1. Waukegan High School

2.  Two times each year, counselors will provide engagement sessions within the classroom or computer lab.  Overview of Guidance Curriculum:  Sophomore Year: Focus is placed on strengthening & developing the individual program and in career exploration and building self-esteem.  Junior Year: Emphasis during this year is on students doing career planning and searching for possible schools after high school. Juniors are also eligible to sit for college entrance exams including the ACT and SAT.

3.  Senior Year: Counselors will conduct individual conferences with students in the fall to discuss the student’s plans after high school. Second semester will focus on financing your education i.e. FAFSA, scholarships.

4.  School counselors at Waukegan High School provide assistance to students in planning their four years of high school and helping students to prepare for life after high school.  High school counselors assist students with the creation of an individualized planning experience.  This process evolves throughout the high school years.

5.  Sophomore Year  Lit/Comp 10  Geometry or Alg. 2  Government/Geography  Earth Science or Chemistry  PE/Drivers Ed. or Lead  Elective (Fine Arts or Voc. or Tech)  Elective (Foreign Language 2nd year)  Lunch

6.  Junior Year  Lit/Comp 11  Alg. 2 or Pre-Calc.  U.S. History  Biology  PE/Drivers Ed. or Lead  Consumer Ed.  Elective (Fine Arts or Voc. or Tech)  Elective (Foreign Language 3rd year)  Lunch

7.  Senior Year  Lit/Comp 12  Math Elective  Social Science Elective  Science Elective  PE/Drivers Ed. or Lead  Elective (Fine Arts or Voc. or Tech)  Elective (Foreign Language 4th year)  Lunch

8. To graduate, WHS students must have a minimum of 22 credits from courses taken during their high school years. Within these 22 credits, the following subject areas are required:  English-4.0 credits  Math -3.0 credits  Science -3.0 credits  Social Studies -3.0 credits  PE -4.0 credits (includes 0.5 health class)  Foreign Language/Vocational AND/OR Fine Arts -2.0 credits  Consumer Ed -0.5 credit  22 total credits

9.  English: 4.0 credits  Mathematics: 4.0 credits  Science: 4.0 credits  Social Science: 4.0 credits  One World Language: 4.0 credits  Humanities/Fine Arts: 1.0 credit  Critical Thinking & Speech: 1.0 credit  Electives: 2.0 credits (minimum)  Advanced Placement (AP) Courses (recommended)  26 total credits

10.  Suggested course load for students planning to attend college:  English (4 years)  Social Studies (3-4 years)  Science (3-4 years)  Mathematics (3-4 years)  Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus  World Language (2-4 years of the same language)

11.  Take Consumer Ed. the first two years if possible.  Any failed classes should first be taken in summer school. It is the BEST way to get on track to graduate.  Students will have to pay fees to retake any previously failed PE class.

12.  You earn.50 credit for each class you pass during 1 st semester and again during 2 nd semester, earning a total of 1.0 credit for each class that school year. Therefore, since most students take 7 classes each year, you can earn 7.0 credits each school year.  Earning credits are necessary for promotion to the next grade level (junior status).  In fact, if you want your ID and schedule next year to identify you as grade “11”, you will need to earn a minimum of 11.0 credits by the end of your sophomore year. Otherwise, you will be listed as a tenth grader again.

13.  The credit classifications are as follows:  Sophomore: 5.5 credits  Junior: 11.0 credits  Senior: 16.5 credits

14.  If a failure occurs, it is strongly encouraged that you attend summer school. It is the best way to stay on track towards meeting graduation requirements and avoid losing an elective during the school year.  If you’re struggling in any classes, don’t wait to ask for help. It’s important that you keep an open communication with your teachers and counselor so that we can help you stay on track.

15.  The grades you earn now will follow you throughout high school and beyond. A major part of the college application process includes sending your high school transcript in order for colleges to review your grades and determine whether you’re ready to be successful in college courses. It’s never too early to begin preparing for your future. In fact, now is the time!  Good grades=more opportunities  Good grades=more $$$  Good grades=greater independence

16.  Get involved! Joining an organization, playing a sport, volunteering, or getting a part time job are all excellent ways to begin discovering your interests and possibly help in determining what you want to do when you leave high school.  It’s not the number of activities that counts; it’s your dedication and commitment to even just a few that grabs colleges’ attention.

17.  Verbal Skills  Read voraciously, at least 100 pages a week of unassigned reading. Diversify your reading – read a daily newspaper, some magazines and even some classics.  Develop your strengths and work on your writing flaws. Accept writing as a life skill. Use a variety of sources for reports.  Continue a foreign language.

18.  Interests and Activities  Choose activities that you have enjoyed or found worthwhile. Continue to contribute to your community.  Continue your exploration of careers. Talk to your counselor. Find out what career information is available at your high school or public library.  Appreciate diversity: people, activities and experiences. Develop skills. Remember that playing computer games is not computer programming.  Begin to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

19.  Steps Toward College  Meet with your counselor. Find out what you need to prepare yourself for college. Take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) to prepare yourself for college entrance exams. If you don’t get the score you expect, this is the time to work on your skills. Set up a strategy to deal with your weak areas or expand on your strengths.  Find out about college. Talk to people attending college.  Check out college web sites.  Explore special interest programs during the summer.  Most colleges require two years of the same foreign language for admissions, and even those colleges that do not have specific admission requirements in language recognize the importance of foreign language and cultural studies.

20.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions!!! Counselors, teachers, administrators are here to help….  Questions???  Contact Info.  apolonsky@wps60.org apolonsky@wps60.org  224-303-3143