2013 8th Grade Parent Night PPT - Kennewick School District

WELCOME
Class of 2017!
“Be The Best
You Can Be”
1

Goals for tonight
• Provide an opportunity for us to meet
you and for you to meet us.
• Provide an opportunity for us to
present information to you that will
help you and your student transition to
high school.
• Help you understand the registration
process for next year.
• Provide an opportunity for you to get
your specific questions answered.
3

Purpose
• Gain a sense of Kamiakin High School and our
culture
• Establish open channels of communication
• Get your “first glimpse” of High School… and
Beyond
• WE BELIEVE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF KAMIAKIN
4

Brave Day
5

Counselor and Assistant Principal
Assignments
Counselors & Support Staff
• Sharon Fontana (A – E)
• Calvin Stewart (F– L)
• Phil Jones (M – R)
• Mark Falkner (S – Z)
• Maria Buxbaum
– Migrant Bilingual Student Advocate
• Silvia Ramirez
– Success Coordinator
• Guidance Center 222-7010
Assistant Principals
• Darrylin Osborn
– Students (A – L)
• Mary Isley
– Students (M - Z)
• Casey Gant
– Athletics
• Office 222-7000
6

Washington
Graduation Requirements
• All Washington public high school graduates must
fulfill the following four statewide requirements as
determined by the State Board of Education:
– Pass a minimum number of credits in high school
classes
– Earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (High
School Proficiency Exam/EOC exams)
– Complete a Culminating Project
– Craft a High School and Beyond Plan
8

KSD Graduation Requirements
• English 4.0 credits
• Math 3.0 credits
• Social Studies 3.0 credits
• Science 2.0 credits
• Occupational Education 1.0 credits
• Health and Fitness 2.0 credits
• Arts 1.0 credits
• Electives 5.0 credits
• Total 21.0 credits
• Demonstrate computer competency by earning credits in Computer Apps 1 &
2 or Computer Science 1 & 2 or passing the competency assessment.
• Pass State Assessments (5 tests for Class of 2017)
• Complete a Culminating Project.
• Complete a High School and Beyond Plan.
9

High School Proficiency Exam/End of
Course Assessments
• The state assessment is changing but the standards are not.
• Our teachers prepare our students for the rigors necessary to
enter
• Our students are prepared to meet any challenge that is
thrown at them!
• Our goal at Kamiakin is to exceed in having all students
prepared for college, work and citizenship. When students
meet these higher standards they will exceed the minimum
one that the state has set forth.
10

WASL/HSPE/EOC Math
% meeting standard
06 07 08 09 10 11
11
12
12
EOC
1
EOC
2
EOC
1
EOC
2
State 51 50 49 45 43 66 74 71 79
Dist. 59 56 56 46 43 56 68 70 62
KaHS
69 69 64 54 51 79 68 83 71

Changes in Math Assessment
• End of Course Assessment- Students test in
Algebra when they take Algebra and
Geometry when they take Geometry
– If take the class in Middle School then they take
the test there also
– Passing scores will be banked from middle school
to high school
12

WASL/HSPE Writing
% meeting standard
04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
State 65 65 80 84 87 86 84 86 85
Dist. 71 72 81 85 91 86 87 87 84
KaHS 83 89 89 93 96 87 88 90 87

WASL/HSPE Reading
% meeting standard
04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
State 64 73 82 81 82 81 78 82 81
Dist. 70 76 85 84 84 83 81 84 81
KaHS 80 89 90 95 90 89 87 89 86

HSPE/EOC Science
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
State 39 35 36 40 39 44 50 64
District 40 39 33 30 31 37 45 64
Kamiakin 56 48 44 42 41 45 56 71
15

Changes in Science Assessment
• End of Course Assessment- Students will take
a Biology test when they are in Biology~
regardless of when they take the class.
16

“Be The Best That You Can Be”
• A study by Jim Lewis and Associates ranks
Kamiakin as one of the top 1% of schools in
the State of Washington.
17

“Be the Best You Can Be”
• Emphasize striving for excellence
• Work to open doors and opportunities.
• “College Readiness” = LIFE readiness
18

Class Times at Kamiakin for 2013-2014
• Period 1 … 7:45 – 8:42
• Period 2 … 8:47-9:42
• Period 3 … 9:47-10:42
• Lunch……..10:42-11:20
• Period 4 … 11:25 – 12:20
• Period 5 ….12:25 – 1:20
• Period 6 ….. 1:25 – 2:20
19 19

