8th to 9th
Grade
Planning
VMS Principal:
Ms. Drautz
School Counselor:
Mrs. Lyons
8th to 9th Grade Planning Timeline

November 23rd: Counselor visited Social Studies classes to get

January 29th: Parent signed copy of course selection sheet
due to middle school office
April/May: Tentative schedules mailed home (no teacher
names or room numbers)
August: Final Schedules mailed home
to know students and begin discussion about current
academic performance and information related to transition
to grade 9
 December -February: Student meetings with school counselor
in small groups to discuss career/college goals, diploma
options, regents courses, and credit requirements for high
school
 January/February: 8th grade teachers make core course
recommendations for all students
 January 15th: Course Expo, Grades 8-11
Students attended event to learn about high school courses
and have time to make elective selections
 January 25th: Individual student course selection sheets will
come home with students for parent review


9th Grade Programming Sheet
CORE Course Breakdown
English 9
*English 9 R
REGENTS EXAM: Grade 11
Math:
*Algebra 1, Algebra 1A, Basic Algebra, Geometry
REGENTS EXAM: Grade 8, 9, and/or 10, dependent
on each student’s schedule/course load
CORE Course Breakdown
SCIENCE:
*Earth Science, Earth Science Lab, Biology, Bio Lab
REGENTS: Earth Science or Biology, Grade 9
SOCIAL STUDIES:
*Global History 9
REGENTS: Global History, Grade 10
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: (Optional)
* Spanish 2, French 2
EXAM: Teacher Exam at the end Grade 9
(Checkpoint B at the end of Grade 10)
9th Grade ELECTIVES
Course
Credits
Chorale
.5
Band
.5
Jazz Band
.25
Studio Art
1
Intro to Engineering, Project Lead
the Way
1
Wood/Material 1 and 2
.5 each
Digital Graphics 1 and 2
.5 each
Baking (Principles of Baking)
.5
Foods 1 (Introduction to Food
Prep and Nutrition )
.5
Child Development
.5
VHS Graduation
Requirements & The
9th Grade Team
VHS Principal:
Laura Schmitz
VHS Counselors:
Kristen Heyde, and Tim Kelley
High School Counseling Staff
 Kristen


765-3314 ext 203
kheyde@voorheesville.org
 Tim


Heyde (A-K)
Kelley (L-Z)
765-3314 ext 205
tkelley@voorheesville.org
Total Credits
22 (Minimum)
Diploma Types
Regents
Regents with Honors
Advanced Regents
Course Requirements
Number of Years or Credits
New York State Regents Exam
English
4 Years/4 Credits
English Common Core
Social Studies
4 Years/4 Credits
Global History & Geography
United States History & Government
Mathematics
3 Years/3 Credits
Science
3 Years/3 Credits
Algebra 1 Common Core
Geometry Common Core
Algebra 2 Common Core
Earth Science
Living Environment
Chemistry
Physics
Physical Education
4 Years/2 Credits
1 Credit (7th and 8th Grade)
Checkpoint A (8th Grade)
3 Credits (Advanced Regents)*
Checkpoint B (10th Grade)
Art or Music
1 Credit
Personal Finance (district requirement)
½ Credit
Health
½ Credit
Electives/Sequence
3 Credits
*A 5-Credit Sequence in Art, Music or CTE may replace a Foreign Language Sequence
Foreign Language
Diploma Types
 Regents

5 required exams
 Advanced

8 required exams
 Honors

Regents
Designation
90 average on required exams
Sample 9th Grade Schedule
Days
Period Term
Room
Course#
Course
Teacher
A,B
1
1,2,3,4
146
C6091
Studio Art
K. Wells
A,B
2
1,2,3,4
147
C5091
Spanish ll
I. Kalin
A,B
3
1,2,3,4
119
C3091
Algebra I
C. Kelley
A
4
1,2
Commns c9994
Study Hall
A. Sheehan
A
4
3,4
Commns c9994
Study Hall
A. Sheehan
B
4
1,2,3,4
GYM HS C8111
Phys Ed Wellness
A. Karins
A
5
1,2,3,4
137
C4093
Reg Earth
Sci Lab
M. Kelly
B
5
1,2,3,4
LGI
C6610
Concert
Band
B. Kaplan
A,B
6
1,2,3,4
Commns C9999
LUNCH HS
.. Staff
A,B
7
1,2,3,4
141
C1091
English 9
A. McTighe
A,B
8
1,2,3,4
135
C4091
Reg Earth
Sci
K. Young
A,B
9
1,2,3,4
129
C2091
Global
History I
A. Lyons
English 9
English 10
English 10H
English 11
English 11H
English 12
AP English
Global
History 9
Global
History 10
US History
Economics/
Government
AP World
History
AP US History
AP Micro/Macro
Economics
Algebra IA
Algebra 1B
Basic Geometry
or Accounting
Basic
Algebra
Algebra I
Geometry
Geometry
Algebra II
Algebra II
Pre-Calculus
PreCalculus
AP Calculus and/or
AP Statistics
Algebra
Geometry or
Accounting
Biology
Earth Science
Biology
Chemistry
Chemistry
Forensics
Physics
Environmental
Science
Physics
Any AP
Science
Students may double up on Science starting in 10th grade
9th Grade Expectations
 Academic
independence
 Self-accountability
 More rigor
 Continued engagement in after school
activities (recreational and academic)
High School Support

9th grade team


Meets daily
Discuss students at risk
 Home

Work Center
After school Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday
 Support



Staff
School Counselors (Ms. Heyde & Mr. Kelley)
School Social Worker (Ms. Chu)
School Psychologist (Mrs. Kemp)
Transition Strategies
 Foster
organization
 Emphasize importance of HS courses
 Attend school
 Check parent portal and read daily
announcements that are posted on the
school website
Career and Technical
Education (CTE)
½
day training in a specific career and
tech program
 Attend in 11th & 12th grade
 Must be in good academic standing,
including attendance
Advanced Placement & UHS
Courses
 College
level courses
 AP exam attached to AP course
 Offer 9 AP courses
 Offer 8 UHS courses