2019-2020 CourseSelection Process

at Wissahickon High SchoolPresented: January 10, 2019

Welcome to Program of Studies Night

Administrative Team

• Dr. Lynne Blair, Principal

• Mr. Tom Andrzejewski, Associate Principal

• Ms. Karen Gebhardt, Assistant Principal

• Mr. Jason Bialka, Assistant Principal

• Mr. Jim Cairnes, Athletic Director

• Mr. Gary Abbamont, Assistant Superintendent

• Ms. Jennifer Schmidt, Director of Secondary Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

Course Selection Timeline

• January 2019• Students receive course information

• Grade 8: Handed out to students in Guidance Lessons Jan 8-10

• Grade 9-11: Hand out to students in HR on Jan 2

• Teachers make recommendations

• Course selection sheets due• To WMS Guidance Counselors by Friday, January 25 (for Grade 8)

• Hand in to HR Teacher by Tuesday, January 22 (for Grades 9-11)

• Students will enter requests electronically

• February-March – Counselors meet with students

• Week of March 15, 2019: Course verification sheets sent home

• March 29, 2019: Deadline to return Course Verification sheets with corrections and Parental Waiver of Recommendations or elective changes

Changes in Courses/Levels

• Until March 29, 2019: Students and parents can make requests for changes in course levels or elective courses. Changes after this time are for corrections only.

• Parent/Student initiated change in course:• Moving down a level: Level changes will only be considered at the midpoint

of the first marking period if:• Student is failing• Student has documented that he/she has received additional supports

offered by the district such as: after school tutoring, IE Period, during study halls, support classes, etc.

• Student has made an appointment with his/her school counselor to discuss the change, the impact on his/her future and the impact on his/her schedule

• Teacher has been consulted• Parent has made the request in writing. This change will be done with an

Administrator's approval and a grade of “W” will appear on the transcript

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

1. Credits (needed for promotion)

• Grade 9 to Grade 10 -minimum of 6 Credits

• Grade 10 to Grade 11 -minimum of 12.50 Credits

• Grade 11 to Grade 12 -minimum of 19.00 Credits

2. Graduation Project

3. Demonstrated Proficiency on Keystone Exams (class of 2020 – PDE Requirements)

Credit Requirements for Graduation• English 4.00

• Social Studies 4.00

• Mathematics* 3.00

• Science* 3.00

• Wellness (9th health) 1.00

• Physical Education 1.00

• Health 0.50

• Graduation Project 0.80

• World Language** 2.00

• Electives 7.50

Total 26.80

• Total of 7 math/science required* • One (1) math/science credit can be earned in

Computer Science*• Two credits of World Language is strongly

recommended**

Importance of Proficiency

• Students will need to demonstrate proficiency in Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature (as measured by the Keystone) for the class of 2021 and beyond

• Alternate ways to demonstrate proficiency

• If students do not demonstrate proficiency, they will be• Placed in support classes

• Placed in support during Intervention/Enrichment (I/E) period

• Required to make multiple attempts to attain proficiency on the Keystone

• Required to complete an alternate means during the 12th grade year (Online remediation program)

Ninth Grade Academy: Ms. Gebhardt

• Course selection process is the same (no scheduling restrictions)

• Three teams of core teachers meet 2x/cycle

• Every student will have a core team of teachers

• Allows common planning team for weekly meetings

• Facilitates communication and conferences

• Purpose is to ease transition into high school

Sample Student Schedule

• Six day cycle

• Homeroom on first four days

• Attendance taken in class on Days 5/6

• Courses rotate depending on day

• Longer classes on Days 5/6

• I/E period on Days 5/6

North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC): Mr. Paddock

• Construction Trades: Construction Carpentry, HVAC, Electrical Occupations

• Cosmetology

• Culinary Arts

• Eng/Manufacturing: Drafting & Design, Precision Machining, Mechatronics, Welding & Fabrication

• Health & Human Services: Allied Health, Biotechnology, Health Occupations, Protective Services

• Floral Design & Landscaping

• Power & Trans: Collision Repair, Auto Tech, Diesel & Heavy Equip, Rec Power Equip, Retail & Dist.

