CROWN POINT HIGH SCHOOL

CROWN POINT HIGH SCHOOL 2013-2014 Course Selection Frequently Asked Questions Online Scheduling Summer School Dual Credit Online Scheduling RDS Parent Access Course Planner 1. Why are we doing online scheduling? After analyzing our student and parent surveys along with recent data trends, CPHS believes that a majority of our students don t need, require, or want assistance entering their course selections into the computer. Most students know what courses they want to take by reviewing the course selection guide, post-secondary pathways, and continuing on their current diploma track. Students are capable of self-scheduling, with assistance from parents and guidance counselors. CPHS is continuing to develop tools for students and parents to access the information they need as students pursue differentiated high school programming and post-secondary goals. Additionally, many students do not wish to be pulled out of class for 2-3 days in a semester to schedule next year s courses. Guidance counselors were previously spending 3-4 weeks visiting classrooms and computer labs to assist students with the mechanics of entering their next year s schedule into the computer. Our goal is to create a climate where the student and parent are provided with the information they need, the counselor reviews the student s academic record and post-secondary goals, and the student, parent, and counselor work together through the comments/notes section of the RDS Course Planner to build the following year s schedule. If your student feels that they need individual counseling or would like to schedule courses individually, with their counselor, we are more than willing to accommodate that request. Students should simply sign-up to see their counselor, during their scheduling window, and a pass will be sent for them to come to the Guidance Office. Parents that would like to meet and outline a course sequence or post-secondary plan are encouraged to make an appointment with their student s guidance counselor. 2. What resources are available to help me with online scheduling? 2013-14 scheduling information is posted on the CPHS website. When your scheduling window opens, make sure you follow the RDS Course Planner Instructions (linked to the website). The Guidance Office staff is always available to answer any questions or concerns. We will also have counselors stationed in the cafeteria during zero period (throughout February). Please stop by to ask questions. CROWN POINT HIGH SCHOOL, 1500 S. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307 phone: 219.663.4885, website: www.cps.k12.in.us/cphs

3. I prefer to schedule directly with my counselor, is that an option? Yes, a student who wishes to schedule with their counselor can simply put in a request to see his or her counselor during the student s scheduling window. 4. What if I am going to take a course(s) in the summer? How do I reflect that when building my schedule? Leave your counselor a message in the comments/notes section of the RDS Course Planner indicating your summer school intentions. When your 2013-14 scheduling window opens, schedule your courses during the school year as if you have already completed your summer school course(s). Don t forget to press Save Notes in the comments/notes section of the RDS Course Planner! 5. Is the schedule I am creating going to look exactly like my schedule when I arrive for school in August? No. Currently, you are only selecting courses that you would like to take next year. Courses are not assigned specific hours or semesters until the Master schedule is developed later in the spring. For example: Just because Physical Education appears in the first slot for the Fall semester doesn t mean that when your schedule is finalized, Physical Education will be your 1 st hour class during the Fall semester. 6. What if I m struggling in my current English, Math, or Science course and I m not sure if I should stay on my current course sequence? Your 2012-13 teachers have made recommendations about your 2013-14 placements. These courses may be pre-selected into your schedule. If not, guidance counselors can assist you in selecting the appropriate course. Use the comments/notes section of the RDS Course Planner to communicate with your guidance counselor about this type of question. Don t forget to press Save Notes. 7. I want to know more about a course where do I find that? More information about specific courses can be found on the CPHS guidance webpage. Click on the Course Description link or the 2013-2014 scheduling link. 8. Are classes given on a first come, first served basis? No. The computer does not prioritize schedules in the order in which they were input. If a class is reaching capacity based on the number of sections we have planned to run, seniors will get priority, then juniors, then sophomores, and freshmen. 9. Can I request a teacher? An hour I want to have a class in? A semester I want a class to be in? What about if I want a certain lunch? Page 2

