Information Night Welcome Class of 2015 Home of

Information Night Welcome Class of 2015 Home of the Algonac Muskrats!

Mrs. Karen Blair School Counselor Algonac High School 5200 Taft Road Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794 -4911 ext. 1282 kblair@acsk 12. us www. algonac. k 12. mi. us

Mrs. Blair’s Resume Education • 1983 Graduate of Algonac High School • 1988 Graduate of Western Michigan University Bachelor of Arts (Secondary Education – English) • 1997 Graduate of Wayne State University Masters of Education (Guidance Counseling K-12) Employment Experience (23 years in education) • Algonac, Anchor Bay, Chippewa Valley Schools 1988 -1990 (Substitute Teacher) • Capac Jr. /Sr. High School 1990 – 1998 (High School English Teacher) • Powell Middle School (Romeo Schools) 1998 -2001 (Middle School Guidance Counselor) • Algonac High School 2001 – present (High School Guidance Counselor)

AHS Hours of Operation School begins at 7: 35 AM School Ends at 2: 20 PM Teachers (including Mrs. Blair) are required to begin their day no later than 7: 15 AM Teachers (including Mrs. Blair) are required to end their day no earlier than 2: 45 PM Many teachers (including Mrs. Blair) arrive at AHS earlier than 7: 15 AM and stay later than 2: 45 PM. Students are encouraged to meet with teachers and Mrs. Blair before or afterschool.

High School Schedule Monday, Wednesday & Friday 1 st Hour: 7: 35 -8: 35 AM 2 nd Hour: 8: 40 -9: 38 AM 3 rd Hour: 9: 43 -10: 41 AM First Lunch: 10: 41 -11: 11 AM 4 th Hour: 11: 16 – 12: 14 PM Second Lunch: 11: 16 -11: 46 AM 4 th hour: 10: 46 -11: 16 AM (lunch) 11: 46 -12: 14 PM Third Lunch: 11: 44 -12: 14 PM 4 th hour: 10: 46 – 11: 44 AM 5 th Hour: 12: 19 -1: 17 PM 6 th Hour: 1: 22 -2: 20 PM

Tuesday & Thursday Schedule 1 st Hour: 7: 35 -8: 25 AM 2 nd Hour: 8: 30 -9: 20 AM SEMINAR: 9: 25 -9: 55 AM 3 rd Hour: 10: 00 -10: 50 AM First Lunch: 10: 55 -11: 25 AM 4 th Hour: 11: 30 – 12: 30 PM Second Lunch: 11: 30 -12: 00 PM 4 th hour: 10: 55 -11: 25 AM (lunch) 12: 05 -12: 30 PM Third Lunch: 12: 00 -12: 30 PM 4 th hour: 10: 46 – 11: 55 AM 5 th Hour: 12: 35 -1: 25 PM 6 th Hour: 1: 30 -2: 20 PM

SEMINAR All students have a seminar. After 2 nd hour. Tuesday & Thursday. 30 minutes Various topics including academic assistance, mentoring and character education. Four (4) rotations a year.

School Counseling Services Crisis Intervention (On-going counseling is referred) Academic Interventions 504 Plan Facilitator Credit Checks/ Graduation Audits Scheduling of Students Peer Mediation Career Counseling TEC Placement College Applications Financial Aide Assistance Local/National Scholarship Coordinators Military Liaisons And much more!

Visit the AHS Counseling Center Website www. algonac. k 12. mi. us click on “Student Services”

AHS Student Services Website ü ACT/SAT Information ü College and Financial Aid Information ü Info on College Savings Plans ü FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ü Contact Information on Counseling Agencies in our Community ü All public and private colleges and universities in Michigan ü Parenting Resources ü Michigan Insurance Programs ü Websites on Dating Violence Prevention ü Scholarship Websites

Earning High School Credits Students earn 6. 0 credits a year from academics: 6 x 4=24 23. 5 are required to graduate. 4 English 4 Math 3 Social Studies 3 Science 1 PE/Health 1 VPAA 7. 5 Electives Class Status Minimum Credits Required: Freshman 0 – 4. 0 Sophomore 5. 0 Junior 11. 0 Senior 16. 5

