This document summarizes a junior parent meeting at Etowah High School on August 14, 2012. It provides information about graduation requirements, standardized testing, college planning, and career research that juniors and their parents need to be aware of. Contact information for counselors is listed. Important upcoming test dates and deadlines are highlighted. Requirements for the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships in Georgia are outlined. Post-high school options like college, technical schools, apprenticeships, military service, and the workforce are also briefly discussed.

1. Junior Parent Meeting
Class of 2014
August 14, 2012
Etowah High School

2. WELCOME
Mr. Bob Van Alstyne
Assistant Principal

3. Etowah High School
Administration
Principal
Mr. Keith L. Ball
Assistant Principals
Mr. Bob Van Alstyne (A-D)
Mrs. Tonya Sebring (E-K)
Mrs. Penny Valle (L-Q)
Mr. Dan Snipes (R-Z)

4. Etowah High School
Counseling Department
Mrs. Jessica Whitley (A-D) 11th Grade Activities
Mrs. Ashley Hall (E-K) 12th Grade Activities
Mrs. Lisa Shull (L-Q) 9th Grade Activities
Ms. Kelly Brangan (R-Z) 10th Grade Activities
Counseling Office Secretaries
Mrs. Otter Peabody
Mrs. Cindy Umberger
Registrar
Mrs. Dana Dotson

5. B.A.L.D. Eagle Program
Mrs. Penny Valle
Assistant Principal

6. Etowah High School PTSA
Ms. Viviana Morrison
PTSA President

7. From the Counseling Office
Mrs. Jessica Whitley
Lead 11th Grade Counselor

8. Attendance Policy
• Excused Absences (parent/guardian, doctor, etc.) must
be handled in the attendance office within 5 days of
returning to school.
• 7 or more absences (excused/unexcused/OSS) per
semester per class will result in NOT receiving credit for
the course.
• Appeals are automatically generated for students with
passing grades.
NOTE: The State of Georgia will revoke the driver’s license of
any student with 10 or more unexcused absences.

9. Housekeeping
• Make sure student transcript is up to date
from summer school and online credits.
• Verify student’s social security number to
ensure timely HOPE processing.
• Verify Contact Information such as mailing
address, phone numbers and email
address.

10. Family Portal
• Don’t forget that you have access to your
student’s grades, attendance and schedule.
• Problems/Troubleshooting:
– Email: parent.support@cherokee.k12.ga.us
– Please include:
• Your name
• Student’s name
• School student is attending

11. Class of 2014
Promotion to 12th Grade
In order to be placed in a Senior Homeroom
next year you must have earned the following
credits prior to the beginning of senior year.
17 Total Units of credit that must include:
3 units of English
3 units of Math
2 units of Science
1 unit of Social Studies

12. Class of 2014
Graduation Requirements
Core Course Requirements Elective Course Requirements
• 4 Units of English • 1 Unit of Health (.5) &
– Must include 9th Lit & Am. Lit Personal Fitness (.5)
• 4 Units of Math • 3 Units of Required Electives
– Must include Math I & Math II – Any combination of
• 4 Units of Science Foreign Language, Fine
– Must include Biology & Art or Career/Technical
Physical Science OR Physics courses
• 3 Units of Social Studies • 4 Units of Misc. Electives
– World History, U.S. History &
Gov’t & Econ
• 23 Total Units Required

13. Class of 2014
Graduation Testing Requirements
• Georgia High School Graduation Writing Test
– No exceptions, all students must take and pass
• English/LA GHSGT OR 9th Lit EOCT OR Am. Lit EOCT
• Math GHSGT OR Math I/Algebra EOCT OR Math
2/Geometry EOCT
• Science GHSGT OR Biology EOCT OR Physical Science
EOCT
• Social Studies GHSGT OR U.S. History EOCT OR
Economics EOCT

14. Credit Recovery Options
Credit Connect Summer School
•APEX computer based program •Recover 1 credit max
•Rolling enrollment •3-4 Weeks in June
•2:45 – 4:45 M-Th @ EHS •8:00 – 4:00 M-F
•$200.00 per ½ credit (subject to •$200.00 per ½ credit (subject to
change) change)
Polaris Evening Program (PEP) Online Options (BYU, GAVS, etc.)
•Recover .5 credit per quarter •See Counselor for options
•2 hour classes @ Woodstock HS •Must get advanced approval
•4:00, 6:00 and 8:00 start times •Cost can vary
•$200.00 per ½ credit (subject to
change) Retake class during school day
•PEP can be utilized while enrolled at •No cost involved
EHS •May delay graduation

