Course Selection Night JANUARY 14 2015 Rising 9

Course Selection Night JANUARY 14, 2015 Rising 9 th-12 th Graders Welcome Parents and Students!

People to Know at WTHS The Administrative and School Counseling Teams

High School Administration • Dr. Dennis Best, Principal • • Mr. Joe Papeika, 9 th Grade House Principal Mr. Tim Keddie, 10 th Grade House Principal Ms. Julia Henrich, 11 th Grade House Principal Mr. Ryan Mulford, 12 th Grade House Principal

School Counselors • Mrs. Michelle Weiss, Students A-C • Mr. Tom Gilroy, Students D-H • Mrs. Stacey Buterbaugh, Students I-Mc • Mrs. Shayna Kudgis, Students Me-R • Ms. Sarah Babins, Students S-Z • Mr. Matthew Tomlinson, CSSCA, ELL, Gifted

Requirements for Graduation Classes of 20162019

Graduation Requirements • 24 Credit Maximum • 22 Credits Required to Graduate • Class of 2016 - successful completion of a Graduation Project • Class of 2017 and beyond- proficiency on Keystone Examinations in Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature.

Graduation Project Required for Graduation for the class of 2016: • Successful completion of the computer applications course including: – – • • Creation of a Naviance account and student profile, along with completion of the career and personality tests Completion of a resume, job application, statement of goals, and creation of a database using career research results PSAT Development of a timeline for completing the college application process with the school counselor Written resume and college essay Completion of a post-secondary application, which includes one of the following: job application, college application, tech school application, or a military application.

Why Plan for Course Selection? Student Success!

Planning for Your High School Program What kind of curriculum is offered at WTHS? A Standards-Based Curriculum that stresses student demonstrated proficiency and: • • • Integrates Pennsylvania Standards in all curricular areas Prepares students for Keystone Exam Proficiency (class of 2017 & beyond) Assists students in completing the Graduation Project Requirement (Class of 2016)

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 When do you choose your high school courses? – – – Course Selection begins now Drag Sheets were distributed at WTHS today in science classes and should be returned by Wednesday, January 21 st. Current 8 th grade students will have their Drag Sheets sent home the first week of February.

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 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

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 enter elective requests in February.

Graduation Requirements 24 credits maximum 22 credits required to graduate 9 10 11 12 English Math Elective Social Studies Elective Science Elective Social Studies Elective Health/PE Computer Apps Health/PE Elective Health/ PE 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 for students in the class of 2016.

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 selectives that further their educational and career goals. 9 th GRADE 10 th GRADE 11 th GRADE 12 th GRADE English Algebra I or Algebra II or Geometry/Adv Math Elective Biology Chemistry Physics or Other Science Elective US History Global Studies Elective Government & Public Policy PE/Health Comp Apps PE/Health 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 selectives that help them achieve their personal goals. 9 th GRADE 10 th GRADE 11 th GRADE 12 th GRADE English Algebra I/Algebra II/Geometry/Adv Math Elective Biology Chemistry Physics or Other Science Elective US History Global Studies Elective Government & Public Policy Comp Apps/Music (A/B) HPE/Music (A/B) 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 9 th grade based on the information contained within the sample schedule for MBIT students. 9 th GRADE 10 th GRADE 11 th GRADE English Math Biology Chemistry 12 th GRADE English Physics or Other Science Government & Public Policy US History Computer Applications PE/Health Elective Global Studies MBIT (3. 0)

AP Bound 9 th GRADE 10 th GRADE 11 th GRADE 12 th GRADE English (H) AP English Algebra I or Algebra II (H) or Geometry(H) Geometry (H)/ Adv Math (H) or AP Math Biology (H) Chemistry (H) Physics (H) or AP Science US History (H) AP World History AP Elective AP Government Computer Applications And HPE Elective and HPE AP Elective World Language I or II World Language II or III World Language III or IV World Language IV or AP World Language

WTHS ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM • Opportunities are offered beginning in grade 10. • Students will enter a contract agreement for admission into Advanced Placement Courses • Advanced Placement (AP) courses are extremely rigorous. They are taught at the college level by qualified WTHS teachers. • Students are required to assume responsibility for obtaining and completing their AP ® Summer Assignments. • Students may earn college credit at participating colleges and universities by achieving a designated score on the AP Exam.

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 • Music – AP Music Theory Science – AP Biology – AP Chemistry – AP Physics Social Studies – AP European History – AP Macro-Economics – AP Psychology – AP US Government – AP US History – AP World History 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, & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, & SOCIAL STUDIES • FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCE • HEALTH & PE • MUSIC • TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION • WORLD LANGUAGE

ACADEMIC DISTINCTION AND CLASS RANK • To acknowledge students’ academic achievement, academic distinction is awarded upon completion of high school. The levels of academic distinction reflect the student’s cumulative grade point averages for all subjects. Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment and Honors courses carry a weighted factor, as shown in the Program of Studies. • Summa Cum Laude 3. 9+ • Magna Cum Laude 3. 6+ • Cum Laude 3. 3+ • Beginning with the Class of 2017, a student’s class rank will be included on the William Tennent High School transcripts upon parent request.

Rising 9 th graders and the WTHS Course Selection Process… In conjunction with Log College and Klinger Middle Schools

Course Selection Process • In January: teachers and counselors work together to make course recommendations. • Middle school core subject teachers will make course recommendations directly into Skyward. • Parents and students are notified of recommendations on the drag sheet. • In February: parents and current 8 th grade students choose elective course requests and will work with their school’s counselors to upload their requests 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. ” • Request forms are available from a student’s counselor. • The performance test will be given on Saturday, April 25, 2015, from 8: 30 to 11: 30 A. M.

WTHS Course Selection Process… WTHS

Course Selection Process Overview • In January, teachers and school counselors work together to make course recommendations. • WTHS core area teachers (English, Science, Math, Social Studies) make course recommendations directly into Skyward. • Parents and students choose elective courses using the drag sheet. • In February, students currently enrolled in grades 9 -11 meet with their school counselors during English classes to upload their elective requests into Skyward.

Course Changes • All course changes are to be requested by April 3 rd, 2015. • After April 3 rd, course changes will be made only under extenuating circumstances or due to a verified misplacement. • We expect that students and parents will work closely with their teachers and counselors to select the appropriate courses for the upcoming school year.

2015 -2016 Schedules • Final Schedules will be available at the end of August for the 2015 -2016 school year via Skyward. • All students will receive copies of their schedules in Period 1 on the first day of school.