When will students be able to sign-up for classes? Our counselors will be visiting classrooms and our feeder intermediate school sites after the winter break to review the course selection process and distribute paperwork necessary to sign-up for next year's courses.
When do I have to select the courses by? Incoming 9th graders must have the Course Selection hard copy turned in to NHS by the Friday of the week in which the 8th Grade Parent Night is held. (Although paperwork can be submitted any time, to ensure we balance class sizes and ensure each students receives the courses they want and/or need, it critical all requests are received by the Friday of the week in which the 8th Grade Parent Night is held). Returning students must submit their online course selection before the window closes and submit their hard copies of the Course Selection sheet by their scheduled class visit to ensure they receive priority over students who arrive after their regularly scheduled appointment time.
How can we turn in the Course Selection Sheet? Students will be able to take the forms home to review with parents/guardians and can either
Incoming 9th Graders: turn in their forms to their intermediate school office to have it mailed to NHS
Incoming 9th Graders: turn it in at the 8th Grade Parent Night in February
All Students: drop it off personally to the Norco High School main office
Does the form have to be completed? Yes. If any elective classes are left blank, counselors will simply select the elective class for the student that typically has the lowest enrollment or fits best into the student's schedule, which may not be the class that he/she may not necessarily want. If any core classes are left blank, counselors will use the student's 8th grade transcripts and CST scores to determine his/her proper placement. Additionally, the parent and student signatures are required to ensure proper notification and agreement has been made.
What if I have questions or need assistance to complete the Course Selection Sheet? Simply ask your counselor, Student Advisor, or Administrator at your current intermediate site, or attend the 8th Grade Parent Night in February where you can visit with staff about all of your concerns and questions in person. Or, you may also email your counselor.
Why do returning students have to complete both the hard copy and online course request forms? NHS is transitioning to an electronic format in which students can select their courses via the internet. This not only saves a considerable amount of time for the counselors since the courses are automatically loaded into the scheduling system (which reduces data entry time when hand entering course selections from the hard copy), but also begins to prepare students for utilizing the internet for many real world experiences, such as applications and school registration processes. The hard copy is also required so that we obtain both the student and parent/guardian's signature and have a hard copy of the student's request along with notes the counselor may make while meeting with the student to have on-hand for future reference.
Honors Classes
How do I sign up for an honor's class? Simply select which class(es) you would like to take and the counselor will ensure that your request is taken into consideration when building your class schedule. Counselors must take your 8th grade grades and CST (California State Test) scores into consideration when placing students into honor's classes, so be sure to visit with your counselor should you have a question or concern.
What if I sign up for an honor's class and I don't like it or I'm not performing well? Visit with your counselor within the first two weeks of the new school year to discuss your concerns.
What is the difference between an honor's course and a general course? An honor's course is much more rigorous and fast-paced than a general course, which involves significantly more homework and much higher levels of participation to receive exceptional grades. Honor's courses also carry an extra GPA point than general classes - an "A" in a regular class is worth 4 points, whereas an "A" in an honors or AP course is worth 5 points. (View explanation here.)
Are AP (Advanced Placement) courses offered? AP courses are not available to freshman - only honors classes at this time.
Electives
What electives are offered to freshman? Refer to the Course Selection Sheet (will be uploaded soon)
What is AVID? Visit the AVID webpage for a complete overview of the program.
Athletics/Sports
Can I take a sport in lieu of taking P.E.? Yes! You must first sign up for P.E., then attend try-outs for the sport you are interest in, and if you make the team, the coach will give a list of all students who made the team to the counselors to make the schedule change. Don't forget to complete the Athletic Clearance Packet before try-outs!
How do I when try-outs take place? Visit the Athletic page on our website often, or contact the Athletic's Office (view contact information here).
How is my schedule impacted if I make the team and decide to quit in the middle of the season/semester? Your association with the team must be handled directly with your head coach. Should you decide to quit, your schedule may not change if it is after the first two weeks of the start of a semester or school year. Counselors will look to see if there are other P.E. classes to place you in, but if there are only sports P.E.s during that given period, you may be forced to attend the sport you just quit for that given period only throughout the remainder of the semester. Participation and good attitude are necessary during that class period to ensure you receive a decent grade; however your participation outside of that class period does not impact your grade.
What if I quit one sport and want to take another that is offered that semester? You must talk to both coaches - the coach of the team you are quitting as well as the coach of the team you want to sign up with. If both are in agreement, and the P.E. offered is during the same period, the change can be made. If the P.E. classes are not available during the same periods, the change can only be made with administrative approval.
Schedules
When will students receive their schedules? Students will receive their preliminary schedules during fall registration. A few days prior to the first official day of school for the 2013-14 school year, students will return to NHS on a scheduled day to pick up their schedules, check out their textbooks, take their school photos, purchase P.E. apparel, and so much more. Once they receive their schedules, students are encouraged to review their classes. Should there be an error, counselors will be available that day to make changes or discuss the class selection you have been assigned.
How long do students have to make schedule changes when the new year begins? Students may have up to two weeks after the first day of the official 2013-14 school year to make any class changes. After that time, no changes can be made until the semester ends just before the winter holiday break.
Clubs & Activities
What clubs are there to join? Please visit our website for a complete list of clubs to join. Listen to announcements regularly for meeting places, times, and events.
How do I sign up for ASB? ASB requires an application process whereby students must apply, interview, and go through a trial period to see if a student is a good fit for the organization. Please contact the ASB Director for further information: Mrs. Cindy Lee at [email protected].