2016-2017

Course Selection9th Grade

Mrs. DaCosta A - LaMr. Bentley Le - Z

Major Requirements

❖ Your teachers have made recommendations for your core classes❖ English, Science, Social Studies, Math❖ World Language (if selected)

❖ Health/PE will be scheduled for you❖ Course level changes (after you receive course verification sheet)

Scheduling ❖ Math requirements: 1 course per year

❖ You do NOT need to double up in math

❖ Required: Health/Intro to Strength Training & Conditioning

❖ Core courses and electives need to add up to 8 credits

❖ Enter at least 5 alternate electives

❖ Select 0.5 & 1.0 credit alternate electives

❖ Without alternates, your electives will be chosen for you

Friday, February 24th- Wednesday, March 1st

❖ Portal Opens at school and at home for you to input electives on Friday, 2/24. Electronic Curriculum Guide is on the HHS webpage

❖ We will be in Commons to help you to input requests during flex and lunch periods Friday, 2/24 - Wednesday 3/1

❖ Worksheets and curriculum guides will also be available in the Commons

Curriculum Guide OnlineGo to HHS homepage: http://www.hempfieldsd.org/

Domain/8

Click on “View the Curriculum Guide”

PDF Copy of our course guide

Pages 61- 139: courses you are eligible for grades 10-12

Curriculum Guide

❖ Go to “Search for Courses”

❖ “Browse Course Catalog”

❖ Interactive course guide!

❖ Alphabetical order by Department

All courses and descriptions are

listed in Naviance under the “Course

Planning” tab.

Naviance: Course Planning

❖ Easy to search courses❖ Save them to “my

interesting courses” to use now and in the future

Online Course Offerings for Grade 10❖ Fundamentals of Design (.5 credit)

❖ Child Development I (0.5) and Child Development II (.5)

❖ Health (.5)

❖ Creative Writing (.5)

❖ Science Fiction Literature (.5)

❖ Popular Music in America (.5)

❖ Criminal Justice (.5)

❖ Intro to Video Game Design (.5)

❖ Intro to Web Development (.5)

❖ Latin I (1)

❖ Latin II (1)

❖ Science Electives (.25) — must select 2: Botany, Ecology, Epidemiology, Geology, Meteorology, Biochemistry, MicroBiology, Oceanology, Zoology

When selecting courses, an “OL” following the course # indicates that it is an online course (example: Fundamentals of Design 00ll-OL)

Students must submit an application AND complete an online tutorial called “Essentials of Online Learning” to enroll in an Open Campus PA course.

More information at: http://www.opencampuspa.net/course-descriptions/

What kind of student would be successful?

High level of motivation

Self-disciplined

Good time-management skills

Technology skill

Reliable technology and personal computer at home

Transportation!

Course Selection WorksheetName_____________________________

Student #__________________________

COURSE SELECTION FORM

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

PERIODS COURSES/COURSE # CREDIT COURSES/COURSE # CREDIT

BLOCK 1 English 10 1 American History II 1

BLOCK 2 Biology 1 Health/Intro to Strength Training & Conditioning 1

FLEX 0 0

BLOCK 4 Math 1 Math*/

BLOCK 5

Credits must add up to 4.0 each semester

Each block must add up to one full credit

* Students enrolled in Advanced or Honors Math courses OR students taking Foreign Language and Music

course only need ONE math course per year. These students should add an elective in this spot.

ALTERNATE COURSES CREDIT ALTERNATE COURSES CREDIT

1

2

3

4

5

You need to select 3 CREDITS

lunch/flexflex/lunch

Accounting I 1.0

MS Word & Powerpoint 0.5

Select all NEW

electives: .5 and 1

creditThe Preschool Child 1.0Fundamentals of Design 0.5

World History

Are You a Student Athlete?

❖ Colleges require students to take certain courses and levels to be eligible to play Division-I or Division II sports

❖ You need to be enrolled in College Prep courses at HHS

❖ Questions? See your school counselor

Sapphire Portal: Tutorial

Make sure your total credits equal 8 before you click “Save Course Requests”Core courses will be checked when you log in (Based on your teachers’ course

recommendations)All alternate course requests will be checked on the right-hand sideCore courses and first choice electives will be on the left-hand side

Sapphire Portal: Tutorial

Frequently Asked Questions1. If I’m in an ESL program can I take a World Language course?

✓ YES

2. Do I have to take 2 math courses next year? ✓ NO. However, if it fits in your schedule, you can CHOOSE to take

2 math courses

3. If I take an online course, can I take more than 8 credits? ✓ NO

FAQs Continued4. What can I do if all my core courses are in one semester?

✓ Contact your school counselor. Before July 1 contact your 9th grad school counselor. After July 1, contact your new high school counselor (will be printed on your schedule)

5. Can I choose my teachers? ✓ No

6. What if I’m recommended for a level I do not want? ✓ Speak 1:1 with the teacher. If you cannot come to an agreement, you can

complete a Course Level Change Request form (obtain from counseling office).

FAQs Continued 7. If I override a teacher recommendation, can they be changed?

✓ NO

8. Can I choose my lunch period? ✓ No, all students grades 10-12 will be assigned either 3A, 4A, or 4B

lunch

9. Can I select all 1 credit courses as alternates? ✓ No. Be sure to select some .50 credit courses AND 1.00 credit courses

10. Will I get my 1st choice elective? ✓ Hopefully! However, there is no guarantee or priority given to

electives

Summer SchoolConsider taking summer school courses to get ahead or get caught up!Courses run from late June to the end of July. Registration is open through June 11 on the HHS website. Advanced Credit Courses:

Fundamentals of Design (o.5 credit)Communication Technology (0.5 credit)Health (o.5 credit)Physical Education (o.5 credit)

Remedial Courses:Math, History, English, FCS, PE

To become a 10th grader…

❖You need to earn a minimum of 6 credits❖If you are not successful in more than 2

credits this year, consider summer school to get caught up!

❖The alternative: start next year as 9th grade ❖9th grade HR, 9th grade flex/lunch, and

you must retake any failed courses that are required for graduation (example: English 9 or General Science)

Important DatesFriday, February 24th- Wednesday, March 1st — Course selection portal opens in Sapphire. School counselors will be in the Commons during PD 3 and 4 to assist with course selection question and submissions.

March 13th — course verification forms will be distributed in homerooms.

March 15th — return forms in HR with student and parent/guardian signatures.

August 1st — deadline for all course changes and level change requests.

Final Thoughts✴ Follow deadlines

✴ Choose your courses wisely. Be intentional about the courses you sign up for — don’t worry about what your friends are doing!

✴ Talk to your teachers, counselors, parents or other professionals. Ask questions!

✴ Follow pre-requisites! (Do you want to take Intro to Video Game Design? Make sure you sign up for Desktop Publishing I first!)

✴ Reflection: Do my courses/levels set me up for my future plans and dreams?