High School
At BHS I think I will have the
biggest problem adjusting to:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Bigger School
Different teachers
Upper classmen
Homework
Other???
Think for a minute about why you believe this
and what support you might need to help with
this.
A Time of Change
What’s different from Middle
School?
You will be
•Taking new courses
•Meeting new classmates
•Having new teachers
•More Homework
•Lots of Activity Choices
More Independence?
Self Advocacy
New Responsibilities
Choices and Outcomes
Problem solving and decision
making
Know Your Life Lines!
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Family
Friends
Teachers
Counselor
Tutor
I am concerned that I will have
trouble getting my homework
completed.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
School work is more . . .
CHALLENGING

HOMEWORK: You will have more, and it will help
you







Get off to a great start
Learn on your own
Better understand what’s taught in class
SUBJECTS: You will be challenged to think and
work harder
LONG-TERM PROJECTS: Teachers will
have you write term papers and do science
experiments.
PRESENTATIONS: You will be required to make
presentations in various classes.
TESTS: You will have different test formats in
different types of classes that count more heavily in
your class grade.
School Work:
How does it affect me?
 Grades will have an impact on
what colleges you get into and
what jobs you may be able to
get.
 Your Freshman year grades are
part of Your GPA.
 Colleges and employers will use
your overall GPA to help them
determine what kind of student
or worker you will be.
 Testing is an important part of
school and work - learning to
take tests well improves your
chances at being considered for
more colleges and jobs.
Get Organized:
 Use your planner
 Know when work is due
 Plan how to do quality work and
get it done on time
 Make short term goals that you
can reach
 Have a study time, place and
plan for each study night
 Check Student Portal for due
dates, grades and assignments
Words to Know
 Transcript: Record of course
work in high school
 GPA: Grade Point Average
 Class Rank: Your
cumulative GPA in relation to
others in your class.
 Prerequisite: A course
which must be successfully
completed before taking
another course. (Bio before
Genetics)
 Credit: A measure of credit
earned in a course.
 0.5 credit = semester course;
1 credit= year long course
Bennett School District Graduation
Requirements
COLLEGE PREPARATORY
4 credits of ENGLISH
4 credits of SOCIAL STUDIES
1 credit Geography/Civics
1 credit World History
1 credit US History
1 credit US
Government/Economics
3 credits of MATH
3 credits of SCIENCE
1.5 credits of Health/PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
1 credit of Business
20.5 Required Credits
6.5 Elective Credits
27.0 Total Credits needed
for graduation
20 hours of community
service
1 credit of PRACTICAL ARTS
Successful completion of Student
1 credit of FINE ARTS
Seminar every semester
2 credits of a Foreign Language
CALCULATING GPA
Or Why Your Freshman Year is Important!
Example1:
9th grade Semester 1 GPA
9th grade Semester 2 GPA
10th grade Semester 1 GPA
10th grade Semester 2 GPA
11th grade Semester 1 GPA
11th grade Semester 2 GPA
12th grade Semester 1 GPA
12th grade Semester 2 GPA
Average GPA
2.0
2.1
2.5
3.0
3.3
3.5
3.8
4.0
3.0
What does an F do?
Science
B
Math
A
English
B
History
C
PE
F
Public Speaking
B
Spanish
B
GPA:
2.57
C in PE & No F GPA
2.85!!
CALCULATING GPA
Or Why Your Freshman Year is Important!
Example1:
10th grade Semester 1 GPA
10th grade Semester 2 GPA
11th grade Semester 1 GPA
11th grade Semester 2 GPA
12th grade Semester 1 GPA
12th grade Semester 2 GPA
Average GPA
2.5
3.0
3.3
3.5
3.8
4.0
3.35
Example 2:
9th grade Semester 1 GPA
9th grade Semester 2 GPA
10th grade Semester 1 GPA
10th grade Semester 2 GPA
11th grade Semester 1 GPA
11th grade Semester 2 GPA
12th grade Semester 1 GPA
12th grade Semester 2 GPA
Average
3.0
3.0
2.5
3.0
3.3
3.5
3.8
4.0
GPA
3.26
Consistency and improvement work best!!
How many credits are required
from graduation from BHS?
A.
B.
C.
D.
25
26
27
25.5
Are there other graduation
requirements? What are they?
Start Thinking About
Post Graduate Plans
•College
Two year
Four year
•Technical Training (some available during High School)
•Military
•Work
Morgan Community College and T.H. PICKENS
CAREER/TECHNICAL COURSES
AVAILABLE TO JUNIORS AND SENIORS ONLY!!
T.H. PICKENS COURSES
AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL
SCHOOL COURSES:
 Agriculture/Equine
Science/Intro Vet Science
 Aviation Technology
 Auto Technology
 Commercial Photography
 Comprehensive Building
Trades
 Criminal Justice
 Diesel Equipment Repair
 Equine Science
 Executive Internship
 Graphic Design
 High Tech Acadmy
 Health Sciences
Technology
 Teacher Cadet
 Choosing a Career
A pre-assessment test must be taken by all
students prior to enrolling.
 Arts, Media and Commuication
 Human Services
 Engineering and Technology
 Construction and Development
 Automotive Technologies
 Business Technologies
 Health
 Landscaping and Evironmental
For a complete list of all courses
available, go to
Pickenstech.aurorak12.org
YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY D’s OR F’s IF
YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING
PICKENS
What Colleges Look For
 College Prep curriculum
 Extra-curricular activities
 Letters of Recommendations
 Essays (upon request)
 Community Service
 Required tests (Most only require
either ACT or SAT:Explore test -October
14 = ACT Pre-test):
 ACT
 SAT I
 SAT II
Extracurricular Activities
“meet people, learn teamwork,
get in shape, have fun”
Clubs and
Organizations
Community Service
Performing Arts
Athletics
Why are freshman year
grades important?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Calculated into GPA
1/3 of GPA colleges see
Shows type of student to come
Class rank provides opportunities
All of the above
YOU make the decisions!
Don’t let peer pressure run
your life:
Make wise
choices.
Find friends who share your
values
High school
means having
more freedom:
Walk away from situations
that you are uncomfortable
with
Have healthy relationships
Communicate what you
want out of relationships
Getting a driver’s
license
Being allowed to
stay out later with
friends
To be successful in high school I
need:
A.
B.
C.
D.
To study/do homework
Talk to my teachers
Join activities
Understand what’s expected in
classes
E. All of the above
Teachers can give
you advice on courses
to take, studying, and
more. They can also
provide extra help with
a course or
assignment.
Counselors can help
you with planning
courses, social,
personal and health
issues, conflicts, and
college and career
planning.
Take advantage of resources at
Bennett H.S.:
•Tutoring
•Computer labs
•Counseling center
•School to career programs
•Library
•Seminar
•Websites
Your parents or
guardians can make
a big difference in
your success in
school. They can
give you support and
help support your
school
If I don’t want to go to
college, options for me are:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Dropout
Go to work
Lay on the couch at home
Join the military
How do I decide what is the
best choice for me?
BE POSITIVE!
This is an exciting, amusing, fun,
entertaining, enjoyable, somewhat
carefree time in your life.
ENJOY IT!