Welcome to Madison High School

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Welcome to Madison High School

• January 22, 2009
• Home of the Dodgers

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Overview of Tonights Program

• This Program is Designed To
• Provide Information
• Answer Questions Alleviate Concerns
• Smooth Transition
• Format/Order of Speakers
• Principal
• MHS Educational Foundation
• Student Speaker
• Director of Guidance
• Department Heads
• Athletic Director
• Assistant Principal

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Information about MHS

• Projected Enrollment 790 students (185 in grade
  9)
• 98 faculty and staff members
• Length of school day 745 a.m. - 240 p.m.
• Standard 8 period bell schedule (45 min periods)
• Average class size 21 students
• Full year and semester courses offered
• Report cards and progress reports (mailed home
  each MP)
• Lunches (28 minutes)

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Strategic Planning Initiatives

• 80 of classrooms equipped w/ interactive
  Smartboards
• Teacher laptop computers
• Incorporating new technologies into the
  curriculum
• Online learning
• Tracking the success of our students School
  Climate Inventory and Life Track Survey
• Strategies for better guiding and supporting
  students

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Guiding Supporting Freshman Additional Steps

• Redesigned freshman orientation program
• Designated team of 9th grade teachers
• Consultant from Innovative Designs in Education
  (IDE) working with 9th grade team to develop
  helpful transition strategies
• Freshman only study halls
• Procedures for identifying struggling or at-risk
  students

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Recognitions Honors

• U.S. News and World Report names MHS as one of
  Americas Best High Schools
• N.J. Chamber of Commerce Benchmark School (4th
  year in a row)
• N.J. Physics Olympics Champions in 2007 2008
• MHS students recently honored as Intel Finalist,
  Presidential Scholars, Byrd Fellowship, and
  Davidson Laureates
• Growth in Advanced Placement Program
• Members of the class of 2009 accepted early
  decision/action to many competitive colleges
  Columbia, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Princeton
• 1 National Merit Semifinalist 10 National Merit
  Commended students in the class of 2009

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Student Life

• Presented by
• Aidan Fennelly
• Senior

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Course Levels, Recommendations and Study Skills

• 3 levels in most subject areas
• Levels differ by degree of challenge, reading
  skills, writing skills, thinking skills and
  amount of homework

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Scheduling Timetable

• Feb Counselors go over academic course
  recommendations with 8th grade students and their
  parents. Electives are chosen and courses are
  entered into the computer
• March-May 8th Grade teachers (may) adjust
  recommendations and inform the high school. 8th
  Grade teachers contact 8th grade parents if
  course recommendations change
• June 1-15th High School departmental supervisors
  available to discuss course override and reverse
  override requests
• June 16th Students receive their schedule
• Summer Selected days to come in and make
  schedule changes

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Graduation Requirements
All students must also pass the HSPA in Language
Arts, Math, and (maybe) Science

• )

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Typical 9th Grade Schedule

• 1. English
• 2. Social Studies
• 3. Math
• 4. World Language
• 5. Science
• 6. Physical Education
• 7. Elective
• 8. 2nd Elective or 9th Grade Study Hall
• Lunch

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SAVE THE DATE

• Moving up day June 16
• 9th Grade Orientation Sept 4 (Tentative)

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English
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Suggestions for Success in English

• Experience various forms of genre fiction,
  non-fiction, drama, and poetry
• Read pleasure books along with required reading
• Make notations on graphic organizers and post-it
  notes while reading
• Write regularly in journals using a variety of
  stems
• Practice poetic writing that is modeled from
  professional writers
• View plays
• Listen to books on tape when you cant read a
  book its fun to be read to
• Read newspapers/editorials for the economy of
  writing
• Engage in dinner table discussion of policy
  matters, news, books, etc.
• Use questioning to develop opinion-making and
  critical thinking skills

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English Placement Requirements

• Teacher Recommendation is based upon
• Class performance/grade
• Students reading proficiency
• Writing skills
• ADDITIONALLY

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English Placement Requirements

• Student Writing Portfolio should be complete and
  accompany student to high school English class
• Completion of Summer Reading Assignment

