Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 11-17

WELCOME to West Potomac!
world‘s greatest high school
excellence is a tradition
WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL • 2016-2017

Rising 9th/Curriculum Night
Tonight’s Agenda
• 6:00-6:50pm
• Welcome
• Overview of Academic Advising
• Overview of Advanced Academics at WPHS
• 7:05 – 8:40pm
• Curriculum Breakout Sessions – Quander Rooms
• Electives Open House - Cafeteria

The Worlds Greatest High School!
Welcome futureWolverines to

Worlds Greatest in all we
do!

Resource for Academic Advising
• WPHS Student Services Website

We messaged this to 8th graders last week!

C2G
First thing we need to discuss…

Standard Diploma
Requirements

Advanced Studies Diploma

Academic Advising 2017-18
• What is it?
• Process to select your 7 classes for 2017-18
• Why is it important?
• Determines staffing at WPHS to ensure you get the
classes you select
• In September there are no class changes! So take
time to make these important decisions

Expunging Middle School
Grades
• Students may take high school credit courses while in
middle school
• Algebra 1, Geometry, World Language, ESOL
• Parents may request that grades for any high school credit-
bearing course taken in the middle school be removed from
the student’s high school transcript
• Student will not earn high school credit for the course or be
eligible for a verified credit in the course
• The request to remove a course from the transcript must be
made in writing to the high school the student will attend
the following year, prior to the end of the first nine weeks.
See current version of FCPS Regulation 2408
• Form available on WPHS Student Services Website

2017-2018 Schedule
PE

Typical 9th Grade Schedule
• English 9/English 9 HN
• World History and Geography 1/WHG 1 HN
• Math (see next slide)
• Biology/Biology HN (9th grade Science Fair for HN)
• Health and PE 9
• World Language (see later slide) or
Elective (see later slide)
• Elective

• Algebra 1 Part 1 and Algebra 1 (double-block)
Algebra 1 Part 1 is an elective credit
• Algebra 1/Algebra 1 HN
• Geometry/Geometry HN
• Algebra 2/Algebra 2 HN
Teacher recommendation is very important!
Typical 9th Grade ScheduleMath Options for Rising 9th
Graders

• French
• German
• Latin
• Spanish
• Spanish for Fluent Speakers (class designed for
student with a background in Spanish or who speak
Spanish at home).
Teacher Recommendation for upper levels!
World Languages

Health and
Physical Education
• PE 9
• 1 quarter of Health
• 3 Quarters of Physical Education
• PE 9 is a PREREQUISITE for PE 10 (Drivers Ed)

Special Education
•Middle School Case Manager makes
recommendations based on the
student’s IEP
•Support available as needed
• Strategies for Success, Reading, Personal Development,
etc.)

ESOL – English Speakers of other Languages
• Middle School ESOL Dept. will determine each
student’s ESOL level for 2016-17
• Courses determined by the ESOL level
• WIDA testing this winter – prepare and do your
best!

9th Grade Electives
• English
Journalism/PhotoJournalism 1, Creative Writing, Film Study, Debate,
Literacy Lab
• Math
Computer Science (Co-requisite of Algebra 2)
• Social Studies
AP Human Geography
• Business
Economics & Personal Finance (required for graduation)
Information Systems, Webpage Development, Programming
Accounting, Business Law/Business Management
• Marketing
Marketing

9th Grade Electives
• Technology Education
Design & Technology, Basic Technical Drawing, Electronics,
Aerospace Science
• Visual Arts
Studio Art 1, Digital Art and Design 1, Photography 1
• Performing Arts
Band, Orchestra, Guitar, Percussion Ensemble, Piano, Chorus
(recommendation/audition)
• Theatre Arts
Theatre Arts 1, Technical Theatre 1
• West Potomac Academy
Dance 1
• General
Army JROTC 1, AVID, Leadership Training (interview)

an elective option!
• Advancement Via Individual Determination
• AVID is an academic program designed to increase the rigor
of coursework taken by West Potomac students.
• Every AVID student is in at least one Honors/AP.
• All AVID Students have the goal of going to college!
• Over the last four years all AVID seniors who applied to a
four year college were accepted into at least one four year
school!
• Application required – see Ms. Caldwell for more
information
• Young Scholar? This is a great fit for you!

How To Be Successful in High School?

Things to do before selecting classes:
• Talk with teachers both tonight and current
classroom teacher
• Discuss student interest/motivation
• Review overall workload of seven courses
• Balance with other commitments (extra-curricular
activities, family time, leisure, etc.)
• Time management and organizational skills are
important

Advanced
Academics
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

Programs?
What are Advanced Academic
 Rigorous academic studies
 Open access to all students
 Academic exploration and knowledge beyond the standard
course of study
 Require dedication of time and individual effort beyond the
school day
 College preparatory (Honors) and college-level (AP) courses

Basics
The
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

Course
s
Honors
 College preparatory courses offered to either prepare
students for AP Courses or where a comparable AP course
does not exist.
 Students who do well in Honors courses have a foundation
for doing well in AP and college courses.
 Have a +0.5 weighted grade overall.

Placement (AP)
Advanced
 College-level courses offered in high school. AP courses
reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses
 AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well
students have mastered college-level course work, taken in
May. (Some also have an SOL.)
 Have a +1.0 weighted grade overall (upon completion of the
course and the exam.)

Of Taking Advanced Courses
Benefits
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

 Rigor of high school curriculum is linked to success in college
 Expand a student’s ability to read, write, and think critically;
analyze and solve problems; and build 21st century skills.
 Advanced Academics courses can bolster a HS transcript and
improve college acceptance.
 Many colleges grant credit for courses in which students
earn a qualifying score on AP examinations.

From Advanced Placement (AP)
What to
Expect
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

 Typically demand more of students than on-level or honors
courses.
 Tend to be faster-paced since more content material is
covered.
 Strong expectation for students to:
 think critically
 analyze and synthesize facts and data
 weigh competing perspectives
 write clearly and persuasively.

Supports
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

 West Potomac’s Strong Curriculum Team Culture: Working
collaboratively, teachers can structure common activities,
interventions, and instruction based on analysis of assessments.
 Wolverine Time: Daily remediation/intervention period during
which student can visit any of their teachers.
 Mastery Learning Policies: Opportunities to relearn and show
mastery of material already covered.
 WICOR Strategies: WICOR strategies stem from AVID
philosophy and are becoming a mainstay of West Potomac
instructional culture

You! (Parents/Guardians)
Advanced Academics is for the PREPARED not the ELITE
Rigor ≠ More work…BALANCE is key
Play to strengths and interest areas when selecting
courses
Suppo
rt
Most
Important

IMPORTANT DATES
• January 5: WP Counselors visit SMS
• January 9: Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising and
Curriculum Night
• March 10: Course Selections available on ParentVue
• Late April: Course Selection Verification mailed home
for review
• June 3: Deadline for any updates/changes

Action Items
• BRING your course selection sheet/booklet to
counselor meeting.
• Select seven courses and two alternate electives.
• Seek out teacher recommendations (HN – expected
to stay in the course for the first nine weeks).
• Work with your counselor
• For more information, visit our website:
www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS under “Student
Services” and “Academic Advising”

What’s next??

An exciting journey ahead!!

Thank you and Go Wolverines!!

Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 11-17

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Was ist angesagt?

Was ist angesagt? (19)

Ähnlich wie Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 11-17

Ähnlich wie Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 11-17 (20)

Mehr von wpwebsite

Mehr von wpwebsite (20)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 11-17

Hinweis der Redaktion