NORWELL HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION GRADE 8 INFORMATION EVENING April 2014
Program of Studies A link to the Norwell High School Program of Studies which explains all graduation requirements and lists course descriptions can be found on the top right side of the Norwell High School homepage.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 110 academic credits 4 yrs ENGLISH 4 yrs MATH 4 yrs SOCIAL STUDIES (US History) 4 yrs SCIENCE (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 3 yrs FOREIGN LANGUAGE Grades 7 and 8 together counts as one year 2 semesters PE/HEALTH and PE Electives jr/sr year 4 semesters UNIFIED ARTS MCAS passing score ELA, Math, Science
LEARNING EXPECTATION GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS In addition to meeting the course and credit requirements for a diploma, Norwell High School has established learning expectations that students must meet in order to graduate. The expectations are in the areas of creative expression, laboratory investigation, research, writing, oral presentation, and problem solving. Students demonstrate that they have met these expectations through specific graded rubric assignments.
When are these rubric assignments given? Each department at NHS has responsibility for one of the learning expectations. Students will be graded on how well they are meeting expectations on a specially designed rubric assignment once each semester in each class beginning in the freshman year. Students will be required to meet the learning expectations in English, Social Studies, Math, and Science in the 2nd semester of their junior year.
UNIFIED ARTS Graduation Requirement: 4 semesters over the four years THE ARTS Art Music Theater TECHNOLOGY
Unified Arts Electives -Freshmen THE ARTS Semester Classes Theater I and II Theater/Stagecraft Screenwriting Theater Appreciation Playwriting Workshop (Acting Ensemble) Public Speaking&Acting I/ II Full Year Classes Art I Symphonic Band Jazz Workshop (Jazz Ensemble) (Wind Ensemble) Chorus Music Appreciation Music Theory TECHNOLOGY Semester classes Pub & Presentations Engineering I, II, III Game Design/Computer Animation Website Design & Social Media Computer Repair Intro Robotics Robotics 2 TV Studio Jewelry Design & Fabrication Full Year Class Technology Education I Digital Literacy 2.0
ACADEMIC SUBJECTS GRADE 9 English English 9 Math Geometry (and Algebra I) Science Biology Social Studies World History II Foreign Language
Academic Class Levels English, Social Studies, Science, Math, and Foreign Languages are taught on levels College Prep CP Honors H Advanced Placement AP
College Prep and Honors Level Courses All College Prep (CP) courses are intended for pupils considering post secondary education. Honors courses are designed to accelerate the pace and enrich the content offered. While both levels share the same curriculum and text resources, the pace, assessment, and supplementary materials differ in response to student skill level and content mastery.
College Prep or Honors Both levels are designed to prepare students for college. Differences would be in the support provided within the classroom, the level of difficulty of the assessments, and the amount of time expected to be spent on homework. For example: English 9 CP will provide more help with study skills, graphic organizers for reading and writing, and frequent check-ins than the honors level course. English 9 H will require students to read additional short texts, conduct additional research, and compose more analyses. The expectation is that honors level students will complete more work independently and spend additional time on homework. Due to the common core curriculum, the differences in the two levels will be more distinct with both levels being more demanding than they have been in the past.
Advanced Placement Level Courses Advanced Placement (AP) level courses are offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in taking college level courses. The AP exam provided by the College Board is required of every student taking an AP class. There is a fee required which the student must submit at the beginning of the year the class is taken.
GPA = Grade Point Average A student s GPA is used by colleges as a relative measure of academic strength and potential. Norwell High School s GPA is computed on a 4 point scale that is weighted by level. The GPA is cumulative starting with grade 9, and is computed using final grades for the year from classes in English, Social Studies, Science, Math and Foreign Language. The chart for weighting point value can be found in the Program of Studies.
