Beginning Your Freshman Year at Century High School

What does a credit mean? 24 Total Credits are Required for Graduation 1 course per semester = .50 credit  Semester grades are put on your transcript These grades determine your GPA and rank 6 courses per semester = 3 credits 6 courses times 2 semesters per year = 6 credits 6 credits per year times 4 years = 24 credits 24 Total Credits are Required for Graduation These Credits Include Required and Elective Courses

What is a Passing Grade? A passing grade is required to earn any credit for a class If a failing grade is earned in a required course, the course must be retaken • Passing grades are: A B C D P • Failing grades are: F

What is a GPA? Grade point average (GPA) is the numeric average of your semester or overall semester grades. Add up the numeric equivalent of your semester grades and divide by the number of classes = GPA • Passing grades are: A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 P = Neutral • Failing grades are: F = 0

COURSE/CREDIT REQUIREMENTS Page 5 in the course guide Courses Credits Required English ………………………………………….4 English 9 (1.0 credits) American Lit (1.0) World Literature (1.0) English 4 (0.5) Speech (0.5) Math (through Alg. II)…………………………..3 Science ………………………………………….3 Biology (1.0) Chemistry (1.0) Physics (1.0) Social Studies …………………………………...3 World History (1.0) American History (1.0) Human Geography (0.5) Government (0.5)

COURSE/CREDIT REQUIREMENTS (cont). Page 5 in the course guide Courses Credits Required Economics .5 Physical Education .5 Health .5 Fine Arts 1.0 Arts, Music, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Intro to Engineering, Culinary Arts, Drama, pg 37-40 Electives 8.5 Total Credits =24

Required 9th Grade Courses Page 23 in the course guide English Options (Full Year) English Learner Program English Foundations English Foundations Honors

Required 9th Grade Courses Page 62 in the course guide Social Studies Options (Full Year) World History EL World History

Required 9th Grade Courses Page 57 in the course guide Science Options (Full Year) Biology Biology Honors PLTW: Principles of Biomedical Science

Required 9th Grade Courses Page 49 in the course guide Math Options (Full Year) Intermediate Algebra Intermediate Algebra Honors Geometry Honors Algebra 2 Honors

Required Course: PE Page 53 in the course guide 0.5 credits of Physical Education is required to graduate Students must take one of the following introductory courses to meet graduation requirements: Foundations of Fitness Individual Movement and Fitness Introduction to Weight Training and Conditioning

Electives in Many Subject Areas 9th Grade Courses Pages are marked on your blue registration sheet Electives in Many Subject Areas Business Speech Engineering Physical Education Culinary Arts Industrial Technology Agriculture Art/Music Science World Language Information Technology

Filling Out Your Registration Sheet You will have at least 6 classes Important – If you want music as a 7th class include it on 7th line Other 7th choices will be awarded on a space available basis Page 12 Career Pathways

Alternates The Alternate section on your card will be used for alternate choices in the event your first choice for an elective in line 5 and 6 are unavailable Alternates are important in the event that we have to cancel or restrict availability of a particular class Not a bad idea to have a first and second choice for your language Prioritize the order of alternatives-Pick what you would be happy with.

Balance/ Prioritize

Get Involved! In Activities & Athletics…. 25 Boys and Girls Sports Danceline Drama and Art Club Vocational and Business Clubs Model UN Service Clubs Student Council Chess Club Math League Speech Many other ways to get involved and have fun!

Returning Your Registration Form Bring completed forms with courses for 9th grade chosen to Century Panther Night on January 25 Or return it to your school by January 28 if you or your parents are unable to attend Panther Night

I wish I had known… Read EVERYTHING the teacher tells you to read, even the textbook stories. Time management Honors classes will have more homework A lot of writing (5 paragraph essays) Don’t procrastinate Group work

I wish I had known… Do the packets and worksheets Take notes It is difficult to catch up if you fall behind You need to study/review notes Important to ask for help when you need it/take advantage of the help that is offered Pay attention!! Math homework seems repetitive, gets boring, but it helps with the learning

Questions???

Contacts If you have questions please contact: Eileen Strabala-Backus, 9th grade counselor 328-5003, eistrabala-backus@rochester.k12.mn.us Kurt Verdoorn, registrar kuverdoorn@rochester.k12.mn.us Molly Murphy, 9th grade administrator momurphy@rochester.k12.mn.us