www.algonac.k12.mi.us

Algonac High School Guidance Counselor
(810) 794-4911 ext 1282 kblair@acsk12.us
Follow me on Twitter – KarenBlairAHS
Join my “Algonac High School Counseling
Department” facebook page
AHS website – www.algonac.k12.mi.us

Student Services/Counseling Office

(US, Gov/Econ & World History)
(Biology, Chemistry or Physics, 1 more science)
(Spanish I counts)


6x4=24 credits

Extra-Curricular Activities
(.25 Credit Each)
All Sports, Student Council, Quiz Bowl, SADD
All sports are listed at the Athletics Website!

There is still time to join Student Council!
The next meeting is Friday, Sept 25 th at
7:00 AM in the lecture hall.
See Mrs. Landrum (Room 151) to pick up the Student Council Calendar and the application.

To be a Sophomore = at least 5 credits
To be a Junior = at least 11 credits
To be a Senior = at least 16.5 credits






Is a record of all the class taken and grades earned in high school.
Middle school grades are not reported on the high school transcript.
The high school grade point average is cumulative, meaning that all grades are averaged together.
4-point scale
A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0
AP and IB are on a 5-pont scale
A=5, B=4, C=3

Suma Cum Laude: 4.0 – 3.67
Magna Cum Laude: 3.66 – 3.3
Cum Laude: 3.29 – 3.0
Students in the Summa Cum Laude category will have an opportunity to compete for the opportunity to speak at graduation. The rubric is as follows:
1. Overall Grade Point Average
2. ACT Score
3. Class Selection Rigor
Candidates will be invited to audition in front of a selection committee if they wish to be one of three speakers at graduation.





Each year students are honored for getting good grades.
The assembly is held in the fall and called
“Academic Achievement Award Assembly”
Awards are earned based on grades earned in the “core classes”.
Students must earn at least a 3.5 each marking period.

Importance of Grades/Testing



There are thousands of dollars worth of college scholarships to students who do well in high school and who do well on standardized tests (ACT/SAT/PSAT)
In addition, EPAS (Explore, Plan, ACT) scores are used for academic planning.
Testing is in March each year.
PSAT is taken in sophomore & junior year.
It is optional. NMSQT (National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test) when taken junior year. Always in October.

MEAP Testing – 9 th Grade
On Wednesday, October 16, 2013, all 9 th Graders will test 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd hours in the lecture hall.

•
An IB Diploma is one of the most prestigious accomplishments a high school student can achieve IN THE WORLD.
•
Algonac High School is proud to offer this opportunity to our students and hope that you will consider accepting the IB challenge!
•
Though rigorous, we believe that ANY motivated student can be successful in the IB Diploma Programme with proper work ethic and time commitment. Successful (good marks and attendance) completion of the IB Diploma Programme can lead to admission in some of the elite universities in the world.
•
Students that score well on IB assessments can earn numerous college credits. Consult with the IB Coordinator or your guidance counselor if you have questions about the IB
Diploma Programme at AHS .

Sample IB Diploma Programme Course Planner







Freshman Schedule
Survey Literature & Composition (H)
Geometry (H)
Biology A/B(H)
U.S. History
PE/Health
French I/Spanish II
Sophomore Schedule
American Lit & Comp (H)
Honors Algebra II/AP Statistics
Chemistry
Government/Economics
Elective /AP Statistics
French II/Spanish III








Junior Schedule
IB English HL I
IB Mathematics SL I
IB Biology HL I
IB History of Americas HL I
Senior Schedule
IB English HL
IB Mathematics SL
IB Biology HL
IB History of Americas HL
IB Psychology SL I/Music SL 1/IB Chemistry IB Psychology SL II/Music SL III/IB Chem
IB Spanish SL I/French SL I IB Spanish SL II/French SL II
TOK – Seminar (Mandatory) TOK – Seminar (Mandatory)

St. Clair TEC -- St. Clair Technical Education Center


Students attend TEC during their junior & senior yrs
TEC counts as elective credit


Beginning in 2013/14 only AM TEC
Must be to AHS by 6:55 a.m.
 AHS three (3) hrs and TEC three (3) hrs



Application process for TEC during scheduling in sophomore year.
Students are selected on grades & credits, attendance and behavior.
Must also have done Career Cruising EDP
 http://www.sccresa.org/countyeducation/careerte cheducation/














Automotive Technology
Collision Repair
Construction Trades
Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Digital Media Technology
Employer Based
Health Careers
Information Technology
Mechatronics
Metal Machining technology
Teacher Exploration
Welding

