JUNIOR HIGH

Welcome to Fremont Academy!

Mascot: Bulldog

School Color: Green & Yellow

Junior High Course Offerings:

7TH GRADE COURSES:	8TH GRADE COURSES:	Honor-Level Available
Language Arts 7	Language Arts 8	yes
7th Grade Common Core Math	8th Grade Common Core Math	yes
7th Grade Integrated Science	8th Grade Integrated Science	yes
Medieval Times	US History 8	yes
PE 7	PE 8	no
Electives: AVID* Choir Drama ELD support classes^ Engineering (PLTW I) Music: Guitar Music-Beginning Band Music-Advanced Band*	Electives: ASB/leadership* AVID* Choir Drama ELD support classes^ Engineering (PLTW II)* Music: Guitar Music-Beginning Band Music-Advanced Band* Yearbook*	no
Key: *requires teacher/counselor approval ^assigned based on ELPAC scores	Key: *requires teacher/counselor approval ^assigned based on ELPAC scores

How to request a schedule change:

by visiting your counselor before school, during break, lunch, and after school
by completing a "schedule change request" form located in the Counseling Office
by emailing your counselor (preferred).

Click here to view "Schedule Change Policies".

LESSONS

Curriculum Timeline

Semester 1	Semester 2
Understanding Semester & Grades JH GPA Study skills (T2)	Introduction to transcript Why college? Education Pays The Degree Pyramid: Types of Colleges & Degrees
8th-grade Promotion Criteria Transcript Review HS Credits & HS GPA Basic Intro: UC/CSU Admissions Requirements	HS Course Levels & Placement Transcript review & HS 4-year plan Holland's Theory & career discovery

Understanding: SEMESTER & GRADES

ACADEMIC YEAR: Each academic year has 2 semesters:

- Semester 1/Fall Semester: from August - December
- Semester 2/Spring Semester: from January - May

CLASSES: Students receive at least six (6) courses per semester.

Example:

Assignment GRADES: Teachers grade your homework assignments, projects, and tests using either a percentage or a letter grade system.

Percentages	Letter Grade	Meaning
90-100%	A	Pass
80-89%	B	Pass
70-79%	C	Pass
60-69%	D	Pass
0-50%	F	FAIL

Example:

Exercise 1: Review your grades: Go to StudentConnect --> Pulse; find "Current Grade" and "Pct".

SEMESTER GRADES: At the end of each semester, you will earn a final LETTER GRADE for every course, which will be documented on your student transcript (permanent record).

Example:

Exercise 2: Goal setting - Your semester grade: Determine what grade you will earn for each course.

CREDITS: Although students may see CREDITS issued on their transcripts, credits are not being considered for 8th-grade promotion. Credits will be discussed in detail during the 8th and 9th grades.

Junior High GPA

What is GPA?

It is often difficult to determine how well students did overall by just looking at a series of grades. Hence, all grades are converted and averaged to one numeric figure called GPA.

Grade Point Average (GPA) = a numeric score used to evaluate a student's overall academic performance.

Unweighted GPA: All Junior High courses are calculated on a 4.00 scale as shown below:

GRADE	Point (4.0 Scale)
A	4
B	3
C	2
D	1
F	0

On PUSD Transcript:

Term GPA /Semester GPA = GPA for a given semester

Cumulative/Overall GPA = GPA for the entire Junior High years

8th GRADE PROMOTION CRITERIA

8th-grade promotion criteria may vary year-to-year. Check with the principal or your counselor for the most updated contract. Click here for a sample of the contract from prior year.
- NOTE: One main criteria for the 8th-grade promotion is: no "F" grade.
- Suggestion: Be mindful of your grades weekly:
  - Check your "PULSE" on StudentConnect.
  - If your "current grade" drops to D or F, talk to your teacher immediately.
  - Be proactive! Don't procrastinate!

Exercise: Let's look at YOUR "Pulse". What can you tell me about your current grades? Set your goals and expectations.

Basic Introduction: High School CREDITS

ACADEMIC YEAR: Each academic year has 2 semesters:

- Semester 1 or Fall Semester: from August - December
- Semester 2 or Spring Semester: from January - May

CLASSES: Students receive at least six (6) courses per semester:

Example 1:

GRADES: At the end of each semester, students earn a LETTER grade for each course.

Example 2:

CREDITS: Each grade will then be converted to credits

GRADE - CREDIT CONVERSION CHART:

NOTE: "F" grade must be repeated.