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English 9

• Offers comprehensive reinforcement in reading and
  writing skills
• Allows for adjustments in pacing and sequencing
  of goals and objectives
• Provides students with opportunity to work on
  areas of greatest need

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Enriched English 9

• Teacher recommendation
• Very good reading proficiency
• Very good writing skills as reflected in
  students writing portfolio
• Independent learner
• Very good study skills

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Honors English 9

• B or better in Honors English 8
• A in Regular English 8
• Teacher recommendation
• Excellent reading proficiency
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent study skills

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Summer Reading Assignments

• Replacement English, English 9 Enriched 9
  Classes
• Required to read one or two books, complete an
  organizer and write a journal
• Honors Classes
• Required to read two books, complete two
  organizers and write two journals

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Social Studies
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Suggestions for Success Developing Historical
and Current Events Literacy

• Experience More History
• Read More History
• Watch More History
• Explore Current Events

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Level Placement for World History

• Honors World History B Average or higher in 8th
  grade Honors LA, or an A-average in the regular
  LA class combined with an A- average or higher in
  8th grade Social Studies
• Enriched World History For students who do not
  fall in to either of the other level categories
• World History For students in 8th grade Social
  Studies who have an average of C or lower

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Enhancing Civic Participation

• Service Learning Program
• Mandatory Minimum Service Requirement of 7 Hours
• Requirement Can Be Fully Satisfied During "Day of
  Service" in May
• Menu of Incentives to Encourage Service Beyond
  Mandatory Requirement

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Mathematics
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Suggestions for Success in High School Math

• Give math a chance
• Do all of the homework
• Use tutorials early and often
• Actively participate
• Show all work

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MathematicsCourse Options

• Current Pre-Algebra students will be recommended
  for
• Algebra 1 (B- or better)
• Algebra Skills A (C or lower)

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MathematicsCourse Options

• Current Algebra 1 students will be recommended
  for
• Honors Geometry (A- or better)
• As with all Honors courses, the completion of the
  summer assignment is also a prerequisite
• Geometry (C- or better)
• Algebra 1 (D or lower)

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MathematicsCalculator Usage Guidelines

• Honors Geometry
• Geometry
• Algebra Skills A
• Basic scientific calculator used for some
• but not all topics

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MathematicsCalculator Usage Guidelines

• Algebra I
• Calculators not permitted for most topics.

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Science
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Freshman Course Offerings

• Honors Biology
• 6 credit challenging, fast paced lab science
• Teacher recommendation required
• A average in 8th grade science
• Completion of summer assignment

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Freshman Course Offerings

• Honors Physics 9
• 6 credit lab science
• A new approach
• Mathematical approach to the study of science
• Teacher Recommendation Required
• Prior success in Algebra 1
• Completion of summer assignment

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Freshman Course Offerings

• Biology
• 6 credit lab science
• Teacher recommendation required
• C or better average in 8th grade science

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Freshman Course Offerings

• Contemporary Biology
• 5 credit science
• Emphasis on core standards and study skills

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World Languages
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World Languages

• NJ HS grad requirement 5 cr
• College requirement 0-15 cr
• Once a course has been completed, the student
  must continue to progress in the study of that
  language to earn additional credits.

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GERMAN 3

• German 3 is the only option for freshmen studying
  German. Student must continue with German 3 or
  begin the study of another language.

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FRENCH ITALIAN SPANISHCHINESE
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Level 1 is recommended for a student who

• Scores below 65 on diagnostic test
• Has not mastered present tense
• Needs additional time to master concepts

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Level 2 is recommended for a student who

• Scores between 65-80 on diagnostic test
• Has maintained a B or better in 8th grade world
  languages
• Has mastered regular and some irregular present
  tense

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Level 3 is recommended for a student who

• Scores above 80 on the diagnostic test
• Maintains anA average in 8th grade world
  languages
• Has mastered all present tense and some past
  tense
• Is highly motivated, good study skills

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Conversational Spanish

• Has exhibited great difficulty with language
  acquisition. Is recommended by the teacher for
  placement into this class

