Student/Parent Handbook. and. Course Description Booklet

Transcription

1 Where the World is Your Classroom Student/Parent Handbook and Course Description Booklet

2 Table of Contents Welcome Letter... 3 Contact Information... 4 Is Online Learning Right For Me? Vision And Mission Statements... 7 School Overview... 7 Advantages Of Attending St. Vrain Online Global Academy... 7 Enrolling In St. Vrain Online Global Academy... 8 School Calendar Academic Integrity Athletic Participation Attendance Policy Course Withdrawal Policy Counselor/Instructor Support Curriculum/Teachers Extracurricular/Co-curricular Activities Code Of Conduct And Discipline Full-Time Students Cost And Fees High School Diploma/Graduation Orientation/Informational Session Parents/Guardians Orientation/Informational Sessions Students School Calendar And Hours State And District Mandated Assessments Evacuation, Tornado, Lock Down And Fire Drills Computers And Internet Course Pacing Attendance Plan Agreement Course Completion Policy and Agreement Course Description Booklet

3 Where the world is your classroom Dear Parents and Students: Welcome to St. Vrain Online Global Academy. St. Vrain Online Global Academy is a virtual high school providing high-quality, personalized education for students in grades 9-12 outside of the brick and mortar classroom. Students have the opportunity to work in an online environment leading to a St. Vrain Valley high school diploma. The school has been designed as an educational alternative for a diverse population of students who want to earn a high school diploma and need or prefer the flexibility and convenience of online education to complete their course work. Students must feel comfortable in a learning environment that places emphasis on individuals taking responsibility for their own learning. Offering a complete high school curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses, students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy will be prepared for college and a career. Highly qualified and certificated instructors teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. Additionally, the curriculum meets the Advanced Placement College Board and NCAA requirements. St. Vrain Online Global Academy permits students to achieve academic success utilizing high quality instruction and curriculum provided by FLVS Global powered by Florida Virtual School while allowing them to choose when and where to learn. Instruction in courses is delivered from a teacher to a student primarily through the use of technology via the Internet in a virtual or remote setting. Students interact regularly with their instructors via telephone, instant messenger, , blogging, and other online communications tools. Successful students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy are strong independent workers, have good self-discipline, have good basic computer skills, and good time management skills. Our students are self-motivated, have the ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving strategies, and are comfortable expressing themselves both orally and in their writing. Students are expected to check in face-to-face on a weekly basis with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor/administrator at our Longmont location as well as logging in for a minimum number of hours in the online environment per week. Our parents are a key component in a student s success in the online classroom. This handbook provides an overview of the school, its structure, curriculum, support procedures and the policies and procedures that students and parents need to be familiar with for a successful online experience. We are excited to have you become a part of the new generation of learning. At St. Vrain Online Global Academy, the world is your classroom. Sincerely, Joann Dawe, Principal (cell phone) 3

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5 Where the world is your classroom At St. Vrain Online Global Academy, our educational experience offers: G rowth for each student: academically, socially and emotionally through an international virtual learning environment L earning through educational pathways individually tailored for each student O ptions to organize your schedule based on your pace, your learning needs, and your plan for postsecondary success B readth of curriculum providing educational challenges from Honors to Advanced Placement to Gaming Animation courses A ccess to teachers, courses, and curriculum 24/7 L imitless opportunities to prepare for life after high school through college and career exploration and preparation Contact Information Hours: Monday-Thursday (7:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.) and Fridays (7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m.) Address: 1200 South Sunset Street, Longmont, CO Phone: Fax: Web site: Principal: Counselor: Joann Dawe ([email protected]) Phone: Scott Bergamo ([email protected]) Phone: Math Instructor: Administrative Assistant: Holly Brainard ([email protected]) Curriculum and teachers provided by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School: 5

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7 Vision St. Vrain Online Global Academy provides an online and virtual global educational experience offering 24/7 accessibility to courses and teachers, flexibility in course scheduling, and individualized instruction for every student to equip them with the tools, skills and knowledge required for postsecondary educational opportunities and career readiness in the 21st Century. The mission of the St. Vrain Online Global Academy is to provide students with a qualitative, interactive, and individualized education that can be accessed any time, any place and at any pace, while delivering learning experiences that are engaging, relevant and challenging to prepare students to enter a globally competitive workforce and be productive citizens in the 21 st Century. Mission School Overview Approved as a single district program by the Colorado Department of Education, St. Vrain Online Global Academy (SVOGA) is a free public K-12 online school within the St. Vrain Valley School District serving students in grades St. Vrain Online Global Academy permits students to achieve academic success utilizing high-quality instruction and curriculum provided by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School while allowing them to choose when and where to learn. Highly qualified and certificated teachers teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. FLVS teachers communicate regularly with students and parents regarding all phases of instruction, and students are expected to check in, at a minimum, on a weekly basis with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy staff. Advantages of Attending SVOGA In addition to offering a full range of courses from regular through Advanced Placement, students have the opportunity of being able to take classes such as Band, Choir or Orchestra at their high school of residence or attending the school district s Career Development Center. Students may also take advantage of the Concurrent Enrollment opportunities available through Front Range Community College and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Additionally, students may participate in athletics or clubs/organizations at their school of residence provided they meet athletic eligibility requirements. Opportunities to participate in online clubs and organizations are also available through Florida Virtual School, and students may choose to participate in social activities coordinated by the St. Vrain Online Global Academy. The school has an on-site facility with two fully equipped computer desktop labs, along with an additional 30 laptops, that students are welcome to attend throughout the week at any time the school is open. Students meet the same graduation requirements as other students in the St. Vrain Valley and graduate with a St. Vrain Valley School District diploma. 7

8 Enrolling in St. Vrain Online Global Academy Students must choose to enroll in St. Vrain Online Global Academy as a full-time student which requires students to complete a minimum of 6 online classes (3 credits) each semester, taking no more than 3 online classes every 9 weeks and logging a minimum of 22.5 hours per week in the online environment. Students enrolled full-time can be dually enrolled in their high school of residence and/or at the Career Development Center. To apply for admission to St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students must: Be a Colorado resident Be of high school age and not yet 21 years of age Reside in the St. Vrain Valley School District An enrollment application must be received. Visit our website at svoga.svvsd.org to fill out and submit our online application. Once the application received, an interview with the St. Vrain Online Global counselor or administrator will be scheduled. Students will be asked to complete an additional online assessment to be completed and returned by the scheduled interview time. Parents/guardians are REQUIRED to attend the interview with their student. After being officially enrolled in the St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to: 1. Attend daily (5 days per week) for a minimum of 4.5 hours per day until the first course is completed. This includes a 2-week orientation period that is part of the 4.5 hours. 2. Once a student s first class is completed, students must attend for a minimum of 2.5 hours per enrolled class per week, provided they continue to make adequate progress 3. Agree to participate in all Colorado and district assessments as well as complete all activities necessary for Colorado count purposes. 8

9 School Calendar St. Vrain Online Global Academy follows the same academic calendar as all other high schools in the St. Vrain Valley School District. For a detailed printable calendar, go to Onsite facility will not be open on the following dates: Labor Day: September 1, 2014 Thanksgiving Break: November 24-28, 2014 Winter Break: December 22, January 2, 2015 Martin Luther King Day: January 19, 2015 Presidents Day: February 16, 2015 Spring Break: April 6-10, 2015 Semester Schedule First Quarter: August 18 October 16, 2014 Second Quarter: October 20 December 19, 2014 Third Quarter: January 5 March 13, 2015 Fourth Quarter: March 16 May 21, 2015 Important Dates Picture Day: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 Mandatory Attendance Day for October Count: Monday, October 1, 2014 (Onsite facility will be open from (7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.) Mandatory LOG-IN Days for October Count): September 29 and 30, 2014 October 2 and 3, 2014 Required Testing for 12th graders: November 3, 4 6, 10, 11, and 12 Open House: November 19, 2014 Required Testing for 9 th and 10 th graders: March 2015 (Exact dates TBD) ACT Testing (required for 11 th graders): April 28, 2015 Advanced Placement Testing: May 4 15, 2015 Graduation: May 22, 2015 Please check local radio and television stations and/or the district website ( for unexpected closings on a regularly scheduled school day. This decision is made at the sole discretion of the Superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District. 9

