REGISTERING FOR HIGH SCHOOL

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REGISTERING FOR HIGH SCHOOL

• Information for Parents of 8th Graders

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Getting the Big Picture

• High School Is About

EARNING CREDITS AND GETTING INVOLVED
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EARNING CREDITS

• Credits are earned at the end of each semester.
• Full-year courses, like English, are worth 1
  credit (½ in the Fall, ½ in the Spring)
• Some courses, like Speech, are ½ credit
• A minimum grade of 70 is required
• Attendance is tied to credits.

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Recommended Plan(26 Credits)

• English 4 Credits
• Math 4 Credits
• Science 4 Credits
• Social Studies 4 Credits

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• LOTE 2 Credits
• (Student must take 2 years of the same foreign
  language)
• PE 1.5 Credits
• (Can come from PE/Foundations, athletics, or
  substitutions)
• Fine Arts 1 Credit
• (Art, Band, Choir, Dance, Orchestra, Theater)
• Computer 1 Credit

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• Speech 0.5 Credit
• Health 0.5 Credit
• Electives 3.5 Credits
• TOTAL 26 Credits

To graduate, students must also pass all four
parts of Exit-Level TAKS.
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side note

• There are three graduation plans. Page 1 in the
  course guide has details.
• Recommended Plan (26 credits)
• Minimum Plan (22 credits)
• Distinguished Achievement Plan (26 credits plus
  additional measures)
• See page 4 in the Course Guide to make a personal
  four-year plan

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Moving on Up
Becoming a sophomore, a junior, or a senior is
still about credits ...
9th Grade first year 0 to 5.5 credits 10th
Grade second year 6 to 11 credits 11th
Grade third year 12 to 17.5 credits 12th
Grade fourth year 18 credits
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A Freshman Schedule

• BHS and RHS have a 7-period day, so students will
  need to select 7 classes.
• For the core subjects, choose regular or Pre-AP.
• English I
• Algebra I or Geometry (if ALG 1 was taken in 8th
  grade)
• IPC (regular only) or Biology (Pre-AP)
• World Geography

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A Freshman Schedule

• For the remaining 3 classes, students can choose
  from other courses required for graduation or
  from electives of interest.

• Consider taking fine arts, speech, health,
  technology, PE, foundations, athletics
• If youve already taken Spanish 1, sign up for
  Spanish 2 (regular or Pre-AP)
• Electives can be found in the course guide.

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another side note

• Athletes must register for the specific sport(s)
  they play, get a physical, and meet with HS
  coaches
• It is not required that students start their
  second language in 9th grade
• Be sure to choose electives that are approved for
  9th grade students

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Lets review ...

• A freshman needs 7 classes
• 1 -- English
• 2 -- Math
• 3 -- Science
• 4 -- Social Studies
• 5 -- Elective
• 6 -- Elective
• 7 -- Elective

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GETTING INVOLVED

• This is an important part of the high school
  experience. Programs include
• AVID, Auto, Athletic Training, Band, BCHS,
  Catering, Choir, Construction, Cosmetology,
  Criminal Justice, Debate, Drill Team,
  Hammond-Oliver, IB, Journalism, Orchestra,
  PALs, Peacekeepers, ROTC, Sports, Theater,
  Welding
• these programs require an application

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Striking a Balance

• No one knows your child better than you.
• A challenging course load is good.
• Points to consider as you decide between regular
  and Pre-AP classes.
• Good study habits are needed for Pre-AP
• Activities and responsibilities
• Aptitudes and interests

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Whats Next?

• Representatives from various programs will visit
  middle schools in the next few weeks.
• High school academic advisors will register 8th
  graders for 9th grade classes Feb. 2-13.

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Whats Next?

• Consider taking summer school courses to get
  ahead
• In June self-paced program
• Registration will be in May
• Courses typically offered speech, health,
  foundations, government, economics, art, and
  technology

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a final side note

• Its important to think carefully about course
  selections
• You can change your mind about your schedule as
  long as you do so BEFORE the first day of a
  semester
• Course verifications will be mailed home
• Schedule pickup is in August

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Transferring

• Students will register for courses at the high
  school to which they are zoned.
• The deadline for transfer requests is April 1,
  2009.
• For more information, contact Angela Wells at
  209-7070 or awells_at_bryanisd.org

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QUESTIONS?
Check out the BHS academic advising website at
http//fc.bryanisd.org/BHSCounselors/ Visit the
Rudder High School website at http//fc.bryanisd.
org/rudder