Deltona High School
2015 - 2016
The Journey Continues!
Destination:
Graduation
Class of 2018
DELTONA HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL
Ms. Carolyn Carbonell
Assistant Principals
Ms. J. Baxter
Dr. J. Hughes
Ms. C. Lapnow
Mr. R. Smith
SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Phone: 386-575-4153 / Fax: 386-968-0014
Mr. J. Rivera Navarro, Director; ext. 44095
Grade Level Assignments
Assignment
Counselor
Extension
Class of 2016 – 12th Grade
A–Z
Mr. Rivera-Navarro
44095
Class of 2017 – 11th Grade
A–Z
Ms. Snyder
44108
Class of 2018 – 10th Grade
A–Z
Ms. Estelhomme
44105
Class of 2019 – 09th Grade
A–Z
Ms. Schweizer
44104
School Counseling Department Support Staff
Title
Name
Extension
Registrar
Ms. Dalik
44087
Secretary
Ms. Keefer
44397
1
WELCOME TO YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR!
Welcome to your sophomore year at Deltona High School! The purpose of this guide is to help
you refine the plan that you began last year and to highlight key points to remember. It is our
hope that this planner will help you navigate the 10th grade and solidify the foundation that was
started during your ninth grade. Within this planner you will find the answers regarding
promotion and graduation requirements, transcripts, and useful information on how to become
a more organized and effective student.
Below is a list of responsibilities that you are assuming as a sophomore at Deltona High School.
It is YOUR responsibility to:
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Be knowledgeable of graduation and promotion requirements
Have good attendance
Be aware of our school’s policies
Develop good study habits, organization, and time management skills
Revise your four-year plan as appropriate
Become familiar with your school counselor
We want to once again welcome you to another step in your journey through high school. Please
feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Ms. Donnette Estelhomme
10th Grade School Counselor
2
MAKING THE GRADE!
To be promoted to 10th grade you must have a minimum of five credits. The table below shows
the promotion requirements for each grade level:
TO BE PROMOTED TO:
CREDITS REQUIRED
10
11
12
Graduation
5
11
17
24
The next page discusses your graduation requirements. By learning your graduation
requirements, it will make it easier for you to keep track of your credits and make wise decisions
as to the classes you select. Remember that it is YOUR responsibility to know what is required
for graduation.
MONITORING YOUR PROGRESS
It is imperative that you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) monitor your progress closely
throughout the school year. If you need to remediate a course, please speak to your counselor as
soon as possible to discuss your plan of action for making up credit. The VIMS Gradebook is a
great tool to track your progress and/or communicate with your teachers.
REPORT CARD
DISTRIBUTION DATES
Oct. 30, 2015
Jan. 25, 2016
March 29, 2016
June 21, 2016 (pick up at school)
3
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS – CLASS OF 2018
Below you will find a detailed description of the 24 credits necessary for graduation. Make sure
that you learn these requirements since it is up to you to make sure that you make the right choices
during registration time. In addition to the 24 credits for graduation you will need a 2.0 GPA and
pass the Grade 10 ELA. You must pass the Algebra End of Course exam (EOC). The Biology,
Geometry and United States History EOC will count for 30% of your course grade. You must
meet ALL of these requirements in order to earn a standard high school diploma.
CATEGORIES
ENGLISH
CREDITS
4
MATHEMATICS
 1 credit in Algebra I (EOC = 30%)
 1 credit in Geometry (EOC = 30%)
 2 credits in any other math courses*
4
SCIENCE
 1 credit in Biology (EOC = 30%)
 1 credit in a physical science course
(Earth/Space Science, Physical Science, Chemistry, or Physics)
 1 credit in any other science course
SOCIAL STUDIES
 1 credit in World History
 1 credit in United States History (EOC = 30%)
 ½ credit in Economics with Financial Literacy
 ½ credit in United States Government
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
 ½ credit in Personal Fitness
 ½ credit in any other PE course
3
3
1
PERFORMING FINE ARTS
1
ELECTIVES
8
TOTAL
24 Credits



2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA)
One course must be taken on-line
Passing scores on the Grade 10 ELA or achieve concordant scores on ACT or
SAT
 Passing score on the Algebra 1 EOC or achieve a comparative score on the
PERT.
* If student enrolls in Algebra 2, then performance on the EOC constitutes 30% of
the final course grade.
