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Middle School Transition Planning January 11, 2011 Required courses as well as electives are indicated in the grade level sections of the Course Selection Guide. On the projection card, required courses, such as Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts are already printed. Electives are also printed on the card. Students place a check mark in front of the course they are choosing. Use the recommendation list that was sent home to help make your choices. Rising ninth graders will enroll in six major courses (including an elective). Their elective choice will be one full-year course OR two half-year courses. They must also select Physical Education and Health. Be sure to check the descriptions of the courses you are considering. These can be found grouped by department in the last section of the Course Selection Guide. Rank Level – the classification which indicates the relative difficulty of any course at Penncrest. There are three such levels, 1 being the highest and 3 being the lowest. In the course catalogue section of the Course Selection Guide, rank level is expressed in the course title as a number preceding the name of the course. Rank level placement in required courses is determined through multiple criteria applied at Springton Lake: -PSSA -Algebra Prognostic Tests -Student Performance -Teacher Recommendations -Other Assessments SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS: All 9th graders take six courses which meet five days per week, plus Physical Education, Health, and two periods of Study Hall each week. The elective choice will be one fullyear course OR two half-year courses. To be on track for graduation, students should earn at least 6.0 credits during freshman year. (A major course is equivalent to 1 credit.) Select from the courses listed to the right. Specific course descriptions begin on Page 18 of the 2011-12 Course Selection Guide. English 9 Global Studies Environmental Science Physical Education Health Mathematics (choose one) - 1 Trigonometry/PreCalc - 1 Algebra II - 1 Geometry - 1 Algebra I World Languages All students must complete two years of a World Language prior to graduation. Many students will have completed their first year at Springton Lake. Penncrest offerings include Chinese, French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Electives Students have the opportunity to sign up for a course of their choice. (It can be in the form of one full-year elective or two half-year electives.) Art Ceramics (A, B) Drawing Painting Family and Consumer Science Advanced Food/Nutr (I, II) Music Musical Theater Computers in Music-Aural Computers in MusicNotational Technology Education Photography (I, II) Drafting I (Intro to drafting) Art Art I Business Education Entrepreneurship Computer Applications for the 21st Century English TV Production I Critical Reading Mathematics/Computer Science Webpage Design Computer Programming with Java Music Band UpScale Singers Concert Choir String Ensemble Special Education Reading Intensive Phonology and Fluency Technology Education Applied Technology I Materials Technology I Construction Technology I Drafting-Introduction to Drafting World Languages French Spanish German Latin Chinese (The first world language choice fulfills the graduation requirement, but students may choose an additional world language as an elective.) Many courses feature prerequisites or other requirements necessary for the successful completion of the respective courses. Example of prerequisites: Students entering Spanish II must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in the 8th grade Spanish I program. Photography: Students should have access to their own 35mm camera with manual capabilities. *Students are urged to read course descriptions carefully to avoid any difficulties with course selection or scheduling. Students who are enrolled in French I, Spanish I, German I, Chinese I, or Latin I may elect to earn rank level 1 credit by completing additional, independent course work as determined by the department. Students should indicate rank level preference on their course selection cards. French II, Spanish II, German II, and Latin II are only offered at rank level 1. List at least 2 alternative choices for electives on the projection card. Although we try our best to give you your top choices, scheduling does not always permit this. Please list alternatives in order of preference. If you disagree with the course level that has been recommended, and you wish to take the next higher level, you should initiate the course waiver process through your counselor. Please make wise choices now, because after March 30, we may not grant any requests for changes. January 20: Cards and waiver forms due February March 17: Verification Sheets 30th: Last Day for Changes! Mid August: Schedules Arrive Clubs and Organizations: S.A.D.D. International Club Human Relations Club Model U.N. Tech Club Chess Club Ceramics Club Healthy Community Initiatives (HCI) Club Eco Club Interact Club Fitness Club Future Business Leaders of America Musical Organizations: Band, Chorus, and/or Orchestra Literary Clubs: School Newspaper – The Pride Literary Magazine – The Gryphon Drama: Reader’s Theater Emanon Children’s Theater Student Government Fall: Winter: Spring: Football Soccer Tennis (W) Field Hockey Cross Country Cheerleading Volleyball Golf Basketball Wrestling Hockey Cheerleading Indoor Track Swimming Diving Baseball Softball Track Lacrosse Tennis (M) Encourage your child and help him or her when it comes to: Getting Organized Make sure your child has a planner or calendar to keep track of homework assignments, test dates, and project deadlines. Then help him or her plan how to get the work done on time – and stick to the plan. Following a School and Study Routine Make sure your child understands the importance of punctuality and attending school every day. Also: ◦ Work together to establish a consistent homework time each day. ◦ Help your child set up a good place to study at home. It should be welllit and free of distractions. Encourage your child and help him or her when it comes to: Taking Notes in Class In high school, teachers usually expect students to take notes during class lectures. Instead of trying to write every word, your child should learn to jot down main ideas and important terms. Taking Tests Cramming the night before is not the best way to prepare. Instead, suggest that your child schedule several study sessions. Offer to quiz your child to help him or her prepare. Encourage your child and help him or her when it comes to: Completing Long-Term Projects Emphasize the importance of: Starting early Dividing the big project into smaller parts Setting short-term goals and keeping track of progress Communicating with Teachers Your child will have classes with several different teachers – each with his or her own teaching style and expectations. Encourage your child to talk with teachers – and to ask for help when needed. Even as your child changes and matures, he or she looks to you for : Information and Guidance Share your knowledge and experiences. With your help, your child can learn to make good decisions and take on more responsibilities. Love and Understanding Your child may be worried about making the move to high school and the changes that lie ahead. Let your child know you’re always available to talk. Expressing your support and listening to your child can help ease any concerns he or she may have. Phone: 610-627-6207 Email: [email protected]