1. Scheduling Night for Parents of Rising Freshmen
Briar Woods High School

2. Evening Agenda 6:45 – 7:30 Presentation
7:30 – 8:30 Scheduling Fair in the Cafeteria
Core departments
Elective departments
School Counseling department

3. This Information is Online!
BWHS School Counseling >>> Student Scheduling for
Tonight’s parent presentation – key points will be titled in red
Students’ presentation
Program of Studies
Rising freshman course selection worksheets
LCPS Course Curriculum information

4. Presentation Agenda Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process
Questions? School counseling table
Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements
Selecting Courses for Next Year
Questions? Department tables

5. Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process

6. Current LCPS Middle School students
We will visit both middle schools on February 10 & 11, and walk students through their course selections class-by-class.
The middle school will send home your student’s course selections for your review
You will have until June 19, 2015 to make changes
Each middle school will have additional actions or activities

7. Students New to LCPS New students usually begin enrolling in mid-April
The information and materials needed to enroll an new student can be found on the BWHS and LCPS websites
New students and their parents will select their courses with a BWHS counselor when they enroll
Enrollments are by appointment

8. Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements

9. Diplomas
Standard Diploma
Advanced Studies Diploma

10. Diplomas Diplomas are based on:
Standard Units of Credit – 140 clock hours of instruction & a passing grade
Translation: Pass the class, get a credit
Verified Units of Credit – Standard unit of credit plus passing the end-of-course SOL associated with that class
Translation: Pass the class and SOL, get a verified credit

11. Standard Diploma Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits English 42
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics
Science
Health/Physical Education
Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career & Technical Education
Economics and Personal Finance
Electives
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total 22 6

12. Advanced Studies Diploma
Academic Areas
Credits
SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies
Mathematics
Science
Foreign Language
3-4
Health/Physical Education
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education 1
Economics and Personal Finance
Electives 3
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total 26 9

13. SOL Courses = Verified Credits
Reading (Eng. 11) Earth Science
Writing (Eng. 11) Biology
Chemistry
Algebra 1 World History 1
Geometry World History 2
Algebra 2 US History

14. Additional Requirements
See the Program of Studies for the “fine print” details

15. Additional Requirements
VA Department of Education: All students must receive online instruction while in high school
There is an online instructional component within the required “Personal Finance” class which satisfies this requirement!

16. Additional Requirements
VA Department of Education: Standard Diploma students must pass a board-approved “technical education credential”
There is a credential component within the required “Personal Finance” class!

17. Selecting Courses for Next Year (and beyond)

18. The four most emotional topics…
Politics
Religion
Should my child take Honors or Academic classes?
The difference between Earth Science and Biology?

19. Course Options for Freshmen
Please relax!!!
You have until June 19th to make your final decision!!!

20. Course Options for Freshmen
English 9: Honors or Academic
World History 1: Pre-AP (Honors) or Academic
Earth Science *: Research (Honors) or Academic
Math: Follows sequence
Health & Physical Education 9
Elective – usually a foreign language
Elective

21. Academic is a “college-bound” level.
Course Levels
Academic
Course content and expected student performance require additional reading and writing at a rigorous level.
Academic is a “college-bound” level.

22. Course Levels
Honors
Course content is rapidly paced with additional depth. Lessons are often designed to be complex, abstract, and open-ended.

23. Course Options for Freshmen
English 9: Honors or Academic
World History 1: Pre-AP (Honors) or Academic
Earth Science *: Research (Honors), Academic
Math: Follows sequence
Health & Physical Education 9
Elective – usually a foreign language
Elective

24. Math Sequence See Program of Studies, page 30
Algebra 1 >>> Geometry
Geometry >>> Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 w/Trig
Algebra 2 w/Trig is for the “easy straight A” math student!
Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 w/Trig >>>
Advanced Functions and Modeling
Advanced Algebra/Precalculus
Math Analysis

25. * Freshman Science Earth Science – 9th grade course
Research/Honors
Academic
Biology – 10th grade course
Academic is not available for freshmen

26. * Freshman Science Earth Science Honors or Biology Honors
Most freshmen take Earth Science, 72%.
Skipping Earth Science is not recommended by LCPS/BWHS. Students who skip freshman Earth Science will miss important science content – perhaps the most important science content an involved citizen should have
Students have not had the same level of exposure to this subject in middle school
Academy of Science students receive Earth Science instruction and take the Earth Science SOL
Honors Research Biology has a strong research component; students first learn the research process through Honors Research Earth Science
Students who skip Earth Science may be able to go “higher” in science with less concessions (assuming they want to; and assuming they have the math to do so)

27. LCPS Science Courses SUBJECT GRADE LEVEL PREREQUISITES Earth Science
9-10
None
Biology
Chemistry
10-12
Algebra 1; Algebra 2 recommended
Physics
11-12
Algebra 2
Conceptual Physics
Algebra 1
Environmental Science
Two science classes
AP Biology
Biology & Co-requisite of Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
Earth Science & Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics
Physics & Co-requisite of Calculus
DE Independent Science Research (GMU)
DE Geospatial Science I (JMU)
NOT FOR SCIENCE CREDIT
DE Geospatial Science 2 (JMU) 12

28. Science, continued
Talk with your child about what science classes they may be interested in – next year, and beyond
Use the plan of studies worksheet/four-year plan (found on our website) to estimate when your child might want to take those classes – the middle schools will also do this with your child
Where will their math be? Math is a prerequisite for some science classes
Talk to our science representatives tonight

