Freshmen Fall Counselor Meetings
Class of 2025
Items that will be covered today
- Who is my counselor? How do I talk with her? What does she do?
- High School Counts: taking the right classes, what does a transcript look like, what is on it and how is a GPA calculated?
- Graduation Requirements
- Checking StudentVue
- Planning for the Future
- School Resources and Advocating for Yourself
- Getting Involved: School Activities
- Your Learning Style
Counseling Office
Sign up to see your counselor
She will make an appointment for us to chat. She'll find a time that works well in your class schedule and my schedule, too. You will receive your pass through your 1st hour teacher on your appointment day.
Registrar
What can my counselor help me with?
- Counselors track your class credits & grades
- Provide information on academic assistance (studentVue, tutors, AC etc.)
- Facilitate career tests (EDPs)
- Assist you in career and college planning
- Help students transition to high school, college, work
- Communicate with students, teachers and parents
- Help students problem solve
- Help students deal with conflict and learn conflict resolution
Confidentiality
What you share with your counselor is confidential.
Exceptions are: potential harm to yourself or anyone else, or if abuse is suspected.
What is included on your transcript?
The BIG 3
-GPA-Numbers of Credits Earned
-Courses Taken and Semester grades
Transcript Example
Calculating GPA
Letter grades are given numerical value. Total your points and divide by the number of grades you included.
A = 4.0
A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0
B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0
C- = 1.7
D+ = 1.3
D = 1.0
D- = 0.7
E = 0.0
Total / 6 = GPA
Note: 1.25 multiplier is applied to AP classes
GPA Example on the Board
Making High School Count
Looking ahead…..
Colleges look at your:
Grades
Rigor in your courses
ACT/SAT score
Extracurricular activities
What types of GPA's are colleges looking for?
Oakland University: 3.4 with minimum of 2.5
Oakland Community College - open admissions
Michigan State University: 3.5-3.9(middle range)
University of Michigan: 3.9
Graduation Requirements
22 credits are required to graduate
Minimum Core classes:
English: 4 years
Social Studies: 3 years
Science: 3 years
Math: 4 years
Foreign Language: 2 years
Other courses include:
PE & Health: 1 year
VPAA: 1 year
Electives
Learning Style Inventory
Go to Xello
On your school issued Chromebook, Click on your RCS bookmark - Career Readiness - Xello
Use your regular school login
*If you're having trouble logging in, please be sure you have your school google drive active, not a personal one.
Planning for Your Future -Resources
- Educational Development Plans (EDP’s) on Xello
- College Night October 6, 6:00-7:30 at Adams HS
- Standardized Testing: PSAT Test in October and April
- Other tests you can look forward to taking: ACT, SAT (Resources are available to help you prepare.)
- KHAN Academy: Create a login for free SAT practice
Freshmen Tips
1. PLEASE NEVER GIVE UP ON A CLASS!
Don’t wait if there is a problem, ASK FOR HELP right away!
Homework can make it or break it!
It is important to do your homework carefully and completely.
If you do not understand or comprehend some material. Don’t ignore it! Ask or get help!
Who should you ask for help?
- Teachers
- Counselor
- Academic Learning Center
- Parents
- NHS Tutors: there are NHS tutors available in all of your core subjects.
- District Adult Tutor List: https://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/header-utility/students/tutors
Get Involved at RHS
Check out Student Activities webpage http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/rochester-high-school/pages/6386/student-clubs
Club Examples
Anime Club
Art Club
Business Professionals/America
Chinese Club
Dance Team
Debate Club
Dungeons & Dragons
Equestrian Club
French/French NHS
German Club
Girl Up
Green Club
Hack Club
Investment Club
Key Club
NHS – National Honor Society
National Art Honor Society
RATS
Robotics
Rochester Mountain Bike Team
Rotary Interact
Science Olympiad
Ski/Snowboard Club
Social Studies NHS
Spanish/Spanish NHS
Spike Ball
Yoga Club
Oakland Technical Campus
Receive hands on training:
- iTEAM - Business Management Marketing and Technology - Computer Programming, Computer Networking, entrepreneurship and Advanced Marketing
- Culinary Arts and Hospitality
- Cosmetology
- Engineering and Emerging Technologies - Machining, Mechatronics, and Welding
- Energy-Electrical Technologies
- Automotive Technology
- Collision Repair and Refinishing
- Construction Technology
- Agriscience and Environmental Technologies
- Health/Medical Sciences
- Homeland Security - Criminal Justice and Cyber Security Networking
- Medium/Heavy Truck and Equipment
- Visual Imaging
Open to 11th and 12th graders
Get application in December of your 10th grade year
Stress Management:
- Make sure you're getting enough sleep
- Balance your schedule and prioritize
- Don't overwhelm yourself with extracurriculars
- Don't procrastinate
- Have people to talk to and to support you
- Exercise
- Listen to music
- Color/Find or make a stress ball/Use a fidget device
- Get outside and connect with nature
- Have Fun!
Activity: Air Punch
Organization:
Make a homework folder
Planners, Calendars, Homework App
Schedule a time in your day for studying and homework
Use helpful study materials
Take the Learning Styles Inventory on Career Cruising and see the best way TO study
Have a clean, organized space for homework
Color coordinate folders, notebooks, and binders for each class
Use dividers
Understand the one organization method doesn't work for everyone. Find one and make it your own.
College Night
Adams High School - October 6th - 6 - 7:30 pm
Activity
- Eat dinner
- 7 problems of math homework
- Lab report for science that is due at the end of class tomorrow (half done)
- Get best friend's birthday gift (their birthday is tomorrow)
- Study for Spanish vocab quiz (class is 2nd hour)
- Shower
- Sports practice after school
- English paper due in 2 days (haven't started)
- Make Homecoming dinner reservations (1 1/2 weeks)
Final Thoughts
- Think positive
- Keep your eye on the "prize" -your GOALS.
- Have fun and get involved
- Give yourself breaks but don't slack
- Make positive and healthy choices
- Manage your stress