1. Welcome to high school and yes…9th Grade Matters!

2. “9th Grade Matters”
Classes taken in 9th grade count toward graduation, your cumulative GPA (grade point average) and college entrance.
If you do not successfully complete a course (65+) that is required for graduation, you must make it up.
In your schedule for the next year OR
Summer school
(summer school may or may not be available…don’t rely on summer school for credit recovery)

3. High School Graduation Requirements
Must complete 22 Credits
4 credits of English
3 credits of Math
4 credits of History
3 credits of Science ( 1 yr. Life, 1 yr. Physical)
2 credits of P.E. (over 4 years)
1 credit of Fine Arts (Studio Art, DDP, Band or Chorus)
1 credit of Foreign Language (7th & 8th grade)
1/2 credit of Health
Elective credits to get to 22 credits or more
Must Pass the required New York State Exams with a 65 or better (Unless stated otherwise on IEP or 504 plan)

4. Grading and what it means for me….
You must pass both the courses and the Regents exams that you take in order to graduate.
For each course that you are taking you will receive a grade for each of the 4 Marking Periods, a Final Exam grade, and a Final average.
The 4 marking period grades and the Final exam grade (Regents exam or locally developed exam) will each count as 20% of your final average for the course. ( =415, divided by 5 = 83 average)
Passing grade for a course is 65. Only the Final exam grades and the Final average appear on the High School Transcript. Marking period grades do not.
Example: You pass Living Environment course with a 68 average but receive a 59 on the Living Environment Regents exam. You would not need to retake the course but you would need to retake the exam. The opposite is also true. If you have a final average in the Living Environment course of 59 but pass the exam with a 68, you would not need to retake the exam but you would need to retake the course.

5. Required Regents exams (Pathways to Graduation) as of 4/8/2015:
Regents Exam Grades and Requirements:
Required Regents exams (Pathways to Graduation) as of 4/8/2015:
Students who first enter 9th grade in September 2011 and thereafter have the following options available in order to meet the assessment requirements leading to a Regents or Local Diploma:
4 REQUIRED REGENTS EXAMS: (Must pass with 65 or better unless stated on IEP or 504 plan)
ELA REGENTS EXAM (11TH Grade)
1 SCIENCE EXAM (Typically 9TH OR 10TH Grade)
1 MATH EXAM (Typically 9TH OR 10TH Grade)
1 SOCIAL STUDIES EXAM (Typically 10th or 11th grade)
PLUS ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ASSESSMENTS:
Additional Math (Geometry or Algebra II/Trig)
Additional Science (Living Env., Earth Science, Chemistry or Physics)
Additional Social Studies (US History)
Additional English approved by NYSED
NYSED approved CTE pathway assessment and program completion
NYSED approved pathway assessment in the Arts
NYSED approved pathway assessment in a Language other than English

6. Diploma types offered by New York State Department of Education and Poland Central School:
Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential
Career Development and Occupational Studies Credential (CDOS)
Local Diploma (Use of safety net assessment for IEP/504 Students)
Regents Diploma (65 or better on Required Assessments)
Regents Diploma with Honors (Average of 90+ on Required Assessments)
Advanced Regents Diploma (65 or better on Required Assessments plus additional assessments)
Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors (Average of 90+ on Required Assessments plus additional assessments)
Advanced Regents Diploma with Mastery in Math and/or Science
Mastery in Math (3 math exams all with scores of 85 or better)
Mastery in Science (3 science exams all with scores of 85 or better)
Advanced Regents Diploma with Mastery in Math and/or Science with Honors
Average of all assessments is 90+

7. 9th Grade Success Do the best you can! Ask questions/get help!
Use time wisely – Advisement Period
Remember if you don’t like your class the first time, you’re not going to like it any better the second time around.
Questions/concerns regarding a course or your schedule…make an appointment with Mrs. Watrous to discuss your academic concerns.

8. Go to class prepared
Attendance is extremely important to the success of any high school student!! You have to be here to learn! At 18 absences credit can be denied.
Being prepared for class is also important. Students must bring textbook, paper, pens/pencils, notebook/binder, calculator, etc.
Notebook should be organized- something your parents/guardians can help with at home if needed.
Periodically clean out backpacks and lockers.

9. Successful attitude
Not only should you be prepared for class but you need to come to class with a good attitude, and an open mind ready to learn something new!
Be on time to class
Actively listen
Be engaged (positively) in the classroom discussion
Participate in the classroom activity
Use your time wisely – if the teacher gives you time to work on an assignment/homework – USE IT!

10. Questions and Extra help
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Teachers are there to help
If you don’t ask questions they may not know that you need the help!
Extra help is available in several ways:
Help from your teacher (before or after school or at lunch/planning) – Just check with your teacher for what works best
Advisement Period – get a pass to see the teacher of the course you are struggling with.
AIS – specific class assigned for help
Student tutors – request one in the Guidance Office

11. Daily Homework
All homework assignments should be written in your Agenda Book & completed on a daily basis.
Homework needs to be completed daily
Helps prepare you for the quizzes and tests
Like practicing an instrument or sport
If you miss school, you need to make up the work that you missed. Parents can call Mrs. Rommel and request homework.

