First Things First:
This page is designed to provide parents and students with an opportunity for all Incoming Freshman and Parents to find information as the transition from middle school/junior begins. Underlined words, on this page, are links to various documents, PowerPoints, or websites.
February 21st at 6:30-7:30 in Cafeteria: Incoming Freshman Parent Information Meeting (Class of 2022)PowerPoint for the Meeting is here
Enrollment For Freshman Year When In 8th Grade:
During spring semester, of your child's 8th grade year, the following will take place in the month of January/February (These dates are dependent on availability between middle and high school campuses. To reiterate, this time frame may vary from high school to high school across the district):
1. 8th Grade Transition Day - An event set forth by the district for 8th grade students to visit SHS and see our different programs and school (i.e. athletics, fine arts, extracurricular opportunities, etc.
2. Middle School Course Selection Preview Day - Alpha Counselors from SHS will visit each middle school and other program schools such as Cornerstone, and go over the following pres
● During this presentation 8th graders will be given a packet with information about enrollment and enrollment forms to be completed. Consider this step a preview moment and the beginning of the enrollment process. At this point NOTHING IS FINAL for your student.
3. Middle School Course Selection Day - Alpha Counselors will then come back to the middle school and review the information again with each student. This smaller, lab setting, will allow students to enter their course selections with staff available for one-on-one assistance and guidance.
4. Parent Information Night - Before or after the above 3 steps are completed, this meeting will be scheduled for parents/guardians of Incoming 9th Graders. This also may or may not happen before other Spring Branch ISD High Schools presentation due to scheduling availability. Information about the date, time, and location of this meeting will be communicated from your current middle school counseling staff.
If after all the above steps are completed, you and your child decide that the courses input into Skyward are NOT what you want for Freshman year, you will have the following opportunities to make changes:
1. After the enrollment is done on the student's campus: Skyward Family access will be open for the parent/student to make the desired changes to the courses selected directly in Skyward. This window will only be open for approximately 2 weeks. Speak to your middle school counselor to know when the window is available.
2. Once the Family Access in Skyward window closes: There will be 3 more opportunities to change courses. Again, there will be 3 more opportunities to change courses. A proposed enrollment course list (NOT a schedule) will be mailed to the students home address listed in Skyward. Please take a moment to ensure your information is correct in Skyward. This mailer will come out 3 times after the enrollment window. Changes are to be submitted before the first week of June. Each time the mailer arrives at the students home address, the parent or student may WRITE IN THE CHANGES NEEDED OR REQUESTED DIRECTLY ON THE SHEET AND TURN IT INTO HIS/HER APPROPRIATE COUNSELOR AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. Please read the sheet carefully in case there is a change in submission procedures.
Please note, changes are preferred to be written on the mailed form; changes submitted by email (without the form) are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED as they may not be received or processed in a timely manner. We understand things can be lost. Please make every effort to keep the mailer, make changes directly on the mailer form, and return it per the instructions on the form. If you do not receive a mailer by the first part of April, please contact your middle school counselor. Every effort will be made to help those students displaced by Harvey to ensure the mailer is distributed to the appropriate address. Please pay close attention to any dates listed on the mailer that will come 3 times after the enrollment window. Changes are to be submitted before the first week of June.
3. Once the forms are submitted for a 3rd time: There will be no changes made to a students course list (selections) unless an administrator has approved the change. There are very specific circumstances that would allow changes to a students schedule. This means that in August, the student will receive a schedule and there will be very limited reasons to make any changes until the END of the semester, especially for electives. There are options for students who wish to move from an AP/PAP class to Grade Level and will be communicated to the students during the Principal grade level talks. Additional information on dropping from an AP/PAP class can be found in the Course Catalog. Please note, this process is in place, so that class counts, teacher hiring/staffing can be done in a timely manner.
By August, there will have been 4 opportunities to make changes to the courses selected:
1. In Skyward, at home from a desktop computer 2 weeks after the initial enrollment.
2. Through the 3 mailers to the students home address that lists the courses enrolled and how to make changes to those courses. (Every effort will be made to help those students displaced by Harvey to ensure the mailer is distributed.)