Extra Credits Extra-Curricular Activities (. 25 Credit Each) All Sports Student Council Quiz Bowl SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions

Credit Recovery (E 20/20) If your student loses credits in high school, in order to get back on track and graduate, they must make up those lost credits in “credit recovery”. Minimum passing mark in 60% Online classes (E 20/20) Mrs. Ann Marie Dusenberry – Credit Recovery Coordinator/Graduation Coach (810) 794 -4911 ext 3328 adusenberry@acsk 12. us

Required Classes English all four years Math all four years Three years social studies Three years science Health/Gym One credit Visual, Performing or Applied Art The rest will be electives

Required Freshmen Courses 20011/12 School Year Math : Algebra, Geometry or Honors Geometry Social Studies: United States History English: American Literature or Honors American Literature Science: Biology I/II

Graduation Requirements MICHIGAN MERIT CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS English (4 credits) Core courses earning English credit are: American Literature (H), English Composition (H), World Literature, College Composition, IB English HL I, and IB English HL II. Math (4 credits) Core courses earning Math credits are: Algebra, Geometry (H), Algebra II A/B, Algebra II, Core V (Senior Math), IB Mathematics SL II, and Advanced Placement Statistics. Science (3 credits) Core courses earning Science credits are: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, IB Chemistry, IB Biology HL I, and IB Biology HL II (Must take Chemistry or Physics) Social Studies (3 credits) Core courses earning credit are: U. S. History, World History, Government/Economics A/B, IB History of the Americas HL I, and IB History of the Americas II.

Health and Physical Education (1 credit) . 5 Health and. 5 Physical Education. Core courses earning credit are: Health, Physical Education I, Advanced Fitness & Conditioning & Athletic Dimensions. Visual, Performing and Applied Arts (1 credit) Core courses earning credit are: Drama, Chorus, Band, Drawing and Painting, Commercial Design, Yearbook, Writing for Publications, Software, and IB Music SL I, IB Music SL II. World Languages (2 credits or an equivalent experience) 2016 Students who have attended The Algonac Community Schools in Elementary and Middle School will have met this requirement through a K-8 program of study (equivalent experience). Students who have not met this requirement through and equivalent experience can do so by taking two credits of World Languages. Courses meeting this requirement are: French (IB or otherwise), Spanish (IB or otherwise), and Mandarin Chinese (offered through Michigan Virtual University). Online Learning Experience There are several options to fulfilling this requirement. Sophomores at Algonac High School participate in a Career Pathway seminar. The Career Pathway seminar will fulfill this requirement. Other options include taking an E 20/20 course as a senior or Michigan Virtual University that uses an online component.

The High School Transcript Is a record of all the class taken and grades earned in high school. Middle school grades are not reported on the high school transcript. The high school grade point average is cumulative, meaning that all grades are averaged together. The GPA is unweighted. 4 -point scale A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0

Each year students are honored for getting good grades. The assembly is held in the fall and called “Academic Achievement Award Assembly” Awards are earned based on grades earned in the “core classes”. Students must earn at least a 3. 5 each marking period. Academic Achievement Awards

AHS Ranking System Suma Cum Laude: 4. 0 – 3. 67 Magna Cum Laude: 3. 66 – 3. 3 Cum Laude: 3. 29 – 3. 0 Students in the Summa Cum Laude category will have an opportunity to compete for the opportunity to speak at graduation. The rubric is as follows: 1. Overall Grade Point Average 2. ACT Score 3. Class Selection Rigor Candidates will be invited to audition in front of a selection committee if they wish to be one of three speakers at graduation.

What are the electives? They are the other classes that you take besides what is “required”. Some electives include – band, chorus, newspaper, yearbook, psychology, drawing & painting, drama, IB Psychology, IB Music, TEC and more. You need 7. 5 elective credits

The IB Plan • An IB Diploma is one of the most prestigious accomplishments a high school student can achieve IN THE WORLD. • Algonac High School is proud to offer this opportunity to our students and hope that you will consider accepting the IB challenge! • Though rigorous, we believe that ANY motivated student can be successful in the IB Diploma Programme with proper work ethic and time commitment. Successful (good marks and attendance) completion of the IB Diploma Programme can lead to admission in some of the elite universities in the world. • Students that score well on IB assessments can earn numerous college credits. Consult with the IB Coordinator or your guidance counselor if you have questions about the IB Diploma Programme at AHS.