10 Academic Integrity Students with academic integrity make decisions based on ethics and values that will prepare them to be productive and upstanding citizens. Florida Virtual Schools Academic integrity is a core value and one of the most important areas of focus for both St. Vrain Valley Schools and Florida Virtual Schools. Community members, counselors, parents and students can report any academic integrity issues to the St. Vrain Online Global Academy administrator or counselor or can call Florida Virtual Schools anonymously by calling: or (toll free) or by ing [email protected]. Athletic Participation Students enrolling in St. Vrain Online Global Academy may participate in athletics at their school of residence provided they have met eligibility requirements. Athletic eligibility requires that students be enrolled in and passing a minimum of 2.5 credits in the current semester and passed a minimum of 2.5 credits in the immediately preceding semester. For further information, contact your school of residence s athletic director or Rob Berry, St. Vrain Valley School District Director of Athletics, Activities and Fine Arts, at Attendance Policy Students enrolled in St. Vrain Valley Schools are required to attend classes in accordance with the Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law and Article IX, Section 2 of the Colorado constitution. Per St. Vrain Valley School Board Policy (File JH: Student Absences and Excuses), children under the age of 17 are required to attend school regularly until graduation from high school or the end of the semester in which a student turns 17 years of age. St. Vrain Online Global Academy provides students with a unique and flexible way to complete course work required for graduation, however students are required to meet expectations of attendance both online and at the St. Vrain Global Academy facilities. Therefore, attendance at St. Vrain Online Global Academy is based upon the following: (1) Students must record a minimum of 22.5 hours/week recorded from Sunday to Saturday in their FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School classes. (2) Students must attend the physical facility for a minimum of four and a half (4.5) hours daily until they have completed and passed their first course. (3) Students must attend the physical facility for a minimum of two and a half (2.5) hours a week for each class in which they are enrolled provided they continue to make adequate progress. (4) Should a student fail to make adequate progress for more than two weeks, the student must, once again, attend the physical facility for a minimum of four and a half (4.5) hours daily until they have completed and passed their course. Students must maintain regular contact via telephone, , instant message system, or face-to-face meetings with their Florida Virtual School instructor(s) and the St. Vrain Online Global Academy staff. A student is considered in violation of the St. Vrain Online Global Academy attendance policy if he/she is (1) not passing an online course, (2) does not attend weekly on-site sessions, and/or (3) logs in less than 22.5 hours per week. Violation of the attendance policy for a period of 2 weeks will result in the student being placed on an attendance contract and attending the onsite facility daily until he/she is passing and making satisfactory progress in his/her online course(s). Violation of the attendance policy for a period of four consecutive weeks is considered Habitual Truancy. If absences continue, students will be referred to the District Truancy Officer and may be withdrawn from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. The Attendance Plan Agreement in its entirety can be found on pages in this handbook or on the school s website. 10

11 Course Withdrawal Policy Students who withdraw from a class within the first 28 calendar days of being activated will incur no penalty. Students who withdraw from a class after the first 28 days of being activated will receive a grade of F on their transcript. Counselor/Instructor Support Academic counseling, including transcript review, course registration advice, ACT prep and college/career planning will be provided by the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. If a parent/guardian or student has a concern about learning accommodations, contact the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. All students have access to Florida Virtual School certified teachers that communicate with students on a regular basis by phone, , and online discussions. Instructors are expected to respond to all communications within 24 hours and to have all assignments graded within 48 hours. Additional support will be provided as needed for students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy s physical site, 1200 Sunset Street, during normally scheduled hours. Curriculum/Teachers Curriculum is provided by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School. Highly qualified and certificated instructors teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. Additionally, the curriculum meets the Advanced Placement College Board and NCAA requirements. The St. Vrain Online Global Academy curriculum is outlined in the Course Offerings Book. Students may also choose to take courses that are not provided by our school on a space available basis at their St. Vrain Valley school of residence. All Career Development Center courses ( and Concurrent Enrollment opportunities are also accessible to students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy. If you are interested in classes at your school of residence, CDC, or through Concurrent Enrollment, please speak with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. Extracurricular Activities Students have the opportunity to participate in the following extra-curricular activities that are sponsored by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School: v American Sign Language Club v Beta Sigma Delta Math Club v Book Club v Chess Club v Creative Writing Club v Fine Arts Club v FITT Club v Future Business Leaders of America v History Club v International Club v Latin Club v Model UN Club v National English Honor Society v National Honor Society v Newspaper Club v Peer Tutors Club v S.N.A.P. Spanish Nuts at Play v Science Club v Science Honor Society v Speech and Debate Club v Student Ambassadors v Technology Club v Video Productions Club v Yearbook Students also have the opportunity to submit artwork, photographs, fiction, non-fiction or poetry for publication in the FLVS Literary Magazine: Virge: The Virtual Edge. For a description or more information about the extracurricular activities, go to the following link: St. Vrain Online Global Academy students may also choose to participate in extra-curricular activities that are available at their school of residence on a space available basis. Students should check with their school of residence for a list of extracurricular activities. 11

12 If there is an interest in a club/organization that is not available, please contact either the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor or administrator. Students also are eligible to attend their school of residence homecoming and proms provided they fill out, have signed and submit appropriate paperwork to both schools. Code of Conduct and Discipline Students are expected to behave in a reasonable and proper manner whether they are at home working on their online courses or in the onsite facility. The St. Vrain Valley Code of Conduct and Discipline and Board of Education Policies contains the rules and regulations and rights and responsibilities of students and parents. This booklet is discussed with students during registration/orientation and is also available from the administrator/counselor office at St. Vrain Online Global Academy, at the District Educational Services Center, 395 South Pratt Parkway or online at Failure to comply with any school guidelines, state laws, or school board policies may lead to disciplinary measures. Such disciplinary measures may include, but are not limited to administrative conferences, parent conferences, restitution, loss of privileges, suspensions and/or expulsions and criminal charges. Full-Time Students To be considered a full-time student, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 classes per semester (sophomores, juniors and seniors) and 7 classes per semester (freshmen). Students may choose to take a class at CDC and/or at their school of residence on a space available basis (if the course is not offered through St. Vrain Online Global Academy), and these courses will count toward the minimum number of classes required for full-time enrollment. Costs/Fees St. Vrain Online Global Academy is a free public K- 12 online school within the St. Vrain Valley School District currently serving students in grades As a public school, it is free for students. However, there may be some courses that require fees. Courses with fees (File JQ-E: Schedule of Student Fees) will be noted in the Course Description Book. Official transcripts will not be issued until all student fees are paid. Students are required to have a school ID. The cost of an ID is $5.00. High School Diploma/Graduation Students will receive the same St. Vrain Valley School District diploma as any full-time student would who attends one of our brick and mortar comprehensive, traditional high schools. Students must earn a minimum of 24.5 credits to graduate (File IKF: Graduation Requirements). St. Vrain Online Global Academy and the St. Vrain Board of Education recognizes the value of a comprehensive high school program and emphasizes its dedication to the encouragement of academic excellence. Therefore, St. Vrain Online Global Academy shall consider early graduation (File IKFA: Early Graduation), for students at the end of 7 semesters only if they meet the following criteria: (1) Accrual of credits required by the Board of Education; (2) No grades below a C ; and (3) Attainment and/or other personal considerations, which in the judgment of the principal/superintendent or designee are outstanding. Orientation/Informational Session: Parents/Guardians Parents are required to attend a one-on-one orientation/informational session prior to a student s acceptance. The orientation/informational session will cover expectations, requirements, and policies for online students and the role of parents in supervising student s school work. Additionally, all parents will be required to attend an additional session within the first 3-4 weeks of their student s enrollment. Appointments may be scheduled during our regular hours of operation. 12

13 Orientation/Informational Session: Students Once accepted for enrollment in St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to attend daily (4.5 hours/day) until their first course is completed. This time is used as an orientation/informational time to insure student success in our program. Please refer to the signed attendance contract for further attendance requirements. School Calendar and Hours Students may access their courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year from anywhere a computer and Internet access are available. Students are also welcome to be onsite and use the school facilities during posted school hours (Monday- Friday). St. Vrain Online Global Academy s physical site is open daily for students according to the St. Vrain Valley School District calendar. For a detailed printable calendar, go to The school hours are: Monday - Thursday: Friday: 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. State and District Mandated Assessments All students enrolled at St. Vrain Online Global Academy are required to take district and state of Colorado mandated tests to continue their enrollment. State required testing is required for all 9 th and 10 th grade students in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, and for 12 th graders in Science and Social Studies. The testing window is determined each year by the school district assessment office and will be given to students and parents when they become available. At the 11 th grade level, students take the ACT (college entrance exam) free of charge in April. Students will register for this test with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor during a scheduled junior class meeting prior to the testing date. All juniors are required to take part in our weekly ACT Prep class. Evacuation, Tornado, Lock Down and Fire Drills Evacuation, tornado, lock down and fire drills are scheduled by the Career Development Center. If a student or parent is onsite at the time of a drill, the drill should be taken seriously and directions given by the administrator or counselor should be followed. Computers and Internet Students are responsible for providing their own computer, computer equipment and Internet access. If a student does not have the appropriate hardware, software, or Internet access, a computer lab is available for student use daily during normal operating hours. Students without a computer or Internet access at home are required to attend the onsite facility daily for 5.5 hours/day. Minimum requirements for hardware and software are: r Pentium III or Power Mac G3 r Windows XP, Windows Vista, or OSX r 1024 x 768 screen resolution r 512 MB Ram (PC); 256 Ram (Macintosh) r Minimum of 10 gigabytes free HDD space r 128 Internet connection (broadband connection highly recommended) r Microsoft Office, Open Office or Google Docs r 12x DC-ROM (CD/DVD recommended) r Printer r Portable medium to save work (Floppy, Zip, CD, USB) r Soundcard with speakers, microphone or headset (PC) or Speakers and microphone or headset (Macintosh) r Sun Java or higher (Sun Java 3D 1.3 or higher required in some courses) r Flash Player Version 9.0 or higher r Shockwave (Operating System Dependent) r Acrobat Reader or higher r Firefox (2.0 or higher); Internet Explorer (7.0 or higher); or Safari (3.0 or higher) r Popup Blocking disabled 13

