1 Bee Ready for High School SuccessYour introduction to high school

2 *Traditional High SchoolsRocky Mountain High: Home School for most SMS Students Centennial High Eagle High Meridian High Mountain View High *Charter/Magnet High Schools Meridian Medical Charter Meridian Technical Charter *Magnet/Professional Technical Charter High Renaissance Professional, Idaho Fine Arts Academy, Meridian High School *Alternative High Schools Central Academy Eagle Academy Meridian Academy

3 Traditional High Schools: Rocky Mountain High-Home School for most SMS Students Centennial High Eagle High Meridian High Mountain View High Positives: Negatives: More elective choices Larger class sizes More activities/sports Easier to get lost Block Schedule in the crowd Variety of students/staff More difficult to seek help Large school events

4 Charter/ Magnet High Schools Medical Charter Meridian Technical CharterPositives: Small size Specialized curriculum Rigorous (higher grading scale) College credit/certification Access to academic help Negatives: Focused electives Specialized curriculum Greater graduation requirements Transfer issues Lottery selection Science/math focus

5 Charter/ Magnet High Schools Medical Charter Meridian Technical CharterMedical Charter: Health Careers Nursing EMT Paramedic Nurses Aide Respiration therapists Phlebotomist Doctor Technical Charter: Technology Careers Programmer Web page design Graphic arts Computer repair Game design

6 Additional Guidelines for Charter Schools:Good work/study habits Willingness to work hard consistently Positive & persistent attitude Ability to process information quickly

7 Idaho Fine Arts AcademyEmphasis on Performing and Fine arts. Negatives: Focused electives Specialized curriculum Greater graduation requirements Transfer issues Audition required Positives: Small size Specialized curriculum Academic rigor (higher grading scale) College credit/certification Access to academic help Community service with International Baccalaureate (IB) program

8 Professional/Technical Opportunities Meridian Fine Arts Academy5 Majors: Vocal Instrumental (classical & contemporary) Drama Dance Visual Arts Major class every day & A/B schedule Provide own transportation Application at the web site Auditions: Feb 20, 2016 Open House January 12, 2016

9 Renaissance High SchoolLaw & Leadership, International Studies, Research and Medical Sciences Negatives: Focused electives Specialized curriculum Greater graduation requirements Transfer issues Lottery selection Positives: Small size Specialized curriculum Academic rigor (higher grading scale) College credit/certification Access to academic help Community service with International Baccalaureate (IB) program

10 Alternative High Schools Central AcademyAlternative High Schools Central Academy Eagle Academy Meridian Academy Open to Students who Attended 8th Grade at Crossroads or Pathways Alternative High Schools are especially good for: Students who work best in smaller, structured environments.

11 Alternative High Schools Central AcademyAlternative High Schools Central Academy Eagle Academy Meridian Academy Open to Students who Attended 8th Grade at Crossroads or Pathways Positives: Smaller population Small class sizes Less out of school homework Study labs More one-on-one attention Negatives: Fewer class choices/electives Small population Fewer Activities No Sports

12 Professional/Technical OpportunitiesThese career/training options are available to students attending traditional and academy high schools beginning grade 10. Prerequisites are required Transportation is provided Dennis Technical Education Center Meridian Professional-Technical Center Renaissance Professional-Technical Center

13 Professional/Technical Opportunities at Meridian High SchoolIntro to mechanics Vet assistant internship Small engines Horticulture Auto tech Botany Collision repair Forestry Science Welding Range Science Intro to animal science Floral design Zoology Landscape design Equine science Masonry

14 How do we decide? Team decision: parent and student Input from staff/counselors Future goals Priorities Students needs: academic, emotional, social

15 How do we decide? No choice has to be permanent!

16 Most Importantly DO NOT FAIL A CLASSIf students remember this and follow through, they will be successful in high school. High school counselors and teachers tells us that the main reason 9th graders do not succeed, is that they do not understand the importance of simply PASSING a class. If you fail a class for the semester you have to re-take it the next semester or in summer school.

