Expectations for your senior year

EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR SENIOR

YEAR

Communications Arts High School

Mr. Guerrero: AP Economics & Government 1 semester course for grades 1 semester course in regards to

attendance AP Course and expectations

reading and taking notes outside of class Summer Reading

Mrs. Ochoa: Spanish

Available Resources Tutoring CD Tutoring program Salon de Sabios Computer Lab

Mrs. Ochoa: Spanish

eClassroom Study Suggestions sheet Online resources, especially

www.classzone.com supplies – notebook, folder

Mrs. Ochoa: Spanish

Spanish IV AP and the AP ExamWhy take it? ○ You can get a minor without taking a course

in college depending on the college you go to

Homework/WorkloadWill have homework every day Some practice or studying 30 minutes

each night even if specific homework is not assigned

Mrs. Ochoa: Spanish

Skills for SuccessTime managementOrganization; Balancing school and extra-

curricularAsking for help when needed

Academic integrity Absences/tardies

Mrs. McCormick: English IV

Objectives of the course:To study British and world literature and to cover

the curriculum specified in TEKS.To prepare for the AP Literature and Composition

Test in May.To complete dual credit writing requirements,

including the research essay.○ This course is taught as a college level English class

and, as such, includes a challenging workload, especially outside reading.

○ Be prepared to schedule reading into your free time and to receive frequent writing assignments.

Mrs. McCormick: English IV

Turnitin.com

Summer Reading Assignment: Part One How to Read Literature Like a Professor

by Thomas C. Fostercommon summer assignment for English IV AP

students reading it carefully and applying its ideas to all

the works you will read during your senior year will help ease the pressure of the AP exam

easy-to-read introduction to patterns of symbolic meaning in literary texts

reading it first may help make parts of the required novel more meaningful to you

please highlight important information in the text

Summer Reading Assignment: Part One

Writing Assignment for How to Read Literature Like a ProfessorNOTE: Write all assignments in a new

Mead Composition Book (this is a supply requirement for the class)

See the handout for specific instructions

Summer Reading Assignment: Part Two

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel○ winner of the 2002 Man Book Prize for Fiction. ○ The main character, Pi Patel, is a unique young

man, the son of a zookeeper. He knows a great deal about animal behavior, loves stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family leaves India, accompanied by a cargo of zoo animals, for a new home in North America. On the way, the ship sinks, and Pi alone survives in a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Pi must use his wits to survive this treacherous situation.

Writing Assignment for Life of Pi

○See the handout for detailsAnnotationBook club meetings and discussion questionsYou are also expected to bring your copy of the

novel to class every day until the summer unit is complete.

Testing on the novel will follow class discussion during the first two weeks of school.

Failure to complete the above assignment will be detrimental to your first six weeks grade.

Acquiring the Texts The school has a few copies of The Life of

Pi but I encourage you to purchase your own copies so that you can annotate and mark in them.

In addition, having your own copy of any AP recommended/studied text allows you to review it before the AP test and remind yourself of characters, setting, etc.

Copies of How to Read Literature Like a Professor will be available at school in July. Both books can be found relatively cheaply in paperback at both regular and used books bookstores as well as online.

Mrs. McCormick: AP/Dual Credit

AP vs. Dual Credit Expectations: homework outside of

class AP tests are given in May Students can receive college credit

depending on their score Each university awards its own credit;

there isn’t a standard score/grade equivalency

Mrs. McCormick: AP/Dual Credit

Dual credit and grades Dropping a course Failing & possible consequences with

later financial aid Failing and reflection on transcript and

GPA

BENEFITS OF ENROLLING IN DUAL CREDIT COURSES: Offers high school credit(s) toward

graduation and college credit(s) toward a degree.

Classes are taught by ComArts teachers and are held at the high school.

Offers FREE tuition for two courses, 6- 8 hours of college credit each year.

Saves parents & students considerable amounts of college costs.

BENEFITS OF ENROLLING IN DUAL CREDIT COURSES (cont.): Average tuition, fees & books for 6

hours (2 classes) = $1000/year Shortens the length of time to

complete a degree program. Students are allowed access to

Northwest Vista (NVC) and ACCD services, events, and facilities.

Only courses being charged tuition are courses offered at NVC: Criminal Justice, Pharmacy & Med. Terminology

DUAL CREDIT COURSES: (some also offered as Pre-AP & AP)

MATH: Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB/ BC, Statistics, College Algebra

SCIENCE: Biology, Environmental Science English 3 and English 4 Spanish 3 Courses offered at the Northwest Vista

campus: TUITION REQUIRED (bus transportation provided) Criminal Justice, Pharmacy, and Medical Terminology

FACTS ABOUT DUAL CREDIT COURSES Courses are more academically

challenging than traditional high school courses, will include different requirements for each course, and will result in a SEPARATE college grade for each course.

Grades earned in dual credit become part of the PERMANENT ACADEMIC RECORD and will be recorded on the college transcript.

FACTS ABOUT DUAL CREDIT COURSES (cont.) Students must attend their Dual Credit

class regularly and may be withdrawn for lack of attendance and/or lack of progress.

Students who make a D or an F in a Dual Credit class will not be allowed to continue in the Dual Credit program.

