Welcome parents/guardians of the Battlefield Class of 2016!

VOCABULARY Transcript - Record of student’s grades, courses, grade point average, SAT/ACT scores, and rank in class Standard Unit of Credit - Based on a minimum of 140 clock hours of instruction and successful completion of the requirements of the course SOL Test - End-of-Course tests which are required by Virginia Department of Education to verify attainment of knowledge and skills in specific English, math, science and social studies courses. Verified Unit of Credit (V) hours of clock instruction, successful completion of course requirements, and achievement of a passing score on the SOL test

Electives - Additional courses beyond the required courses that are needed to meet the total minimum standard units of credit for graduation. Advanced Placement (AP) Course - A college-level course that is externally moderated and exceeds the expectation of grade level objectives for a specific subject; these courses receive weighted credit Pre-AP courses are stepping stone courses designed to introduce students to the advanced rigor of AP courses Weighted Credit - Refers to the grade point value assigned to Advanced Placement, certain Career and Technical Education, qualifying college courses, and designated prerequisite courses VOCABULARY (cont’d)

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) Quality Pts Designated Grading Scale RegularPrerequisites AP A = B+ = B = C+ = C = D+ = D = F = Below Calculating GPA Determine number of Quality Points earned for each course taken Add Quality Points Divide total Quality Points by total number of credits attempted Result is GPA

THINGS TO CONSIDER Graduation Requirements - Do you and your student know what courses are required for graduation? Testing - What is a Verified Credit? What SOL tests are required for graduation? Discussion - Discuss career options and goals with your student on an on-going basis. Career Exploration and Planning - Is your student taking his/her career goals into consideration when devising his/her four-year and post-secondary plan?

COURSE SELECTION TIMELINE GMS: Course selection orientation 01/27/12 BRMS: Pre-scheduling activities prior to Feb. 7 th GMS: February 7 th BRMS: February 8 th & 9th Each student will meet individually with a Battlefield counselor and complete a course selection form February 15: Deadline for submitting iT Program application February 17: Yellow copy of course selection form and must be returned to the middle school with parent/guardian signature March 30: Deadline for submitting completed AFJROTC student contract to Col. Cartee at Battlefield High School

SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS When can changes be made to my son’s/daughter’s schedule? Why is it necessary to choose alternate course selections? What happens if my son/daughter drops a course or changes levels of a course? (p. 10)

DIPLOMA TYPES Special Diploma - based on IEP goals (Special Education only) Modified Standard - 20 credits (Special Education only) Standard - 22 credits Advanced Studies - 26 credits Standard Technical - 22 credits (new diploma) Advanced Technical - 26 credits (new diploma)

STANDARD DIPLOMA Standard CreditsVerified Credits English42 Mathematics 31 Laboratory Science31 Social Studies 31 Health/PE2 Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career & Tech Ed2 Economics & Personal Finance1 Electives* 4 * including 2 sequential electives Student Selected Test 1 Total226

STANDARD TECHNICAL DIPLOMA Standard Credits Verified Credits English42 Mathematics 31 Laboratory Science 31 Social Studies 31 Health/PE2 Fine Arts or Foreign Language1 Economics & Personal Finance1 Career and Technical Education 4 Electives 1 Student Selected Test 1 Total 226

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA Standard CreditsVerified Credits English42 Mathematics42 Laboratory Science42 Social Studies42 Foreign Language3 (or 2/2) Health/PE2 Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education1 Economics & Personal Finance1 Electives3 Student Selected Test __ 1 Total269

ADVANCED TECHNICAL DIPLOMA Standard CreditsVerified Credits English 42 Mathematics42 Laboratory Science 42 Social Studies42 Foreign Language3 (or 2/2) Health/PE2 Economics & Personal Finance 1 Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education 1 Career and Technical Education3 Student Selected Test__ 1 Total269

PROMOTION POLICY Grade 10: Minimum of 6 credits, 3 of which must be required for graduation. Grade 11: Minimum of 11 credits, 6 of which must be required for graduation. Grade 12: Minimum of 16 credits, 9 of which must be required for graduation. Must have a plan that meets graduation requirements by June or August.

TYPICAL COURSE SELECTIONS All students must select enough courses to fill the 7 block schedule and at least 2 credits worth of alternates Required courses: * English * Math * Science * Social Studies * Health/Physical Education * Foreign Language (depending on diploma) * Electives Sample course schedules for each diploma type are available on page 120 of the course catalog.