14 Course Pacing To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can work at their own pace; however, any pace still means that students must make progress in the course every week and meet month/quarter/semester deadline requirements. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful. Pacing guides are available on the SVOGA website or within each student s FLVS course. Progress, Course Completion and Graduation Course completion has a direct impact on the number of years it takes a student to graduate. A student who puts in the minimum requirement of 22.5 hours should be able to complete a course every 3 weeks or finish 6 classes each semester and graduate in 4 years. Courses Successfully Completed in a Semester Years to Graduate* *Students cannot be serviced in a public high school beyond the semester in which they turn 21. A student s progress is a direct result of quality time that is put in working on a course. SVOGA requires students to work a MINIMUM Of 22.5 hours per week (that does not include any break time that students choose to take) on their courses. Each.5 credit course or 1 segment of a course should take approximately 60 hours (exceptions are AP classes and some advanced math classes) to complete or approximately 3 weeks, allowing students to complete 6 classes in a semester. The more quality time a students puts in on his/her coursework and stays focused, the faster a student is able to complete a course. Hours Worked Progress Needed Weekly Weeks to Complete One Course # of Courses Completed in a Semester 10 17% % % %

15 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY ATTENDANCE PLAN AGREEMENT Students enrolled in St. Vrain Valley Schools are required to attend classes in accordance with the Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law and Article IX, Section 2 of the Colorado constitution. Per St. Vrain Valley School Board Policy (File JH: Student Absences and Excuses), children under the age of 17 are required to attend school regularly until graduation from high school or the end of the semester in which a student turns 17 years of age. St. Vrain Online Global Academy provides students with a unique and flexible way to complete course work required for graduation, however students are required to meet expectations of attendance both online and at the St. Vrain Online Global Academy facilities. Therefore, attendance at St. Vrain Online Global Academy is based upon the following criteria. Orientation Period Attendance/Progress After being officially enrolled in the St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to: (1) Determine courses to be completed prior to the end of the semester in which they enrolled (minimum is 1 course every 3-4 weeks). These courses will be agreed upon at the time of enrollment. The student can complete classes simultaneously or one course at a time. The expectation is that courses are to be completed by the end of each semester. (2) Attend daily (5 days per week) for a minimum of 4.5 hours per day until the first course is completed. This meets the 22.5 hours weekly required for compulsory attendance of students attending online school. Weekly Attendance/Progress After successful completion of the orientation period, students are required to attend St. Vrain Online Global Academy for two and one half (2.5) hours per enrolled class per week. A student enrolled in one class would be in attendance 2.5 hours for the week; a student enrolled in two classes would be in attendance for 5 hours for the week, etc. Students must maintain a minimum of 22.5 hours participation each week that can include the required hours weekly at the academy. This will be an opportunity for staff to work with the students in various areas, including but not limited to, college and career planning, student and organizational skills, and test preparation. In addition, time will be spent with each student on an individual basis to check on their previous week progress and to provide any additional resources that he/she may need. Students will also be given time to work on their Florida Virtual courses. Attendance/Progress Plan Violation A student is considered in violation of the St. Vrain Online Global Academy attendance policy is he/she is (1) not passing an online course, (2) does not attend on-site sessions as required and/or (3) does not make adequate progress in their course(s). Violation of the attendance policy for a period of 2 consecutive weeks will result in the student being placed on an attendance contract and attending the onsite facility daily until he/she is passing and making satisfactory progress. Violation of the attendance policy for a period of four weeks will is considered Habitual Truancy. If absences continue, students and parents will receive notification that students are in violation of the attendance contract and that if absences continue, students will be referred to the District Truancy Officer. 15

16 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY REQUIRED ATTENDANCE DAYS AGREEMENT Colorado Assessments The Colorado Department of Education and the State Legislature require that all public school students in the 3 rd through 12 th grades participate in Colorado Assessment Testing. Students in 9 th and 10 th grade are tested yearly in Reading, Writing and Mathematics (administered in March). Students in 11 th grade take the ACT test (administered in April). Students in 12 th grade are tested in Science and Social Studies (administered in the fall). Students who do not take the test count as a zero which significantly lowers our school and district scores for accountability purposes. These tests are NOT optional and students who fail to test may be subject to dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Colorado Count Day The student October reporting systems collects counts of pupils enrolled in public, nonpublic, and home-schooled programs. October 1 each year is the official count day in accordance with the Public School Finance Act. State funding for all educational programs are based on the pupil count as of the official count date. St. Vrain Online Global Academy students are required to be in attendance at the physical site for a minimum of 4.5 hours on the official count day each year, usually on or around October 1. Attendance is NOT optional and any student who fails to attend may be subject to dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Orientation Period After being officially enrolled in the St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to attend St. Vrain Online Global Academy: (1) Five (5) days per week for four and one-half hours each day until their first course is completed. (2) Three (3) days per week for four and one-half hours each day until their second course is completed. (3) Two (2) days per week for four and one-half hours each day until their third course is completed. The Orientation Period should last no more than 12 weeks. At the end of the Orientation Period, a parent/guardian and student meeting will be held with school staff to determine if online education is successfully meeting the needs of the student. Weekly Attendance After successful completion of the Orientation Period, students are required to attend St. Vrain Online Global Academy onsite for four hours once a week. This will be an opportunity for staff to work with the students in various areas, including but not limited to, college and career planning, study and organizational skills, and test preparation. In addition, time will be spent with each student on an individual basis to check on their previous week progress and to provide any additional resources that he/she may need. Students will also be given time to work on their Florida Virtual School courses. We understand the importance of the Colorado Assessments, the pupil count day, the orientation period and weekly meeting time and understand that non-attendance is subject to a possible referral to the Truancy Officer of the St. Vrain Valley School District and/or dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date 16

17 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY STUDENT/PARENT AGREEMENT SCHOOL YEAR Students: In an online environment, students must take responsibility for their own learning. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in writing, be a self- starter and able to stay on task. Setting goals, following through, and taking the initiative are important attributes. Parents/Guardians: In an online environment, parents play a vital role in assuring their student s success. Parents/guardians must be willing to offer the ongoing encouragement, motivation, and guidance for their student as parents/guardians ultimately become responsible for their student s learning in an online environment.... We (student and parent/guardian) understand and agree to the following: Online courses are rigorous (or as difficult) as courses found in a brick and mortar classroom and are not intended for remediation. Students are REQUIRED to participate in all mandated District and State of Colorado testing. Students are REQUIRED to be in attendance at the physical site on October 1 and that a minimum of one assignment in each class must be successfully completed and submitted on October 1. Through a student s first course, students are REQUIRED to be onsite daily for 4.5 hours OR until all assessments for each day on their pacing guide have been successfully completed. Students are REQUIRED to be onsite weekly for their scheduled subject day(s) for a minimum of 2.5 hours. Students may choose one of the following time periods to attend: 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., or 2:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Social Studies Math* English Science/Health Electives *Algebra 1 and Geometry classes will be scheduled to meet twice weekly. Algebra will meet on Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Geometry will meet on Tuesdays from 9:15 a.m. 10:30 p.m. or 12:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. 11:45 p.m. Students are REQUIRED to make at least 20% total progress in all of their classes combined weekly. Students will NOT be enrolled in any class for more than 18 weeks without penalty. Enrollment beyond 18 weeks will result in a student having an F for the class placed on their transcript as well as having a parent meeting to discuss additional educational opportunities. Students are REQUIRED to complete and pass a minimum of two classes each quarter. Failure to complete two classes in a quarter will result in (a) a parent/student conference; (b) student being placed on a contract requiring full- time hours per day AND/OR until all assessments for the day on the pacing guide have been completed and submitted (c) four classes being completed by 17

18 the end of the next quarter. If a student does not meet the minimum requirements by the end of the second quarter, a parent/student conference will once again be held to discuss additional educational opportunities. Students may withdraw from any class within the first 28 calendar days after the course has been activated without penalty. If a student withdraws after the first 28 calendar days, the course will be transcripted with an F. Segment (semester) examinations are REQUIRED to be completed onsite unless prior approval has been received from an SVOGA administrator or designee. Absences from our onsite facility on a student s scheduled day(s), should be reported to our office by phone ( ) or text Scott/Joann no later than 10:00 a.m. that same day.... We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand that attendance is a required component of St. Vrain Online Global Academy and agree to notify the school if a student will be absent for any reason. We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand that weekly progress is a required component of all classes. We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand that a minimum of 2 classes must be completed each semester. We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand the above and the importance of the Colorado Assessments (PARCC, ACT, and CMAS), District Assessments, the pupil count day, the orientation period, and weekly attendance meeting time and understand that non-attendance and/or lack of progress is subject to a possible referral to the Truancy Officer of the St. Vrain Valley School District and/or dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Student Signature Parent Signature Date 18

