1. Transition to High
School, College and Life:
Ideas for High Schools
Presenters:
Akron Firestone High School
Linda Kakish, Christopher Pashke

2. Firestone Background
Number of Students by Grade:
Ninth: 312
Tenth: 304
Eleventh: 304
Twelfth: 267
Total: 1187
School Type: Urban
Region: NE Ohio
Performance Rating: Excellent
AYP Status: Met
School Improvement Status: OK
Joined HSTW/MMGW: 2002
Feeder middle schools: Litchfield
Miller South

3. Firestone High School
Comprehensive High School:
• Visual and Performing Building
• International Baccalaureate Program
• Information Technology
• Project Lead The Way
• Marketing Education (DECA)
• Cooperative Business Education (CBE)
• Business Finance
• Career Based Intervention (CBI)
• Content Literacy Continuum
• Fusion Reading
(University of Kansas)
• 100 Book Challenge

4. Firestone High School
Transition Programs:
• Falcon Flight School
• Career Education Programs: Information Technology, PLTW,
AOT, Business Finance, DECA, CBI Career Based Intervention
• Firestone Intervention Remediation and Enrichment
• Credit Recovery
• Community Open House
• Senior to Sophomore
• Post Secondary Options
• Reality Check
• College Knowledge
• College Articulation Agreements

5. Falcon Flight School
Agenda
12:30 - 1:00 Registration in the Commons
Students will pick-up their schedule and folder.
1:00 – 1:30 Welcome and General Information in the Auditorium
The principal will speak to students and parents.
1:35 – 2:50 Classroom Visitation in the Classrooms
Students will walk through their actual class schedule.
1:35 – 2:35 Parent Meeting in the LRC
Parents may attend an informational session.
2:50 – 3:00 Assembly in the Gymnasium
Students will learn about FHS assemblies.
3:00 – 3:15 Dismissal
Classroom Visitation Schedule - Classrooms
1:35 – 1:45 1st period
1:49 – 1:54 2nd period
1:58 – 2:03 3rd period
2:07 – 2:12 4th period Lunch - snack
2:16 – 2:21 5th period Lunch - snack
2:25 – 2:30 6th period Lunch - snack
2:34 – 2:39 7th period
2:43 – 2:48 8th period

6. Falcon Flight School
Outline of each activity:
Registration:
Students receive a folder with the following:
Orientation Program
Schedule with map of school on back
FHS materials – pencils, paper, etc.
School help kit – helpful hints for each content area
Student Pamphlet – How to Get Good Grades in High School
Students may visit the various organizations that have a table set up for information.
If a parent attends, parents will receive an FHS folder with general guidelines for the school, a pamphlet
on how to help the high school student, and perhaps some informational articles on how to best
help the school. Also included will be a PTSA registration form with basic information.

7. Falcon Flight School
Welcome and General Information:
Principal:
Welcomes students to FHS for their freshmen year
introducing the assistant principals, counselors, teaching
staff, and lastly the Freshmen class advisor
The Freshman Class Advisor will:
Introduce other advisors
Review program for the day
The Principal will then dismiss students to their first period
class.

8. Falcon Flight School
Classroom Visitations:
Each student will:
Go to each class, as though it were his/her regular school day.
Each parent who remains for the orientation may walk the schedule with
his/her student, or may attend informational meetings with teachers
of the visual/performing arts, IB, or counselors.
Each teacher will introduce himself/herself to the class, providing the
general information on the course and class expectations for each
student.
(Also consider going over the help sheet in their orientation folder for
future use.)

9. Falcon Flight School
First period teachers will distribute planners and locker cards, collect
locker money and emergency information.
Eighth period teachers will instruct students how to get to the
gymnasium and where to sit for a PM Pep assembly.
Lunch Period staff will review with students the procedures and
guidelines of the cafeteria.
Study Hall staff will inform students of the procedures and guidelines for
study hall.
Staff members with no freshmen classes will be assigned to assist
teachers with freshmen, lunch period staff, study hall staff, to monitor
hallways and direct students to their destinations.

