ARE YOU READY TO SEND
YOUR CHILD TO HIGH
SCHOOL?
Ready or not, here they come!!!
Topics to Cover
Introductions
Important Dates
Freshman Guidebook
Diploma Options
Testing
Getting Involved
WHAT MAKES PENN SO SPECIAL?
 We have excellent teaching staff who have gone through professional
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development training for many years.
We earned an “A” school rating from the Indiana Department of
Education.
97% graduation rate for 2015.
Our Freshmen Academy makes a large school feel small.
Our Achievement Academies make our education relevant to life after
high school.
60 class offerings freshmen year – by senior year, students will have over
800 class offerings.
We have a variety of clubs, sports, and academic teams Extracurricular
Activities
IMPORTANT DATES
 Penn Showcase
 Monday, December 7 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 Tuesday, December 8 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Freshman
Guidebook
(course descriptions)
 Each student was given a Freshman
Guidebook and course selection sheet
Freshman Guidebook (found under Counseling
and incoming freshmen)
FRESHMEN ACADEMY
 Smaller Learning Community
(Students typically share the same
group of teachers for English, Math,
Biology, and Geography – called
Houses)
 The teachers within a house often
collaborate on assignments, plan
field trips/community service
projects, and discuss students in
need of additional support.
ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMIES
are chosen sophomore, junior, and senior year.
Students choose an area of interest and the academy is designed to bring focus
and relevance to coursework.
 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math)
 Fine Arts and Communication Academy
 Management and Business Academy
 Health and Human Service Academy
 Report cards are issued in January and June.
 Students will earn 1 credit each semester for each
class passed (A, B,C,D).
 Monitor HAC for the most up to date information.
 Students who fail required courses must repeat
them.
*
English/
Language
Arts
Mathematics
Course and Credit Requirements
8 credits
English 9, 10, 11, 12
6 credits
2 credits: Algebra I
2 credits: Geometry
2 credits: Algebra II
All students are required to take a math
or physics course during their
junior or senior year.
Science
6 credits
2 credits: Biology I
2 credits: Integrated Chemistry-Physics
or Chemistry I
2 credits: any Core 40 science course
Social Studies
6 credits
2 credits: Geography/History of the
World
2 credits: U.S. History
1 credit: U.S. Government
1 credit: Economics
Directed Electives
5 credits
World Languages
Fine Arts
Career/Technical
Physical Education
2 credits
Health and Wellness
1 credit
Electives*
6 credits
(Career Academic Sequence
Recommended)
40 Total State Credits Required
 For the Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma, students must:
•
Complete all requirements for Core 40
•
Earn 2 additional Core 40 math credits
•
Earn 6-8 Core 40 world language credits
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Earn 2 Core 40 fine arts credits
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Earn a grade of C or better in courses that will count toward the diploma
•
Have a grade point average of B (3.0) or better
 Complete one of the following:
•
Earn 4 credits in 2 or more AP courses, and take corresponding AP exams
•
Earn 6 college credits in dual credit courses
•
Complete a combination of AP (2 credits) and dual credit (3 credits)
•
Earn a combined SAT score of 1750 or higher and a minimum score of 530 on each (critical reading,
math, and writing)
•
Earn a 26 or higher on the ACT (including the writing section)
 For the Core 40 with Technical Honors, students must:
 Complete all requirement for the Core 40 diploma
 Earn 6 credits in career preparation courses and either get a certification or take 6 dual
credits
 Earn a grade of C or better in all of the courses that count toward the diploma
 Earn a grade point average of B (3.0) or better
 Complete one of the following:
 One of the additional requirements for earning the Academic Honors Diploma
 Take the Accuplacer and receive minimum scores of Writing 80, Reading 90, Math 75
 Take the Compass and receive minimum scores of Writing 70, Reading 80, Algebra 66

 All 9th grade students take ISTEP
 In addition to the other graduation
requirements, students must pass
the ISTEP test given in the 10th
grade.
