Welcome to Middleborough High School s Program of Studies Night and Aspen Course Selection Information Night

Transcription

1 Welcome to Middleborough High School s Program of Studies Night and Aspen Course Selection Information Night We will be starting our presentation shortly

2 Agenda For This Evening Graduation Requirements Course Requirements by Grade Level Academic Pathways AP Course Offerings Program of Studies: Location and New Course Offerings Online Scheduling Procedure

3 Middleborough High School s Promotion Requirements by Year of Graduation All students are required to take 40 credits each year. Students must remain scheduled in all courses throughout the academic school year. Seniors must earn a minimum of 30 credits as part of their graduation requirement. Promotion from grade-to-grade in high school is based on credit accumulation in conjunction with the fulfillment of core requirements and academic standards / expectations. Class of 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 Credit requirements designated to earn status as a: Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate

4 Graduation Requirements Continued MCAS Score of 240+ English Language Arts Mathematics If a student scores between a on the ELA or Math MCAS, he/she will be on an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) and will not need to take the MCAS in that subject again Math EPP requires a 4 th year of Mathematics Science (220+)

5 Middleborough High School Graduation Requirements MIDDLEBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (All course levels) All MCAS requirements must also be met in addition to credits 136 CORE CONTENT AREAS (graduation requirements): English (4) full semester courses/90 day equivalent (English I, II, III, IV) 20 credits Mathematics (3) full semester courses/90 day equivalent) Science (3) lab sciences) Social Studies (3) (US History I/II required) 15 credits (+5 if EPP) 15 credits 15 credits Foreign Language (2) two years of same language in sequence (i.e.: Spanish I and Spanish II) 10 credits ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS Unified Arts (visual art, music, theater, applied art) Computer Technology Physical Education/Health 5 credits 5 credits 10 credits (1 PE course/year) ADDITIONAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ALL SENIORS MUST ACQUIRE AT LEAST 30 CREDITS DURING THEIR SENIOR YEAR IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A DIPLOMA

6 9 th Grade Required Courses English I H, CP Algebra I H, CP or Geometry H, CP World History II H, CP Biology H, CP Foreign Language Spanish 1 CP French 1 CP Russian 1 CP Mandarin I CP (online) Physical Education Technology Integration and Research in the 21 st Century

7 10 th Grade Required Courses English II H, CP Geometry H, CP or Algebra II H, CP Students who failed the 8 th grade MCAS will be enrolled in MCAS Prep I United States History I H, CP, CTP Chemistry H, CP Foreign Language Spanish 2 CP French 2 CP Russian 2 CP Mandarin 2 CP (online) Health

8 11 th Grade Required Courses English III AP, H, CP, CTP Mathematics Algebra II H, CP, CTP, Pre-Calculus H, CP, Statistics AP, CP Students who failed the 10 th grade Math MCAS will be enrolled in MCAS Prep II United States History II AP, H, CP, CTP Science Physics H, CP, Conceptual Physics CP Anatomy and Physiology H Environmental Science AP or CP, Biology AP, or Chemistry AP Physical Education

9 12 th Grade Required Courses English IV AP, H, CP, CTP PE 4 th year of Mathematics if you are on a Mathematics EPP Students usually take Statistics & Probability, but can take another semester long Mathematics course such as Pre-Calculus or Calculus AP

10 Academic Pathways College Tech Prep (CTP) Class of 2016, 2017 ONLY Combined with CP courses, students may be able to attend a 4-year college. This pathway is designed to prepare students for a 2 year college, or a vocation. College Preparation (CP) Meets and exceeds all academic requirements and educational frameworks. Environment is more independent-focused. Prepares students to attend a 4-year college. Honors (H) Rigorous college preparatory level. Students work independently and on multiple assignments. Prepares students for a 4-year college. Advanced Placement (AP) AP courses allow for students to take AP exams. Passing scores on exams may be used for college course credit. Very Rigorous pace. Prepares students to attend a 4-year college.

11 AP Course Offerings -Chemistry -Biology -Environmental Science -Physics -English III -English IV -US History -Statistics & Probability -Calculus AB -Calculus BC -Studio Art -Spanish

12 The Program of Studies All of our Courses and descriptions are located in the Program of Studies We strongly encourage all students and families to read course descriptions prior to completing the course selection process. Go to the Middleborough webpage: Select, Middleborough High School. Under Quick Links, select, Program of Studies

13 New Courses in the Program of Studies Continued Science Department Anatomy and Physiology Honors: Open to grades credits This course has previously been offered as an elective, but will now be accessible as a third year of science to meet graduation requirements. Students interested in a career in the medical field may want to take this course. Mathematics Department Statistics Honors: 5 credits MHS previously only offered Statistics at the College Prep or Advanced Placement levels. Honors Statistics will focus on the 9 primary standards of Statistics. Consumer Economics & Personal Finance: 2.5 credits This is a very practical course, which develops student s ability to understand and deal with the basic math in real life situations. This course is now open for students in grades English Department Greek and Biblical Allusions: Open to Grades credits This quarter long elective allows students to explore the world of mythical and biblical allusions. Irish Literature and Culture: Open to Grades credits This class will be an intense survey of Irish Literature and Film.