If you need information on the types of courses/electives to take, please go to:
Course Catalog Tab within this website
or
Google/Internet Search the following - Course Catalog Spring Branch ISD (or Program of Studies Spring Branch ISD)
or
on the SHS website homepage and click on the Course Catalog link
What would a typical Freshman's course
selection look like?
(This is an example only and not a required set schedule for any student. This example is provided as an illustration of what a schedule could be for freshman year. )
1. English I (GL or PAP)
2. Algebra I (GL or PAP) or Geometry (GL or PAP) or Some students who take Alg I and Geom in Jr High they can take Algebra II PAP.
3. Biology I (GL or PAP) or (IPC) Integrated Physics and Chemistry (Ask your Jr High Math and Science teachers which science class would be best for Freshman Year).
4. World Geography (GL or PAP) or Human Geography AP
5. Fine Art Elective (if already took in Jr High can take another fine art or find an elective to add)
6. PE Physical Ed/Sport Elective (required to graduate and Dance I can be used as a PE Credit)
7. Study Hall or other Elective or 2nd part of a Sport (meaning sports are double blocked or take up two periods on an 8 period schedule) 8. Foreign Language (if have already met graduation requirement of 2 years, then can be 3rd year of foreign language or other elective)
If you are looking for electives, go to the tab at the top of this page called COURSE CATALOG (CLASSES/ELECTIVES AT SHS).
Endorsements: How much do I worry about this now?
Endorsements are not a scary thing, nor is there some big pressure to have a bunch of endorsements.
First, students will have one endorsement when taking all 4 core classes for 4 years - Multidisciplinary Endorsement.
If you have taken Algebra I (and Geometry for some) in middle/junior high school, you will have an endorsement in STEM: Math. The reason is a total of 5 or more math classes equals an endorsement for STEM areas.
For all the other Endorsements, you need to achieve 4 or 5 (depending on the endorsement type) classes in the same area. Examples: 4 years of a Foreign Language, or 4 years of the same fine art such as Band.
If you want to look at all the endorsements, you can do so from the Endorsement Tab on the home page of the SHS-Spartans.com website (a tab for the homepage is a at the top of this page).
Once the school year starts at SHS, students will meet one-on-one with their respective Alpha Counselor and go over future classes and how they relate to an Endorsement.
Reality Hits In August: You are now a Freshman or You are now a parent of a Freshman.
Students and Parents: Most freshman will have a culture shock surrounding work load near the end of the 1st (or for some the 2nd) 6 weeks of high school. Help your child learn how to use a planner. This will be very important since we are on a BLOCK schedule (4 classes on one day, 4 classes on another. Better known as A Day and B Day). Please do not panic if your student has a bit of a time adjusting during their first semester. Almost all students start their second semester fully in the groove as to how classes work, how the rules at SHS work, and how to handle the course loads and etc.
Parents: Everything will be okay. There is no need to rush for some type of major decision regarding colleges, degrees, or courses to take while in high school. All of that comes over time in stages that are mapped out by grade level. Freshman year is about survival and learning to be a high school student because this is a totally new experience.
If you have questions about anything, please ask your Alpha Counselor. We understand all the worries, questions, and etc. that come with being a first time freshman parent, or being a seasoned freshman parent, and/or with being new to our area.
It is entirely possible that SHS will schedule events and provide information differently than other Spring Branch ISD High Schools. We cater to the needs of SHS and not all high schools are the same. Your student is in the best place and soon you will understand why we call ourselves: Stratford America.
Peer (Parent) Nights: Scheduled in January or February for all Incoming 9th grade parents/guardains. After the start of 9th grade classes in the fall, there will be a Peer (Parent) Meeting Night and one in the Spring Semester.
Concerns About Grades/Teachers: The best, first step for any concerns about your students class performance, specific grades or assignments, work load or any inquiry about your student in the class, is to connect with the classroom teacher first. The teacher knows your student in his/her class best and can address any concerns or questions. In Skyward you can email individual teachers or all teachers at one time. Additionally, you can go to the individual teachers website and find email and contact information. You can also connect with your students Alpha Counselor on issues as well of any type.