15. Class of 2014
Critical Decisions to Make
1. Classes and Grades
2. Standardized Tests
3. College Planning
4. Career Research

16. Classes & Grades
• If applying early action, the junior year is the
last full year of grades that admissions officers
will review when making an acceptance
decision.
• Stick to a rigorous schedule of courses,
including some advanced-placement (AP) or
other honors level classes.

17. Standardized Tests
• PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test); measures critical
reading, math problem-solving and writing skills.
– Wednesday, October 17, 2012
– Test is paid for by Etowah High School
– Good indicator and excellent preparation for the SAT
that you will need to take in the spring of junior year.
– PSAT score may qualify student for a select group of
merit scholarships
– One of the first opportunities student has to begin
requesting college information.

18. Which test is best for me?
SAT/ACT Comparisons
• Both are nationally administered and are used to
help colleges evaluate applicants.
• The SAT is essentially a three-part aptitude test
(Reading, Math, Writing)
• ACT is more of an achievement test with four core
sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) and an
optional Writing section.
• Most colleges will accept either test. Refer to the
ACT/SAT Comparison handout for more detailed
information.

19. SAT/ACT
• SAT Test Dates • ACT Test Dates
– October 6, 2012 (EHS) – September 8, 2012 (EHS)
– November 3, 2012 (EHS) – October 27, 2012 (EHS)
– December 1, 2012 (EHS) – December 8, 2012
– January 26, 2013 – February 9, 2013 (EHS)
– March 9, 2013 (EHS) – April 13, 2013 (EHS)
– May 4, 2013 – June 8, 2013 (EHS)
– June 1, 2013

20. Important Test Dates
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
• Georgia High School Graduation Writing Test (GHSWT)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
• Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
December 10-14, 2012
• End of Course Tests (EOCT)
March 18-22, 2013
• Georgia High School Graduation Tests (TBD)
May 6-17, 2013
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
• End of Course Tests (EOCT)

21. College Planning
Junior year is THE time to get organized!
• Visit www.gacollege411.org
• This website provides direct links to in-state and out-of-
state colleges (along with a host of essential information
for making decisions about your path after high school).
• Get familiar with admission deadlines and
entrance requirements for the schools of choice.
• Start narrowing your list!

22. HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
HOPE Scholarship requirements:
• 3.0 academic GPA from an eligible high school.
• Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in college to keep HOPE.
• HOPE amount is capped at approximately 90% of the current tuition rate
Zell Miller Scholarship requirements:
• 3.7 academic GPA from an eligible high school.
• Combined 1200 on the critical reading and math sections of the SAT or
• 26 ACT Composite score
• The valedictorian and salutatorian from each eligible high school may
receive the Zell Miller Scholarship without consideration of the GPA or
SAT/ACT requirements.
Etowah High School does NOT calculate HOPE GPA! You must log-in to
your gacollege411 account to access your official HOPE GPA

23. Career Research
• Your career choice(s) may have a big impact on
the list of potential colleges you consider, so it's
important to at least try narrowing down career
possibilities.
• How do you discover possible career paths?
Conduct research and take some career
assessment tests.
• www.gacollege411.org
• www.careercruising.com
• Participation in the TAA (Teachers as Advisors)
activities on Wednesday will assist with this.

24. Governor’s Honors Program
• Free summer program held on campus at
Valdosta State University
• The best and the brightest students from
across the state compete for spots in
academic and fine arts major areas
• 10th and 11th graders can be nominated to
apply and go through the interview/audition
process

25. Post High School Options
• 4 Year Colleges and Universities
– Associates and Bachelors Degrees
• 2 Year Colleges/Junior Colleges
– Associates degrees and certificates
• Technical Schools
– Associates degrees, technical certificates and technical diplomas
• Apprenticeships
– On the job training
• Military/Armed Services
– On the job training
– Financial assistance for college
• Work Force
– On the job training

26. Thank You
&
Good Night
Mr. Keith L. Ball
Etowah High School Principal