14 New Courses in the Program of Studies Continued Art Department A Visual Experience: Introduction to Art History: Open to grades credits This course will develop students abilities to understand and appreciate art and is intended for the student who feels they are not an artist, but is open to all students. Students will approach works of art from more than a production perspective, and will gain knowledge in the context of art as well as developing the ability to respond to pieces of art. This knowledge will be derived primarily from the disciplines of aesthetics, art criticism, art history, and art production. These disciplines deal with: (1) conceptions of the nature of art, (2) bases for valuing and judging art, (3) contexts in which art has been created, and (4) processes and techniques for creating art. Foreign Language Department Mandarin Chinese I/II: Open to grades credits This online language course introduces students to the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese. This course is a fully integrated 100% online learning experience through the PLATO program and Middlebury College. Students will be taught by certified Mandarin instructors with support for the Foreign Language Department. Mandarin may be used as a graduation requirement.

15 New Courses in the Program of Studies James Braga Pathway to Business MHS students can take this sequence of business courses at Massasoit-Middleborough free of charge to earn high school and college credit. Transportation is provided by MHS. Students need to earn a final grade of 74% or higher to earn college credit. By the second semester of the school year we are hoping to have a total of four courses in this Pathway. Introduction to Business: Grades 10, 11, high school credits/3.0 college credits This semester long course surveys business organizations as they operate within our freeenterprise system. Explore the functional areas of accounting, finance, production and marketing from a management perspective with an emphasis on problem solving. Principles of Marketing: Grades 10, 11, high school credits/3.0 college credits This semester long course will introduce students to the role of marketing in an organization. There is major emphasis on the concept of marketing strategy as a comprehensive integrated plan designed to meet the needs of the consumer and thus facilitate exchange. Students will be presented with techniques and practices commonly utilized by marketers in the areas of research, product planning, pricing, distribution, and promotion.

16 New Courses in Program of Studies Continued Guidance Department Comprehensive Guidance Curriculum: Advisory Component Every student participates in the MHS Advisory program. Each group contains 8-10 students in the same grade and one faculty member. Each group will remain the same for all 4 years of high school. The Goal of the Advisory program is to foster effective relationships between students and counselors, as well as providing interactive dialog and information on the college application process, post-secondary planning, financial aid and college readiness. We, the Guidance Department have embedded aspects of our comprehensive guidance curriculum into the MHS Advisory Program so each student will have access to becoming career and college ready by the time that they graduate. Each grade has a different curriculum to provide appropriate information and activities for each grade level. Each session builds on the previous session as well as from year to year. Advisory sessions vary in format depending on the lesson for that session. (Small group, classroom, computer lab, auditorium, or specialized session depending on individual student s post-secondary interests.

17 Introduction to the Aspen Online Course Selection Process MIDDLEBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL JANUARY 15, 2015

18 Process for Selection Middleborough Public Schools Middleborough, MA Guidance Department Middleborough High School 71 East Grove Street Ashley S. Baron Fontaine, Counselor Nancy LeBlanc, Counselor Amy B. Beirne, Counselor January 8, 2015 Dear Students and Parents: Middleborough High School will soon begin the Aspen online course selection process for the academic school year. On Thursday, January 15, 2015 during advisory homeroom, students will be given a computer-generated access code unique to themselves, as well as access to our Program of Studies, instructions for course selection in the Aspen System, and a 4 Year Plan, worksheet. The online course selection instructions and Program of Studies will also be made available on the MHS website. Please check the Guidance Department website for access to all of this information. We are hosting a Program of Studies/Aspen Scheduling Information Night on Thursday January 15 th at 6:30pm in the MHS Library. Mr. Branagan and the Guidance Department will provide a step by step overview of the online selection process as well as review pertinent academic information, including any changes to the Program of Studies for the next school year. If you do not have internet access at home or you have questions regarding this process, please join us at 5:30pm on January 15 th in the computer labs located in rooms 223 and 225 at MHS. Please bring your Aspen code. On January 16 th, 20 th, 22 nd, and 23 rd the guidance department will be set up in the cafeteria during lunch to assist students with the course selection process. Students must select courses totaling a minimum of 40 credits to complete their schedule. For most students, that will mean five major courses including: English, Mathematics, Science, History, Foreign Language, P.E. and 15 credits of elective courses (some may also be graduation requirements) such as: Fine Arts and Technology. It is recommended that students select enough elective credits to surpass the 40 credit minimum to help students to get their desired electives. Please do not sign up for more than 50 credits. MHS Graduation Requirements can be found on the beginning pages of the Program of Studies and on the Guidance Department Website. All Students currently in grades 8-11 will choose their courses and course levels. We encouraging that the course selection facilitation be placed in the hands of students and parents. We want all students to challenge themselves, but we also want to make sure that their placement in courses is appropriate, realistic and is consistent with their past levels of achievement and effort. Our scheduling methodology at MHS is student-driven. This means Middleborough High School students, including incoming grade 9 students, will choose the courses and course levels that they will take. We strongly encourage parent/guardian involvement to help students make appropriate course and level selections. We want all students to challenge themselves, but we also want to make sure that their placement in courses is appropriate, realistic and is consistent with their past levels of achievement and effort. Students course selections will be reviewed by contentspecific teachers and your guidance counselor to ensure appropriateness. Recommendations of courses and levels may be made by the high school staff based on student s demonstrated progress and performance. In the event that staff does not support a student-selected course or level, a meeting may be scheduled to discuss the best option for the student as a team.

