Course Selection Night
FEBRUARY 19th 2013
Rising 9th-12th
Graders
Welcome Parents
and Students!
Why Plan for Course
Selection?
Student Success!
Planning for Your
High School Program
• Who is involved in the process?
Students, Parents, School Counselors
and Teachers
What should be considered?
A student’s…
• Record of achievement
• Educational and career goals
• Interests and abilities
Planning for Your
High School Program
• When do you choose your high
school courses?
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–
–
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Course Selection begins now
Drag Sheets will be distributed on Thursday,
February 21st in Advisory.
Teacher Recommendations should be complete
by Friday, March 1st.
Students will turn in their drag sheets during
their last periods on March 1st.
Planning for Your
High School Program
What kind of curriculum is offered at
WTHS?
A Standards-Based Curriculum that stresses
Student Demonstrated Proficiency.
• Pennsylvania Standards integrated into all
curricular areas
• Keystone Exams
• Graduation Project Requirement
Planning for Your
High School Program
Preparation for Trade and Technical
Employment
• Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
• WTHS Internship Program
• WTHS Career Work Experience Program
Planning for Your
High School Program
Preparation for Post-High School
Education
•
•
•
•
•
Undertake a rigorous program of study
Study beyond the minimum requirements
Take the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT and ACT
AP® Potential
Dual Enrollment Opportunities
Requirements for
Graduation
Classes of 20142017
Graduation
Requirements
24 Credit Maximum
22 Credits Required to Graduate
• Students must take the Keystone Examinations
for Algebra 1, Biology, and English Literature.
Keys to Graduation
• Complete required credits to
graduate from WTHS
• Demonstrate Proficiency in Keystone
Examinations
• Complete a successful Graduation
Project
Graduation Project
• Successful completion of the Graduation
Project is required for graduation from
WTHS.
• Students at MBIT complete the Graduation
Project in 11th Grade at MBIT
• Independent Student-directed projects.
Graduation Project
Students must propose and develop a graduation project that
relates to a career and/or post-secondary pursuit within
the following categories:
• Pre-Existing research project, Internship Experience,
Community Service Project, Self Designed Research, Course
Based Project: MBIT.
Students must document and reflect on their
project through…
• A Written Component
• Multimedia Component
• Public Speaking Component
Program of Studies
• The POS can be found on the WTHS website.
• Important program planning and departmental course
listings can be found in this digital document.
• It is important that families review course options with
their students.
• Students will make elective requests during March.
Rising 9th graders and
the WTHS Course
Selection Process…
In conjunction with Log College and
Klinger Middle Schools
Course Selection Process
• In February students, parents, school counselors
and teachers work together to make course
recommendations.
• By March 1st, current 8th grade students will
upload course requests on computers at their
middle schools via web portals. They will work
with their school counselors as they upload their
requests.
• Middle School teachers will make course
recommendations directly into Skyward.
Course Acceleration
• Students may opt to take a test in order to “Test
Out” of the Computer Applications course.
• This is a required technology course; however,
students who demonstrate proficiency on a
Performance Test may “test out.”
• This Performance Test will be given on Saturday,
April 27, 2013, from 8:30 to 11:30 A.M.
WTHS Course
Selection Process…
WTHS
Course Selection Process
Overview
• During February, teachers and school counselors
work together to make course recommendations.
• WTHS Core Area teachers (English, Science,
Math, Social Studies) teachers will make course
recommendations directly into Skyward).
• Skyward Student Portals will be open for student
course requests in March.
• Students currently in grades 9-11 will briefly
meet with their school counselor during English
classes, and upload their course requests.
Graduation Requirements
24 credits maximum
22 credits required to graduate
9
10
11
12
English
English
English
English
Math
Math
Math
Elective
Social Studies
Social Studies
Elective
Science
Science
Science
Elective
Elective
Social Studies
Elective
Elective
Health/PE
Computer
Apps
Health/PE
Elective
Elective
Health/ PE
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Gray = Graduation Course Requirements
***Beginning with the class of 2017, demonstrating proficiency on Keystone exams is a
Graduation Requirement.
***The successful completion of a Graduation Project is a Graduation Requirement.
College Prep and General
Academic Program
These schedules will prepare students to go on to higher education or
enter the work force directly after high school. Students should carefully
select electives that further their educational and career goals.
9th GRADE
10th GRADE
11th GRADE
12th GRADE
English 9
English
English
English
Algebra 1 or Geometry H
Math
Math
Elective
Elective
Biology or
Biology H
Chemistry (H)
Physics (H) or
Other Science
Elective
Elective
US History
Global Studies
Elective
Elective
Government & Public
Policy
PE/Health
Comp
Apps
PE/Health
Elective
PE/Health
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
College Prep/General
Academic with Music and
World Language
We encourage our students who have an interest in music to participate in performance music courses. This
sample schedule outlines how they may take performance music courses throughout high school and still have an
opportunity to meet graduation requirements and select electives that help them achieve their personal goals.
9th GRADE
10th GRADE
11th GRADE
12th GRADE
English
English
English
English
Algebra 1/GEO H
GEO/Algebra 2
Algebra 2/Adv Math
Elective
Biology or
Biology H
Chemistry (H)
Physics (H) or
Other Science
Elective
US History
Global Studies
Elective
Government & Public
Policy
Comp Apps/Music
(A/B)
HPE/Music (A/B)
HPE/Music (A/B)
HPE/Music (A/B)
World Language or
Electives
World Language or
Electives
World Language or
Electives
World Language or
Electives
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
The following schedules will allow students to participate fully in the program offered at Middle Bucks Institute of
Technology and meet all requirements for a William Tennent High School diploma. Students who are considering
attending MBIT should make decisions about course selection for 9th grade based on the information contained within the
sample schedule for MBIT students.
