WELCOME TO GAITHERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL! A Signature Academy School Incoming Grade 9 Parent Night August...

WELCOME TO GAITHERSBURG HIGH

SCHOOL!

A Signature Academy SchoolIncoming Grade 9 Parent NightAugust 27, 2015

DR. CHRISTINE HANDY

PRINCIPAL

Administrative Team Dr. Christine Handy- Principal Ms. Susan Frishman- Assistant Principal Todd Nutter- Assistant Principal Rudy Tyrell - Assistant Principal Karla Lopez- Assistant School Administrator Michael Ridge - Assistant Principal (sub for

Ms. Lopez) Kim Curtis – Signature Academy Coordinator

As a team, our focus is student

success!

Ms. Carrie Bohrer

PTSA President carrieb@newsomseed.com

https://youtu.be/OIK90SFebxs

Who will know my student?

Who do I contact if there is a problem?

How does the bell schedule work?

Ninth Grade Academy Leadership

Administration Ninth Grade Academy Coordinator

Dedicated Grade 9 Counselors Team Leaders

Classroom Teachers

Grade Level Administrator

Mr. Rudy Tyrell – Assistant Principal

(Rudolph_J_Tyrelljr@mcpsmd.org)

Mrs. Kim Curtis, MBAAcademy Coordinator

Ninth Grade Academy

9th Grade Administrator

One team leader for each of four teams

Two 9th Grade Counselors

Team size 90-150 students

Biweekly team meetings using CPS process

Shared planning time for team leaders

Double period Algebra courses

Student Recognition Program

Group Interventions

Signature Academies

Provide students with an opportunity to take related courses in areas of high interest that may lead to continued academic endeavors or future careers.

Science and Technology

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) http://youtu.be/HnYj6-PEolA

Research and ExperimentationProject Lead the Way Biomedical SciencesAcademy of Information TechnologyNetworking/HardwareInformation Resource DesignAutomotive TechnologyAutomotive Body Repair

Leadership and Education

Early Childhood Education Secondary Education Human Rights NJROTC

Business Studies

Finance Business Management Cosmetology Entrepreneurship Hospitality Landscape-Nursery Management

Arts and Communication

Dance Fine Arts-Visual Fine Arts-Music/Drama Journalism Broadcast Media

GHS Counselors Services Bernadette White– Resource Counselor

Bernadette_White@mcpsmd.org

Jessica Pollard – 9th Grade Counselor

Jessica_B_Pollard@mcpsmd.org

Dwayne Thomas – 9th Grade CounselorDwayne_Thomas@mcpsmd.org

Thania Rey– ESOL and RELL CounselorThania_T_Rey@mcpsmd.org

Ms. MartinezESOL and RELL CounselorEvelyn_Martinez@mcpsmd.org

Maria Garcia – Maria_S_Garcia@mcpsmd.org – ESOL and RELL Community Based Counselor Counseling Department 301-284-4600

College and Career Center 301-284-4616

Mrs. PollardMr. Thomas

Grade 9 Counselors

COUNSELING

SERVICES

Our Roles and Responsibilities

Individual Counseling:• Academic Planning• Personal/Social

DevelopmentGroup Counseling:Peer Interactive Groups for social development

Responsive and Preventative Services:• Parent/Teacher

Conferences• Crisis Intervention• Domestic Needs

Assessment

Classroom Guidance:• Bully Prevention• College and Career

Awareness• Course Registration

Collaborative Problem Solving:• Work close with teachers

to develop effective teaching strategies to impact student learning and social development

• Work with administrators, school psychologists and pupil personnel workers to address student concerns

What Are the Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2019?

