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The Albany High Counselors Present…

An Introduction to Albany High School

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Presentation Overview

  • Welcome and orientation to AHS
  • School culture and activities
  • Scheduling for rising 9th graders

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Welcome to Albany High!

Main Office:

visitor check in, teacher mailboxes, principal’s office

Attendance Office:

tardy passes, student sign-out,

asst. principals’ offices

Counseling Office:

academic, social/emotional, college/career services

Flex Office:

intervention and support, school nurse

Bookroom:

textbooks & materials, club charter and finance, student IDs

Places to know: our offices!

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AHS Block Schedule

AHS Block Schedule

Break

Break

Break

Break

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Balance Activities & Academics

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Get Involved!

  • Clubs (Club Rush)
  • Performing Arts
  • Specialized Skills
  • Athletics

  • Cultural Orgs
  • Volunteer Work
  • Employment
  • Student Leadership.

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Athletics

FALL

Football

Girls Volleyball

Cross Country

Girls Tennis

Girls Golf

Girls Water Polo

WINTER

Basketball

Soccer Wrestling

SPRING

Baseball

Softball

Track & Field Swimming Boys Golf Boys Tennis

Boys Volleyball

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All athletes must have:�1. 2.0 grade point average (C) during the last semester of 8th grade for Fall sports. Winter and Spring academic eligibility is based on 9th grade quarter and semester grades��2. Medical clearance form on file www.goalbanyathletics.org

3. All student-athletes must register and be cleared through www.familyid.com prior to participation.��Note: Athlete CANNOT step on the field until�cleared by the athletic office�

9th Grade Athletic Eligibility

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  • Teachers - first point of contact for concerns in a specific class
  • School Counselors for personal, medical, or academic needs
  • Mental Health Counselors for ongoing support
  • Assistant Principals: discipline, attendance, student activities

Support Services

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  • Tutoring: Math/language/

English hour

  • Teacher contact
  • Advisory Period
  • Aeries

Academic Support

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  • Parent Square for daily and special updates, counseling newsletter, etc
  • School website for bell schedule and events calendar, club list, resources and much more!
  • Student-centered
    • Teachers often communicate directly with students and use Aeries and grade reports to report progress to families
    • Start working on self-advocacy now!

Communication

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  • PTSA - meets monthly
  • Athletic Boosters, Arts groups
  • Engagement Groups: API-PEG, Disability Squad, Pride, BPAG, ELAC, Familias Latinas, JPEG, SWANA - check district website
  • Volunteering: library, school-wide programs and planning, field trip chaperones

We love parent involvement!

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AHS Graduation Requirements

  • English: 4 years
  • Math: 2 years
  • Physical Ed.: 2 years
  • Science: 2 years
    • 1 year life
    • 1 year physical
  • Social Studies: 3.5 years
    • Ethnic Studies

(1 semester - 9th)

    • World History (10th)
    • U.S. History (11th)
    • US Gov/Econ (12th)
  • Fine Arts: 1 year

Plus electives* to total 220 credits

1 year = 2 semesters = 10 credits

*Electives include all classes beyond subject area requirement (e.g. 3rd year of math)

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Credit Summary/Transcripts

Credit-based system

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Credit Summary/Transcripts

  • Quarter grades are like progress reports - and gradebooks do not reset each quarter
  • Semester system: only semester grades appear on transcripts
  • Grade reports are accessed through Aeries (separate from ongoing Gradebooks)

Grading

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9th Grade Program

Required 9th Grade Classes

  1. English 1 or ELD
  2. Math 1 or Accelerated 1/2
  3. Physical Education (PE 1) or Dance
  4. Identity, Health and Society + Ethnic Studies - 1 semester each; may start with either class in fall and will look like 2 classes in course requests

Students in our Special Education Program will work directly with case managers to create a schedule that accurately reflects the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). English Learners/ELD will be placed by teacher recommendation.

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9th Grade Program

Math

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  • 1st Period – English
  • 2nd Period – Math (8th grade teacher rec)
  • 3rd Period - Physical Education or Dance
  • 4th Period - Identity Health & Society/Ethnic Studies
  • 5th Period - Biology / Elective*
  • 6th Period – World Lang / Elective*
  • 7th Period – Elective* (Optional)

*(Fine Arts, Career Tech or General Elective)

Typical 9th Grade Schedule

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9th Grade Electives

SCIENCE

Biology

WORLD LANGUAGE

French / Spanish / Mandarin

FINE ART/CAREER TECH ED

Visual and Performing Arts, Computer Science, Engineering & Design, Journalism

GENERAL ELECTIVE

Homework Lab, Service

9th Grade Program

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Questions?

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http://ahs.ausdk12.org

Click Students > Choosing Classes > Course Catalog

AHS Course Catalog

Don’t forget!

March 20 - Drop in AHS counselor help at lunch!

March 24 - Course selections are due in Aeries

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Course Selection

Steps for Selecting Courses:

  • Review course catalog, select classes you are interested in

  • Consider recommendations/placement from 8th grade (world language, ELD)

  • Consider preference for 6 vs 7 class schedule (reminder: you can graduate with plenty of credits taking 6 classes each year!)

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Course Selection

  • Students will use Aeries to choose classes. Course requests can only be made through the student portal
  • All courses are year-long
  • Alternate/2nd choices are required for all electives except Biology
  • Schedule changes for errors in schedule may only be made during the first week of school
  • Please refer to the course lists and instructions posted on the AHS website
  • Course selections are due Monday, March 24

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Course Selection Instructions

  • Log into your student Aeries account
  • Switch to your Pre-Enrolled Record in Aeries: hover over the student’s name and click on the Pre-Enrolled record. It will say [Pre-Enrolled] Grd 9 next to your name

Jane Cougar

Jane Cougar

Jane

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Course Selection Instructions

Go to Classes > Course Requests Entry

Jane Cougar

Jane

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Course Selection Instructions

  • Set Subject Area to Show All Courses
  • Hit Search to display list (may be more than one page)
  • Find classes alphabetically by name
  • Available classes will show on the right; selected courses will move to the left column
  • Be sure to select alternates for all elective courses

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Course Selection Instructions

Alternate Course Requests

Course Selection Instructions

Alternate Course Requests

Click “Manage” to associate primary and alternate choices

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Course Selection Instructions

  • Course requests will save automatically.
  • Once the Aeries window closes you will not be able to edit choices.

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Find course lists on our website!

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Counseling Caseloads

Michelle Aselstine (A - Cho)�

Becca Burns (Chr – Kn)�Tedra Grogans (Ko– Re)� �M.E. Durell (Rh - Z)

Diane Peterson (MacGregor)

See AHS website for our monthly

Counseling Newsletter!

Follow us at @albanyhighcounseling

We are excited to work with you and your students next year!

In the interest of providing the best possible support to our current students, we’ll be working with AMS staff to make sure any questions get addressed through your child’s current site.

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Opening Day �& Freshman Orientation

Week before school starts

Class Schedules Available

Purchase Yearbooks

PE uniforms

Campus Tours

First Day of School

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

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Questions?