Freshman Focus Checklist
Making Your Freshman Year Count
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS FACTORS
Get Great Grades
Get Involved
Get Connected to Online Resources
Get Goals
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Great Grades
 Learn Classroom Policies, Procedures and Expectations
 Develop good Study Habits
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Use an assignment planner
Plan/track for major projects
Keep Organized (homework, notes, classroom materials)
 Keep the right Attitude
•
Diligence - The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to
forced labor. Proverbs 12:24
•
Perseverance - Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4
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Humility - Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.
Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
 Keep a good Balance of academic and extra-curricular
activities = GRADES COME FIRST
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Great Grades (cont’d)
BUILD a great Grade Point Average (G.P.A.): How your G.P.A. is
calculated
Grade
Grade Point
Meaning
100-90%
A
5.0
Excellent
89-80%
B
4.0
Surpassing
79-70%
C
3.0
Satisfactory
69-60%
F
0.0
Failing
•Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered to Juniors and Seniors to build a
higher G.P.A.
•AP testing guidelines are explained in the CCS Student Handbook. Your
teacher can recommend which classes/tests you should take.
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Great Grades (cont’d)
•How your Class Grade is Calculated:
Daily Work
Tests
Quizzes
Projects
U.S. History
10%
60%
30%
(count as a test grade)
Anatomy
15%
55%
30%
-
Hermeneutics
10%
40%
40%
10%
Geometry
25%
50%
15%
(count as a test grade)
Approx 25%
(point system)
Approx 50%
(point system)
Approx 25%
(point system)
-
25%
50%
25%
-
Class.Literature
Spanish I
•All students must have two (2) Physical Education (P.E.) credits to
graduate from CCS (sports or P.E. classes).
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Great Grades (cont’d)
•How your Semester and Transcript Grades are calculated:
Qtr 1 Qtr 2
Semester Semester 1
Exam
Grade
Semester 2
Grade
Transcript Grade
40%
20%
Avg of
(Q1+Q2+
Sem Exam)
Avg of
(Sem 1+ Sem 2)
40%
Avg of
(Q1+Q2+
Sem Exam)
•Building a great transcript is WISE. Start early!
•Colleges care about your Freshman year and every year on your high
school transcript. Grades for every test, quiz, daily work and project
contributes to the grade shown on your transcript.
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Involved (Extra-curricular Activities)
 In-School Activities – using your GIFTS and TALENTS
from the LORD
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Athletics* (Varsity and Junior Varsity)
Student Government (S.G.A)
Arts (Drama, Art Class)
Clubs (e.g. Interact, F.C.A)
Volunteer Opportunities (e.g. Sports Scoreboard). See Mrs.
Mintz for volunteer jobs at CCS.
• Jobs (start small with jobs like mopping floors). See
Mr. Minor for paid jobs at CCS.
* Please note: All CCS students must maintain a G.P.A. of 2.5 or above to
participate in extra-curricular activities)
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Involved (cont’d)
• CCS H.S. Athletic Offerings (Varsity Teams)
Fall
Winter
Spring
Cross-country (Co-ed)
Football (Men)
Soccer (Men)
Tennis (Women
Volleyball (Women)
Basketball
(Men & Women)
Swimming (Co-ed)
Baseball (Men)
Golf (Men)
Lacrosse (Men)
Soccer (Women)
Tennis (Men)
Track (Co-ed)
•CCS H.S. Athletic Offerings (Junior Varsity Teams)
Fall
Winter
Spring
Volleyball (Women)
Basketball (Men & Women)
None
•See the school website for the latest athletic information. Game
schedules and venues can be found at www.highschoolsports.net.
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Involved (cont’d)
 Outside-School Activities – using your GIFTS and
TALENTS from the LORD
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Athletics (e.g. CASL, USTA, AAU)
Student Government (e.g.Town of Cary Teen Council)
Arts (e.g. Raleigh Little Theatre)
Clubs (e.g. 4H, Scouting)
Volunteer Opportunities (e.g. Meals on Wheels, Rex
VolunTEENs, Nursing Homes, serving in your church
nursery)
• Jobs (start small with jobs like pet-sitting, child-care
or lawn care) or try Job Shadowing.
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Involved (cont’d)
 Get a LOG to TRACK your activity and begin building your
Resume.
Student Name
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Academics
Athletics
Activities
Leadership
Volunteer/
Work
• A great Resume opens doors of opportunity for you.
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Connected to online Resources
 RENWEB, RENWEB, RENWEB
• Go to school website and logon to RENWEB to see
your daily homework assignments.
 Get onto College Board.com (www.collegeboard.com)
• Explore the website to begin preparing for the SAT
• Locate the “My Organizer Tool” and create a free
account
• Get the SAT Question of the Day sent to your email
Click the “For Students” tab
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Connected (cont’d)
 Get onto the ACT Test website and sign up for an ACT
Student Web Account (www.actstudent.org)
• Go to the Test Prep page and get the ACT “Question of the
Day”
• Get onto Number2.com for SAT Skills (with coaching)
 Get a Great Vocabulary – helps with writing essays and
understanding written material
• Get the Word of the Day added to your YAHOO home page.
• Use your daily CCS reading to build your vocabulary and
look up vocabulary unfamiliar to you.
• Read, Read, Read: Read for your pleasure in the areas of
your interest (e.g. Periodicals, Novels, Bible, other books)
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Goals
 Set realistic goals for your grades and activities
 Get a peek at a College Freshman Profile
• What does a typical college freshman look like on
paper? (see the Resource Page of this presentation)
 Explore your personal interests as time permits
(summer, breaks)
 Look for opportunities to get exposure to your
interests
– Camps
– Summer Programs
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Wise Counsel
 Get Help if needed
– Your Teachers want to see your best performance and
they will help you achieve it.
– Math Study Hall
– Parents and tutors
– Online help (e.g. Math tutorials)
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Wise Counsel
• Ask, and it will be given to you;
• Seek, and you will find;
• Knock, and it will be opened to you. 10
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks
finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke
11:9-10
ASK continually to receive wisdom from God
Primary Sources: God’s Word and the Holy
Spirit, Parents, Pastors, Authorities
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Making Your Freshman Year Count
FOCUS: Get Wise Counsel
 Get Understanding
• Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all your getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on
your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5
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Resources
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Cary Visual Arts: www.townofcary.org
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Raleigh Little Theater: www.raleighlittletheatre.org
Rex VolunTEEN program:
www.rexhealth.com/Staff_and_Volunteers/Volunteers/volunteen.asp
College Board: www.collegeboard.com
ACT Test: www.actstudent.org
NCAA Eligibility - www.eligibilitycenter.org
Freshmen Profiles
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– UNC Chapel Hill: www.admissions.unc.edu/ask_carolina.html?id=227
– N.C. State: www.admissions.ncsu.edu/how-apply/admissionprofile/pdf/facts.pdf
– Elon University: www.elon.edu/e-web/admissions/snapshot.xhtml
– Grove City University: www.gcc.edu/Freshman_Profile.php
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