Freshman Packet 2014-2015

HELPFUL HINTS
FOR NEW HIGHLANDERS

Thomas McKean High School
9th Grade
2014 2015
WELCOME TO THOMAS MCKEAN HIGH SCHOOL
HOME OF THE HIGHLANDERS
OUR VISION: McKean will become the center of innovative, personalized teaching and
learning, where maximized use of available instructional time is done through Small
Learning communities in a safe, nurturing, and technologically advanced environment;
where motivated students, qualified staff, supportive parents, and involved community
partners function as the driving force to prepare students to become self-motivated,
self-disiplined, and socially resonsible citizens in a complex world.
YOUR ROLE: It is of critical importance that you take your academic achievement
seriously. Your high school experience is a major component of your future successs.
Congratulations! You are a Highlander and its always a great day to be a Highlander!
The McKean Guidance Department wants to support and encourage your efforts as you
plan for graduation, college or career readiness and a successful future. We have created
this packet to help you and your parents better understand our policies, procedures, and
many opportunities.
A guidance counselor, who provides support, encouragement, and assistance from 9 th
grade through graduation, is assigned to all students. Students are assigned by last name
(as listed below):
McKean Guidance Department

(302) 992-5520
Mrs. Leary, Chairperson
Ms. Polsky
Ms. Abernethy
Ms. Lombardo
Mrs. Harper
A-F
G-O
P-Z
LMS Liasion
Secretary
x154
x153
x155
x157
x151
If you need to see your counselor, stop in the main office between classes to sign the
appointment request sheet. Your counselor will call for you or send an appointment slip
as soon as possible. If you have an emergency, please tell Mrs. Harper, our guidance
secretary, so she can get you immediate help. Counselors are available to discuss classes,
grades, goals, college selection, as well as home, peer, or personal issues. Information is
kept confidential unless there is reason to believe that students may be in danger or
harming themselves or others. In this event, your parents will be notified and appropriate
referrals will be made.
Grades/Grading Policy
It is important to realize that your report card grades from this year, along with your
remaining years of high school, are recorded on your high school transcript. This
official record is requested for college, military, and/or employment applications. Your
grades this year, your freshman year, are significant ones. Not only do they serve as the
building block for your high school academic experience, they also are included when
determining your grade point average (GPA) and class rank at graduation. Therefore, it
is critical that you give your best effort in every class.
Each marking period you earn percentage grades which appear on your report card. Your
final grade for each class is determined differently. First, the marking period percentages
are converted into a letter grade with a point value. The final grade is an average of the
point value of each marking period, the midterm exam and the final exam. Each marking
perdiod is counted twice, the midterm and final exam grades count only once. If a
midterm or final is not administered, the final grade is the average of the marking period
quality points. An increment of .5 or higher is needed to round up to the next grade,
except ~a .6 average is required to earn a D.
Percentage
Grade
90 - 100
80 - 89
70 - 79
60 - 69
Below 60
Letter
Grade
Point
Value
A
B
C
D
F
4
3
2
1
0
GPA AND CLASS RANK

Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is determined by averaging your grades, in the form of
points. You will earn a marking perdiod, or current GPA as well as an average of all
grades to date, or a cumulative GPA. Consequently, your grades each school year are
extremely important and can be worth 25% of your final GPA! Its important to know
that Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be worth additional points!
Students also earn a class rank based on their GPA. Class rank compares your
academic standing to other students in your grade. For example, 44/250 indicates that you
have the 44th highest GPA of the 250 students in your graduating class.
COURSE CREDITS
Both promotion and graduation decisions are based on the credit system.
Classes that meet the entire year are worth 1 credit.

Classes that meet half of the year are worth credit.
Classes that meet only one marking period are worth credit.
In order to earn the credit value, you must earn a passing grade and meet the McKean
attendance policy.
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
In order to move to the next grade level, students must earn a certain number of credits
that include specific subject areas.
To Grade 10
To Grade 11
To Grade 12
(6 credits needed)
1 English
1 Math
1 Social Studies
3 Additional
(12 credits needed)

2 English
2 Math
2 Social Studies
1 Science
5 Additional
(18 credits needed)

3 English
3 Math
3 Social Studies
2 Science
Phys Ed
6 Additional
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS

In the State of Delaware, students must earn 24 credits to receive a high school diploma.
This requirement includes the specific courses listed:
Course
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies
Science
World Language
Physical Education
Health
Career Pathway
Electives
# of Credits
College
Admission Requirements
4
4
4
3
2 (same language)
1
3
2
4
4
4
3 4 (including 2 science labs) *
3 4 (of same language) *
* College Admission: The more selective the college, the more rigorous its
admission criteria. Schedule the most challenging courses for which you are
prepared, including honors and AP when appropriate. Do your best in each class.
CAREER PATHWAY
A Delaware graduation requirement includes completion of a Career Pathway. Students

must earn three credits in a planned program of sequential or specializied courses
designed to develop knowledge and skills in a particular career area. All three credits
must be earned in the same area. McKean offers a variety of Career Pathway areas.
Animal Science
Audio, Radio & Video Engineering
Automotive Technology
Biotechnology
Business
Culinary Arts
Design and Engineering

