Independence HS
Home of the Knights
Welcome
Class of 2019 Students & Parents!
Agenda for Tonight
Welcome to Independence!
The “Focus” at Independence
Getting Involved
Words from Counseling
PAP/AP Class Information
Touring the Campus
Note: Please hold all questions for the
meet and greet portion of the evening.
Thanks!
An Exciting Time Tonight!
Visiting with Our Amazing Staff
Hearing about the Firsts Students will Experience
Helping Develop New Traditions
Signing Up for Clubs & Organizations
Independence Focus
“Inspire to Learn, Empower to Excel”
Smooth Transition from 8th Grade
Building Healthy Relationships
Building a Safe and Spirit-Filled Climate
Striving for Academic Excellence
Meeting Students Where They Are!
Setting High Expectations in Everything
Preparing Students for Life After High School
The Knight’s Code
Integrity
Unity
Loyalty
Courage
Perseverance
Service
The “We Share” Philosophy
Athletics
Fine Arts
Academic Decathlon
Clubs & Organizations
And many more
We encourage students to join multiple
organizations!
Watch for Newsletter Updates
Athletic Camps
Band Camps
Cheer Camps
Drill Team Camps
Updates can also be found on the IHS
website!
IHS Administrative Team
Eric
Green
A-D
Stephany
Sipes
L-Q
Hector
Garcia
E-K
Katey
Gray
R-Z
Graduation Plans (HB 5)
Foundation plus Endorsement Plan
(Distinguished Level of Achievement Plan)
Subject
Credits
Required Courses
English
Math
Science
4
4
4
Social Studies
4
Foreign Language
P.E.
2
1
Health
Speech
Fine Arts
.5
.5
1
Technology
1
English 1, 2, 3, 4
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, 4th math
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 4th science
OR Biology, IPC, Chemistry, Physics
World Geo, World History, U.S. History,
Government & Economics
Spanish, French, Chinese, ASL* 1 & 2
P.E., Athletics/Training, Fall Band, Fall Color Guard,
Drill Team, Cheer, Dance (not an option for athletes)
Health, Health Science (Pre-req: Medical Terminology)
Professional Communications
Art, Theater Arts, Choir, Band, Dance, Orchestra,
DGA, Elements of Floral Design (grade 10+)
BIM, Digital Interactive Media, DGA, Computer
Science, Web Technologies, Computer
Maintenance, Yearbook, Video Technology,
Broadcast, IED, + possible additions
Electives (Endorsements) 4
Total
26
*ASL does not meet all college admissions requirements.
Endorsement Pathways & CTE Center
•Arts & Humanities
•Art
•Dance
•Music
•Theatre
•Language
•Business & Industry
•Advanced Journalism
•Ag, Food & Natural Resources-Animal Science
•Ag, Food & Natural Resources-Horticulture/Landscape
•Ag, Food & Natural Resources-Ag Mechanics
•Architecture & Construction
Endorsement Pathways & CTE Center
•Business & Industry continued
•Arts, AV Technology & Communication
•Business Management & Administration
•Financial Systems
•Hospitality & Tourism
•Information Technology
•Marketing, Sales & Service
•Sports & Entertainment Management
•Multidisciplinary
•Public Service
•Education & Training
•Government & Public Administration
•Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Endorsement Pathways & CTE
Center
•STEM
•Computer Science
•Health Science
•Math
•Science
More information regarding Career &
Technology pathways can be found online at
http://schools.friscoisd.org/spc/cte
Academic Catalog
You can find the 2015-2016 Course Catalog
online soon at
http://schools.friscoisd.org/hs/independence
All course offerings are subject to change!
Funding levels and student interest may
affect whether or not an offering is available.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite—required or necessary as a prior
condition.
In order to take the classes below, a prerequisite
class is required first.
Examples:
Spanish II
Prereq: Spanish I
Health Science (10th Grade Course)
Prereq: Medical Terminology (9th Grade)
The 2015-2016 Course Catalog will outline the
Prerequisites and the Grade Restrictions
What is a Credit?
A student needs 26 credits in order to
graduate. A half-credit is earned each
semester for each class passed with a 70
or above average.
All 9th grade
students must be
enrolled in eight
class periods.
High School Schedule
•Known as an A-B block schedule
•8 total classes
•A Day = 4 classes; B Day = the other 4 classes
•30-minute lunch is based on student’s 3rd period
class
•School begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:10 p.m.
•Each class is 90 minutes with 5 minutes between
each class
Block Schedule
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
A Day B Day A Day B Day A Day
Periods 1-4
Periods1-4
Periods 1-4 Periods 1-4
Periods 1-4
B Day A Day B Day A Day B Day
Periods 1-4
Periods 1-4
Periods 1-4
Periods 1-4 Periods 1-4
Saturday
Rank and GPA
Rank in class, honor graduate
status, valedictorian and
salutatorian determination shall
be based on a weighted grade
point average (GPA) system.
Grades will be weighted according
to the level of the course.
•Freshman grades count!
“Start strong and do your
best from your first day of
high school.” For admissions
purposes, rank at the close
of junior year dictates the
top 10% of the class.
