1. Freshman Parent Meeting
Class of 2016
August 28, 2012
Etowah High School

2. WELCOME
Mrs. Penny Valle
Assistant Principal
(L-Q)

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

4. Etowah Counseling Staff
• Mrs. Jessica Whitley (A-D) 11th grade activities
• Mrs. Ashley Hall (E-K) 12th grade activities
• Ms. Lisa Shull (L-Q) 9th grade activities
• Ms. Kelly Brangan (R-Z) 10th grade activities
Counseling Front Office:
Mrs. Otter Peabody
Mrs. Cindy Umberger
Registrar:
Mrs. Dana Dotson

5. Helpful Information and Contact List
ETOWAH HIGH SCHOOL:
Front Office 770.926.4411
Front Office Fax 770.926.4157
Counseling Office 770.926.1109
Counseling Office Fax 770.926.0539

6. Etowah High School
PTSA
President:
Mrs. Viviana Morrison

7. Etowah Website
Etowah High School
http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/etowah-hs/default.aspx

8. From the Counseling Office
Ms. Lisa Shull
9th Grade Counselor
(L-Q)

9. Class of 2016
• Classes are divided into two semesters
– 1st Semester August – December
– 2nd Semester January - May
• A student will take 6 classes each semester
• Each semester course is worth .5 units of credit per class
• Credit is issued at the end of each semester (December & May)
• Students must earn 23 units to graduate

10. Requirements for 2016 Graduates
• 4 Units of English
• 4 Units of Math
• 4 Units of Science
• 3 Units of Social Studies
• 1 Unit of Health (.5) and Personal Fitness (.5)
• 3 Required Electives (Foreign Language, Fine Arts and/or Technical classes)
• 4 Miscellaneous Electives
• 23 Total Units

11. Subject Units 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
11th Lit/Comp (H) 12th Lit/Comp (H)
English/Literature 4 9th Lit/Comp (H) 10th Lit/Comp (H) or or
AP Language/Comp AP Literature/Comp
CCGPS Coord Algebra
CCGPS Analytical Geom CCGPS Adv. Alg 4th Mathematics Options Vary
or
Mathematics 4 or or or
Acc. CCGPS Coord. Alg/
Acc CCGPS Analytical Geom B/Adv. Alg Acc CCGPS Pre-Cal Dual Enrollment
Analytic Geom A
Chemistry (H)
Physical Science or
4th Science Options Vary (including
Physical Science or Physics (H)
CTAE)
Science 4 or Biology (H) or
or
Biology (H) or Environmental Science
Dual Enrollment
Chemistry (H) or
AP Science
Government (H, AP)
Social Studies 3 X World History (H, AP) US History (H, AP)
Economics (H, AP)
Personal Fitness
Health Health
1 X X X
Pers. Fitness or
3 JROTC
Required Electives
Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language
(*Foreign Language, Fine Arts,
3 Fine Arts Fine Arts Fine Arts Fine Arts
Career/Tech)
Career/Technical Career/Technical Career/Technical Career/Technical
*Required for 4-Yr colleges
Misc. Electives
4 Elective Elective Elective Elective
(ex. Academic, PE, CTAE over 3)
Total Needed 23

12. Beyond 2016
• 4 year colleges will require a minimum of two
years of the same foreign language
• Technical Colleges currently do not require a
foreign language

13. Zero Credit
Credit will NOT be issued if:
• A student has 7 or more absences per semester
– Absences are counted in each class separately
• A student does not pass the class with a grade of 70 or
higher
• A student does not take the required End of Course Test

14. Attendance Policy
• Excuse notes (parent/guardian, doctor, etc.) will not be
accepted unless received in the attendance office within
FIVE school days after returning to school
• At 7 or more absences and a passing grade , an appeal is
generated, reviewed by the Attendance Committee and
approved by the principal before credit is awarded
• Appeals are automatically generated by the attendance
office
• Excused, unexcused and out-of-school suspension
absences are considered
Page 5-9 in the Etowah Student Agenda

15. To be Placed in a 10th Grade Homeroom
• A student must earn at least 5 total units of
credit by the end of their freshman year.
• Three of these units must be in the following
academic areas:
1 unit of English
1 unit of Math
1 unit of Science

