DAMASCUS HIGH SCHOOL

9TH GRADE PARENT MEETING

COUNSELING OFFICE• Counselors:

A-Ba Mr. Peelman

Be-E Mr. Higgins

F-Kh Mrs. Djouha

Ki-O Mr. Smith

P-Sa Mrs. Poker

Sc-Z Mrs. Villani

COUNSELING OFFICE

• Registrar - Mrs. Burkey 301-253-7041

• Counseling Office Secretary - Mrs. Nelson 301-253-7037

• Career Center - Mr. Ed Martin 301-253-7045

Counseling Office Agenda

• Final exams

• Increased workload and difficulty

• Academic Eligibility

• Attendance and LC Information

Counseling Office Agenda

• Graduation Requirements with HSA

• Summer School / High School +

• Transcript Information

• PSAT, SAT, and ACT

• Registration Procedures for 9th into 10th Grade

Final Exam ScheduleJanuary 14-15 – Review DaysJanuary 16 – 1st and 7th examsJanuary 19 – Holiday (MLK Day)January 20 – 2nd and 6th examsJanuary 21 – 3rd and 5th examsJanuary 22 – 4th and Make-up examsJanuary 23 -- Make-up exams

January 26 – No School – Report Card Prep. DayJanuary 27 -- 2nd Semester Begins

Daily Exam Schedule: 7:25 – 9:30 - Exam #1 9:30 – 10:00 - Break/Study 10:00 – 12:00 - Exam #2

Increased Difficulty – 9th Grade

• Increase in amount of work and difficulty of work

• Long-term assignments

• 2nd Quarter versus 1st Quarter

• Communications with teacher/counselor -EdLine, DHS site, e-mail, progress reports, interims, PTSA newsletter, parent meetings• Honor Roll requirements

Academic Eligibility

• Eligibility is determined each quarter

• Must achieve a minimum of 2.0 for the quarter; no more than one E

• Ineligibility remains in effect until the next quarter report card is distributed

Attendance and LC

• Must turn in absence notes within three school days of absence (even if called in by parent)

• After three unexcused absences, an LC warning letter is sent home

• After five unexcused absences, an LC letter is sent home

• Three unexcused tardies equal one unexcused absence

• Appeal Process is available

Summer School and High School+

• When is summer school or high school+ necessary? -English, Math, Prerequisites,Total Credits

• Locations and costs -Limited offerings, provide own transportation -Last year’s summer school cost was $265 per course

• Registration Procedures

• Calendar for summer/high school +

Transcripts

• Transcripts include the following info:

- Semester courses and semester grades

- Cumulative GPA and cumulative WGPA

- Attendance Record

- Student Service Learning Hours

- Graduation Summary

- High School Assessment Results

PSAT, SAT, ACT

• PSAT automatic in 10th and 11th Grade (free)• PSAT Day activities for 9th Grade Students - class meeting, 7 Habits, meet with counselors, career & technology presentations• Test October 15th; Results in December• Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Score• DHS courses to assist: SAT Prep, more rigorous

courses (Honors and Advanced Placement)• Official test to qualify for National Merit

Scholarships for 11th Grade

The SAT

Math: - No quantitative comparisons - Algebra 2 included - Testing time is reduced by 5 minutes

Critical Reading (replaces Verbal): - No more analogies - More passage-based reading questions - Testing time is reduced by 5 minutes

The SAT

Writing Component/Multiple Choice Section:

- Multiple Choice- improving sentences and

paragraphs (25 minutes)

- Student written essay- communicating a

viewpoint (25 minutes)

Cost is $45.00

ACT

• ACT changed in Spring, 2005

- Writing section is optional

- Increasing number of schools are

accepting it

- More achievement-oriented test

- Cost is $46.00; no writing $31.00

DHS COURSE REGISTRATION

• Course level recommendations done by 1st semester teachers in January

• Registration materials to students in late February

• Students return completed and signed registration card in early March

• Course offering booklet distributed to all DHS students during registration

• More course offerings available to 10th graders

Graduation Requirements• 4 credits in English

• 3 credits in Social Studies (U.S. History, NSL Government (or AP NSL), Modern World History (or AP World History)

• 4 credits in Math (Algebra and Geometry required)

• 3 credits in Science (Biology and a physical science required)

• 1 credit in Physical Education

Graduation Requirements(continued)

• .5 credit in Health (10th Grade)

• 1 credit in Fine Arts

• 1 credit in Technology

• One of the following:

- 2 credits in a Foreign Language

- 2 credits in Advanced Technology

- 4 credits in a Career Completer

Graduation Requirements(continued)

• 22 Total credits

• 75 hours of Student Service Learning Hours

• AND

Graduation Requirements

•TAKE AND PASS ALL HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS (HSA)

• English 10, NSL, Biology, Algebra

HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS

Pass

Algebra 1 412

Biology 400

English 10 396

NSL Government 394

TOTAL 1602

Factors in College Admission

• Considerable Importance

- Grades in College Prep Courses

- Standardized Admissions Tests

- Grades in All Classes

• Moderate Importance

- Class Rank (MCPS does not rank students)

- Essay or Writing Sample

- Counselor Recommendation

- Teacher Recommendation

- Work/Extracurricular Activities

Factors in College Admission

• Limited Importance

- Alumni Relation

• Very Limited Importance

- Interview

- Student’s Demonstrated Interest

- State Graduation Exam Scores

- Subject Tests (SAT II, AP, IB)

- Race/Ethnicity

- Ability to Pay

- State or County of Residence

University of Maryland

• 61 Students applied to Maryland

• 47 were admitted

• Admitted averages:

3.6 grade point average

3.9 weighted grade point average

1270 SAT for math and critical reading

IMPORTANT DATES

• October 15 - PSAT Day• November 11 - Report Cards • November 21 - Progress Reports• November 26 - Early Release Day• November 27-28 - Thanksgiving • December 12 - 2nd Qt. Interims Mailed• December 24- - Winter Break January 2• January 5 - Progress Reports• January 16 - Semester Exams Begin