These students are a wealth of
information and a great resource to
get help from. It is their job to be
aware of the students in their group
who are struggling and seek solutions
for them.
9th grade students need to speak to
their teachers and make sure that
they know when they are available
for help during Wildcat Hour.
We also have National Honor
Society students available for
tutoring in the media center every
day during both halves of Wildcat
Hour. These students are experts in a
number of subjects and a great
resource for 9th graders.
Parents we have many opportunities
for our freshman to improve their
grades and get assistance for classes
in which they struggle. It is very
important that we work together as a
community of learners to make these
students aware of all of these great
supports designed to enhance their
success.
Parents please do not hesitate to call
or email your child’s teacher,
counselor, or administrator when
there is a concern. We want our new
Wildcats to be a part of our
continued success at Arundel High
School.
Sincerely,
Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald
Assistant Principal
Parents,
Our commitment as a 9th
Grade Academy is to utilize a
team approach to develop a strong
community of learners focused on
academic achievement. We want to
assist every ninth grader in making
the transition to high school
academic standards, expectations and
procedures. At the same time, it is
our goal to have every student
prepared to take advanced placement
and rigorous courses while they
attend Arundel High School to
prepare them for the ever changing
world that awaits them after
graduation.
As we enter the second half
of the second marking period, I’d
like to bring you up to date on the
progress of our ninth grade class (aka
Class of 2017). Here are some
numbers that we use to assess our
progress and make decisions as we
move forward:
Total students in the 9th grade = 511
9th grade Overall GPA = 2.92
9th grade Males GPA = 2.76
9th grade Females GPA = 3.08
Discipline referrals for
September and October = 20
We are very proud of our
overall achievement of our 9th grade
class. They are off to a great start.
However as an organization, we need
to look deeper into the data
that is available with regard to our
students. We also found some areas
of need that we would like to share
with you and also make you aware of
how we intend to help our students
succeed. Here are our main concerns:
122 9th grade students failed a
total of 222 classes
61 students failed a Science
class
27 students failed an English
class
24 students failed a Social
Studies class
43 students failed a Math class
Our first priority is making sure that
all of these students understand that
they can still pass these courses if
they work harder during 2nd marking
period. They must pass the second
marking period and pass the final
exam. We ask that you share the
following information with your 9th
grade student to support them and get
them on the right track.
Start by reminding them of the
importance of using their Wildcat
Hour appropriately, and make sure
that they are filling out their WCH
matrix sheets and turning them into
their CATS teachers weekly.
9th grade students need to talk to
their AMPs (Arundel Mentors) about
classes that they need help with.
9th Grade Academy News
Calendar of Events December December 5 & 6 It’s A Wonderful Life Play, 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 7 S.A.T.
December 7 It’s A Wonderful Life Play, 2 AND 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 10 8th
Parent Articulation Night, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium
December 10 AIMA Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., B102
December 11 Athletic Boosters Meeting, 7 p.m., Media
December 12 Winter Music Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 13 Interims Distributed
December 13 Arundel S.W.A.T. Performance, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium
December 14 Craft Fair, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
December 16 – 20 Science Fair, During The School Day, Media
December 17 Parent Teacher Conferences, 2:15 – 3:15 p.m., Cafeteria & Media
December 17 – 20 2nd
Semester Senior Parking Permit Application Distribution During WCH,
Café Lobby
December 23 – January 1 School & Office Closed
January 2014 January 2 School Opens For Teachers and Students
January 7 – 9 High School Assessment Administration
January 7 PSAT/AP Potential Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium & Cafeteria
January 8 Boosters Meeting, 7 p.m., Media
January 11 Coffee With The Principal, 9 a.m., Media
January 14 AIMA Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., B102
January 16 Dance Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Commemoration, School & Office Closed
January 21 – 24 High School Semester Exams, 2 Hour Early Dismissal
January 21 – 24 2nd
Semester Parking Permit Pick Up During WCH, Cafeteria Lobby,
21st (A – H), 22
nd (I – Q), 23
rd (R – Z), 24
th (all)
January 22 & 23 Mandatory Parking Meeting For First Time Parking Permits,
12:30 p.m., Cafeteria
January 24 End Of Marking Period
January 25 S.A.T.
