Forsyth Central High School Parent Night August 25, 2011

Meet the Counselors Evelyn Petersen A - C and all English Language Learners Elizabeth Chilson D - J Deidre Miller, Head Counselor K - Q Clare Merlin R - Z

Role of the Counseling Department We have a comprehensive and developmental school counseling program which focuses on Academic Career Personal/social issues. We do all types of counseling Individual counseling Group counseling Classroom guidance. We work with all students.

Parent & Student Portal Parent Portal is a tool for parents and students to access instant, online, timely and secure student information: class schedule, assignments, attendance, discipline, course registrations for next year, report cards and transcripts. It increases communication between the school and parents. Parents of current students are eligible to activate a FREE Parent Portal account, after agreeing to the terms and conditions of use. Sign up in the counseling office with Mrs. Shirley Santiago, counseling secretary. You must present an ID at the time you sign up.

Graduation Requirements The requirements for graduation for any student entering high school in 2008 or later are: 4 English credits 4 Math credits 4 Science credits 3 Social Studies credits 3 CTAE, Foreign Language,/Modern Language, and/or Fine Arts credits 1 unit of Personal Fitness/Health (.5 credit each) 4 additional electives All students are encouraged to see their counselor if they have questions about their requirements! Don’t wait!

Promotion Requirements Students must earn a certain # of credits in order to be moved to the next grade level. Students are expected to make up credits outside of school day (Forsyth Academy, summer school, online, etc.) 2008 Ninth Graders and Subsequent Years 5 units from grade 9 to units from grade 10 to units from grade 11 to 12

Junior & Senior Conferences Counselors will meet individually with seniors during the next two months. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. SENIORS - Contact Mrs. Santiago to schedule an appointment (Seniors). JUNIORS - A caller will go out when we are ready to begin those conferences near the end of first semester. Topics Covered: Graduation Requirements and status checks. Information regarding financial aid, scholarship information, transcript requests, recommendation letters, HOPE eligibility, SAT/ACT dates, and more!

Are you HOPING for a HOPE Scholarship? All students have an account at gacollege411.org. Students can check their eligibility on this site. ONLY CORE CLASSES are included in a HOPE GPA. Elective classes are not included; however CORE electives are included such as psych/socio / math support classes / etc. There are many program changes within the HOPE scholarship program. SFHS is hosting an information night with the Georgia Student Finance Commission on September 1 st at 6:00pm in their Performing Arts Center. All the HOPE changes will be discussed. All are welcome to attend Financial Aid Night on December 1 st at 6:30pm. A representative from Georgia Student Finance Commission will be available to answer questions. Don’t wait until senior year to get this information

Credit Recovery If your child has failed any core class (and sometimes elective classes), they must be made up prior to graduating. Your child’s counselor MUST APPROVE any credit recovery prior to the student taking a class. Summer School – A great opportunity for earning credit. Typically $300 per course. Forsyth Night – takes place in the evenings (M & W or T & TH); usually $300 per course. Georgia Virtual School – an online credit recovery program sponsored by the Ga. Department of Education. This typically is only a good plan for students who are highly self-disciplined and motivated. Other Online/Correspondence Options – see your counselor!

Grading Procedures Grading Calculations for courses WITH an End of Course Test (EOCT): Course Average will be 40% (1 ST Sem. Course Work) + 40% (2 ND Sem. Course Work) + 20% EOCT Grading Calculations for courses WITHOUT an End of Course Test (EOCT): Course Average will be 50% (1st sem Course Work) + 50% (2nd Sem Course Work), final exam will count as a summative grade. 1 ST & 2 ND Semester Course Work = 75% Summative + 25% Formative Any grade below 70 is considered failing. Report Cards are given to students every 9 weeks. Only the final report card is mailed home. Credit will be awarded at the end of the course (May for yearlong classes; December or May for semester long classes).

October 12 – Testing Day! The PSAT is given on October 12. All 10 th graders will take this test. It is free for 10 th graders. Any 9 th or 11 th grade student can sign up to take the test and pay the fee ($14). Sign up with Mr. Mercer no later than Sept th graders should seriously consider taking this test as these scores identify students who may be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship program.

GHSGT & EOCT Changes All current students must pass the Georgia HS Graduation WRITING test to graduate. Current 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th grade students (entered high school 2008, 2009, 2010) must pass an EOCT in each of following subjects: English (9 th Lit Comp or American Lit) Math (Math I or Math II) Science (Biology or Physical Science) Social Studies (US History or Economics) If a student does not pass an EOCT in one of these subjects, they must pass the Georgia High School Graduation Test corresponding to this subject. Current 9 th graders who entered high school in 2011 must pass all classes with EOCTs in order to graduate. They do not necessarily have to pass the EOCT, just the class, but the EOCT will count 20% of their final grade.

College Visits Each Junior and Senior are allowed 4 college visitation days. These absences count as a “field trip” as long as the proper documentation is brought to school the day after the trip. These days do not roll over from year to year. If the student does not use them, they lose them.

Visit the Counseling Webpage!! Click on “Student Services” at top. Click on “Counseling” Tons of information! Tour of the site