Graduation Requirements The State of Maryland authorizes a diploma for all students completing at

least 22 units of credit. Final Semester grade of D or better must be earned for credit as follows:

Credit Subject 4 English 3 Social Studies (US History, World History, NSL) 3 Science (Biological, Physical, + 1 additional science) 4 Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, + 2 math) 1 Physical Education .5 Health 1 Fine Arts 1 Tech Ed

Completer Pathway Options: High School Assessments/PARCC: 2 World Language or Algebra (OYG 2017) 412 PARCC (OYG 2019) TBD 2 Advanced Technology or English 10 (2017) 396 PARCC (OYG 2019) TBD 3–9 Career Development Biology (All) 400

NSL Government (All) 394 +/- 2.5 Other Electives 22 TOTAL Student Service Learning hours: 75 hours

EARNED CREDIT

0.5 CREDIT FOR EACH CLASS PER SEMESTER – must receive a passing grade to earn a credit.

You can earn up to 7.0 credits total in 9th Grade.

(22 Credits Required for Graduation)

MCPS Promotion Policy

End of:

Total Credits Needed for Promotion to Next Grade

Mathematics Credits in Required Courses

English Credits in Required Courses

Science Credits in Required Courses

Social Studies Credits in Required Courses

Other Credits

Grade 9 5 1 1 0 0 3

Grade 10

10 2 2 1 1 4

Grade 11

15 3 3 2 2 5

Student GovernmentAssociation

Nilda Keres

How Does the “One Lunch Work?”

Lunch Period = (43 minutes) All 2300 students share the same lunch

period Purpose:

To work with teachersFor clubs and activities to meetTo eat and decompress

Grading and Accountability

What are the differences between middle school grading and high school grading?

How do final exams work? How can I access my child's grades? How much homework will my child

have on a typical night?

Supports

National Honor Society offers Tutoring to all students interested.

Late Activity bus Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday’s for students to stay after school to get extra help

Show Time: time extended during 4th period on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Writing Center, lab 1126 (Offered: every day at lunch, every Tuesday and Thursday at SHOWtime(by sign-ups), and by appointment with the English Comp Assistants

George B. Thomas School – Saturdays at GHS http://saturdayschool.org/

Homework Help Line. - Twitter - @AskHHL, 301-279-3234

Discipline and Behavior

Cell Phones/ MP3 Players/ electronic devices

Internet /Cyber-bullying Dress Code Young Men/Young Women Attendance Issues

Absence note within three days Tardies Unexcused travel

Securing personal property

Some Things Parents May Wish to Consider

Social Media Issues Driving with other students Homecoming Week Activities Lunch time for all 2300 students Using the Health Room when ill BYOD: Yes or No?

Ninth Grade Parent Homework

Do not let go of the “reins”. Activate your Parent Edline Account Check Edline regularly, but not too regularly Do not accept “0” or “Z” grades from your

student Start becoming familiar with the college

readiness process now – AP, SAT, ACT, PSAT, etc.

Attend PTSA functions, other school info meetings

Bookmark the school’s webpage Follow Dr. Handy on Twitter @Trojanpride101 “SchoolWay” App!

Calendar Highlights

8/31: First Day of School!

9/15: SHOWTime Begins every T & Th

10/2: Quarter 1 Interims Mailed Home

10/10: Homecoming week

11/11: Report Card Distribution

The Wellness Center

Services include Advanced Health Services (Physicals, exams, shots etc.) Mental Health Services (depression, suicidal, etc.) After School Youth Groups ( boys group, girls group, Spanish

speaking only group, etc.) Case Management services for families. ( child care, clothing,

Evictions, food resources, etc.) All of these services are designed to help students reach their

full potential.

In order to have access to these services all students must sign up for the Wellness Center. Students can obtain a Wellness Center packet through our health center, counseling office or the Wellness Center itself.

QUESTIONS??

Refer to our website at: http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/gaithersburghs/

Mr. Rudy Tyrell, 9th Grade Administrator Rudolph_J_TyrellJr@mcpsmd.org 301-284-4500

Ms. Kim Curtis, Academy Coordinator Kim_Curtis@mcpsmd.org 301-284-4500

Counseling Office 301-284-4600

Ninth Grade Team Leaders 301-284-4500

http://www.youtube.com/user/BlueAndGoldTV