19 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY COURSE COMPLETION POLICY AND AGREEMENT Online courses provide the flexibility for students to be able to complete their education outside of the normal school hours. This also provides students who otherwise might not be able to attend a brick and mortar school during the day, the flexibility to complete their course work. However, online schooling still requires students to be completing a minimum of 22.5 hours per week in the learning environment. Students who adhere to the 22.5-hour per week requirement should be able to complete a minimum of 2.5 credits each semester. Students will be REQUIRED to complete and pass a minimum of two classes each quarter. Failure to complete two classes in a quarter will result in (1) a parent/student conference; (2) student being placed on a contract requiring full-time attendance at the onsite facility; (3) four classes being completed by the end of the next quarter. If a student does not meet the requirements by the end of the second quarter, a parent/student conference will once again be held where students and parents will be given additional educational opportunities for their child including the option of returning to the brick and mortar environment. Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date 19

20 St. Vrain Online Global Academy Course Description Book Welcome to St. Vrain Online Global Academy! This Course Description and Course Registration Guide have been developed to assist you in planning a course in study for your high school career. In addition to containing course descriptions, this guide contains requirements that you must meet to graduate from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Study the graduation requirements, college entrance requirements and Advanced Placement Program information, and the recommended St. Vrain Online Global Academy Four Year Plan ( Then review the course offerings and plan your own course of study with your parents and the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. Your choice of courses should be based on graduation requirements, your interests and abilities, your past achievements, and your post high school plans. College Admissions Students planning to continue their formal education after graduation should consider the following factors used by colleges to make admissions decisions. College information, financial aid, and scholarship information can be found by asking the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. 1. Grade Point Average and Grades in College Preparatory Courses. Your high school academic record of achievement still serves as the best predictor of academic success in college. Your grade point average and selection of college preparatory courses are two of the most important factors colleges consider when making admissions decisions. 2. Quality of Course Selection. Colleges closely examine the quality of a student s academic transcript. For most colleges and universities, a minimum preparation should include 4 years of English, 4 years of Mathematics, 3 years of Science (laboratory), 3 years of Social Studies, and 2-3 years of World Languages. However, students should consult the catalog of the college or university that they are interested in attending to determine the exact requirements. 3. College Admission Tests. Colleges normally require college-bound students to take either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) to assist in making admissions decisions. Either test should be taken in the student s junior or senior year. All juniors are required to take the ACT each spring as mandated by state law. 4. College Essay. An increasing number of colleges require a college essay as part of the application process. Most colleges will provide a topic to address in your essay with a limit on the number of words used in the essay. 5. Letters of Recommendation. Some colleges and scholarship donors may request personal letter(s) of recommendation from counselors, teachers, administrators, employers or individuals from the community. Be sure to give the person writing your letter of recommendation some information about yourself and your activities. Allow at least two weeks for the letter to be completed. Be sure to write a thank you note to any recommender(s). 6. Co-curricular Activities. Participation in activities beyond your academic pursuits is important. This could include volunteer work, consistent employment, clubs, athletics, band/orchestra/choir activities, and national organization memberships. The quality of a student s involvement is considered more important than the quantity. 20

21 Colorado Commission on Higher Education Standards for College Entrance Meeting the Higher Education Admissions Requirements does not guarantee admission to a four-year public institution. Colleges and universities may have additional requirements. Please refer to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education website for the most recent information. Students planning to attend a four-year college or university in Colorado will need to complete the following classes in order to fulfill the Higher Education Admission Requirements. In addition to the Higher Education Admission Requirements, students admissions may also be based on your Admission Eligibility Index Score. ( St. Vrain Valley School District Graduation Requirements Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) Admission Requirements TOTAL CREDITS 24.5 CREDITS Credits Language Arts 4.0 credits 4 English Math 3.0 credits 4 Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or equivalents) Science 3.0 credits 3 Natural/Physical Science (2.0 credits must be lab based) Social Studies 3.0 credits 3 Social Studies (at least 1.0 credit either US or World History) 2 World language course--must be in the same language Electives 9.0 credits 2 Academic Electives: Computer Science, art music, journalism or drama. Also acceptable are honors, advanced placement and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Physical Education Health 2.0 credits 0.5 credits 21

22 Sample College Admission Criteria Admission criteria to colleges and universities vary. On a continuum of expectations and requirements, the following examples provide general indicators. Most Selective Colleges/Universities Examples: U. S. Air Force Academy, Stanford University, Ivy League universities, Northwestern University, Duke University Minimum of 18 core units: English 4, Math 4, Social Studies 3-4, Science 3-4, Foreign Language 3-4 Advanced Placement Courses Required G.P.A (academic courses only) SAT ACT 28+ Very Selective Colleges/Universities Examples: Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, University of Puget Sound, Middlebury College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Tulane University Minimum of 18 core units: English 4, Math 4, Social Studies 3-4, Science 3-4, Foreign Language 3-4 Advanced Placement Courses Required G.P. A (academic courses only) SAT ACT 27+ Selective Colleges/Universities Examples: University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Regis University, Arizona State University, Cornell College, American University, Vanderbilt University Minimum of 16 core units: English 4, Math 3-4, Social Studies 3-4, Science 3-4, Foreign Language 2-3 Advanced Placement Courses Highly Recommended G.P. A SAT ACT 26+ Competitive I College Examples: University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Christian University, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, University of Colorado at Denver, Texas Christian University, Kent State University, Lesley University, Virginia Commonwealth University Minimum of 15+ core units: English 4, Math 3-4, Social Studies 3, Science 3, Foreign Language 1-3 Advanced Placement Courses Recommended G.P.A SAT 950+ ACT 20+ Competitive II College Example: Fort Lewis College, Adams State College, Mesa State College, Metro State College of Denver, Western State College, Montana State University, Baker University, Plymouth State College, Grambling State University Minimum of 14 core units: English 4, Math 3-4, Social Studies 3, Science 3, Foreign Language 1-2 G.P.A SAT 850+ ACT

23 Information For Prospective College Athletes To Meet NCAA Clearinghouse Requirements Students who wish to participate in collegiate athletics at the Division I or II level must apply for certification with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse during the fall of the senior year of high school. The St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor can assist students with applying to the NCAA Clearinghouse. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY* Be sure to look at your high school s list of NCAA-approved core courses on the Eligibility Center's Web site to make certain that courses being taken have been approved as core courses. The web site is DIVISION I NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses. Division I has a sliding scale for test score and grade-point average. The sliding scale for those requirements is shown in the columns to the right. Only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average. 16 Core-Course Rule 4 years of English 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science 2 years of social science 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non doctrinal religion/philosophy). DIVISION II NCAA Division II requires 16 core courses. See the breakdown of core-course requirements below. The Division II grade-point-average requirement is a minimum of Only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average. Division II has a minimum SAT score requirement of 820 or an ACT sum score of Core-Course Rule 3 years of English 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher). 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) 3 years of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science 2 years of social science. 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy) The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used. The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the four sections on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science. All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the Eligibility Center code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the Eligibility Center. **NCAA Requirements are subject to change. Consult the NCAA website at for the most current requirements. If you have questions, call the NCAA Eligibility Center at NEW CORE GPA/TEST SCORE INDEX Core GPA SAT ACT & Above

24 Career And Educational Four-Year Planning Calendar FRESHMAN YEAR August September October Sept. - June February March May Summer Check in on assigned day. Check for activities and clubs you would be interested in joining. During the first semester, students will complete their four-year high school plan with their counselor. Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP) can be accessed through Take the EXPLORE Test, a pre-act assessment to determine college readiness for 9 th grade students. Discuss with teachers, parents, and counselors concerns about grades, academic achievement, and preparation for post high school goals. Students are encouraged to take a rigorous course load. Parents and students are encouraged to attend Back-to-School night. Read and review course offerings in the Course Description Book and Registration Guide. Discuss questions and concerns with parents, teachers and/or counselor. Keep your post-high school goals in mind as you choose courses. Complete registration for sophomore year. Take TCAP test (state mandated). Review requested sophomore schedule for accuracy and appropriateness if available. Volunteer and/or get a job to build your resume and save for college. SOPHOMORE YEAR August Sept. June Check in on assigned day. Continue to self-monitor academic progress, seeking help and support when needed. Parents and students are encouraged to attend Back-to-School night. Begin exploring post-high school options. Identify career interest areas and explore career opportunities by interviewing or job shadowing professionals in your areas of interest. Attend college information night and any college fairs that are held in the Longmont and/or Denver-Metro area. October Take the PLAN Test, a pre ACT assessment to determine college readiness for 10 th grade students.. Take the PSAT Test, a practice exam for the SAT (optional). Attend a College Fair Night. February March May Summer Read and review course offerings in the Course Description Book and Registration Guide. Discuss questions and concerns with parents, teachers and/or counselor. Keep your post-high school goals in mind as you choose courses. Complete registration for junior year. Take TCAP test (state mandated). Review requested junior schedule for accuracy and appropriateness if available. Volunteer and/or get a job to build your resume and save for college. 24

