1. “It‘ll Be Here Before You Know It!” What you’ll need to know to get your child ready for High School

2. Private School or Voorhees??? No Matter Where You Go… Most major decisions (by parents, students and teachers) are made before mid to late January Most major decisions (by parents, students and teachers) are made before mid to late January Therefore, what happens in the first and second marking periods of 8 th grade is very important! Therefore, what happens in the first and second marking periods of 8 th grade is very important!

3. Private High Schools Some students (usually about 20%) are considering going to private high schools Some students (usually about 20%) are considering going to private high schools Parents are responsible for researching school options and getting their applications to the private school on time Parents are responsible for researching school options and getting their applications to the private school on time

4. Private School Requirements Vary Some schools require admissions tests, some don’t Some schools require admissions tests, some don’t Most schools require letters of recommendation, some don’t Most schools require letters of recommendation, some don’t Schools have different deadlines for material submission Schools have different deadlines for material submission Some have paper applications, some are electronic applications Some have paper applications, some are electronic applications

5. What OTS Does Contacts area high schools, and develops a list of all deadline dates, which is distributed to teachers Contacts area high schools, and develops a list of all deadline dates, which is distributed to teachers Manages requests for transcripts Manages requests for transcripts Coordinates teacher/staff letters of recommendation Coordinates teacher/staff letters of recommendation Tracks materials, and follows up if materials don’t arrive at the school on time Tracks materials, and follows up if materials don’t arrive at the school on time Sends student records to the school of choice after graduation Sends student records to the school of choice after graduation

6. Private Schools Schools have different ways of handling applications and making decisions about admissions, such as: Rolling admissions Rolling admissions Early Admissions Early Admissions Staggered admissions Staggered admissions One deadline date for everyone One deadline date for everyone-

7. Private School Requirements All schools require transcripts from the middle schools. These include report cards and standardized test scores.

8. Letters of Recommendation Schools that require letters usually want at least two, one from a math teacher and one from a language arts teacher Schools that require letters usually want at least two, one from a math teacher and one from a language arts teacher Some schools will ask for additional letters of recommendation Some schools will ask for additional letters of recommendation

9. Who Should I Ask? Most schools prefer letters from current (8 th grade) teachers after the end of the first marking period Most schools prefer letters from current (8 th grade) teachers after the end of the first marking period If a letter is needed before the end of October, students should ask their seventh grade teacher If a letter is needed before the end of October, students should ask their seventh grade teacher If additional letters are required or recommended, consider which teachers or coaches your child has a good relationship with If additional letters are required or recommended, consider which teachers or coaches your child has a good relationship with

10. How To Get A Letter Of Recommendation - Paper All Letter of Recommendation and Transcript requests are routed through the Guidance Office. Teachers are instructed not to accept requests directly from students or parents All Letter of Recommendation and Transcript requests are routed through the Guidance Office. Teachers are instructed not to accept requests directly from students or parents Fill out forms (student name, address, etc) in advance Fill out forms (student name, address, etc) in advance Indicate what teacher you are requesting the recommendation from Indicate what teacher you are requesting the recommendation from

11. How To Get A Letter Of Recommendation - Paper Include a stamped, addressed envelope for each teacher recommendation Include a stamped, addressed envelope for each teacher recommendation Include a large manila envelope with three stamps for Transcript requests Include a large manila envelope with three stamps for Transcript requests

12. Letters of Recommendations - Electronic Requests Notify the guidance office before sending requests electronically to teachers. Teachers will wait for a “go ahead” from guidance before completing these. Notify the guidance office before sending requests electronically to teachers. Teachers will wait for a “go ahead” from guidance before completing these. An addressed manilla envelope with three stamps is still required for transcripts An addressed manilla envelope with three stamps is still required for transcripts

13. Letters of Recommendation Letters of Recommendation are confidential, although teachers may choose to verbally share what they wrote with a parent or student

14. Why Can’t I Just Give the Form (or Make the Request) Directly to the Teacher ? The Guidance Office manages and tracks all letters of recommendation and transcript requests The Guidance Office manages and tracks all letters of recommendation and transcript requests This lets us check that all necessary components are in order This lets us check that all necessary components are in order This enables us to follow up easily if a letter or file doesn’t arrive at the school This enables us to follow up easily if a letter or file doesn’t arrive at the school This helps us be aware of where students are applying and who is writing letters for them This helps us be aware of where students are applying and who is writing letters for them

15. Once You’ve Been Accepted….. Let the Guidance Office know in writing what school your child has been accepted to and plans to attend Let the Guidance Office know in writing what school your child has been accepted to and plans to attend This ensures that your child’s school records will be forwarded to that school at the end of the year, rather than to Voorhees High School This ensures that your child’s school records will be forwarded to that school at the end of the year, rather than to Voorhees High School

16. One Last Note Even if your child is planning on going to a private high school, we require them to participate in the Voorhees High School Registration and Course Selection Process. Plans do change!

