Information Night for Parents of Rising Freshmen

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Information Night for Parents of Rising Freshmen

• Briar Woods High School

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The Class of 2009

• 71 are attending 4-year colleges
• 20 are attending 2-year school
• 2 are in the military and other post- secondary
  training/schools
• 6.5 went directly into the work force

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The Class of 2009

• Earned over 2.3 million dollars in scholarships
  and grant (274 seniors)
• Almost 70 enrolled in one or more Advanced
  Placement classes while in high school

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College University Attendance

• Our students have been accepted by 252 colleges
  and universities.
• Our graduates attend school in 27 different
  states and three countries outside the United
  States

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College University Attendance

• Notable schools outside of Virginia
• Duke Boston University
• M.I.T. UCLA
• Wake Forest Washington University
• Northwestern Vanderbilt
• The Air Force Academy Univ. of Southern Cal
• UNC - Chapel Hill Yale
• NYU Temple
• Cornell NYC Fashion Institute
• Elon Univ. of Chicago

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Upcoming Meetings

• April Athletics Activities EXPO
• May Sports meeting for parents
• See BWHSports.org
• Week before school begins
• Freshman Orientation
• Parent Meeting
• First week of school
• Freshman meeting
• Monitor our website and look-out for our
  newsletter!

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Agenda

• Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process
• Diploma Types Graduation Requirements
• Course Options for Rising 9th Grade Students

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Scheduling Process

• BWHS counselors visited the middle schools
• February 19 22 Eagle Ridge
• February 22 23 Stone Hill

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Scheduling Process

• Students received the 2010-2011 Program of
  Studies course selection information
• Counselors reviewed
• Transitioning to high school
• Graduation requirements
• The high school schedule
• Advanced Placement courses
• Activities sports
• Classes for next year

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Scheduling Process

• There is a different process for scheduling at
  each middle school
• The end result is the same Students and parents
  will select their courses with the input and
  assistance of their counselors and teachers

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Scheduling Process at Stone Hill

• BWHS counselors reviewed course options with
  students
• Students will meet with SHMS counselors
• SHMS counselors will present students with their
  core course recommendations
• SHMS counselors will help students pick their
  electives using Family Connection
• Students will bring home a print-out of these
  courses for your final approval

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Scheduling Process at Eagle Ridge

• ERMS will provide students with recommendations
  for their core courses
• On February 19 22, BWHS counselors met with
  students in their science classes to review core
  courses and help students select their electives
• Students will bring their course selection forms
  home for your approval and signature
• Please sign the form and send it in with your
  child along with any changes if necessary

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Scheduling for Students New to LCPS

• New students usually begin enrolling in May
• The information and materials needed to enroll an
  new student can be found on the BWHS and LCPS
  websites
• New students and their parents will select their
  courses with a BWHS counselor when they enroll

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Scheduling Process

• If you would like to change your childs
  selections, you should write a note and have your
  child return it with the form
• If you disagree or do not understand why a level
  was recommended please consider contacting your
  middle school counselor or teacher
• Changes can be made until June 30, 2010

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Scheduling Process

• Changes can be made until June 30, 2010
• After June 30th schedule changes may not be
  possible!

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Diplomas

• Standard Diploma
• Advanced Studies Diploma
• Standard Technical Diploma
• Advanced Technical Diploma

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Standard Diploma
Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics 3 1
Science 3 1
Health/Physical Education 2
Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career Technical Education 2
Economics and Personal Finance 1
Electives 4
Student Selected Verified Credit 1
Total 22 6
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Advanced Studies Diploma
Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 4 2
Mathematics 4 2
Science 4 2
Foreign Language 3-4
Health/Physical Education 2
Fine Arts or Career Technical Education 1
Economics and Personal Finance 1
Electives 3
Student Selected Verified Credit 1
Total 26 9
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Standard Technical Diploma
Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics 3 1
Science 3 1
Health/Physical Education 2
Foreign Language or Fine Arts 1
Economics and Personal Finance 1
Career and Technical Education 4
Electives 1
Student Selected Verified Credit 1
Total 22 6
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Advanced Technical Diploma
Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 4 2
Mathematics 4 2
Science 4 2
Foreign Language 3-4
Health/Physical Education 2
Fine Arts or Career Technical Education 1
Career Technical Education 3
Economics and Personal Finance 1
Student Selected Verified Credit 1
Total 26 9
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SOL Courses

• Reading (Eng. 11) Earth Science
• Writing (Eng. 11) Biology
• Chemistry
• Algebra 1 World History 1
• Geometry World History 2
• Algebra 2 US History

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Course Options for Freshmen

• English
• Social Studies
• Science
• Math
• Health Physical Education
• Elective
• Elective

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Course Levels

• Honors and Pre-Advanced Placement
• Course content is rapidly paced with additional
  depth. Lessons are often designed to be complex,
  abstract, and open-ended.

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Course Levels

• Academic
• Course content and expected student performance
  require additional reading and writing at a
  rigorous level.
• Academic is a college-bound level.

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Course Levels

• General
• Course content and student performance are
  commensurate with the students grade level.

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Course Options for Freshmen

• English
• Social Studies
• Science
• Math
• Health Physical Education
• Elective
• Elective

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Lesson in Balance

• Challenge the student vs. Overloading the student
• Finding balance in the students course load

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Lesson in Balance

• Take the most challenging classes you can handle.

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Lesson in Balance

• Take the most challenging classes you can
  reasonably handle.

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Lesson in Balance

• How much time do you have available to study and
  do homework?
• Do you play sports?
• Are you involved in activities?
• What does your track-record indicate?
• How committed and disciplined are you?

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Lesson in Balance

• Think long-term
• Its easier to improve your schedule each year by
  taking more challenging classes
• than it is to improve a damaged GPA!

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• Student Example 1
• Grade 9 Grade 10
• English C 2 English B 3
• History C 2 History A 4
• Math D 1 Math C 2
• Science D 1 Science B 3
• HPE B 3 HPE A 4
• Elective C 2 Elective A 4
• Elective C 2 Elective A 4
• Cumulative GPA 1.86 Cumulative GPA
  2.64
• Grade 11 Grade 12
• English B 3 English A 4
• History B 3 History A 4
• Math B 3 Math B 3
• Science B 3 Science B 3
• HPE A 4 HPE A 4
• Elective A 4 Elective A 4

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• Student Example 2
• Grade 9 Grade 10
• English B 3 English B 3
• History B 3 History A 4
• Math B 3 Math C 2
• Science C 2 Science B 3
• HPE A 4 HPE A 4
• Elective A 4 Elective A 4
• Elective A 4 Elective A 4
• Cumulative GPA 3.29 Cumulative GPA
  3.36
• Grade 11 Grade 12
• English B 3 English A 4
• History B 3 History A 4
• Math B 3 Math B 3
• Science B 3 Science B 3
• HPE A 4 HPE A 4
• Elective A 4 Elective A 4

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The Importance of the Freshman Year

• The difference between a 2.89 GPA and a 3.46 GPA
  can be the ninth grade year!!!

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Lesson in Balance

• Dont forget to consider the students interests
  when determining his/her course load!

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Reminder

• Changes can be made until June 30, 2010
• After June 30th schedule changes may not be
  possible!

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Review

• Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process
• Graduation SOL Requirements
• Course Options for Rising 9th Grade Students