25 JUNIOR YEAR August Sept - June October December February May June Summer Check in on assigned day. Continue to self-monitor academic progress seeking help and support when needed. Parents and students are encouraged to attend Back-to-School night. Take an ACT Prep course if appropriate. Continue to explore post-high school options and career interests. Job shadowing is strongly encouraged. Attend college fairs held in Longmont and the Denver-Metro area during the fall. Meet with college admission representatives. Visit college campuses when possible. Take the PSAT, a practice exam for the SAT which also determines eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Attend a College Night Register for the February state mandated ACT test for online students. Read and review course offerings in the Course Description Book and Registration Guide. Discuss questions and concerns with parents, teachers and/or counselor. Keep your post-high school goals in mind as you choose courses. Complete registration for senior year. Register for April state mandated ACT test for online students. Register for May and/or June ACT and SAT tests. Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate. Review requested senior schedule for accuracy and appropriateness if available. Identify people that know you well and could write a letter of recommendation. Research college admission essay requirements from schools you will apply to in the fall. Take/Re-take the ACT and/or SAT tests. Student-athletes planning on playing athletics at a Division I or Division II school should register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at 222.eligibilitycenter.org Make college visits; interview college admissions representatives and narrow your list of college choices. Volunteer and/or get a job to build your resume and save for college. SENIOR YEAR August Sept. - June December Dec. - Jan February April May Check in on assigned day. Continue to self-monitor academic progress seeking help and support when needed. Students are strongly encouraged to maintain a rigorous course load. Meet with counselor to begin college application process and to review summary of high school credits. Register and take/retake ACT and/or SAT I and SAT II tests (October. December. test dates are recommended) Meet with college admissions counselors/representatives and continue to make campus visits. Request letters of recommendation from your counselor and/or teachers who are familiar with you and your academic potential. You may also ask an employer for a recommendation letter. Finalize college applications and turn them into the counseling office to meet most Regular Decision college deadlines. Attend the District Financial Aid Night for information about applying for financial aid and the St. Vrain Valley Local Scholarships. Begin working on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Complete and file financial aid forms and scholarship applications by college deadlines. St. Vrain Valley Local Scholarships are due the last week in February. As detailed in the packet, submit applications to the counselor or to the specified organizations listed. Notify your college/university of choice that you will attend in the fall and pay your confirmation deposit. Take Advanced Placement examinations, if appropriate. GRADUATE!! 25

26 Honor Roll An Honor Roll will be published each 18-week term. There are three (3) categories for honor roll recognition: a grade point average of 4.0, 3.5 and 3.0. The Honor Roll is determined from the grades reported by Florida Virtual School teachers and our school district s Infinite Campus transcript. Students on Honor Roll must be enrolled in and complete 5 classes or 2.5 credits throughout the 18-week term to be considered for Honor Roll Achievement. St. Vrain Academic Lettering Policy St. Vrain Valley School District s high schools award letters for academic achievement. Students may qualify for an academic letter each semester. To initially qualify for an academic letter: 1. A student must earn a 3.75 grade point average for the semester. 2. A student must be enrolled as a full-time student and be enrolled in a minimum of three core area classes (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science or World Language). 3. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis (student aiding, elementary assistants and work study will NOT be considered in the computation of academic lettering. 4. All Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and concurrent classes will be considered core area courses. 5. Credit toward an academic letter must be earned in the qualifying semester. Credit and GPA may NOT be carried from one semester to the next. Subsequent qualifying semesters of academic achievement per the above guidelines will result in the award of an academic bar to be worn on the letter. Athletic Eligibility A student s eligibility is based on both current and previous semester terms of enrollment. To maintain eligibility, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 2.5 credits each semester. In addition, a student must have passed a minimum of 2.5 credits within the prior semester and must be passing a minimum of 2.5 credits in the current semester. Concurrent College Enrollment The Concurrent College Enrollment program provides an opportunity for juniors or seniors to earn both high school and college credit for a college course that is taken concurrently with their high school coursework. The school district will reimburse tuition for up to two courses per semester (not summer school). This option is available only to those 11 th and 12 th grade students who have completed a minimum of 11.5 credits toward graduation and are under 20 years of age. The courses must be pre-approved and successfully completed (on-line courses, correspondence courses, summer school courses and CU-Boulder night courses are not eligible for reimbursement). Please note that this program is designed to enrich a student s educational experience by providing curricular options beyond what is offered at our St. Vrain Valley high schools; it is not intended to duplicate opportunities that are available through coursework offered at our St. Vrain Valley high schools. This opportunity is not available for St. Vrain Online Global Academy students for the fall of 2011 as the registration deadline has passed. However, if a student is interested in participating for the spring of 2012, he/she should speak with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. 26

27 Registration Guidelines Freshmen level students must be enrolled in 7 classes per semester and 14 classes per year. Sophomore, Junior and Senior level students must be enrolled in at least 6 classes per semester and 12 classes per year (enrollment in a least six classes is necessary for all students and for athletic and academic eligibility per school board policy). School Board Policy stipulates that at least 10 credits must be earned in the junior and senior years. If you are an athlete, it is your responsibility to know and understand the eligibility requirements. Definition of Terms Letter Grades: All courses receiving a letter grade will be used in computing a student s grade point average (GPA). Courses awarding Pass/Fail are the only exception and are not calculated in the GPA. Grade Point Average: The grading scale includes A, B, C, D, and F letter grades. The following point average will be used to compute grade point averages: A = 4 points; B = 3 points; C = 2 points; D = 1 point; F = 0 points. Weighted Grades: Some Honors courses and all Advanced Placement grades have weighted grading. The Honors weighted scale is: A = 4.5, B = 3.5, C = 2.5, D = 1.5, F = 0. The AP weighted scale is A = 5.0, B = 4.0, C = 3.0, D = 2.0, F = 0. Cumulative Grade Point Average: The average obtained by dividing the total number of grade points earned in high school divided by the total number of credits attempted. Current Grade Point Average: The average obtained by dividing the total of the grade points earned during the current grading period by the total number of credits attempted during the current grading period. Co-Valedictorians/Co-Salutatorians: Any student who graduates with a GPA above a 4.0 will be named covaledictorian. Any student who graduates with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 will be named co-salutatorian. These students will be recognized as honor graduates. Modified resource grades are not considered in determining valedictorian/salutatorian status. Credit: Recognition that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to high school graduation. St. Vrain Online Global Academy students must earn a minimum of 24.5 credits in order to graduate. 0.5 Credit: One-half credit is the equivalent of one semester of successfully completed coursework. 1.0 Credit: One credit is the equivalent of two semesters of successfully completed coursework. 27

28 ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS For the Graduating Classes of Minimum number of credit to graduate: 24.5 Courses Total Credits Needed Earned SVGOA Recommends Required Courses (Minimum 15.5 required) Language Arts 4.0 Students enroll in English each year. English I English II English III English Electives Mathematics 3.0 Students enroll in Mathematics each year. Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Science 3.0 Students enroll in Science each year. 3 lab-based Science courses Social Studies 3.0 Students enroll in Social Studies each year. World History United States History U.S. Government/Economics Physical Education 2.0 Students become knowledgeable about personal fitness. Health 0.5 Students become knowledgeable about personal health. Elective Courses Fine Arts (0.5 required) Practical Arts (0.5 required) 9.0 SVGOA encourages all students to explore a variety of subjects beyond core curriculum for individual development and personal enrichment. World Languages 3 years recommended for college bound student TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 24.5 List electives taken below: COLORADO COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE In order to gain admission to any state universities under the new guidelines, students must demonstrate successful completion of the following coursework while in high school: English 4 years Math 4 years Science 3 years (including 2 lab courses) Social Studies 3 years Academic Electives 2 years World Language 2 years 28

