1. Welcome
Gateway Regional High School
8th Grade Orientation
Night

2. State Testing
• April 29th-May 2nd
• NJ ASK 7 and 8
• Minimal Level of
Proficiency (200)

3. Instructional Levels
• Leveling
 General
 College Prep
 Honors
 EXAMPLE: Algebra I, Algebra I-CP,
Honors Algebra I
 Advanced Placement

4. Guidance
REQUIRED COURSES CREDITS
 English (4 yr.) 20
 Mathematics (3 yr.) 15
 Science (3 yr.) 15
 World History 5
 U.S. History I, II 10
 Physical Education (4 yr.) 12
 Health (4 yr.) 4
 21st Century Skills 5
(Computers, Family & Consumer Science)

5. Guidance
 Visual, Fine, & Performing Arts 5
(Music, Art, Theater)
 Financial Literacy 2.5
 World Language 5
Total Required Credits 98.5
+ ELECTIVE COURSES 26.5
__________________________________________
TOTAL CREDITS NEEDED
TO GRADUATE 125

6. Course Options
Each Department has numerous required
courses needed towards graduation as well
as ELECTIVE OPTIONS

7. Language Arts
• English I, II, III, IV
• Shakespeare/Shakespeare
Made Relevant
• Creative Writing
• Cinema/Film Studies
• SAT Prep

8. Science
• Physics or Honors Physics
(new sequence for 9th grade)
• Chemistry (new for 10th)
• Biology (new for 11th)
• AP Biology or Chemistry
• Human Anatomy and
Physiology

9. Math
• Geometry, Geometry CP,
Geometry Honors
• Algebra I – CP (for anyone unsuccessful
in 8th grade)
• Algebra II, Algebra II CP
Algebra II (Honors)
• Precalculus, H. Precalculus,
H. Calculus, AP Calculus
• SAT Prep

10. Social Studies
• Grade 9 – World History
• Grades 10 and 11 –
US History 1 and 2
• Personal Finance/Civics
are required courses for
11th grade
• Success in the Workforce

11. Physical Education/Health
• All students must take and pass 4 years of Physical Education
and Health in order to graduate.
• PE Option II is an opportunity for 3 sport athletes or year round
athletes to have their activity counted as a Physical Education
course at Gateway. This allows students the opportunity to take
a study hall or another course in its place. SEE A GUIDANCE
COUNSELOR IF INTERESTED!
 Example: Student plays varsity Football, Basketball, Baseball. This
could replace 11th grade Physical Education. Student could choose to take
Health at Gateway or in the community.

12. More Elective Options
While in high school students have a
variety of options they can explore!

13. Education Academy
• For students interesting in the field of education.
• Open to all 11-12th grade students who feel they
would be successful in this program.
• In school and out of school experiences.
 Field experiences can be at Gateway or elementary
schools depending upon grade level.
• Partnership with Rowan University.
• Teacher Cadet 1 and 2

14. Technology Education
• Foundations of Technology
Literacy
• Technology, Design and
Engineering I and II
• Capstone (senior only
course)

15. Music
• Concert Choir
• Senior High Band
• Musical Theater
• Technology &
Fundamentals of
Music
• Guitar I

16. World Language
• Latin
• German
• Spanish
• French
• Exploratory Spanish
• Exploratory French
Students exiting 8th grade world languages
and continuing in the same language
will take level 2 in 9th grade.

17. Business
• Microsoft Office*
• Accounting I
• Personal Finance/Marketing with
Social Media (option to take in
11th grade in lieu of Civics)
• Multimedia Design*
* Count towards Practical Arts Requirements

18. Family and Consumer Science
• Life Skills
• Independent Living
• Gourmet Cooking I & II
• American/International
Foods
• Creative Sewing
• Fashion Design I & II

19. Art
Art Course Offerings
•Creative Design I and II
•Computer Graphics &
Introduction to
Photography
•Introduction to Filmmaking
•Advanced Photography
•Art I, II, III, IV, AP

20. How will students Schedule?
• Mrs. Joniec provided students with information
regarding scheduling online. Directions were
also sent home in a letter earlier this month.
• Students will need to log into their Powerschool
accounts.
• Click on “Class Registrations”
• Students can view courses they have been
registered for and teacher recommendations.

