March of 8th Grade Year
• Attend Capistrano Valley High School’s “Eighth Grade Student/Parent Expo” – usually held on a Saturday in March; exact date to be determined.
• Visit www.cvhs.com to browse website and to sign up for periodic school List Serv messages by clicking on “Info and News,” and then on “List Serv.”
May of 8th Grade Year
• Academic Advisors and Counselors visit middle schools to discuss registration for fall classes. Review presentation.
• Students complete registration forms and turn in through to their middle school.
August
• Pick up annual re-registration packet at the beginning of August - check website for dates/times.
• Attend your scheduled Freshman Day during walk-through registration. This is your preferred day.
• Verify course selection for fall semester.
• Complete assigned summer work for Accelerated classes if applicable.
• Attend Freshman Orientation – check front page of website for more information.
September
• Come early to the first day of school. Look for your 1st period class on the posted lists around school and report directly there. You will be given your schedule at the end of 1st period. (if you did not receive a schedule during Freshman Orientation). Check your schedule – do you have at least 6 classes? English? Math? PE/Health? Science? Geography/CECA? Elective? (If college-bound, make sure you are meeting the subject A-G admission requirements -- see CVHS Curriculum Guide).
• Sign up for:
- School Loop at www.cvhs.com. You will need your student’s 7 digit identification number that is on their schedule or their ID card. School Loop will be available for registration after the first day of school. Important for daily assignment information, attendance and other information.
- Parent Portal at http://abi.capousd.org/ You will need to call the school for the login information to create your account. Important for updating contact information, transcripts, testing info, and more.
• Save samples of your best work for your academic portfolio throughout the school year.
• Keep a log of your co-curricular activities to be used later to complete your resume for college applications.
October
• Review grades at the First Progress Report (October). Is a level change necessary? Speak with your teachers and advisor/counselor, and make sure to meet the deadline for changes.
November
• The Second Progress Reporting period ends (December).
January
• Meet with your advisor/counselor during advisement to review your classes for the spring semester.
• Possibly sign up online for SAT subject tests if applicable at www.collegeboard.com (See notes under June below.)
February
• New semester begins at the beginning of February.
March
• Review grades at the First Progress Report (March). Is a level change necessary? Speak with your teachers and advisor/counselor, and make sure to meet the deadline for changes.
• Summer school applications are usually available at the end of the month. If you have failed a class or need to improve a grade, it is wise to sign up early. Applications are available in Guidance - See your advisor.
April
• It’s not too early to think about colleges, so attend a college fair. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors offers several in our area. See the website: www.nacacnet.org for more information. Look under Events Calendar.
May
• Second Progress Reporting period ends (May). Sign up for summer school if you have a D or F in a class. Applications are in Guidance and classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Pick challenging classes for your sophomore year.
June
• SAT Subject tests are held. Since University of California (UC) applicants must submit scores on two SAT Subject tests sometime during high school in two different subject areas of the student's choice (history/social science, English literature, mathematics (level II only), laboratory science, or language other than English), some freshman students may choose to take one or more of these tests for either Biology or World History (ATMS students and AP World History students) near the end of the freshman year. While not all colleges require the SAT Subject tests, many competitive schools do, including the UC system and the Ivy leagues. Check with individual schools to determine any specific requirements.
• Sign up at www.CSUMentor.edu . Use the High School Planner and enter your classes and grades from your first year in high school. This Planner will help keep you on track for the A – G requirements for college admission. Grades for all A-G requirements must be C or higher.
Summer Break
• Make up any deficiencies you may have in your graduation requirements.
• Practice online for the PLAN and PSAT tests that you should take in October of your sophomore year if you are 4-year college-bound.
• Complete the assigned summer work for any Accelerated or AP classes you will be taking sophomore year.
• Visit colleges that you are interested in! Take a tour, talk to students on campus and talk with admission representatives. Do they have the major you want?
• Possibly take a class at Saddleback College, get an internship, do community service or work at a job in a field that interests you.
Updated 9/24/12