• Visual Communications: Comm Arts, Graphic Arts, Internet Tech

WHS Transition

• WHS Ambassadors Club (Mrs. Diebolt)• We work to make new students feel welcome and comfortable in

Wissahickon High School. We also strive to establish relationships with fellow students and foster a sense of community.

• WISSLink (Ms. Gebhardt and teachers)• New program in 2019-2020 to help facilitate ninth grade transition• Small homerooms with upper-class students will facilitate mentorship

opportunities• Academic and social event follow ups to assist with high school• Revised Orientation Program and Spring Transition Activities - Stay

tuned for more information

College and Career Counseling

• Ms. Anderson, College and Career Counselor

• Meets primarily with seniors and juniors, but freshmen and sophomores are welcome to make appointments

• Establishes relationships with college admission officers when they visit WHS or when Ms. Anderson visits colleges

• Runs the College Series Night Programs – look for schedule in the beginning of the year

• NAVIANCE is a college and career search website available to all high school students AND families.

• For more information: https://www.wsdweb.org/schools/wissahickon-high-school/counseling

Co-Curricular Activitieshttps://www.wsdweb.org/schools/wissahickon-high-school/activities-wisswatch

• A-Capella Club

• Ambassador Club

• Art Club

• Asian Studies

• Camerata/Chorus

• CASA

• Class Committees/Student Council

• Comic Book Club

• Computer

• Concert & Jazz Bands

• Culinary Explorations Club

• Debate/Speech

• Drama

• Dungeons and Dragons

• Environmental Protection Club

• FANS

• Future Business Leaders of America

• Future Teachers of America

• GSA

• Health Careers

• High School Democrats of America

• Interact

• Jewish Student Union

• Key Club

• Law Club

• Math Club

• Marching Unit/Orch/Jazz Band

• Model UN

• Musical/Pit Orchestra

• National Honor Society: Open to upper-class students but student can begin developing credentials in ninth grade

• Robotics

• SADD

• Science Club

• STARS

• Trojan Times

• WISSPALS

• World Education Club

• WTV

• Wissahickon Academic Quiz Team

• Wissahickon Youth Political Learning Club

• Yearbook

Athletic Programshttps://wissahickonathletics.org/

FALL SPORTS• Football-V, JV& 9th• Field Hockey-V, JV& 9th• Girl’s Cross Country-V & JV• Boy’s Cross Country-V & JV• Girl’s Tennis-V & JV• Girl’s Soccer-V & JV• Boy’s Soccer-V, JV & 9th• Coed Golf- V & JV• Water Polo Girls and Boys-V & JV• Cheerleading-V• Girl’s Volleyball-V & JV

WINTER SPORTS• Girl’s Basketball-V, JV& 9th• Boy’s Basketball-V, JV& 9th• Girl’s Swimming-V• Boy’s Swimming-V• Wrestling-V & JV• Cheerleading-V• Girl’s Indoor Track-V• Boy’s Indoor Track-V• Competition Cheer Team- V

SPRING SPORTS• Baseball-V & JV• Softball-V & JV• Boys Lacrosse-V & JV• Girls Lacrosse-V, JV& 9th• Girls Track-V• Boys Track-V• Boys Tennis-V & JV

Changes and Additions for 2019-2020

• COURSE SELECTION DATES: In order to better prepare student schedules, the deadlines for some course selection events have been moved up. Specifically, the return date for course changes and overrides is March 29 (this is roughly a month earlier than usual.)

• WISSAHICKON VIRTUAL ACADEMY: The Wissahickon Virtual Academy (WVA) is open in school year 2019-2020 for students in grades 9-12. Online courses will be available through the WVA for full-time students.

• GRADUATION PROJECT: Changes to the WHS Graduation Project are under discussion. Any changes will be communicated to students and parents.

• AP EXAMS: Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, students enrolled in AP courses are not required to take the AP examination in May. WHS will cover the cost of two exams per year per student. The cost of all subsequent exams is the student’s responsibility. WHS will cover the cost of all exams for students who have financial need.

• KEYSTONE EXAMS: The Pennsylvania State Legislature has passed changes modifying the graduation requirement for earning proficiency on the Keystone Exams.

New/Redesigned Courses 2019-2020