Palmer High School
CLASS OF 2020
Palmer High Counselors
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Mrs. Johnson – Students with last names A-G
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Ms. Osiensky – Students with last names H-N
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Mr. Zimmer – Students with last names O-Z
Role of a Guidance Counselor
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Want help regarding personal, social, or emotional concerns
Need assistance with high school survival skills including grades,
testing, studying, etc.
Want help choosing classes, or changing your classes
Need a tutor? Want to be a tutor?
Classes @ Career Technical High School (CTHS)
Need to check your credits
Find out more about your interests for career exploration
Find out more about opportunities after high school
Community Service Opportunities
Foreign Exchange Opportunities
Just want to stop in and say “HI” 
Types of Graduation Diplomas at PHS
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MSBSD Basic High School
Diploma
Earned 24.5 credits & take either SAT, ACT
or Work Keys
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MSBSD Certificate of
Completion
Earned 24.5 credits & did not take SAT, ACT
or Work Keys
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International Baccalaureate
(IB) Diploma
CLASS OF 2020
Graduation Requirements
English
4.0 Credits
Math
3.0 Credits
Science
3.0 Credits
Social Studies
3.5 Credits
PE
1.0 Credits (or PE Waivers)
Health
0.5 Credits
Electives
9.5 Credits
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Total
24.5 Credits
IB Diploma Requirements
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Foreign Language is necessary 9th/10th grade year
Creativity, Action and Service to Community for 150
Hours (CAS)
6 Subject Study Groups: HL and SL
Extended Essay
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
Rigorous Two-Year Curriculum
PHS IB coordinator:
Nikki Henry nichelle.henry@matsuk12.us
IB website at www.ibo.org
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Requirements for College Sports
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Additional Math
Additional Science
Foreign Language
Additional CORE classes
National Registration with NCAA during 11th grade
Why are credits important?
Each class is equal to 0.5 Credit. With a 7 period
day 3.5 credits can be earned each semester.
Graduation = 24.5 credits.
How do I earn credit?
Credit is earned in any class for a “D” (60%) or
better by the end of the semester.
Semester 1 ends in December
Semester 2 ends in May
Grading @ PHS
 A – 90-100%
Superior Achievement
 B –80-89%
Above Average Achievement
 C – 70-79%
Average Achievement
 D –60-69%
Below Average Achievement
 F – 0-59%
No Credit is earned
What is an F?
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An F (No Credit) grade is when a
student fails to receive a 60% or
higher in a semester long course
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An F on a required course = the
course must be repeated or made
up to meet graduation
requirements
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An F on an elective course = a
credit needs to be earned but
does NOT have to be the same
elective course
How do I make up an F?
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Summer School offers make up in English, Math and
Science
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Take a correspondence course with approval by counselor,
school district and at the cost of your parents
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Retake the same class again next year if there is room in the
class or thru APEX
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Repeat your Health & Civics the following semester
What is Grade Point Average (GPA)?
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GPA = grade points earned ÷ the # of courses the student has taken
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Points: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0
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Cumulative GPA (you’ll see this on your transcript) is based on ALL
the classes you’ve ever taken and the grades (or points) received for
these.
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Semester GPA (you’ll see this on your report card) is based on 1
semester of classes you’ve taken and the grades (or points)
received for these.
Calculating a GPA
Report Card Example
GPA =
Total points earned/classes taken
 English 1 =
B (3 points)
 Algebra 1 =
B (3 points)
 Science 1 =
B (3 points)
 Health
=
A (4 points)
 French 1 =
A (4 points)
 PE
=
A (4 points)
 Civics
=
A (4 points)
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Total Points Earned = 25 points
GPA = 25/7 = 3.5
Total Classes Taken = 7 classes
Remember!
Points: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0
Why should GPA matter to me?
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Transcripts are permanent
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College Entrance
Eligibility
Class Rank
Scholarships
Employment
Cost of Car Insurance
Internships
Marketability: Your GPA
tells something about
who you are!
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GPA & Sports Eligibility
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Eligibility is determined by # of classes & Quarter GPA.
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Underclassmen must be enrolled in 5 graded classes & must
be passing 5 thru the season.
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Must have passed 5 classes in the prior Quarter with a
minimum GPA of 2.0
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First grade check for all students will occur at the end of 1st
quarter & must be passing 5 classes and have a minimum
GPA of 2.0
*****Seniors who have taken the ACT/SAT/WorkKeys and are on
track to graduate must be enrolled in a minimum of 4
classes and pass all 4 with a 2.0 GPA.
GPA & Sports Eligibility
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If you do not pass at
least 5 graded classes
with a minimum GPA of
2.0 at quarter then you
will not be sports eligible
until the following quarter!
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This means 0
participation in sports &
possibly clubs for a full
quarter!