Grade 9 Prerequisite Qualification for Academic Level College Prep (CP) level class successful completion of the preceding class in that subject area. Honors level class requires a grade (3 terms considered) of B- or better in a preceding Grade 8 Accelerated level class, or a grade of A- or better in a preceding Grade 8 Standard level class
NHS Biology Level Placement 3 part procedure 1) Teacher recommendation based on rubric point assignment 2) Point assignment for 3 terms of grades 3) Science readiness test
Math Placement All freshmen will take Geometry 3 levels: Geometry H Geometry with Proofs CP Geometry CP Algebra readiness test at middle school Students identified as needing some reinforcement in Algebra I will be recommended for Algebra I in addition to Geometry Better preparation for math and science courses and for MCAS
Required Course Load All students are required to carry a full course load which is defined as a minimum of 6 courses per semester for a total of 30 credits. Some students may fill all 7 blocks with classes. The seventh block will be a study period for the student carrying six courses per semester.
Freshman Schedule sample 1 English 9 5 World History li 5 Biology 5 Geometry 5 Algebra I 5 Latin ll or French II or Spanish ll 5 Health/PE I (semester) 2.5 Elective (semester) 2.5 total = 35 credits
Freshman Schedule sample 2 English 9 5 World History li 5 Biology 5 Geometry 5 French ll or Latin ll or Spanish ll 5 Health/PE I (semester) 2.50 Semester Study Art I, Band, or Chorus 5 total = 32.5 credits
Freshman Schedule sample 3 English 9 5 World History li 5 Biology 5 Geometry 5 Spanish l or French l or Latin l 5 Health/PE I (semester) 2.50 Elective (semester) 2.50 Academic Support 5 total = 35 credits
Freshman Schedule sample 4 English 9 5 World History li 5 Biology 5 Geometry 5 Spanish lli 5 French l 5 Health/PE I (semester) 2.50 Elective (semester) 2.50 total = 35 credits
Freshman Schedule sample 5 Health/PE Delay English 9 5 World History li 5 Biology 5 Geometry 5 Spanish lli 5 Latin l 5 Art l or Band or Chorus 5 total = 35 credits
Importance of Balance: Remember that the student will need time for homework assignments, studying, sports, music, drama, clubs, family, friends, etc. Choose a program that is challenging, but not overwhelming.
Middle School Scheduling Procedures for Grade 8 1. Grade 8 teachers in academic subjects and music will make a recommendation for class level in their subject area, for each student. This recommendation will be made considering the course prerequisites, and approximating the overall grade the student is earning after 3 terms as well as the other placement tests. 2. Teachers will enter recommendations for each student into X2. The X2 parent portal will be open from 4/11 to 4/18 for parents and students to view recommendations and to choose electives. All choices must be made by 4/18.
Middle School Scheduling Procedures for Grade 8 cont. 3. Program of Studies booklet with descriptions of all courses offered, is available at the Norwell High School website www.norwellschools.org Be sure to access the 2014-2015 Program of Studies. 4. Students and parents should access the Program of Studies at the high school website to read about the electives.
Middle School Course Concerns If when reviewing the teacher recommendations, the student and parent have any concerns about a recommended course, please consult with the teacher of that particular subject and with your child's middle school counselor, Mrs. Sifflard or Mrs. Sailer.
Prerequisite Requirement If the student does not meet the prerequisite for a desired class level at the recommendation time, he/she cannot sign up for that class level. The student may request a waiver of prerequisite.
Waiver Requests The waiver request must be submitted to the high school principal NO LATER THAN May 2nd. The waiver form is available at the high school website. www.norwellschools.org
Waiver Conditions Waiver conditions: The High School principal reviews and determines the approval or denial of all waiver requests. Space availability is a factor. Families will be notified of waiver decisions by the end of May. If a waiver is approved, the student is placed in the requested level. Please remember that it does not make sense for a student to be in a course that he/she cannot be successful in.
Questions? Concerns? - Question about recommended level? Call or email recommending Middle School teacher. - Questions about procedure to follow? Call or email Middle School counselors. - Questions about Norwell High School? Call or email Middle or High School counselor.
Counselor Contact Information www.norwellschools.org Amy Greene amy.greene@norwellschools.org Rebecca Prescott rebecca.prescott@norwellschools.org Brenda Barrientos brenda.barrientos@norwellschools.org Meaghan Dempster meaghan.dempster@norwellschools.org Nancy Sifflard Lisa Sailer nancy.sifflard@norwellschools.org lisa.sailer@norwellschools.org NMS (781-659-8814) NHS (781-659-8806)
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