1. Ocean Springs High School
8th Grade Course Selection Presentation

2. OSHS Administrators

3. School Counselors Mrs. Shannon Pearson A-Cq Mrs. Katie Bailey Cr-Hd
Mrs. Kim Bower
He-Mb
Mr. Jason Diaz
Mc-Sc
Mrs. Karen Gifford
Sd-Z
Mrs. Julie Milanese
CTE Counselor

4. Block Schedule OSHS operates on a 4 x 4 block schedule
All 9th grade classes meet every day
You will have four classes (blocks) per day
Most classes will last either a semester or a nine weeks
After we review the courses that are available to you, we’ll take a look at what a sample schedule might look like.

5. Credits Each student has an opportunity to earn 8 credits per year.
A full credit class lasts for 18 weeks
August to December or…
January to May
A ½ credit class lasts only 9 weeks
August to October or..
October to December or…
January to March or…
March to May

6. Types of Classes Offered
Regular – requires an average amount of work and has a moderate level of difficulty; all regular coursework meets college prep requirements
Honors – these courses are taught on an accelerated level; they are rigorous and will prepare students for AP and IB courses
Advanced Placement – it is the most rigorous option for an incoming 9th grader
Dual Credit- available to grades 11 and 12; college classes taught on our campus through MGCCC; both college and high school credit awarded upon successful completion of the course
IB- available to grades 11 and 12; an entire program of courses; students should be on the honors path in 9 and 10; the most rigorous program available at OSHS
for more information

7. IB/ AP Capstone Programs
If a student is considering doing IB their junior and senior year, they should take the following courses during freshman and sophomore years:
Freshman year
Sophomore year
Algebra I (if not taken in 8th grade)
Honors Algebra II
Honors Geometry
Advanced Math Plus
Algebra III
Honors Spanish I
Spanish III
Honors Spanish II
Chemistry
Honors Biology
Honors English II
Honors English I
AP European History
AP Human Geography

8. Greyhound Guide
The Greyhound Guide can be found on your Parent Portal account or on the high school website under Counselors’ Corner
It includes:
Course description details
Graduation requirements
Requirements to enter a four year university in Mississippi

10. Course Requests
Remember that these are requests and not an actual schedule for next year. We’ll take these requests and use them to create a schedule.
Some classes are required in the 9th grade year; others may be taken at any time prior to graduation (example: Health can be taken 9-12)
When you list a class on your course requests, you are providing a commitment to taking the class
The master schedule is based upon student requests.
Students must think about their requests and choose wisely. (Schedule changes are not permitted because “I changed my mind.”)
All prerequisite grades will be based on the average of the first 3 quarters for the course.

12. English Options English 1 Honors English 1 Prerequisites:
A in 8th grade English
B in 8th grade Honors English

13. Math Order Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra 2
Math must be taken in this order:
Algebra Geometry Algebra 2

14. Math Options One math course must be selected.
Foundations of Algebra (year long course; 2 math credits)
Algebra 1 Extended (year long Algebra 1: one elective credit and one credit for Algebra 1)
Algebra 1 (semester long Algebra 1)
Placement for the above maths will be based on placement test, Math 8 average, and MAAP test
Geometry
Completion of Algebra 1 in 8th grade
Honors Geometry
80%+ Algebra 1 in 8th grade
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Geometry and 80%+ in Algebra 1 in 8th grade
If room allows, a student can choose 2 math classes if they are taking Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra 2.

15. Science Options One science course must be selected.
Foundations of Biology
Biology 1- must meet ONE of the following-
Algebra 1 in the 8th grade
90+ in 8th Grade Science
Successful completion of Honors 8th Grade Science
Honors Biology
Algebra 1 in the 8th grade AND one of the following-

16. Social Studies
Many students will not take a Social Studies course in 9th grade. However, if a student has failed or not taken one of the following courses, they should request it.
World Geography
Mississippi Studies
Honor students should consider requesting AP Human Geography. Students need an A in World Geography and A in 8th grade English to qualify for the course.

