Incoming 9th Grade Information

eSTEM Students and Parents,

Welcome to the eSTEM family! All of our students are assigned to a School Counselor based off of the student's last name. Students will have the assigned counselor for the next four years and will be available to them for scheduling concerns/questions, assistance with communicating with teachers, grade concerns, navigating the college A-G requirements, college applications, financial aid, career navigation/exploration, personal/social counseling, crisis counseling referrals/resources, and much more.

Please view this newsletter in its entirety as we will go over all the information you will need to transition smoothly over to high school.

• What career are you thinking about?
• What education would that career need?
• Are there any classes that might help you achieve that?

As your counselor, we're here to help you with this!

• We have a Fall semester and a Spring semester.

• Students will take 6 classes per semester.

• Classes are year long courses with the exception of eSTEM elective: Intro to Engineering and Exploring Computer Sciecne.

• Each class is worth 5 credits.

• Earn 60 credits a year.

• You need 220 credits to graduate.

GRADES MATTER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL

1. Language Arts/Language Arts Honors

2. Math: Students will be placed based on current math class and grades.

3. Medical Biology/Biology Honors

4. Introduction to PE/Sports/Concert Band AND Marching Band

5. Spanish/Chinese

6. STEM Elective is based off of selected pathway:

• Engineering: Robotics OR any elective from sections 5 + 6 on the course selection sheet
• Computer Science: AP Computer Science Principles or Cyber Security 1
• Medical: Select one elective from sections 5 + 6 on the course selection sheet

Note: For Engineering and Medical students, we recommend your elective be an Art course or Health so you are meeting requirements for graduation/a-g.

Students can plan the courses for their next four years with their counselor in group meetings in the spring. This is typically done in April to May of the student's 8th grade year to prepare for high school. The plan drafted is fluid; students can make adjustments throughout their high school years.

The eSTEM Four Year Plan includes courses that meets ERHS graduation, a-g (UCs and CSUs), and the STEM Stole requirements. Students must earn Cs or higher in a-g courses in order to meet minimum requirements for the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. Students must pass courses with Ds or better in order to meet ERHS graduation requirements.

Students interested in band and sports may have a modified pathway to accommodate the classes.

*The STEM 4 year Plan includes: ERHS Grad requirements, A-G and STEM requirements.**

• ERHS Graduation Requirements

• eSTEM 4 year plan

• A-G Requirements

• STEM Stole Requirements

1. Review your course selections with your parent(s)/guardian(s) using the 9th Grade Course Selection sheet.

2. Print and circle/highlight the course you would like to take in each of the 6 section.

3. Once you complete the 9th Grade Course Selection sheet, print it and return it to your CURRENT History teacher at your CURRENT school site by February 13th!

4. eSTEM Counselors will visit your school site to review your courses. You will have the opportunity to discuss your courses at that time.

March 24th: River Heights

March 26th: Ramirez

eSTEM Counseling will have meetings available for Incoming 9th grade students/families opening soon! Link to eSTEM Incoming 9th Grade Group Meetings will open late March 2026!

During these meetings, you will have the opportunity to review the STEM 4-year plan as well as ask any questions you may have.

In the meantime, please be sure to look over the Incoming 9th grade Newsletter and the STEM 4-Year Pathway. These resources are designed to answer many questions families have had in previous years- related to school counseling.

We strongly encourage ALL students/families to schedule a GROUP meeting once links are live at the end of March.

Incoming 9th grade scheduling link will go live late March: https://bit.ly/9th2030

Links to Individual meetings to discuss your student's course plan/4 year plan will be shared at the end of each group meeting.

Be sure to review the Incoming 9th Grade To Do List before the start of school on August 11, 2026. There are important dates and pertinent information on this list. You can print it and check off as you complete each item.

• Students transitioning from 8th to 9th grade do not have summer school. This eSTEM Summer School webpage will provide an overview of what summers look like each year.
• CNUSD offers summer programs for qualifying 8th grade students. Parents/students will be contacted by the intermediate school and/or directly from the district.
• Other than the potential math bridge/success camp programs, students should relax this summer because the future summers will be packed!

Click the link below to view our eSTEM To Do Check Off List. It includes, dates, times, links and more!

eSTEM TO DO CHECK LIST

Criteria to obtain an eSTEM stole during spring of senior year for graduation:

• Have 5 of the 6 requirements met below:

  • Complete SERP in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. *Students MUST complete this requirements as it is built into course grades)

  • College eligibility a-g requirements met

  • 2.5+ GPA

  • Complete a STEM pathway
    

  • Complete 4 years of math and science

  • Complete to level 3 or higher of a world language

Students, it is important to actively keep up in your classes. The behaviors that you foster now will carry you to success. Parents and guardians, now is not the time to step aside with your students. Please continue to work with your child to ensure High School success. If you click on the Academic Success link there are tips on how to help both of you stay on task.

Five Strategies for Success:

1. Check your email daily!
2. Learn how to ask for help!
3. Have a dedicated space for school work.
4. Stay organized and do not procrastinate.
5. GET INVOLVED!

At ERHS there are many ways to get involved! Joining a club can help you make new friends, increase your extracurricular activity record and enhance your college application. More information will come regarding clubs!

Presence in class is pivotal-

• Must attend everyday

• Be on time

• Participate in your classes

Log on to "Q"-

• Check your grades and progress on-line regularly

Utilize the support of our teacher-

• Connect with your teacher

• Communication is the key

Get connected with your School Counselor-

• Email or call your School Counselor

**Additional tips and resources can be found here**

Students who partake in sports within the school community get to experience unique and life time moments. Sports are a great way for our students to work as a team and work together toward a common goal. Leadership and team work will carry through the rest of a students life and prepare for future success. Click on the Athletics link if you are interested in joining a sport. If you are trying out for a sport, please complete the athletic clearance packet and turn it in to the Athletics Office prior to the tryout.

CNUSD is 1:1! Each student at CNUSD will receive a device from the district office. Please request a device through Parent Connect by following the directions here. More information will come on device availability for pick up.

Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the largest high schools in California with a total enrollment of about 4,700 students. We have the largest student body of all the five high school in the Corona-Norco School District. It is normal to have anxiety the first week of school as you try to navigate the school campus. If you click on the ERHS/eSTEM Campus Map you will see a visual picture of our school to help you get familiarized with our campus.

We know many of you are eager to earn college credit through taking Norco College Dual Enrollment (DE) classes. We will share details during our Incoming 9th Grade meetings. Be sure to schedule one! Links will be live late March!

Link to schedule a meeting will be live late March- https://bit.ly/9th2030

9th grade students will typically take the GUI 47 course, which is an introductory courses to college and mandatory for any students interested in taking other DE courses.

Sign ups for DE courses occur in the semester prior to the semester that the student seeks to take a course, (i.e. students sign up for the fall in the spring semester before). Details will be shared during the Incoming 9th grade meetings.

Corona-Norco Unified School District

Nondiscrimination Statement

The Corona Norco Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education and in employment and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, national origin, immigration status, race or ethnicity, ethnic group identification, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, or genetic identification, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the protected characteristics named above. BP1312.2; BP/AR4190; BP/AR5145.3; BP/AR5145.7; BP5146; BP/AP5131.2

For any concerns or questions regarding discrimination, equity, Title II, CCR Title 5 or Title IX, please contact:

Dr. RoseMarie Hickman, Coordinator, Human Resources

Corona-Norco Unified School District

2820 Clark Avenue Norco, CA 92860

(951) 736-5000 Contact Dr. Hickman