Westfield High School Curriculum Open House/Fair

Westfield High School
Curriculum Open House/Fair
February 6, 2014
Course Registration Process 2014
 NOW is the time to
start gathering
information from a
variety of sources:
 Talk to your students’
counselor and teachers
 Review WHS Course
Catalog
 View WHS website
Rising 9th Grade Important Dates
 Feb 6 Curriculum Night
 Feb 7 Registration Orientation @Carson
 Feb 10 Registration Orientation @Rocky Run
 Feb 14 Registration Orientation @Stone
 Feb 14 Registration Orientation @Franklin
 April 25- Rising 9th Parent Coffee – 8:00am
 June 2 Course Verifications Mailed Home
 June 16 Fall Sports Physicals
 June 20 Deadline for Course Changes
 August Bulldog BBQ
In early June…
 A list of courses your
student has chosen
(course verification
sheets) will be mailed
home by June 2nd
 Review courses and
make any changes by
no later than June 20.
Graduation Requirements
Diploma Options for Students
 Graduation requirements are based on year student enters
9th grade for the first time.
 FCPS requirements vary slightly from VDOE.
 Students entering in fall of 2014 and beyond have the
following diploma options available to them:
 Standard Diploma
 Advanced Studies Diploma
 Standard Diploma with Accommodations (Students with an IEP)
 Special Diploma (Students with an IEP)
6
• English 11 Reading
• English 11 Writing
• World History &
Geography 1
• World His & Geo 2
• US & Virginia History
•
•
•
•
•
•
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Geometry
Biology
Chemistry
Geosystems
 A verified credit is earned when a student
passes a course and the corresponding SOL
test.
 Examples:
•A student earns a ‘B’ in Biology but does not pass the
NO credit?
Biology SOL. Is this a verified
•A student fails Algebra 1 but passes the Algebra 1
NO
SOL. Is this a verified credit?
•A student earns a ‘B’ in World History 1 and passes the
World History 1 SOL. IsYES
this a verified credit?
Standard Diploma Requirements
Standard Diploma Course Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade for the First Time in
2013-2014 and Beyond
Subject
Standard Credits
Verified Credits
English
4
2
Mathematics
3
1
Laboratory Science
3
1
History and Social Sciences
4
1
Health and Physical Education
2
World Languages, Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education
2
Economic and Personal Finance
1
Electives (must include sequential elective)
3
(1 credit must be a Fine Art or Career & Technical Education)
Student Selected Test
1
CTE Credential and Virtual Course
Total Credits
22
6
9
Standard Diploma
ELECTIVES REQUIREMENTS
 All students pursuing Standard Diploma
MUST take two sequential electives to satisfy
their electives requirement.
 Sequential electives can be ANY two courses
in which the content in the second builds on
the content in the first. (Ex. Art 1 and Art 2 or
Journalism 1 and Journalism 2).
Advanced Studies Diploma Requirements
Advanced Studies Diploma Course Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade for the First
Time in 2013-2014 and Beyond
Subject Area
Standard Credits
Verified Credits
English
4
2
Mathematics
4
2
Laboratory Science
4
2
History and Social Sciences
4
2
World Language
3
Health and Physical Education
2
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education
1
Economic and Personal Finance
1
Electives
3
Student Selected Test
1
Virtual Course
Total Credits
26
9
11
Required Classes
Choice #1
Choice #2
English
Standard
Honors
World
History/Geography
Standard
Honors
Biology
Standard
Honors
Math
Algebra 1,Geometry,
Algebra 2
Algebra Honors,
Geometry Honors,
Algebra 2 Honors
Health & PE 9
Additional Classes
World Language/Elective
Elective
Making the Right Course Choices
Courses are offered
at a variety of levels…
 Standard courses provide students with the
opportunity to meet all graduation
requirements.
 Honors courses give students the
opportunity to challenge themselves in a
more rigorous academic environment.
 Advanced Placement (AP) courses allow
students to take a college level curriculum
and possibly earn college credits.*
 AP World is first opportunity (10th grade)
In Honors there is…
 More emphasis on reading and
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
writing.
More independent assignments
More in-depth analysis of material.
More challenging projects and
papers.
A faster pace.
The desire to go above and beyond
expectations.
An Honors student should…
 Consider the honors course as one of
his/her favorite subjects.
 Be self-motivated and be willing to do
homework every night.
 Always want to understand the material,
not just memorize it
 Be a very good reader and writer.
AM I READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL HONORS?
 Is this one of my favorite courses?
 Am I motivated to understand material rather



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

than just memorize it?
Am I interested in exploring this subject more
in-depth?
Do I have the work habits & am I willing to
study & do homework daily in this subject?
Am I a strong reader & writer?
Am I comfortable moving at a quicker pace?
Am I up for more challenging projects &
papers?
Am I willing to do summer assignments?
The bottom line…
 Make WISE
choices.
 Student choices
determine staffing
 Class changes for
next year will be
limited only to
correcting errors in
placement.
High School Courses Taken in
Middle School
 Students may expunge HS courses taken in middle school
regardless of the grade earned but cannot progress to the next
level math or world languages course without a passing grade in
the prerequisite course
 Courses that can be expunged include ESOL, math, and world
languages HS credits
 The form to request a course be expunged is IS-104. The form
must be signed and returned to the High School DSS by the end
of the 1st quarter in the 9th grade year.
19
Coursework Taken Outside of FCPS
 Students who wish to pursue coursework outside
of FCPS for credit must have prior written
approval from the high school director of student
services.
 FCPS must pre-approve courses taken at private
schools.
20
Middle School vs. High School
 Studies may require extra time during or after
school with teachers and/or at home.
 “Block Schedule”. Four classes every other day for
90 minutes (except 7th period).
 Will continue with most, if not all classes, all year long.
Few, if any, changes at semester.
 All grades count in Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)
and will be permanent on transcript.
 Very important to be involved. Students more
successful if involved and colleges are interested
in what you do inside and outside the classroom.
 Balancing social, academic, and personal
demands successfully.
 NO TEAMS! You are assigned to a Sub-school
based on your last name.
SUB-SCHOOLS
SUB-SCHOOL #1:
SUB-SCHOOL #2:
SUB-SCHOOL #3:
SUB-SCHOOL #4:
SUB-SCHOOL #5:
A-Con
Coo-Hig
Hih-Mc
Me-Ruc
Rud-Z
**ALPHA BREAKDOWNS MAY SHIFT**
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
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It is good for students to be involved!!
Sports teams, music, theatre!
Over 50 Clubs available to join!
Many Fall activities begin in August—
Check the WHS website during the
early summer.
 Activities outside of Westfield are
encouraged as well
 Bulldog BBQ is a great source of info
and time to meet sponsors, coaches.
It’s up to you…
 The course selections made now
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help determine the student’s options
after high school
Students should take courses that
THEY are interested in—not what
their friends are interested in.
Students should challenge
themselves each year
Everything at Westfield counts from
day one!
We are here to help!
For additional information…
 View Academic Advising
on WHS website.
 Click on direct link at:
 www.fcps.edu/WestfieldHS
Questions?

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