Typical 9th Grade
Year-long Schedule
• English 1 English 2
• Math
• World Geography
• Science
• Elective
• Elective
Math
World History
Science
Elective
Elective
20

Registration procedures
• We have distributed to your student a Course of
Study Handbook and a Course Selection Sheet.
• We will collect your students’ signed Course
Selection Sheets, and they will go with us and
register on Thursday and Friday
• It is critical that your student has completed the
selection process prior to Thursday.
• Between now and when your student registers:
– Get input from middle school teachers.
– If you have a question, call your student’s Kamiakin
Counselor at 222-7010.
21

On the Course selection sheet make
sure to fill it in properly…
When filling out please make sure to include both the course
name and the course number
22

The Math Decision
• Students should take the most challenging level of math that they
think they can handle.
– Math teachers routinely make themselves available before
school, after school and at lunch.
– Students who struggle can move down in math after a quarter
or a semester.
– Students who find their math class too easy have a very
difficult time moving up because the Honors curriculum moves
at a much faster pace.
• Parents and students need to be familiar with the student’s
Functional Level math scores (also known as their RIT or MAP
score) in order to make a good decision.
23

The Math Decision
• An incoming 9 th grader should have a Fall of 8 th
grade RIT score of 230 and a Spring of 8 th grade RIT
score of 234.
• Students who have a Fall of 8 th RIT of 230+ and/or a
Spring of 8 th RIT score of 240+ should seriously
consider the Honors Program.
– It’s easier move down after a quarter or semester; after
a semester, it is very difficult to move up.
– The student should have good study habits and a habit
of doing his/her homework.
– The student should be willing to seek out help if
needed.
– 99.5% of students in the Honors program pass the
WASL. About 60% of students in regular Math pass the
HSPE/EOC on the first try.
24

The Math Decision
• There are two math tracks.
– Honors Program – Students take Honors Algebra 1-2,
Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 3-4, and either Honors
Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics or AP Calculus (AB) AP Calculus
(BC).
– Regular Program – Students take Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry 1
& 2, Algebra 3 & 4, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB, Calculus BC
and Stats.
25

Regular Math Sequence
9 th Grade
10 th Grade
11 th Grade
12 th Grade
Algebra 1&2
Geometry
Alg. 3 & 4
Honors Pre-
Calculus
Pre-Calculus
(Lab 1,2)
(Lab 3,4)
Students are enrolled in Math
Lab to assist them in being
college/work prepared
Alg. 3E
(COE Math)
Alg. 4E
(COE Math)

Honors Math Sequence
Honors Algebra
1 & 2
Honors
Geometry 1 & 2
Honors Algebra
3 & 4
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics 1 & 2
Geometry 1 & 2
Honors Pre-
Calculus

Reading
• An incoming 9 th grader should have a Fall of 8 th grade RIT score of
219 and a Spring of 8 th grade RIT score of 222.
– Students qualify and are placed in the Reading Lab class based on their
Middle School RIT scores and Middle School WASL scores.
– Students take Reading Lab in addition to their 9 th grade English course.
– A letter is sent in the Summer to students who are being placed in the
Reading Lab course. One of the student’s electives is postponed until
later.
– Students with RIT scores consistently below the 50 th percentile in reading
or with 7 th grade WASL scores that did not meet the reading standard are
likely candidates for Reading Lab.
29

Reading
• Students can work their way out of the Reading Lab class based
on their progress in the Academy of Reading, their English 1-2
class grade, and their Winter RIT score.
• Some students stay in even after qualifying to exit, because they
know that they need the continued support in reading.
• About 30% of our students exit Reading Lab after one semester.
About 60% of our students exit Reading Lab after two semesters.
• Very few students who have a Reading RIT score below the 50 th
percentile pass the HSPE as sophomores. This is why it is
important to get them caught up in reading immediately upon
entering high school.
• Most students who have a RIT score above the 55 th percentile in
Reading pass the HSPE if they are careful and give their best effort
on the HSPE.
30

The Science Decision
• Students should take the most challenging level of science that they think
they can handle.
• There are three science strands.
– Honors Program – Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, and Honors Physics
(Honors Chemistry and Honors Physics require that the student has
already taken Algebra.)
– Traditional Program – Biology, Physics, Chemistry
• Science electives exist in Agriculture, Applied Physics (Principles of
Technology), and Food Science.
32

