Course Selection Night Course Selection Night FEBRUARY 19th 2013 FEBRUARY 19th 2013

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GradersGraders

Course Selection Night Course Selection Night FEBRUARY 19th 2013 FEBRUARY 19th 2013

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GradersGraders

Welcome Parents Welcome Parents and Studentsand Students!!

Why Plan for Course Why Plan for Course Selection?Selection?

Why Plan for Course Why Plan for Course Selection?Selection?

Student Student Success!Success!

Planning for Your High School Program

• Who is involved in the process?Students, Parents, School Counselors and TeachersWhat 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?– 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 ProgramWhat kind of curriculum is offered

at WTHS?A Standards-Based Curriculum that stressesStudent Demonstrated Proficiency.

• Pennsylvania Standards integrated into all curricular areas

• Keystone Exams• Graduation Project Requirement

Planning for Your High School ProgramPreparation 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 Requirements for GraduationGraduation

Requirements for Requirements for GraduationGraduation

Classes of 2014-Classes of 2014-20172017

Graduation Requirements

24 Credit Maximum22 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 ProjectStudents 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 theirproject 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 9Rising 9thth graders and graders and the WTHS Course the WTHS Course

Selection Process…Selection Process…

Rising 9Rising 9thth graders and graders and the WTHS Course the WTHS Course

Selection Process…Selection Process…

In conjunction with Log College In conjunction with Log College and Klinger Middle Schoolsand 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 WTHS Course Selection Process…Selection Process…

WTHS Course WTHS Course Selection Process…Selection Process…

WTHSWTHS

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

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.

24 credits maximum22 credits required to graduate

9 10 11 12

English English English English

Math Math Math Elective Elective

Social Studies Social Studies Elective Elective Social Studies

Science Science Science Elective Elective

Health/PE Computer Apps

Health/PE Elective Elective Health/ PE Elective Elective

Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective Elective

College Prep and General Academic

ProgramThese 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 ElectiveGovernment & Public Policy

PE/HealthComp 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) orOther Science

Elective

US History Global Studies ElectiveGovernment & Public Policy

Comp Apps/Music (A/B)

HPE/Music (A/B) HPE/Music (A/B) HPE/Music (A/B)

World Language orElectives

World Language orElectives

World Language orElectives

World Language orElectives

Middle Bucks Institute of TechnologyThe 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 12th GRADE

English English English English

Math Math Math

Biology or Biology H

Chemistry (H)Physics (H) orOther Science

US History Government & Public Policy

Computer Applications

PE/Health Global Studies

PE/Health Elective

MBIT (3.0) MBIT (3.0) MBIT (3.0)

Graduation Project (No Credit)

AP Bound9th GRADE 10th GRADE 11th GRADE 12th GRADE

English English AP English AP English

Algebra 1 orGeometry H

Math AP Math AP Math

Biology orBiology H

Chemistry (H) Physics (H) orAP 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 ProgramsStudents 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 academicdistinction. Grade point average determines the level of academic

distinction. Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses carry aweighted factor, only.

Rising 10, 11 and 12Rising 10, 11 and 12Skyward SchedulingSkyward SchedulingRising 10, 11 and 12Rising 10, 11 and 12Skyward SchedulingSkyward Scheduling

Student and Student and Parent Portals…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 People to Know at WTHSWTHS

People to Know at People to Know at WTHSWTHS

The Administrative The Administrative and School Counseling and School Counseling

TeamsTeams

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