eSTEM 9th
Grade
Orientation
This Summer
 No

summer bridge this year.
August 17th is a freshmen only day and we will do
our summer bridge activities on this day.
 Summer


Fiction—The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
(Alternative—The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho)
Non-Fiction—The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
(Alternative—Outcasts United by Warren St. John)
 Raider

Reading
Check-In
August 11th—You will receive a letter in the mail with
student times to report.
Scheduling
 Scheduling
is pretty easy for freshmen. All
freshmen take:





English 9 and English 10
World History
A Science Elective (either Intro to Engineering
Design or Intro to Computer Science)
Two Math classes—If you already have two math
credits you can replace one of the math classes
with an elective.
One Elective
 We
have tables set up near the eSTEM office to
help you get your freshman scheduled after our
meeting.
What You Can Expect Next
Year

The transition from Junior High to High School is a big
one.


Credits count!
Double-blocked classes move fast.




Homework is no joke.
Mastery grading is not a “get out of jail free” card.
Performance counts way more than practice.
Courses will look different.


Very few text books.
Much of the work is on-line.
Flipped classes
 EdModo & ItsLearning


Inquiry based instruction looks different from what you
have experienced in the past.
Freshmen Year Is Just The Start!
 Throughout
the year, freshmen will experience
design challenges from each of the four
Pathways: Design, Digital, Move, and Energy.
 Towards the end of the freshmen year, students
will select their Pathway for the following year.
 Freshmen will Compass test early next spring. This
test will help determine which college courses
they will be taking, beginning in their sophomore
year.
Be Persistent!
 The
eSTEM curriculum is rigorous. There will
be times when you become frustrated.
 Stick it out and work hard. You can do
this!
 If you remain persistent you will leave here
in the spring of 2019 well prepared to take
the next step in your life. College
scholarships, high paying careers, and
long-lasting friendships get started this
August.