SIMSBURY HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

1
SIMSBURY HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

• Signed Course Selection sheets are due in
  Guidance
• by Friday, February 6,2009

2
Proposed Graduation RequirementsClass of 2013

• English 4.0
• Mathematics 3.0
• Science 3.0
• Social Studies
  3.5
• Art, Business, Engineering,
• Family and Consumer Sciences, Music
• or Tech Ed 1.0
• Additional Courses 6.0
• Physical Education 1.0
• Health .5
• TOTAL CREDITS FOR GRADUATION 22.0

3
DROPPING COURSES
Dropping first semester and year courses without
penalty of a recorded failure must occur by the
3rd week of school.
The deadline for dropping second semester courses
will be the 3rd week of the second semester.
4
CHANGING LEVELS

• If a student/parent feels a level change is
  necessary, you must discuss this with your
  teacher and school counselor. Changes must be
  made by progress report time ( mid October) or
  the end of the first quarter. (beginning of
  November)

5
COURSE LEVELS

• Level I Honors or Advanced Placement
• Level II Competitive College Prep
• Level III College Prep ( Math classes only)

6
HONOR ROLL
High Honors All As (A, A, A-) and one B (B,
B, B-)
Honors Any combination of As and Bs with
one C (C, C, C-)
7
PROMOTION POLICY

• To be a Sophomore, a student must have 5 credits,
  excluding P.E. and Health
• To be a Junior, a student must have 10 credits,
  excluding P.E. and Health
• To be a Senior, a student must have 15 credits,
  excluding P.E. and Health

8
Typical Plan of Studies

• Grade 9
• English
• Math
• World Civilization 1
• Integrated and Physical Science
• World Language
• Physical Education/ Study Hall or Elective
• Elective or Study Hall

9
English

• All students have been recommended for Grade 9
  English I, or II

10
Mathematics

• Students who are presently in
• Pre-Algebra 8-II may have been recommended for
• Algebra 1-II or
• Algebra 1-III
• Students who are presently in Algebra 8-I have
  been recommended for
• Geometry-I or
• Geometry-II
• Algebra 1-I will not be offered next year. Please
  cross it off on your sheet.

11
Science

• All students have been recommended for Integrated
  and Physical Science I or II

12
Social Studies

• All students have been recommended for World
  Civilization I or II

13
World Languages

• Students are encouraged to continue with their
  8th
• grade language
• Students may choose to begin the study of a
  different language
• Options include
• Chinese (excellent visual discrimination,
  attention to detail, strong and consistent work
  ethic)
• Latin (written language, excellent grammar
  skills)
• French (conversational, many rules variations)
• Spanish (conversational, phonetic)

14
Physical Education

• All students will take PE one semester
• Health
• There is no Health requirement for grade 9
• Please cross Health off on your Yellow sheet and
  cross off Health 9 on p.26 of your Program of
  Studies

15
Art

• Introductory Art experiences include
• Art 1- offered full year (drawing, ceramics,
  painting, fine crafts, printmaking, graphic
  design, sculpture)
• Art 1A offered half year ( drawing, painting,
  design and sculpture)

16
Business and Finance

• 3 semester courses available to choose from
• Intro. to Business and Finance (economic
  awareness and business competencies)
• Introduction to Business Technologies (Microsoft
  Office, Publisher, PowerPoint, PhotoStory, Excel)
• Web Design Elements ( Dreamweaver, Flash and
  Photoshop)

17
Engineering

• Intro to Engineering Design-II
• May be taken for either Science or Tech Ed credit
• Interested students should take this in addition
  to IPS as their elective

18
Family and Consumer Science

• Child Development (child related careers and
  knowledge)
• Cultures and Cuisines (cultural food experiences)
• Smart Cooking (the world of cooking with an
  emphasis on nutrition)
• Foods For Entertaining ( food design , artistic
  presentation for event planning)

19
Technology Education

• Architecture (mechanical drawing utilizing CAD,
  computer aided design)
• Aviation (flight and aerodynamic principles)
• Construction/Manufacturing (team activities and
  projects, carpentry)
• Digital Video Production (explore digital video
  and image creation and editing)
• Intro. to Transportation (problem solving
  activities as it relates to vehicles)
• Aerospace Education is available for grades 10,
  11, 12. You may not take this course as a
  freshmen. Please cross it off on your sheet.

20
Music

• Students who are continuing with their present
  music should sign up for
• Freshman Chorus, Orchestra, or Freshman Band
• Other Music Options
• Intro to Music Technology ( composition and sound
  technology)
• Intro to Theater ( developing acting skills
  through use of body, mind and voice in group
  performance)
• Percussion Ensemble is based on auditions held in
  the spring. If interested you should be signing
  up for Freshman Band

21
Parent Course Selection Meeting

• Wednesday February 4, 2009 at 630 p.m.
• Simsbury High School Auditorium
• Remind your parents to attend and bring the
  Course Selection Booklet, recommendation sheet
  and orientation information handout.

22
Alternate HS Choices

• Magnet Schools - Examples Academy of Math and
  Science, Academy of the Arts, University High
  School for Science and Engineering
• Vocational-Technical Schools Example Oliver
  Wolcott Technical High School
• Suffield Regional Agriscience Center
• If you have questions or interest in these
  programs, see your counselor soon.

23
Sample Schedule Creation

• Refer to your blank schedule hand-out

24
Sample Schedule- 7 periods
25
Student Learning Clusters

• Booklet familiarizes you with the learning
  clusters at SHS
• Note The brochure refers to 25 required credits.
  At this point, this has not been approved by the
  BOE and, for now, the class of 2013 will need 22.
  
• Health is also not required for grade 9 students.
  If you and your parents complete the worksheet
  at the end of the booklet, please be aware of
  these updates.

26
REMEMBER
Signed Course Selection sheets are due in
Guidance by Friday, February 6, 2009