DAMASCUS HIGH SCHOOL 9TH GRADE PARENT MEETING

1
DAMASCUS HIGH SCHOOL9TH GRADE PARENT MEETING
2
COUNSELING OFFICE

• Counselors
• A-Ba Mr. Peelman
• Be-E Mr. Higgins
• F-Kh Mrs. Djouha
• Ki-O Mr. Smith
• P-Sa Mrs. Poker
• Sc-Z Mrs. Villani

3
COUNSELING OFFICE

• Registrar
• - Mrs. Burkey 301-253-7041
• Counseling Office Secretary
• - Mrs. Nelson 301-253-7037
• Career Center
• - Mr. Ed Martin 301-253-7045

4
Counseling Office Agenda

• Final exams
• Increased workload and difficulty
• Academic Eligibility
• Attendance and LC Information

5
Counseling Office Agenda

• Graduation Requirements with HSA
• Summer School
• Transcript Information
• PSAT, SAT, and ACT
• Registration Procedures for 9th into 10th Grade

6
Final Exam Schedule

• January 13-14 Review Days
• January 15 1st and 7th exams
• January 18 Holiday (MLK Day)
• January 19 2nd and 6th exams
• January 20 3rd and 5th exams
• January 21 4th and Make-up exams
• January 22 -- Make-up exams
• January 25 No School Report Card Prep. Day
• January 26 -- 2nd Semester Begins
• Daily Exam Schedule
• 725 930 - Exam 1
• 930 1000 - Break/Study
• 1000 1200 - Exam 2

7
Increased Difficulty 9th Grade

• Increase in amount of work and difficulty of work
• Long-term assignments
• 2nd Quarter versus 1st Quarter
• Communications with teacher/counselor
• -EdLine, DHS site, e-mail, progress reports,
• interims, PTSA newsletter, parent meetings
• Honor Roll requirements

8
Academic Eligibility

• Eligibility is determined each quarter
• Must achieve a minimum of 2.0 for the quarter no
  more than one E
• Ineligibility remains in effect until the next
  quarter report card is distributed

9
Attendance and LC

• Must turn in absence notes within three school
  days of absence (even if called in by parent)
• After three unexcused absences, an LC warning
  letter is sent home
• After five unexcused absences, an LC letter is
  sent home
• Three unexcused tardies equal one unexcused
  absence
• Appeal Process is available

10
Summer School

• When is summer school necessary?
• -English, Math, Prerequisites,Total Credits
• Locations and costs
• -Limited offerings, provide own
  transportation
• -Last years summer school cost was 265 per
• course
• Registration Procedures
• Calendar for summer school

11
Transcripts

• Transcripts include the following info
• - Semester courses and semester grades
• - Cumulative GPA and cumulative WGPA
• - Attendance Record
• - Student Service Learning Hours
• - Graduation Summary
• - High School Assessment Results

12
PSAT

• Test October 14th
• PSAT automatic in 10th (free) 11th fee
• PSAT Day activities for 9th Grade Students
• - class meeting, meet with counselors,
• career technology presentations,
• Connections
• DHS courses to assist SAT Prep, more rigorous
  courses (Honors and Advanced Placement)
• Official test to qualify for National Merit
  Scholarships for 11th Grade

13
The SAT

• Math
• - No quantitative comparisons
• - Algebra 2 included
• - Testing time is reduced by 5 minutes
• Critical Reading (replaces Verbal)
• - No more analogies
• - More passage-based reading questions
• - Testing time is reduced by 5 minutes

14
The SAT

• Writing Component/Multiple Choice Section
• - Multiple Choice- improving sentences and
• paragraphs (25 minutes)
• - Student written essay- communicating a
• viewpoint (25 minutes)
• Cost is 45.00

15
ACT

• ACT changed in Spring, 2005
• - Writing section is optional
• - Increasing number of schools are
• accepting it
• - More achievement-oriented test
• - Cost is 47.00 no writing 32.00

16
DHS COURSE REGISTRATION

• Course level recommendations done by 1st semester
  teachers in January
• Registration materials to students in late
  February
• Students return completed and signed registration
  card in early March
• Course offering booklet distributed to all DHS
  students during registration
• More course offerings available to 10th graders

17
Graduation Requirements

• 4 credits in English
• 3 credits in Social Studies (U.S. History, NSL
  Government (or AP NSL), Modern World History (or
  AP World History)
• 4 credits in Math (Algebra and Geometry required)
• 3 credits in Science (Biology and a physical
  science required)
• 1 credit in Physical Education

18
Graduation Requirements(continued)

• .5 credit in Health (10th Grade)
• 1 credit in Fine Arts
• 1 credit in Technology
• One of the following
• - 2 credits in a Foreign Language
• - 2 credits in Advanced Technology
• - 4 credits in a Career Completer

19
Graduation Requirements(continued)

• 22 Total credits
• 75 hours of Student Service Learning Hours
• AND

20
Graduation Requirements

• TAKE AND PASS ALL HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS (HSA)
• English 10, NSL, Biology, Algebra

21
HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS

• Pass
• Algebra 1 412
• Biology 400
• English 10 396
• NSL Government 394
• TOTAL 1602

22
Factors in College Admission

• Considerable Importance
• - Honors and Advanced Placement Courses
• - Grades in College Prep Courses
• - Standardized Admissions Tests
• - Grades in All Classes
• Moderate Importance
• - Class Rank (MCPS does not rank students)
• - Essay or Writing Sample
• - Counselor Recommendation
• - Teacher Recommendation
• - Work/Extracurricular Activities

23
Factors in College Admission

• Limited Importance
• - Alumni Relation
• Very Limited Importance
• - Interview
• - Students Demonstrated Interest
• - State Graduation Exam Scores
• - Subject Tests (SAT II, AP, IB)
• - Race/Ethnicity
• - Ability to Pay
• - State or County of Residence

24
University of MarylandCollege Park

• 103 Students applied to Maryland
• 64 Students were admitted
• 38 Admitted in Fall 26 Admitted in Spring
• 38 Admitted in Fall
• - 4.15 WGPA 1285 SAT
• 26 Admitted in Spring
• - 3.91 WGPA 1168 SAT

25
IMPORTANT DATES

• October 6 - Interims Mailed
• October 14 - PSAT (Special Schedule)
• October 19-24 - Homecoming Week
• October 30 - 1st Marking Period Ends
• November 2 - No School Professional
  Day
• November 11 - Report Cards Distributed in
  School
• November 24 - Progress Reports
  Distributed
• November 25 - Early Release Day
• November 26-27 - Thanksgiving Break
• December 11 - 2nd Qt. Interims Mailed
• December 24- - Winter Break
• January 3
• January 15 - Semester Exams Begin