9th GRADE
10th GRADE
11th GRADE
English
English
English
Math
Math
Math
Biology or
Biology H
Chemistry (H)
Physics (H) or
Other Science
12th GRADE
English
Government & Public
Policy
US History
Computer
Applications
PE/Health
PE/Health
Elective
Global Studies
MBIT (3.0)
MBIT (3.0)
Graduation Project (No
Credit)
MBIT (3.0)
AP Bound
9th GRADE
10th GRADE
11th GRADE
12th GRADE
English
English
AP English
AP English
Algebra 1 or
Geometry H
Math
AP Math
AP Math
Biology or
Biology H
Chemistry (H)
Physics (H) or
AP Science
AP Science
US History
AP World History
AP Elective
AP Government
Computer
Applications
Elective
Elective
AP Elective
PE/Health 1
PE/Health 2
PE/Health 3
World Language 2
World Language 3
World Language 4
AP World Language
WTHS ADVANCED
PLACEMENT PROGRAM
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses are rigorous
and are taught at the college level by qualified
William Tennent teachers.
• Students may earn college credit at
participating colleges and universities by
achieving a designated score.
•
(Check with individual colleges regarding their policies for awarding credits).
WTHS ADVANCED
PLACEMENT PROGRAM
• AP grades are based on mastering course content
and meeting national standards.
• Students are required to assume responsibility
for obtaining their AP ® Summer Assignments.
• Summer Assignments are to be completed before
the start of the new school year.
• Students will enter a contract agreement for
admission into Advanced Placement Courses
Designing your WTHS AP®
Program
• Students must remember to create a balanced schedule.
• Students and parents are advised to talk with
counselors, current teachers and current AP ® students
to determine how well AP ® courses fit their academic
goals while at WTHS as well as in college.
WTHS ADVANCED
PLACEMENT PROGRAM
• It is strongly recommended that all students in the AP
classes take the AP Examination administered in May
by the College Board.
• Research has shown that students who successfully
complete their AP course and take the AP exam are
more likely to be successful at the college level.
• AP Exams cost $89 for the 2013 administration.
WTHS Departmental
Offerings of AP® Courses
•
•
•
•
Art
•
– AP Studio Art
BCTE
– AP Computer Science
– AP Micro-Economics
•
English
– AP Language and Composition
– AP Literature and
Composition
Mathematics
– AP Calculus AB
– AP Calculus BC
– AP Statistics
•
Science
– AP Biology
– AP Chemistry
– AP Physics
Social Studies
– AP World History
– AP European History
– AP US Government
– AP Psychology
– AP US History
– AP Macro-Economics
(2014-2015)
World Languages
– AP Spanish
Elective Programs
Students are encouraged to review the Program of
Studies and speak to their counselors and teachers
concerning appropriate elective courses.
• ART
• BUSINESS, COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION
• FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
• MUSIC
• WORLD LANGUAGE
• ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES
• HEALTH & PE
ACADEMIC
DISTINCTION AND
CLASS RANK
Effective for the classes of 2013 and beyond…
Beginning with the class of 2013, students will not be ranked via
WTHS transcripts. Students shall be honored per the
following:
• summa cum laude
3.9+
• magna cum laude
3.6+
• cum laude
3.3+
All subjects are included in determining the level of academic
distinction. Grade point average determines the level of academic
distinction. Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses carry a
weighted factor, only.
Rising 10, 11 and 12
Skyward Scheduling
Student and Parent
Portals…
Skyward Portal for
Scheduling
Click on Courses for 2013-2014
Skyward Portal for
Scheduling
Click on the Update Requests Tab across the top
Skyward Portal for
Scheduling
•Highlight the course you wish to request and click the
add button.
•Request all of your courses until the credit total equals 6.
•Click on the Alternates Tab and choose 4 alternates
in case the courses you request are not available.
•When you are finished, choose the Selected Tab and click
on the Print button.
2013-2014 Schedules
• Final Schedules should be available at the
end of August for the 2013-2014 school
year via Skyward.
• All students will receive their schedules in
advisory on the first day of school.
Course Changes
• All course changes are to be requested by April 1st.
• After April 1st, course changes will be made only
under extenuating circumstances or due to a
verified misplacement.
• We ask that Students and Parents work closely
with their teachers and counselors to select the
appropriate courses for the upcoming school year.
People to Know at
WTHS
The Administrative and
School Counseling Teams
High School Administration
2013-2014
• Barbara Stevenson, Acting Principal
•
•
•
•
Dennis Best, Incoming Principal
Julie Henrich, Assistant Principal
Ryan Mulford, Assistant Principal
Joeseph Papeika, Assistant Principal
School Counselors
• Ms. Michelle Weiss, Students A-C
• Mr. John Fafara, Students D-H
• Ms. Stacey Buterbaugh, Students I-Mc
• Ms. Lori Bagnick, Students Me-R
(LTS for Ms. Shayna Kudgis)
• Ms. Sarah Babins, Students S-Z
• Mr. Matthew Tomlinson, CSSCA, ELL, Gifted