Winston Churchill High School Academy Mathematics, Technology & Science Signature Program HANDBOOK Coordinator: Mrs. Deanna Svrcek Signature Office: 132A 301-469-1054 FAX 301-469-1208 1
About the MTS Signature Program The mission of the MTS Signature Program is to provide enhanced academic challenges through a rigorous curriculum, opportunities to explore career interests in their special focus area and to have real life experiences which helps members develop and grow as a mature young adults. This special program has been designed to offer an extra opportunity beyond the classroom curriculum where Signature Program members can explore a career interest and profession. Students will hear from professionals which will expose them to career pathways and decisions. Underclassmen will hear from seniors about the internships they did over the summer. The internships are powerful learning experience for students. Additionally, many college require an internship experience. Students wishing to graduate with MTS Signature Program distinction must be responsible for knowing the program requirements and completing them according to timelines designated. Table of Contents About the Signature Program Page 2 Signature Program Goals and Expectations Page 3 Special Notes about Coursework Page 3 Communication tools Page 3 Signature Program Course Requirements Page 4 Summary of Signature Program Requirements Page 5 MTS Career & Reaction Series Page 5 MTS Signature Program Requirements by Year: Freshman Year Page 6 Sophomore Year Page 6 Junior and Senior Years Page 7 Student Accountability Page 7 Forms for Records Page 7 2
Signature Program Goals and Expectations The mission of the MTS Signature Program is to provide enhanced academic challenges through a rigorous multidisciplinary curriculum, opportunities to explore career interests in the fields of Mathematics, Technology, and Science and to have real life experiences which help members develop and grow as a mature young adults. One of the primary goals of the MTS Signature Program is to build the students motivation, self direction, and independence. This special program has been designed to offer an extra opportunity beyond the classroom curriculum where members can explore a career interest and profession through the Career & Reaction Speaker series, complete an independent project in an MTS area of interest, competitions, internship panel presentations and an internship. Students wishing to graduate with MTS Signature Program distinction must be responsible for knowing the program requirements and completing them according to timelines designated. Special Notes About Coursework All Computer and Technology courses fulfill the Signature Program requirement for the additional technology credit. Students are to enroll in Designing Technological Solutions. This will provide an exposure to programming which is highly valued by employers. It does meet the State of Maryland graduation requirement. Digital Art does count as a technology credit for the Signature Program. College Molecular Genetics (double period) and Mount St. Mary s summer program can have their credits apply to the Signature Program in the following ways: If the 2 credits from Molecular Genetics are counted for the MTS Signature Program requirements, then Mt. St. Mary s cannot count for the MTS Internship. If Mt. St. Mary s is used for the MTS Internship, then only 1 credit from Molecular Genetics may be used for the MTS Signature Program requirements. Four math credits (or completion of Calculus) must be taken in high school. Additional high school math courses will be counted as one of the four extra courses. It is strongly encouraged that students consider taking statistics. In a world of data, having skills in statistics will enhance one s career opportunities. Communication MyMCPS Starting in 2015-2016, MCPS will have a feature in mymcps that will replace Edline. This site will allow parents to check in with student progress. Google Classroom Students will be provided an access code to enter their MTS Google Classroom. This site is only accessible to people using their MCPS Google account. In the classroom students will be able to collabo-rate virtually, receive feedback and view Program point accumulations. REMIND (previously REMIND101) (A process for receiving text messages) Knowing that email is not the main communication tool for many, there may be many students and parents experiencing a delay in accessing updated information. By using Remind the coordinator can send a text message with a notice to check mymcps or the Google Classroom and/or with a detailed message. To register for Remind, you will be provided directions to access through a mymcps invitation when the MCPS opens the site. 3
MTS Signature Program Course Requirements Required for MCPS Graduation 4 credits: Mathematics 3 credits: Science 1 credit: Technology Additional Credits for MTS Signature Program 3 credits: Math, Technology or Science 1 credit: Technology ACCEPTABLE TECHNOLOGY COURSES FOR MTS Digital Art, all Computer Science, and any Technology except Foundations of Technology. The following courses meet the technology criteria for graduation.: Foundations of Technology, Design Technology Solutions, Introduction to Engineering Design, and Principles of Engineering. ACCEPTABLE SCIENCE COURSES College Molecular Genetics (double period) and Mount St. Mary s summer program can have their credits apply to the Signature Program in the following ways: If the 2 credits from Molecular Genetics are counted for the MTS Signature Program requirements, then Mt. St. Mary s cannot count for the MTS Internship. If Mt. St. Mary s is used for the MTS Internship, then only 1 credit from Molecular Genetics may be used for the MTS Signature Program requirements. GRADE POINT AVERAGE REQUIREMENTS Grades will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Students not meeting the requirements will be removed from the Signature Program. Notification of a student in danger of not meeting these requirements will be done through email. Therefore, it is important for students and parents to confirm the accuracy of the email addresses submitted to Churchill. Minimum 3.75 weighted GPA in Signature Program courses (Mathematics, Technology and Science) No more than two (2) C s as semester grades in any Signature Program course. No D s or E s as a semester grade in any level Signature Program course. This will cause immediate removal. Final determination for the Signature Program distinction at graduation: Maintaining the 3.75 weighted GPA through to the third quarter of the senior year when graduation planning occurs. 4