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Chinese l

• New course offering open to all students,
  freshmen through seniors

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Special Services
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Special Services

• In-Class Support Programs in English, Spanish,
  History, Geometry, Biology,
• and Physics
• Resource Centers
• Replacement Instruction

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• Study Skills Umbrella
• Freshmen Year
• Learning Strategies
• Sophomore Year
• Advanced Learning Strategies
• Or
• Language Arts Literacy Lab
• Junior Year
• Language Arts Literacy Lab
• Or
• Advanced Learning Strategies
• Study Skills (2.5)
• Senior Year
• Study Skills (2.5)

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Elective Offeringsfor 9th grade students.
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Freshman Visual Arts Offerings

• Studio Art
• 3D Design, Advanced 3D Design
• Fine Art Digital Imaging, Alternative Imaging
  Techniques

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Freshman Music Courses

• Concert Band
• Orchestra
• Musical Theater
• Music Theory
• Chorus
• Guitar Ensemble

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Additional Arts Electives

• Introduction to Theater
• Advanced Theater
• Introduction to Dance
• Public Speaking
• Film Appreciation

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Performing Arts Opportunities

• Football Pep Band
• Last wk of Aug - Thanksgiving
• Jazz Band
• November - June
• Jazz Chorus
• September June
• Fall Drama
• September - November
• Spring Musical
• January - Mid March

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Technology/Business Education
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Technology Course Offerings

• Computer Applications (formerly keyboarding)
• Digital Advertising (formerly desktop publishing)
• Computer Design Repair
• Web Design
• Visual Basic
• Multimedia Presentation I
• Multimedia Presentation II Digital Animation
• Computer-Aided Design I II
• Architecture

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Technology Courses (continued)

• Video Production I
• Video Production II
• TV Production
• Wood Working
• Home Technology

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Business Offerings

• Introduction to Business

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• Physical Education, Health Athletics

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Activities (30 Weeks)

• Flag Football/Weight Room
• Soccer/Flag Football
• International Games
• Adventure Education
• Tennis/Badminton/Outdoor Volleyball
• Physical Education games and activities

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Freshman Health (10 Weeks)

• Fourth Marking Period
• American Red Cross CPR/First Aid

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Sports Program

• FALL
• Varsity, JV, Frosh Football, Field Hockey
  Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball
• Varsity JV Girls Soccer , Girls Tennis
• Varsity, Cross Country (co-ed)
• WINTER
• Varsity, JV, Frosh Boys Basketball Girls
  Basketball
• Varsity JV Wrestling
• Varsity Ice Hockey, Bowling, Girls Swimming,
  Winter Track Boys Girls
• SPRING
• Varsity, JV, Frosh Baseball, Softball
• Varsity JV Boys Girls Track, Boys Girls
  Lacrosse, Boys Tennis
• Varsity Golf (co-ed)

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Extra Curricular Activities

• Clubs
• Honor Societies
• Athletic Teams

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Clubs

• Computer Club
• Science League
• Computer Science League
• Arts Club
• German Club
• Italian Club
• Animal Rights club
• Yearbook
• Dodger Newspaper
• Habitat for Humanity
• Glyphs Literary Magazine

• American Field Service
• Class Council
• Red Cross Club
• Chess Club
• School Community Alliance
• Fire Squad
• Student Council
• Project Aware
• Project ROAR
• Heroes and cool kids
• PDP
• Teens for the Environment and Animals
• Interact
• Key Club

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Honor Societies

• National Honor Society
• French Honor Society
• German Honor Society
• Italian Honor Society
• Spanish Honor Society

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School Climate

• Safe, positive learning environment
• Revision of Code of Conduct Honor Code
• Atmosphere based on mutual respect and trust
• Zero Tolerance for behavior that is contrary to
  our goals

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Providing a Smooth Transition

• Dont worry too much - Kids adjust amazingly well
• Help them get involved and connected right away
• Prepare them for increased responsibility
• Time management is the key to success
• Help them with decisions
• Emphasize the importance of strong study skills
• Remember that their Success/Failures Growth

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• Thank You!