srvhs parent information evening march 2, 2004 advanced honors advanced placement

SRVHS Parent Information Evening March 2, 2004

Advanced

Honors

Advanced Placement

Introduction

Welcome What are advanced courses? Why take advanced courses? School-wide expectations Student and Parent expectations The College Board UC and CSU Course expectations Panel Discussion

Parent Academic NightsDates to Remember

March 23: incoming 12th grade March 24: incoming 10th grade March 25: incoming 11th grade March 31: incoming 9th grade

Placement Tests Dates

Math: done in class Sign-ups in the Counseling Office for the following courses: Social Studies

A.P. U.S. History, March 11 AP Euro March 15 after school in room B2

English (3:30 PM-> E-Wing) March 10th: current SRVHS students March 17th: incoming 9th graders

All other courses please check in course newspaper for pre-requisites All waivers are due in the counseling office by Monday April 5th by 3:30 PM

What is Accelerated, Advanced, Honors or AP?

Advanced/AP classes differ from the regular college preparatory classes in their: Pace (i.e., faster, more intense) Depth and complexity of assignments Higher standards of evaluation Emphasis on product rather than process


Advanced or Accelerated (9th & 10th) Lower division courses that cover

more curriculum and moves at a faster pace than College Prep courses.

These courses do not receive additional weighed points in student GPA.


Accelerated and Advanced Course offered at SRVHS:

Advanced English 9 & 10 Accelerated Biology Advanced Algebra 2


Honors Courses UC certified courses contain specialized and

extended content, and additional workload intended to encourage students to take demanding coursework in high school.

Weighted grades Limited number of UC certified courses

permitted in 10th grade (4 semesters)


Honors courses offered at SRVHS: Honors Chemistry Honors Physics Honors Microbiology Honors Trig/ Math Analysis Honors French 4 Honors Spanish 4 Honors German 4


Advanced Placement College Level Access with Multiple Measures (prerequisites, tests,

prior course grades, teacher recommendations) AP Exams in May

Fees ($90 each for the 2003 exams) Score range (3-5 passing and may receive

college credit) Universities will publish whether they accept

exams for credit. This fall check on-line at www.collegeboard.com


AP courses offered at SRVHS:

AP Biology, Chemistry, Physics B

AP Econ, American Government

AP Environmental Science

AP English Language, English Literature

AP Statistics AP Spanish, French

AP Studio Art AP Calculus AB

AP European History, US History

AP Psychology

Why take advanced courses?

Challenging curriculum for the accelerated student Prepares student for university work; the more

challenging the student's high school program, the better prepared he or she will be for university work.

Makes student competitive in college selection process

College Board research indicates it is not the high school course grades or cumulative GPA that determines success at the college level. It is the rigor of courses taken in high school that is the best predictor of success.

School-wide Expectations

Highly motivated students Highly qualified students (very

proficient readers, reading well above grade level and critical thinkers)

Independent learners Computer Savvy a big plus! Take AP Exams

Student and Parents

Student placement appropriate Students encouraged to stretch

academically and artistically Students have a fundamental interest in

learning that subject not just for the grade or college applications

Parents and students should avoid over-scheduling (maximum number of courses per semester matched to student’s interest, motivation, and adequate time).

The College Boardhttp://www.collegeboard.com/ap/students/index.html

Internationally valid testing Some universities do give credit, some do not, check on-line The Value of AP — there's more to AP than trying to get a

"passing" grade on the exam; you'll work hard in an AP course, but you'll get back a lot in return.

Sophomore Standing — a list of colleges that will let you start college as a sophomore, if you meet their AP requirements.

Scholar Awards — the criteria used to grant awards in eight different categories.

International Diploma — for students who are considering applying to a college outside of the U.S. and Canada.

UC/CSU & Honors & AP courses

Honors and AP courses are weighted at the UC and CSU if taken in 10, 11,12 grade.

The university assigns extra points for up to four units of university certified honors level and advanced placement courses.

A maximum of two of the four units may be taken in grade 10.