29 OUR COURSES AND CURRICULUM Our courses and curriculum are provided by FLVS Global. Florida Virtual School pioneered virtual learning for public schools and has won many honors and awards since their inception. Highly qualified and certificated teachers teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. Florida Virtual School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation. The Florida Virtual School core course curriculum is also approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse, and Advanced Placement courses are approved by the AP College Board. In addition to the courses available for our students through Florida Virtual School, students may choose to take courses through their home high school that are not provided by our program on a space available basis. All Career Development Center courses are also open to students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy. If you are interested in classes at your home high school or CDC, please speak with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. Work Study The work-study program is offered to juniors and seniors. Students may earn a maximum credit of 0.5 per semester but no more than 1.0 credit for both the junior and senior year. Students will be graded on a pass/withdraw basis and must work a minimum of 15 hours per week. Duplicate credit will not be awarded for students receiving credit in a CDC co-op or special credit work experience program. If interested, please speak with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. Honors/College Prep/Advanced Placement Courses St. Vrain Online Global Academy offers the following honors courses English I Honors Algebra I Honors Anatomy & Physiology Honors American Government Honors English II Honors Algebra II Honors Biology Honors American History Honors English III Honors Geometry Honors Chemistry Honors Economics Honors English IV Honors Earth Space Science Honors World History Honors Marine Science Honors Physical Science Honors Physics Honors Honor courses are weighted on a 4.5 scale at the freshman and sophomore level only in English, Science and Social Studies (weighted courses are shown in bold). Honor courses are meant to challenge and prepare students for the rigor of AP courses and college level courses. St. Vrain Online Global Academy offers the following Advanced Placement Courses that have been approved by the College Board: AP Art History** AP Biology** AP Calculus AB** AP Calculus BC AP Computer Science A AP English Language** AP English Literature** AP Environmental Science AP Human Geography AP Macroeconomics** AP Microeconomics AP Psychology AP Statistics AP US Government Advanced Placement Courses are intensive, college-level courses offered in high school and are weighted on a 5.0 scale. Each May, optional culminating examinations are held. Examinations are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating no recommendation and 5 indicating extremely well qualified. Students who score a 3 or better on the exam may receive credit at the college level (cost of the AP exam is paid for by the student). Students may also be eligible for AP Scholar awards. For more information, 29

30 High School Sample Course Progression Recommendation REGULAR TRACK HONORS TRACK ADVANCED ACADEMIC TRACK 9th Grade 9th Grade 9th Grade English 1 English 1 Honors English 1 Honors Algebra 1 Algebra I Honors Algebra 1 Honors World History World History Honors World History Honors Earth Space Science Earth Space Science Honors Earth Space Science Honors Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) 10th Grade 10th Grade 10th Grade English 2 English 2 Honors English 2 Honors Geometry Geometry Honors Geometry Honors Biology Biology Honors Biology Honors Spanish 1, Latin I or Chinese 1 Spanish 1, Latin I or Chinese 1 Spanish 1, Latin I or Chinese 1 Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) 11th Grade 11th Grade 11th Grade English 3 English 3 Honors or AP Language AP Language American History American History Honors AP US History Algebra 2 or Liberal Arts Math** Algebra 2 Honors Algebra 2 Honors Chemistry or Marine Science Chemistry Honors or Marine Science Honors Chemistry Honors or Marine Science Honors Spanish 2, Latin 2 or Chinese 2 Spanish 2, Latin 2 or Chinese 2 Spanish 2, Latin 2 or Chinese 2 Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) 12th Grade 12th Grade 12th Grade English 4 English 4 Honors or AP Literature AP Literature Economics and Government Economics Honors and Government Honors AP Economics and AP Government Algebra 2, Liberal Arts Math** or Pre-Calculus Pre-Calculus Honors Pre-Calculus Honors or AP Calculus AB/BC Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit) Elective (1.0 credit)

31 St. Vrain Online Global Academy Course Catalog (subject to change) Courses provided by FLVS Global Language Arts/English Mathematics Science 1.0 English I/English I Honors 1.0 Algebra I/Algebra I Honors* 1.0 Physical Science/Physical Science Honors 1.0 English II/English II Honors 1.0 Geometry/Geometry Honors 1.0 Earth Space Science/Earth Space Honors 1.0 English III/English III Honors 1.0 Liberal Arts Mathematics 1.0 Biology/Biology Honors* 1.0 English IV/English IV Honors 1.0 Algebra II/Algebra II Honors 1.0 Anatomy/Physiology/Anatomy/Physiology Honors 1.0 English IV: College Prep 1.0 Math for College Readiness 1.0 Chemistry/Chemistry Honors 1.0 AP English Language and Composition*# 1.0 Adv. Algebra with Financial Applications 1.0 Marine Science/Marine Science Honors 1.0 AP English Literature and Composition*# 1.0 Pre-Calculus 1.0 Physics/Physics Honors 1.0 Calculus 1.0 AP Environmental Science 1.0 AP Statistics 1.0 AP Biology# 1.0 AP Calculus AB# 1.0 AP Calculus BC Social Studies Health/PE World Languages 1.0 World History/World History Honors 0.5 Adaptive Physical Education 1.0 Chinese I, II, III 1.0 United States History/United States History Honors 0.5 Fitness Lifestyle Design 1.0 French I, II 0.5 US Government/US Government Honors 1.0 Health Opportunities through PE 1.0 Latin I, II, III 0.5 Economics/Economics Honors 0.5 Life Management Skills 1.0 Spanish I, II, III 0.5 AP United States Government# 0.5 Personal Fitness 1.0 Spanish for Spanish Speakers I 0.5 AP Macroeconomics# 0.5 AP Microeconomics* Electives--Fine Arts Electives--Practical Arts Electives--General ART BUSINESS 1.0 Journalism I 1.0 Creative Photography I 0.5 Personal and Family Finance 0.5 Reading for College Success 1.0 Art History and Criticism I FAMILY AND CONSUMER 0.5 Social Media I 1.0 AP Art History*# 0.5 Parenting Skills 1.0 Critical Thinking and Study Skills MUSIC TECHNOLOGY 1.0 Leadership Skills Development 1.0 Music of the World 1.0 Computing for College and Careers 1.0 Forensic Science 1.0 Guitar 1.0 Computer Programming I 1.0 Global Studies I *FLVS Mobile Learning Apps are available at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. #AP Exam Reviews Available 1.0 AP Computer Science A 0.5 Psychology 1.0 Foundations of Web Design 0.5 Law Studies 1.0 AP Psychology* 1.0 AP Human Geography 31

32 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students are able to learn at their ow however, any pace still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learnin students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, an discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. W teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful. LANGUAGE ARTS LA110 English I LA111 English I Honors Grades: 09 /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit Description: Develop language arts skills by reading, writing, listening, viewing, and speaking. You will learn to use the Engl language to express yourself successfully. LA120 English II LA121 English II Honors Grades: 10 Prerequisites: English I is recommended /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit Description: In English II, you will encounter new vocabulary, refine the grammar and mechanics of your writing, and engage thought-provoking projects. Throughout the course, you will discover how the human experience is the foundatio best stories, plays, poems, films, and articles. LA130 English III LA131 English III Honors Grades: 11 Prerequisites: English I and II are recommended Description: Acquire the language, reading, writing, and speaking/listening skills necessary for success in college, career, and Become a critical reader and thinker as you dive deeply into the texts presented throughout this course. You will how to effectively research and integrate your findings, as well as citing your sources. LA140 English IV LA 141 English IV Honors Grades: 12 Prerequisites: English I, II and III are recommended Description: Choose pieces of literature that interest you; then analyze the subject matter and persuasively express your own i LA142 English IV: College Prep Grades: 12 Prerequisites: English I, II and III are recommended Description: Develop the skills you need to gain insights from what you read and to use your knowledge in creative and analy writing. The course begins with fundamentals in reading and writing. From there, you will apply those concepts closely read and analyze contemporary and historical informational text. The texts you read provide the backgro narrative, informative/explanatory, and argument writing. The strategies you pace in this course will prepare you demands of reading, writing, and communicating in college and the workplace.

33 LA500 AP English Language and Composition* Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: English I and English II Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Read and analyze prose written in various periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts while gaining an understanding of the interactions among a writer s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams, and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. LA510 AP English Literature and Composition* Grades: 12 Prerequisites: English I, English II and English III Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Develop critical standards for the appreciation of literary works and increase your sensitivity to literature as a shared experience. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams, and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. MA110 Algebra I MA111 Algebra I Honors Prerequisites: 7 th grade mathematics Description: MATHEMATICS Algebra I emphasizes the importance of algebra in everyday life through hundreds of real-world examples. Assessments are designed to ensure that your understanding goes beyond rote memorization of steps and procedures. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. MA115 Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications Prerequisites: Algebra I and Algebra II are recommended Description: This advanced course incorporates real-world applications, collaboration, and calculations using technology. Prepare to handle your personal finances by learning the formulas used to determine account balances, monthly payments, total costs, and more. MA120 Geometry MA121 Geometry Honors Prerequisites: Algebra I or its equivalent Description: In this course, students will learn about points, lines, and planes. Students will learn about shapes and gain an understanding of how geometry affects the world around us. MA125 Liberal Arts Mathematics Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I is required and Geometry is recommended Description: Reinforce your existing algebra and geometry skills and explore concepts needed to advance your mathematics studies. Please note: This course does not meet the academic core requirement for math for entry into some colleges/universities or NCAA Clearinghouse. Please check with the SVOGA counselor before registering for this course. 33

