Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School

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Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School

• 8th Grade Planning Guide
• Presentation
• Class of 2010

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RSM Guidance Counselors

• Mrs. Bills, 7th/8th Grade Counselor
• Mr. Sango, 7th Grade Counselor (Monday and
  Tuesday)
• Visit RSM Guidance Department Webpage Go to RSM
  school website and click on Guidance
  Department/Counselors

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Our Goal

• Discuss and explain RSM Promotion Requirements
• Review GPA Calculation
• Discuss academic success strategies
• Discuss and explain SVUSD high school graduation
  requirements
• Explain California College Systems and admission
  requirements
• Discuss Career Planning

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What can a Guidance Counselor help students with?

• Assist students with any academic, social, or
  personal issues
• Monitor and assist students who are struggling
  academically
• Assist students with their transition to high
  school
• Assist students in meeting promotion requirements
• Provide students with information about tutoring,
  academic and college planning, and study
  strategies

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ConfidentialityWhat is it?
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Confidentiality

• Certain personal information that you share with
  a counselor is confidential or private and told
  to no one else without your permission
• Things that counselors cannot keep private
• 1. If you tell a counselor someone is hurting
  you.
• 2. If you tell a counselor about a situation
  involving a clear and present danger to yourself
  or others.
• 3. If you tell a counselor about any planned or
  attempted criminal activity.

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8th Grade Classes

• English 3 Trimesters
• Math 3 Trimesters
• U.S. History- 3 Trimesters
• Science 3 Trimesters
• P.E. 2 Trimesters
• Health 1 Trimester
• Electives 3 Trimester of electives or 1 year
  long elective
• Each Trimester lasts 12 weeks

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SVUSD Promotion Requirements

• Minimum 1.50 GPA (Grade Point Average) for the
  year - cumulative
• Minimum 1. 0 GPA in Math for the year
• Minimum 1.0 GPA in English for the year
• No more than 3 F grades for the year
• At or above level 2 on the CST-STAR Test

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How to figure out your GPA (Grade Point Average)
with your grades

• First step Change all of your grades to points
• Second step Add all the points together
• Third step Divide this total by the number of
  grades you added

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How many points are your grades worth?

• A 4
• B 3
• C 2
• D 1
• F 0

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Lets Practice

• English F
• Math D
• Science C
• History C
• P.E. A-
• Elective B
• Change all grades to points
• Add up all the points
• Divide the number of points by the number of
  grades. What is the GPA?

• English 0
• Math 1
• Science 2
• History 2
• P.E. 4
• Elective 3
• Total 12
• 12 Divided by 6 2.0
• GPA is 2.0

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Tips for Success.

• Use the student planner to write down class
  assignments, tests, quizzes, homework and
  projects
• Do homework daily and study
• Read every day (20 to 30 minutes)
• Ask for help
• Make up work when absent
• Get organized
• Get involved in school activities
• Monitor your grades online
• Put forth your best effort
• Start thinking about your future career and
  educational plans
• THIS YEAR COUNTS! Placement in 9th grade
  classes, sports eligibility

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SVUSD High School Graduation Requirements

• Earn a minimum 1.75 GPA
• Earn 220 credits (165 required credits/55
  elective credits)
• Complete 8 hours of Community Service
• Successfully pass the CAHSEE (California High
  School Exit Exam) in both Language Arts and
  Mathematics (score of 350)
• Demonstrate grade level writing proficiency
  (score of 3)

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SVUSD High School Graduation Requirements
(Continued)

• English 40 credits
• Math 30 credits
• (Must include the content of SVUSD Algebra 1 or 2
  years of Algebra 1A and 1B)
• Science 30 credits
• Social Science 30 credits
• Health 5 credits
• P.E. (2 Semesters Required in 9th Grade) 20
  credits
• Fine Arts and/or Foreign Language and/or Applied
  Arts/Technical Arts
  10 credits

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FACTS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

