Gainesville High School Class of 2021: 9th Grade Guidance - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Gainesville High School

Class of 2021: 9th Grade Guidance

Gainesville High School 9th Grade Leaders

• Tom Smith, Principal of Gainesville High School
• Tonya Sanders, Assistant Principal/9th Grade Center

Lead Administrator

• Rakia Marcus, 9th Counselor
• Antione Whelchel, Graduation Coach

Gainesville High School Goal

Class of 2021:

Why a 9th Grade Center?

"Ninth graders often struggle more than they did in middle school because they must earn passing grades for the first time, must participate in an increased number of standardized tests, and must complete more rigorous coursework than they have ever before completed, including more frequent homework assignments" (McCallumore and Sparapani, 2010).

Gainesville High School

Focus on the Freshman

"...the ninth grade has the highest failure rate, highest number of absences among students, and the largest number of discipline referrals" (Donegan, 2008).

Gainesville High School

Graduation Requirements

• 23 Credits

– 4 English/Language Arts – 4 Math – 4 Science – 3 Social Studies – 1 Personal Fitness and Health – 3 Career & Tech, Fine Arts, or World Language – 4 Electives

World Language is NOT a graduation requirement; students who wish to attend a 4 year college need 2 courses of the same language for admission requirements

Gainesville High School

Earning Credits

• Each class is 1 credit on block schedule
• Block Schedule = 8 classes a year
• A minimum of 23 credits is required to graduate

– Specific courses required

• Credit is earned for any grade of 70 and above
• Credits are earned

– End of semester for semester classes – End of year for year long classes

• Students must earn 5 credits to move to 10th grade

Gainesville High School

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A Day in the Life as a 9th Grader

• 4 Classes of 84 Minutes

–27 Minute Lunch –Instructional Focus

• 7 minute class change
• 8:20 am starts first class
• 3:20 pm ends last class

Gainesville High School

Registration Process

• 8th Grade Teachers made core

recommendations based on criteria

– Math, Science, English, Social Studies

• Students selected electives in November

– All elective and alternates should be courses that interest student

Gainesville High School

Classroom Rigor

• We want students to be challenged at all levels
• Honors and/or AP Courses Differences

– Pace and depth of the class work – Outside work commitment – Assignment expectations – Writing-intensive assignments (Summer Reading) – Recommended student ownership – Proficiency of student’s background skills

• Freshman AP Course: AP Human Geography
• All other core classes have Honors option
• AP and Honors Night March 6th 6-7 at 9th Grade Center

Gainesville High School

GHS Grading Policies

• Major Summative (50%)
• Secondary Summative (25%)
• Formative (5%)
• Course Exam (20%)
• *Please see the teacher’s syllabus for more

information about each grading category.

Gainesville High School

9th Grade State Testing

• 8th Grade Milestones-Grade Level at End of

Year

• 9th Grade-Content Specific & End of Course
• Final Assessment Counts 20% of student

course grade

• EOCs in 9th Grade:

– Algebra 1 or Geometry – Physical Science or Biology – 9th Grade Literature

Gainesville High School

Plan with the end in mind

• Will you participate in

– Pathway Completion? – Work-Based Learning? – College classes while in high school?

• Move on When Ready

– Take online classes? – Enroll in AP courses?

• Use the Information Guide to Learn more

Gainesville High School

Move on When Ready

• Take college classes while in high school
• Earn college credit and high school credit
• No cost to student
• Must meet admission requirements to college

– University of North Georgia: ACT or SAT – Lanier Technical College: Compass

• See Counselor for more specific information

Gainesville High School

GHS Website: Information Guide Gainesville High School

Information Guide Highlights

• Pathway Overview
• Graduation Requirements &

Promotion Guidelines

• Individual Graduation Plan
• College and Career Planning
• Move on When Ready
• Work-Based Learning
• Online Learning
• Classroom Rigor and GPA
• Hope Scholarship
• Testing Overview
• NCAA Eligibility
• CTAE Pathways
• Fine Arts Pathways
• World Language
• Health & Physical

Education

• Academic Pathways
• Advanced Placement

(AP) Opportunities

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Systems of Support Gainesville High School

GHS Campus Principal Tom Smith tom.smith@gcssk12.net GHS Assistant Principal, 9th Grade Lead Administrator Tonya Sanders tonya.sanders@gcssk12.net 9th Grade Counselor Rakia Marcus rakia.marcus@gcssk12.net GHS Graduation Coach Antione Whelchel antione.whelchel@gcssk12.net