Information Night Information Night

Welcome Class of 2015 Welcome Class of 2015

Home of theAlgonac

Muskrats!

Mrs. Karen Blair Mrs. Karen Blair School Counselor School Counselor

Algonac High School5200 Taft Road

Algonac, MI 48001

(810) 794-4911 ext. 1282kblair@acsk12.us

www.algonac.k12.mi.us

Mrs. Blair’s ResumeMrs. Blair’s ResumeEducation•1983 Graduate of Algonac High School•1988 Graduate of Western Michigan University Bachelor of Arts (Secondary Education – English)•1997 Graduate of Wayne State University Masters of Education (Guidance Counseling K-12)

Employment Experience (23 years in education)•Algonac, Anchor Bay, Chippewa Valley Schools 1988-1990 (Substitute Teacher)•Capac Jr./Sr. High School 1990 – 1998 (High School English Teacher)•Powell Middle School (Romeo Schools) 1998-2001 (Middle School Guidance Counselor)•Algonac High School 2001 – present (High School Guidance Counselor)

School begins at 7:35 AM School Ends at 2:20 PMTeachers (including Mrs. Blair) are required to begin

their day no later than 7:15 AMTeachers (including Mrs. Blair) are required to end

their day no earlier than 2:45 PMMany teachers (including Mrs. Blair) arrive at AHS

earlier than 7:15 AM and stay later than 2:45 PM. Students are encouraged to meet with teachers and

Mrs. Blair before or afterschool.

AHS Hours of Operation

High School ScheduleHigh School ScheduleMonday, Wednesday & FridayMonday, Wednesday & Friday

1st Hour: 7:35-8:35 AM2nd Hour: 8:40-9:38 AM3rd Hour: 9:43-10:41 AMFirst Lunch: 10:41-11:11 AM

4th Hour: 11:16 – 12:14 PM Second Lunch: 11:16-11:46 AM

4th hour: 10:46-11:16 AM (lunch) 11:46-12:14 PM

Third Lunch: 11:44-12:14 PM

4th hour: 10:46 – 11:44 AM5th Hour: 12:19-1:17 PM6th Hour: 1:22-2:20 PM

Tuesday & Thursday ScheduleTuesday & Thursday Schedule

1st Hour: 7:35-8:25 AM2nd Hour: 8:30-9:20 AMSEMINAR: 9:25-9:55 AM3rd Hour: 10:00-10:50 AMFirst Lunch: 10:55-11:25 AM4th Hour: 11:30 – 12:30 PM Second Lunch: 11:30-12:00 PM 4th hour: 10:55-11:25 AM (lunch) 12:05-

12:30 PMThird Lunch: 12:00-12:30 PM 4th hour: 10:46 – 11:55 AM5th Hour: 12:35-1:25 PM6th Hour: 1:30-2:20 PM

All students have a seminar.After 2nd hour. Tuesday & Thursday.30 minutesVarious topics including academic

assistance, mentoring and character education.

Four (4) rotations a year.

School Counseling ServicesSchool Counseling ServicesCrisis Intervention (On-going counseling is

referred)Academic Interventions 504 Plan FacilitatorCredit Checks/ Graduation AuditsScheduling of StudentsPeer MediationCareer CounselingTEC PlacementCollege ApplicationsFinancial Aide Assistance Local/National Scholarship CoordinatorsMilitary LiaisonsAnd much more!

Visit the AHS Counseling Visit the AHS Counseling Center WebsiteCenter Website

www.algonac.k12.mi.us

click on “Student Services”

AHS Student Services AHS Student Services WebsiteWebsite ACT/SAT Information College and Financial Aid InformationInfo on College Savings Plans FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)Contact Information on Counseling

Agencies in our CommunityAll public and private colleges and

universities in Michigan Parenting ResourcesMichigan Insurance Programs Websites on Dating Violence Prevention Scholarship Websites

Earning High School Credits Earning High School Credits Students earn 6.0 credits a year from academics:

6x4=24

23.5 are required to graduate.4 English4 Math3 Social Studies Class Status3 Science Minimum Credits

Required:1 PE/Health Freshman 0 – 4.01 VPAA Sophomore 5.07.5 Electives Junior 11.0

Senior 16.5

Extra-Curricular Activities (.25 Credit Each)

All SportsStudent Council

Quiz Bowl SADD (Students Against Destructive

Decisions

Extra Credits

Credit Recovery (E 20/20)

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. Ann Marie Dusenberry – Credit

Recovery Coordinator/Graduation Coach (810) 794-4911 ext 3328adusenberry@acsk12.us

Required ClassesRequired Classes

English all four yearsMath all four yearsThree years social studies Three years science Health/GymOne credit Visual, Performing or Applied ArtThe rest will be electives

Required Freshmen CoursesRequired Freshmen Courses20011/12 School Year20011/12 School Year

Math : Algebra, Geometry or Honors Geometry

Social Studies: United States History

English: American Literature or Honors American Literature

Science: Biology I/II

Graduation RequirementsGraduation RequirementsMICHIGAN MERIT CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS English (4 credits) Core courses earning English credit are: American Literature (H),

English Composition (H), World Literature, College Composition, IB English HL I, and IB English HL II.

  Math (4 credits) Core courses earning Math credits are: Algebra, Geometry (H),

Algebra II A/B, Algebra II, Core V (Senior Math), IB Mathematics SL I, IB Mathematics SL II, and Advanced Placement Statistics.