• As was written in the college preparatory curriculum schedule, you do not need to enroll in the entire IB Diploma Programme to take an IB course. • IB courses are available to students that would like to take them on an individual basis (certificate classification). • Please know that we encourage students to take the full IB Diploma curriculum as the benefits are immeasurable. Because of this, priority in scheduling is given to full diploma candidates.

Sample IB Diploma Programme Course Planner Freshman Schedule American Literature (H) Geometry (H) Biology U. S. History PE/Health French I/Spanish II Sophomore Schedule English Composition (H) Algebra II/AP Statistics Chemistry/Physics Government/Economics A, B Elective /AP Statistics French II/Spanish III Junior Schedule IB English HL I IB Mathematics SL I IB Biology HL I IB History of Americas HL I IB Psychology SL I/Music SL 1/IB Chemistry IB Spanish SL I/French SL I TOK – Seminar (Mandatory) Senior Schedule IB English HL IB Mathematics SL IB Biology HL IB History of Americas HL IB Psychology SL II/Music SL III/IB Chem IB Spanish SL II/French SL II TOK – Seminar (Mandatory)

St. Clair TEC Kids attend TEC during their junior and senior years TEC counts as elective credit Morning TEC students must be to AHS by 6: 55 a. m. PM TEC students return to AHS at 3: 05 p. m. Students are at AHS three (3) hrs and at TEC three (3) hrs Lots of different programs including, auto body, welding, cosmetology, health careers, constructions, digital media technology and more! You apply for TEC during scheduling in sophomore year. Students are selected on grades & credits, attendance and behavior.

St Clair TEC Four Year Course Planner Freshman Schedule American Literature 9 (H) Algebra/Geometry(H) Biology U. S. History PE/Health Elective Junior Schedule World Literature/IB English Algebra II B, IB Math Physics/Chemistry/World History TEC PROGRAM Sophomore Schedule English Composition Geometry/Algebra II A/Algebra II /AP Stats Physics/Chemistry/A&P Government/Economics A, B Elective Senior Schedule College Composition/IB English Core V (Senior Math), AP Statistics, IB Math Physics/Chemistry/World History TEC PROGRAM

More sample 4 year plans in the Newly Revised Algonac High School Scheduling Guide coming to the AHS Website soon! www. algonac. k 12. mi. us

Parents of Freshmen should … Sign up for Parent Connect is a great way to see how your child’s grades are looking. Grades are updated daily, so it is always a good idea to look at it everyday. To sign up, bring a photo id and your e-mail address into the AHS main office. Stay in contact with your students teachers. Teacher’s e-mail addresses can be found at the Algonac High School website. E-mail is a great tool because teachers can reply to e-mail’s through out the school day. In many cases, you will get a quicker response if you use e-mail. Teachers generally have to wait until their prep time

The high school does not close its doors until 7 pm, and even later on nights when we have athletic events. If your student is constantly telling you that he or she does not have homework, they are not being truthful. Bring them up to the school and go through their locker. We have had many a parent amazed at what they find when they go through their child’s locker. Our teachers are willing to meet with your student before school and after school, your student just needs to ask. Your student also has a 30 -minute seminar every Tuesday and Thursday. Students can use this time to meet with their teachers for extra help. Student’s just need to prearrange this with their teachers.

A wealth of information can be found at the Algonac High School website. Our web address is www. algonac. k 12. mi. us/ahs. While high school students like to be independent from their parents, it is still critical that you be an active participant in their education. Take some time with them every night to look at their binders, papers and homework. While you may not understand what they are doing in math class or science class, it shows that you care and are willing to help them out if they need it.

What a 9 th grader should do … Take challenging classes. Get good grades! Have good attendance. Create a 4 -year plan. Develop good study habits. Join a sport or club. Get involved in school & community. Explore careers. Explore colleges and universities.