Course Selection Grade 9 2013-2014 (Class of 2017) Spring Grove Area High School February 21, 2013

Administrators Dr. Cugliari – Principal Mr. Frank – Assistant Principal (Student last names A-G) Mr. Jones – Assistant Principal (Student last names H-Q) Mr. Dietrich – Assistant Principal (Student last names R-Z)

Counselors Mr. Bischof – Student last names A-G Mrs. Mummert – Student last names H-Q Mrs. Schmoyer – Student last names R-Z Guidance Office Support Staff – Ms. Heilig, Mrs. Piety, and Mrs. Leese

Career Center Ms. Shutter – Career Coordinator Ms. Sterner – Career Center Support Staff Resources for post high school planning.

HS Schedule & Course Selection Course Selection Sheet due March 1st Class Choice Verification given to students at the beginning of May Drop / Add by May 31st Final student schedule sent by mail in the beginning of August Student/Parent Orientation Wednesday, August 14th at 6:30pm HS Schedule 8 Instructional Periods 43 Minute Classes Some classes meet double periods Semester and Year classes

Keystone Exams The class of 2017 is required to score a proficient or advanced score on the Algebra I Keystone Exam, Literature Keystone Exam, and Biology I Keystone Exam to earn a high school diploma. (State mandated) State assessment to replace the PSSA at the HS level Algebra I Keystone and Biology I Keystone will be first taken at the end of the respective course.

Keystone Exams Some students may have taken the Algebra I Keystone in Middle School. Literature Keystone will be first taken during the winter of the 10th grade year. The current exam windows include a week in December, January, and May Students can retake the Keystone Exams multiple times until May of their 11th grade year (3rd year in HS)

Keystone Exams Annual Yearly Progress will be generated for the graduating class at the end of the 11th grade year Students who did not score proficiency or advanced on the Keystone will need to take a project based assessment in that subject during their 12th grade year

Graduation Requirements Students must earn at least 25 credits. English – 4 credits/courses Social Studies – 4 credits/courses (including American Society) Mathematics – 3 credits/courses (including Alg. I, Geo., Alg. II) Science – 3 credits/courses

Graduation Requirements Physical Education / Health Ed. – Pass 2 credits in health wellness (including Introduction to Sports & Fitness and Health Education) Arts & Humanities – Pass 2 courses (Art, Music, World Language) Practical Arts – Pass 2 courses (Technology Ed., Family & Consumer Science, Business) * Career Skills=Required Electives – Additional credits chosen by the student

Major Change **Students in the Class of 2017 are not required to complete a Graduation Project as a requirement for a high school diploma.** (Change in state mandate)

Recommended Course of Study Grade 9 Grade 10 Comp English 9 or Comp English 9 Honors Comp English 10 or Comp English 10 Honors US History I or US History I Honors US History 2 or AP US History 2 Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 (Regular or Honors) Algebra 2 or Geometry (Regular or Honors) Biology I (General, Regular or Honors) Physical Science, Physics I (Regular or Honors) World Language Level I or II World Language Level II or III (2 years minimum) Elective(s) Elective(s) – Career Skills (required) Grade 11 Grade 12 Comp English 11 or Comp English 11 Honors Comp English 12 , CHS English, AP English Global Studies or Global Studies Honors American Society (Reg. or Honors), CHS National Geometry or Trigonometry (Reg./Honors Political Systems Environmental or Chemistry (Reg./Honors) Trigonometry, Stats, AP Stats, AP Calculus AB, AP World Language Level III or IV Calculus BC Academic Elective(s AP Physics, AP Chemistry, or AP Biology I Electives World Language Level IV or V Academic Elective(s) Elective(s) AP / Dual Enrollment / College in the High School

Grade 9 Course Selection Communication Arts English 9 (9 per/cycle) – 1.5 credits/yr (students that scored below proficient on 8th grade PSSA) Comp English 9 (1 cr/yr) Comp Eng. 9 Honors (1 cr/yr) Creative Writing (.5 cr/sem)-Elective Drama (.5 cr/sem)-Elective Journalism (.5 cr/sem) Social Studies US History I US History I Honors

