This document provides an agenda and information for a Back-to-School Night at an Upper School. The agenda includes meetings with boosters, athletics, academic programs, and college counseling. It then provides details about expectations for each grade level from 8th through 12th grade. Additional sections cover parking procedures, early bird/late bird programs, teacher support hours, behavior management, class privileges, and information from the college counseling department.

1. Upper School
Back-to-School Night
August 19, 2014

2. Tonight’s Agenda
5:30 — 6:25 PM
 Meet the Boosters
 Athletics Department Info
 Department of Academic Programs and Student Affairs Overview
 College Counseling Overview
6:25 — 7:15 PM
 A day in the life… an opportunity to meet your student’s teachers

3. Meet the Administration
 Head of School
Jeremiah Hakundy — jeremiah.hakundy@basispeoria.org
 Head of Operations
Mark Allen — mark.allen@basispeoria.org
 Director of Academic Programs
Gwen Ventimiglia — gwen.ventimiglia@basispeoria.org
 Director of Student Affairs
Deborah Youssef — deborah.youssef@basispeoria.org
 College Counselor
Eric Throne — eric.throne@basispeoria.org

4. Department of
Academic Programs
Gwen Ventimiglia
Director of Academic Programs
BASIS Peoria
Gwen.Ventimiglia@basispeoria.org

5. What to expect in the 8th
Grade
 1st AP Exam – AP World History
 Economics
 Math (minimum of Algebra II)
 Biology 8 or LEAP Biology
 Chemistry 8 or LEAP Chemistry
 Physics 8
 Foreign Language 8
 AM or PM Elective
 Pre-Comprehensive Exams (30% of T2 grade)
 Comprehensive Exams (50% of final grade)
 May attend college visits if it does not occur during a class.

6. What to Expect in the 9th
Grade
 AP US Government
 Honors Language
 Honors Literature
 Math (minimum of Pre-Calculus)
 Honors Science
 Foreign Language I
 AM or PM Elective
 May attend college visits

7. What to Expect in the 10th
Grade
 AP European History
 AP Science (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics)
 Honors Science
 Foreign Language II
 Math (minimum of Pre-Calculus B)
 AP Literature or AP Language
 AM or PM Elective
 May attend college visits

8. What to Expect in the 11th
Grade
 AP U.S. History
 Math (minimum of Calculus AB)
 AP Literature, AP Language, or Post-AP English course
 Foreign Language III
 AP Science
 Honors Science
 AM or PM Elective
 May attend as many college visits as they choose, per teacher approval

9.  AP Courses, Post-Aps, or Capstone Courses**
 Senior Project***
 College Counseling
 May attend as many college visits as they choose, per teacher approval
 ** The number of AP Courses, post-AP Courses and capstone courses a senior
completes, will vary depending on his/her BASIS graduation requirements.
*** Pending approval, students will begin the Senior Project in Trimester 3
What to Expect in the 12th
Grade

10. Department of
Student Affairs
Deborah Youssef
Director of Student Affairs
BASIS Peoria
Deborah.Youssef@basispeoria.org

11. Parking Lot Expectations
 Pick up and drop off via the use of the traffic lanes at the north and west
parking lots.
 From 7:00 – 8:15 students enter through the west-side entrance ONLY!
 Students with Period 0 enter through west gate and into courtyard; students
with Period 1 enter through west door into MPR.
 All late arriving students after 7:20 for Period 0 and 8:15 for Period 1
arrive through front door for late pass.
 No students should leave through the front door - ONLY the north and west
doors from the MPR.
 Students parking on-campus should see Mrs. Trower in Office 9 for a parking
pass.

12. TRAFFIC AND SCHOOL MAP
Parent Expectations for Pick up and Drop off
5th GRADE ORIENTATION

13.  Early Bird begins at 7:00 AM.
 ALL student entering the west (back) door for Period 1 before 8:10 must
check-in with Early Bird Staff before going into MPR.
 This includes all students attending teacher hours, peer tutoring, extra-
curricular activities, and club meetings.
 Late Bird begins at 2:45 and 3:45 PM.
 All students outside in the courtyard and perimeter of the school campus
must come into the building and sign-in by 2:55 (1st dismissal) and 3:55
(2nd dismissal). They are considered drop-ins if they remain at school
beyond 3:00 and 4:00 PM.
 Students attending teacher hours, peer tutoring, extra-curricular
activities and club meetings must sign-in and out with the Late Bird
Monitor. (They are not charged, but must check in and out.)
Early Bird and Late
Bird

14.  Every teacher holds at least one student hour per week where students
can receive academic help.
 Academic Extension is offered every day for students in grades 9-12 and
three times per week for 8th grade students. Students should use this time
for studying, homework, or teacher hours (if offered).
 Peer tutoring officially begins the week of September 8th.
 Students who struggle as well as all new students will be placed on
student support and meet with an assigned staff member for support
during AE until their grades or academic concerns improve.
Teacher Support Hours, Peer
Tutoring, and Student Support