21. Additional Information
• Dual Credit Program
• Students enrolled in the following courses are eligible to receive
college credits for those courses IF they adhere to the rules set forth
by the community college sponsoring their class. If your student
does this, they will be considered a dual student of both Gateway
and the community college.
 AP BIOLOGY, AP CALCULUS, AP CHEMISTRY, AP ENGLISH
IV, AP ART, AP US I AND II, FRENCH III-IV, GERMAN III-IV,
SPANISH III-IV, and Latin III-IV
• Requirements: Fill out application in October and pay the small
fee. Receive a “B” or better in that class.
• After you have graduated, ask for a transcript from the sponsoring
college (GCC or CCC).
• The OTHER way to receive Dual Credit is to have your student take
an AP class and then the appropriate AP test in May. They must
have a certain score to receive college credit.

22. Additional Information
• Option II is a way for students to gain high
school credit outside the traditional
classroom.
 Examples include: Senior Option (going to
GCC and Gateway as seniors), School to
Work, Practical Art credit for community music
lessons, Health credits for a community based
First Aid course.

23. Waivers
• Waiver Information
 Students are able to waive into a level 3, Honors, or
AP course. Students must understand that they may
not have had the recommended grade and/or teacher
recommendation.
 Parents must submit a waiver letter to the Director of
Guidance by the last day in June.
 See your counselor for more specific information.

24. The Extras
• Extracurricular activities are essential. It is
just as important to be involved outside
the classroom as in it!
• Volunteering is a very important way to
obtain scholarships for college.
• Always keep future goals in mind because
it is essential to align your current classes
to potential future career goals.

25. Looking Ahead

26. NHS Requirements
• Four-part procedure for selection into the National Honor Society at
Gateway, which corresponds to national NHS guidelines.
• The guidance department issues an adjusted grade point average list that
identifies students with a cumulative average of 93.0 or higher.
• Those students who meet the proper GPA requirement are given an
application that they must complete in order to go through the selection
procedure.
• Each member of the faculty is given a list of nominees. They are asked to
rate them in the areas of character, leadership and service. They are also
asked to make appropriate comments about the students regarding the
three areas.
• The advisor(s) will assemble a committee representing five academic
departments of the faculty. This committee will meet to discuss the findings
of the faculty survey and of the student application. A student will be
accepted in the NHS if he or she receives a majority of the five votes.

27. NHS
• Current Advisors are Dana Layng and
Christina Gailliout
• Sampling of NHS activities include:
 Gator Day events
 Unicef Coin Collection
 Food Drive that benefits residents in the
Gateway communities
 Clean Communities Program

28. Linking it all Together
It will be essential to link past, current, and
future goals together will in high school.

29. College-Academic
Requirements
• 4 year colleges
 Most require at least 16 academic credits
English (4 yr), Algebra I, II, Geometry, W.
History, 2 more years of History, 3 years of
science (Environmental, Chemistry, Physics,
or Biology), 2 years of world language, 1 year
of an elective
• 2 year colleges
 Most require high school diploma

30. College and Athletics
• Students interested in playing college
athletics need to let their high school
coaches and guidance counselors know.
• Parents and Students can begin to review
NCAA Eligibility Center information.
www.eligibilitycenter.org

31. NJ STARS
• When thinking of college remember the NJ STARS
program.
• NJ STARS is a scholarship program exclusively for New
Jersey residents that covers the cost of tuition at New
Jersey's 19 community colleges.
• Students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their high
school class may be eligible.
• Students must complete a rigorous series of high school
courses as a first step toward eligibility, as determined
by the NJ Commission on Higher Education in
consultation with the NJ Commissioner of Education.

32. Additional Financial Aid
• There are additional financial aid
opportunities for students who meet free
and reduced lunch criteria when applying
to colleges or taking the SAT’s.
• If this applies to you, speak with the
guidance department during 10 th grade.

33. Naviance
Do you know what it is?
•It is a comprehensive online tool for students to
better understand who they are and where they
want to go
•It also provides a means for parents and
counselors to track a student’s progress in these
areas
•You may hear us use these terms
interchangeably...
 Naviance Succeed is what educators see
 Family Connection is for students and parents

34. Naviance (Continued)
• Constant email correspondence with counselors.
• Counselors can email news and tips through
Family Connection as well as emails you supply.
• Allows for parents to view what student is
working on in school for careers.
• Provides comprehensive 7-12 career and
college structure for parents and students to
explore together.

35. Naviance (Continued)
• Students will complete resumes through their
accounts which can also be sent to colleges.
• Gateway will be requiring all students to request
transcripts through Naviance. These transcripts
will then be able to be sent electronically or
hardcopy to colleges, scholarships, etc. as
appropriate.

36. Thank you
Guidance Department Philosophy –
Decide where you want to end up and take the steps
needed to get there. Start TODAY!
Thank you for coming out this evening.
Please feel free to speak more specifically
with any of us.