Student Services Marleen Billings –Administrative Assistant Cheri Hoyle –Guidance Counselor, Grades 7 & 9 (A – K) Caitlin McKenna –Guidance Counselor, Grades 11 (L - Z) & 12 Sara Storm –Guidance Counselor, Grades 10 & 11 (A – K) Paula Swenson –Guidance Counselor, Grades 8 & 9 (L - Z)

Agenda Mahar Graduation Requirements Credits for Promotion Attendance Policy Post-Secondary Options & College Admission Requirements Course Levels & Grade Point Averages (GPA) Math and English Placement Other Course Options The Program of Studies can be found at:

Credits English204 Courses Math204 Courses Social Studies204 Courses Science204 Courses Foreign Language102 Courses Health and PE104 Years (8 Semesters) Arts2020 Credits Electives10 – 30 Minimum Credits140Most graduate with 160 MCAS English & Math Science Proficiency Pass School-to-Work35 Hours Graduation Requirements Class of 2012 ONLY

CreditsMinimum English204 Courses Math204 Courses Social Studies153 Courses Science153 Courses Foreign LanguageRecommended PE & Health10 & 10 Arts52 (every other day) Courses Core Electives20 Minimum Credits115Most graduate with 160 MCAS English & Math Science Proficiency Pass School-to-Work35 Hours Graduation Requirements Class of 2013 and Beyond

Earning Credits Credits are earned by passing courses with grade of 60 or better. All high school students take the following: Semester I: (August – Mid January) 20 Credits Semester II: (Mid January – June) 20 Credits 40 credits each year

Credits and Promotion Credits MinimumAttempted Grade Grade Grade

Attendance Policy No credit will be given if absent more than days per semesterin a class which meets 9Every day 4Every other day Students who are more than 15 minutes late to class (tardy) will be considered absent.

Middle School HOUSE Unified Arts Everyday Art/Music PE/Health High School How the Day Fits Together High School Full Block (5 Credits) Full Block Every Other Day (2.5 Credits) PE (1.25 Cr.) Health (1.25 Cr.)

Full Block (5 Credits) Full Block Every Other Day (2.5 Credits) PE (1.25 Cr.) Health (1.25 Cr.) Full Block (5 Credits) Full Block Every Other Day (2.5 Credits) PE (1.25 Cr.) Health (1.25 Cr.) 20 Credits per Semester 40 Credits per Year Full Block Every Other Day (2.5 Credits) Full Block Every Other Day (2.5 Credits)

Class of 2013 and beyond MaharUMASS & State Universities CoursesMinimum No. of Courses English4 4 Math4 (Geometry) 3 (Algebra II) Social Studies3 2 Science3 3 (2 LABS) Foreign LanguageRecommended 2 (Same Language) PE & Health8 & 8 Arts5 Credits Core Electives20 Credits 2 College Prep Level Minimum Credits115 State Required MCASPASS School-to-Work35 HoursSAT or ACT EXAM

What’s the Point? Students should work closely with their guidance counselor to ensure that they complete school with academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.

Post-High School Options Defined Some College A few unrelated courses Certificate (1 year or less) Associates Degree (2 Year College) Bachelors Degree (4 Year College) Graduate Degree Masters Professional Doctoral

Education, Why?

Mahar Transcript Introduction to Grade Point Averages: Two types Unweighted GPA Weighted GPA

Un-weighted GPA does not consider the rigor of the courses

Course Levels Level 1 –PE/ Health –Title I –Study Skills –Co-Ops Level 2 –Comprehensive –Most Arts Classes Level 3 –College Preparatory Level 4 –Honors Classes Level 5 –Advanced Placement

Mahar’s Math & English Sequencing = A Recipe for Success

Math Placement 8th Grade MCAS Score Grade 9 Course(s) Below 220 Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1A Algebra 1A and 1B Above 240 Algebra I (Honors)

For Students who score below a 220 on the 8 th grade math MCAS Grade 11 &12 Geometry 1B ( Min. Graduation Req.) Algebra II ( Min. 4 Year College Req.) Recordkeeping or Accounting I Pre-Calculus AP Statistics or AP Calculus Accounting II, Senior Math Grade 9Grade 10 Semester I: Pre-AlgebraSemester I: Algebra 1B Semester II: Algebra 1ASemester II: Geometry 1A

With scores between 220 & 240 on the 8 th grade math MCAS Grade 9Grade 10 Semester I: Algebra 1A Semester I: Geometry 1A Semester II: Algebra 1B Semester II: Geometry 1B Grade 9 & 10 sequence completes 4 of 4 required math courses. Grades 11 & 12 Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Accounting I AP Statistics, AP Calculus, Accounting II, Senior Math

With scores above 240 on the 8 th grade math MCAS Grade 9Grade 10 Semester I: Algebra I (Honors) Semester I: Geometry (Honors) Semester II: Algebra II (CP or Honors) Grades 11 & 12 Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Calculus, Accounting I, Accounting II, Senior Math (2.5 Credits)

Math Help after Grade 10 MCAS MCAS Help after Grade 10 MCAS Scores are reported: Math 240 offered for students who score between 220 and 240. (If they are not enrolled in the regular math sequence.) Math Workshop offered for students who score below 220

Pre-Algebra (L2) Algebra 1A & Algebra 1B (L3) or Algebra I (L4) Geometry A & Geometry B (L3) or Geometry (L4) Algebra II (L3) or Algebra II (L4) (Prerequisite for AP Statistics) Pre-calculus (L4) (Prerequisite for AP Calculus ) AP Statistics (L5) AP Calculus (L5) New Elective: Senior Math (L3) (2.5 Credit Elective) Courses for 11 th & 12 Grade Students who need MCAS Support: Math 240 (L3) and Math Workshop(L2) (Placement based on grade 10 MCAS scores) Alternate Courses (Grades 11 & 12) Record Keeping(L2) Accounting I (L3) Accounting II (L3) Math Sequence (4 Course Minimum) Geometry is required for graduation. ~ Algebra II is required for college entrance.