4
TRACKING YOUR CREDITS
Use the following checklist to keep track of your credits as you progress through each grade level.
Knowing what courses you have taken and what courses you need to take will help you avoid
any unforeseen shortfalls once graduation time comes.
ENGLISH – 4 CREDITS
English 1
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English 3
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English 2
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English 4
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MATH – 4 CREDITS (Must have 1 credit of Algebra I & Geometry)
Algebra 1A
Algebra 1B
Algebra 1
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___ ___
___ ___
Geometry
Liberal Arts Math
Algebra 2
Other _________________________________
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
SCIENCE – 3 CREDITS (Must have Biology and a Physical Science)
Biology
Earth Space Science
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Chemistry
Physics
Other _________________________________
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
SOCIAL STUDIES – 3 CREDITS
World History
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Economics
___
US History
___ ___
U.S. Government
___
PHYSICAL EDUCATION – 1 CREDIT
General PE
___
Personal Fitness
___
PERFORMING ARTS – 1 CREDIT
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ELECTIVES – 8 CREDITS
_________________
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_________________
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_________________
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ON-LINE REQUIREMENT
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5
___
WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR
Your sophomore year constitutes one third of the courses that colleges will take a look at when
making their decision to admit you or not. It is important that you make this year count. This is
especially true if you did not have a stellar freshman year. The good news is that you still have
time to make a good impression. There are three main areas to focus on this year.
First, your schedule should reflect a natural progression from last year. This is also an important
year to build a solid academic history. At this stage, you should be enrolling in Honors and even
some AP courses if you are college bound. If you are thinking about the workforce or the military,
this is the time to start taking some of the vocational courses that best fit your interests.
The second area of focus is your four-year plan. During the course of this year, we will work with
you on refining your four-year plan, and ensuring that you have the skills necessary to pass the
Grade 10 ELA. Use the form on the next page to refine your four year plan.
The third area of focus is testing. The sophomore year is characterized by the administration of
several tests. The first test you take will be the PSAT test during the month of October. The PSAT
test is a precursor to the SAT. This will be followed by the Grade 10 ELA during April.
The 10th Grade ELA and applicable End of Course exams (EOC) are the benchmarks that
determine your eligibility for a standard high school diploma. If you do not pass the Grade 10
ELA, you will retake it during your Junior and/or Senior year until you achieve a passing score.
6
SOPHOMORE YEAR TIMELINE
 Check your Academic Evaluations for grades and status towards meeting
requirements.
 Meet with your school counselor about placement into advanced
coursework.
 Attend the community service workshop if you have not done so and or
continue to accumulate community service hours.
 Take the PSAT test in the fall, that's the SAT practice test.
 Strengthen relationships with peers, teachers, counselors, activity
moderators, and employers-they will be writing recommendations for you
down the road!
 Get involved…explore clubs and organizations available at school. Future
employers and schools like to see active students. Seek out leadership roles.
 Take the Grade 10 ELA…it's a graduation requirement.
 Go to college fairs.
 Continue working on study habits and note-taking skills.
 Refine/Revise/Update your resume. Keep it simple!
 Continue discussing post high school plans with parent/guardians.
 Review cost factors for college and investigate options.
7
WHAT’S IN A TRANSCRIPT?
Your transcript is your calling card when it comes to college admissions and scholarship searches.
This is the document that individuals who do not know you will use to make the decision of
whether or not to accept you into their university or reward your hard work with scholarship
money. Keep in mind that colleges will initially base their admissions decision on your first three
years in high school. It is up to you to distinguish yourself from your peers by taking as rigorous
a curriculum as possible.
Transcripts contain your entire academic history since you started high school. In addition to
your academic history, your transcript also includes the following critical information:
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Attendance
Class rank
Final grades for all courses taken
Grade point average (GPA)
Tests scores (FCAT, PSAT, SAT, and ACT)
Volunteer hours
Let’s take a closer look at some of the items included in your transcript:
 Attendance: This portion will show the number of days present and the days absent for
each academic year.
 Class Rank: The class rank is a numerical designation assigned to each student in your
graduating class based on the grade point average (GPA). The class rank is computed
using your weighted cumulative GPA.
 Grade Point Average (GPA): Your grade point average is calculated by dividing your
total quality points by the total of credits attempted. Each letter grade is given the
following quality point values: A - 4, B - 3, C - 2, D - 1, F - 0. Keep in mind that Honor level
courses will give you an extra .5 quality point and Advance Placement courses will give
you a full extra quality point.
 Test scores: Your scores on the Grade 10 ELA, PSAT, and SAT or ACT are included in this
section. Every test administration that is recorded on your student file is displayed in this
section of your transcript.
 Community Service Hours: All community service hours that you have logged with our
VIPS Coordinator. If you have not done so, you should attend a community service
workshop to be eligible to log your hours.
Workshop Dates 2015 - 2016
September 14, 2015
October 12, 2015
November 16, 2015
December 14, 2015
January 11, 2016
February 8, 2016
March 14, 2016
April 18, 2016
May 16, 2016
All workshops are held in the Media Center after school.
8
FRESHMAN YEAR DIDN’T GO SO WELL?
Don’t give up! You have time to get back on track. The following questions and answers address
some of the concerns that you might have if your freshman year did not go as planned.
 When will you be considered a 10th grader if you were retained this past year?
Keep in mind that you need five credits to be promoted. You will be promoted to 10th grade
as soon as you reach the five-credit requirement. For example, if you had 4.5 credits at the
end of your freshman year, you can be promoted to 10th grade at the end of the 1st semester of
your 10th grade if you earn at least ½ a credit.
 Can you still graduate on time?
Yes. As long as you earn the required 24 credits by the end of your fourth year of high school,
you will graduate with your class.
 How do you get back on track?
o Talk to your school counselor about Odyssey lab, Volusia Virtual School or Florida Virtual
School to make up credits.
o Attend after school tutoring or talk to your teachers (some teachers make themselves
available for tutoring)
o Use this document to get an idea of where you need to be and formulate a plan.
o Practice good time management and organizational skills.
o Remember your responsibilities as a student.
 What is Credit Retrieval Lab (ODYSSEY)?
The Credit Retrieval Lab is a computer-based drop out prevention program that serves
students who are deficient in academic credits required to graduate. Students entering the
Credit Retrieval Lab must have failed the course(s) required for graduation. For credit to be
awarded, a student must earn a "C" or better. The Credit Retrieval Lab is a voluntary program
with limited enrollment.
 What are Volusia Virtual and Florida Virtual School?
Both schools provide instruction free of charge to Florida students. Specific guidelines
necessary for participation with both Volusia and Florida Virtual Schools can be found at the
links below. Volusia and Florida Virtual School is an acceleration and/or remediation option
for Volusia County School students. Volusia and Florida Virtual School courses may be taken
in addition to the student’s regular schedule.
Volusia Virtual School - www.volusiaonlinelearning.org
Florida Virtual School - www.flvs.net
1
BLOCKADES TO SUCCESS
The following is a self assessment that will help you identify some areas that might be
interfering with your academic success. Do these statements pertain to you? Put a check next to
each one that does.
_____
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_____
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I do my best work under pressure.
I often feel hurried by school and/or personal pressures.
I have trouble saying "no" to people who ask me to do things for them.
I often get behind in my readings and papers.
I don't have enough time to spend on personal interests, such as hobbies and
sports.
_____
_____
_____
_____
6.
7.
8.
9.
I feel that I have to get straight As.
I worry that if I fail a test, someone will be disappointed in me.
When I take a test, I start blanking out and worry that I won't finish.
I panic during a test, worrying that if I don't do well I'll never get into grad school,
find a good job, graduate on time, etc.
_____ 10. During a test, I worry that I will fail and that everybody is doing better than I am.
_____ 11. I find that I get distracted by minor disturbances when I'm studying.
_____ 12. I can finish the small tasks, but I rarely have time to finish the larger ones.
_____ 13. I read material over and over, but I can't seem to learn it.
_____ 14. When I have something on my mind, I can't concentrate on studying.
_____ 15. I would rather go out than study, and I often give in to these urges.
_____ 16. When I finish a big project, I think "next time I'll start sooner."
_____ 17. I usually study by cramming the night before the test.
_____ 18. I wish I would get my work done earlier than I do.
_____ 19. When I get an assignment, I usually don't start right away.
_____ 20. If I leave studying for an exam until the last minute, I panic and have a hard time
getting anything done.