Sample Schedule
HONORS CLASSES
ENGLISH 9 HONORS, BIOLOGY HONORS &
WORLD GEOGRAPHY HONORS
 These courses are rigorous Pre-AP courses. Students
should have A's or high B’s in their core subjects.
(Suggestion: if you are in doubt talk to your child’s current
teacher.)
 Students should be strong readers and able to understand
fairly complex material. Concepts are in depth and
comprehensive.
 Students should have a strong work ethic and desire to take
an honors course.
 (English Honors will have suggested summer reading. A letter
will be given to students toward the end of the year.)
MATH LEVEL PLACEMENT
 Math 8 (Pre-Algebra) -> Algebra I
 Grades of D or below in Math 8 and/or did not pass ISTEP should also take
Algebra Lab
 Math 8 Accelerated / Algebra I -> Geometry or Geometry Honors
 Grades of B- or below should not move onto the next level and should retake Algebra I as a
freshman.
 Geometry Honors -> Algebra II Honors
 7th grade Algebra I grade must be an A or B, if not Algebra I should be
repeated in the summer or 9th grade
 Algebra II Honors -> Pre Calculus Honors
 Students must have an A in Algebra II Honors or should repeat the class in
the 9th grade
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ENGLISH
AND ALGEBRA
Your child’s counselor and teacher will help determine if either or both of
these classes are appropriate for your child:
 Contemporary Literature I – is for students who struggle in Language
Arts, consistently do poorly on standardized tests and receives a Lexile
score below 850.
 Algebra Lab – is for students who struggle in Math 8 (grades below a
C) and consistently do poorly on standardized tests.
ELECTIVES
 Students should choose electives in which they think they may be
interested
 Students should NOT choose electives because their friends are
choosing them (they will probably not be in the same class with
them anyway)
 Elective choices are not guaranteed 
 Make sure to choose alternates that they are interested in taking
because we often have to use their alternate class
We rarely make schedule changes, unless it is for a course level.
*Some elective courses require prerequisites.
SUMMER SCHOOL
(MUST ATTEND BOTH SESSIONS)
SESSION 1: JUNE 6-24
SESSION II: JUNE 27- JULY 18 (OFF FOR THE 4
TH
OF JULY)
 In addition to daily attendance at Penn, there is a new online component
that must be completed (iPE).
 Students can pick up the summer PE registration form in their middle
school guidance office.
 Registration forms are due by December 18, 2015 to the middle school.
 Students interested in summer PE will be put in a lottery
 Students will be notified the first week of February if they were selected.
 If selected, money is due in the Penn bookstore by February 26, 2016.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR CLASSES…
 Students will fill out the course selection form / 4 year plan together
with you.
 You and your child will log on to HAC and add the desired classes.
(middle school counselors will be visiting 8th grade classes to help students
schedule in HAC).
 Students will turn in the pink form to their middle school counselor by
December 18.
 Middle school counselors will meet with each student individually to
review the plan during the months of January and February.
YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HAC
PASSWORD…
 Check with your middle school counselors for your login ID and password.
 HAC is great resource for checking grades, attendance, discipline, and now
you have the capability to register for your classes.
 Home Access Center login
Get Involved in
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs and Organizations
SIGN UP FOR E-GUIDANCE
 Get all the latest and greatest information from Penn High
School sent right to your email!
 Sign up here on sheet or email mwatkins@phm.k12.in.us to
be added to the Class of 2020.
 Find out what our Freshman Mentors are doing each week,
assemblies your student is attending, and important
scheduling information.
 You will get crucial info such as SAT dates, PSAT sign up,
FAFSA information, scholarship information, and timelines as
your student enters their junior and senior year
Thank you for coming!
Open to General Questions
We will stay after for individual questions
Jim Langfeldt & Josiah Parker are here to answer
any Engineering & Technology questions.
Glenn Northern is here to answer any Band
questions
Kelley Watts is here to answer any Foreign
Language questions
Jen Grimm is here to answer any Exceptional
Education questions