Corey, PCSH Class of 2004, generally liked school, although some classes more than others. However, the classes he didn't like so well he didn't do much in and failed. In 2004 seniors needed 45 credits to graduate(sophomores, please read to the end of the article!). Due to failing classes he didn't like, as well as a bad trimester when his father was very ill, Corey(not his real name) needed to pass all of his classes his senior year in order to graduate. Unfortunately, despite repeated notices from his counselor and advisory teacher, Corey forgot about this as the fall of his senior year began. As he started his last trimester, he realized that he needed 7 credits to graduate with only 6 classes left. Corey basically gave up and passed only 2 of his 6 classes. Had he not blown off 2 scheduled meetings with his counselor, he could have found a way(independent study) to graduate on time. Instead, Corey became a "13th grader" in the fall of 2005, finishing his classes and graduating by himself in December, the Park Center Class of 20041/3.
Well, we're down to the final stretch of the school year, and graduation is looming for most seniors. This is the time of year when the weather gets warmer, the grass gets greener, and most of us get a little lazy when it comes to what we're doing in school. Many of you seniors out there are probably thinking that with only two months of school left, we can just take it easy and coast to graduation. Well, believe it or not, this final trimester is just as important as the rest.
Though you may have sent in your transcripts to colleges months ago, gotten accepted, and maybe even recieved a scholarship or two, your final grades do count. Colleges pay attention to your third trimester grades, and if they see that you've slipped up, they can just as easily reverse their decision to let you attend, or take away your scholarships. So, if you don't watch out, you could find yourself in a bit of trouble come June.
"Seniors at PC fall into three different groups," says Mr. Vecellio, the counselor, "On-track, question mark, and will-not-graduate." These categories are pretty self-explanatory. The on-track students will, as long as they don't slip up too much, graduate without a problem. The question-marks are the students who have the chance to graduate, but are kind of riding on the line between passing and failing. The will-not-graduates, however...well, they just won't graduate. This time of year, though, is when the counselors at PC focus heavily on those question-mark students. Whether they graduate at all depends on how well they do this trimester, and it's people like Mr. Vecellio that are doing everything they can to help them achieve this goal. They talk to students, boosting them as best they can, talk to parents, and just try to support them to do well in the final months of high school.
And remember, the counselors are there to help. If you have any questions or concerns about graduating, or you are a parent who's worried about your child, give your counselor a call or make an appointment to see them. They won't knock you down if you're struggling. It's their job to help and support you as you try to graduate on time.
Juniors, too, have to start thinking about graduation. If you or your child is a junior and on the border, establish and maintain contact with a counselor to check credits and grades, and to communicate issues and concerns before senior year. In fact, Junior year is a very important year for everyone. Your eleventh grade transcript is often the first set of grades prospective colleges will see, so it's good to have a strong grade before senior year. And, if you think that you've already screwed up too much your sophomore year, then think again. It's not to late to turn it around for your junior and senior years. "A girl who is a junior now had an awful sophomore year," says Mr. Vecellio. "She only got half of her required credits filled that year, but she came back after the summer much more serious and earned every possible credit. Now, she is on track to graduate next year." It just goes to show that even if you have a bad tri or a bad year, you shouldn't give up. You have to keep working towards that diploma.
For juniors and seniors this year, the graduation requirements are the same. You must get 45 credits in order to graduate. However, for younger students, the graduation requirements have changed. Now, the school is adding ninth grade to the equation, putting the total number of credits required to graduate at 64. And if you think that doesn't add up, then you're right. The new number means that students will have to average 16 credits each of their four years instead of the current 15.
For the classes of 2006 and 2006, the credit requirements(Grades 10-12) for graduation are:
For the class of 2008 and under, the credit requirements(including 9th grade) for graduation are:
-Eric Carlson