Welcome, Sophomores!

2018-2019

Counseling Services

SOPHOMORE PRIDE

P: positive

R: respectful

I: initiative

D: determined

E: engaged

The Counseling Staff:*Assigned by student’s last name:

● Mrs. Shari Smith: A-D○ ssmith@portageps.org 323-5527

● Mrs. Krista Hovestadt: E-K○ khovestadt@portageps.org 323-5420

● Ms. Amy DiMaggio: L-Ri Director○ adimaggio@portageps.org 323-5472

● Mrs. Cindy Figueroa: Rj-Z○ cfigueroa@portageps.org 323-5424

The Counseling StaffAdministrative Assistants:

● Mrs. Julie Clark: enrollment, appointments, transcripts, registrar, more...○ jaclark@portageps.org 323-5475

● Mrs. Kim Loiselle: college visits, scholarships, immunizations, academic awards, more…○ kloiselle@portageps.org 323-5464

Counseling Services● College Planning:

○ Completing basic requirements for future college/university applications, college advising regarding academic class selection, providing college research and resources, discussing post-secondary plans and general college advising.

● Career Planning:○ Career exploration activities, interest inventories, Lunch and Learn

activities, Career Cruising access, resources for local skilled trades/unions and military contact information.

Counseling Services● Academic:

○ Selecting your classes for all four years, monitoring required classes and graduation credits, auditing classes, access to academic help.

● Individual/Personal Counseling:○ Counselors are always here for you to help with any question or concern

you might have. We are here to listen and provide support. We provide outside resources for additional help, when needed.

Remember: High School Counts!!● Credits add up to earn required # for graduation● Grades count! They build into a GPA: grade point average

○ Half of your OVERALL HIGH SCHOOL GPA is based off of your 9th & 10th grade

coursework.

● It all matters… completing daily homework, making up missing work, preparing for a test/quiz,

taking semester exams, passing a course and getting good grades.

● ATTENDANCE matters!!○ When you’re absent, you miss content/material/info. It’s hard to ‘make up’ class discussions,

teaching/instruction and learning.

○ If you miss more than 9 days in one semester, you could lose credit in that class!! After 9 days

absent, you need to “earn back time” (days you missed) in order to get credit. Earn back time

will be on Saturday mornings at the end of the semester.

CREDITS● Classes that are year long = 1 credit

○ First semester = .5

○ Second semester = .5

● Classes that are semester long = .5 credit● Semester grades appear on your transcript ● Semester grade / credit is comprised of:

○ Marking Period / Quarter 1 (9 weeks) 40% of semester grade

○ Marking Period / Quarter 2 (9 weeks) 40% of semester grade

○ Semester exam 20% of semester grade■ You must pass 2 of the 3 above AND achieve a 59.5% in order to earn the .5 semester credit.

● To pass a class, you need to earn 59.5% or higher ○ D- or above…E is failing.

Graduation Requirements: PPSPortage Public Schools Graduation Requirements:

● Students must earn 26 credits within 4 years of starting high school.○ Middle School credits do not ‘count’ towards the total 26 required. Those classes were

pre-requisites to move to the next level.○ Middle School classes will appear as letter grades, but will NOT factor into your high

school GPA.

● Students must pass certain “core/required” classes:○ Michigan Merit Curriculum (next slide)

Michigan Merit Curriculum● English 4 credits

● Math 4 credits○ Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Senior year math or math-related

● Science 3 credits○ Chemistry / Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics 2, Earth Science

● Social Studies 3 credits○ Modern American History, Government/Economics, World History

● Health .5 credit○ Health: one semester course = .5 credit / required○ Health/Freshman Focus: year long course = 1 credit/recommended

● World Language 2 credits of same language○ 2 years in middle school count as the 2 year requirement○ 3-4 years strongly recommended for competitive colleges

● PE 1.5 credits○ Can be “waived” with a PNHS sport or marching band

● Fine Arts 1 credit○ Recommended in 9th or 10th: art, music, business, woodworking, other

PPS Graduation● PPS does not allow a student to be “held back” or “repeat a

year”. You still move on to the next grade level and have to take the required classes, even if you have failed previous classes.

