CLASS OF 2019COURSE SELECTION

Tanya Dreon Todd Neuhard

High School Counselor High School Principal

tdreon@ldsd.orgtneuhard@ldsd.org

566-5335 566-5330

January 21, 2015

www.ldsd.org/highschoolguidance

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS

Our program this evening has three goals:

1. To introduce the High School Curriculum

2. To show you how to plan a four year program of studies (grades 9-12)

3. To give you an overview of the scheduling process and prepare for 9th grade

AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, OUR VISION IS…

For all students to be successful, it is our commitment to provide customized educational opportunities and quality instruction that promote creativity, collaboration and problem-solving in a safe, supportive environment. Our graduates will take their place in a global society as productive and responsible citizens and lifelong learners.

A high school’s curriculum has to serve many functions: it must provide for a variety of student abilities, interests, and achievements and… prepare students for their work life as an adult!

State Requirements and Testing

The state of Pennsylvania has standardized testing requirements for all of our graduates

Students must demonstrate proficiency on Keystone Exams in Literature, Algebra I & Biology upon completion of each course

In addition, students in 8th grade are required to take PSSA in Math, English/Language Arts, & Science.

THE FOUR YEAR PLAN

A successful high school experience is based on:

Careful planning Career and personal

goals Interests and abilities

Ask your 8th grader about the career activity we completed in class!

Career plan

COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

1. Review Course Selection Guide (full version with descriptions is online – students will get an abbreviated version)

2. Discuss course options – teachers, students and parents

3. Students will seek out teachers for their recommendations and signatures… parents must also sign card and check recommendations

4. Course Selection Cards will be signed in school January 29- February 5th

**Courses will NOT be scheduled without proper signatures (from teachers & parents)

Course Selection Cards are due on Friday, February 6th

Graduation Credit Requirements English 4 Math 3 Social Studies 4 Science (depending on level) 3 – 4.5 Careers/Personal Finance .5 Health .5 Physical Education 1.5 Remainder of credits comprised

of elective courses 6-7

TOTAL 23.50

Academic Levels

The College Preparatory curriculum provides an academic foundation for college bound students.

Academic foundation for students planning to attend trade/technical schools or two-year colleges

General/Career Prep Tech Prep

College Prep

Honors/ Advanced Placement

The General and Career Prep courses provide sound basic education for those who expect to enter the work force immediately after graduation.

An academic foundation for college bound students who have achieved at least an A- final average in a specific discipline

Or, those in honors level this year must maintain at least a B- final average to continue in the honors level at the high school (for example: Geometry, Algebra 1, Honors Science, Honors English)

Academic Levels

See Course Selection Guide for details A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated

from the first day of 9th grade and includes ALL courses

A Weighted GPA is also calculated and shared after the 1st semester of 9th grade – this determines a student’s class rank

Courses offered in the curriculum vary considerably in their degree of difficulty. This range of course difficulty results from a program that is geared to provide for a broad range of student differences in abilities, interests, vocational, and academic pursuits. For this reason, weighed grade points vary in accordance with the levels of difficulty of the course. This is how we calculate Class Rank

Career Prep/General = 1

Tech Prep = 2 College Prep = 3 Honors = 4 Advanced Placement

(AP) = 5 Available to students

starting in 10th grade

GPA and Class Rank Weighted Values

9th grade schedule – 8 period day

Required Courses:English 1.0Earth & Space Science

General/CP: daily for one semester OR .5 (or)Honors: daily all year 1.0

Environment & EcologyGeneral/CP: daily for one semester OR .5 (or)Honors: daily for one semester .5

US History 1.0Math (see sequence) 1.0PE (daily for one semester) .5Computer Applications (daily for one semester) .5

TOTAL : 5.0 credits/periods

Sample Schedules

First Semester Second SemesterMP 1 and 2 MP 3 and 4

Period1 Public Speaking Study hall2 CP US History CP US History3 Chorus Chorus

4 CP Earth ScienceCP Environment & Ecology

5/6 Spanish 2 Spanish 27/8 CP English CP English

C lunch lunch lunch10 Algebra 1 Algebra 111 Computer Apps Foundations of PE 9

First Semester Second SemesterMP 1 and 2 MP 3 and 4

Period1 Computer Apps Foundations of PE 92 CP US History CP US History

3Honors Earth & Space Honors Earth & Space

4 Study hallHonors Environment & Ecology

5/6 Spanish 2 Spanish 2B Lunch

8/9 Honors English Honors English10 Geometry Geometry11 Architectural CAD Architectural CAD

Math Sequences

Pre-Algebra

Algebra 1 or

Algebra 1A

Geometry (CP or Honors)

Algebra 2 (CP or

Honors)

Math Sequences

8th grade

Algebra 1 Pre-Algebra Pre-Algebra

*A student who does not pass the Keystone Algebra exam after Algebra I will take Integrated Algebra II the following year.

AP Statistics is an elective math course that can occur after Algebra 2

If a student takes AP Calc, then Advanced Math Topics will also be available in the senior year

Elective Courses -- Choose 2, 2.5, or 3

Art Music Technology Education Family & Consumer

Sciences Business Foreign Language (CP

students should take 2-3 years)

** If choosing 2 electives, then student will have a study hall every day,

2.5 electives = study hall daily for one semester, and

3 electives = no study hall

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Dauphin County Technical School Specific trade skills – see the Course Selection

Guide or www.dcts.org for a complete list And, for those students who have made the

decision to seek vocational training, the Dauphin County Technical School has many fine programs whether or not you plan to go to college

Students who have applied to DCTS should still complete a course selection card as if they will be attending LDHS

COURSE CHANGES

Anytime between now and August …

Contact me to change selections or speak with Mrs. Schaeffer about your options/concerns Email: tdreon@ldsd.org or call 566-5335

Schedules will be mailed home at the beginning of August

Parent/ Student initiated elective and level changes are permitted during the summer up to August 17, 2015

Once the school year begins…

POLICY FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES

August 17, 2015 – Last day for student-initiated schedule changes. Summer changes do not include teacher or lunch reassignments. Once the school year begins: Students will remain in classes as scheduled for the first two

weeks of school.  No schedule changes will be made. In weeks 3 and 4 of school, schedule changes are permitted

for academic misplacements (with teacher and parent approval) AND elective changes can be made (from one elective to another – also with parental approval)

From week 4 of school through week 7, the ONLY types of changes will be for academic misplacements (with teacher and parent approval).

After week 7, no schedule changes will be made unless they are approved by a principal.

For second semester classes, students will only be able to make a change up until the second week of the course (week 2 of the 3rd MP)

How is the master schedule designed?

After student course requests are entered into the School District’s computer, the Building Administrator, using School Board guidelines, determines which courses will be offered each year

The Master Schedule is created and students are scheduled

We try to accommodate course requests as much as possible but students are not guaranteed to have all of the courses they select – alternate choices should be considered!

Let’s hear from the teachers…

English – Karen Burk Math – Tina Watkins Science – Becky Cassel Social Studies – Chad Lister

Art – Emily Fehrenbach Business – Susan Morefield Family and Consumer Science – Michelle McGinnis Foreign Language – Candy Romano Tech Ed – Mike James

This is a sign in my office…

While we get the joke, it’s still our job to provide direction and guidance to students as they get ready to leave the “nest”. We consider this a partnership and have your child’s best interest in mind so we look forward to working with you next year!