AP/PAP
Dual
Credit
On-Level
Grade
Point
95
100
5.5
94
99
5.4
93
98
5.3
92
97
5.2
91
96
5.1
90
95
100
5.0
89
94
99
4.9
88
93
98
4.8
87
92
97
4.7
86
91
96
4.6
85
90
95
4.5
84
89
94
4.4
Top 10% Rule
•Class Rank and GPA are used to determine if you
are in the “Top 10%” of your class.
•Students who are in the top 10% of their class (at
the end of junior year) are automatically accepted
into Texas public colleges. (UT Austin is now top
8%).
State Assessments
•5 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) Exams
−English I
−English II
−Algebra I
−Biology
−US History
Athletic Try-Outs
• All students are free to sign up for any athletic class
they wish, but they must make the team in order to
stay in the class. PE teaches how to play various
sports, but the athletic teams in high school are
competitive and require you to already know how to
play.
• Try-outs are typically made the first two weeks of
each semester.
• Those not making the team will be moved to P.E. and
to elective classes that are STILL OPEN.
BAND
• Band is typically a double-blocked class; band
director must approve a student wanting to singleblock. All band classes are determined by auditions.
• Fall band is marching band.
• The band director and athletic coach must be
contacted if a student wants to participate in both
band and a sport.
DGA – Fine Arts &
Technology
• One year of DGA fulfills Fine Arts
requirement for 1 credit AND
• Technology requirement for 1 credit
Dance – Fine Arts & PE
• One year of Dance fulfills Fine Arts
requirement for 1 credit AND
• PE requirement for 1 credit
• Athletes cannot sign up for Dance 1
Foreign Language
• We encourage all freshman to start their
foreign language in 9th grade!
• Frisco ISD currently offers Spanish,
French, American Sign Language, and
Chinese.
Thinking of Summer
School???
•The following courses will be offered in summer
school for advancement:
•Business Information Mgmt (1 credit/2 terms)
•Digital Interactive Media (1 credit/2 terms
•Health (.5 credit/one term)
•Professional Communications (.5 credit/1 term)
•IPC (Integrated Physics & Chemistry) (1 credit/2
terms)
•Medical Terminology (.5 credit/1 term)
**Can take up to 1 full credit in summer school. Does not
count in GPA calculation**
Credit By Exams for
Acceleration
• Current 8th graders may be able to test at the
end of school this year to ensure that grades
are received in time for an accurate schedule
at schedule pickup.
• A student’s schedule will not change until
grades have been received.
• Grade does not count in GPA.
Dates to Remember
•
•
•
•
•
Wednesday, January 21st- Vandeventer
Monday, January 26th- Wester
Tuesday, January 27th – Scoggins
Wednesday, January 28th- Roach
Thursday, January 29th- Maus
***All course verification forms due back to the middle school counselors the
following week
• April 17th, 2015– Last Day for Elective Changes (Home Access open to view
course requests- course request change form with middle school counselors)
• August 2015 - Schedule Pickup/9th Orientation
Making a Schedule Change
•Your last opportunity to change an elective is on or before:
April 17th, 2015
•
Only approved program changes (in or out of athletics,
band, etc.) can be made the first two weeks of the new
semester.
•
PAP/AP students must complete the first six-weeks
grade cycle before a change to on-level will be
considered.
•
Don’t forget to list alternate choices! Your student’s
schedule may not work out as planned, and we prefer
not to make that choice!
Balance – There are only 24 hours
in a day! 
•Try not to overload yourself. We do
not recommend that a student take
all advanced-level classes, join
numerous activities (band, athletics,
student council…), and expect to be
successful in EVERYTHING.
•We all need some down time.
Consider your well-being and choose
carefully.
IHS Counselors
Heather Holmes Lead (A-B)
holmesh@friscoisd.org
Rosalyn Greer (C-L)
greerr@friscoisd.org
Jason Wooden (M-Z)
woodenj@friscoisd.org
Pre-AP and Advanced Placement Program
What is the Pre-AP/AP program?
Allows students to participate in college preparatory courses
and college level courses while still in high school
Who can enroll in a Pre-AP/AP course?
Any student can enroll
Students committed to completing the course they sign up to
take
Changes will be allowed at the 1st six-week point and at semester
What are the advantages of Pre-AP/AP courses?
Better preparation for college
Students may receive college credit in high school, saving both
time and money
Colleges and universities look favorably on students who have
completed this course work
PAP/AP Six-Weeks Commitment
•
Students who sign up for a PAP/AP class will be
required to stay the entire first six weeks.
•
Following the close of the first six weeks,
students will not be allowed to drop the course
until second semester begins.
•
We encourage AP Human Geography for
experienced PAP students and students new to
PAP!
IHS Grading
Philosophy
Daily Grades (20%)
• Measures
Behaviors
• Graded through
rubric
Minor Grades (30%)
Major Grades (50%)
• Graded on the
academic merit
of work
Opportunities to Participate/School Tour
Dr. Katey Gray
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Athletics
Fine Arts
Academic Decathlon
Clubs & Organizations
And many more
We Share!
We encourage students to join multiple
organizations.