We do not take requests for teachers, class hours, lunches or semesters. There is no way we can accommodate these requests. 10. How do I know if my counselor has fixed my schedule or not? When the counselor is done adjusting schedules, they will put a note in the Notes section letting you know what was done to your schedule. If you have questions or need to make changes after your counselor has already made changes, please feel free to contact your counselor. Your counselor can be contacted via phone, email, or your student can put in a request to see their counselor. If you wrote your counselor a message in the Notes, please check back to see if she has written back. If, after reading the counselor s note, you are satisfied with the changes that have been made, please Parent Approve the schedule by selecting the Next button at the top right hand corner of the page. Then click Submit Course Requests. Once the parent and counselor approve the schedule, the system will no longer be available for additional course requests/modifications. At that point, you should send your counselor an email or make an appointment and a pass will be sent for the student to come to the Guidance Office. 11. How do I know if there is a conflict in my schedule? Conflicts occur when the master schedule is run. A conflict occurs when two requested courses are only offered in the same hour, a class is no longer offered due to low enrollment, or a requested class cannot be fit into a student s schedule. This happens when a student requests two different courses and they are only offered during the same period during the day. When a conflict occurs, your counselor will either put in an alternate schedule choice that you have provided, or they will call you down to the Guidance Office to work out the conflict. Page 3

Summer School 1. When does Summer School begin and end? June 17 th to July 26 th 2. When does registration begin / end? Registration begins on April 8 th and ends on June 1 st * *Registration deadlines vary for Honors Geometry and Freshman Engage (TBD) 3. What are the times for the program? Session 1: 7:00 9:35 a.m. Session 2: 9:45 a.m. 12:20 p.m. Dual Session: 7:00 12:20 p.m. 4. Where will Summer School courses be held? Crown Point High School 5. Will transportation be provided? Bus transportation will be provided for students enrolled in Freshman Engage. Students enrolled in Freshman Engage that have requested transportation, will be notified by the CPCSC Transportation Dept. to confirm pick-up and drop-off locations approximately 3-5 school days before your summer school class begins. Pick-up and drop-off locations will be at centrally located spots throughout the district. Students will need to arrange for their own transportation from the pick-up and drop-off locations. Cedar Lake Boys and Girls Club Jerry Ross Elementary School Lake Street Elementary School MacArthur Elementary School Solon Robinson Elementary School Timothy Ball Elementary School Winfield Elementary School YMCA 6. How will parents know that their student has been enrolled in the program and the times to attend? Parents should register their student through RDS Parent / Student Access Course Planner. If students register and then want to withdraw from a course, contact the CPHS Guidance Office. Students that are not currently enrolled in CPCSC schools and want to register for Summer School must contact CPHS Registrar; Cheryl Ciciora at cciciora@cps.k12.in.us Payment for courses will be available through RDS Parent / Student Access after June 3rd. Page 4

