High School Course Selection
January 15, 2015
Introduction
Mr. Charles Malone
High School Principal
Course Request Timeline
January 26th – February 2nd
• Teachers make course recommendations online. If there
is a discrepancy between the teacher recommendation
and the requested course, the student must speak with
their teacher.
• 2015-2016 Course Selection Guide is accessible on the
high school webpage.
• High School Portal will be open for students to
input course requests onto Home Access Center from:
January 26th - February 2nd .
• Students must use their accounts, not the parent account.
Course Request Meetings
February 2nd – February 20th
• Counselors will meet with 9th and 10th graders in
small groups.
• Counselors will meet individually with 11th
graders to discuss graduation progress and
college planning.
• Graduation progress will be reviewed.
Course Selection Verification
Thursday February 26th, 2015:
• Course Selection Verification Sheets mailed home. If any changes
are needed, the requested change must be written on the form.
Parent must sign form and return it to Guidance by March 6th.
Verification forms are not a final schedule. The verification forms
simply verify your course requests.
Friday, March 6th, 2015:
• Deadline for any changes in course requests.
• After March 6, only course request & schedule changes that fit the
Critical Course Selection Change Procedure will be accepted.
Critical Course Selection
Change Procedure
After March 6th, changes in course requests or student
schedules will be honored for the following reasons:
1. Failure to meet the required prerequisite
2. A level change that has been recommended by the teacher
3. A change as guided by the student’s IEP or 504 plan
4. A request to add a class in place of a study hall
Graduation Requirements
New Hope-Solebury High School requires twenty-eight(28.0)
earned credits for graduation in the following areas:
Course
Credit
English
4
Social Studies
4
Math
4
Science
4
Health/PE
2
Electives
9.50
Culminating Service Project
.5
Total Credits
28.0
Lab Support Classes
•
.5 credit course
•
Reinforces content for Math, Biology, or Literature
•
Placement based on Standardized Testing, Prior
Coursework Achievement, Teacher Recommendation
Keystone Preparation Courses
Keystone exam scores arrive in the summer.
Any student who does not score Proficient or
Advanced may need to be scheduled for a
Keystone Preparation course in either Algebra
1, Biology and/or Literature. This would result
in a schedule change during the summer.
Highlights
• Bridges Online Course Offerings: core subjects
& electives offered
• 3 new Mathematics electives
– Interactive Algebra
– Maker Math
– Probability
– Trigonometry
• 3 new Information Technology electives
– Introduction to Python
– Digital Productivity
– Maker Math
Culminating Service
Project
• To extend learning beyond the classroom and into the
community, to promote civic responsibility through active
participation in service experiences, to foster a sense of caring
for others, and to develop a habit of volunteer service to those
in need.
• Students will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis and will earn .50
credits toward their graduation requirements.
• Community Service log sheet and details are on the high
school web site:
High School Webpage > Departments > Community Service
* Advisor: Mr. Finley (mfinley@nhsd.org)
Choosing the Best Fit Course Level
Academic / Honors
• Honors courses are best suited for motivated learners who are
able to learn at an accelerated pace. Honors courses are
weighted.
• Current Honors students must maintain a minimum final grade of
83 and receive teacher recommendation to continue in the
Honors sequence.
• In order to advance into Honors, students must attain a minimum
of 92 and receive teacher recommendation.
Advanced Placement(AP)
•AP courses replicate the work characteristic of an introductory
college course and are organized in accordance with the
guidelines published by the College Board.
AP Contract
It is the belief of the New Hope-Solebury School District that
all students who are willing to accept the challenge of a
rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for
enrollment in AP (Advanced Placement) courses.
All students requesting an AP course will be required to attend
a preliminary meeting with the AP course teacher (held in
January or February) and sign an AP contract.
The AP Course Contract is designed to provide students and
parents with the necessary information before they accept the
responsibility of committing to an AP course.
AP Contracts are due to the Guidance Office by February
20th.
Summer Assignments
Summer Assignments are posted on the high school website
by the end of the school year and throughout the summer.
The following subjects may require summer assignments:
• English
• Math
• Select AP Courses
Failure to complete summer assignments may result in a
grade penalty. Schedule changes will not be made based
on incomplete summer assignments.
Sample Schedule
1 credit English
1 credit Social Studies
1 credit Math
1.5 credit Science
3.5 remaining credits (For example: Health, PE, Electives, World
Language)
_____________
8 credits maximum per year
• 1 credit corresponds to a full year course.
• .5 credit corresponds to a half year course.
* Students may take a maximum of one full year study hall per year.
Learning Support
Students with IEPs will work with their parents, learning
support teacher, and classroom teachers to determine the
most appropriate courses for 9th grade.
A change in course requests or schedule that is guided by a
student’s IEP or 504 plan is permitted by the Critical
Course Selection Change Policy.
Adding Course Requests in
Home Access Center
Adding Alternate Course
requests to Home Access Center
• Once you have added your primary course requests,
next you must add 4 alternate elective courses.
• Click on the course and select from the pull down
menu: “Make Alternate to Any Course”
• A schedule containing alternate elective choice(s) is
not considered a schedule conflict.
• Do not link the Alternate course to other courses
Friendly Reminders
•Please be sure to schedule 8 complete class periods.
**Keep in mind the lab sciences are 1.5 credits but take up
2 class periods in a student schedule. PE or Math Lab would
be scheduled to run opposite days that you don’t have lab.
• A one credit elective is equivalent to two half credit
electives.
•*Students may take a maximum of one full year study hall
each year.
THANK YOU!
Mr. Malone, High School Principal
cmalone@nhsd.org
Ms. El-Turky (A-K)
helturky@nhsd.org
Mrs. Reeder (L-Z)
sreeder@nhsd.org
High School Main Office: 215-862-2028