Students: The beginning of high school is an exciting time. You will be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. Freshman year is all about survival and learning how to be a high school student. Organization will be your ticket to things going smoothly. The biggest mistake freshman make.....NOT DOING HOMEWORK! This truly is the best way to keep your grades up.....DO YOUR HOMEWORK! You will be surprised at how many grades in homework are for completion and how much those grades help you out in your overall grade. This is not middle school and there are teachers/departments/class levels that DO NOT TAKE LATE WORK. Put Skyward on your phone and check it often. If you start having issues with a class, do not wait until the end to talk to your teacher about your concerns. You can come see your Alpha Counselor anytime if you need assistance with anything. If your teacher gives you information for a Remind 101...do it!
Parents: During this adjustment time and throughout the next 4 years, your child still needs your help and involvement. The best gift you can give your child is learning how to manage high school and beginning to let go and let your child learn from mistakes. This is the hardest part of being a freshman parent, but it will pay off by the time Senior year comes along. Also, please ask your Alpha Counselor questions about graduation. Another good thing to have is Skyward on your phone. You have the option to set alerts, which will come in handy.
High School Acronyms - Information To Help You Speak Our Language
Remind 101 For Parents and Students:
1. Sign up for the grade level Remind 101. Information is given out for this feature during a Peer (parent) meeting night in the fall or when students attend a grade level assembly at the beginning of the school year. The remind is maintained by the grade level principal.
2. Get the Remind information for each of your students classes and sign yourself up for them and make sure your student signs up for the teachers Remind 101's. The student may or may not be given a paper copy of this information, but asked to do it immediately in class. Therefore, it might be a good idea to find the teacher's webpage and see if it is listed. If not, you can email the teacher and ask if he/she can forward information on their classroom Remind 101.
The First Day of Class:
The process is that all students (no matter the grade) will go to an Alpha assigned classroom on the first day of school to receive their schedule. On the first day, they will attend all of their classes; however, it will be informal as teachers will be reviewing their syllabus, class rules, expectations, and will be getting to know their students.
What is Spartan Time?
This is a weekly scheduled time for advisory where students participate in building and district developed lessons pertaining to student wellness, college preparation, and other topics. Attendance is still taken during this once a week class. During your students time at SHS, he/she will attend the same Spartan Time class with the same group of students (and possibly the same teacher) all 4 years.
What is Orientation?
Freshman Orientation is a time for all freshman students to participate in a building tour of SHS with upper class students which includes activities, games, and a time to meet some of the freshman students. While this is not a mandatory event, it is most helpful to students so that they have a sense of the building and know a few faces on the first day of school.
What is Rush?
All incoming freshman, before the first day of classes in August, will be sent information on RUSH. This is an opportunity to get books, list of classes (not a schedule), and a tour of the building by upper class students. If your student is not able to attend RUSH, please know that your student will receive his/her schedule on the first day of class. Rush is typically held the week before school starts for all grade levels during an assigned time. Students get a copy of the courses (not an actual schedule). While this is not a mandatory event, it is most helpful for students to participate if possible. Textbooks not picked up during RUSH may be picked up before/after school or at lunch time.
What is a 4 Year Plan?
Please note, that your child's Alpha Counselor, will at some point during the school year, have a one-on-one conversation with your student about his/her 4 Year Plan. The student does not need to make an appointment for this conversation. The Alpha Counselor will send for the student as his/her scheduling allows. Each student in all grades will be seen by their Alpha Counselor. Every effort is made to have students come in, but if a student is absent often, it will be difficult to have the conversation with the student. This 4 year plan conversation may or may not be before course selection for sophomore year (January/February), or it may also occur before or after a Spring Peer (Parent) Meeting where information will be shared on all things related to graduation, courses/electives, and endorsements.