Early Childhood Education
Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG)
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
TUITION OPPORTUNITIES
$$$$$
PLAN AHEAD
$$$$$
Delaware State Universtiy, Delaware Technical and Community College, and the
University of Delware offer unique tuition-assistance opportunities. The SEED program
provides a tuition-free opportunity to Delaware Technical and Community College of the
University of Delaware Associate of Arts program. The Inspire program offers up to
$3000/year of tuition assistance for Delaware State University. Graduates from a
Delaware high school who maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 (SEED) or
2.75 (Inspire), stay out of trouble, submit timely application and financial aide forms
and enroll in a full time degree program are eligible.
ATHLETIC AND EXTRACURRIUCLAR ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for participation in interscholastic competition or extracurricular activities,
students must pass five courses. Two of these courses must be in the core areas of
English, mathamatics, science or social studies. Twelfth grade students must pass all
courses necessary for graduation.
Eligibility is determined each marking period on the day report cards are distributed.
Students who are not eligible at the end of a marking period will remain ineligible for the
following marking period. Eligibility for the first marking period is determined by the
final grades of the previous school year. Summer school grades may impact final grades.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Remember absences are counted by period, not by day

As one of the qualifications for promotion, credit for course work, or eligibiltiy for
graduation, a student shall not exceed 12 periods absent for each full year course
during the school year. Absences in this policy include both excused and unexcused.
Absences from class or school for participation in approved school sponsored activities,
such as, but not limited to, field trips, driver education, athletic games or academic events
shall be excluded from the total number of days absent.
Per the Code of Conduct, students are responsible to request make up work for
absences. For excused absences, students can complete work on their own time and
submit it to the teacher. For any unexcused absences, students must make arragements
with the teacher to make up assignments through AWR, the absence and work recovery
program.
AWR ABSENCE AND WORK RECOVERY

The Absence and Work Recovery Program provides a supervised setting for students to
complete assignments and/or make up time missed during an absence from class.
Participation in an approved recovery program for 60 mintues (1 hour) shall recover the
absence from one 90 minute class period. The principal shall have sole discretion in
determining when after-school programs will be offered and/or supplemental programs
are appropriate. He/she shall further determine the content, length, and requirements of
such programs. Students are responsible for requesting missed assignments from their
teachers as outlined in the Code of Conduct. It is the responsibility of the student and
parent to monitor school absences and to recover days absent in order to comply with
McKeans attendance policy.
ORGANIZATION AND STUDY HINTS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
At School
Arrive to class on time
Bring all required materials
Follow behavioral expectations
Focus on instructions and class
work
Use agenda in every class
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
At Home
Establish a daily home study
routine
Work without distractions
Use agenda to plan/check work
Highlight and review notes
Prepare for the next school day
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Communities in Schools (CIS) is a national non-profit organization that brings

communtiy resources such as mentoring programs, county and state drug/alcohol
education programs, local buisnesses, parents, and volunteers into public schools across
the country. A student can be referred to CIS for a number of reasons, including
unexcused absences, problems with organization, or being academically at-risk. Students
are welcome to visit the CIS office, room B41, to find out more about CIS opportunities.
Learn how to access services and programs that may contribute to your success in school
and in life. CIS services are strictly voluntary and you are under no obligation to
particpate.
SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER

The School Based Health Center offers a number of health services dealing with physical
and mental health, as well as nutrition and health education. These services are free of
charge to students enrolled at the center. The goals of the center are to promote
comprehensive health care for students, detect signs of emotional stress and
psychological concerns for counseling and referral, improve students knowledge of
preventive health care and develop healthy behaviors. The Wellness Center has a family
nurse practitioner and a social worker to perform services such as physicals,
immunizations, assessment, diagnosis and treatement of minor illness or injury, group
and individual counseling, self-esteem issues, suicide prevention, nutritional services, and
many others. All services are confidential unless there is reason to believe that students
may be in danger of harming themselvs or others, or there are indications of abuse. In
those instances, appropriate referrals will be made. Additionally, if a student has a certain
infectious disease, it must be reported to the Department of Public Health. If you are not
yet registered, obtain forms in the Health Center, main office or nurses office.
SPORTS
CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
Fall
Football
Volleyball
Boys Soccer
Boys & Girls Cross
Country
Field Hockey
Cheerleading
Coach
Carre
Lesniczak
Paparazzo
Coates
Winter
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Wrestling
Boys & Girls
Swimming
Boys & Girls Winter
Track
Cheerleading
Competition Cheer
Coach
Hantzopoulus
Genau
Dominelli
Budd
DE Teen Action
for Animals
Drama
Coates
EDTV / EDGE Radio

FCCLA
FFA
Spring
Boys Tennis
Girls Tennis
Boys & Girls Track
Girls Soccer
Baseball
Softball
Boys Lacrosse
Sullivan
Schnittger
Schnittger
Schnittger
Coach
Henderson
McArdle
Coates
Matson
Barnhart
Hantzopoulos
Norton
Art
Aspira
Auto Club
Band
Best Buddies
Blue & Gold
Concert Band
Choirs
DECA
Highlander Caf
Honor Societies
Jobs for DE Grads
Marching Band
School Store
Sportsmanship Club
Stage Crew
Student Government
Student Newsletter
Technology Student
Association
Winter Color Guard
Yearbook
Eggleston
Lombardo
Reamer
Reeves
Schnittger
Schnittger
Reeves
Haas
Rosato
Murphy
Monger
Cummings
Haas
Joshi
Gonzon
Matson
Sheahan
Rosato
Koach
Schnittger
Wyre
Reeves
Monger
Belcher
Fagan
Stokes
Pollard
Bartlett
Craster
Reeves
Alexander

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HELPFUL HINTS

FOR NEW HIGHLANDERS

McKean Guidance Department

GPA AND CLASS RANK

Classes that meet the entire year are worth 1 credit.

(12 credits needed)

(18 credits needed)

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS

A Delaware graduation requirement includes completion of a Career Pathway. Students

Design and Engineering

ATHLETIC AND EXTRACURRIUCLAR ELIGIBILITY

Remember absences are counted by period, not by day

AWR ABSENCE AND WORK RECOVERY

ORGANIZATION AND STUDY HINTS

Communities in Schools (CIS) is a national non-profit organization that brings

SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER

EDTV / EDGE Radio

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