English Placement 7th Grade MCAS Grade 9 Course(s) Warning (Below 220) English 9 & English I0 Needs Improvement ( ) English 9 & English I0 Proficient (240 – 258) English 9 (English 10 Honors in Grade 10) Advanced (260 – 280) English 9 (English 10 Honors in Grade 10)

MCAS Support English Program Grade 9Grade 10 S I: English 9 Title I S I: Test Prep English* Title I S II: English 10 Title I S II: English 11 Title I Test Prep is a comprehensive course which meets every other day for 2.5 credits. Completes 3 out of 4 required English courses

English Courses (4 Courses Required) English 9 CP* (All Ninth Graders) English 10 CP* or English 10 Honors (Prerequisite for AP Eng. Lang.) English 11 CP*, or English 11 Honors (Prerequisite for AP Eng. Lit.) or AP English Language English 12 CP, Honors or AP English Literature Assigned classes: Test Prep (Comp.) &/or Title 1 (L1)* ( does not fulfill English requirement) These Assigned Classes Fulfill the English Graduation Requirement: English Workshop* (Assigned class for those who score below 220 on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS) English 12 CP* (Assigned class for those who score between 220 and 240 on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS) Comp. = Comprehensive (L2) *MCAS Remediation Program CP = College Preparatory (L3) Honors = (L4) AP = Advanced Placement (L5)

Foreign Language 2 to 4 Courses Recommended for Entrance to a 4 Yr. College Introductory Spanish (L3) Novice Spanish (L3) Intermediate Spanish (L3) Adv. Hon. Spanish (L4) Accel. Hon. Spanish (L4) French I (L3) French II (L3) Honors French III (L4) Adv. Hon. French (L4)

Social Studies

Science Course GradeCredit –Technology/Engineering (L3) –Intro. to Physical Science (L3) –Biology (L3) or Honors Biology (L4) –Conservation/Ecology (L3) or Honors Conservation/Ecology (L4) –Physics (L3) or Honors Physics (L4) –AP Biology (L5) (Perquisite: Honors Biology & Chem) –Chemistry (L3) or Honors Chemistry (L4) –Honors Plant Science (L4) –Anatomy and Physiology (L3) –Advanced Honors Chemistry(L4) 12 5 Assigned Class (For those who do not pass the Biology MCAS with a 220) –Biology II (L3)

The ARTS DepartmentCourseCreditsGradesArt Art 2D Art 2D Art 3D Art 3D AR132 Bookmaking I * AR142 Bookmaking II* AR172 Art and World Cultures I* AR182 Art and World Cultures II* AR152 Mural Painting I* AR152 Mural Painting I* AR163 Mural Painting II* AR334 Studio Art Prep.* AR335 AP Studio ART Music MU112 Band MU112 Band MU122 Chorus MU122 Chorus MU142 Music Theory MU142 Music Theory MU172 Music History / Appreciation MU172 Music History / Appreciation MU162 American Pop Music MU162 American Pop Music MU152 Composition / Song Writing MU152 Composition / Song Writing MU132 Jazz Lab MU132 Jazz Lab MU182 Percussion Ensemble* MU192 Basic Musicianship*

English Department Shakespeare* Drama* Creative Writing (ED Course)* Information is Power* Short Fiction and Drama Facing Change in the 20 th Century Technology Education Department Wood Art and Design* Computer Aided Drafting* Technology and Multimedia (ED Course) Health Science Department Handicrafts* Introduction to Teaching Students with Disabilities (ED or EOD Course) World Language Language Press (ED Course) History Department Facing Change in the 20 th Century Business Department Information Processing* Middle College – Dual Enrollment First Year Experience Courses that Fulfill ADDITIONAL CORE ELECTIVES REMEMBER: Once minimum academic credit requirements have been met, additional courses/credits taken in each subject area count toward the additional core elective requirements. * Available for Grades

Other ELECTIVES Co-op - in school - out of school Title I (5 credits) Study Skills (Special Education) (5 credits)

English 9 (5 Credits) Math (5 Credits) Introduction to Physical Science (5 Credits) Art/Electives (2.5 Credits) PE (1.25 Cr.) Health (1.25 Cr.) 20 Credits per Semester 40 Credits per Year Semester ISemester II English 10 or Foreign Language (5 Credits) Elective (5 Credits) Civics (5 Credits) Art/Electives (2.5 Credits) PE (1.25 Cr.) Health (1.25 Cr.)

Questions? Thank you for coming! The Program of Studies on the WEB: