WELCOME CLASS OF 2017
TO
RIDGEWOOD HIGH
SCHOOL
TAKE P.R.I.D.E.
ersonal
esponsibility
n
elivering
xcellence
RAM UNIVERSITY –
9th GRADE ACADEMY
 High Performing Schools have “an extraordinary commitment of
resources and attention on 9th grade”
 9th Graders have unique developmental characteristics
 Building a strong foundation in 9th Grade is key to success in high
school
 Students who do not graduate from the 9th grade are 5 times more
likely to drop out
 90% of students with failure in 9th grade end up dropping out of
school
 Students who feel a sense of belonging and community are less
likely to drop out
th
9
MISSION OF A
GRADE
ACADEMY
 All 9th graders will earn 6 credits – zero tolerance for
failure
 Make connections through relationships
 Schedule students based on academic competence
 Focus on character-centered teaching
 Utilize a multi-tiered system of support for academic
and behavioral interventions
 Increase meaningful parent involvement
 Increase rigor & relevance in the 9th grade
PROGRAM DESIGN
 Every 9th grader is a member of the Ram U Learning Community
 Students select a team based on an instructional theme
(Arts/Business or Science & Technology/ Health & Human Services
 Students will be grouped in teams
 2 teams of teachers
 Teachers share common students in core courses
 Teacher teams have common planning periods
 Teams meet weekly to discuss cross-curricular objectives and
individual student progress
 All teachers on team will attend parent conferences
 Core courses will have a peer mentor assigned
Ridgewood High School
2013-2014
Course Selection Process
OWN YOUR CHOICES
COURSE SELECTION
PROCESS
 Registration Timeline & Checklist/Parent University Flyer
(Pink)
 Planning Sheet (Gold)
 RHS Programs & Academies/SUS Matrix (Green)
 AP Brochure (White), AVID Brochure, Robotics Brochure
 FAQ (Purple)
Setting Your
Course:
Planning Sheet
for Students &
Parents
Ridgewood High School
Student Educational Goal Pathways
Explanation
 Traditional – After high school, this student will enter the work
force, join the military, or attend a technical or community college.
 College Prep – After high school, this student will attend a
community college or four-year university (with foreign language
requirement completed).
 Advanced College Prep – After high school, this student will attend
a more competitive four-year university (with the foreign language
requirement completed).
Part 1: Course Planning Sheet
Part 2: Course Planning Sheet
Advanced Placement
Expectations
Advanced Placement Policy and
Expectations
A separate Expectations Agreement is required for all
Advanced Placement courses. Schedule changes
out of Advanced Placement classes will not be allowed
until after the first quarter at minimum. Students
will also need to meet all expectations of the Advanced
Placement classes, including completing
summer work, completing all assignments, participating
in classes, and seeking extra help if there are
issues.
Freshmen may take
AP Human Geography.
SCHEDULE CHANGE POLICY
 Only the following schedule change issues will be addressed
after the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year:
 1. Student already passed course listed on his/her schedule.
 2. Student is in a class and has not met the course
prerequisite.
 3. Student is a 12th grader and is missing a course to meet
state graduation requirements.
 4. Student has a “hole” in his/her schedule.
OWN YOUR CHOICES!
Every student
must have at
least 1
Performing Art
credit.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
REQUIREMENT
 Students in the Class of
2015 and beyond must
take one virtual course
within their four years of
high school.
 Students who take the
course during their 6 period
day will work in a lab
setting for one period.
RHS PROGRAMS &
ACADEMIES
 Academy of Health and Human
Services (located @ MTEC) - CNA
 Medical Skills (1.0) > Health
Science I > Health Science II >
Allied Health
 Biomedical Science (located @
MTEC) – “PRE-MED”
 Principles of Biomedical Science
(1.0) > Human Body Systems (1.0)
RHS PROGRAMS &
ACADEMIES
 Academy of Robotics
 Foundations of Robotics (1.0)
 AVID Program
ONLINE REGISTRATION: March
PREPARATION FOR 9th
GRADE
 Feb. 14: High School Success Night @ RHS 6PM
 May 15: Parent University – How to Successfully
Make the 9th Grade Transition @ RHS
 August: 9th Grade Orientation @ RHS
CONTACT INFORMATION
 Alicia Leary, Assistant Principal
 aleary@pasco.k12.fl.us
 Kristi Garcia, Guidance Counselor
 kgarcia@pasco.k12.fl.us
 Website: rhs.pasco.k12.fl.us
 RHS Hotline: 2/19-2/20 727-774-3916 or 727-774-3926
PROUD TO BE A