Grade 9 Course Selection Mathematics Algebra I Concepts (9per/cycle) – (1.5 cr/yr) (students that scored below proficient on 8th grade PSSA) Algebra I (9 per/cycle) – (1.5 cr/yr) Algebra I Honors (9 per/cycle)– (1.5 cr/yr) Algebra 2 (1 cr/yr) Algebra 2 Honors (1 cr/yr) ** Inclusion class offerings except honors level.** Science General Biology (9per/cycle) -1.5 cr/yr Not proficient on 8th gr. Science PSSA Biology I – (9 per/cycle) – 1.5cr/yr Biology I Honors (9 per/cycle) – 1.5 cr/yr

Grade 9 Course Selection Art Cultural Art I (.25 cr/ sem) ($) Cultural Art II (.5 cr/sem) ($) Art I (1 cr/yr) Fam/Consumer Sci FCS Survey 9 ($) (1 cr/yr) Child Care (.25 cr/sem) Intro Creative Foods (.25 cr/sem) Stitchery Crafts (.25 cr/sem) Clothing I ($) – (.5 cr/sem) Clothing II ($) – (.5 cr/sem) Business Education Computer Apps I - (.5 cr./sem) Computer Apps II - (.5 cr./sem) Business I - (.5cr/sem) Keyboard Tech/Comp – (.5 cr/sem) Special Marketing /Sports/Entertainment– (.5 cr/sem) – take w/ Business I or after Web 2.0 - (.5 cr./sem) Entrepreneurship – (.5 cr./sem)

Grade 9 Course Selection Technology Ed Intro Technology ($) World Language French I French II German I German II Spanish I Spanish II Music Chorus (& sectional) – (.7 cr/yr) Concert Choir (& sectional) – (.7 cr/yr) Jazz Ensemble (.35 cr/yr) Stage Band (.35 cr/yr) Symphonic Band (& sec.) (.7 cr/yr) String Orch. (& sec.) (.7 cr/yr) Hist. Amer. Pop(.25cr/sem) Intro. Broadway (.25cr/sem) Intro. Music Tech. (.25 cr/sem)

Course Offerings A requirement of 25 interested students must be met in order to offer a course in the 2013-14 school year. Therefore, some courses in the course selection guide may not be offered. Exceptions may be made by the building principal. (p.9 of Course Selection Guide)

Requesting Courses Students should use the web worksheet distributed by the counselors as a guide to select courses. Students will register courses online in the computer lab with counselors. Students will print out verification sheets in the computer lab and have a parent sign their sheet and return to their homeroom teacher by March 1, 2013. Students should select at least 3 alternative courses. Electives should be numbered by priority. Changes to the course selection sheet will be accepted until May 31st. (p. 9 of Course Selection Guide)

Dropping / Adding Courses Final student schedule will be mailed in August. Changes (after schedule distribution) will only be made in the events of: Conflicts or missing courses (students should set up an appointment with their counselor prior to the beginning of the school year). Student / parent generated requests to drop or change classes during the school year will not be permitted. Why is this? Balancing classes, the ability to offer courses, appropriate use of teacher resources, and fairness to other students. (p. 9 of Course Selection Guide)

Promotion Policy The following totals represent the minimum earned requirements necessary for promotion to the next grade: Grade 9: 5 credits Grade 10: 12 credits Grade 11: 18 credits Grade 12: 25 credits Note: All students will have until their 3rd year in high school to pass the Keystone Exams.