Grades of D are not assigned extra honors points

English Courses

Advanced English 9 Advanced English 10 AP English Language

(11) AP English Literature

(12)

English Course Expectations

Necessary Skills: In addition to fluency in English, enjoying reading, and having strong work ethic, advanced/AP English students demonstrate: Superior reading comprehension and writing skills Self-discipline and self-motivation Work that is detailed, precise, and thorough Academic commitment as well as a commitment to the

class Comfort with ambiguity Adroit shifting between the literal and the abstract Synthesis of textual information Aptitude for the analysis of literature

English Course Expectations

Homework/time commitment:

Varies from instructor-to-instructor and throughout the year.

Mathematics Courses

Advanced Algebra 2 Honors Trig/Math Analysis AP Calculus AB AP Statistics

Advanced Algebra 2

Class Content A rigorous college prep class

that includes all of the Algebra 2 concepts

Statistics and Probability Trigonometry

Course Requirements Daily Homework Tests Semester Exams Perseverance

Honors Trig/Math Analysis

Course Content A rigorous college prep class that includes college algebra

and trigonometry Requirements

Daily homework Tests Semester Finals

We use a graphing calculator for demonstration

purposes. A TI 83 or 83plus is recommended.

AP Calculus

Most important is the desire to succeed and a willingness to work consistently throughout the year

We cover a little more than the typical college first semester of Calculus but take three quarters to do it

We then review for a month and have our final before the AP test in May

The major topics are Differential and Integral Calculus of one variable

Homework daily: 0.5-1 hour/day

AP Calculus: What do we do after the AP test in May?

A project And on Wednesdays we play cricket!

Advanced Placement StatisticsStudent Qualities and Requirements

Self-motivation Responsible Analysis and Logical

Reasoning Ability to integrate

new concepts and processes, building on previous knowledge

AP Statistics Course Information

A graphing calculator is required (TI-83 Plus or TI-83 Silver Edition is recommended).

Homework: approx. 30-45 minutes/day

A project is required in the second semester including research, a written report, and an oral presentation

Foreign Language

Honors Spanish 4 Honors French 4 Honors German 4 AP Spanish 5 AP French 5

Honors Spanish 4

Requirements: Strong interest in speaking Spanish, a C or better in Spanish 3, strong command of basic grammatical structures and beginning understanding of complex structures, ability to skim reading selections for the gist of the meaning without translating, and recommendation of Spanish 3 teacher.

Homework is about 20-30 minutes per evening

Honors French 4

Willing to speak only French in the classroom

Able to communicate ideas in writing

2nd semester French Literature

Homework: 4 times/week grammar/vocabulary; questions about reading assignments

Summer Assignment, read French magazines, watch French movies…

AP Spanish 5

Requirements: Must be able to communicate in Spanish comfortably, must have complete command of basic grammatical structures and reasonable command of complex structures, must have an understanding of the uses of the subjunctive, must be able to read for understanding in Spanish, must have at least a C in Spanish 4 but a B is recommended, and must have the recommendation of the Spanish 4 teacher.

Homework is about 20-30 minutes per evening

AP French 5

Class conducted entirely in French High level of fluency in spontaneous

speaking Knowledge of advanced vocabulary Ability to read sophisticated material Ability to write sophisticated essays Homework: weekly or bimonthly

essays and tape recordings

Art

Advanced Photography AP Studio Art

Advanced Photography

Pre-requisites: 2 semesters of photography

Portfolio preparation for AP art and/or college application with portfolio

AP Studio Art

Advanced Placement Studio: Students, for the most part, work independently

throughout the school year (although there are several assigned projects and written assignments) to complete a portfolio for submission to the AP College Review Board.

Students are graded individually by teacher critique throughout the year and must complete the AP Studio Portfolio Test to earn AP credit (Art 3 credit is earned for students not completing the portfolio).

There are two portfolios available for completion in AP Studio (Drawing and 2D); a minimum of 18 works is required for each portfolio.

Science

Accelerated Biology Honors Chemistry Honors Physics AP Physics B AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science

Accelerated Biology

Year long science fair project Higher level textbook than regular biology Independent learners, need organization skills,

enjoy torturing the instructor (just checking if you’re actually reading this…)

Higher than grade level readers Computer savvy (Email, Excel graphing, etc.) Small summer assignment Homework approx. 2-3 hours/week (if students

plan ahead and follow calendar)

Honors Physics

Critical thinking, problem solving, ability to apply former knowledge to new situations, perseverance

Study of everyday physical environment, including motion, light, optics, heat, sound, nuclear physics and more

Homework: 5 hours/week

AP Physics B

Pre-requisites: B or better in Trig/ Math Analysis; recommended that students concurrently enrolled in AP Calculus AB

intended for students with an interest in engineering, science or the medical field

includes topics in both classical and modern physics

The five general areas covered include Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics and thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics are required by the College Board

Homework appx. 5 hours per week

AP Biology

Freshman College Biology; meets UC/CSU “d” requirement for lab science.