Computer Competency
• Demonstrate computer competency by
earning credits in Computer Apps 1 & 2,
Computer Science or passing the
competency assessment.
• The assessment covers PowerPoint, Excel
and Word.
• Announcements are made periodically on
the registration procedures for the
Computer Competency Assessment.
33

PE Waiver Process
• Beginning with incoming freshmen class of 2014, students wishing to waive the graduation requirement
for Physical Education Fitness under the “other good cause” language of RCW 28A.230.050 and WAC 180-
51-061 must demonstrate competency in the physical fitness and cognitive knowledge.
• Students must pass a physical test that demonstrates an appropriate level of fitness for the age and
gender of the student. Students must also pass the written cognitive knowledge portion of the Fitness
Class requirement demonstrating knowledge of the Washington State Grade Level Expectations (GLE’S) in
Fitness.
• The maximum number of credits a student may waive under this new waiver language will be .5 PE credits
per year. In order to waive all 1.5 PE credits required to graduate, a student will have to pass these test
three straight years. Please call the school for clarification.
34

Culminating Project
• Students make a decision during the spring of the
sophomore year on how they will complete this
graduation requirement.
• The CP encourages students to think analytically,
logically and creatively and to integrate
experience and knowledge to solve problems.
• The CP gives students a chance to explore a topic
in which they have great interest.
• The CP offers students an opportunity to apply
their learning in a “real world” way.
35

H.S. & Beyond Plan
Students create plans for:
• meeting H.S. graduation requirements.
• identifying their next step(s) after high
school (e.g. college, technical training,
military service or work).
36

TRIBE
• Program goals
• Meet 12 times in the year
• Emphasis is on personalization
– Answer the 3 essential questions
– Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there?
• Student Led Conferences have gone from 14%
to over 90% at grades 9-11 last year.
37

Resources Available for your children…
• Formal tutoring is available Monday-Friday after school and at
lunch.
– Many teachers classrooms are open before school, at lunch and
after school to help kids.
• LINK Crew- Freshman transition program aimed at ensuring
that our students begin their high school careers successfully
– Paired with a successful upperclassman
– Study Nights throughout the year
– Freshmen come for a day before the school year starts
38

Resources available to help your
children
• Rebecca Busey: Prevention, Intervention
specialist
• Maria Buxbaum: Migrant Bilingual Student
Advocate
• Silvia Ramirez: Success Coordinator
39

Get your student involved…
• Research shows that the more involved
students are the less likely they are to struggle
in school
• At Brave Day we highlighted many
opportunities for children to be involved at
Kamiakin
40

Opportunities
to be involved
• Sports
– Fall
• Football, Volleyball, Boys & Girls Cross Country, Girls
Swimming, Cheer, Soccer, Dance & Drill Team
– Winter
• Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Gymnastics, Wrestling,
Dance
– Spring
• Baseball, Softball, Track, Soccer, Tennis, Golf
41

Opportunities to be involved
• DECA
• FFA
• Drama Club
• Band
• Orchestra
• Choir
• Yearbook
• ASB
• Journalism
• LINK Crew
42

What are Colleges Looking for?
• Rigorous college
prep courses
• High GPA
• SAT / ACT Test
• Involvement in
school and
community
activities
43

SAT Scores
2011-2012
550
540
530
520
522
519
543
530
510
Kamiakin
500
490
496
488
Washington
National
480
470
460
Reading
Math

Number of Advanced Placement tests
at KaHS

Single best predictor post-high school
success is QUALITY AND INTENSITY OF HIGH
SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Cliff Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box, U.S. Department of Education.
46

College Admission
“The most significant factor considered when
reviewing applications was cumulative
academic performance – including grade point
average, nature and difficulty of courses, grade
trends, and a student’ willingness to take
advantage of available opportunities.”
Karen Copetas, Director of Admissions, WWU, 2004
47

Factors Influencing Admission Decisions
90
80
80.4
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
6.4 8.2
10.8
16.3 17.4
20.3
30.5
44.8
51.7
Factor for admission
0
Work/Extracurricular
Community Service
Interview
Teacher recommendation
Counselor Recommendatin
Essay Writing/ Sample
Class Rank
Grades in all Subjects
Admission Test Scores
Grades in College Prep Courses
48