7. Are any courses going to be offered on-line? CPHS is offering Health, US History Government and Economics on-line. Students will be notified, by their instructor (phone or email) prior to June 10th, on a date/time during the first week of summer school in which an introductory course meeting will be held at CPHS. At this meeting, students will meet their instructor, learn about the course requirements and pacing, receive information about accessing the course, test their course access, and complete other activities. All course content will be available through the CPHS Learning Management System (Brain Honey). Most of the coursework can be completed at any location where the students have internet access. Students will be given a suggested pacing schedule that is designed for successful completion of the course. Students may work at an alternative pace, if desired, as long as all work has been completed before the last day of summer school. All quizzes and tests must be completed at CPHS during regular summer school hours. Students may come to CPHS during regular summer school hours for computer access. Students will receive regular email feedback from their instructor. 8. Is there an Attendance policy? CPHS only allows 2 absences and 3 tardies before a student is removed from a class. In an attempt to work with students and families, CPHS will allow students to apply for an additional 3 days of exempt absences. This policy only applies to Government, Economics, Speech, 2D-Art, and Freshman Engage. Exempt absence forms are available in the CPHS Bookstore. Forms must have appropriate signatures and be on-file before the absence occurs. 9. Do I have to make-up missed days for P.E.? Due to the activity-based nature of the class, students are required to make-up missed class days. Students must attend 27 sessions to earn two semesters of Core P.E. credit (graduation requirement). Students must attend 14 sessions to earn one semester of Core P.E. credit. To accommodate family vacation schedules, camps, trips, etc., CPHS will offer make-up P.E. sessions at the end of the session (dates TBD). 10. Is there an advantage to taking P.E. in the summer? Many students enjoy the scheduling flexibility in the regular school year that taking Core P.E. in the summer affords. Students have traditionally taken Core P.E. in the summer to take an extra elective during the school year. This is recommended for students that are looking to open up their 9 th grade schedule if they are not planning on participating in athletics at CPHS. Students intending to participate in athletics are encouraged to enroll in Core P.E. Athletic Development during the regular school year. The Core P.E. Athletic Development course will meet graduation requirements, while working on the basics of strength training, speed development, agility, balance, and flexibility. Many of these skills are difficult to address before and after school, during the school year, due to the time demands placed on studentathletes during their competitive seasons. There is not a summer school pre-requisite to schedule into the Core P.E. Athletic Development course during the regular school year. Students that take Core P.E. in the summer may still register for Core P.E. Athletic Development during the regular school year for elective credit. A traditional section of Core Page 5

P.E. General Fitness will continue to be offered, for students not participating in athletics, during the regular school year. 11. What is a P.E. Waiver? Awarding credit for Physical Education: Non-Traditional Core physical education credit (required for graduation) can be earned through nontraditional means through participation in qualifying activities. Students may earn (1) core physical education credit for each qualifying activity. Students may earn a maximum of (2) credits through participation in qualifying activities. Students may not earn (2) credits by participating in the same activity over the course of different seasons. Rationale Crown Point High School provides opportunities to participate in a wide range of IHSAA sports along with many other extra-curricular activities such as cheerleading, color guard, dance, and marching band. Recognizing the healthy, active lifestyle that these activities promote, students have the option of applying for a non-traditional physical education course credit to earn high school physical education credit for extra-curricular participation. Consequently, students can take additional courses during their regular school day, including advanced physical education courses. Qualifying Activities Baseball Cheerleading Cross Country Football Gymnastics Soccer Swimming Track & Field Wrestling Basketball Color Guard Dance Golf Marching Band Softball Tennis Volleyball Criteria Student must finish season in Good Standing. Students must demonstrate basic swimming skills to receive (2) semesters of credit in an activity that does not require aquatic activity. Injury: Student still attends and participates as able. Rehabilitation counts towards remaining in Good Standing. Students applying for non-traditional credit must complete core physical education graduation requirements by their 4 th semester in high school. Students that have not completed the requirement will be scheduled into a core physical education section in their 5 th semester of high school. Forms must be signed by both the student and parent at the conclusion of the qualifying activity. Page 6

12. Speech is a summer offering, why would I want to take it in the summer? CPHS would like to offer enrichment opportunities for students in the summer. Speech is an elective course during the regular school year. Many students find it difficult to fit it into their schedule. The CPHS Speech course is offered for dual credit through Purdue University Calumet. This course is widely accepted as a Freshman-level requirement at many colleges and universities throughout the state. This course, taken for dual credit, is also part of the Core Transfer Library. College credit earned in this course must be accepted by every public post-secondary institution in the state of Indiana. It s the law! 13. How do I get into the Honors Geometry summer school course? This class is designed for those incoming 8 th, 9 th, and 10 th grade students who desire to accelerate their math sequence. To be eligible to take this class, students must have completed both semesters of algebra I with minimum grades of B -. Students will be using digital content (web-based curriculum) in place of traditional text books. Students will report to school in two to three-week blocks for direct instruction followed by a week out of the building to work on assignments at their own pace. The course begins the week of April 8 th and will conclude on July 26 th. Upon successful completion of this class, two semesters of honors geometry credit will be awarded. Students should then register for Honors Algebra II during the 2013-14 school year. Registration will close for this course in March (date TBD). While students have some flexibility to work at their own pace, students and parents in previous years have found the course to require a significant time commitment to achieve a successful outcome. 14. Is there an attendance policy for credit recovery courses? Students taking credit recovery courses will be using digital content in place of traditional textbooks. A teacher will be in the credit recovery lab from 9:45 a.m. 12:20 p.m. daily. Students may access the lab on the dates and times of their choice until they have successfully completed their course requirement. Students must have all course requirements completed by July 26 th. Freshman Engage 1. What is the purpose of Freshman Engage? Students will work to improve the necessary skills which will aid in their transition to CPHS. High school readiness skills, including study habits, relationship building, and organization will be included in the program. A physical fitness component will also be included in the course. Students must wear gym shoes and clothing appropriate for activity based physical fitness. Student skill gaps will be identified and remediated using Math XL and Read 180 Literacy Software. 2. Can a student enroll in another summer school course if they have been recommended for Freshman Engage? Page 7

Students may enroll in online Health, but it is not encouraged due to the time commitment students will be giving to the Freshman Engage program. The option is available due to students having the ability to complete coursework outside of regular summer school hours. 3. How are students identified for Freshman Engage? Students were recommended for the Summer School using the following criteria: Grade 8 Performed in the at-risk range in Math or English on the ISTEP+ and Acuity Performed in the at-risk range in Math, English, or Reading portions of the ACT Explore Exam Teacher Recommendation 4. Is attending the summer school remediation program mandatory? Students that do not attend remediation opportunities will not be eligible for a graduation waiver in the event that a student does not pass End of Course Assessments in Algebra I and English 10. Page 8

Dual Credit 1) What is dual credit? Dual credit is the term given to courses in which high school students have the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits. Dual credit courses are taught by regular high school faculty or by regular or adjunct college faculty either at the high school, at the college or university, or sometimes through online courses or distance education. Dual credit is offered by both state and independent (private, regionally accredited) colleges and universities in Indiana. 2) What is the difference between dual credit, concurrent enrollment, dual enrollment, and doubling up? In general, these are all terms that apply to the definition of dual credit. 3) Are Indiana high schools required to offer dual credit courses? Yes. Indiana law currently requires each Indiana high school to offer a minimum of two dual credit courses. The intent is to expand opportunities for more students to take college-level coursework while in high school. It is also to ensure that students may have the opportunity to fulfill the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma requirements using the dual credit option and to help more students prepare for college. 4) What does dual credit have to do with Core 40 with Academic Honors? Students wishing to complete the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma may use dual credit (as specified below) as one of several options. Students wishing to complete the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma (graduating class of 2010 and beyond), must complete the following coursework: Complete all the requirements for Core 40. Earn 2 additional Core 40 math credits. Earn 6-8 Core 40 world language credits. Earn 2 Core 40 fine arts credits. Earn a grade of a C or better in courses that will count toward the diploma. Have a grade point average of B or above. Complete one of the following: a. Complete AP courses (4 credits) and corresponding AP exams b. Earn a combined score of 1200 or higher on the SAT critical reading and mathematics c. Score a 26 or higher composite on the ACT d. Complete dual high school / college credit courses from the Core Transfer Library (6 transferable college credits) e. Complete a combination of AP courses (2 credits) and corresponding AP exams and dual high school / college credit course(s) from the Core Transfer Library (3 transferable college credits) Page 9