● Our summer program is an online program for students who are ‘at risk’ of not graduating (who have failed four or more semester classes). Students must complete the work in a computer lab during the summer.

● Transportation is not provided for summer school.

GPA● It’s important to establish a strong GPA early. ● When you first apply to colleges, they will only see your cumulative GPA from

your 9th through 11th grade years. ● The later in high school, the harder it is to raise your GPA. In fact, it will be

easier to lower it, than raise it.● If you’re dreaming of college sports in your future, the NCAA requires high

school student athletes to have a 2.3 minimum GPA in core classes to be eligible to play in college.

Thinking About College….● Planning on attending a 2 year or 4 year college or university? You should:

○ Research colleges online

○ Visit websites to learn about college programs, size, location, admissions requirements.

○ Start to take campus tours.

○ Attend college rep visits here at PN this fall! Sign up in counseling office before the event.

○ Maintain a high GPA.

○ Take honors / AP or IB classes (in 11th and 12th) for competitive colleges.

○ Practice online for the upcoming SAT in your junior year. Prepare for the PSAT 10 this year.

○ Volunteer outside of school. Get involved with extracurricular activities.

○ Start talking about college, career exploration with parents/friends/teachers.

Top Factors in College Admissions...● Overall GPA● Test scores● Class rank● Rigor of high school curriculum (honors/IB/core classes senior year)● School activities● Community activities● Personal statement/essay (if applicable)● Letters of recommendation (if applicable)● Awards / recognitions

College Visits at PNHS...● Representatives from area colleges & universities will visit PNHS.● They’ll speak about their programs, campus life, activities, scholarships and

more.● Meet the person who makes the admissions decisions on your application.● Sign up in the counseling office 1 day prior to the event scheduled. ● All events are held in the counseling office conference room, unless otherwise

noted.● An Air Force recruiter will be in the building in the cafe during lunch on the 2nd

Tuesday of every month- starting in October.

College Visits at PNHS...Thursday, September 20 Hope College 3rd hourMonday, September 24 Alma College 2nd hourMonday, October 1 University of Chicago 1st hourTuesday, October 2 Michigan Tech 2nd hour

Cedarville University 4th hourWednesday, October 3 University of Toledo 1st hour

University of Michigan (Comm. Rm) 3rd hourThursday, October 4 Kalamazoo Valley Comm. College 2nd hourMonday, October 8 Grand Valley State University 1st hour

U of M Dearborn 3rd hourMiami University of Ohio 4th hour

Tuesday, October 9 Ball State University 2nd hourAquinas 4th hour

Monday, October 15 Olivet College 2nd hourTuesday, October 16 Michigan State University (Comm. Rm) 3rd hourWednesday, October 17 Saginaw Valley State University 3rd hourThursday, October 18 Central Michigan University 1st hourMonday, October 22 Adrian College 1st hour

Thinking about Careers...

○ Research careers online. Use Career Cruising or Google other sites.○ Take advantage of the interest inventories included in this packet (and

research more online).○ Attend Lunch and Learn events here to learn about a variety of career

options.○ Set up a job shadow opportunity.○ Take elective courses that might relate to your career interest. ○ Start talking about career exploration with parents/family/teachers.

Career Cruising● www.careercruising.com● Online resource for career exploration, college

research/planning, test preparation● Your login is

○ PPSD-yourfirstname.yourlastname (the system

will only allow 15 characters including the . after PPSD- therefore your last name may be cut short a few letters)

● Your password is ○ your student ID number

Career Exploration: Lunch and Learn● During your lunch period.

○ Sign up in Counseling Office 1 day prior to learn about a particular career field or area of interest.