16. 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 by
• 4:00, 6:00 and 8:00 start times counselor/administrator
• $200.00 per ½ credit (subject to • Cost can vary
change)
• PEP can be utilized while enrolled
at EHS or full-time enrollment at Retake class during school day
PEP • No cost involved
• May delay graduation

17. Family Portal
• Provides Real-Time Access
• Grades
• Attendance
• Student Schedule
For information/troubleshooting E-mail:
• parent.support@cherokee.k12.ga.us
– Automatically created from your school contact records
– Subject line type: Request login information for family portal
– Your email must include: your name, students name and the
school currently attending
– We must have an accurate and updated email address

18. End of Course Tests
9th Grade
CCGPS 9th Grade Literature/Composition
CCGPS Coordinate Algebra
GPS Biology (or) GPS Physical Science
10th Grade
CCGPS Analytical Geometry
GPS Physical Science (or) GPS Biology
11th Grade
CCGPS 11th Grade American Literature
GPS US History
12th Grade
GPS Economics

19. EOCT Information
• These rules apply ONLY to students entering 9th
grade for the first time during the 2011-2012
school year and the 2012-2013 school year
 An EOCT counts for 20% of the FINAL COURSE GRADE
 Passing the EOCT is not required to graduate.
However, passing the required course is necessary for
graduation.

20. PSAT
• October 17, 2012 at Etowah High School
• All 9th, 10th and 11th grade students
• All Freshman take the PSAT for free, students will receive their test, answer sheet and
answer key in December to self-score. However, if you want an official score report
from College Board you must pay $15 – more info coming soon!
• Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills
• Prepares students to take the SAT
• In 11th grade, PSAT scores are used to qualify students for the National Merit
Scholarship

21. HOPE and the Zell Miller
Scholarship (as it Currently Exists)
• HOPE Scholarship:
– 3.0 academic GPA, covers approximately 90% of the 2010 - 2011 tuition rates
• Zell Miller scholarship:
– 3.7 academic GPA—covers 100% of current tuition rates
– 1200 combined Critical Reading/Math on SAT or 26 Composite on ACT
– Rigor requirement (at least 3 classes meeting requirements)
• GPA’s are NOT rounded for HOPE eligibility!
• Track your student’s HOPE GPA throughout high school using www.GAcollege411.org
(Georgia Student Finance Commission)
This information is subject to change based on the Georgia Legislature
• The most current information about changes to HOPE can be found at:
http://www.gacollege411.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/HOPE_Program/Georgia_s_HO
PE_Scholarship_Program_Overview.aspx

22. www.gacollege411.org
Georgia College 411
http://gacollege411.org/

23. Frequently asked questions regarding
HOPE
• Do all classes count?
• Do 7th or 8th grade classes count?
• Do you get to keep the extra points added for
Honors or AP classes?
• Why should my child take the harder classes
and not get the extra points?
• How can I keep up with my student’s HOPE?

24. Parents ask……
• My student made all A’s and B’s in middle school. Why is he/she not doing
well now?
• My student is having difficulty in a class. Can they get extra help at school?
– Teacher
– Mandatory Tutoring
– Saturday School
• My student said that report cards / progress reports were not sent home
because the computers were down. Should I be suspicious?
• How can I get in touch with my child’s teacher?
– E-mail teacher (first.last@cherokee.k12.ga.us)
– 770.926.4411 Main Office
– Complete list of teachers:
http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/etowah-
hs/staff/Staff/faculty.aspx

25. Agenda
• Provides consistency from middle to high
school
• Promotes time management skills
• Builds positive study skill habits
• Includes important school information
– Track Passes
– Clubs
– Rules
– Regulations
– Policies

26. Teachers As Advisors
• TAA gives and additional layer of support to students
• 26 minutes every Wednesday with advisors
• Develop strong bonds w/a group of peers and advisors
• Focus
• academic
• career
• character education
• personal/social
topics
• Goal
• Who am I?
• Where am I going?
• How am I going to get there?

27. Get Involved!
Mr. Dan Snipes, Assistant Principal
• Extra-Curricular activities can help your
student feel connected to the school and are
a factor in the college admission’s process.
– Clubs
– Sports
– Activity Pass
– Washington D.C. Trip
– Community Service

28. Final Thoughts!
Mr. Keith L. Ball
Etowah High School Principal