17. Going to Voorhees? TIMELINE - 1 st Marking Period - 8 th grade teachers are getting to know their students - November - Parent/Teacher Conferences. Some initial, tentative conversations may begin to take place regarding potential placement options. These are not promises!!

18. Timeline – con’t Late November - The Voorhees Student Registration Form, and information regarding the high school transition process is mailed home The Voorhees Student Registration Form, and information regarding the high school transition process is mailed home Early December - Voorhees High School Registration Forms are due back to the OTS Guidance Office Voorhees High School Registration Forms are due back to the OTS Guidance Office

19. Timeline – con’t Early – Mid December Informational meetings are held at OTS for parents and students. Informational meetings are held at OTS for parents and students. These meetings give an overview of : These meetings give an overview of : High School Graduation Requirements High School Graduation Requirements Required courses Required courses Electives Electives How Voorhees organizes student schedules How Voorhees organizes student schedules Course levels Course levels General General College Prep College Prep Honors Honors Advanced Placement Advanced Placement The course selection process The course selection process

20. Timeline – con’t Mid December - Academic Assessment Form is filled out Academic Assessment Form is filled out One portion is completed by students regarding the effort they put into school work, and their tentative plans One portion is completed by students regarding the effort they put into school work, and their tentative plans One portion is completed by the OTS School Counselor. It includes One portion is completed by the OTS School Counselor. It includes 7 th and 8 th grade grades 7 th and 8 th grade grades 6 th and 7 th grade standardized test scores 6 th and 7 th grade standardized test scores This form is forwarded to Voorhees High School, and can also be shared with OTS Teachers who might want more information before finalizing placement decisions

21. Timeline – con’t Early January Parent Orientation at Voorhees High School Parent Orientation at Voorhees High School Student Orientation at Voorhees High School Student Orientation at Voorhees High School - Course Selection Guides become available - Course Selection Guides become available These orientations include a tour of the school and an overview of the scheduling process, course selection process and transitioning into high school. Heavy emphasis is placed at these Voorhees meetings on elective options.

22. Timeline – con’t Early January (con’t) - 8 th grade teachers finalize their decisions regarding course level placements, and communicate these to students - Students make decisions regarding electives - 8 th Grade Teachers and OTS Guidance Counselor meet again with students to discuss placement and give instructions on how to fill out the forms

23. Timeline – con’t Mid January Students pick their courses and secure teacher signatures on their Voorhees High School Scheduling Contract. This should be done in consultation with teachers Students pick their courses and secure teacher signatures on their Voorhees High School Scheduling Contract. This should be done in consultation with teachers TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE APPROVAL FOR All ACADEMIC COURSE SELECTIONS Scheduling Contracts are turned in to the OTS Guidance Office, and forwarded to Voorhees Scheduling Contracts are turned in to the OTS Guidance Office, and forwarded to Voorhees

24. Timeline – Con’t Late January Late January Students meet with Voorhees High School Guidance Counselors to review their course selections Students meet with Voorhees High School Guidance Counselors to review their course selections Third and Fourth Marking Periods - Teachers and students can reconsider their placement recommendations. However, there is no guarantee that Voorhees High School will honor these requests. Third and Fourth Marking Periods - Teachers and students can reconsider their placement recommendations. However, there is no guarantee that Voorhees High School will honor these requests.

25. Spring - Spring - Visit from SHIP (Student High School Integration Program) Visit from SHIP (Student High School Integration Program) Visit from Voorhees fall coaches Visit from Voorhees fall coaches Let coaches know if you are interested in playing a fall sport Let coaches know if you are interested in playing a fall sport Late May/June - Math Placement Test. This can affect class placement. Late May/June - Math Placement Test. This can affect class placement. Note - 8 th grade Math placement impacts 9 th grade Math options Note - 8 th grade Math placement impacts 9 th grade Math options Timeline – Con’t

26. Timeline – con’t Mid to Late August – Mid to Late August – Students receive copies of their schedules Students receive copies of their schedules Fall Sports begin Fall Sports begin Freshman Orientation Freshman Orientation High School Begins! High School Begins!

27. SCHOOL CHOICE Voorhees is NOT a Choice School Voorhees is NOT a Choice School Only students who reside within the Voorhees sending district may register Only students who reside within the Voorhees sending district may register OTS choice students who live outside the Voorhees sending district must register with their town’s high school OTS choice students who live outside the Voorhees sending district must register with their town’s high school

28. Computer Science and Software Design Program A new, 4 year program has recently been developed for students with strong academics A new, 4 year program has recently been developed for students with strong academics Students are enrolled at Voorhees, but attend Del Val High School for the full day, where they take their academic classes Students are enrolled at Voorhees, but attend Del Val High School for the full day, where they take their academic classes They receive a specialized program focusing on Computer Science and Software Design, along with all of their academic courses They receive a specialized program focusing on Computer Science and Software Design, along with all of their academic courses

29. BEST OF LUCK TO THE CLASS OF 2016