12. Sample Planner Period Class/ Teacher Assignment 1 P.E./ Mr. Potempa
Complete short essay 2
Living Environment/ Mrs. Meyer
Read Chapter 3 complete review questions 1-6 3
Language Arts/ Mr. Gagnon
Write one paragraph about personal success story 4
Algebra/ Mrs. Tullar
Complete review wksht. and Ch. 4 questions pg. 115 questions 1-5 5
Global Studies 9/ Mrs. Oczkowski
Complete chapter 5, answer questions 1-5 7
Health/ Mrs. Hitt
Read chapter 6 and complete questions 1-10 8
Studyhall
Work on Science and Social Studies 9
Band
Practice 20 min

13. Where to do homework? Quiet place to study
At a desk or table or place where you will have limited interruptions
No television, phone, radio, i-pod, internet, video games

14. Notes – Assigned Readings
Review class notes the day you write them
Re-write if not clearly organized
Make flashcards of important facts
Don’t wait until the night before a test
Survey a chapter before you read it, look at the review questions at the end so you are able to identify the important facts while reading the chapter. Re-read a chapter for clarification.

15. Resources Available
Weekly progress reports – some teachers will print out a
weekly grade report automatically, otherwise you may ask for
one from your teacher.
Stay informed with Parent Portal in SchoolTool – see
assignments and grades, teachers, etc.
Teachers are willing to help – all you need to do is ask!
Make an appointment or stop in and see…
Counselor – Mrs. Watrous
Social Worker – Mrs. LaPlante or Ms. Schneider
Principal – Mr. Cuthbertson
Talk with your Parents/Guardians about your concerns.

16. Academic Success Survey – Self-evaluation
Take a moment and ask yourself these questions…
On average how many minutes/hours a night do you spend on homework? *Compare this to time on phone/social media, xbox, playing sports, etc.
What time do you do your homework?
Do you have a quiet place to study?
Have you ever attended tutoring?
How do you keep track of your grades?
Do I pay attention and participate in class?
Do I ask for clarification if I don’t understand something?
Have you ever asked for weekly progress reports?
Depending on the answer to these questions you may find areas where
you could make adjustments to be more successful.

17. What to look forward to in High School…
Wide variety of courses to be taken – including courses for college credit!!
Opportunity to attend Career Tech Center to learn a skill in a specific trade area!
Opportunities to be involved in numerous class and club activities!
Opportunities to be involved on an Athletic team!

18. Courses offered in High School at PCS
Courses offered in High School at PCS! There are numerous courses offered for you to take advantage of while in high school:
CollegeNOW Public Speaking
CollegeNOW Literature
CollegeNOW Writing
Pre-Calculus (College or local credit)
Calculus (College or local credit)
CollegeNOW Statistics
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
CollegeNOW Geology
CollegeNOW Anatomy and Nutrition
Forensic Science
CollegeNOW Introduction to Psychology
History Through Film
CollegeNOW Introduction to Sociology
CollegeNOW Social Problems
Band
Chorus
Music Theory
Studio Art
Drawing and Painting (College/local credit)
Sculpture
Pottery (College or local credit)
Digital Photography (College/local credit)
Adobe Photoshop
AP Studio Art (Drawing, 2D and 3D)
DDP
Architectural Drawing
Technical Drawing
Computer Assisted Design
Principles of Engineering
Materials Processing
Construction
Accounting
Business Law
Sports and Entertainment Marketing
Career and Financial Management

19. Career and Technical Education
What is Career Technical Education-
CTE is a program that offers a variety of classes. CTE is housed out of Herkimer BOCES and students can attend during their Junior and Senior years. A visit to CTE will occur during 10th grade for interested students.
Purpose is to help prepare students for college and careers (marketable skills & strong work ethic).
Offers students hands on experience needed to get and keep a job in that career area.
Students will learn new skills, train for a career, or build on your current skills.

20. Club Opportunities now that you are in High School:
Color Guard
Drama Club
Envirothon Team
French Club
National Honor Society
Mock Trial
Peer Leaders
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Science Club
Skate Club
Ski Club
Spanish Club
Spring Musical
Student Council
Tri-M Music Honor Society
Varsity Club
Yearbook

21. Remember the key to success over the next 4 year’s is to…
Determine a goal- “I want to… graduate, go to college, go in the military…”
Develop a tentative plan to reach that goal.
Have a backup plan.
Consider all your options and revise the plan as needed.
Work hard – always keeping your goal in mind!
Be involved in your education!
Ask for help if you need it –
use the resources available to you!!

22. It is going to be a great year!!
For a copy of this presentation or for more information regarding graduation requirements, college planning, etc., please visit the “Guidance (MS/HS)” page on the Poland School Website at
It is going to be a great year!!