Scheduling Night for Parents of
Rising Freshmen
Briar Woods High School
Evening Agenda
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6:45 – 7:30
Presentation

7:30 – 8:30
Scheduling Fair in the
Cafeteria
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Core departments
Elective departments
School Counseling department
This Information is Online!
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BWHS School Counseling >>> Student
Scheduling for 2015-2016
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Tonight’s parent presentation – key points will be
titled in red
Students’ presentation
2015-2016 Program of Studies
Rising freshman course selection worksheets
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LCPS Course Curriculum information
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Presentation Agenda
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Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process
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Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements
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Questions? School counseling table
Questions? School counseling table
Selecting Courses for Next Year
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Questions? Department tables
th
9
Rising
Grade Scheduling
Process
Current LCPS Middle School students
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We will visit both middle schools on February
10 & 11, and walk students through their
course selections class-by-class.
The middle school will send home your
student’s course selections for your review
You will have until June 19, 2015 to make
changes
Each middle school will have additional
actions or activities
Students New to LCPS
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New students usually begin enrolling in
mid-April
The information and materials needed to
enroll an new student can be found on the
BWHS and LCPS websites
New students and their parents will select
their courses with a BWHS counselor when
they enroll
Enrollments are by appointment
Diploma Types & Graduation
Requirements
Diplomas
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Standard Diploma
Advanced Studies Diploma
Diplomas
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Diplomas are based on:
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Standard Units of Credit – 140 clock hours of
instruction & a passing grade

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Translation: Pass the class, get a credit
Verified Units of Credit – Standard unit of credit
plus passing the end-of-course SOL associated
with that class

Translation: Pass the class and SOL, get a verified credit
Standard Diploma
Academic Areas
Credits
SOL Verified Credits
English
4
2
Social Studies
3
1
Mathematics
3
1
Science
3
1
Health/Physical Education
2
Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career &
Technical Education
2
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Electives
4
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total
1
22
6
Advanced Studies Diploma
Academic Areas
Credits
SOL Verified Credits
English
4
2
Social Studies
4
2
Mathematics
4
2
Science
4
2
Foreign Language
3-4
Health/Physical Education
2
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education
1
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Electives
3
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total
1
26
9
SOL Courses = Verified Credits
Reading (Eng. 11)
Writing (Eng. 11)
Earth Science
Biology
Chemistry
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
World History 1
World History 2
US History
Additional Requirements

See the Program of Studies for the “fine print”
details
Additional Requirements

VA Department of Education:
All students must receive online instruction
while in high school

There is an online instructional component within
the required “Personal Finance” class which
satisfies this requirement!
Additional Requirements

VA Department of Education:
Standard Diploma students must pass a
board-approved “technical education
credential”

There is a credential component within the
required “Personal Finance” class!
Selecting Courses for Next
Year (and beyond)
The four most emotional topics…
1.
Politics
2.
Religion
3.
Should my child take Honors or Academic
classes?
4.
The difference between Earth Science and
Biology?
Course Options for Freshmen

Please relax!!!

You have until June 19th to make your final
decision!!!
Course Options for Freshmen
4.
English 9:
World History 1:
Earth Science *:
Math:
5.
Health & Physical Education 9
1.
2.
3.
6.
7.
Honors or Academic
Pre-AP (Honors) or Academic
Research (Honors) or Academic
Follows sequence
Elective – usually a foreign language
Elective
Course Levels
Academic
Course content and expected student
performance require additional reading and
writing at a rigorous level.
Academic is a “college-bound” level.
Course Levels
Honors
Course content is rapidly paced with additional
depth. Lessons are often designed to be
complex, abstract, and open-ended.
Course Options for Freshmen
3.
English 9:
World History 1:
Earth Science *:
Honors or Academic
Pre-AP (Honors) or Academic
Research (Honors), Academic
4.
Math:
Follows sequence
5.
Health & Physical Education 9
1.
2.
6.
7.
Elective – usually a foreign language
Elective
Math Sequence

See Program of Studies, page 30

Algebra 1 >>> Geometry

Geometry >>> Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 w/Trig
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Algebra 2 w/Trig is for the “easy straight A” math student!
Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 w/Trig >>>
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Advanced Functions and Modeling
Advanced Algebra/Precalculus
Math Analysis
* Freshman Science
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Earth Science – 9th grade course
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Research/Honors
Academic
Biology – 10th grade course
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Research/Honors
Academic is not available for freshmen
* Freshman Science

Earth Science Honors or Biology Honors
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Most freshmen take Earth Science, 72%.
Skipping Earth Science is not recommended by LCPS/BWHS.
Students who skip freshman Earth Science will miss important
science content – perhaps the most important science content an
involved citizen should have
Students have not had the same level of exposure to this subject in
middle school
Academy of Science students receive Earth Science instruction and
take the Earth Science SOL
Honors Research Biology has a strong research component;
students first learn the research process through Honors Research
Earth Science
Students who skip Earth Science may be able to go “higher” in
science with less concessions (assuming they want to; and
assuming they have the math to do so)
LCPS Science Courses
SUBJECT
GRADE LEVEL
PREREQUISITES
Earth Science
9-10
None
Biology
9-10
None
Chemistry
10-12
Algebra 1; Algebra 2 recommended
Physics
11-12
Algebra 2
Conceptual Physics
10-12
Algebra 1
Environmental Science
11-12
Two science classes
AP Biology
10-12
Biology & Co-requisite of Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
10-12
Earth Science & Biology
AP Chemistry
11-12
Chemistry
AP Physics
11-12
Physics & Co-requisite of Calculus
DE Independent Science Research (GMU)
11-12
Two science classes
DE Geospatial Science I (JMU)
11-12
NOT FOR SCIENCE CREDIT
DE Geospatial Science 2 (JMU)
12
NOT FOR SCIENCE CREDIT
Science, continued