FACTS ABOUT DUAL CREDIT COURSES (cont.) Students are responsible for knowing

and adhering to the drop deadlines for withdrawal on the Alamo Colleges Academic calendar (should his/her grade fall below a C).

Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 and remain in good standing to continue in the Dual Credit Program.

FACTS ABOUT DUAL CREDIT COURSES (cont.) If a student plagiarizes a paper or colludes or

cheats in any dual credit class, the student will be subject to the discipline policies and procedures of the college; severe cases may result in failure of the course and suspension from the dual credit program.

Courses are generally transferable, but it is not the responsibility of the college to ensure that the dual credit course is transferable to the college/university the student plans to attend.

Mrs. Malik: Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) Independent Study Mentorship with

the key word being independent Major goal is to promote

independent learning and being responsible for themselves.

Mrs. Malik: Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) Responsible for finding mentor

Mrs. Malik can provide possible names Responsible for own transportation Must be professional and courteous

as you are representing the school and the program

Mrs. Malik: Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) Select a topic that you are truly

interested in. You will be researching it in depth for a full year.

Topic must require post secondary education.

Blocking with English once the 2nd six weeks starts

Speeches every six weeks Research paper on topic

Mrs. Malik: Independent Study Mentorship (ISM)

Meetings and attendanceGo during ISM period ON ISM days Mrs. Malik cannot excuse an absence

or tardy for another class due to a meeting

Meetings are due the 3rd and 5th Monday of each six weeks (2 per six weeks).

Students may have additional meetings.

Mrs. Malik: College Prep

1st Six Weeks: college prep: resumes, applications, reading a degree plan

Apply TexasWe will begin in class so that teacher

can help REMEMBER passwords and social

security #


FAFSAwe will do the PIN in December;

they can begin in January Entrance Exams

ACT vs. SAT


Letters of RecommendationGive teachers at least a week to

write themProvide recipient information and

a copy of your resume that we will write in ISM class


Deadlines/AdmissionsDeadlines are very important“Received by” vs. “Postmarked by”Deadlines includes ALL components○ E.g., for a college application, it will include

all of the required components such as the actual application, essay, transcript and letters of recommendation (if required)

Mrs. Malik: College Admissions

Early Decision: is binding if you are accepted

Early Action:student turns in all parts early and

the university sends the admissions decision early; these deadlines are usually in November

Mrs. Malik: College Admissions

Regular Decision:application due dates are much later and most

acceptance letters are sent out around March 1st

Rolling Admissions:applications are reviewed as they are received and

letters are sent out once a decision has been made

If you have questions about an application or your status, CALL the university. Check your status regularly.


TranscriptsAt TaftMay order and pick up before school, after

school and at lunch onlyCan take up to a weekMay want to order a couple to have on handForms can be found in Mrs. Malik’s room or

front officeParent Consent form only one time (if under

18); forms can be found in Mrs. Malik’s room or front office


NW VistaMrs. Malik will show the students how to

log into ACES and how to order a transcript online


Final documentation for CollegeIn May, we will put together a

folder/portfolio to take to college orientation

Students will be given an order form for their final CAHS transcript and will be shown how to order the Vista transcript for the college they will be attending

Mrs. Whitus: Electives AP Art History Yearbook Advanced Video Digital Graphics & Animation

Mrs. Whitus: Nonacademic Items

Yearbook$70, price will increase to $75 in

the SpringSenior ads○Order in the Spring○Prices range from $70-$250

(quarter page-full page)

Mrs. Whitus: Nonacademic Items Senior pictures

Must take by December 1 for inclusion in yearbook

No cost for yearbook senior pictureYearbook senior picture must be taken by

Prestige, but you DO NOT have to buy any pictures from them○ two dates here at school in the Fall:

Saturday, September 22Retakes Saturday, October 27

○ or set up appointment at their studio: 690-1476 Picture packages from Prestige: $100-$600


Class ringOrder from Josten’s in the FallRange of prices from $100-$1000

Prom $50-$65; price of ticket increases as it gets closertux rentals: $100-$250dresses: $200-$400

Senior BanquetFree for students, $25 for each guest


Graduation ExpensesCap and gown○ $25

Graduation Announcements○ Order from Josten’s in the Fall○ Packages vary from $75-$200

Parking at Alamodome: $10 Project Graduation

$55-$70Ticket price goes up as year goes on

Summary of Optional,Nonacademic Expenses(based on 2011-12 costs)

Yearbook: $70-$75Senior pictures: $0 - $600Senior ad in yearbook: $70 - $250Class ring: $100-1000Graduation invitations: $75-200Cap & gown: $25Prom tickets: $50-$65Senior Banquet: free for students, $25 per

guestProject Graduation: $55-70

Resources

Eclassroom Each teacher offers tutoring—talk to your

teachers! Salon de Sabios

After school from 4:20-6:20 on Tuesdays and ThursdaysA place to study, use the computer lab, make up a test

or quizin the past, a Spanish teacher has been available every

Thursday to help students Lunch Lab and Lunch Study Hall Students are expected to print homework

assignments at home, not in the labs

Resources

Go CenterSee Mrs. Crowson for scholarship

information before school or at lunchShe will also help to contact schools if

there are questions that we cannot answerShe schedules college reps to speak

throughout the year during lunch. Take advantage of this

Counselor Planners

QUESTIONS?

Documents

Expectations for your senior year