathway – Sequence of career-focused courses offered in the CTAE Department. Allows students to increase depth of knowledge in a chosen career area. New Terms, cont.

Graduation Requirements English (4 units required) English (4 units required) 9 Lit/Comp (can be honors) 9 Lit/Comp (can be honors) 10 Lit/Comp (can be honors) 10 Lit/Comp (can be honors) American Lit/Comp (can be honors) American Lit/Comp (can be honors) English Lit/Comp or AP English Lit/Comp English Lit/Comp or AP English Lit/Comp Math (4 units required) Math (4 units required) Math I or Accelerated Math I Math I or Accelerated Math I Math II or Accelerated Math II Math II or Accelerated Math II Math III or Accelerated Math III Math III or Accelerated Math III Math IV or equivalent (such as AP Calculus and AP Statistics) Math IV or equivalent (such as AP Calculus and AP Statistics) Math I, II, and III have optional support classes which count as academic electives and provide extra assistance. Math I, II, and III have optional support classes which count as academic electives and provide extra assistance.

Graduation Requirements, cont. Science (4 units required) Science (4 units required) Biology Biology Conceptual Physics or Physics Conceptual Physics or Physics Chemistry or other 3 rd science (such as Earth Systems) Chemistry or other 3 rd science (such as Earth Systems) 1 additional science course. Students can choose from the sciences or from a selected list of CTAE (Career,Technical, and Agriculture Education courses) This 4 th science can be taken any year. 1 additional science course. Students can choose from the sciences or from a selected list of CTAE (Career,Technical, and Agriculture Education courses) This 4 th science can be taken any year.

Graduation Requirements, cont. Social Studies (4 units required) Social Studies (4 units required) American Government (can be Honors or AP) American Government (can be Honors or AP) World History (can be Honors or AP) World History (can be Honors or AP) US History (can be AP) US History (can be AP) Economics (can be AP) Economics (can be AP) Health and Personal Fitness (1/2 unit of each required) Health and Personal Fitness (1/2 unit of each required) CTAE, Fine Arts or Foreign Languages (3 total units required) CTAE, Fine Arts or Foreign Languages (3 total units required) 3 units from any of these areas – it is preferred that all be from the same pathway/area 3 units from any of these areas – it is preferred that all be from the same pathway/area Students planning to attend a four-year college need to take at least TWO classes of the same foreign language (THREE is preferred). Two foreign language courses are preferred by most two-year schools. Students planning to attend a four-year college need to take at least TWO classes of the same foreign language (THREE is preferred). Two foreign language courses are preferred by most two-year schools.

Graduation Requirements, cont. Academic Electives (3 units required) Academic Electives (3 units required) Three additional academic courses from any academic area (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language or selected CTAE courses) Three additional academic courses from any academic area (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language or selected CTAE courses) Additional Electives (5 units required) Additional Electives (5 units required) 28 total units required (students have the option to earn up to 32 units while at OCHS) 28 total units required (students have the option to earn up to 32 units while at OCHS)

CTAE Elective Opportunities Agriculture Agriculture Broadcast Video Broadcast Video Engineering Engineering Commercial Design Commercial Design Business and Computer Science Business and Computer Science Marketing Marketing Family and Consumer Sciences Family and Consumer Sciences Healthcare Science Healthcare Science Work-Based Learning Work-Based Learning

Fine Arts Elective Opportunities Visual Art Visual Art Chorus Chorus Dance Dance Drama Drama Band Band

Foreign Language Opportunities French French German German Latin Latin Spanish Spanish Students are encouraged to sign up for two levels of Foreign Language in the same year. Students are encouraged to sign up for two levels of Foreign Language in the same year.

What Academic Support Is Offered at OCHS? Graduation Coach – D’Arcy Flanders. She works with students who are struggling and/or not on track for graduation. Graduation Coach – D’Arcy Flanders. She works with students who are struggling and/or not on track for graduation. Warrior Period – 30 minute period in the middle of the day used to provide remediation/tutoring, enrichment, test preparation, and study time. Each student is assigned a teacher advisor who serves as a mentor. Warrior Period – 30 minute period in the middle of the day used to provide remediation/tutoring, enrichment, test preparation, and study time. Each student is assigned a teacher advisor who serves as a mentor.

How Do I Know What My Student Should Take? When students bring home their registration forms, recommendations for core classes will already be made by 8 th grade teachers. When students bring home their registration forms, recommendations for core classes will already be made by 8 th grade teachers. Teacher recommendations are accurate. Teacher recommendations are accurate. The goal is to create a balanced but challenging schedule for each student. However, what this looks like will be different for each student. The goal is to create a balanced but challenging schedule for each student. However, what this looks like will be different for each student.

Honors Courses Designed for talented, motivated, high-achieving students Designed for talented, motivated, high-achieving students Provide valuable preparation for AP courses Provide valuable preparation for AP courses Placement is made based on teacher recommendation Placement is made based on teacher recommendation Emphasis is on deeper content knowledge and understanding Emphasis is on deeper content knowledge and understanding Students do not have to take honors courses in all areas--they can specialize based on their strengths Students do not have to take honors courses in all areas--they can specialize based on their strengths Students should take these courses if recommended for them Students should take these courses if recommended for them

Athletic Eligibility All 9 th graders are eligible to participate in sports their 1 st semester of high school. All 9 th graders are eligible to participate in sports their 1 st semester of high school. After their first semester, students must pass 2.5 out of 4 classes each semester and be on track for graduation to remain eligible to participate in sports. After their first semester, students must pass 2.5 out of 4 classes each semester and be on track for graduation to remain eligible to participate in sports.

Registration Process Students should have registration forms with core recommendations Students should have registration forms with core recommendations Work with your student to select enough electives for a total of 8 courses and 3 alternates Work with your student to select enough electives for a total of 8 courses and 3 alternates Please choose courses and alternates carefully!! Please choose courses and alternates carefully!! Students will turn in forms on Thursday, January 21. Students will turn in forms on Thursday, January 21. Students will register on Friday, January 22. Students MUST have signed form to register. Students will register on Friday, January 22. Students MUST have signed form to register.

Where can I find Registration Information? Go to the OCHS Homepage and select “ Registration Forms”

From this page, you can see the “OCHS Course Catalog” and “Rising Freshman Course Offerings”

For a copy of tonight’s power point and handouts, go to the OCHS webpage and select “Counseling” at the top left. Then choose “Parent Night Information”

Thank you for being here!!!! We are excited about your student becoming an OCHS WARRIOR!!!