29. Plan of Studies/Four-Year Plan

30. Work Load, freshman survey
English 9 Academic = 1 hour 29 minutes/week
English 9 Honors = 2 hours 40 minutes/week
Earth Science Academic = 1 hour 32 minutes/week
Research Earth Science Honors = 2 hours 32 minutes/week
Research Biology Honors = 2 hours 40 minutes/week
World History Academic = 2 hours 10 minutes/week
PreAP World History = 3 hours 23 minutes/week
Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 = 1 hour 48 minutes/week
Algebra 2 w Trig = 2 hours 18 minutes/week
Foreign Language = 1 hour 21 minutes/week

31. Work Load, freshman survey
All Academic = 8+ hours of work outside of school
All Honors = 12+ hours of work outside of school

32. Electives Available to Freshmen
French
Music Appreciation
Spanish
Art
German
Guitar
Latin
Band
Chinese
Strings
ASL
Color Guard
Technical Drawing & Design
Chorus
Technology Foundations
JROTC (at LCHS)
Materials & Processes
Independent Living
Computer Info Systems
Choices
Business & Marketing
Gourmet Foods
Creative Writing
Human Development
Theater Arts
Leadership
Technical Theater
Fashion Design
Journalism
Housing/Interior Design
Music Theory
Art/Architecture History

33. Reminders A rising freshman course selection worksheet is online
A plan of studies worksheet is online
The Program of Studies is online
Course curriculum information can be found on the LCPS website
The middle school counselors and teachers are a great resource when making these decisions

34. Course Options for Freshmen
One more time…
Please relax!!!
3-4 honors/academic decisions in 3-4 months!
English, science, social studies; maybe math
You have until June 19th to make your final decision!!!

35. “Lesson in Balance”
The Goal: Challenge the student vs Overloading the student
If you figure out the formula for this, create an app! You’ll make millions!

36. Take the most challenging classes you can handle.
“Lesson in Balance”
Take the most challenging classes you can handle.

37. Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle.
“Lesson in Balance”
Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle.

38. “Lesson in Balance”
How much time do you have available to study and do homework?
Do you play sports?
Are you involved in activities – both in or outside of school?
What does your track-record indicate?
Do you complete your work with little prompting?
How committed and disciplined are you?
What are mom and dad prepared for?

39. than it is to improve a low GPA!
“Lesson in Balance”
Think long-term:
It’s easier to improve your schedule each year by taking more challenging classes…
than it is to improve a low GPA!

40. Johnny LateStarter Grade 9: Grade 10: English C 2 English B 3
History C 2 History A 4
Math D 1 Math C 2
Science D 1 Science B 3
HPE B 3 HPE A 4
Elective C 2 Elective A 4
Cumulative GPA = Cumulative GPA = 2.64
Grade 11: Grade 12:
English B 3 English A 4
History B 3 History A 4
Math B 3 Math B 3
Science B 3 Science B 3
HPE A 4 HPE A 4
Elective A 4 Elective A 4
Cumulative GPA = Cumulative GPA = 3.12

41. Sara StudyHard Grade 9: Grade 10: English B 3 English B 3
History B 3 History A 4
Math B 3 Math C 2
Science C 2 Science B 3
HPE A 4 HPE A 4
Elective A 4 Elective A 4
Cumulative GPA = Cumulative GPA = 3.36
Grade 11: Grade 12:
English B 3 English A 4
Math B 3 Math B 3
Science B 3 Science B 3
Cumulative GPA = Cumulative GPA = 3.46

42. The Importance of the Freshman Year
The difference between a 3.12 GPA and a 3.46 GPA can be the ninth grade year!!!
When they apply to college they will use their junior year GPA: 2.90 vs 3.38
The student with the “Slow Start” would have to earn straight A’s in grades 10, 11, and 12 just to equal the student who had a stronger freshman year.

43. The Importance of the Freshman Year
These examples are not meant to scare you!

44. Looking Beyond the Freshman Year
Student often mix and match honors-level classes
Students are not stuck on an honors or academic “track”
They can move “up” or “down” from year-to-year in most subjects (notable exceptions are math and foreign language)

45. “Lesson in Balance”
Don’t forget to consider the student’s interests when determining his/her courses and overall course load!

46. Course Options for Freshmen
OK… and one more time…
Please relax!!!
3-4 decisions in 3-4 months!
English, science, social studies; maybe math
You have until June 19th to make your final decision!!!

47. About that deadline While you do have until June 19th….
We cannot make changes to course requests after the deadline of June 19, 2015.

48. After the School Year Begins
Elective changes will not be possible
Academic level changes
Level change decisions are made case-by-case
Input from a variety of sources will be needed
A class that is “difficult” for a student is not the same as a class that is “too difficult” for a student!
Changing a level often disrupts the student’s entire schedule!
Changing a level is often not possible! Class space is finite!

49. Agenda Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process
Questions? School counseling table
Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements
Selecting Courses for Next Year
Questions? Department tables – ask the experts!!!

50. Upcoming Events
March 27: BWHS Activities EXPO (private & homeschool students are welcome! Adult must supervise)
May: Athletics meeting for parents
See BWHSports.org for details
Special education meeting – date TBA
Week before school begins
Freshman Student Orientation
Freshman Parent Meeting – meet the principal
First week of school – meeting with freshmen
Monitor our website and look for our newsletter!

51. Have Fun at the Scheduling Fair!