A 4 year plan can be changed and is not set in stone until on or about mid-junior year. At the time your student has a conversation with the Alpha Counselor, your child has been given an opportunity to read the 4 Year Plan Binder Preview (this may be found on the 4 Year Plan Tab). If after your child meets with his/her Alpha Counselor, you and or the child chooses something different than discussed, it is absolutely okay to choose any course available to your student, at the time of enrollment, even if it differs from what was discussed and put into a 4 year plan in Skyward. Please note, classes required to meet Texas High School graduation requirements are non negotiable.
Any 4 year plan changes will be done the following year during one-on-one 4 year plan meetings that students will participate in with his/her Alpha Counselor. During enrollment in January/February, Skyward may be open for viewing and changes, but this time frame is contingent upon district timelines. If you want to view or change an Endorsement, please check Skyward often on a DESKTOP and look for the endorsements tab. At this time, we are not sure if endorsements can be seen by parents or students. This viewing is not set by SHS, but by the district, therefore, please check Skyward often.
The Basics of Graduation For Now:
High school graduation requirements revolve around 3 state requirements: 1) number of credits earned, 2) state EOC/ testing requirements, and 3) certain course requirements from the State of Texas governed by TEA (Texas Education Association). Every student must have the following passed and completed in order to graduate: 1 Fine Art Credit, 1 PE (Physical Education/Sports) Credit, and 2 Credits (Years) of a Foreign Language. Typically we try to have Freshman enrolled in these classes for freshman year so that they get these requirements out of the way as soon as possible. The fulfillment of the foreign language credits, depending on whether your middle school or junior high had foreign languages for high school credit available, can run over into Sophomore year as an elective.
In order to obtain credits, students must pass classes with at least 70% and be in attendance 90% of the time for that semester. This means students can lose credit even if they passed with at least a 70, if the have missed more than 10% of the class (been absent). Every effort is made to work with any student who may have lost credit due to absences.
Furthermore, promotion to each grade level in high school is solely dependent on credits earned. For example, in order to become a 10th grader a student must have earned at least 5.0 credits by successfully passed/attended their courses by the end of the 9th grade year. Those credits are on the Course Selections and Course Requirements Tabs within this website.
Coming From Outside SBISD (Private, Charter, Public In or Out of State):
Students coming from outside SBISD Schools will have the same opportunities for enrollment of electives as students who attended SBISD Schools in middle school/junior high. The window of time to enroll your student before the upcoming school year is set by the district. Please check the SBISD Main Website regularly for all dates and times for enrollment. Again, students coming from outside SBISD Schools, will have the same opportunities for enrollment of electives as students who attended SBISD School in middle/junior high that did their enrollment in the spring. This website provides exact presentations shown to SBISD students and parents, therefore it is encouraged that you take the time to view these presentations above and look at the links to the documents above, this way you have the same information.
You will need to have an official transcript showing any high school credit courses taken in junior high/middle school. These will be credits with a 70% or higher.
An example (not limited to or excluding any other subject): Incoming freshman - Taking Algebra I in junior high/middle school. Show passing grade of 70% or higher. Student will be placed in the next math class, Geometry.
When submitting a transcript with high school credit from junior high/middle outside of SBISD from entities such as private schools, a review of the transcript will be conducted, by the registrar only, to ensure the credit meets the State of Texas requirements.
If a student attends any State of Texas public or charter school, credits typically transfer with 70% or higher. Again, a transcript review will be conducted.
Home school students may be subject to placement testing for appropriate scheduling and sequencing of classes.
Any and all questions about coming into SHS from outside SBISD including private, home school, or other, please contact the registrar.
Please refer to the SBISD and SHS website for information needed to enroll a student. If your student is coming from another SBISD school NOT zoned to SHS, you will need to go to the currently enrolled middle school and request withdrawal paperwork. This would also be true if you are coming from another district and are moving into the SHS zone. Any further enrollment for students outside of SBISD (private, homeschool, or other) will be done at designated times.
Summer Before High School:
(from Mrs. Franklin, the Post-Secondary Counselor)
This page is designed to provide parents and students with an opportunity for all Incoming Freshman and Parents to find information as the transition from middle school/junior begins. Underlined words, on this page, are links to various documents, PowerPoints, or websites.
