Transcript Introduction to Seminar - St. Johns Public Schools

Introduction to Seminar
St. Johns High School
Freshmen Seminar
What is Seminar?

Seminar is a...
◦ Time to make up missing tests, quizzes &
other work
◦ Time to get extra help in a class
◦ Time to work on group projects in other
classes
◦ Time to attend club meetings
◦ Time to read for leisure
◦ Time to prepare for your future
What seminar is NOT.

Seminar is not...
◦ Nap time, social time, game time and/or “I
have nothing to do” time
How does seminar work?

Seminar is approximately 40 minutes.You
may stay in your class and work or you
can pass to a class that you have arranged
to visit. If you pass to a class you MUST
stay there until the end of seminar.
How do I get a pass?

Go to the teacher you would like to pass
to, ask for a pass. Make sure you do this
ahead of time...not right before
seminar. The best time to get a pass is at
the end of class on the previous day.
Do I get a grade in seminar?

Yes. The grade is Pass or Fail. Most home
rooms have 18 lap tops to use freely. Take
advantage of this time to get homework
done.
Are there any days I cannot pass?

Mondays or the first day back are known
as “no passing days”. These are dedicated
to seminar tasks, so do not plan on having
any time to work on your own stuff on
Mondays.
9th GRADE—this is when everything begins
to “count”. Get involved and document it!
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Work hard to get good grades…your grade point
average starts now.
If you fail a class, you have to take it again.
Become involved in a wide variety of activities.
Start keeping a record of what activities you are
involved in with and any volunteerism
Select appropriate 10th grade courses
Be careful with your internet use
Think about what career path you may be interested in
pursuing
Take practice standardized tests (ACT…)
How important can freshman year be?

Researchers target 9th grade as the make or break year for
completing high school. During the 9th-grade year, many
students for the first time have to earn passing grades in
core courses, and these core courses are typically some of
the toughest and most rigorous academic classes a student
must take in high school. Furthermore, the rising use of
standardized tests to measure school performance, and exit
exams required to earn a diploma add to the difficulty and
importance of doing well in high school. Statistics generated
from freshman year are concerning. Ninth graders have the
lowest grade point average, the most missed classes, the
majority of failing grades, and more misbehavior referrals
than any other high school grade level.

BE SURE TO GET THIS PAPER SIGNED
AND RETURNED TO ME ASAP.
Daily Schedule
Each class is about 62 minutes except seminar
◦ 1st Hour 7:45 – 8:48
◦ 2nd Hour 8:54 – 9:56
◦ Seminar 10:02 – 10:42
◦ 3rd Hour 10:48 – 12:21
◦ 4th Hour 12:27 – 1:29
◦ 5th Hour 1:35 – 2:37
 Lunch Schedule (during 3rd hr)
◦ A Lunch 10:42 – 11:09
◦ B Lunch 11:54 – 12:21

Seminar Schedule
◦ 2nd Hour Over at 9:56
◦ Passing Time 9:56-10:02
◦ Admin Time 10:02-10:07
 Stand, face flag & say pledge of allegiance
 Silent during announcements
◦ Passing Time (only if leaving) 10:07-10:10
◦ Seminar Work Time 10:10-10:42
Passing Out- Mrs. Gnegy’s Red Folder
Mary asks Mrs. Gnegy if she can pass to her room for seminar. She says yes
and gives Mary an orange pass asking her to complete the first two columns in
her Red Folder.
9
Mary Billips
Feldpausch
8
Passing Out- Daily Work Log
Mary comes to seminar and records that she is passing on the Daily Work Log
located on the clipboard.
9/8
Paige Shinabarger
Mary Billips
Owen Broadwater
X
Passing Out- Mr. Feldpausch’s Red
Folder
Then Mary records her information in my red folder and leaves her pass beside
it.
9/8
Mary Billips
Mrs. Gnegy
Passing Out- Mrs. Gnegy’s Red Folder
When the passing bell rings Mary goes to Mrs. Gnegy’s room and signs in next
to where she previously recorded her name and seminar teacher in the red
folder.
9
Mary Billips
Feldpausch
Mary Billips
8
Staying Put- Daily Work Log
9/8
Paige Shinabarger
Spanish II – verbs wkst
X
Mary Billips
Owen Broadwater
English 9 – practice persuasive essay
Seminar Behavior Expectations

Be on time & prepared to work.
◦ Inside door when bell is done ringing
◦ Materials with you
◦ Body prepared
 Bathroom
◦ Consequence:
 Must use your 1 weekly locker/bathroom pass
 Then its 3 min or 30 min
Seminar Behavior Expectations

Do your work.
◦ Consequence:
 1 daily warning, then character writing
 1 monthly free-day pass is available
◦ If Repetitive:
 Writing gets longer
Seminar Behavior Expectations

Use appropriate language.
◦ Swearing
◦ Teasing
◦ Disrespect of faith
 Includes saying Lord’s name in vain
◦ Consequence:
 50 cents or…
 50 pushups or…
 50 words
Seminar Behavior Expectations
Seminar Behavior Expectations

It is also expected that you 1not skip class or
leave the classroom without permission (including
passing time when you are not passing). You must
also 2not whine nor complain in front of other
students regarding seminar activities or
expectations, but be respectful towards the
teacher and your peers and maturely discuss the
issue after class. Finally, you are expected to be
3passing all of your classes. Consequences for
these behaviors may vary but could include
1unexcused absences, 2character writing and/or
3required passing to failing class.
Earning Seminar Credit

You must comply with all consequences
issued above or your parents will be
contacted. Repeated failure to observe
consequences will lead to failure of
seminar.
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You must also complete all required grade
level activities by the end of the assigned
trimester in order to earn credit for
seminar.
Freshmen Seminar Activities

This is the schedule of tasks you must complete as freshmen to receive seminar credit.
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Trimester 1
◦ Introduction to High School
◦ Basic Technology Skills
◦ Club Day
◦ Study Skills
◦ Career Cruising: Learning Styles Inventory
◦ Readfest
◦ Exam Study Skills
Freshmen Seminar Activities

This is the schedule of tasks you must complete as freshmen to receive seminar credit.
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Trimester 2
◦ Freshmen Class Meeting: Senior Speakers
◦ EDP
◦ Interest Inventory
◦ Career Exploration #1
◦ Enroll for 10th grade
◦ Readfest
Freshmen Seminar Activities

This is the schedule of tasks you must complete as freshmen to receive seminar credit.
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Trimester 3
◦ 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
◦ Resume
◦ Interest Inventory
◦ Career Exploration #2
◦ Career Cruising Checklist
◦ Readfest
◦ CPR once Freshmen year
Working in Seminar
As I had mentioned, you MUST be working the
entire time during seminar. This includes days
when you do NOT have any homework to do.
 In order to be sure that this happens:
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◦ You are to supply a book of some sort and keep it in
your folder in the black crate.
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There should never be a day when you are not
working on something. No video games, card
games, catalogs, or other mindless materials or
activities are allowed.
Best Practices for Laptops
Avoid laps, clean solid surface is best
 Not a touch-screen
 Close lid before walking
 Don’t shut off with power button – use Start MenuShut down
 Logging off? Wait for log-in screen before closing lid
 Shutting down? Wait for lights and screen off before
closing lid
 Return to correct slot number & plug in
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