Uses Campbell 6th Edition Biology (widely used textbook)

Summer Assignment (Ecology Unit- 6 chapters; due first day of school)

12 Required Laboratory Activities by College Board

Homework: 5 hours/ week including extensive reading, 10 formal lab write-ups; post-AP Exam project.

AP Environmental ScienceCourse Description

Equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science

Interdisciplinary course embracing topics from chemistry, biology, earth science, population dynamics, environmental quality, resource policy and management, and the environment and society

Designed to satisfy University of California and California State University lab science requirements

An E2 Academy Class

APES Projects: Integrated pest management

and native species demonstration garden

Water quality monitoring in San Ramon Creek

Solar-powered cooking contest Man-powered vehicle

development and racing. School-wide energy audit with

proposed modifications/ conservation measures.

Atmospheric monitoring Elementary/middle school

docent program Onsite recycling program

Honors Chemistry

Designed for high-achieving, science-oriented students

Extensive quantitative component Students should be highly skilled in

algebra and have passed geometry. Most Honors Chemistry students are

concurrently enrolled in algebra 2. Essential concepts (i.e. matter, atoms,

molecules, etc.) Five topic areas/chapters per quarter No summer assignment or chemistry

knowledge prerequisites. Homework requirement – 4 to 5 hours

per week.

AP Chemistry Breadth and depth of curriculum requires a

high level of discipline and commitment from the student.

Chemistry knowledge prerequisite Students should have passed Honors

Chemistry with a “B” or better. A working Knowledge of the basics of chemistry is

expected at the beginning of the course. No summer assignment- however, in order

to cover all of the material demanded by the AP exam, mandatory work, such as, reading and problem assignments, may be required over school breaks and vacations.

Homework requirement – approx. 6 hours per week.

Social Studies

AP European History AP U.S. History AP Psychology AP Economics AP American

Government

AP European History

Students need accelerated reading, comprehension, note taking and writing skills

In-depth look at European History

Summer Assignment: short book and essay

Homework; extensive reading 4-7 hours per week

AP U.S. History

Study of American History from the colonial era to the present

Strong reading, comprehension, and writing skills

Homework: 3-4 hours per week

No summer assignment

AP Psychology

Comprehensive study of general psychology including research and clinical psychology

Strong reading comprehension and critical thinking skills

Homework: 30-45 minutes per night

No summer assignment

AP American Government

Commitment to excellence Analytical skills, essay writing,

critical thinking skills, factual recall ability

Lecture based course Exams, quizzes, essays,

presentations, research project

Homework, approximately 6 hours/week

AP Economics

The necessary skills are mathematical reasoning and logical thinking.

Homework is ½ hour every night with one test a week.

There is no summer assignment.

Placement Agreements

Parent and student signature required Have up to 6 weeks to drop the course without a

grade appearing on the transcript (after 7 weeks; WF)

No guarantee that a substitute course is available; may be placed in study hall.

AP classes build on skills students should have acquired already. The advanced classes do not provide remediation for under-prepared students.

Master schedule will be very tight next year due to budget constraints, PLEASE SELECT COURSES CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY

Contact Information

Counseling Office: 552-3021 or 552-3016

Craig Ritts (A-Dr) 552-3025 Nancy Conti (Du-Lam) 552- 3027 Candice Brown (Lan-Rei) 552-3045 Vivian Srouji (Rej-Z) 552-3033

Panel Discussion

Students: Ray Ochoa, Peter Enzminger, Carol Dowty, Haley Kenyon, Arthur and David Chen

Teachers: Robin Groch, Marge Yeargan, Jeanne Mullowney, John Walker, Leslie Dumas

Counselor: Vivian Srouji

srvhs parent information evening march 2, 2004 advanced honors advanced placement

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