February 21st at 6:30-7:30 in Cafeteria: Incoming Freshman Parent Information Meeting (Class of 2022)PowerPoint for the Meeting is here
Enrollment For Freshman Year When In 8th Grade:
During spring semester, of your child's 8th grade year, the following will take place in the month of January/February (These dates are dependent on availability between middle and high school campuses. To reiterate, this time frame may vary from high school to high school across the district):
1. 8th Grade Transition Day - An event set forth by the district for 8th grade students to visit SHS and see our different programs and school (i.e. athletics, fine arts, extracurricular opportunities, etc.
2. Middle School Course Selection Preview Day - Alpha Counselors from SHS will visit each middle school and other program schools such as Cornerstone, and go over the following pres
● During this presentation 8th graders will be given a packet with information about enrollment and enrollment forms to be completed. Consider this step a preview moment and the beginning of the enrollment process. At this point NOTHING IS FINAL for your student.
3. Middle School Course Selection Day - Alpha Counselors will then come back to the middle school and review the information again with each student. This smaller, lab setting, will allow students to enter their course selections with staff available for one-on-one assistance and guidance.
4. Parent Information Night - Before or after the above 3 steps are completed, this meeting will be scheduled for parents/guardians of Incoming 9th Graders. This also may or may not happen before other Spring Branch ISD High Schools presentation due to scheduling availability. Information about the date, time, and location of this meeting will be communicated from your current middle school counseling staff.
If after all the above steps are completed, you and your child decide that the courses input into Skyward are NOT what you want for Freshman year, you will have the following opportunities to make changes:
1. After the enrollment is done on the student's campus: Skyward Family access will be open for the parent/student to make the desired changes to the courses selected directly in Skyward. This window will only be open for approximately 2 weeks. Speak to your middle school counselor to know when the window is available.
2. Once the Family Access in Skyward window closes: There will be 3 more opportunities to change courses. Again, there will be 3 more opportunities to change courses. A proposed enrollment course list (NOT a schedule) will be mailed to the students home address listed in Skyward. Please take a moment to ensure your information is correct in Skyward. This mailer will come out 3 times after the enrollment window. Changes are to be submitted before the first week of June. Each time the mailer arrives at the students home address, the parent or student may WRITE IN THE CHANGES NEEDED OR REQUESTED DIRECTLY ON THE SHEET AND TURN IT INTO HIS/HER APPROPRIATE COUNSELOR AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. Please read the sheet carefully in case there is a change in submission procedures.
Please note, changes are preferred to be written on the mailed form; changes submitted by email (without the form) are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED as they may not be received or processed in a timely manner. We understand things can be lost. Please make every effort to keep the mailer, make changes directly on the mailer form, and return it per the instructions on the form. If you do not receive a mailer by the first part of April, please contact your middle school counselor. Every effort will be made to help those students displaced by Harvey to ensure the mailer is distributed to the appropriate address. Please pay close attention to any dates listed on the mailer that will come 3 times after the enrollment window. Changes are to be submitted before the first week of June.
3. Once the forms are submitted for a 3rd time: There will be no changes made to a students course list (selections) unless an administrator has approved the change. There are very specific circumstances that would allow changes to a students schedule. This means that in August, the student will receive a schedule and there will be very limited reasons to make any changes until the END of the semester, especially for electives. There are options for students who wish to move from an AP/PAP class to Grade Level and will be communicated to the students during the Principal grade level talks. Additional information on dropping from an AP/PAP class can be found in the Course Catalog. Please note, this process is in place, so that class counts, teacher hiring/staffing can be done in a timely manner.
By August, there will have been 4 opportunities to make changes to the courses selected:
1. In Skyward, at home from a desktop computer 2 weeks after the initial enrollment.
2. Through the 3 mailers to the students home address that lists the courses enrolled and how to make changes to those courses. (Every effort will be made to help those students displaced by Harvey to ensure the mailer is distributed.)
If you need information on the types of courses/electives to take, please go to:
Course Catalog Tab within this website
or
Google/Internet Search the following - Course Catalog Spring Branch ISD (or Program of Studies Spring Branch ISD)
or
on the SHS website homepage and click on the Course Catalog link
What would a typical Freshman's course
selection look like?