Talk with your child about what science classes they may be
interested in – next year, and beyond

Use the plan of studies worksheet/four-year plan (found on our
website) to estimate when your child might want to take those
classes – the middle schools will also do this with your child

Where will their math be? Math is a prerequisite for some science
classes

Talk to our science representatives tonight
Plan of Studies/Four-Year Plan
Work Load, freshman survey
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English 9 Academic = 1 hour 29 minutes/week
English 9 Honors = 2 hours 40 minutes/week
Earth Science Academic = 1 hour 32 minutes/week
Research Earth Science Honors = 2 hours 32 minutes/week
Research Biology Honors = 2 hours 40 minutes/week
World History Academic = 2 hours 10 minutes/week
PreAP World History = 3 hours 23 minutes/week

Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 = 1 hour 48 minutes/week
Algebra 2 w Trig = 2 hours 18 minutes/week

Foreign Language = 1 hour 21 minutes/week

Work Load, freshman survey

All Academic = 8+ hours of work outside of
school

All Honors = 12+ hours of work outside of
school
Electives Available to Freshmen
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French
Spanish
German
Latin
Chinese
ASL
Technical Drawing & Design
Technology Foundations
Materials & Processes
Computer Info Systems
Business & Marketing
Creative Writing
Theater Arts
Technical Theater
Journalism
Music Theory
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Music Appreciation
Art
Guitar
Band
Strings
Color Guard
Chorus
JROTC (at LCHS)
Independent Living
Choices
Gourmet Foods
Human Development
Leadership
Fashion Design
Housing/Interior Design
Art/Architecture History
Reminders

A rising freshman course selection worksheet is online

A plan of studies worksheet is online

The 2015-2016 Program of Studies is online

Course curriculum information can be found on the
LCPS website

The middle school counselors and teachers are a great
resource when making these decisions
Course Options for Freshmen

One more time…

Please relax!!!

3-4 honors/academic decisions in 3-4 months!


English, science, social studies; maybe math
You have until June 19th to make your final
decision!!!
“Lesson in Balance”

The Goal: Challenge the student vs.
Overloading the student

If you figure out the formula for this,
create an app! You’ll make millions!
“Lesson in Balance”
Take the most challenging classes you
can handle.
“Lesson in Balance”
Take the most challenging classes you
can reasonably handle.
“Lesson in Balance”

How much time do you have available to study and do
homework?

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
Do you play sports?
Are you involved in activities – both in or outside of school?
What does your track-record indicate?

Do you complete your work with little prompting?

How committed and disciplined are you?

What are mom and dad prepared for?
“Lesson in Balance”
Think long-term:
It’s easier to improve your schedule each year
by taking more challenging classes…
than it is to improve a low GPA!
Johnny LateStarter
Grade 9:
English
C
2
History
C
2
Math
D
1
Science
D
1
HPE
B
3
Elective
C
2
Elective
C
2
Cumulative GPA = 1.86
Grade 10:
English
B
3
History
A
4
Math
C
2
Science
B
3
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 2.64
Grade 11:
English
B
3
History
B
3
Math
B
3
Science
B
3
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 2.90
Grade 12:
English
A
4
History
A
4
Math
B
3
Science
B
3
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 3.12
Sara StudyHard
Grade 9:
English
B
3
History
B
3
Math
B
3
Science
C
2
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 3.29
Grade 10:
English
B
3
History
A
4
Math
C
2
Science
B
3
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 3.36
Grade 11:
English
B
3
History
B
3
Math
B
3
Science
B
3
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 3.38
Grade 12:
English
A
4
History
A
4
Math
B
3
Science
B
3
HPE
A
4
Elective
A
4
Elective
A
4
Cumulative GPA = 3.46
The Importance of the Freshman Year

The difference between a 3.12 GPA and a
3.46 GPA can be the ninth grade year!!!

When they apply to college they will use their
junior year GPA: 2.90 vs 3.38

The student with the “Slow Start” would have
to earn straight A’s in grades 10, 11, and 12
just to equal the student who had a stronger
freshman year.
The Importance of the Freshman Year
These examples are not
meant to scare you!
Looking Beyond the Freshman Year

Student often mix and match honors-level
classes

Students are not stuck on an honors or
academic “track”

They can move “up” or “down” from year-toyear in most subjects (notable exceptions are
math and foreign language)
“Lesson in Balance”
Don’t forget to consider the student’s
interests when determining his/her
courses and overall course load!
Course Options for Freshmen

OK… and one more time…

Please relax!!!

3-4 decisions in 3-4 months!


English, science, social studies; maybe math
You have until June 19th to make your final
decision!!!
About that deadline

While you do have until June 19th….

We cannot make changes to course requests
after the deadline of June 19, 2015.
After the School Year Begins

Elective changes will not be possible

Academic level changes
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Level change decisions are made case-by-case
Input from a variety of sources will be needed
A class that is “difficult” for a student is not the same
as a class that is “too difficult” for a student!
Changing a level often disrupts the student’s entire
schedule!
Changing a level is often not possible! Class space is
finite!
Agenda

Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process


Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements


Questions? School counseling table
Questions? School counseling table
Selecting Courses for Next Year

Questions? Department tables – ask the experts!!!
Upcoming Events
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March 27: BWHS Activities EXPO (private &
homeschool students are welcome! Adult must
supervise)
May: Athletics meeting for parents
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Special education meeting – date TBA
Week before school begins
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See BWHSports.org for details
Freshman Student Orientation
Freshman Parent Meeting – meet the principal
First week of school – meeting with freshmen
Monitor our website and look for our newsletter!
Have Fun at the
Scheduling Fair!