January 27 & 28 School Closed For Students
January 29 Begin 3rd
Marking Period
February February 6 Report Card Distribution
February 6 Instrumental Music Feeder Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
February 11 AIMA Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., B102
February 12 Professional Development, 2 Hour Early Dismissal
February 12 Booster Meeting, 7 p.m., Media
February 13 2015 Class Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Media
February 17 Presidents Day, School & Office Closed
February 21 Arundel’s Got Talent, 7 p.m., Auditorium
February 26 Senior After Prom Parent Meeting, 6 p.m., Media
February 27 Arundel S.W.A.T. (Improv) Show, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium
SCHEDULING CLASSES FOR 2014-2015
December 10 – 6:30 PM Parent/Student Scheduling Information Night for Arundel & Crofton Middle Schools
at Arundel High School
December 11-13 – Arundel counselors will meet individually with Arundel Middle School students and
Sheets will go home for parent signature to be returned by December 19th.
January 9 – 6:30 PM Information Night for Arundel High Parents of rising 10th-12th grades on scheduling, AP
Potential, AP Panel (Student and Parent), AP and honors elective courses and global signature Program.
January 14 – Arundel counselors will meet individually with Crofton Middle school students.
February 18 – March 14- Counselors will meet individually with Arundel High Students. Course Selection
Sheets will go home for parent signature and returned to English teacher by the next English class.
EVENING WITH THE COUNSELORS – January 9 3 – 6 PM
Counselors will be available to answer questions about graduation requirements, college, scholarships and
any concerns you would like to discuss. Please note that staffing for the evening hours is done on a
rotating basis, so please confirm which evening your counselor will be working.
FINANCIAL AID – FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms can be accessed at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For
members of the class of 2014, FAFSA applications can be submitted beginning 1/1/14. Please note that the
deadline is 3/1/14 for Maryland colleges and universities. We recommend that all FAFSA’s should be in by
2/15/14. You can get assistance with filling out the FAFSA on our website.
SCHOLARSHIPS
It is never too early or too late to start looking for scholarship opportunities! Seniors: please check out
Arundel High School’s new scholarship blog, which will be updated regularly with new scholar-
ships. http://arundelscholarships.edublogs.org
Mr. Wilhelm is in the College and Career Center Tuesday thru Friday during Wildcat Hour to assist you in
searching colleges and scholarships!
NCAA Clearinghouse
Seniors expecting to play NCAA Division I or Division II college athletics MUST be certified by the NCAA
Clearinghouse. Please visit www.ncaa.org for more details on the certification process. This process
should start at the end of your junior year.
SCHOOL COUNSELING STAFF
Ms. Heck A-Dam
Mrs. Thomas Dan-Hog
Mrs. Young Hoh-Men (9th and 10th grade)
Mr. Wilhelm Hoh-Men (9th and 10th grade)
Mr. Diggs Meo-Scp
Mrs. Smith Scq-Z
Mrs. Sears School Counseling Secretary
Mrs. Roos School Registrar
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Now is the time to apply for summer internships, enrichment classes and workshops. These can be great
opportunities to explore a wide variety of interests like engineering, medicine and fine arts. Please visit
our website for more information.
GRADUATION BANNERS
The school counseling office is selling graduation banners as a fundraiser to benefit our program at
Arundel High School. The cost of the banner is $35. The banners will be posted in the hallway to honor
your graduating senior during the last quarter of the school year. Order forms are attached to this
newsletter and also posted to our website. Please return completed forms and fee to Ms. Sears by March
3rd.
NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE
We hope you will check out our website at www. arundelhigh.org> counseling office
Senior Banners
Celebrate your senior’s accomplishments with an Arundel High School Banner. They
will be displayed in the halls for the fourth marking period and given to the student to
keep at the end of the school year.
ORDER FORM
Student Name: ______________________________________
Phone Number: ______________________________________
Senior Picture Included: _________Yes __________ No
Line 1: ARUNDEL HIGH SCHOOL
Line 2: (up to 24 letters) ______________________________________
Line 3: (up to 24 letters) ______________________________________
Line 4: (up to 24 letters) ______________________________________
Please enclose check for $35 payable to Arundel High School. Take order form and
check to the School Counseling Office. Last day to order: March 3, 2014
Questions: Call 410-672-4921
Invisible Children Week (Nov. 4-8) here at Arundel was a huge success. The student body raised
$275, which means are a little over 10% of the way to our ultimate goal of $2500 to help buy an
early-warning radio tower to thwart the LRA's efforts to abduct children and force them into slavery as
child brides and soldiers. Please stay posted for upcoming events and contact Mrs. Lange
([email protected]) to make a donation or for any fundraising ideas/suggestions!