• High School is divided into two 18 week long
  semesters
• You earn 5 credits for a semester course/10
  credits for year-long course (end of 1st sem 30
  credits, end of 2nd sem 60 credits)
• Earn 220 credits to graduate
• 6 classes are required (9th grade year)
• If you fail a class, you make up the class,
  either in summer school, adult school, or by
  taking extra classes during the school day
• 8 hours of community service
• You must have at least a 2.0 GPA and good
  citizenship to participate in extra class
  activities/athletics
• Some classes have prerequisites

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Overview of CurriculumGrade 9

• College Prep Classes
• English 1
• Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A
• Earth Science
• P.E. or Athletics/Marching Band
• Foreign Language/Fine Art/Applied or Tech Art
• Elective

• Honors (H) Classes
• English 1(H/IB)
• Geometry or Algebra 2
• Biology
• P.E. or Athletics/Marching Band
• Foreign Language
• Elective

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CALIFORNIA COLLEGE SYSTEMS

• Community College (more than 100) (Saddleback,
  Irvine Valley, Orange Coast, etc.)
• California State Universities (23 campuses) (San
  Diego, Long Beach, Fullerton, San Luis Obispo,
  Pomona, etc.)
• University of California (10 campuses) (UC
  Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Los Angeles, etc.)
• Independent/Private Colleges and Universities
  (USC, Azusa Pacific, Vanguard, Harvey Mudd, etc.)

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The Community College Option

• Local campuses
• Less expensive
• Earn a 2-year degree
• Earn a Career/Technical certificate
• Transfer to a 4-year University

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California State UniversityMinimum Admission
Requirements

• Minimum Subject Requirements a-g Subjects
• History/Social Science 2 years
• English 4 years
• Mathematics 3 years (Algebra 1, Geometry,
  Algebra 2)
• Laboratory Science 2 years (with lab - one
  biological, one physical)
• Language other than English 2 years
• Visual and Performing Arts 1 year
• College Preparatory Electives 1 year
• NO GRADES BELOW A C ARE ACCEPTED BY CSU
  (make-up all D/Fs)
• Minimum of a 2.0 GPA
• SAT OR ACT Test
• CSU is geared toward the UPPER 33 OF HIGH SCHOOL
  GRADUATES

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University of Californiaa-g Pattern of
CoursesMinimum Admission Requirements

• U.S. History/Social Science 2 years
• English 4 years
• Mathematics 3 years ( 4 years recommended)
  Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
• Laboratory Science 2 years (3 years
  recommended) Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Language other than English 2 years of the same
  language (3 years recommended)
• Visual and Performing Arts (drama, ceramics, art,
  etc) 1 year
  
  
• College Preparatory Electives 1 year
• 7 of 15 required courses must be completed in
  junior/senior years
• NO GRADES BELOW A C ARE ACCEPTED BY UC (make-up
  all D/Fs)
• Minimum of a 3.5 GPA
• SAT or ACT with writing
• Two SAT subject tests in two separate areas
• UC is geared toward the UPPER 12.5 OF HIGH
  SCHOOL GRADUATES

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Planning for College

• Maintain high grades and good study habits
• Participate in extracurricular activities, clubs,
  sports, etc.
• Participate in Community Service
• Take standardized tests seriously
• Start saving money
• Gather information
• Visit college campuses/web sites
• Get to know yourself (likes and dislikes)

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Career Planning

• There are skills that you are learning right now
  that will help you be successful in work and in
  life.
• Basic skills reading, writing, math, speaking
  and listening, basic computer competency
• Thinking skills the ability to reason, to learn,
  to think creatively, to make decisions, and to
  solve problems
• Personal qualities individual responsibility,
  team cooperation, integrity, self-worth,
  self-management, punctuality, and a positive
  attitude.

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College/Career Links

• College/SAT Planning www.collegeboard.com
• ACT Planning www.actstudent.org
• Mapping your future www.mapping-your-future.org
• Career Resources www.careerbuilder.com
• Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco
• Americas Career Infonet (career exploration)
  www.acinet.org
• Campus Explorer www.campusexplorer.com/
• UC Planning for College www.universityofcalifornia
  .edu
• CSU Planning for College www.csumentor.edu/plannin
  g/middle school
• Scholarship Info www.fastweb.com
• Financial Aid Info www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/