NINTH GRADE
PARENT NIGHT
STEPS TO
SUCCESS
Presented by:
Foster High School
Guidance Staff
September 15, 2014
9TH GRADE – YEAR OF TRANSITION
New teachers and classmates
 More extracurricular activities and social events
 More independence and more responsibility
 Courses that earn credits towards graduation
 Greater emphasis on academic achievement
 Greater need for time management and
organization
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EDUCATIONAL TERMINOLOGY
Class Rank
HB5
SAT
NCAA
College/Career
Readiness
PSAT
ONE OF OUR GREATEST
CHALLENGES
A
SUCCESSFUL
Freshman
Year
COUNSELORS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Counselors
A-D Monica McCune
E-K Lupe Santana
L-Re Sandra Zimmerman
Rf-Z Annaliese May
Assistant Principals
A-D April McLaurin
E-K Cory Collins
L-Re Erin Forbes
Rf-Z Charles Spates
Mara Ustynik – College and Career Facilitator
Tricia Byers – Registrar
Ellen Bynum – Special Needs Counselor
HOW TO REACH THE GUIDANCE OFFICE
Phone Number 832 223-3815
 E-mail
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mmccune@lcisd.org
lsantana@lcisd.org
sjzimmerman@lcisd.org
amay@lcisd.org
GRADUATION PLANS & ENDORSEMENTS (HB5)
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Foundation
Foundation plus Endorsement (in LCISD same as Distinguished)
Distinguished
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Endorsements*
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Arts and Humanities (6)
Business and Industry (13)
Public Service (6)
STEM (5)
Multidisciplinary
* Endorsement Flow
Charts are available under
HB5 on LCISD Home Page
FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS - ALL ENDORSEMENTS
4 credits of English (English I, II, III & an advanced course)
4.0
4 credits of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II & an advanced course) 4.0
4 credits of Science (Biology , 2nd credit –IPC, Chemistry, Physics or
Principles of Technology and two advanced course)
4.0
3 credits of Social Studies (W Geography or AP Human Geography
or World History, US History, US Government, Economics)
3.0
2 years of LOTE
2.0
P.E.
1.0
Fine Arts
1.0
Electives*
7.0
26.0
* Including credit requirements specific to at least one endorsement
GRADE INFORMATION
Semester Class: .5 credit
Full Year Class: 1 credit
Grade Point Average (GPA)- The weighted average of
semester grades for all classes
AP
1.2
90 x 1.2 = 108
Pre-AP, Dual, Select Articulated 1.1
90 x 1.1 = 99
Academic 1.0
90 x 1.0 = 90
Class Rank – Numerical standing in class (9th graders in
2014-2015) based on GPA
GRADE LEVEL CLASSIFICATION
PASSING grades
earn credits !!!
Grade Level
Credits
9th
0-5
10th
5.5 - 11.5
11th
12 - 18.5
12th
19+
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
RECORD (TRANSCRIPT)
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Grades
GPA
Class Rank
It is YOUR record.
Make it a
POSITIVE one!
Sample Transcript
SM1 SM2
LANGUAGE ARTS
11/12 ENG 1
12/13 ENG 2
13/14 APENGLAN:
MATHEMATICS
11/12 ALG 1
12/13 GEOM
13/14 ALG 2
SCIENCE
11/12 BIO
12/13 CHEM
13/14 ANATPHYSA
13/14 MICRO
13/14 PHYSICS:
SOCIAL STUDIES
11/12 W GEO
12/13 SOC
12/13 STULEAD
12/13 W HIST
13/14 US HIST
P.E./EQUIVALENT
11/12 SUBATH1
11/12 SUBATH2
OTHER LANGUAGE
10/11 SPAN 1
11/12 SPAN 2
12/13 SPAN 3
FINE ARTS
11/12 ART 1
CAREER/TECH ED
09/10 KEYBRDG
10/11 PRINEDTR
OTHER ELECTIVES
12/13 APPSYCH
CR
Q 90
Q 83
P 89
91
88
86
1.00
1.00
1.00
91
Q 75
84
94
70
82
1.00
1.00
1.00
Q 90
Q 88
80
95
Q 89
92
83
78
95
91
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
97
100
X100 100
82 99
D 99 96
1.00
.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
Q 96
100
100
.50
.50
J 82
94
79
87 1.00
80 1.00
89 1.00
90
97 1.00
J 91
J 99
.50
90 1.00
P 90
.50
ATTENDANCE
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Attendance on a regular, daily basis helps to
ensure your child’s success in school
Student’s responsibility to make up work
missed due to an absence
Parent, physician notes, appointment
documentation, court documentation, etc.
