Welcome to Milford High School and the 9th Grade Community! We are so excited to start the process of bringing in the Class of 2018.

The NGC will be going in to its 12th year this year. We have had a very positive response both from our students and parents that have gone through the NGC.

I am Liz DeBord, the 9th Grade Counselor. As the counselor, I will be doing the scheduling for all incoming 9th grade students.

The NGC is designed to help students transition into the high school by providing them with as much support as possible.

In the high school, we have 4 teams comprised of each of the core teachers (English, Math, Science, Social Studies). NGC Study hall is 3 days/week. The students on T/W/Th have the opportunity to work with their core teachers. On M/F students go to a “typical study hall” and teachers have meetings to discuss which students need help in which areas.

Students still get to do the fun stuff—pep rallies, dances, and elective classes in the 10-12 wing.

One change from the JHS is that we have 7 classes per day, and each class counts for credit.

As a College and Career Readiness High School, Milford offers a rigorous curriculum and opportunities to explore and prepare for the future (whatever that may be for your student).

The Course Selection Guide can be found online by following these directions: 1. Go to milfordschools.org. 2. Under “SCHOOLS”, select Milford High School. 3. On the left, select the link “GUIDANCE OFFICE”. Under the heading “Course Selection Guide”, you will find both the NGC Course Selection Guide and the 10-12 Course Selection Guide.

On page 5 of the NGC Course Selection Guide, you will find the recommendations for 9th grade course selection.

On page 4 of the NGC Course Selection Guide, students can find the courses that are required for graduation.

It is important to note here that Health and P.E. are required for graduation. Health is offered in the classroom ONLY in the 9th grade.

P.E. classes are worth .25 credits. Students need to complete two separate P.E. classes in order to fulfill the P.E. requirement.

Students interested in pursuing an Honors diploma should start planning now for the courses needed over the next four years.

There are alternative ways to earn credit for Health and P.E. Some students at the JHS took Health during their 8th grade year- This class counts for HS credit. Health is also offered online during the summer and during the school year for grades 9-12.

P.E. credit can be waived by participation in 2 seasons of a district sponsored sport, marching band/winter guard, or 2 years of JROTC.

Pages 14 and 15 of the Course Selection guide list the requirements for Honors diplomas and the recommendations for college bound students.

On page 15, the minimum recommended courses for a college bound student can be found. We really encourage students to complete these courses, whether or not they are sure about college. Students should not limit themselves early on in their education. By completing the minimum recommended courses, students will have opened more doors (opportunities) for their post-secondary life.

On page 11 of the Course Selection Guide there is important information for student-athletes and students participating in extracurricular activities. Specific questions can be directed to the Athletic Department. Their phone number is: 576-2208.

Incoming 9th graders should be aware that their 4th quarter grades do affect eligibility for fall HS sports.

Page 6 of the course selection guide lists information regarding the scheduling process. There is also information for students not from the Milford district regarding credit from other schools.

At the bottom of page 6, students can learn how to make a change to their schedule once the worksheet is turned in.

Scheduling for high school classes can be intimidating. We will go over how to correctly fill out the worksheet.

Course Selection Worksheet

• Detailed descriptions of each class are provided in the Course Selection Guide.

• We will be addressing the required classes and certain elective classes that are unique to Milford.

The first step in completing the Course Selection Worksheet is selecting the core classes.

Students need to choose at least one class from each of the core subjects (English, Math, Science, & Social Studies). We offer at least 2-3 levels of each class in the 9th grade. There is a regular level, a College-Prep (CP) level, and an Honors level. Honors is the most challenging level a core class we offer in the NGC.

Descriptions of the differences between regular, CP, and Honors can be found in the CSG. Co-taught classes mean that there are 2 teachers (1 General Education, 1 Special Education)to provide extra support for the students.

For Math, unless students did not pass the class, they should sign up for the next level:

Math 8Math I; Math IMath 2;

Math 2Math 3

When deciding between College Prep and Honors, students should consider their Math and Reading RIT Scores. Just remember, these are recommendations only, and they are not a perfect science. Some students below the listed scores perform very well in Honors, while some students above the scores struggle.

In order to help incoming 9th graders make the tough decision between the different levels of courses offered, we have provided recommendations based on the MAP testing students completed at the JHS.

In order for a student to be signed up for Co-Taught, their Math RIT Score and Lexile scores should fall in the ranges to the left.

One difference that we need to point out is in Math. At the JHS, math is called “Accelerated Integrated”. This does not mean Honors, rather it means that student is on the ‘fast’ track for Math. (They will have opportunities to take advanced math classes in their 11th/12th grade years.) Students can choose to move into the Honors track if they have been successful at the JHS in Math, or if they would like to further challenge themselves in this subject.

Next we will take a look at some of the unique electives that Milford offers.

Blended classes: (2 days) means that this is a blended class that is not held every day of the week. Typically, these classes are held Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs. The other 3 days of the week, the student has a study hall.

AP Psychology: AP means Advanced Placement. This is a college level course. Students will take an end-of-course exam. A passing grade on that exam will earn them college credit. We encourage students to have the recommendation of both their English and Science teachers. There is also a parent sign-off sheet that is required. Parents should be aware that this course is very challenging. It also includes a component of human sexuality that may be too mature for some students.

World Language Electives: Students who are taking a world language at the JHS are receiving HS credit for that course if they have a passing grade. Students should move to the next level of that language if they would like to continue taking it at the HS.

Performing Arts: It is important to note that Choir classes have mandatory afterschool practices and performances.

Business and Art Electives: These elective classes are offered to all 9th graders. Detailed descriptions of each class can be found in the Course Selection Guide.

Engineering: The engineering track at Milford is unique in that students have a great deal of opportunities open up to them during their later years at the HS. The program is growing a great deal over the next few years.

College & Career Readiness: Brand New. This course helps student develop a vision for their future. Students will be able to develop a path to achieve their post-secondary goals.

There are two more parts of the worksheet that are important for students to fill out.

First students should make sure they have selected the correct number of classes. There are fourteen slots to be filled (7 classes per day/2 semesters). Core classes and some electives take up 2 slots because they are 2 semesters long. Students should double check that their selected classes add up to 14. The number associated with each class is to the right of the course on the worksheet.

Students should also select three alternate classes. Unfortunately, schedules do not always work out perfectly. These alternate choices allow me to make sure that students still get classes that interest them.

Course selection worksheets are due on Wednesday, February 19th for incoming 9th graders at the JHS. They will be turned into homeroom teachers.

These are the handouts available. For parents or students who were unable to make it to the meeting, or missed a handout, please contact me, Liz DeBord. (debord_e@milfordschools.org, 513-576-2204). I will be happy to provide electronic copies to interested families.