Success @ PHS
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Show up
Participate
Do your work
Do it on time
Talk with your teachers
Get involved
Getting Involved @ PHS
Fall Sports
X Country Running
Volleyball
Football
Swimming
Diving
Cheerleading
Winter Sports
Bball Cheerleading
Girls Basketball
Boys Basketball
X Country Skiing
Wrestling
Hockey for Girls/Boys
Spring Sports
Girls Soccer
Boys Soccer
Girls Softball
Baseball
Track & Field
Getting Involved @ PHS
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Pep Band
Dramatic Plays/Musicals
Powder Puff Football
Blue Moose Gardens
Saroma Exchange
Foreign Exchange
FCCLA/Pro Start
Spirit Club
Jazz Band
Jazz Choir
Teens Against Tobacco Use
Skills USA
Key Club
Chess Club
Community Service
Native Youth Olympics
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Business Professionals of America
Science/Ocean Bowl
Spanish National Honor Society
Future Farmers of America
International Club/Exchange
Letter Club
Partners Club
TADA
National Honors Society
Student Government
Anime Club
Archery Club
Foosball Club
Dungeons & Dragons
Educational Trips
Youth Court
Freshman Courses
Required Year Long Courses (1.0 Credit Each)
ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE: determined by scores on MAP & teacher input
READING: required in addition to English for certain scores on MAP & teacher input
MATH LAB: required in addition to MATH for certain scores on MAP & teacher input
Required Semester Long Courses (0.5 Credit Each)
HEALTH
CIVICS
Elective Courses
Art, Agriculture, Auto, Computers, Construction, Woods, Culinary, Music, Drama, Language
Bringing Up Middle School Grades?
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Why Yes?
 Jump start on credits that count towards graduation
 Helps with qualifying for Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)
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Why No?
 Non-Weighted courses will factor into rank Junior/Senior year
 Scholarships, etc. based on class rank
 Readiness for next course at the high school level
 Some colleges/universities do not accept or recognize MS credits
 Military Academy Schools do not recognize MS credits
 NCAA recognizes MS credit as a 60% = D grade
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Forms must be completed at your middle school to bring up courses, but there is no
hurry because you can transfer those grades anytime during high school
2016 Freshman Course Seletions
CORE CLASSES
ELECTIVE CLASSES
ENGLISH
1081-1082 Read 180 - SM or YR
1011-1012 Comm. Lab - SM or YR
1101-1102 English 1 - YR, X, AK
1121-1122 Hon. English 1 - YR, X, AK
BUSINESS
83020 Keyboarding - SM
83030 Tech App.1 - SM
83040 Tech App 2 - SM
MATHEMATICS
2101-2102 KEAS – SM or YR
2111-2112 Intro to Algebra - YR, X
2121-2122 Algebra I - YR, X, AK
2221-2222 Geometry - YR, X, AK
SCIENCE
4111-4112 Earth Science - YR, X, AK
4101-4102 Physical Sci. - YR, X, AK
4201-4202 Biology - YR, X, AK
SOCIAL STUDIES
3450 Civics - SM, AK
HEALTH
5100 Health - SM, X
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
5201-5202 Aerobics - SM
5221-5222 Fitness Act. - SM
5261-5262 Swimming - SM
5271-5272 Weight Training - SM
5561-5562 Sports Activities - SM
FINE ARTS
7100 2-D Art Survey - SM, AK, $
7200 3-D Art Survey - SM, AK, $
7260-7270 Drama 1/ 2 - SM or YR, AK
7551-7552 Concert Choir - YR, AK, $
7621-7622 Symph Band - YR, AK, $
7670-7680 Guitar I & II - SM or YR, AK,
7480 Photography as Art- SM, AK, $
(Digital Camera required, not a phone)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
6111-6112 French 1 - YR, X, AK, $
6121-6122 French 2 - YR, X, AK, $
6211-6212 Spanish 1 - YR, X, AK, $
6221-6222 Spanish 2 - YR, X, AK, $
SOCIAL STUDIES
3380 Current Issues - SM, AK
3250 Sociology - SM, X, AK
3010 Leadership – SM
TRADES AND INDUSTRIES
81010 Int. Plant Science - SM, $
81020 Greenhouse Prod. - SM, $
81030 Landscape Des. - SM, $
81040 Comp. Animals - SM, $
81050 Int Animal Science - SM, $
81060 Forestry - SM, $
81070 Int. Ag./Nat. Resource - SM, $
81090 Intro GIS - SM, $
85030 Customer Service - SM
85110 Creative Clothing - SM, $
86450 Food & Nutrition - SM, $
86110 Intro. to Construction - SM, $
86120 Housing Concepts - SM, $
86210-86220 Woods 1/ 2 - SM or YR, $
86500 Intro. to Auto - SM , $
OTHER
9731-9732 Acad. Strat - SM
9981-9982 Off Campus – SM or YR
(State the class period)
LEGEND
SM: Semester Class
YR: Yearlong Class
A: Audition Required
X: Offered on Apex online
AK: Meets Alaska Performance
Scholarship Requirements
$: Class Fee
PLEASE NOTE:
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All classes are subject to change,
cancellation and space
availability.
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Students planning to participate
in college athletics are
responsible for ensuring their
classes meet NCAA
requirements.
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Off Campus requires completion
of a contract with your
counselors. A parent signature is
required.
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Course Descriptions found in 9th
Grade Course Listings Booklet or
on PHS website:
www.matsuk12.us/phs under
the Guidance Tab - Counseling
Palmer High School
2017 Freshman Course Selections
Name:
Student ID :
Phone:
Circle the class in each core area that you are requesting for your child:
English:
Read 180
Comm. Lab
Eng. 1
Hon. Eng. 1
Math:
KEAS Lab
Science:
Earth Science
Social Studies:
Intro . Alg.
Alg. 1
Geometry
Physical Science
Civics
Health:
Biology
*All blank lines must be filled in with a
course number and name.
*Do not duplicate course requests
* Only 1 PE per semester
*Indicate class period when requesting
Off-Campus
Health
Final placement in all core classes is based on grades, teacher recommendation and test scores.
Semester 1
Course # Course Name
Semester 2
Course #
Course Name
Elective
Elective
Elective
Alternate
Alternate
Parent Signature____________________________________________
Anything else you would like your counselor to know:
Congratulations
you are
THE CLASS OF 2020