WEIGHTED COURSES/CLASS RANK/GRADE POINT AVERAGE Courses are assigned a value or weight according to the degree of difficulty of the course content. Ranking of students within their graduating class begins in ninth grade. Class rank is based on cumulative weighted averages and calculated twice each school year. The weighted grade point average is determined by computing the product of the grade, weight, and credit for each course and dividing the sum of the products by the total number of credits. The course weighting system is as follows: Level Zero: .9 - Courses that cover learning at the basic level or are worth .25 credit Level One: 1.0 - Courses that meet on a semester or yearly basis that cover information at a comprehensive level. Level Two: 1.05 - Courses that meet on a semester or yearly basis that cover college preparatory information. Level Three: 1.1 - Courses that meet on a semester or yearly basis that cover honors information. Level Four: 1.15 – Courses that meet on a semester or yearly basis that cover college level information. (AP, College in the HS, Dual Enrollment) Students also receive a cumulative unweighted grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.0 scale [i.e. A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1; F=0]. The unweighted GPA is calculated by converting the letter/percentage grade for each course to the 4.0 scale and dividing the sum of all of the courses by the total number of credits.

Some things to consider when choosing courses… Taking classes that will support what the student wants to do when they graduate. Students may not repeat a course and receive credit. Prerequisites (listed after course descriptions in Course Selection Guide) Weighting of courses (p. 13 & p.22 of Course Selection Guide) Honors Courses / AP Courses / College in the HS / Dual Enrollment (p. 13 – 14 of the Course Selection Guide)

Recommended Prerequisites for HONORS COURSES / COLLEGE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL / AP Courses Honors courses are offered in grades nine through twelve. To select Honors program courses students must meet specific criteria. A. To enter the program, the student should meet at least one of the following criteria*: 1. Be identified as a gifted student; 2. Have attained a final grade of at least 93% in the subject for the year immediately preceding the Honors course placement (91% in Advanced Communication Arts); 3. Have attained a final grade of 90-92% in the subject for the year immediately preceding the Honors course placement with recommendations from two teachers (88-90% in Advanced CA). 4. Have a written parental request for the honors course(s). B. To remain in the program, the student should meet at least one of the following criteria: 2. Have earned a final grade of at least 86% in the subject for the year immediately preceding in the program; 3. Have recommendations from the sending and receiving teacher in that subject for the student who has attained 85% or lower. 4. Have a written parental request for the honor course(s). At the conclusion of each school year, the performance of each student will be reviewed to determine if the student is recommended to advance to the next level. Placement tests are required for English College in the High School classes. E. Exceptions to the honors requirement must be approved by the building principal.

PLANNING FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION A student's high school academic record is the most important component that will be considered in the college application process because it is an indicator of success in college. Specific courses and the grades the student earned are aspects of the record that will be appraised. Special attention will be given to the number of challenging courses the applicant has successfully completed. Overall grade point average will also be considered. An applicant's class rank shows the level of competition the student has encountered and how he/she achieved relative to the competition. Most colleges will expect the applicant to rank (at the very least) in the top half of the class. More selective colleges may expect the student to rank in the top quarter or even the top 10% of the class. The progression of major courses listed below is suggested for any students who are considering post-secondary education. Students should carefully review course descriptions and prerequisites for these courses. It is also recommended that students meet with their school counselor to ensure that their high school program of studies will meet the requirements for specific college majors.

Opportunities Cooperative Education (Y.E.S) / Work Release (Grade 12 only) Mentor Programs During the School Day (p.10) –Certified Nurse Program, Empire Beauty, Police Mentoring Program (Gr. 11 & 12) Mentor Programs After School Hours (p.11) – Accounting, Architecture, Arts, Culinary, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, Legal (Gr.11 & 12) Senior Release (p.17 of Course Selection Guide) (Gr.12)

Testing for College Admissions Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – 10th grade (October) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – 11th (October and March) and 12th grade (October) American College Test (ACT) – 11th and 12th grade (September) SAT prep course (0.5 credits) - (Gr. 10 & 11) SAT after-school prep course ($)

NCAA Clearinghouse Make sure students take the required college preparatory classes! ( www.eligibilitycenter.org) Mr. Scott Govern – Athletic Director

Clubs / Activities / Sports Why get involved? Connection to SGAHS Explore Interests Meet like-minded students Letters of Recommendation College application / Job resume

Questions and Answers