St Clair TEC Four Year Course Planner
Freshman Schedule
Survey Lit & Comp (H)
Algebra/Geometry(H)
Biology A/B
U.S. History
PE/Health
Elective
Sophomore Schedule
American Lit & Composition
Geometry/Algebra II A/Algebra II /AP Stats
Physics/Chemistry/A&P
Government/Economics
Elective
Elective
Junior Schedule
TEC PROGRAM
TEC PROGRAM
TEC PROGRAM
European Lit & Comp/IB ENGL
Algebra IIB/IB Math I
Science or World History
Senior Schedule
TEC PROGRAM
TEC PROGRAM
TEC PROGRAM
European Lit & Comp/IB ENGL
Senior Math/IB Math II
World History/Science or Elective








The Blue Water Middle
College Plan
Students begin taking college classes through
SC4 in 11 th grade. By the time they graduate, on this 5-year plan, they will have an associates degree, as well as a high school diploma.
Diploma is issued from the Blue Water Middle
College, not Algonac High School.
First cohort will begin this fall (15 total)
Eight (8) in 11 th grade
Seven (7) in 12 th grade
Algonac, Capac, Memphis, PH High, Northern &
Yale
Website -http://sccresa.org/bwmc

Sample Blue Water Middle College Course Planner







Freshman Schedule
Survey Literature & Composition (H)
Geometry (H)
Biology A/B(H)
U.S. History
PE/Health
French I/Spanish II








Junior Schedule
European Lit & Comp
Algebra IIB
Physics/A&P
World History
BWMC – SC4 Classes
BWMC – SC4 Classes
BWMC – SC4 Classes
Sophomore Schedule
American Lit & Comp (H)
Algebra II/Algebra II A
Chemistry or Chemistry A
Government/Economics
Elective /AP Statistics
French II/Spanish III
Senior Schedule
World Lit & Comp
Senior Math
Elective
BWMC – SC4 Classes
BWMC – SC4 Classes
BWMC – SC4 Classes
BWMC – SC4 Classes
Entire 5 th year at St. Clair County Community College!

The Hybrid Plan



Some students take some IB classes and some college classes with our general education and college prep courses.
Our goal is to design a curriculum that allows each student to grow academically and learn more about themselves.
We have something for everyone!

The Hybrid Course Planner







Freshman Schedule
Survey Literature & Composition (H)
Geometry (H)
Biology A/B(H)
U.S. History
Spanish II
Band







Junior Schedule
European Lit & Comp
IB Math SL I
IB Biology HL I
World History
IB Psychology SL I
Band
Sophomore Schedule
American Lit & Comp (H)
Algebra II/Algebra II A
Chemistry or Chemistry A
Government/Economics
Health/PE
Band
Senior Schedule
World Lit & Comp
IB Math SL II
IB Biology HL II
Dual Enroll – SOC 101, PS 101
IB Psychology SL II
Band

th
1 st hour –Biology I/II
2 nd hour – Geometry
3 rd hour – Survey of Lit & Comp
4 th hour – PE/Health
5 th hour – US History
6 th hour – Spanish II

The 9 th Grade Electives





PE/health
(required to graduate)
Foreign Language
(required to graduate)
Band
Choir
Drawing & Painting

Have a Post Secondary Plan!
Visit college campuses.
Attend college fairs/open houses.
Meet with military recruiters.
Discuss apprenticeship programs.
Decide what you want to be!
Career Cruising – www.careercruising.com

Up-Coming Events for 9 th Grade Parents:
Parents, Kids & College will be hosted here at AHS on Wednesday, October 23, 2013
6:30-7:30 PM in Media Center.
RSVP by emailing Colleen Donaldson at cdonaldson@acsk12.us







If your student loses credits in high school, in order to get back on track and graduate, they must make up those lost credits in “credit recovery”.
Minimum passing mark in 60%
Online classes (E20/20)
Mrs. Jennifer Brutyn– Credit Recovery
Coordinator/Graduation Coach
(810) 794-4911 ext 3228 jbrutyn@acsk12.us










Sign up for Parent Connect & monitor it often.
Stay in contact with your students teachers.
Attend school functions.
Show your student education is important.
Have high expectations.
Provide them with structure.
Encourage them to be involved.
Have homework time each night.
Hold them accountable.

th









Take challenging classes.
Get good grades!
Have good attendance.
Create a 4-year plan.
Develop good study habits.
Join a sport or club.
Get involved in school & community.
Explore careers.
Explore colleges and universities.