34 MA130 Algebra II MA131 Algebra II Honors Prerequisites: Algebra I Description: Starting with a review of basic algebra, you will learn polynomials, quadratic equations, exponential and logarithmic relations, and probability and statistics. MA135 Math for College Readiness Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry Description: Acquire skills needed for success in college level mathematics. You will explore expressions, equations, statistics, and probability to learn Algebra and Geometry skills required for entry into college-level courses. MA140 Pre-Calculus Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry Description: As a mathematical analyst, you will investigate how advanced mathematics concepts can solve problems encountered in operating national parks. This course includes analytical geometry and trigonometry. MA150 Calculus Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, or Trigonometry/Analytical Geometry Description: Study limits, continuity, and differentiation while exploring integrated algebraic, trigonometric, and transcendental functions and the applications of derivatives and integrals. MA500 AP Calculus AB* Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry/Analytical Geometry Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Comparable to college and university calculus, this course will help prepare you for the Calculus AB Advanced Placement* exam. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. MA510 AP Calculus BC Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry/Analytical Geometry Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Comparable to college and university calculus, this course will help prepare you for the Calculus BC Advanced Placement* exam. MA520 AP Statistics Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra 1 and Algebra II Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Actively construct your own understanding of the methods, interpretation, communication, and application of statistics. Each unit is framed by enduring understandings and essential questions designed to provide you with a deep understanding of the concepts at hand rather than memorization and emulation. 34

35 SC105 Earth Space Science SC106 Earth Space Science Honors SCIENCE /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit in grades 9 and 10 ONLY Description: This laboratory course focuses on the study of space and the geologic and atmospheric forces that shape our world. Through experimentation and investigation, you will explore Earth s cycles, including the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and carbon cycle. SC110 Physical Science SC111 Physical Science Honors /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit in grades 9 and 10 ONLY Description: Build a foundation for studying physical sciences, including basic physics and chemistry, during this interactive lab-based course. Topics include forces and motion, energy through waves, electricity and magnetism, the matter around us, chemical bonding, and reactions. SC120 Biology SC121 Biology Honors /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit in grades 9 and 10 ONLY Description: Explore the structure, function, diversity, and evolution of living matter in this lab-based course by taking an in-depth look at the fundamental characteristics of living organisms. You will have the opportunity to perform hands-on lab activities and develop relationships through collaborative learning. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. SC130 Chemistry SC131 Chemistry Honors Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit in grade 10 ONLY Description: This lab-based course provides a foundation of chemistry concepts and includes scientific inquiry, Web 2.0 tools, interactive experiences, higher-order thinking, collaborative projects, real-world application, and a variety of assessments. SC135 Marine Science SC136 Marine Science Honors Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Biology /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit in grade 10 ONLY Description: Delve deeply into Earth s bodies of water and study geologic structures and how they impact the oceans. In this lab-based course, investigate characteristics of various populations of aquatic life, patterns of distribution, and ongoing changes occurring in our ecosystem. SC140 Physics SC141 Physics Honors Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I; Algebra II is recommended Description: Students will discover the contributions of geniuses like Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. In this laboratory-based course, students will learn the concept theories and laws that govern the interaction of matter, energy, and forces. 35

36 SC240 Anatomy and Physiology Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Biology recommended Description: Explore the human body and learn how you can help your body cope with many different situations. You will study the structure, location, and function of various systems within the human body and how these systems interact. SC500 AP Environmental Science Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I and two years of high school Science with labs Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Learn the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. You will evaluate the risks associated with environmental problems and examine alternative solutions. Virtual labs support content mastery. SC510 AP Biology* Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I is recommended Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: This challenging two-semester course engages you in a wide variety of activities. There is substantial emphasis on interpreting and collecting data in virtual labs, writing analytical essays, and mastering biology concepts. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. SS110 World History SS111 World History Honors /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit Description: SOCIAL STUDIES Join Ali and Soo-jin, our modern time travelers, as they journey through history. Discover the connections between world events and eras, from the Roman Empire through the Industrial Revolution, and explore development in our modern world, as well as the implications that historical events have on us today. SS120 United States History SS121 United States History Honors Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Successful completion of English I is recommended /1.0 Honors Weighted Credit Description: Investigate the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from the end of the Civil War through today while applying what you learn to real-world problems. SS130 United States Government SS131 United States Government Honors Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Successful completion of English I and II is recommended Credits: 0.5 (meets Semester 1 of the year-long American Government requirement to graduate) Description: Explore the principles that inspired the Constitution and Bill of Rights and examine each branch of government, the election process, and how you can impact public policy. You will also discover how the United States interacts with other countries. 36

37 SS205 Economics with Financial Literacy SS206 Economics with Financial Literacy Honors Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Successful completion of English I and English II is recommended. Credits: 0.5 (meets Semester 2 of the year-long American Government requirement to graduate) Description: Become a more informed consumer, producer, investor, and taxpayer and learn how your choices directly affect your future. SS510 AP United States Government and Politics* Grades 11, 12 Prerequisites: Successful completion of American History is strongly recommended. Credits: 0.5 Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Research the roles of the media, political parties, interest groups, states, candidates, bureaucracy, and the public in the governmental process. You will experience the production of policy building in multiple economic and social settings. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. SS530 AP Macroeconomics* Grades: 11, 12 Credits: 0.5 Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Understand the choices you make as a producer, consumer, investor, and taxpayer. This course provides you with the knowledge and decision-making tools necessary for understanding how a society must organize its limited resources to satisfy its unlimited wants. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. SS531 AP Microeconomics Grades: 11, 12 Credits: 0.5 Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: By taking on the role of a leader at a fictitious company, you will learn fundamental economic concepts, including scarcity, opportunity costs and trade-offs, productivity, economic systems and institutions, exchange, money, and interdependence. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. 37

38 PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH PE Waiver: St. Vrain Valley School District provides the opportunity for a student to waive up to 1.0 physical education credit when specific criteria are met. Students who maintain a full-time status (defined as a daily course schedule with 7 / 8 classes per semester) during all four years of high school and meet all graduation requirements may request waiver of an initial.5 physical education credit by successfully completing the following criteria: Two (2) SVVSD athletic programs at the varsity or junior varsity level (two different sports; same sport two seasons); or 72 hours during one semester of an appropriate, pre-approved, structured, and supervised activity outside of the school district. Students with an advanced course schedule including enrollment in multiple academically rigorous courses, may also request an initial.5 physical education credit waiver when combined with one of the above criteria. Students may waive an additional.5 physical education credit for a total of one (1) physical education credit in this same manner. The activities to waive physical education credit may be met during any of a student s four years of high school. A student may not waive physical education credit if they have failed any courses and/or are in the process of credit recovery to meet graduation standards. Whether or not a student has received a physical education waiver, they are still required to successfully complete 24.5 credits in order to earn their high school diploma. The physical education waiver application may be acquired in the counseling office. Students must submit a written request for a waiver to their counselor beginning in January of their junior year. Additional information on applying for and receiving approval of a physical education credit waiver can be found in District policy, IKF-R, Graduation Requirements-Physical Education Waiver. 38

39 PE105 Adaptive Physical Education IEP or 504 Plan Prerequisites: IEP or 504 Plan and FLVS approval required Credits: 0.5 Description: Learn about proper weight, good diet, and managing stress. As you progress through the course, you will feel your energy level increase, ultimately developing the kind of healthful habits that will last a lifetime. Please note: This course is for students whose IEP/504 indicates the need for modified physical activity. PE110 Fitness Lifestyle Design Credits: 0.5 Description: Discover habits of body and mind that will lead to a healthier lifestyle. You will measure your current fitness level and nutrition knowledge and create a plan for achieving your individual goals. PE115 Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE) Description: Experience the many benefits of regular physical activity, proper nutrition, and sound decision making. After assessing your current physical condition and defining personal goals, you will apply fitness-training principles to improve health and skill-related areas of fitness. PE120 Life Management Skills Grades: 9, 10, Credits: 0.5 (fulfills the Health Requirement for graduation) Description: Learn how to deal with real issues that impact your everyday life, such as nutrition, substance abuse, stress, and health. This course provides you with the facts you need to make important and informed decisions. PE125 Personal Fitness Credits: 0.5 Description: Along with your personal trainer (your teacher), you will assess your physical condition, set realistic health goals, and maintain a workout log to measure progress. WL101 French I WORLD LANGUAGES Description: Learn basic French grammar to help build your fluency and understanding, and apply what you learn through interactive games, written practice, and listening and speaking exercises. WL102 French II Prerequisites: French 1 Description: Strengthen your French listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills with engaging and interactive videos, dialogs, presentations, self-checks, and much more. 39

