Hull High School Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Paula Maxwell, Acting Principal, MMS Michael Devine, Principal, HHS Scott Sivo, Assistant Principal, HHS

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Agenda Mission and Core Values of Hull High School Program of Studies Graduation Requirements Sample Progressions What Colleges Want Expectations for Student Learning Advisory Co-Curricular Activities Daily Schedule Attendance Freshmen Schedules Pre-requisites and Waivers Process Questions Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Mission of Hull High School Hull High School is committed to academic excellence, personal responsibility, and the development of life-long learners within the global community. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Core Values of Hull High School Life-long Learning A culture that develops essential skills and stimulates intellectual curiosity to promote life-long learning.   Integrity A culture that expects integrity and honorable behavior.  Responsibility A culture where students take responsibility for their academic progress, behavior, and wellness. Creativity A culture that provides a rigorous curriculum promoting creativity in all classrooms. Citizenship  A culture that encourages collaboration, respects diversity, and empowers students with the rights, privileges, and duties of citizenship. Service A culture that promotes service to others. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Program of Studies The 2011-2012 Program of Studies lists: All courses offered at HHS HHS academic policies Just because it is listed in the P of S does not mean that the course will run. We determine which courses will run based on request and staffing level. The P of S can be found at: http://www.town.hull.ma.us/Public_Documents/HullMA_HighSchClass/homepage Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Graduation Requirements All students must earn a minimum of 140 credits in order to graduate. All students must carry 42 credits per year (168 credits total). All students must earn passing scores on the following MCAS exams: Introduction to Physics – Grade 9 English / Language Arts – Grade 10 Mathematics – Grade 10 Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Graduation Requirements 4-years of English English 9, 10, 11, and 12 4-years of math Algebra I Algebra II Geometry Other 4-years of social studies World History II US History I* US History II* Government / Economics * Or AP United States History 4-years of science Introduction to Physics Biology Chemistry Other 4-semester of wellness Wellness 9 Wellness 10 Wellness 11 Wellness 12 Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 English Progressions GRADE 9 10 11 12 A Honors English 9 Honors English 10 AP English Language AP English Literature B Honors English 11 Honors English 12 C English 9 English 10 English 11 English 12 Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Math Progressions Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 GRADE 8 9 10 11 12 Honors Algebra I H.Geometry & Freshmen Math Honors Algebra II Honors Pre-Calculus H/AP Calculus Algebra I Geometry & Algebra II Trigonometry Pre-Algebra Algebra I & Geometry Trigonometry or Topics in Mathematics Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Social Studies Progressions GRADE 9 10 11 12 A (H) World History II AP US History I Economics/ Government Other Elective B (CP) or (H) World History II CP or Honors US History I US History II or AP US History C (CP) or (H) World History II Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Science Progressions Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 GRADE 9 10 11 12 A Honors Introductory Physics Biology Chemistry & AP Science Course Honors Physics & AP Science B Honors Chemistry & Science Elective Physics & Science Elective C Chemistry D Science Elective Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Foreign Language Progressions GRADE 8 9 10 11 12 A French I French II French III Honors French IV Honors French V B C Spanish I Spanish II Spanish III Honors Spanish IV Honors Spanish V/ AP Spanish D Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Hull High School Expectations for Student Learning A Hull High School student will: will write effectively for a variety of purposes will read actively and critically will present information and ideas fluently and comfortably before an audience will be a competent problem solver will develop the knowledge and understanding necessary for informed citizenship, social action, and collaboration Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Hull High School Expectations for Student Learning will demonstrate a knowledge of world cultures will understand and apply wellness skills will utilize and evaluate creative skills will use technology appropriately to acquire, integrate, evaluate, create, and impart information in a knowledge economy During their time at Hull High School, all students must show that they meet or exceed these expectations. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

What Do the Colleges Want to See? UMASS Amherst: “You will also need to meet certain high school unit requirements (remember, these are minimums): Four years of English, three years of college preparatory mathematics (Algebra II is a minimum requirement), two years of the same foreign language, three years of science (including two with a laboratory component), two years of social science including one course in U.S. History, and two electives from the above areas, arts and humanities, or computer science.” UMASS will recalculate the applicant’s GPA using ONLY the academic subjects. http://www.umass.edu/admissions/ Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

What Do the Colleges Want to See? Harvard: “There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curricula available to them. An ideal four-year preparatory program includes four years of English, with extensive practice in writing; four years of math; four years of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects; three years of history, including American and European history; and four years of one foreign language.“ Harvard will recalculate the applicant’s GPA using ONLY the academic subjects. http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/index.html Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