A period 7 or summer school will be added to your high school plan.

Exercise 1: Look at the sample below and determine how many credits this student earned.

Answer: ???

Exercise 2: Go to your "PULSE". Assume the grades are your final grades. Determine how many credits you have right now.

Exercise 3: Look at the "to be on track for graduation" chart. Determine if the student in this scenario is on track to graduate.

Name	Grade Level	Total Credits
John Doe	12	150

Answer: ???

High School Course LEVELS & PLACEMENTS

Note: Your course placement is determined by the following factors:

Grades

GPA

Standardized test scores

Teacher recommendations

ACADEMIC LEVELS:

Non-College-Prep: basic high school standards

College-Prep (CP): basic college-preparatory standards

Honors (H): rigorous standard preparing students for Advanced Placement Level courses

Advanced Placement (AP): college-level standard; AP exams are given every May. Students will earn high school credits upon successful completion of the course; students may also earn college units if they pass the AP exams with scores of 3, 4, or 5.

Dual Enrollment (DE): an actual college course taught on a high school campus. Students will earn high school credits AND college units upon successful completion of the course.

- - - Fremont's dual enrollment courses are offered by either Mt. SAC or Cal Poly Pomona

Basic Introduction - High School GPA

What is GPA?

It is often difficult to determine how well students did overall by just looking at a series of grades. Hence, all grades are converted and averaged to one numeric figure called GPA.

Grade Point Average (GPA) = a numeric score used to evaluate a student's overall academic performance.

Unweighted GPA: GPA calculated on a 4.00 scale as shown below:

GRADE	Point (4.0 Scale)
A	4
B	3
C	2
D	1
F	0

Weighted GPA: Certain courses such as Honors or Advanced Placement courses are considered more difficult and hence are given extra points. Weighted GPA is measured using a 5.00 scale:

GRADE	Point (5.0 Scale)
A	5
B	4
C	3
D	1
F	0

Note: "D" and "F" grades DO NOT earn an extra point

On PUSD Transcript:

Term GPA /Semester GPA: an average of grades a student received in a given semester.

Cumulative/Overall GPA: an average of grades a student received in all semesters in high school.

Exercise 1: Look at your 7th grade transcript. Calculate your overall UNWEIGHTED GPA for both semesters.

Exercise 2: (advanced level) Look at your 7th-grade transcript. Assume these are your 9th-grade courses and that all courses are considered Honors. Calculate your cumulative WEIGHTED GPA for both semesters.

Example: 7th grade overall unweighted GPA was: 3.83

7th grade cumulative weighted GPA: 4.83

Exercise 3: In your opinion, what does it mean to have a higher GPA? What motivates high schoolers to take more Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment courses?

Basic Introduction: UC/CSU COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Requirements - guided lessons

STUDY SKILLS - guided lessons

Lesson: "Zero Impact": How missing assignments can impact your GRADES and GPA

Youtube Video: "Zero Impact"

Students often stated that when they don't finish an assignment, they won't turn it in. This results in "zero impact". After watching this video, you will realize that it is better to turn in unfinished work for partial points/credits than to earn a zero. Click on the video below to view:

Lesson: Learning styles

Online Exercise: "What is Your Learning Style?

Online Exercise: "Which Study Habits Can You Improve?

Lesson: Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset

Youtube Video: "Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

Youtube Video: "4 Steps to Developing a Growth Mindset"

Lesson: Study tips

Youtube Video: How to be Organized for School, College, or Life

Youtube Video: How to Stop Procrastinating

Youtube Video: 9 Best Scientific Study Tips

CAREER/COLLEGE EXPLORATION - guided lessons

Why College?

The Holland's Theory: Six Personality Types

Use the following career website to complete your career search lessons. Counselors will help you interpret your results.

- - - - Interest Assessment
        
        Explore Careers
        
        Career Videos
        
        Compare Salaries
        
        CareerOneStop Worksheet

Job search engines often suggest the education level and degree or certificate you must obtain. The DEGREE PYRAMID below will help you understand how much many years of education you need for a particular career pathway:

Resources:

Types of Colleges

Types of Degree

Exercise: Discover - how long does it take for you to become a school counselor?

Discover - your own career choice

Grade 6 PPT - Introduction to Fremont Academy

UC MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS	CSU MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
A-G subject requirements	A-G subject requirements
A-G GPA requirement: 3.00 or better in all A-G courses	A-G GPA requirement: 2.50 or better in all A-G courses