STANDARD DIPLOMA MATH SEQUENCE 9 th grade: Algebra I Part I (elective credit) 10 th grade: Algebra I Part II (math credit) Alg I Part I + Alg I Part II = 1 (V) 11 th grade: Geometry (V) 12 th grade: Algebra, Functions, & Data Analysis (AFDA) * One math Verified Credit required * Successful completion of three math credits required

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA MATH SEQUENCE Sequence for Traditional 8 th Grade Pre-Algebra Student: 9 th grade: Algebra I (V) 10 th grade: Geometry or Pre-AP Geometry (V) 11 th grade: Algebra II or Pre-AP Algebra II/Trig (V) 12 th grade: Advanced Math choice * Two math Verified Credits required * Successful completion of four math credits to include Algebra II

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA MATH SEQUENCE (cont’d) Sequence for 8 th Grade Algebra I Student: 9 th grade: Geometry or Pre-AP Geometry (V) 10 th grade: Algebra II or Pre-AP Algebra II/Trig (V) 11 th grade: Advanced Math choice 12 th grade: Advanced Math choice * Two math Verified Credits required * Successful completion of four math credits to include Algebra II

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA MATH SEQUENCE (cont’d) Sequence for 8 th Grade Geometry Student: 9 th grade: Algebra II or Pre-AP Algebra II/Trig (V) 10 th grade: Advanced Math choice 11 th grade: Advanced Math choice 12 th grade: Advanced Math choice * Two math Verified Credits required * Successful completion of four math credits to include Algebra II

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SEQUENCE 9 th Grade Option: 9 th grade: Foreign Language I 10 th grade: Foreign Language II 11 th grade: Foreign Language III 12 th grade: Foreign Language IV 8 th Grade Option: 8 th grade: Foreign Language I 9 th grade: Foreign Language II 10 th grade: Foreign Language III 11 th grade: Foreign Language IV 12 th grade: Foreign Language V

FOREIGN LANGUAGE (cont’d) Standard and Standard Technical diplomas do not require a Foreign Language but it may be taken as an elective Advanced Studies and Advanced Technical diplomas require three years of one language or two years of two different languages Colleges typically prefer three or more years of a Foreign Language Battlefield offers French, Spanish, Latin, and German We suggest that a student have at least a B or better in 8 th grade Language Arts before beginning Foreign Language

SCIENCE COURSE SEQUENCE Science options for students enrolled in Algebra I 9 th grade: Pre-AP Biology 10 th grade: Pre-AP Chemistry 11 th grade: Selection of an Advanced Science course 12 th grade: Selection of an Advanced Science course - OR - 9 th grade: Biology 10 th grade: Chemistry 11 th /12 th grade: Biology II, Forensics Science, Physics, Advanced Earth Science, Earth Science, Oceanography*, or Astronomy* *Must complete Advance Earth Science or Earth Science prior to enrolling in this course.

SCIENCE (cont’d) Science options for students enrolled in Algebra I part I 9 th grade - Biology 10 th grade - Earth Science 11 th grade - Oceanography or Astronomy 12 th grade - Chemistry - OR – Standard (one of several possible sequences): 9 th grade: Biology 10 th grade: Earth Science 11 th grade: Active Physics, Astronomy, or Oceanography

ENGLISH COURSE SEQUENCE English 9 or Pre-AP English 9 English 10 or Pre-AP English 10 English 11 or AP Language & Composition English 12 or AP Literature & Composition

SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE SEQUENCE World History & Geography to 1500 or Pre-AP World History & Geography to 1500 (V) World History & Geography from 1500 to Present or AP World History (V) US/VA History or AP US History (V) US/VA Government or AP US Government

PRE-AP AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES Pre-AP and AP courses are not required for students to earn an Advanced Studies or Advanced Technical diploma Advanced Studies and Advanced Technical diplomas are based on passing the required courses and earning the required verified credits Selecting a Pre-AP or AP course - Should be based on student’s ability, past record of achievement, teacher recommendation, interest in the subject, and career goals College Credit - May be awarded depending on student performance on Advance Placement exams and is determined by the college or university, not the high school

STUMBLING BLOCKS Lack of homework completion Lack of study skills Poor organizational skills Poor attendance  The transition to high school can be difficult for some students. It is extremely important that they get off to a strong start!

KEYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS Ask for help from teachers, counselor, administrator when needed Development of strong study skills, organizational skills, and time management skills Daily attendance and completion of missed work if absent Completion of all assignments on time Daily checking of School Fusion Weekly checking of Parent Portal Understanding of numeric grading scale Daily practice of oral assignments in Foreign Language Daily studying in Math

BALANCE AND TIME MANAGEMENT Success Academics Friends and Family Sports And Activities

COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENT A-CgMs. Ch-FoMs. Fr-JiMs. Jk-MbMs. Mc-PoMr. Pr-StaMs. Ste-ZMs. DirectorMs.