10. Falcon Flight School
Assembly:
At the end of eighth period, students will be
directed, via PA to the gymnasium.
The Freshman Class advisor will inform students
about traditions of an FHS Pep assembly –
cheers, spirit stick, and behavioral expectations.
Cheerleaders will lead students in traditional
cheers.

11. Falcon Flight School
Dismissal:
Students will be dismissed from the assembly, and are encouraged to walk
around the building and return to the commons to visit the activity tables for
further information.
Necessary Information/materials:
Letter to Freshmen and parents
Letter to organizations available to present info at the orientation.
Orientation Program
Folders with materials: school supplies, handouts, pamphlet, schedule
Student Schedules with maps on back
Teacher instruction, assignment sheet
Homeroom class list
Class lists – possible but not necessary
Locker materials

12. Career Education Programs
Students enrolled in Career Education Programs
have opportunities to develop academic,
technical, and leadership skills.
• AOT/ Business Finance
• Pre-Engineering: PLTW (Project Lead The Way)
• Information Technology
• Marketing Education: DECA (Distributive Education Club of
America)
• CBI Career Based Intervention

13. AOT & Business Finance
This program is designed for the student who plans
to enroll in a business field in college, or one who
plans to won their own business. Students learn
the basics of keeping track of business
transactions involving the exchange of money for
goods or services.
• Business management
• Accounting
• Business Finance I & II
• Administrative Office Technology I & II
(Employment)

14. Project Lead the Way
PLTW is a standards-based pre-engineering 4 year
program. The curriculum challenges students to
solve real-world engineering problems by
applying their knowledge and skills in
mathematics, science, and technology.
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Principles of Engineering
• Digital Electronics
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Engineering Design & Development

15. Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) is a 4 year challenging, highly
technical, hands-on program. This program provides
students with the essential competencies to pursue
further study in information technology.
Students develop skills & knowledge to succeed in the
areas of Network Systems, Interactive Media, Information
Support and Services, Programming, & Software
Development.
The junior and senior year specialization focus is geared
towards Interactive Media.

16. DECA Distributive Education Clubs of America
This program is designed to help college bound & career oriented
students prepare for careers in marketing and management. All
marketing education students are members of DECA, which
enhances the curriculum by providing students with the opportunity
to develop interpersonal communication and leadership skills
through managing the DECA store, chapter projects, competition,
and leadership conferences.
The DECA program is driven by four points of the DECA diamond.
Leadership
Social Responsibility
Civic Consciousness
Vocational Understanding

17. International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate program is designed to meet the highest
standards required of any high school student in the world. The IB Program
is committed to the full development of power of the mind and integration of
learning with service.
There are only 2,121 schools in 125 countries throughout the world offering this
program to students. Firestone is one of only 555 member schools in the
United States and one of 13 in the state of Ohio.
Firestone is in its 11th year of the International Baccalaureate program.
During that time, 82% of students earned the prestigious IB diploma.
The world average for this period was 79%.

18. Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement courses offered:
• English Literature
• French & Spanish
• American & European History
• Biology, Chemistry, & Physics
• Calculus & Statistics
• Studio Art/Design & Photography

19. Visual & Performing Arts
The Visual and Performing Arts Program is designed for
students who have a strong interest and talent in any of
the following arts areas: dance, drama, visual art, or
vocal/instrumental music.
This program prepares students to pursue an arts career or
to enhance their creative abilities no matter what area
they choose.

20. Credit Recovery
A building initiative to identify and assist failing students in the subjects
of Language Arts and Mathematics. The course allows the students
the opportunity to make up the credit while keeping the students on
the successful track towards graduation.
• Students are identified for failure in Language Arts or Mathematics
• Students meet with counselor
• Letter sent home to notify parents/guardian of failure and option of
credit recovery.
• Parent/guardian are scheduled to meet with counselor & building
principal.
• Students and parents sign credit recovery contract.
• Students are scheduled into the course.
• Students use Plato software in mathematics section of credit
recovery.

