AHS Freshman and Sophomore News
Spring 2022, Volume 1
Off and Running in a New Year!
As we are over a month into 2022, I hope your new year has gotten off to a great start! The spring semester always "brings the busy" and usually seems to fly by. It can be challenging trying to find balance between your schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, family commitments, work, etc. And don't forget about still finding time to be a kid and have fun. In the middle of all the busy, I encourage you to make your mental wellness a priority this semester.
Mental Wellness as defined in the article below "is the ability to cope with life's stressors while maintaining a good quality of life." It is important to be intentional and make the most of each day. It's also important to stop sometimes and check in with yourself. Here are 4 practices that can increase your mental wellness:
1. Practice Mindfulness
2. Practice Rest
3. Practice Gratitude
4. Practice Asking for Help
Check out this Article for more explanation on each of these practices.
https://discoverymood.com/blog/4-ways-to-practice-mental-wellness-in-the-new-year/
We will continue to make mental health and wellness a focus this semester. I am so excited for a fun and memorable spring semester and can't wait to watch all of the growth and achievements that are going to happen over the coming months.
Let's go Lopes!!
Tuesdays are not just for Tacos! Introducing Future Tuesdays!
- Making a resume
- Applying for a summer job
- Talking to adult family members about their job, what school they went to, jobs they had after high school, etc.
- Volunteer Work
- Reading non-fiction
- Learning to cook a new meal
- Learning to change the oil or tire on a car
- Free SAT Practice with Khan Academy
Research Careers, Colleges, Majors
- Visit websites of colleges to learn:
- What are the admissions requirements?
- Do they have the major I want to pursue?
- what is the cost?
I'd love to hear any more ideas that you come up with. AND you have a chance to win prizes between now and Spring break! Just email or write me a note of what specific task you completed on Future Tuesday (with a minimum of 15 minutes spent) and your name will go into a drawing every Friday.
Let's get Curious and let's get Moving toward our Future!
Remember...Grades lead to credits. Credits lead to Graduation.
As we start a new semester, remember you must keep earning all of your required credits to graduate. If you failed a required course for the fall semester, it is SO important that you not only pass this semester, but you can also regain the fall credit if your yearlong average is a 70 or higher.
Example:
English 3 - 65 for fall semester + 75 for spring semester = 70 for year = 1 full credit
If you don't earn all of your credits this year, you will have to attend summer school. So let's take care of business and pass all of our classes. Mrs. Forbes will be visiting individually with those that are in credit jeopardy.
February is the month of Love! It is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
More Resources
https://vawnet.org/sc/preventing-and-responding-teen-dating-violence
https://idvsa.org/initiatives/center-healthy-teen-relationship/
Let's review all of your graduation requirement Information...
Your Graduation Plan
Students began their 4 year plan in 8th grade and we will update it each year in high school. To graduate on the distinguished graduation plan in Texas, a student a student must complete 26 course credits, earn at least one endorsement, and complete Algebra 2. AISD also requires completion of Speech and Health for a total of 27 credits.
Students will most likely take at least:
- 4 credits of English
- 4 credits of Math (Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, one advanced math)
- 4 credits of Science (Biology, one lab based science, 2 advanced sciences)
- 4 credits of Social Studies (World Geography, World History, US History, Government/Economics)
- 1 credit of Fine Arts
- 1 credit of PE/Athletics
- 2 credits of Language Other Than English
- Speech/Health
- 6 credits of electives
These are the basic "ingredients" of a 4 year plan. I will be working with students each year to help them choose the right core classes and electives that most fit their career interests for the future.
So what are credits and how do you earn them?
- A total of at least 27 credits are needed for graduation.
- Students earn one credit in each course that they pass each year. (1/2 credit will be awarded at the end of each semester)
- Some students may begin earning credits in middle school. (example - Algebra 1)
- If you fail a required class (core or endorsement), you will lose the credit and must make up the course to recover the credit. You can recover a credit a few different ways: average up (see below), summer school, or retaking a class.
If you fail a fall semester class, you have the opportunity to recover that credit if your yearlong average is 70% or higher. This is called averaging up.
Total credits earned determine what grade you are in. Promotion requirements are: Sophomore = at least 6.5 credits, Junior = at least 13 credits, Senior = at least 19.5 credits
If you are absent more than 10% of a semester in any class, your credits can be denied.
AHS Endorsement Options
Students and Parents...
End of Course Exams
In order to graduate from high school, students must pass a total of 5 End of Course (EOC) Assessments. Those tests are:
- English 1 (9th grade) - April 5th
- English 2 (10th grade) - April 7th
- Algebra 1 (8th or 9th grade) - week of May 9th-13th
- Biology (9th or 10th grade) - week of May 9th-13th
- US History (10th or 11th grade) - week of May 9th-13th
Once these requirements are complete, students are done with the state testing requirements for graduation. Students will have multiple opportunities to retest before graduation (testing takes place at the end of every Fall and Spring semester and again during the summer).
Grade Point Average and Class Rank
Grade Point Average (GPA) is a calculation used to determine student rankings in the class. Class rank and GPA are also important for college admissions. It is a cumulative reflection of your academic performance.
- Your GPA includes all high school credit bearing courses.
- GPA is calculated by adding grade points for each semester course then dividing by the total number of semester courses.
- GPA and Ranks are calculated each semester (September & January).
- We are on a 6.0 GPA scale. A GPA of 4.25 or higher is required to graduate with Honors;
- Grades are assigned by numerical value using the following grade point scale:
- “Weighted” Courses receive an extra grade point with the highest being 6.0. Weighted courses include:
Pre-AP classes
AP Calculus
Advanced Animal Science
Dual Credit Classes
Spanish 3
Pre-Calculus
Anatomy & Physiology
Medical Microbiology
All other courses are on a 5.0 scale.
Automatic Admission for Top 10%
Maintaining a high class rank can help take some of the pressure off when it is time to apply for college!
Sophomores will take English II Field Test on February 17th!
To our Awesome Antelope Students,
Thank you so much for the super sweet notes I got for Counselor's Week! I sat down and read each one and it absolutely made my day. I feel so blessed to be here at AHS and to get to see your beautiful faces every day. You guys are the absolute best!
Always here for you,
Mrs. Forbes
Jill Forbes
Email: jforbes@abernathyisd.com
Website: https://www.abernathyisd.com/
Location: 505 7th Street, Abernathy, TX, USA
Phone: (806)298-4926