17. 9th Grade Other
Contemporary Health is a class that is required for graduation
If health will not fit in your 9th grade course requests, you will need to take it later on.
Students taking JROTC I and II do not need to sign up for Contemporary Health or PE
JROTC I and II will substitute for the health graduation requirement
All 9th graders will be enrolled in STEM.
Please note- If you do not meet the prerequisites for a course, we will adjust your requests to reflect this. Prerequisite grades will be based on first 3 quarters averages.

18. How Do I Sign Up for Athletics?
If he/she currently plays a sport and plans to play that sport next year, sign up for the appropriate Advanced Training course (example: Advanced Training Football)
Coaches will send a roster at a later time; if he/she does not make the team, we will replace Advanced Training with alternates
This applies to Football, Cheer, Dance, Baseball, Softball, Golf, Tennis, Girls/ Boys Basketball, and Girls/ Boys Soccer.

19. Band Both semesters required
Semester 1 (choose 1)
Semester 2 (choose 1)
6130 Band Marching- Woodwinds
6131 Band Marching- High Brass
6132 Band Marching- Low Brass
6133 Band Marching- Percussion
6140 Band Concert- Woodwinds
6141 Band Concert- Brass/Percussion

20. Alternates
There may be a chance that primary requests will not work in the student’s schedule.
Alternates are substituted if one of the primary requests won’t work in the schedule.
Students should choose alternates that they would be happy taking.
Students should not select the same courses in alternates as their primary requests.
Listing the same classes in both the primary and alternate sections does not increase your chances of getting in the class.
Receiving an alternate class does NOT justify a schedule change.

21. Graduation Requirements
TRADITIONAL DIPLOMA + ENDORSEMENT SELECTED
Curriculum Area
Carnegie Units
Required Subjects
Additional Requirements
English 4
- English I
-English II
Mathematics
- Algebra I
Science 3
- Biology I
Social Studies
3⅟₂
- 1 World History
- 1 U.S. History
- ⅟₂ U.S. Government
- ⅟₂ Economics
- ⅟₂ Mississippi Studies
Physical Education ⅟₂
Health
Art 1
College & Career Readiness
-Must occur in the student's junior or senior year, or in the student completion of a 4-year sequence.
Technology or Computer Science
Additional Electives
5⅟₂
Total Units Required 24
Student must identify an endorsement area prior to entering 9th grade. Endorsement requirements can only be changed with parental permission.
For Early Release and December Graduates, student must have met College or Career Readiness Benchmarks (ACT sub scores of 18 in English and 22 in Math OR Silver Level on ACT WorkKeys ) OR student must meet ALL of the following:
Have a 2.5 GPA
Passed or met all MAAP assessment requirements for graduation
On track to meet diploma requirements
Concurrently enrolled in Essentials for College Math or Essentials for College Literacy

22. Career Technical Education (CTE) Endorsement Distinguished Endorsement
Endorsement Options
Career Technical Education (CTE) Endorsement
Academic Endorsement
Distinguished Endorsement
Traditional diploma
World Geography
2.5 GPA
3.33 GPA
Complete a 2 year CTE program
2 ½ Additional Electives
6 ½ total Additional Elective (4 being 5.0 or 6.0 courses)
Silver on ACT WorkKeys
IHL ACT Benchmarks (Math: 19, English: 17)
National ACT Benchmarks (Math: 22, English: 18)
National Credential OR Career Pathways Experience
C or higher in AP, IB, or Dual Credit Course
B or higher in 3 AP, IB, or Dual Credit Courses
28 Credits
32 Credits

23. Choosing an Endorsement
When submitting course requests, Power School will require you to select the endorsement you have chosen before submitting course requests.

24. Career Technical Center
Course options
Aquaculture
Auto service
Construction trades
Culinary
Early Childhood Education
Engineering/ Robotics
Health sciences
Teacher Academy
9th graders are allowed to signup for Construction Trades
CTE representatives are available for questions in the hallway.

29. Leadership Reaction Course

32. Military Ball

33. State Drill Competition