40 WL121 Latin I Description: Develop a foundation in Latin grammar and vocabulary while also learning about the mythical Olympian gods and Roman history. WL122 Latin II Prerequisites: Latin I Description: Building on your knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary, you will also explore Roman engineering, art, commerce, and its system of laws to demonstrate the flexibility of the language. WL123 Latin III Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Latin I and II Description: Strengthen your Latin vocabulary skills and develop an appreciation for well-crafted writing. You will go directly to the source and recognize why Latin and those who speak it are still relevant today. WL141 Chinese I Description: Learn conversation elements in Mandarin Chinese, including greetings, introductions, and the exchange of basic information with others. WL142 Chinese II Prerequisites: Chinese I Description: Develop your communication skills at a more advanced level, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese. WL143 Chinese III Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Chinese I and II Description: Learn more about Chinese culture, including the origins, anecdotes, and etiquette for various cultural settings. You will also compare and contrast the Chinese culture with your own as you continue to build knowledge of vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar. WL151 Spanish I Description: Learn basic Spanish grammar to help build your fluency and understanding, and apply what you learn through interactive games, written practice, listening, and speaking exercises. WL152 Spanish II Prerequisites: Spanish I Description: Strengthen your Spanish listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while experiencing the beauty and expressiveness of a language that is shared by different people and cultures throughout the world. 40

41 WL151 Spanish III Description: Journey to Spanish-speaking countries through virtual tours in this rigorous course. You will also collaborate with your fellow students to expand your vocabulary while using the Spanish you have already learned. WL156 Spanish for Spanish Speakers I Grades: 09, 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Native or fluent Spanish speaking abilities recommended Credit Description: Designed especially for students whose primary language is Spanish, the course will help you enhance proficiency in your native language. Advanced your listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, and gain a thorough understanding of Spanish grammar fundamentals. Spanish is used exclusively in this course. 41

42 FA116 Creative Photography I FINE ARTS ELECTIVES FINE ARTS--Art Fine Arts Description: Develop your photography knowledge, including the basics of lighting, shutter speed, and composition. Gain an understanding of professional photography, learn what creates an eye-catching photo, and build a portfolio of images. Please note: You must have access to a digital camera (cell phone cameras do not meet the requirement to take this course. FA120 Art History and Criticism 1 Grades: 10, 11, 12 Fine Arts Description: Critique and compare significant works of art and architecture from Prehistory through the 16 th century. Students analyze art history and criticism methodologies, explore media and techniques used by artists from various cultures and time periods, and learn appropriate terminology for discussing artwork from around the world. FA515 AP Art History* Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Successful completion of World History is recommended (not required) Advanced Placement Weighted Credit (Fine Arts) Description: This two-semester course examines major forms of artistic expression from the past and present and from a variety of cultures. You will learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate what you see or experience. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. *An exam review is available for this course which will allow students to be able to improve their test-taking strategies specific to AP exams and students have access to real student work samples with explanations for graded entries. FA201 Music of the World FINES ARTS Music Grades: 9, 10,11, 12 Fine Arts Description: Take your knowledge of music to the next level. Learn about the impact of music and how it represents different cultures while meeting musicians and composers and discussing their works. Gain a historical perspective of music and experience a variety of musical styles, from the Middle Ages through the 21 st century. FA202 Guitar I Grades: 9, 10,11, 12 Fine Arts Description: This introduction to the basics of music and guitar includes music notation and musical styles. You will learn practice skills, play the guitar, and perform for your instructor throughout the course. No prior music experience is necessary, but you must have your own six-string guitar and a way to record and submit a video performance to your instructor. 42

43 BU115 Personal & Family Finance PRACTICAL ARTS PRACTICAL ARTS--Business Credits: 0.5 Practical Arts Description: Why do we pay taxes? How do credit cards work? Learn proper money management skills and how to achieve financial success in this one-semester course. Find out how to avoid common financial mistakes, how to invest in your future, and how to manage your personal and family finances effectively. FS110 Parenting Skills PRACTICAL ARTS Family and Consumer Sciences Credits: 0.5 Practical Arts Description: Parenting involves more than having a child and providing food and shelter. This course explores parenting roles and responsibilities, nurturing and protective environments for children, positive parenting strategies, and effective communication in parent/child relationships. CS105 Computing for College and Careers PRACTICAL ARTS Technology Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Computer Literacy Practical Arts Description: Turn your computer into an effective tool for communication! This course will help you acquire essential business skills needed for any successful career. Eligible students will have the opportunity to earn their Microsoft certifications in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. CS110 Computer Programming I Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry; Students should have advanced computer skills. Practical Arts Description: This two-semester course presents two modern programming languages, Python and Java. The course teaches programming using real-world, practical examples and gives you the opportunity to choose programming projects that interest you. CS500 AP Computer Science A Grades: 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I and Algebra II Practical Arts Advanced Placement Weighted Credit Description: Develop the skills required to write programs or parts of programs to correctly solve specific problems. You will learn design techniques to make programs understandable, adaptable, and reusable. TE105 Foundations of Web Design Grades: 09, 10, 11, 12 Practical Arts Credit Description: Explore interactive, real-world scenarios to learn basic Web design principles. From HTML to Adobe CS6 Dreamweaver and Photoshop, this course builds a strong foundation of Web design skills. All necessary software is provided on a virtual desktop no downloads required! 43

44 GENERAL ELECTIVES These courses provide opportunities for students to fulfill the 16 elective course requirement for graduation. They do NOT meet core requirements in English, Mathematics, Science or Social Studies. LA200 Journalism I Grades: 10, 11, 12 General Elective Credit (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Language Arts) Description: Explore the history of journalism in the United States from its key role in the first amendment all the way up to present day issues regarding right to know and the changing landscape of journalistic media in the 21st century. Acquire the skills and information needed to actively participate in the consumption, analysis, and creation of news media. LA205 Reading for College Success Grades: 11, 12 Credits: 0.5 General Elective Credit (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Language Arts Description: This course will provide you with the necessary tools to become successful in both academics and in the workplace. Reading is a vital skill needed to effectively take notes, summarize the main idea, and separate fact from opinion. This course empowers you to achieve your goals in higher education and in the career of your choice. Please note: This course is for students whose college placement scores are below the established cut score indicating that they are not college ready in Reading (CPT below 83, SAT below 440, or ACT below 18). FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. LA210 Social Media I Grades: 10, 11, 12 Credits: 0.5 (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Social Studies) Description: Explore your individual contribution and influential powers by identifying your digital imprint. In this course, you will examine the world through social media, where citizen journalism is the news, personal audiences are your critics and your supporters, and personal connection is subjective. This course provides elective credit only. MS102 Critical Thinking and Study Skills Grades: 10, 11, 12 Prerequisites: Algebra I Credits: 0.5 General Elective Credit Description: Practice critical thinking skills and learn test-taking strategies, time management, and organization skills. You will build verbal competencies and sharpen your mathematics reasoning while acquiring essential learning strategies. MS110 Leadership Skills Development Grades: 09, 10, 11, 12 General Elective Credit Description: Succeed in high school, college, and beyond by taking your future into your own hands! In this two-semester course, you will learn how to take action, manage your time, chart your goals, and many other leadership techniques. SC230 Forensic Science Grades: 10, 11, 12 General Elective Credit (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Science) Description: Fingerprints. Blood spatter. DNA analysis. Discover how clues and data are recorded and preserved, and examine some of the basic scientific principles that guide forensic laboratory processes like DNA testing, toxicology, and material analysis. This course focuses on techniques and practices used by forensic scientists during a crime scene investigation (CSI). This course provides elective credit only and cannot be used to fulfill a science requirement for high school graduation. 44

45 SS115 Global Studies Grades: 10, 11, 12 General Elective Credit (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Social Description: Studies) Learn about human rights, the environment, global security, and international economic systems. Students also learn about different customs, cultures, and how they interact. SS220 Psychology I Grades: 10, 11, 12 Credits: 0.5 General Elective Credit (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Social Studies) Description: Where do thoughts and memories come from? What are emotions? And why do we behave the way we do? In Psychology I, you will begin to understand the human mind by exploring the research and theories of some of the most brilliant psychologists throughout history. In addition, learn psychological tips that you can use every day, like how to cope and reduce stress. This course provides elective credit only. SS240 Law Studies but strong reading and writing skills are recommended. Credits: 0.5 (This course satisfies an elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Social Studies) Description: What are your rights as an American citizen? In this course, you will investigate aspects of family and consumer law, and learn how the state and federal court systems work. Gain an understanding of the judicial system, and examine key differences between civil and criminal law. This course provides elective credit only. SS525 AP Psychology Grades: 11, 12 Credit: 1.0 General Elective Advanced Placement Weighted Credit (This courses satisfies and elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Social Studies) Description: Immerse yourself in modern psychological techniques investigating the ethics and morality of human and animal research. In this college-level course, you will learn the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each major area of psychology and enhance your scientific critical thinking skills. FLVS Mobile Learning App available for this course at the itunes App Store, Android Market, and Intel AppUp. SS535 AP Human Geography Grades: 11, 12 General Elective Advanced Placement Weighted Credit (This courses satisfies and elective credit but does not meet graduation requirements for Social Studies) Description: Explore the patterns and processes that impact the way humans understand, use, and change Earth s surface. Geographic models, methods, and tools help you examine the effect that human social organization and interconnections have on our world. This course provides elective credit only. 45