Fulton Schools Newsletter

February 5, 2010

 

 

Second Semester

            Second semester is underway for the Middle School and High School students. The 7th grade has two new classes and the 8th grade has three new classes for the marking period. The high school students have four new classes for the semester. Because it is a new marking period for all of the students, academically they have a clean slate. Every one of them starts their classes with a grade of an A. It is up to them to keep it there.

            This is a great time as a parent or guardian to increase your involvement in your childŐs school career. Following these simple suggestions listed below will allow you to help your child academically and may improve your communication with one another.

            1. Utilize Teacher Ease to keep track of your childŐs grades. Teacher Ease is the schools online grading program to provide students and parents an easy to follow grade book. If you are not signed up to use Teacher Ease, please contact the school at 236-7232 and provide a valid email address to gain parental access.

            2. Attend an Athletic or Academic Event with your child. The school has a wide range of after school entertainment choices for parents and students to attend or be involved in. Currently, students and parents can attend basketball and cheer events throughout the week. Our wrestling team is finishing up their season, but Team Districts are home on February 11, 2010. Please check the schools web page for daily announcements for upcoming events at Fulton.edzone.net.

            3. Help your child with their homework.

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to spend time with your child is to do homework with them. It is very rare for a child to not have some form of homework each night. Spending this time with them will not only help them academically, but it will give both of you a chance to talk about their school day and what they need from you to be successful at school.

 

 

Dual Enrollment and Career Technology

            Students in grades 11 and 12 are eligible to participate in career technology classes and 12th grade students in college dual enrollment opportunities during the 2010-2011 school year.

         Career Tech students must be online to graduate with their class, must have normal school attendance patterns and cannot be a discipline problem. Students who meet theses requirements will be transported by the school to the Montcalm Career Center each morning and returned to the high school at 11:15 a.m. for afternoon classes.

         Dual Enrollment students must qualify to pursue most dual enrollment opportunities by achieving a minimal score on one of four different standardized tests. Students qualify by taking the PSAT, ACTPLAN, ACT, or MME standardized tests. Qualifying scores are listed and explained in the table at the end of this article.

        

         The P.A. 160 Act also allows eligible students to take courses in which there are no standardized tests that align in the following course areas.  These are computer science, foreign language, history, political science, or psychology, but all sections of the MME, ACTPLAN, ACT or College Board PSAT must be taken prior to enrollment.

         Students must be enrolled in both the Fulton School District and the post-secondary institution during the Fulton Schools academic year. The college course cannot be a hobby, craft or recreation course or in the area of physical education, theology, divinity or religious education. The school will pay up to $450 per semester for dual enrollment classes taken by students. Any other associated costs are the responsibility of the parents or guardians. Also, please be aware if your child enrolls in a dual enrollment course, they must successfully pass the class, or the child or childŐs parents are responsible to reimburse the Fulton School District for the cost of the class tuition amount paid by the school.

         Qualifying scores are listed in the following table for dual enrollment opportunities. Please refer to the following example to determine if your child is eligible. If your child would like to take a college English class, they must have received a minimal score of 44 in reading and a 49 in writing on the PSAT test, or a score of 17 on the PLAN test, or a score of 21 in English and a 17 in reading on the ACT, or a 1100 in reading and writing on the MME test.

 

ASSESSMENT

CONTENT AREA

MINIMUM SCORE

PSAT

READING                        WRITING                       MATHEMATICS

44                                 49                                 45

PLAN

READING                        MATHEMATICS                 SCIENCE                        ENGLISH                     

17                                                                18                                 19                                 21      

ACT

MATHEMATICS                 READING                        SCIENCE                        ENGLISH

18                                 17                                 19                                 21

MME

READING                        WRITING                       MATHEMATICS                 SCIENCE                        SOCIAL STUDIES

1100                             1100                              1100                              1100                              1100

 

         If you have any questions regarding dual enrollment opportunities, please contact the guidance counselor, Tracy Beadlescomb, or the building principal, Daymond Grifka, at 236-7232.