  Science (3 credits) Core courses earning Science credits are: Biology, Chemistry,

Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, IB Chemistry, IB Biology HL I, and IB Biology HL II (Must take Chemistry or Physics)

  Social Studies (3 credits) Core courses earning credit are: U.S. History, World History,

Government/Economics A/B, IB History of the Americas HL I, and IB History of the Americas II.

Health and Physical Education (1 credit) .5 Health and .5 Physical Education. Core courses earning credit are: Health,

Physical Education I, Advanced Fitness & Conditioning & Athletic Dimensions. Visual, Performing and Applied Arts (1 credit) Core courses earning credit are: Drama, Chorus, Band, Drawing and Painting,

Commercial Design, Yearbook, Writing for Publications, Software, and IB Music SL I, IB Music SL II.

World Languages (2 credits or an equivalent experience) 2016 Students who have attended The Algonac Community Schools in Elementary

and Middle School will have met this requirement through a K-8 program of study (equivalent experience).

Students who have not met this requirement through and equivalent experience can do so by taking two credits of World Languages. Courses meeting this requirement are: French (IB or otherwise), Spanish (IB or otherwise), and Mandarin Chinese (offered through Michigan Virtual University).

Online Learning Experience There are several options to fulfilling this requirement. Sophomores at

Algonac High School participate in a Career Pathway seminar. The Career Pathway seminar will fulfill this requirement. Other options include taking an E 20/20 course as a senior or Michigan Virtual University that uses an online component.

The High School TranscriptThe High School TranscriptIs 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.

The GPA is unweighted. 4-point scale A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0

Academic Achievement AwardsAcademic Achievement Awards

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.

AHS Ranking SystemAHS Ranking System

Suma Cum Laude: 4.0 – 3.67Magna 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 Average2. ACT Score3. 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.

They are the other classes that you take besides what is “required”.

Some electives include – band, chorus, newspaper, yearbook, psychology, drawing & painting, drama, IB Psychology, IB Music, TEC and more.

You need 7.5 elective credits

The IB Plan The IB Plan •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.

•As was written in the college preparatory curriculum schedule, you do not need to enroll in the entire IB Diploma Programme to take an IB course.

•IB courses are available to students that would like to take them on an individual basis (certificate classification).

•Please know that we encourage students to take the full IB Diploma curriculum as the benefits are immeasurable. Because of this, priority in scheduling is given to full diploma candidates.

Freshman Schedule Sophomore Schedule

American Literature (H) English Composition (H) Geometry (H) Algebra II/AP Statistics Biology Chemistry/Physics U.S. History Government/Economics A,B PE/Health Elective /AP Statistics French I/Spanish II French II/Spanish III

Junior Schedule Senior Schedule IB English HL I IB English HL IB Mathematics SL I IB Mathematics SL IB Biology HL I IB Biology HL IB History of Americas HL I 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)

Sample IB Diploma Programme Course Planner

St. Clair TEC St. Clair TEC Kids attend TEC during their junior and senior

yearsTEC counts as elective credit Morning TEC students must be to AHS by 6:55

a.m. PM TEC students return to AHS at 3:05 p.m.Students are at AHS three (3) hrs and at TEC

three (3) hrsLots of different programs including, auto body,

welding, cosmetology, health careers, constructions, digital media technology and more!

You apply for TEC during scheduling in sophomore year.

Students are selected on grades & credits, attendance and behavior.

Freshman Schedule Sophomore ScheduleAmerican Literature 9 (H) English CompositionAlgebra/Geometry(H) Geometry/Algebra II A/Algebra II /AP StatsBiology Physics/Chemistry/A&PU.S. History Government/Economics A,B

PE/Health ElectiveElective Elective  Junior Schedule Senior ScheduleWorld Literature/IB English College Composition/IB English Algebra II B, IB Math Core V (Senior Math), AP Statistics, IB

Math Physics/Chemistry/World History Physics/Chemistry/World HistoryTEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAMTEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAMTEC PROGRAM TEC PROGRAM

St Clair TEC Four Year Course Planner

More sample 4 year plans in the Newly Revised Algonac High School

Scheduling Guide coming to the AHS

Website soon!www.algonac.k12.mi.us

Sign up for Parent Connect. Parent Connect is a great way to see how your child’s grades are looking. Grades are updated daily, so it is always a good idea to look at it everyday. To sign up, bring a photo id and your e-mail address into the AHS main office.

Stay in contact with your students teachers. Teacher’s e-mail addresses can be found at the Algonac High School website. E-mail is a great tool because teachers can reply to e-mail’s through out the school day. In many cases, you will get a quicker response if you use e-mail. Teachers generally have to wait until their prep time

The high school does not close its doors until 7 pm, and even later on nights when we have athletic events. If your student is constantly telling you that he or she does not have homework, they are not being truthful. Bring them up to the school and go through their locker. We have had many a parent amazed at what they find when they go through their child’s locker.

Our teachers are willing to meet with your student before school and after school, your student just needs to ask. Your student also has a 30-minute seminar every Tuesday and Thursday. Students can use this time to meet with their teachers for extra help. Student’s just need to prearrange this with their teachers.

A wealth of information can be found at the Algonac High School website. Our web address is www.algonac.k12.mi.us/ahs.

While high school students like to be independent from their parents, it is still critical that you be an active participant in their education. Take some time with them every night to look at their binders, papers and homework. While you may not understand what they are doing in math class or science class, it shows that you care and are willing to help them out if they need it.

What a 9What a 9thth grader should do … grader should do …

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.