What Do the Colleges Want to See? Boston College: “While specific courses are not required, the Undergraduate Admission Office recommends that students pursue a strong college preparatory program including four units of English, mathematics, foreign language, laboratory science, and social science. The Committee on Admission also looks at the rigor of your high school program. Students challenging themselves with Honors, AP, IB, and/or college-level courses tend to be more competitive in the admission process.” BC will recalculate the applicant’s GPA using ONLY the academic subjects. http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/process/faq.html Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Advisory Each student will be assigned to an advisory. Students meet with their advisory once each week for 30 minutes. This time is used for informational and educational meetings. The focus of advisory is to develop community and to address the social and emotional needs of the students. Advisory groups are developed and assigned by the MMS and HHS staff. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Co-Curricular Activities HHS offers co-curricular programs in: Athletics Drama Music Anime Mock Trial PHI (Community Involvement) TALK (Diversity Issues) Yearbook Student Government National Honor Society All students are encouraged to participate in one or more co-curricular opportunities. Research shows that students who are connected to their school in clubs, teams or activities have greater success in school. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Daily Schedule School starts at 7:25am All 7 classes meet daily Each class is approx. 50 minutes 3 minutes passing time between each class 24 minute lunch School ends at 2:00pm Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Attendance Credit for courses is awarded on a semester (half-year) basis. Any student who has more than 8 total unexcused absences during a semester will be denied half of the stated credits for that course, unless the student earns back those days through his/her participation in an administrator-approved credit recovery program. Family vacations are not considered excused absences. Teachers will not be required to provide work prior to a student leaving for vacation. The student will be required to make up all missed work upon his/her return to school. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Credit Recovery When a student accumulates more than 8 absences during a semester, the student’s parent/guardian will be notified by mail. The student may appeal this denial of credit to the Attendance Review Board or directly to the principal. Credit recovery programs may include (but are not limited to): community service, internship, increased course work, “borrowing” days from another semester. In cases of internships and community service, one hour of internship or service will equal one hour of absence. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Tardy Policies Students who miss more than 15 minutes of a class due to tardiness will be considered absent from that class. More than eight (8) absences per semester will lead to loss of credit for the course. Students must be in their first period class by 7:35 a.m. and must remain in school for the entire school day in order to participate in or attend any co-curricular activity for that day. An administrator’s pre-approval will waive any penalties. Students who spend a class period in the nurse’s office will not be eligible to participate or attend any co-curricular or school events that day. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Freshman Schedule English 9 (CP or Honors) Geometry or Algebra I (CP or Honors) Introductory Physics (CP or Honors) World History II (CP or Honors) Freshman Writing - ½ Year (non-leveled) Freshman Math – ½ Year (non-leveled) Foreign Language (non-leveled) French I Spanish I Wellness 9 – ½ Year Elective – ½ Year Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Freshman Writing and Math Required of all freshmen 5-week cycles Math: Focus on MCAS and/or PSAT / SAT preparation Writing: Focus on persuasive and analytical writing Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Electives Massachusetts requires that all students take physical education / wellness each year in school. All freshman are required to take Wellness 9. Wellness is a one-semester course. Freshmen will take Wellness 9 during 1st or 2nd semester. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Electives All freshmen considering college in the future should take a foreign language class. Freshmen will have the opportunity to take a one-semester elective during their freshman year, unless they choose not to take a foreign language class – then they would take 3 electives. Then, the student will have the opportunity to take 3 one-semester electives. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Pre-requisites In order to take Honors-level classes, students must: Earn an B or better in their grade 8 class in that subject area This is based on the final grade for the year Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Pre-requisites Grade 8 to Honors = B or better CP to Honors = A- or better Honors to Honors = Honors to AP = CP to AP = Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Pre-requisite Waiver Request Students who do not meet the pre-requisite for a course may request a waiver. Waiver found on the high school webpage. Waivers are due on: June 1, 2011 No waivers received after the deadline will be considered. Students who currently meet the pre-requisites but do not after term 4 will be mailed a letter and a waiver request at the end of June. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Pre-requisite Waiver Request Waiver decisions will be based upon: Discussions with Mrs. Maxwell Student essay Space limitations If a student is granted a waiver he/she has until the term 1 progress reports are issued to drop the class. After this time, the student will be committed to the class for the ENTIRE year. Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Process April 1 This information will be presented to all grade 8 students April 7: Students and MMS teachers will discuss and fill out course selection forms Student will bring form home for discussions with parents/guardians and signature April 8 Course selection forms due back to the MMS office April 27: Waiver Requests Due Step-up Day May 6 Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

Grade 8 Course Selection 2011 Final Points Schedules will be mailed at some point during May. I will not consider any requests based on teacher preference. You will receive several letters from me this summer with more details about the opening of school in August. Only 152 days until your son or daughter starts high school! Only 1368 days until your son or daughter graduates from high school! MAKE THE MOST OF IT!!! Grade 8 Course Selection 2011

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