5) Which dual credit courses will be offered at CPHS? Purdue University (13 courses), Indiana University (8 courses), and Ivy Tech (27 courses) offer dual credit courses at CPHS. Students will take their regularly scheduled course at CPHS while having the option of applying for dual credit. 6) Can students take multiple dual credit courses? Yes. 7) Is there a limit to how many dual credit courses a student can take? Indiana s Policy on Dual Credit Courses states that all postsecondary campuses will establish limits for the number of credit hours a student can earn through dual credit courses offered in the high school. In most cases, the limit is 15 credit hours. However, exceptions have been made for students that have demonstrated superior academic talents and abilities. 8) How do I apply for dual credit? All students enrolled in dual credit courses will have the opportunity to earn dual credit. Students taking Ivy Tech dual credit courses register in their CPHS classroom. Tuition is free for Ivy Tech dual credit. Students taking Indiana and Purdue University courses for dual credit register through RDS Parent Access. Registration deadlines and fee structures are posted on the CPHS website. 9) When does the application need to be submitted? Application, drop/add, and payment deadlines will be communicated to students and parents as we get closer to the opening of the 2012-13 school year. A list of dual credit courses, transfer menus, and fees is posted on the CPHS website. 10) Do students on a Free / Reduced Lunch Program have to pay for dual credit? No. Students that qualify for free or reduced lunch should register for dual credit through the RDS Parent Access link, but you will not be mailed an invoice/bill. 11) What is the Core Transfer Library (CTL)? To enable students to transfer college credits, Indiana has developed the Core Transfer Library (CTL) a list of courses that will transfer among all Indiana public college and university campuses, assuming adequate grades. 12) What colleges and universities are in the CTL? Two-Year Colleges Ivy Tech Community College Vincennes University Page 10

Four-Year Colleges Ball State University Indiana State University Indiana University IUPUI i. Bloomington, East, Kokomo, Northwest, South Bend, Southeast i. Columbus, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis Purdue University i. West Lafayette, Calumet, North Central University of Southern Indiana More information is available on the Transfer Indiana website: www.transferin.net 13) Are all the courses, offered for dual credit at CPHS, part of the CTL? No. Check the link on the CPHS homepage for dual credit offerings. Course in the CTL are in red and marked with an asterisk. 14) What if my student does not want dual credit? Can he / she still stay in the class and earn regular high school credit? Yes. To refuse dual credit, do not register through RDS Parent Access. 15) What if my student signs-up for dual credit, completes the course, but doesn t want the grade to show-up on a transcript? Colleges and universities are bound by law to generate transcripts for all students who complete dual credit courses. Students may withdraw from a dual credit course on the timeline established by the college or university for all students. 16) Is an (AP) course considered dual credit? (AP), or Advanced Placement, refers to courses offered in the high school administered by the College Board. It is considered an acceleration mechanism like dual credit, but does not fit into the Indiana Commission for Higher Education s definition of dual credit, since AP courses are not offered by a college and do not automatically result in college credit. However, high schools may offer AP courses for dual credit if agreed upon by a college or university. Example: AP Calculus - Indiana University Northwest Page 11

Some colleges and universities award college credit or advanced academic standing to students who score a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam. Most college websites list information on accepting AP exam scores. In 2010-11, the Indiana state legislature passed a law stating that students earning a 3+ on any AP exam will automatically have that credit transferred to any public university within the state. Check-out the AP/Dual Credit Transfer Crosswalk to see how AP exam scores and high school dual credit will transfer to some of our more popular post-secondary institutions. 17) When I print my student s schedule a DC is listed next to the course. Does that mean my student has already applied? No. The DC listed next to the course simply means that the student has the option to earn dual credit. Your student will have to apply through the RDS student/parent portal, register once the university sends you an acceptance notice, and pay for the credits separately through the university. 18) My student is a sophomore. Can they earn dual credit? Dual credit through Indiana University and Purdue University is only available for juniors and seniors. In March 2012, CPHS is expecting Ivy Tech to adjust their current policy and accept sophomores for dual credit. What if I have a question about dual credit that still isn t answered? Robert McDermott, Assistant Principal: (219) 663-4885 x.11014 or email: rmcdermott@cps.k12.in.us Bonnie Emole-Barancky, CPHS Dual Credit & Standardized Testing Administrative Assistant: (219) 663-4885 x. 11075 or email: bonnie@cps.k12.in.us Page 12