Scoring:
If most of your checks are in
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
You may have a problem with
Time management
Test anxiety
Study skills
Procrastination
Source: Salisbury University Student Counseling Center (http://www.salisbury.edu/counseling/New/blockades_to_success.html)
2
MISSION ORGANIZATION
Have you ever arrived in school only to realize that you forgot your Biology book at home? Being
organized is the best way to ensure that you will be successful in school. The following are some
sample checklists that can help you become more organized.
Things I Need to Bring To School: Each day before you go to school, check this list. Be sure you
have all the things that are listed. Add things that are specific to your classes (ex. calculator,
novel, etc.)
THINGS I NEED TO BRING TO SCHOOL
Textbooks
Workbooks
Binders
Assignment
Sheets
Homework
Assignments
2 pencils
1 pen
Ruler
Monday
✔
Tuesday
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Wednesday
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✔
Friday
✔
✔
Thursday
✔
✔
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✔
✔
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Things I Need to Take Home and Bring Back: Items in this checklist include things that will
help you study or complete assignments or projects at home.
THINGS I NEED TO TAKE HOME AND BRING BACK
Textbooks
Worksheets
Homework
Assignments
Permission slips
Library books
Monday
✔
Tuesday
Wednesday
✔
Thursday
✔
Friday
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Use the templates to help you get organized. Place them in a clear plastic sleeve and use an
erasable maker to check the items that you need.
Adapted from Better Teaching® newsletter © 2006 The Teacher Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
3
ORGANIZATION CHECKLISTS
Things I Need to Bring To School: Each day before you go to school, check this list. Be sure you
have all the things that are listed. Add things that are specific to your classes (ex. calculator,
novel, etc.)
THINGS I NEED TO BRING TO SCHOOL
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Things I Need to Take Home and Bring Back: Items on this checklist include things that will
help you study or complete assignments or projects at home.
THINGS I NEED TO TAKE HOME AND BRING BACK
Monday
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What do I do if I am having difficulties in a class?
Your teachers are your first resource in ensuring that you get the help you need to be
successful in your classes. In most cases, your teachers make themselves available to provide
extra help during lunch, or before and/or after school. You can see your school counselor for
information on tutoring opportunities available at school.
2. What is dual enrollment?
DSC’s dual enrollment program is a cooperative effort between Daytona State College and the
Volusia County School District. High school students are eligible to take dual enrollment
courses at Daytona State College. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Minimum scores
on the TABE, PERT, SAT or ACT are also required for most courses.
3. What is the NCAA Clearinghouse?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has rules for progressing from a high school
athlete to a college athlete. The Clearinghouse evaluates your course of study and
achievement levels to determine whether or not you are eligible to participate in athletics at
the college level.
4. What is the PSAT?
Typically administered in October of the 10th grade, the PSAT provides students with an early
indication of how their educational progress relates to their post-high school educational and
career plans. Ideally, you would be enrolled or have taken Geometry and/or Algebra II. The
mathematics sections of these tests cover concepts that are taught in both Geometry and
Algebra II, so it is necessary to have that level of mathematical understanding to be able to do
most of the math problems.
5. What about early graduation?
If you successfully complete your courses in the ninth through the eleventh grades, you will
be eligible to graduate at the end of fall semester in your senior year. Students who have not
failed any classes in high school usually only have English IV, a fourth math, US Government,,
and Economics (a total of three credits) to complete graduation requirements in their senior
year.
6. Do colleges approve of early graduation from high school?
You should contact the college admissions offices to learn their position on early graduation.
Some colleges do not encourage it, while others are supportive. The most widely accepted
opinion is that you should be constructively engaged in an academic or career oriented
endeavor after graduation, and that you have a plan for enhancing your learning and
preparation for entering college if you choose to graduate early.
5
HELPFUL WEB SITES
 Volusia County Schools – (www.myvolusiaschools.org)
 Florida Department of Education – (www.fldoe.org)
 Volusia Virtual School – (www.volusiaonlinelearning.com)
 Florida Virtual School – (www.flvs.net)
 Career Connection – (www.career-connection.org)
 Florida Shines – ( www.floridashines.org)
 Florida Students Resources – (www.floridastudents.org)

Khan Academy – (www.khanacademy.org/sat)

My Career Shines – (www.MyCareerShines.org)
 ACT – (www.actstudent.org)
 SAT – (www.collegeboard.org)
6
NOTES:
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