Percentage of Student earning a Bachelor’s
Degree in 4 years or less
70%
60%
61%
50%
45%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
29%
No AP
One AP
Two + AP
49

PSAT Participants
900
800
700
600
782 780
2001
2002
2003
2004
500
400
300
200
100
169 161 150 136
286 284 283
441 421 427
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
0
Number of Participants
2011

PSAT- Traditionally
• Traditionally
– Saturday
– Students “self-select”
• Last 4 years
– Wednesday
– All students have it
available

What we do with results?
• Taking test seriously
• Looking at questions
missed and seeing what
the correct answer
should be
• Taking classes that will
prepare for college

National Merit Finalists
• Top 1% of students in
the Nation on the
PSAT
• National Merit
Scholars receive
automatic
scholarships - varies
by institution
• Recruited by colleges
and universities

For more information on college
readiness…
• The College Board Website is an outstanding
resource for planning for college.
• http://www.collegeboard.com/
55

Minimum High School Credits for Admission to
Washington’s Four-Year Colleges
• Washington State
• Eastern Washington
• University of
Washington
• Central Washington
• Western Washington
• Evergreen State
56

Minimum High School Credits for
Admission to Washington’s Four-Year
Colleges
The following lists minimum high school course requirements for Public Four
Year Colleges in Washington State.
• English 4 Years
• Social Studies 3 Years
• World Language 2 Years
• Math (and math in the senior year) 3 Years
• Science… 2 Years
– (2 year of lab, one of which much be Algebra based Biology,
Chemistry or Physics)
• Fine, Visual, Performing Arts 1 Year
57

Parent’s Role
Connected and Involved
• Attend annual student-led conferences
• Participate in student-led decisions
• Engage in student-led discussions about interests
and plans
• Strengthen parent-school connection
• Check ParentPortal frequently… (primary way of
teachers communicating)
60

Parent Portal
• Online real time access to student information
– Attendance
– Current grades in all classes
– Email links to your students teachers
61

Student’s Role
Students are empowered to make the
education system work for them, so
they can take charge of their own
future.
• Creates new perspective, reduces passivity
• Builds smart education consumers
• Produces more engaged and active learners
62

Other things to know
• Request for high school credit for
courses taken in Middle School
–Honors Algebra 1 & 2
–Honors Geometry 1 & 2
–Spanish 1 & 2
• Remember when something is written
to your transcript it is permanent.
63

Parent Resources
• Kamiakin High School
• (509) 222-7000
• Counselors
– Sharon Fontana (A – E)
– Calvin Stewart (F – L)
– Phil Jones (M – R)
– Mark Falkner (S – Z)
• Websites for resources
– http://school.ksd.org/kamiakin/
– http://www.collegeboard.com/
• If you are currently in private or
homeschool environment, please
pick up a new student enrollment
packet and a counselor will
contact you to set up an
individual appointment.
• Guidance Center 222-7010
64

Benefits of the Advanced Placement Program
• Students experience a rigorous, college level curriculum, while still have the
support of a great high school staff.
• A.P. classes attract motivated students who want to challenge themselves.
• Earn College Credit while in High School.
• Teachers that a student has for A.P. classes have participated in professional
development that make them better teachers, not just for A.P. but for all classes.
• #1 predictor of college success is the rigor of courses that a student took in High
school.
65

AP Information
• Newsweek publishes a ranking of schools based upon # of
students who take an AP test divided by the number of
graduating seniors.
– Last year we had 540 tests taken and graduated 376 students.
– This is a rating of 1.44
– This ranks us as one of the top schools in the entire nation.
– This year we have 433 AP Tests signed up as of last week.
• This represents a commitment by the staff and students of
Kamiakin to intentionally push Advanced Placement classes
and expose students to the rigor of college.
66

Alan Bacon
• AP Human Geography
which is the only
Advanced Placement
class open to Freshmen
67

Questions and Answers:
• Thanks for attending !!!
• We look forward to seeing you next year.
68

The End
69

Parent Notes
• Questions I have about…
• Graduation requirements
70

Parent Notes
• Questions I have about…
• What classes my child should take?
71

Parent Notes
• Questions I had about...
• Opportunities for my child to be involved
72

Parent Notes
• Questions that I still have…
73