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Hamilton High School

Freshman Orientation MeetingApril 21, 2014

Freshman Orientation MeetingPurpose Talk about how to be successful in the high school Give information concerning the programs that are

available at the high school Talk about the new schedule for 2014 - 2015 Give information that students will use as they begin to

schedule classes (Wednesday, April 30th)

Staff Members

Doug Braschler, Principal Mat Rehkopf, Co-Principal Gina Sneller, Counselor (A-K) Dawn Safford, Counselor (L-Z)

How to be Successful!

You get to start with a clean slate Take charge of your education Focus on the future (Where do you want to end up?) Challenge yourself, make academics #1 Stay active, involved, organized Build Positive Relationships Don’t get behind

Attendance is Important

Attendance Nothing is more important than being here Cannot duplicate what goes on in the classroom Doing make-up work just isn’t enough No more than 6 absences in a term

Studies show that attendance is one of the most important employability skills that schools can teach their students

Plan vacations during school vacations

How can parents help?

Hamilton Community School Web-Site Encourage Students to Check Gmail Account Contact Teachers with Questions

Please have a current email

Encourage homework completion Stay involved

Parent-Teacher Conferences WISH volunteers Attend events and activities

Stress responsibility to your child Accepting responsibility is a valuable learning experience

Athletics

Physicals are Wednesday, May, 28th

6:30-8:00pm at the high school $20 fee Good for the 2014-2015 school year

Signed Athletic Code (Annually) Current Insurance Fee is $40, but subject to change

All insurance fees must be paid prior to practice starting

Michigan Merit Curriculum

With the Class of 2016, how many State requirements are there now? Answer: 18 credits

4 credits English 3 credits Social Studies 4 credits Math 3 credits Science 2 credits World Language (Same Language) 1 credit PE/Health 1 credit VPAA

(Need for a Four-year Plan)

Beginning with the 2014 – 15 school year, Hamilton High School will be running a blended schedule where core classes will be taught in a semester model and non-core classes will be taught in a trimester model.

WHY CHANGE

*Budget problems – Deficit spending 5 years in a row

*Projected 2014-15 Budget deficit of over $1 million

*Admin was charged to reduce staff *Allows us to share staff

So why the blended schedule?

*Wanted to keep elective offerings for students *Wanted to keep our support program in place *Natural reduction of staff through attrition

Other schedules looked at

*6 period semester*7 period semester*7 period alternating semester*6 period trimester

Bell schedule 60 minute classes 6 periods in a day rather than 5 in the trimester 7:35 am start – 2:35 pm departure 65 minute 2nd hour to accommodate

announcements Tech Center students will eat lunch at HHS before

traveling Tech Center will use 3 class periods (presently 2)

Credit structure

Incoming freshmen will have 29 total credits with 26.5 required for Graduation

0.5 credit is what you earn by taking a single class in a term

Credits by year: 9th 6.5 credits 10th 7.0 credits 11th 7.0 credits 12th 8.5 credits

Core classes Taught all year long in two semesters

Adding time to each of the following classes (33 more hours of instruction) per year

English – 4 credits Math – 4 credits

4th math credit can be taught in 2 tri’s Science – 3 credits Social Studies – 3 credits World Languages – 2 credits

Non-core classes Taught in a trimester schedule Students will have either 3, 6, 9, or 12 electives per year. Less time for each of the following classes (11 less hours

of instruction per trimester) Physical Education Health Art Music (can still have 3 trimesters) All electives

Sample schedules

Personal Curriculum

Personal Curriculum A way for parents and students to fine-tune their four-year

plan Can be initiated by parents, student, counselor, or teacher Somewhat restrictive (can’t alter certain MMC

requirements) See your counselor for details

Counseling Department

Mrs. Sneller (A-K) Mrs. Safford (L-Z) Mrs. Eding (secretary) We provide:

Scheduling Standardized testing Personal counseling College/career information

+ Unique Courses

AP Courses Careerline Tech Center Dual Enrollment Teaching Practices Online Courses Co-Op

(Offered to Upper-Classmen)

8th Grade

Wednesday, April 30th

Students will submit class choices online prior to April 30. Students need PowerSchool User ID and Password

HS Counselors will assist students in Mr. and Mrs. Youngs’ Classrooms.

Have PowerSchool User ID/password with you Additional questions will be answered All class choices are final once schedule is made

Scheduling Day

YOUR FUTURE STARTS NOW!!

ACT + GPA +12th Grade Strength of Schedule = COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE

Valedictorian (GPA X 250) + (ACT X 27.777) = Honor Points

Highest Honor Points = Valedictorian

Start Thinking About What Your Schedule Will Look Like for the

Next 4 Yearsand Have a Great Night