19 ENTERING COURSE REQUESTS ONLINE IN ASPEN Middleborough High School Course Selection Information for the school year You will be entering all of your course requests online in the Aspen system. You will be choosing what level course you will be taking in each academic subject area. Your choice is between the College Prep (CP) level, and the Honors (H) level. The College Tech (CT) level will no longer be offered in core academic subject areas beginning with the class of You will also be choosing your electives in Aspen. See the attached instructions to guide you through the process. Every student is required to enter course requests in Aspen by the end of day, Wednesday January 28, Meeting this deadline is critical for giving yourself the best chance of getting the courses you want. If you do not complete your course selection, your guidance counselor at MHS will select your courses for you. Here is an outline of the steps you must take to choose your courses: 1. Carefully review the Program of Studies (POS) for all course and elective descriptions. The POS can be found on the high school s website. This is where you will find the correct sequence of courses, course descriptions, and MHS graduation requirements. There are Scheduling tips located on the MHS Guidance Department website. 2. Log into your Aspen student account (user ID/password provided below). The first time you log in, you will be prompted to fill out security information. The address that you enter is the primary of record for password recovery. When Forgot my password is clicked, a new password is generated and sent to the address entered. You will also receive a message that your password has expired. This gives you the opportunity to create your own password. Please follow the password creation rules detailed on the screen. If your label does not contain a password, it means that you have already reset your password. If you do not remember your password, click on the Forgot my password, link on the log-on page. Your password will be sent to the address that you have designated. If you have any issues with your account please contact Mrs. Lindskog at: slindskog@middleboro.k12.ma.us 3. Confer with your parent(s)/guardian(s), teachers, and guidance counselor to decide your course selections and levels. 4. During the period of time from January 15 - January 28, log onto your Aspen student account and enter your course selections. 6. If you would like more information on this process please attend our Program of Studies/Aspen night on January 15, 2015 at 6:30pm. Beginning at 5:30 you will have access to computers in the MHS library if you do not have access to the internet at home. LABEL GOES HERE Log On Info Sheet Thursday 1/15/15 Advisory The Course Selection Informational sheet was distributed in Advisory on January 15, 2015 for MHS students. The portal to make course selections will be open from January for all students. Course selections must be made in this time frame.

20 Log On Access Go to Middleborough Public Schools District Home Page k12.ma.us/site Click on the ASPEN link under the Quick Links heading

21 Log On Access

22 Student Access Page COURSE SELECTION

23 My Info - Requests

24 Primary Course Requests for 8 th graders Choose your courses by clicking the Select tab to the left of each subject area.

25 Primary Course Options per Content Area Once in a subject area, simply click the Select box next to the course for which you want to make a request Make sure you press POST button when done making selections so that Guidance can begin verification process

26 Numerous Course Offerings If there are more courses available than will fit on the screen, you can click the arrow to scroll to the next page of courses Under the Status column, students may see Course in progress, or Completed Courses

27 Timeline 1/15: students obtain course selection instructions and Aspen login information 1/15-1/28: Aspen course selection portal open for students/families 1/16, 1/20, 1/22, 1/23: Guidance Counselors available in cafeteria all lunches to meet with students about scheduling Feb./March: Course request verification sheets will be mailed home May/June: Schedules drafted/reviewed by Guidance; reviewed with students June: course listings distributed to students

28 Questions? Thank you!