(This is an example only and not a required set schedule for any student. This example is provided as an illustration of what a schedule could be for freshman year. )
1. English I (GL or PAP)
2. Algebra I (GL or PAP) or Geometry (GL or PAP) or Some students who take Alg I and Geom in Jr High they can take Algebra II PAP.
3. Biology I (GL or PAP) or (IPC) Integrated Physics and Chemistry (Ask your Jr High Math and Science teachers which science class would be best for Freshman Year).
4. World Geography (GL or PAP) or Human Geography AP
5. Fine Art Elective (if already took in Jr High can take another fine art or find an elective to add)
6. PE Physical Ed/Sport Elective (required to graduate and Dance I can be used as a PE Credit)
7. Study Hall or other Elective or 2nd part of a Sport (meaning sports are double blocked or take up two periods on an 8 period schedule) 8. Foreign Language (if have already met graduation requirement of 2 years, then can be 3rd year of foreign language or other elective)
If you are looking for electives, go to the tab at the top of this page called COURSE CATALOG (CLASSES/ELECTIVES AT SHS).
Endorsements: How much do I worry about this now?
Endorsements are not a scary thing, nor is there some big pressure to have a bunch of endorsements.
First, students will have one endorsement when taking all 4 core classes for 4 years - Multidisciplinary Endorsement.
If you have taken Algebra I (and Geometry for some) in middle/junior high school, you will have an endorsement in STEM: Math. The reason is a total of 5 or more math classes equals an endorsement for STEM areas.
For all the other Endorsements, you need to achieve 4 or 5 (depending on the endorsement type) classes in the same area. Examples: 4 years of a Foreign Language, or 4 years of the same fine art such as Band.
If you want to look at all the endorsements, you can do so from the Endorsement Tab on the home page of the SHS-Spartans.com website (a tab for the homepage is a at the top of this page).
Once the school year starts at SHS, students will meet one-on-one with their respective Alpha Counselor and go over future classes and how they relate to an Endorsement.
Reality Hits In August: You are now a Freshman or You are now a parent of a Freshman.
Students and Parents: Most freshman will have a culture shock surrounding work load near the end of the 1st (or for some the 2nd) 6 weeks of high school. Help your child learn how to use a planner. This will be very important since we are on a BLOCK schedule (4 classes on one day, 4 classes on another. Better known as A Day and B Day). Please do not panic if your student has a bit of a time adjusting during their first semester. Almost all students start their second semester fully in the groove as to how classes work, how the rules at SHS work, and how to handle the course loads and etc.
Parents: Everything will be okay. There is no need to rush for some type of major decision regarding colleges, degrees, or courses to take while in high school. All of that comes over time in stages that are mapped out by grade level. Freshman year is about survival and learning to be a high school student because this is a totally new experience.
If you have questions about anything, please ask your Alpha Counselor. We understand all the worries, questions, and etc. that come with being a first time freshman parent, or being a seasoned freshman parent, and/or with being new to our area.
It is entirely possible that SHS will schedule events and provide information differently than other Spring Branch ISD High Schools. We cater to the needs of SHS and not all high schools are the same. Your student is in the best place and soon you will understand why we call ourselves: Stratford America.
Peer (Parent) Nights: Scheduled in January or February for all Incoming 9th grade parents/guardains. After the start of 9th grade classes in the fall, there will be a Peer (Parent) Meeting Night and one in the Spring Semester.
Concerns About Grades/Teachers: The best, first step for any concerns about your students class performance, specific grades or assignments, work load or any inquiry about your student in the class, is to connect with the classroom teacher first. The teacher knows your student in his/her class best and can address any concerns or questions. In Skyward you can email individual teachers or all teachers at one time. Additionally, you can go to the individual teachers website and find email and contact information. You can also connect with your students Alpha Counselor on issues as well of any type.