21. FIRE Program
A building initiative to identify and assist failing students. The program
allows the students the opportunity to be paired with a college
student from The University of Akron or Kent State University for
individual tutoring and mentoring to keep the students on the
successful track towards graduation.
• Students are identified for failure in the first nine weeks .
• Students meet with counselor and Mr. Christopher
Martin, Assistant principal
• Letter sent home to notify parents/guardian of failure and
option of FIRE program.
• Parent/guardian are scheduled to meet with counselor &
Mr. Martin.
• Students and parents sign FIRE Program contract.
• Students are assigned a Mentor from UA or KSU.

22. FIRE Program
• Mentors and student meet and discuss what types of problems the
students are having in the classroom.
• Mentors shadow and watch the student in the classrooms.
• Mentors then meet the student on set times for individual tutoring
and on how to use study skills to help improve student performance.
• Mentors meet several times with Mr. Martin and their College
Professor to discuss student performance and techniques on how to
help the students.
• Mentors are Education Major Students at their Universities..
Success
• 40 tenth graders were selected. (20 African American Male and 20
African American Females)
• 37 completed the year and were promoted to Eleventh Grade.
• Minority achievement gap was 12% now down to 8%

23. Community Open House
A building initiative to inform the surrounding community
and local community members and businesses on our
successes and the many programs and opportunities for
student success at Firestone High School.
• Setting up a steering committee
• Come up with theme (Excellent Education Tuition Free)
• Illicit volunteers from student body, PTSA, athletic programs & school
clubs
• Set up brag sheets, develop fliers to distribute (advertisement),
budget, along with a strategic plan for implementation
• Collect former student and parent statements on how and what
Firestone High Schools has done to assist in their/son’s or
daughter’s success.

24. Senior to Sophomore Program
An Akron Public Schools and University of Akron initiative to
provide the opportunity for students to earn 24 college
credits in just one year.
• Established in 2008
• Seniors who meet specific criteria are entered into the program at the
request of student and parent/guardian.
• Students ONLY pay $105.00 for University of Akron application fee
the remaining balance is covered by the institution of higher
education.
• All classes are taken at the University of Akron. The student may
return to his/her home high school to participate in all activities.

25. Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program
The postsecondary Enrollment Options Program was
created by the Ohio Legislature to allow high school
students around the state to enroll in a college or
university. This program is available to qualified high
school students enrolled in a high school eligible to
receive postsecondary funding.
• 9th & 10th grade requirements: 3.75 cumulative g.p.a, 26 ACT
composite or 1150 SAT composite, letter of recommendation, pass
ALL parts of the Ohio Graduation Test, must have grade of B+ in all
English courses, and write a 500 word essay on reasoning behind
enrollment into program. Students can only enroll in one course per
semester.
• 11th & 12th grade requirements: 3.30 cumulative g.p.a., 24 ACT
composite or 1110 SAT composite, letter of recommendation, pass
ALL parts of the Ohio Graduation Test, may enroll in 14 credit hours
per semester.

26. Other Transition Initiatives
Reality Check: A program where the students are given an
occupation, salary, and family structure where they need
to develop a financial budget that meets the needs and
demands of the real world.
Career passports: A collection of samples of student work
that has been completed in the students 4 years of high
school. (e.g. written work, artistic projects)
College Knowledge: An initiative for both parents/guardians
and students to gain knowledge on the entire process of
continuing into an institution of higher education.
(Financial aid application, universities visits, application
processes, transcript procedures, one on one college
representative visits)

27. Other Transition Initiatives
• Students for Students
• NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) – At risk students
• Intervention and Assistance Team – Targeting IEP
student

28. Contact Information:
Akron Firestone High School
333 Rampart Avenue
Akron, Ohio 44313-6497
330-873-3315
Fax: 330-873-3318
Principal: Larry Petry – lpetry@akron.k12.oh.us
Linda Kakish – kakish@zips.uakron.edu
Christopher Pashke – cpashke@akron.k12.oh.us