● In Community Room.● Free Pizza provided. Bring own beverage.

Career Exploration: Lunch and Learn● 9/21: Mechanical Engineering:

○ Noise Sound Vibration● 10/5: Law Enforcement● 10/18: Nursing● 11/9: Veterinary Medicine● 11/30: Medicine / Surgery● Dec—May: to be determined

Required Standardized Tests ● PSAT 10: practice test for SAT:

○ April. Free at PNHS. Counselors will register you.● Future Tests:

○ 11th grade: PSAT 11 ■ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test

○ 11th grade: MME / SAT ○ 12th grade: Optional to re-take SAT/ACT

Practice for Standardized Tests The best preparation/practice for the PSAT, SAT is online through two important websites:

● The College Board www.collegeboard.org● The Khan Academy www.khanacademy.com

Counselors helped you create accounts at both sites last year. You linked those

accounts so that you now have individualized practice for the PSAT 10 and SAT.

*Do not create new accounts at either College Board or Khan.*Use the “forgot password/username” prompt, if needed.

Preparing for the Future...● Many academic, college & testing resources are available online. That means

that you’ll have many different online accounts.● START NOW AND RECORD ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS: website, username,

login, password, etc.● Future college applications / SAT testing and transcript info will all be handled

online. Get organized and stay accurate early on!● Set up a new, non-PPS email address for all academic accounts for now and the

future. Be sure the address is “appropriate”.

What to Expect Sophomore Year:● Counselors will:

○ Sophomore “check-in” / interview to see how the year is going.■ A folder with resources will be provided.

○ Provide scheduling presentations regarding requirements, college advising and course planning.

○ Meet with each student individually in February to select classes for the next academic year.

○ Provide college research and planning resources.○ Provide career exploration and awareness.○ Complete course audits to make sure you’re on track to graduate.○ Monitor your grades weekly and meet with you to provide academic

support, when needed.

What to Expect Sophomore Year:● Students should:

○ Ask questions in class. Participate in class. Complete homework daily. Stay on top of

assignments. Study for tests/quizzes.

○ Take responsibility for your learning: your homework, your questions, communication with

teachers and attending class. Check teachers’ Google sites.

○ Contact teacher FIRST if you have questions/concerns about the topic (not understanding)

or about a grade or assignment.

○ Monitor Skyward. Check your grades weekly. Ask a teacher if you have a question. Seek

outside help if struggling. Ask your teacher first.

■ ASSIST room: Mon-Thurs: 2:50-4:50. Room 2138. Academic support/help.

○ Pay attention to announcements. Have them emailed to your phone. They are printed in all

offices. Follow PN on social media.

○ Remember the PRIDE matrix.

Counseling Procedures● If you’d like to see your counselor, you should:

○ Come into the office and ask Mrs. Clark to make an appt for you.○ You may also email your counselor to ask a question or let her know that

you’d like to talk. ***Keep in mind… counselors will only check/respond to emails during school hours (7 am to 3:30 pm).

● If your counselor wants to see you, she will:○ Send a pass for you to one of your classes. Read the pass and report to the

counseling office when requested.○ You’ll “sign in and out” of the office each time.○ Be sure to check your school email often. Counselors and teachers will

communicate with you via school email. We expect that you’ll check it often and respond.

Sophomore Reminders: ● Mrs. Hinga is your Assistant Principal: 323-5458

○ Attendance and discipline● Mrs. Clemens: 10th grade secretary: 323-5471

○ Attendance: parents call or send a note● Report to 3rd floor office if you arrive late or leave school

early. You’ll always need ‘a pass’ from grade office before you report to class.

● Your grade office is on the 3rd floor.

Good Luck● Have fun. Get involved. Meet new people. Try new

clubs/sports/activities. Go to events. Try out for new activities/events.

● Work hard to pass your classes and seek help as soon as needed. Establish a solid GPA.

● Advocate for yourself.