Signature Program Schedule of Activities Students are to accept the responsibility to know the times and locations of meetings. Students must be proactive--read EMAILS, check Google Classroom, talk with fellow members, and seek information. Announcements of new postings will be done through the Remind website. A schedule of all meetings will be posted in the Google Classroom. Meeting deadlines for assignments are the student s and parents responsibility to monitor. Required MTS Signature Program Activities: Career Exploration Project MTS Career Speaker Series: attend a minimum of four (4) per year Internship Presentations by Senior: attend a minimum of three (3) per year Summer Symposium: math, technology, science seminars at WCHS or other approved seminars Independent Project in a math, tech, or science area and its presentation Approved contest or completion in mathematics, technology or science Internship related to mathematics, technology or science MTS Career Speaker Series The MTS Signature Program will hold a Career Speaker Series throughout the school year; at least three events during each semester. These lectures will broaden students knowledge within their focus area and ex-pose students to various careers and details on specific jobs in the professional world. EXPECTATIONS: On-Campus Career Speaker Series Submit a reaction paper for the WCHS lectures after the event. The Speaker information for sign up will be posted in the Google classroom. The requirement is meet only when the reaction paper is submitted to the Google Classroom. Be prompt for each presentation. There will not be time to buy a lunch from the cafeteria, so bring a bag lunch. Late arrival or early departure will not qualify one for the points. You may still attend out of interest. Off-campus Speaker Events For approved off-campus lectures, submit a reaction paper within one (1) week of attending.. If this deadline is not met, the lecture may not be used to meet the requirement. The reaction paper is to be submitted through Google Classroom using the Off-Campus reaction paper form. Google Classroom: Forms are available for Career Speaker reflections Off-campus speaker approval Off-campus speaker reaction paper Schedule of dates, topics and speakers 5
Freshman Year Requirements Complete the exploration of a career activity. Attend a minimum of four (4) MTS Career Speaker events. Submit the reaction paper in Google Classroom within 3 days of the event. This reaction paper will be posted in the Google Classroom immediately after the event. Attend three (3) MTS Internship Presentations by Seniors to learn of the different opportunities and suggestions for finding your own. Submit a reflection in Google Classroom. Complete a Summer Symposium class in Mathematics, Technology, or Science that is offered at WCHS. Other off-campus seminars must be pre-approved. The symposium classes may be taken before or after 9th or 10th grade. Sophomore Year Requirements Independent Project requirements This is the culminating project for the second year of MTS Attend scheduled lunch-time meetings to learn of the process, expectations and supports Design and implement an approved project related to their focus area Create a poster presentation on the project and deliver their presentation at the Signature Program s evening Poster Symposium (date TBA) Speaker Presentations Attend minimum of four (4) MTS Career Speaker events. Submit the reaction paper within 3 days of the event. This reaction paper will be posted in the Google Classroom immediately after the event. Attend three (3) MTS Internship Presentations where seniors will share their Internship experience. Contests and Internships Begin looking for possible internships and contests to enter Check out the internship documents in MTS Google Classroom Internship folder. Direct links are provided to the sites. NOTE: Internships completed for the MTS Signature Program requirements will NOT earn SSL hours. Contests are frequently announced within the math, technology and science classes. Additionally, the MTS Google Classroom Contest folder has a list. The lists indicate if the contest is exempt from pre-approval. Students are required to submit the MTS Contest document to have the contest applied to the MTS Signature Program requirement. 6
Junior and Senior Year Requirements During the final two years of the Signature Program, students will participate in an approved internship and academic contest related to math, technology or science. Expectations: Students are to obtain an approved internship within their focus area. Internships completed to meet the MTS Signature Program requirements will not receive SSL hours. Students are to submit the approval form found in MTS Google Classroom Internship folder by June 1 of the junior year. Students will be required to submit two status reports during the year. Complete the internship tasks by the first day of senior year. Students are responsible for: Keeping a daily log of tasks completed during the internship Completing at least 150 hours during the internship Writing a final reflection paper on the overall internship experience Submitting a signed verification form and recommendation from the intern sponsor. Students are to attend the Career Speaker events as well as Off-Campus Lectures and submit a reaction paper to Google Classroom. Juniors: minimum of two (2) MTS Career Speaker Events and one (1) off-campus lecture. Seniors: minimum of two (2) MTS Career Speaker Events during the first semester of the senior year and one (1) off campus lecture. NOTE: The off-campus reaction paper must be submitted within one (1) week of attending the event. Juniors: Attend three (3) MTS Internship Presentations by Seniors. Exceptions will be made based on the status of the student s search for an internship. Seniors: Present in at least two (2) MTS Internship Presentations. Juniors: Obtain approval for entry into a relevant contest or competition no later than November of the junior year. NOTE: Google Classroom contains direct links to competition options. Students may need to refine research from their internship to suit the contest of their choice. Submit a completion of competition form at the end of the contest. Student Accountability Google Classroom will allow students to view comments on their submitted work and see the points earned. There will be a posted document explaining the points and rubric for each requirement. The points are not intended as a grade. They are intended to show progress towards senior recognition at graduation. The student is also responsible for maintaining the appropriate GPA in the MTS Signature Program courses. Students and parents can monitor grades on mymcps. 7