Transcript 8th Grade High school course selection information

8th Grade:
High School Course
Selection Information
Timeline
• ONGOING:
• Explore Career Cruising and Interests
• TODAY:
• Explore Electives and Courses
• THIS WEEK AND NEXT:
• Discuss Options with
Parents/Guardians
• Parent Meeting on Thursday night
• Talk to Teachers about Options
• February 21st-24th:
• Course Selection in the Classroom
(bring signed form)
• UNTIL NEXT YEAR:
• Keep Grades Up
• Give Effort on State Assessments
Credits
• At the high school, you do not simply “pass” grades anymore;
you earn CREDITS.
• You must earn 26 credits to graduate. You will take up to 28
credits.
• You must earn a certain number of credits each year to move
onto the next grade level.
• There are many required courses, and then there are elective
courses (ones that you choose).
Courses for 9th grade
• Required for ALL:
• Wellness: 1/2 year, .5 credit
• Fitness: 1/2 year, .5 credit
• World Cultures: 1 credit
• Advisory: no credit, similar to Homeroom
Courses for 9th grade
• Required, but LEVELED (recommended by teachers based on
ability, test scores, and efforts):
• Math- Intermediate Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, or Advanced
Algebra II; worth 1 credit
• Science- Advanced Biology or Earth & Space Science; 1 credit
• English- English I or Advanced English I, 1 credit
• NOTE: Recommendations can change if you do not continue
the same path you are on.
Courses for 9th grade
• Elective Courses (Based on Interests):
• You will choose two courses.
• Most 9th grade elective courses are worth 1 credit.
• These courses carry just as much weight as your other courses and are
just as important.
• You need to select courses that you are interested in because you will
go there EVERY day for the ENTIRE year. Do not make selections
based on what your friends are choosing.
• You may not get your first choices, so consider second choices.
Electives:
As you choose your electives, keep in mind:
-What are your interests?
-What sorts of jobs are you interested in?
-Are you planning to learn a language to prepare for college? (2+ years required at
most schools)
-What are you good at?
-Will you be able to balance your expectations and responsibilities?
**It may be helpful to take some notes today!
**Use your Educational Planning Guide to help you make selections. For each
pathway, there are suggestions.
Agriculture Electives
• If you are interested in being in FFA, you MUST be in at least
one Agricultural course.
• Two choices as a freshman:
• Hand & Power Tools
• Elements of Agriculture
Grades 9
 Overview
of all agriculture topics
 Includes classroom, outdoor, & shop
instruction
 Introduction to FFA and SAE books
(important for anyone interested in FFA
club)
 woodworking
 learn how to operate hand
tool and the table saw
 safety procedures – Get
Your OSHA Certification
 all instruction is hands on
grades 9 and 10
FFA Structure
Class
Study
FFA
Activity
SAE
Art Electives
• Drawing
• Recommendation required
• Still-life, portrait and figure studies, landscape, architectural
interiors/exteriors
• Class critiques
• Design
• Basic introductory art course
• Sketchbooks and independent projects
• Drawing, painting, sculpting intro
Art Electives- Continued
• Ceramics
• Intro to ceramics materials, techniques, and aesthetics
• Produce sculptural and functional objects
• Must keep up with projects
• Photography
• Black-and-white photography
• Study the entire technical process, not just the art and creative side
• Must provide your own camera
Art Electives- Highlights from
the Department
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Chances for awards and local, state, and national recognition
Chances for scholarship
National Art Honor Society
Field Trips
Art Renaissance
Halloween Hallways
Business Electives
• Intro to Business
• Intro to economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, accounting, and personal
finance
• Learn to manage checking account, use credit, file income tax returns,
develop a budget, and invest
• Software Applications
• Split into two semesters: Word/Powerpoint and Excel/Access
• Photoshop
• Photo-editing software
• Edit scanned and digital images
• A lot of independent work required
Business Electives- Highlights
from the Department
• Future Business Leaders of America• Activities in the school
• Local, State, National competitions
• Opportunity for leadership
• Classes that apply to various career fields
Family and Consumer Science
Elective
• Life Skills
• Topics of Study:
• LIFE: goal setting, relationships, values, character
• MONEY: managing resources, credit
• FOOD: nutrition, meal-planning
• SEWING: basic machine skills, apron
• Good course for ANY student!
World Language Electives
• Spanish
• French
• You MUST take at least two years to be accepted to most 4-year
schools. Some prefer 3 years.
• You may choose to start taking a language in 10th grade, but you
limit your options in your senior year if you wait.
Why should I take French
at the High School?
English owes nearly half its
vocabulary to French!
The majority of French speakers today
are not living in France….
Experience the l’art à noueau!
Literature, art, film
An international language
for the job market…
European Union
Spanish Department
Highlights
• Spanish Honor Society
• AP Spanish
• Tutoring
Music Electives
• Band
• Must do Band Camp in the summer
• Marching, concert, football games
• Lots of fun opportunities
• Orchestra
• No auditions for strings but wind and percussion need to audition
• First period of the day
Music Electives, continued
• Chorus
• Last period of the day
• No tryouts
• Can do Band and Chorus
• Chorale auditions for 10th and above
• Piano Keyboarding
• No previous keyboarding or piano skills
• Work at your own pace
Technology Electives
• Introduction to the Technology Department Electives:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybK0fnFjBLE
Technology Electivescontinued
• CADD: Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (Brock)
• Learn how to use programs called SolidWorks and ArchiCAD, which are
used by engineers and architects
• Design and draw structures
• You need to be able to work at a quick pace and independently.
• Design Engineering
• Formulate and design solutions to problems
• Electricity, basic mechanical systems
• Project-based
Technology Electivescontinued
• Graphic Communications
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Printing methods, screen printing, editing pictures and photos on the computer, photography, printing
press
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Computer and hands-on
Project-Based
• Manufacturing Systems I
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Woodworking, Sheet Metal, Machining, Welding, and Forging
Project-Based
• Multimedia and Technology
•
You’ll learn about: Digital Video Cameras and Tripods, Non-linear editing equipmen, Macintosh
Computer Systems, iMovie, GarageBand, iPhoto, iTunes, LiveType and more
•
Teamwork and Creativity required!
Other electives and options…
• Students in the Gifted Program:
• Gifted Explorations
• Gifted Applications
• Solanco Virtual Academy:
• On occasion, a student needs to take an extra course. This
can be done through SVA, but students must be completely
aware of the added responsibility and prepared to handle
it.
Important information:
• No teacher requests
• No changing electives after the second week of
school
• If you are recommended for an Advanced course, it
is probably the best option for you!
• Encourage your parents to come to the meeting on
Thursday evening
Questions/comments
• Questions for Mrs. C or the students from the high
school??
• Advice from the high school students…
Next steps
• Talk to your parents
• Ask questions!
• Review the Educational Planning Guide
• Read about the different pathways
• Start planning courses that you are interested in
• Make your selections and have a parent sign off on your
form
• Be prepared to select courses in a couple of weeks!