Welcome! 9 th Grade Advising Session

Academic Journey Topics we will cover:  Graduation and college requirements  Transcripts/GPA’s  Post High School Options  Four Year Plan  Resources for Success

Counseling and Administrative Faculty Counselors A-EkMrs. Gieck El-KMrs. Orchard L-RaMr. Stordahl Re-ZMrs. Cross Administrators Mr. Fischer Mrs. Healy Mr. McNulty Dr. Vujovich Principal Mrs. Leighton Intervention/EL CounselorMrs. Bussey Special Services CounselorMrs. Lucas

Role of the Counselor  Schedules  College and Career  Personal  Confidentiality How to Contact Your School Counselor Counselor Request Forms Drop ins before and after school and during lunch

Other Resources  Resource Officer…Officer Herrick  College and Career Center Tech… Mrs. Underwood  Nurse… Mrs. Serrano  Learning Support Specialist: Mrs. Nozue  Homelink Help & Registrar: Mrs. Hollwager  Naviance Help & Counseling Secretary: Mrs. Klusnick  Counseling Website:

Graduation Requirements  4 Years of English  2 Years of Math (Must pass Integrated Math 1 and Int Math 2/Geometry or higher)  3 Years of Social Science: World Studies (or AP Euro) - Sophomore Year US History - Junior Year Government/Economics - Senior Year  2 Years of Science (must be UC approved):  1 Life Science  1 Physical Science

Graduation Requirements Cont’d  1 Year of Fine Art OR Foreign Language  2 Years of PE  PE 9  PE 10  1 Year of Health and Safety  110 Additional Credits  260 Credits Total  Pass Exit Exam

Transcript

Grading Information  For graduation purposes, students must earn a D- or higher to pass the class  To be eligible to attend a 4-year University directly out of high school students must earn a “C” or higher in college prep. courses  Students earn four sets of permanent grades: October, December, March, and May

Unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA)  A = 4B = 3 C=2 D= 1 F = 0  Assign the correct point value to each grade earned  Add up the total and divide by the number of grades  Eligibility:  Assuming 4 classes, ALL students who wish to participate in school activities (athletics, band, cheer, color guard, etc.) must have a minimum 2.0 GPA AND have no more than one “F”

Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA  Students in an Honors, AP, or IB level course will be awarded an extra grade point for each grade earned with a C or better (with the exception of H English 10)  Adding in these extra points into the GPA calculation is necessary to determine a weighted GPA

Honors vs. AP vs. IB  An Honors Course… Moves faster and goes into greater depth  An AP (Advanced Placement) Course… Is a college level class that culminates with a required exam in May  An IB (International Baccalaureate) Course… Is a college level class that has mandatory assignments and an exam in May. Some IB classes may be restricted to IB Diploma students only.

Post High School Options  Technical Schools  Military  Community College  Cal State Universities  UC (University of Calif.) Universities  Private Universities ***Don’t limit yourself to the “name brand” schools. There are over 4000 colleges in the U.S. The key is finding a good fit.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS UC/CSU – “a-g” Requirements (minimum) a. History – 2 years b. English – 4 years c. Math(through Int Math 3/Alg. 2)– 3 yrs d. Lab Science – 2 years e. Language other than English – 2 years (of the same language) f. Visual/Performing Arts – 1 year g. Elective Courses – 1 year Note: You MUST pass the above classes with a “C” grade or higher

What Colleges are Looking For?  Consistent performance in an appropriately challenging curriculum  GPA  Test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, IB)  Accomplishments beyond the classroom  Potential to contribute to a college community  Demonstrated interest in learning

What Does it Take to Succeed? o Organization o Develop a system that works for you! o Time Management o Prioritize, create a schedule, and be consistent o Study Skills o Be prepared for class, participate, ask for help, and set small, attainable goals when studying at home

Places to Get Help 1. GBHS Learning Center (a.k.a. Library) –all subjects  Walk in program offers a quiet place to study  Librarian and Peer Tutors will be available as a resource  Available Monday - Thursday from 2:45 – 3: Math Tutoring Center – math support  Walk in program in room 650/651 after school  Available Monday-Friday from 2:35 – 3:35 3. Student Tutors  There is a list of student tutors available from your counselor. These are good students who have expressed an interest in tutoring others. Student tutors typically charge $10-$15 per hour. Students will need to contact the student tutors on their own to work out arrangements for tutoring th Period- in the Learning Center o Monday – Thursday 2:45-3:45. Opportunity to make up missing assignments, tests, quizzes.

Goal Setting  What is a goal?  How do we create goals?  Types of goals: Short term: one year or sooner Intermediate: 2-5 years Long term: 6 years or beyond  Questions to ask yourself: How do you see your future? Where do you see your future? What do you think you need to achieve your goals?

How to Stay Informed  Listen to the morning announcements  Read the “Gazette” (school newspaper)  Visit the school website  Visit the Counseling website (under Quicklinks on GBHS website)  Read the School Newsletter  Utilize Naviance Computer Program  Check Aeries (Homelink) regularly

Ways to Get Involved  Join a club  Try out for a sport  Try out for a play  Consider joining student government, journalism, yearbook, debate, academic decathlon, etc.  Create your own club

What Students Can Do  School is your job…take it seriously!  Realize you are in charge of your own fate  Realize you are free to make your own choices in life but you do not get to choose your consequences – make wise choices!

New District Student s

HOMELINK  Go to: (also located on GBHS website under “grade us” on left side of web page).  Click “Log on to RJUHSD Homelink”  You must use your new district and password is your 6 digit student ID)  Parents are also able to set up their own account and will have access to the same information.  WHY? Homelink is the best way for you to keep up with current grades and to see what, if any, assignments you have missing!  Check your account on a weekly basis

 Naviance is a comprehensive web site that you can use to help make decisions about academic planning, colleges and careers  It is an advising tool counselors use to better prepare students for their academic and post- secondary goals  Naviance is a phenomenal resource that we hope you will take full advantage of!  For log-in instructions, please refer to the Naviance hand-out NAVIANCE: What it can do for you