Students: The beginning of high school is an exciting time. You will be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. Freshman year is all about survival and learning how to be a high school student. Organization will be your ticket to things going smoothly. The biggest mistake freshman make.....NOT DOING HOMEWORK! This truly is the best way to keep your grades up.....DO YOUR HOMEWORK! You will be surprised at how many grades in homework are for completion and how much those grades help you out in your overall grade. This is not middle school and there are teachers/departments/class levels that DO NOT TAKE LATE WORK. Put Skyward on your phone and check it often. If you start having issues with a class, do not wait until the end to talk to your teacher about your concerns. You can come see your Alpha Counselor anytime if you need assistance with anything. If your teacher gives you information for a Remind 101...do it!
Parents: During this adjustment time and throughout the next 4 years, your child still needs your help and involvement. The best gift you can give your child is learning how to manage high school and beginning to let go and let your child learn from mistakes. This is the hardest part of being a freshman parent, but it will pay off by the time Senior year comes along. Also, please ask your Alpha Counselor questions about graduation. Another good thing to have is Skyward on your phone. You have the option to set alerts, which will come in handy.
High School Acronyms - Information To Help You Speak Our Language
Remind 101 For Parents and Students:
1. Sign up for the grade level Remind 101. Information is given out for this feature during a Peer (parent) meeting night in the fall or when students attend a grade level assembly at the beginning of the school year. The remind is maintained by the grade level principal.
2. Get the Remind information for each of your students classes and sign yourself up for them and make sure your student signs up for the teachers Remind 101's. The student may or may not be given a paper copy of this information, but asked to do it immediately in class. Therefore, it might be a good idea to find the teacher's webpage and see if it is listed. If not, you can email the teacher and ask if he/she can forward information on their classroom Remind 101.
The First Day of Class:
The process is that all students (no matter the grade) will go to an Alpha assigned classroom on the first day of school to receive their schedule. On the first day, they will attend all of their classes; however, it will be informal as teachers will be reviewing their syllabus, class rules, expectations, and will be getting to know their students.
What is Spartan Time?
This is a weekly scheduled time for advisory where students participate in building and district developed lessons pertaining to student wellness, college preparation, and other topics. Attendance is still taken during this once a week class. During your students time at SHS, he/she will attend the same Spartan Time class with the same group of students (and possibly the same teacher) all 4 years.
What is Orientation?
Freshman Orientation is a time for all freshman students to participate in a building tour of SHS with upper class students which includes activities, games, and a time to meet some of the freshman students. While this is not a mandatory event, it is most helpful to students so that they have a sense of the building and know a few faces on the first day of school.
What is Rush?
All incoming freshman, before the first day of classes in August, will be sent information on RUSH. This is an opportunity to get books, list of classes (not a schedule), and a tour of the building by upper class students. If your student is not able to attend RUSH, please know that your student will receive his/her schedule on the first day of class. Rush is typically held the week before school starts for all grade levels during an assigned time. Students get a copy of the courses (not an actual schedule). While this is not a mandatory event, it is most helpful for students to participate if possible. Textbooks not picked up during RUSH may be picked up before/after school or at lunch time.
What is a 4 Year Plan?
Please note, that your child's Alpha Counselor, will at some point during the school year, have a one-on-one conversation with your student about his/her 4 Year Plan. The student does not need to make an appointment for this conversation. The Alpha Counselor will send for the student as his/her scheduling allows. Each student in all grades will be seen by their Alpha Counselor. Every effort is made to have students come in, but if a student is absent often, it will be difficult to have the conversation with the student. This 4 year plan conversation may or may not be before course selection for sophomore year (January/February), or it may also occur before or after a Spring Peer (Parent) Meeting where information will be shared on all things related to graduation, courses/electives, and endorsements.
A 4 year plan can be changed and is not set in stone until on or about mid-junior year. At the time your student has a conversation with the Alpha Counselor, your child has been given an opportunity to read the 4 Year Plan Binder Preview (this may be found on the 4 Year Plan Tab). If after your child meets with his/her Alpha Counselor, you and or the child chooses something different than discussed, it is absolutely okay to choose any course available to your student, at the time of enrollment, even if it differs from what was discussed and put into a 4 year plan in Skyward. Please note, classes required to meet Texas High School graduation requirements are non negotiable.