needed in attendance office immediately
after an absence
90% attendance is required to
ensure credit is earned for the class
HOMEWORK
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Expect your child to have
homework every night
BE CONCERNED - No
books, no homework, no
assignments, no studying
for tests
Monitor study time
E-mail teachers
Set up tutoring with teacher
Call if you have questions
DEPARTMENT TEST DAYS
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Odd Calendar dates
(Monday – Thursday)
English, Math, Fine Arts , CTE
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Even Calendar dates
(Monday – Thursday)
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Social Studies, Science, PE, Health
Fridays
Foreign Language
LIBRARY HOURS
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Monday
8:00 - 6:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
(Tutoring Available)
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Tuesday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
EXEMPTION POLICY SEMESTER EXAMS
Grade 9 – 2 classes
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No more than three absences in the class
Grade of 80 or above in the class in which they are
requesting the exemption
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No more than three office referrals
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No suspension or ALC assignment
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No more than 1 assignment to ISS of 3 days or less
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No fines or unpaid fees
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TESTS
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PSAT (9, 10,* 11*) $14 – Registration ends Sept. 20
Six Weeks District Assessment (Core Classes)
 Administered within the classroom
EOC – English I, English II, Algebra, Biology and US History
 Administered at the end of the course
Advanced Placement Exams (9-12)
College Entrance Exams (11, 12)
 SAT I, SAT II
 ACT
College Placement Exam –TSI
* no fee in 10th & 11th grade
BALANCING SCHOOL AND ACTIVITIES
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Being involved is important!
Foster has a wide variety of extra-curricular
activities
Every student must determine the right
combination of courses and activities
Appropriate choice of course level is key
Start compiling a resume now
UIL ELIGIBILITY
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Students must be academically eligible to participate in UIL
activities (Grade of 70 and above in all classes)
UIL Exempt classes
 AP classes
 PAP classes in ELA, math, science social studies economics
and LOTE
 Dual Credit in ELA, math, science and social studies
Students may request a “exemption” in a class once per school
year
To request a exemption students grade must be 60-69.
UNDERCLASSMEN MISTAKES!
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Freshmen year doesn’t count!
I’m taking this class because my friend is taking it.
I’ll just skip this class – one day won’t make a
difference.
I don’t need to write down that assignment…I’ll
remember it!
I’m not going to bother turning in an assignment if
I miss the first due date!
I don’t have homework therefore I do not have to
study.
UNDERCLASSMEN MISTAKES CONTINUED
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I can’t join that club…I have to study all the
time!
Everyone else understood except me, so I’m not
asking the teacher to explain.
I don’t want to talk to the teacher about the
problems I’m having in her class.
If there is a situation making me uncomfortable,
I’ll talk to my friends rather than an adult.
I really don’t need that much sleep!
PLANNING FOR COLLEGE
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Take challenging courses
Maintain a strong GPA
Take practice tests
Research college admissions standards
Participate in extra-curricular activities
Volunteer (Service Cord)
www.collegeboard.com
TOP 10% RULE
Students ranking in the top 10%* of their graduating
class must be admitted to the Texas public college or
university of their choice if they:
 Apply no later than two years after graduation
from a Texas High school
and
 Submit a completed application before the
expiration of any filing deadline established by
the college.
*UT is the exception to this rule
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT/COUNSELOR
SPRING CONFERENCE
Review:
Grades
Credits
Test Scores
Graduation Plan
Endorsement
Course Selections
FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
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Progress reports and report cards are sent
home with students
“Family Access” allows parents and students
access to “live” grades and attendance
Ask your students about Edmodo-many
teachers are posting resources on this site
www.lcisd.org and go to
Family Access
COUNSELORS’ CORNER
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Lamar CISD – Foster Website
Information available:
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Study Skills
Test Taking Strategies
Career Exploration
Upcoming Events
College and Scholarship information
SAT/ACT information
Call the Guidance Office
to schedule an appointment. We
welcome parent conferences.
(832) 223-3815