Forsyth Central High School Parent Night

1
Forsyth Central High SchoolParent Night

• August 28, 2008

2
Meet the Counselors

• Evelyn Petersen A-C and all English Language
  Learners
• Elizabeth Chilson D-J
• Deidre Miller K-R
• Elaine Caine S-Z

3
Role of the Counseling Department

• We are educators with a mental health perspective
  who understand and respond to the challenges
  presented by todays student population.
• Professional school counselors align and work
  with the schools mission to support the academic
  achievement of all students as they prepare for
  the ever-changing world of the 21st century.
• We have a comprehensive and developmental school
  counseling program which focuses on academic,
  career, and personal/social issues.

4
The BIG items you need to know

• Parent Portal Student Portal
• Graduation Requirements for your child.
• Promotion Requirements
• Individual Conferences with Juniors/Seniors
• HOPE eligibility and GACollege 411
• Scheduling
• Credit Recovery
• Counseling Webpage

5
Parent Student Portal

• Parent Portal is a tool for parents and students
  to access instant, online, timely and secure
  student information class schedule, assignments,
  attendance, discipline, course registrations for
  next year, report cards and transcripts. It
  increases communication between the school and
  parents.
• Parents of current students are eligible to
  activate a FREE Parent Portal account, after
  agreeing to the terms and conditions of use.
• Sign up in the counseling office with Mrs.
  Shirley Santiago, counseling secretary. You must
  present an ID at the time you sign up.

6
Graduation Requirements

• Each graduating class has a different set of
  requirements for graduation.
• Freshmen who entered in 2005-2006 must have 26
  Carnegie Units to graduate and pass all parts of
  the GHSGT.
• Freshmen who entered in 2006-2007 must have 24
  Carnegie Units to graduate and pass all parts of
  the GHSGT.
• Freshmen who entered in 2007-2008 must have 22
  Carnegie Units to graduate and pass all parts of
  the GHSGT.
• Freshmen who entered in 2008-2009 must have 23
  Carnegie Units to graduate and pass all parts of
  the GHSGT.
• Each student can track their credits on a flow
  chart available in the counseling office and
  online.
• All students are encouraged to see their
  counselor if they have questions about their
  requirements! Dont wait!

7
Promotion Requirements

• Students must earn a certain of credits in
  order to be moved to the next grade level.
• Students are expected to make up credits outside
  of school day (zero period, summer school, etc.)

8
Junior Senior Conferences

• Counselors will meet individually with seniors
  during the next two months.
• Topics Covered
• Senior Letters These will detail the
  requirements your child still must complete for
  graduation. You will receive a copy in the mail.
• Packet of information regarding financial aid,
  scholarship information, transcript requests,
  recommendation letters, HOPE eligibility, SAT/ACT
  dates, and more!
• Counselors will meet individually with juniors in
  the spring semester.
• Topics Covered
• Planning for senior year! Scheduling classes.
• Packet of information regarding financial aid,
  scholarship information, senior timeline, HOPE
  eligibility, SAT/ACT dates, and more!
• Credit recovery conversations, if needed.

9
Are you HOPING for a HOPE Scholarship?

• All students have an account at gacollege411.org.
  Students can check their eligibility on this
  site.
• ONLY CORE CLASSES are included in a HOPE GPA.
  Elective classes are not included!
• All are welcome to attend Financial Aid Night on
  December 11th. A representative from Georgia
  Student Finance Commission will be available to
  answer questions. Dont wait until senior year
  to get this information ?

10
Scheduling of Classes

• Schedules for the next year are completed in the
  spring semester of the prior year.
• Please be advised that schedule changes are rare.
  Course requests are sent home several times in
  the spring semester for approval. If you would
  like to change a course, you must do so by the
  established deadline in the spring semester.
• We are operating on a composite schedule this
  year a little 7 period day, a little block
  schedule. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays
  students attend all seven classes. On Wednesdays
  they attend even (2, 4, 6th period) classes
  plus an instructional focus time in the middle
  of the day. On Thursdays, students attend all
  odd (1, 3, 5, 7th period) classes.

11
Credit Recovery

• If your child has failed any core class (and
  sometimes elective classes), they must be made up
  prior to graduating. Your childs counselor MUST
  APPROVE any credit recovery prior to the student
  taking a class.
• Zero Period - takes place before or after
  school.  Students must complete an application
  and get their counselor to sign off on the
  paperwork. Due TONIGHT for Minimester-1. See
  counselors for information.
• Summer School takes place in the summer. A
  great opportunity for earning credit.
• Georgia Virtual School an online credit
  recovery program sponsored by the Ga. Department
  of Education. This typically is only a good plan
  for students who are highly self-disciplined and
  motivated.
• Other Online/Correspondence Options see your
  counselor!

12
Visit the Counseling Webpage!!

• www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/fchs then click on
  Counseling on the right.
• Tons of information!
• Tour of the site