15.  3 strikes
 Teacher asks you a question to reflect on what you are doing
and the expectations for the classroom.
 Teacher asks you a question again to reflect on what you are
doing and the expectations for the classroom. Teacher sends
an email home to parents/guardian and asks for support and
advice.
 Teacher writes out Office Referral to Dean of Student who then
will call parents and discuss consequences and next steps to
return to classroom.
Behavior Management

16. US Class Privileges
9th Grade
 Camping trip
10th grade
 Outside lunch
11th grade
 Outside lunch
 Students will also have the opportunity to go off campus for lunch (this
privilege will be extended in the coming months)
12th grade
 Teacher Assistant for periods 6-8 in Office 1
 Independent Study in Office 1
 The ability to leave and return to campus

17. College Counseling
Eric Throne
College Counselor & Senior Research Project Coordinator
BASIS Peoria
Eric.Throne@basispeoria.org

18. A “Future” Focus
 One of the greatest benefits of a BASIS education is realized in the
college-readiness and preparation for success that our graduates take
with them after graduation.
 From the BASIS Peoria website: “Students who attend BASIS Peoria are
committed to attaining the highest level of academic and intellectual
achievement… A rigorous liberal-arts curriculum prepares our Upper
School students for admission into the nation’s top colleges and
universities.”
 Our goals include finding the best fit college or university for our
graduating students and striving to prepare students for successful
and meaningful lives as they progress through their higher studies and
beyond.

19. College Awareness and Preparedness
 A school-wide focus on college preparation, both inside
and outside of the classroom
 Rigorous, AP-centered curriculum
 Senior Capstone Classes (college-level)
 Senior Research Projects
 College Admissions Presentations hosted on campus
 Numerous clubs/organizations/teams available for students to join
 National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society
(NJHS)
 Various other opportunities: field trips, competitions, etc.

20. College Admissions Presentations
 Attendance expectations at College Presentations:
 12th Grade – 8 or more; (4 required for C.C. class)
 11th Grade – 8 or more
 9th/10th Grade – 5 or more
 8th Grade – 2 or more
 “College-Minded Scholar” Awards
 Most college visits are during 5th period; some may require
students to miss a class.
 Teacher and Administrator approval required to miss classes
 8th grade students not allowed to miss classes for presentations

21. College Admissions Presentations
 Revised Policy:
 If college presentation is during Lunch/A.E. (or other non-class)
period:
 Early sign-up (by paper form or through Naviance), plus drop-in
visitors allowed, up to max capacity
 If student will miss a class for a college presentation:
 Student turns in teacher-signed paper form 1 day prior; OR
 Student signs up through Naviance at least 24 hours prior, AND teacher
confirms permission with me; OR
 Teacher sends student(s) to presentation on the day of, with note or
email to me to confirm permission.
Please note: Teachers are not obligated to allow students to miss class.

22. “What should we be doing now?”
 Grades 8-12…
 Develop excellent study habits
 Explore various extracurricular interests. Commit to something for
multiple years.
 Consider applying for a summer academic program
 Interview adults to learn about various colleges, career paths, and college
majors
 Start a College Savings account
 Attend the College Planning Workshop presentation @ BASIS Peoria
 Tuesday, August 26th from 5:30 – 6:15 pm. Financial strategies and
other valuable tips for families preparing for college.

23. “What should we be doing now?”
 Checklists by grade level available from Mr. Throne
 Attend College Presentations (@ BASIS Peoria)
 Learn about colleges and yourself in the process – find your “BEST FIT”
 Many presenters also read Arizona students’ applications for acceptance!
 Attend local College Fairs (NACAC, NACCAP, etc.)
 Keep up with BASIS Peoria College Counseling Newsletters
 “Stay the course” at BASIS Peoria
 Seniors spend 100+ hours in College Counseling Class: college applications,
scholarship applications, essay-writing, tips for success in college, etc.
 Senior Research Projects
 Talk with Mr. Throne about colleges, your interests, etc.

24. BASIS Senior Research Projects (SRP)
 Perhaps the most distinct component of a BASIS education
 Successful completion of the SRP results in graduation with High Honors
(highest BASIS distinction)
 SRP Proposal can be included/referenced in college application materials
 Great preparation for college-level work and research
 Helpful in learning about and deciding on a major/minor for college
 On-going assistance/guidance from both Mr. Throne and faculty advisor
 SRP Eligibility – Students must meet the following conditions:
 Be a senior in good academic standing. Early graduates are not eligible.
 Maintain a B- or better average in all senior year coursework.
 Fail no classes in your high school career.

25. BASIS Senior Research Projects (SRP)

26. Want a copy of
the presentation?