Any 4 year plan changes will be done the following year during one-on-one 4 year plan meetings that students will participate in with his/her Alpha Counselor. During enrollment in January/February, Skyward may be open for viewing and changes, but this time frame is contingent upon district timelines. If you want to view or change an Endorsement, please check Skyward often on a DESKTOP and look for the endorsements tab. At this time, we are not sure if endorsements can be seen by parents or students. This viewing is not set by SHS, but by the district, therefore, please check Skyward often.
The Basics of Graduation For Now:
High school graduation requirements revolve around 3 state requirements: 1) number of credits earned, 2) state EOC/ testing requirements, and 3) certain course requirements from the State of Texas governed by TEA (Texas Education Association). Every student must have the following passed and completed in order to graduate: 1 Fine Art Credit, 1 PE (Physical Education/Sports) Credit, and 2 Credits (Years) of a Foreign Language. Typically we try to have Freshman enrolled in these classes for freshman year so that they get these requirements out of the way as soon as possible. The fulfillment of the foreign language credits, depending on whether your middle school or junior high had foreign languages for high school credit available, can run over into Sophomore year as an elective.
In order to obtain credits, students must pass classes with at least 70% and be in attendance 90% of the time for that semester. This means students can lose credit even if they passed with at least a 70, if the have missed more than 10% of the class (been absent). Every effort is made to work with any student who may have lost credit due to absences.
Furthermore, promotion to each grade level in high school is solely dependent on credits earned. For example, in order to become a 10th grader a student must have earned at least 5.0 credits by successfully passed/attended their courses by the end of the 9th grade year. Those credits are on the Course Selections and Course Requirements Tabs within this website.
Coming From Outside SBISD (Private, Charter, Public In or Out of State):
Students coming from outside SBISD Schools will have the same opportunities for enrollment of electives as students who attended SBISD Schools in middle school/junior high. The window of time to enroll your student before the upcoming school year is set by the district. Please check the SBISD Main Website regularly for all dates and times for enrollment. Again, students coming from outside SBISD Schools, will have the same opportunities for enrollment of electives as students who attended SBISD School in middle/junior high that did their enrollment in the spring. This website provides exact presentations shown to SBISD students and parents, therefore it is encouraged that you take the time to view these presentations above and look at the links to the documents above, this way you have the same information.
You will need to have an official transcript showing any high school credit courses taken in junior high/middle school. These will be credits with a 70% or higher.
An example (not limited to or excluding any other subject): Incoming freshman - Taking Algebra I in junior high/middle school. Show passing grade of 70% or higher. Student will be placed in the next math class, Geometry.
When submitting a transcript with high school credit from junior high/middle outside of SBISD from entities such as private schools, a review of the transcript will be conducted, by the registrar only, to ensure the credit meets the State of Texas requirements.
If a student attends any State of Texas public or charter school, credits typically transfer with 70% or higher. Again, a transcript review will be conducted.
Home school students may be subject to placement testing for appropriate scheduling and sequencing of classes.
Any and all questions about coming into SHS from outside SBISD including private, home school, or other, please contact the registrar.
Please refer to the SBISD and SHS website for information needed to enroll a student. If your student is coming from another SBISD school NOT zoned to SHS, you will need to go to the currently enrolled middle school and request withdrawal paperwork. This would also be true if you are coming from another district and are moving into the SHS zone. Any further enrollment for students outside of SBISD (private, homeschool, or other) will be done at designated times.
Summer Before High School:
(from Mrs. Franklin, the Post-Secondary Counselor)
- Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your child excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
- Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised at how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
- Show your child how to explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations. Learn more about how your child can complete a career worksheet.
- Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.
- Fall:
- Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to choose the most-appropriate classes. Learn more about the high school counselor's role.
- Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
- Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Get homework tips for your child.
- Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.
- Winter:
- Start thinking about financial aid. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs. Start by reading 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid.
- Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for.
- Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
- See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
- Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.
- Check out the SHS Post-Secondary Counselor, Weebly: http://spartancollegecounseling.weebly.com