Mrs. Erin Lange
Social Studies Teacher
Varsity Swim Team Coach
Class of 2016 Co-Advisor
Invisible Children Advisor
Arundel High School
1001 Annapolis Road
Gambrills, MD 21054
410-674-6500
The Chamber Choir is performing at the Assisted Living Center
right out on Annapolis Road on Friday, December 13 at 12
noon. They will leave the school at 11:20.
The play is December 4-6. Thursday, Friday at 7 and Saturday at 2 and 7 in the AHS auditorium. Admission is $5 for students and children as well as for AHS employees and $8 for General Admission. We have an Improv Show (Arundel S.W.A.T.) on 12/13 in the AHS auditorium at 6:30; admission is $5 a person.
Jennifer Dietrich
Theatre Director
Media Productions Teacher
Arundel High School
Dear Parents,
The scheduling process for the 2014-2015 school year will begin during the month of
December for incoming 9th graders and January for current Arundel High students. As you work
with your student to make selections for the 2014-2015 school year, I want to remind you of
the goals and values at Arundel High School. The school’s goal is to have every student enroll
in an Honors/Advanced Placement course and to be successful on the AP exam by achieving a
3 or better on the AP exam. Arundel values “high expectations and rigor” and this can be
reflected by the courses you choose for the upcoming school year. Students should be pushing
themselves to take the higher level course when they have been successful at the current level.
Your students’ commitment to challenge themselves and persevere will serve you well as you
move on to college.
We will be working with incoming 9th grade students to schedule for ninth grade for the
upcoming school year during the month December for Arundel Middle school students and
during January for Crofton Middle students. Incoming ninth graders will receive a course
selection sheet and Arundel High Program of Study from their English teachers. Middle school
teachers will make recommendations for what courses students should take. Then, Arundel
High counselors will meet with incoming ninth grade students to select appropriate courses
and electives. Middle school students will bring home a printout of what courses the student
selected with their counselors. Parents are to sign the sheet and return it to the middle school.
If you have any concerns or comments, please write a note on the printout and counselors will
follow up with the concerns.
For upperclassmen, on January 3rd, the scheduling process for the 2014-2015 school year will
begin. Upperclassmen will receive a course selection sheet and Arundel High Program of
Study from their English teachers. High school teachers in core classes will make
recommendations online for what courses students should take for the upcoming school year.
In February, Arundel High counselors will meet with the students to select appropriate courses
and electives. Students will bring home a printout of the courses the student selected with
their counselors. Parents are to sign the sheet and return it to the high school. If you have any
concerns or comments, please write a note on the printout and counselors will follow up with
the concerns.
In the spring, Arundel High School will send home another copy of the course selection for
students and parents to verify. If there are any concerns or comments, please write a note on
the printout and return it to the school. Otherwise, we will assume the selected courses are
acceptable.
Please take a moment to review the timeline for scheduling process:
2014-15 Scheduling Information
Articulation and Scheduling Calendar
2014-2015
Middle School Articulation Schedule
December 10th Arundel and Crofton Middle School Parent Information Night at 6:30 pm,
Auditorium
December 10-12th Arundel High Counselors meet with Arundel Middle Students
December 19th All forms from Arundel Middle schools need to be returned and forms need to be
signed by parents
January 14th Arundel High counselors meet with Crofton Middle School Students
January 21st All forms from Crofton Middle schools need to be returned and forms need to be
signed by parents
High School Articulation Schedule
January 6th Scheduling Information (Registration Forms and Arundel’s Program of Study)
distributed and discussed in CATS for upperclassmen
January 7th Parent Night-Course Selection, AP Potential, AP Panel (Student and Parent) DC
and Teachers Display Information for AP and Honor Elective Courses, Global
Signature Program at 6:30 pm
January 10th Course/Elective Fair – Gym, during Wildcat Hour
January 14th CATS teachers will collect course selection forms
February 18th Counselors begin to meet with students in library to discuss recommendations,
course selections and electives
Page 10 DECEMBER 2013 - - - -
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
http://www.arundelhigh.org/
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
December 2013
January 2014
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31