17 GPA A=4 , B=3 , C=2 , D=1 , F=0 Grade Point AverageThe GPA is the total points added together and divided by the number of classes for the semester. CUMULATIVE grade point average is the total points added together and divided by the total number of classes taken. Classes that are pass/fail are not added into the GPA. IF a student receives an F for a class, there are no points added, but the class IS counted in the cumulative GPA A=4 , B=3 , C=2 , D=1 , F=0

18 Grade Point Average:

19 GPA Grade Point Average CUMULATIVE grade point average is the total points added together and divided by the total number of classes taken for all 4 high school years. Classes that are pass/fail are not added into the GPA. IF a student receives an F for a class, there are no points added, but the class IS counted in the cumulative GPA. College applications require proof of your cumulative GPA when you apply!!

20 Credits What is a credit? One credit is earned by receiving a passing grade for each semester class taken. This includes a “P” for classes that do not receive a traditional letter grade. A minimum of 56 credits are needed to graduate from any high school in the Meridian School District.

21 Requirements The following is a breakdown of the total number of credits needed from each content area to graduate from high school. These are the DISTRICT MINIMUMS and will likely not fulfill the requirements for college entrance. Check with your counselor, career center, the Meridian District Pathway brochures, or their post high school institution for specific entrance requirements. Generally, more math, science, and possibly foreign language credits are needed for college entrance.

22 Requirements cont. English—8 creditsLAB science—6 cr (earth science, biology and one other) Math—6 cr High School Math 1) (2 math credits must be earned in your senior year) Global Perspectives—1 cr US History—4 cr American Government—2 cr Economics—1 cr Humanities—2 cr Speech/Debate—1 cr* Physical Education—2 cr Health—1 cr**

23 Requirements cont. Humanity: Learning or concerned with human culture. Such as: literature, history, art, music, languages and philosophy.

24 Requirements cont. *Students who plan to take either Competitive speech or debate to fulfill their graduation speech requirement must take the course for the full year and take the speech end of course exam. *Students who plan to take Orientation to Health Professions/Sports Medicine I & II must take the course for the full year and take the Health end of course Exam.

25 Credits to advance Sophomore 10th grade Junior 11th gradeThere are a minimum number of credits that must be earned by August of the next school year. Students are classified by the number of credits they have at the beginning of the school year. You will not be reclassified until the following school year. Students must complete two full semesters before they will be classified as Sophomores. Athletes must have earned 6 credits the previous semester to be eligible for sports. Some classes are restricted to certain class levels. Freshman 9th grade Sophomore 10th grade Junior 11th grade Senior 12th grade

26 Credits earned 0-13—Freshman 14-25—Sophomore 26-37—Junior 38—Senior 56—Graduation

27 Attendance Students are allowed four absences for each class during the semester. Students who receive more absences in any class will lose any credit unless cleared by the attendance office, as extraordinary, within five days of the absence. Verbal communication must come from the parent within 48 hours of the absence to prevent truancy. If a student loses credit because of attendance (or any other reason) they will need to retake the class. In some cases, the student may need to wait a full year before retaking the class.

28 Tardies Students are allowed one free tardy in each class period. After that 𝟏 𝟐 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐲. A “tardy late” is late 20 minutes or more. For this you will serve one hour for every “tardy late” in Saturday School or after school.

29 Truancy A person generates an unauthorized phone call for an absence.If sited for truancy, appropriate consequences will be administered including a zero for any class assignments. Examples of truancies include: A person generates an unauthorized phone call for an absence. The student leaves school without a permit to leave. The student is in the building, but is out of class without permission. Excessive truancies will lead to suspension and or expulsion.

30 Permit to Leave Campus A “permit to leave” campus will be issued to any student who provides a legitimate written request from a parent to the attendance office. For example: a dentist or doctor appointment Not: returning home to pick up homework, books, uniform etc

31 Upper Classmen PrivilegesJuniors and seniors are allowed to leave campus for lunch. Freshmen and sophomores must remain on campus all day.

32 Consequences Suspension: Expulsion:Temporary removal from school; can be in-school suspension or out of school; typically 1-5 days Expulsion: Removal from the West Ada school district for the semester. Boise, Kuna, Nampa and Charter schools will NOT take you in their schools. On-line or private schools are your only options.

33 Handbook It is very important that students know the policies and rules of the high school setting. Just as in the middle school setting, the assistant principals will spend a brief time discussing the handbook with the students at the beginning of the year. Knowing the policies and rules is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

34 Graduation Be Ready for graduation! Be respectful. Be informed.Be responsible. Be reliable. Be Ready for graduation!

35 Graduation! You have earned a reward by being: Respectful, Responsible, Reliable, and Ready for high school success!