Freshman Course
Selection
Seneca High School
Seneca Counselors
Mrs. Trish LaBouff
Mr. Sam Maira
Mrs. Mary Sabo
Mr. Dave Lafferty
Ms. Michelle Torrence
Mrs. Erica Maira
Ms. Sue Johnson
Supervisor
A-Coo
Cop-Gou
Gr-Ki
Kl-Or
Os-Sn
So-Z
This presentation will help guide 8th grade
parents/guardians through the course
selection process.
It may also be helpful to access the 2012-2013 Program
of Studies for complete descriptions of all courses
referenced in this presentation.
Itinerary for Tonight
1. Power Point Presentation
2. Move to Classrooms to meet Counselors/Questions
3. Curriculum/Course Information in the Cafeteria
Graduation Requirements
English – 4 years
Math – 3 years
Science – 3 years
U.S. History – 2 years
World Cultures – 1 year
World Language – 2 years
Health and PE – 4 years
Visual / Performing Arts – 1 year
Century Life & Careers, Career-Tech Education– 1 year
Financial Literacy- ½ year
All Students must complete 130 Credits
All Students must pass the High School Proficiency
Assessment (HSPA) given in Junior year
• It measures Language Arts Literacy and Math
Grade Promotion
o 10th Grade-29 credits
o 11th grade-58 credits
o 12th grade-91 credits
130 credits to graduate
• Academic & Elective classes are 5 credits each
• PE & Health are 2 credits each
• Lab sciences are 6 credits
Failure to adhere to the Attendance Policy may also prohibit
promotion. See the 2012-2013 Program of Studies for complete
details.
Levels of Instruction
Honors-Level 1
• Instruction designed to rigorously and intensively
prepare students to enter competitive four year college
programs.
• Honors courses are invitation only. Invitations come
from the middle school. Select Level 2 and it will be
changed later after honors letter is returned.
• Once the school year commences, a student will not be
allowed to opt out of Level 1 until mid October.
Academic-Level 2
• Instruction designed to prepare students to meet the
academic requirements of a four year college.
Modified Academic – Level 3
• Instruction designed to prepare students for some
four year colleges, two year colleges, community
schools, vocational schools, as well as the world of
work.
Basic – Level 4
• Instruction which stresses basic skills.
Special Education – Level 5
• Instruction which is designed to meet the needs of
classified students.
Academic Units
4 year competitive colleges (Rutgers, Rowan, Penn State, U Delaware,
U of MD, Stockton, etc.) need at least 16 academic units (level 1 or
level 2 courses)
• English-4 years
• History-3 years
• Math-3-4 years
• Science-3-4 years
• World Language-2-3 years
Top Factors in College Admissions
1. Grades in College Prep Courses – Grades in AP, honors, or level 2
courses
2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of course work you complete
in high school and the quality of those courses
3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most
schools accept both interchangeably)
4. High School Grade Point Average – Calculated by dividing the total
number of grade points received by the total number of credits
attempted
Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling
LRHSD 9th Grade Schedule Sample
English – choose a level
World Language – usually same level chosen as English .
1.
2.
Students who had Spanish 1 in middle school can pick Spanish 2.
Option at end of 8th grade to take high school credit for Spanish 1.
Math – Algebra 1 or Geometry (only if had Algebra 1 in middle
3.
school). Option at end of 8th grade to take high school credit for
Algebra 1. If students do not pass Math section of NJ Ask 8-will be
placed in Algebra support class in addition to Algebra 1 class.
Science – choose Environmental Earth or Biology (Can only
4.
take Biology if taking Geometry)
5.
6.
7.
8.
PE / Health
Elective
Elective
Elective or Study Hall
•
•
It is possible to take one study hall each year and fulfill the 130 Credit
Graduation Requirement.
If you select 7 courses, you will automatically get Study Hall.
*Must choose at least 3 alternate electives*
Course Changes
o August 1, 2012 is the last day to request a
schedule change. This must be done in writing
with a parent’s signature.
o Once school starts ONLY errors will be corrected.
o There are timelines to drop levels and/or drop a
course to a study hall.
o Only 1 study hall per year is allowed (so a class
cannot be dropped if you already have a study
hall).
o If you drop a course, WP (Withdrawal Passing) or
WF (Withdrawal Failing) will appear on transcript.
o CHOOSE WISELY!!
o See the 2012-2013 Program of Studies for details about
Course/Level Changes.
Option Two
Option Two serves as an alternative to traditional high school courses
for credit in the following categories:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
College Courses
Internet Courses
Work/Internship
Community Service
Summer School Original Credit
Proof of Proficiency
EMT/Firefighter
** 8th grade courses (Algebra 1, Spanish 1) being
accepted for high school credit will appear on the
transcript as a level 2 course and will NOT affect GPA
and rank. **
Please visit the district website
for more information
www.lrhsd.org
Athletics
Seneca Sports
Fall/Winter Sports: All Freshmen are eligible.
Spring Sports: All Freshmen must pass 15 credits at the end of the
first semester to be eligible.
College Sports- NCAA- www.ncaa.org
•
•
•
•
•
Division I sports require 16 academic units
Division II sports require 14 academic units
Minimum GPA-2.0
Academic courses taken in the Lenape Regional High
School District designated as Level l or 2 meet the criteria,
as a core course, set forth by the NCAA.
• See the 2012-2013 Program of Studies for NCAA Eligibility
Requirements
Attendance
•
•
Students are allowed 4 unexcused absences per semester
Semester 1- Marking periods 1 & 2
Semester 2-Marking periods 3 & 4
Anytime a student arrives after homeroom or leaves before the end of the
school day, it will be considered an absence.
The following will excuse an absence:
• Doctor’s note
• Funeral/death in family
• Court
• Written parental permission-Limited to one parent note per semester (note
may excuse a series of consecutive days absent)
No credit status-Requires a student to attend the LRHSD Credit
Completion program to be awarded high school credit for completed
courses. Any pupil who exceeds 4 unexcused absences will be on No
Credit for single semester courses and any pupil who exceeds 8
unexcused absences will be on No Credit for full year courses.
Visit www.lrhsd.org for detailed attendance policy.
**COURSE SELECTION SHEETS ARE
DUE BACK TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS BY
FRIDAY, 1/27**
COUNSELOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
Seneca-609-268-4600
Mr. Sam Maira
Mrs. Mary Sabo
Mr. Dave Lafferty
Ms. Michelle Torrence
Mrs. Erica Maira
Ms. Sue Johnson
A-Coo
Cop-Gou
Gr-Ki
Kl-Or
Os—Sn
So-Z
x6687
x6679
x6686
x6673
x6685
x6656
smaira@lrhsd.org
msabo@lrhsd.org
dlafferty@lrhsd.org
mtorrence@lrhsd.org
emaira@lrhsd.org
sjohnson@lrhsd.org
Course Selection/Scheduling Questions
Thursday, February 2nd
5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Seneca Cafeteria
Report to the following rooms to meet your
child’s counselor and for follow up questions:
Last Name
A-Coo
Cop-Gou
Gr-Ki
Kl-Or
Os-Sn
So-Z
Counselor
Mr. Maira
Mrs. Sabo
Mr. Lafferty
Ms. Torrence
Mrs. Maira
Ms. Johnson
Room
Room C108
Room C106
Room C104
Room C105
Room A103
Room A104
The evening will conclude in the cafeteria with
Curriculum/Course Information