8 th Grade Parent Night WOODFORD COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ADVISING MEETING

Welcome Class of 2019 Yellowjackets

Agenda  AB Block Schedule  The Anatomy of a High School Transcript  Graduation Requirements  Core, AP, and CTE  The Course Description Guide  The Course Request Process

The AB Block Schedule

What is a Block Schedule?  An academic schedule in which the school year is divided into two 18 week semesters, students have fewer classes per day for longer periods of time, all year long.

AB or Alternating Block  A Day “Gold Day” : Students will attend 4 classes for approximately 90 minutes.  B Day “Black Day” : Students will attend 4 different classes for approximately 90 minutes.  Classes meet all year long, every other day.  Students will select 8 courses to complete.

The AB Advantages  Students receive core content instruction throughout the entire school year.  Students can participate in an arts program, CTE major, or elective for the entire year.

The AB Advantages  Students will have 2 nights to complete homework  Testing will be more efficient and streamlined. EOCs and AP testing will all take place at the end of the year. All STAR testing will be through English and Math classes.  Make-up work is more manageable because students miss fewer classes per day.

Sample Weekly Schedule MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday English IIGeometryEnglish IIGeometryEnglish II Integrated Science I Economics/ Government Integrated Science I Economics/ Government Integrated Science I Health/PESpanish IHealth/PESpanish IHealth/PE BandPrinciples of Health Science BandPrinciples of Health Science Band

Sample Schedule- 9 th grade A Day “Black Day”B Day “Gold Day” 1 st block 8:10-9:45am English I OR Advanced English II Algebra I, Pre-AP Alg II, or Advanced Geometry 2 nd block 9:50-11:20am General or Advanced Integrated Science I OR Advanced Integrated Science II AP Government OR (Adv)Government/ Economics 3 rd block 11:25-1:25pm Health/PE Elective: Introduction to Engineering 4 th block 1:30-3:10pm Elective: Spanish IIElective: Band

AB Grading Information 1 st Semester  Progress Reports at 6 and 12 weeks  Report Cards at 18 weeks  90 minute classes  ½ credit 2 nd Semester  Progress Reports at 6 and 12 weeks  Report Cards at 18 weeks  90 minute classes  ½ credit

The High School Transcript  In high school, student not only earn grades when they complete a class, but they also earn credits.  However, students must pass the class to earn the credit.  Students must earn enough credits in order to graduate from high school!  A transcript is like a report card, it shows the letter grade, percentage, and credit that students earn in each class.  The first time that grades and credits will appear on the transcript will be in December.

Promotion is based on total credits  Students must earn 7 credits by the end of the Freshman year to be promoted to the 10 th grade (Sophomore year)  Students will earn ½ credit for each class passed in December and another ½ credit for each class passed in May.

Promotion Requirements Class of 2018 Student Classification GRADE LEVELMinimum number of Credits Required Graduate28

Grade Point Averages (aka GPA)  At the end of each semester, the GPA will be recorded on the report card and transcript.  Un-weighted GPA is based on a 4.0 scale  A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0  Good grades = Higher GPA  Colleges are looking for high school students with high GPAs.  In order to earn a high GPA, students must start off with strong grades their Freshman year.  Failing a class seriously affects the cumulative GPA.

Graduation Honors

Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)  Students in Kentucky can actually earn College Scholarship money by making good grades while in high school.  Students who earn at least a 2.5 GPA will qualify for KEES awards.  Students can also earn bonus KEES money based on a composite ACT of at least 15.

Woodford County High School Graduation Requirements

Core vs. Elective Courses  Core courses are required for graduation.  Elective courses are classes that a student chooses based on their interests/abilities.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses  Advanced Placement classes offer college-level course work.  Students must take a standardized test at the end of the school year.  American colleges often grant placement and course credit to students based on the results of the test.  Because of the rigorous nature of the curriculum, AP courses are designated as such on the transcript and receive a “weighted grade.”  Students and Parents must sign an AP Commitment Contract to enroll.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Career Major Courses (CTE)  Hands-on experience in the classroom  Real-World experience outside the classroom  KOSSA certificate (after earning 3 credits)  Industry Certificate  Articulation Agreements (College Credit  Awards Night Recognition  Strengthens job and college applications

CTE Career Majors Animal Science SystemsHorticulture and Plant Science Systems Agriculture Power, Structural, & Technical Systems Agribusiness Marketing/Sports MarketingBusiness Management Business MultimediaFundamentals of Education EngineeringManufacturing Engineering Technology Culinary & Food ServiceConsumer & Family Management Medicaid Nurse Aide (MNA)Pharmacy Technician EKG TechnicianPhlebotomy Technician Instrumental MusicVocal Music TheatreVisual Arts

The Gold Standard College Ready College & Career Ready Career Ready College and Career Ready students receive honor cords to wear at graduation Class of 2019 students must show College OR Career Readiness to Graduate!!

WCHS Course Description Guide  The WCHS Course Description Guide offers a complete listing of the courses that are offered at Woodford County High School and graduation requirements.  It is available online, please visit the WCHS Guidance News page at

Guidance News

Course Description Guide

Course Request Card Directions  Use a PENCIL  Print first and last name  Circle one Academy Pathway, if applicable.  Circle one CTE Career Major  Don’t forget the PARENT SIGNATURE

Course Request Card Instructions 1. To select a course on the Course Request Card, put an “ X ” by the name of the course. Choose To indicate alternate choices, place an “A1” by the 1 st alternate, “A2” by the second alternate, etc. Choose 5 alternate course.

Course Request Card Instructions 1. Academy students MUST select the course titled “P.A.S.T/Bluegrass Land & Life.” 2. Teacher signature is REQUIRED for any English, Math, Science, or AP Government.

Course Selection Guidelines Current 8 th Grade ClassRequest this 9 th Grade Class EnglishLanguage ArtsGeneral or Advanced English I Pre-Academy Adv English IAdvanced English II MathPre-AlgebraGeneral or Advanced Algebra I Algebra IAdvanced Geometry GeometryPre-AP Algebra II Science General or Adv Integrated Science I Advanced ScienceGeneral or Adv Integrated Science I Pre-Academy Integrated Science I General or Advanced Integrated Science II Social Studies Government&Economics or AP Government Pre-Academy Advanced Social Studies Government&Economics or AP Government

The Academy Application Process  Students applying to The Academy for the school year must submit the following by February 9, 2015 to their Social Studies teacher. Academy Application Current 8 th grade School Schedule-provided by Guidance Office 8 th Grade 1 st semester report card-provided by Guidance Office Additional pieces to be submitted 2 teacher recommendations(Submitted to WCHS or WCMS guidance offices by February 27 th ) Additional audition/portfolios are required for fine arts students. Fine Arts students will be contacted in April for audition/portfolio submissions.

Four Year High School Plan

January 27: 8 th Grade Advising night January 29: Academy Advising night February 3: WCHS Advising night February 9: Course Request Cards, AP Commitment Contracts and Academy Applications Due to Social Studies Teacher

Hail Woodford The Gold Standard We look forward to seeing you this fall YellowJackets!!!

Questions??