Cypress Falls Counseling Department

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Cypress FallsCounseling Department

• Safety
• Openness
• Academics
• Recognitions

Keeping the Options Open
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Counselors

• Lori Ivey, Coordinating Counselor
• Students are divided alphabetically as follows
• Brandi Blomquist (A-B)
• Patti Moore (C-D)
• Diana Villarreal (E-Han)
• Judy Hooper (Hao-K)
• Norma Fernandez (L-M)
• Christy Taylor (N-Re)
• Nicole Rao- Flores (Rf-S)
• Maria Lewis (T-Z)

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Counseling Departments Role

• Help students succeed!
• Assist with
• academics
• career exploration
• future planning
• friends relationship problems
• problem solving
• good decision- making- both academically and
  socially

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Counselors Can Help

• Safety
• No harassment policy
• Tell an adult (teacher, counselor, assistant
  principal) if youre being harassed
• Crisis
• A life threatening situation
• Tell an adult immediately
• Confidentiality

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How to See Your Counselor

• Equal Access
• Sign-up at Counselors Corner
• Be specific on counselor request form
• Sign-in and out of counselors office
• Come without a pass/leave without a pass

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Counselors Corner

• Located in the cafeteria during all lunches
• Monday- Thursday (1030-1230)
• Check often for new information
• Provide information about
• programs
• opportunities
• Visit with counselor
• various aspects of high school
• learn about your responsibilities

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Elective Schedule Changes

• Elective schedule changes will NOT be granted
  after May 2007 this must be done prior to
  leaving the middle school campus.
• Elective courses are any courses other than
  English, Math, Science and Social Studies
• (some examples - foreign language, fine arts,
  PE, health, comm. app, etc)

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C.F.I.S.D. Schedule Change Policy

• Only the following changes will be made during
  the first three weeks of a semester
• The student does not meet prerequisite(s) for the
  course.
• The student does not meet the grade placement
  requirement for the course.
• The student already has credit for the course.
• The student is placed in an inappropriate level.
• The student has not met the requirements for
  K-level, AP, Dual Credit, or Horizons placement.

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At- Cy- Falls

• Due to overcrowding and balancing needs, changes
  may occur that could possibly effect class period
  and or/ teacher assignment.
• Fall and Spring semesters are effected!!

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K-Level Changes

• 3 weeks and 6 weeks
• A student may, upon his/her request and with
  parent approval, (contact teacher) transfer from
  a K-level class to an appropriate L- level class
  at the end of any six-weeks grading period
• Ds and Fs in K level - automatic removal

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Registration for Next Years Courses

• February
• High School Counselors present registration
  information at the middle schools.
• March
• Teachers are hired based on students registration
• Parent input is required / recommended
• Course selection are set by May 24, 2007 on the
  middle school campus
• Contact Middle Schools with any additional
  questions

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Graduation Requirements

• Required and Elective Credits
• 22 - Minimum (Requires parent signature)
• 26 - Recommended
• TAKS Tests
• 9th Grade - Reading and Math
• Exit Level - 11th Grade required for graduation
• English/Language Arts Science Math Social
  Studies

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Distinguished Achievement Program
(26 credits)

• An additional credit of Foreign Language
• Four Advanced Measures

• A Score of 3 or better on a College Board
  Advanced Placement Exam
• A grade of B or better in courses that count for
  college credit in high school (Tech Prep, Dual
  Credit)
• A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for
  recognition (National Merit Scholar,Commended)
• Original research under the direction of a mentor
  - Presented and judged

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Transcripts

• Permanent academic record
• Seen by colleges, employers, the military
• Whats on the transcript?
• Semester grades
• Credits Earned
• GPA
• Class Rank
• Attendance
• Standardized test scores - TAKS, SAT, ACT

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Grade Point Average (GPA)

• GPA is cumulative by semester
• Freshman year is important
• First semester GPA can be seen in February prior
  to registering for next years classes
• Class Rank and GPA for this school year can be
  seen in late August of 2007

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Grade Points

• K Level
• A 7
• B 6
• C 5
• D 4
• F 0

• Regular Level
• A 6
• B 5
• C 4
• D 3
• F 0

• Honor Graduates - Three Levels
• Summa Cum Laude - 6.5 GPA or higher
• Magna Cum Laude - 6.25 GPA or higher
• Cum Laude - 6.0 GPA or higher

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Earning Credits

• How is Semester Grade calculated?
• 1st Six Weeks Grade - added twice
• 2nd Six Weeks Grade - added twice
• 3rd Six Weeks Grade - added twice
• Semester Exam - counts as 1/7 of the semester
  grade

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What Happens if I Fail a Semester?

• Year Long Courses
• Failing 1st semester, passing second semester
• First and Second semester must average to a 70 or
  above
• Example 60 80 140/2(you get 1 credit)
• Failing 2nd semester, passing first semester
• You only earn 1/2 credit
• Example 80 60 1/2 credit
• You must attend summer school or take credit by
  exam

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Options for Gaining Credit

• Summer School
• Cost approximately 150 per semester, 300 per
  one credit
• Night School
• Cost approximately the same as summer school
• Correspondence
• Texas Tech or UT Austin
• You pay for tuition and books
• 135 or more per semester
• Can only earn 2 credits by correspondence courses

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Options for Gaining Credit Continued

• District Credit By Exam
• 30.00 per test
• taken at Windfern High School
• Make-up credit - can test only two times
• Original credit - can test one time

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College Entrance Exams

• THEA - Texas Higher Education Assessment (new
  name for TASP)
• Must take prior to any collegiate-level courses
  at Texas State Colleges
• ACT, SAT I SAT II - Measures how well students
  have developed academic skills that are necessary
  for college work
• Your choice of tests will depend on which
  colleges you apply to

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Web Sites for College Entrance Exams

• SAT
• www.collegeboard.com
• ACT
• www.act.org
• THEA (Placement)
• http//www.thea.nesinc.com/

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COIN3Career and College Search Service

• www.coin3.com
• Includes
• Career Interest Inventory
• College Search
• Scholarship/Financial Aid Search
• Résumé Builder

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Making Better Grades

• 90 Attendance
• Its the law!
• READ, READ, READ
• It improves vocabulary and writing skills
• Study
• Advisory
• Tutoring
• After School - Late Bus Provided
• 3 week progress report - receive during 4th week
  of 6 weeks

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In Closing Action Plan for Freshmen

• Ninth grade is the year for students to
• Improve grades and study habits
• Enroll in challenging courses
• Get involved in clubs and organizations
• Volunteer in the community
• Begin building a portfolio
• Begin researching colleges and careers
• Develop a vision of your future

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How Parents Can Help !!!

• Help students carefully select electives
• Encourage students to attend tutorials
• Contact teachers directly with specific concerns/
  questions
• Check grades regularly using PIV online
• Check Cy- Falls website (www.cfisd.net)
• Discuss graduation requirements
• Help your student GEAR UP for the future!