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Course Selection for Greenwich High School Greenwich Public Schools
February 2018
Dear Eighth Grade Students and Parents: Before you know it, you will be leaving middle school and entering high school as the class of 2022! This is the time to begin planning for a successful high school experience. In planning for the ninth grade, it is important that both students and parents read the enclosed materials so your decisions on specific courses will be appropriate and informed. The following materials are included to help you plan your course requests: GHS Course of Study Guide (COSG)- ONLINE ACCESS All courses offered in grade 9-12 are described in this guide. Please note that some of the courses have prerequisites or specific criteria for placement. Please pay special attention to the information on pages 5 through 11, which include Graduation Requirements, Grading, Course Selection, and Post-Secondary Planning. You can access the COSG on the Greenwich High School website under Teaching & Learning > Academics http://www.greenwichschools.org/greenwich-high-school/academics/teaching-learning 4 Year Planning Chart with Sample Schedule This was designed to help you plan the next four years at GHS. Please pay special attention to the typical freshman schedule and graduation requirements listed on the back of this handout. Use this sheet for your own planning purposes over your time at GHS as you work with your school counselor. AVID flyer This is a four year elective program offered at GHS. Students must meet certain criteria, apply and then be selected for the program. The 8th grade counselors and GHS AVID team will oversee this process. Innovation Lab flyer This is a four year program offered at GHS in a school-within-a-school model. The learning environment is flexible, and teachers blend STEM and Humanities core disciplines in an interdisciplinary, project-based approach. GHS Planning Guide This guide was created by the School Counselors and will answer most questions you have about your transition to Greenwich High School, as well as help you plan for the next four years.
Math Sequence Chart Describes the course sequence for Mathematics in the Greenwich Public Schools. Course sequences for English, Social Studies, and Science are available on the GHS website under Teaching & Learning > Academics, as well as in the Course of Study Guide.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES ENGLISH AND SOCIAL STUDIES There are three levels of ninth grade English and Social Studies (Global Studies). Placement is determined by the criteria listed in the Course of Study Guide. Students will be in the same level for both courses. MATH Read the offerings and sequence with specific attention to the prerequisites in the Course of Study Guide and on the handout included in this packet. SCIENCE Students are required to take either Biology or Integrated Science as ninth graders. These courses, with descriptions, prerequisites, and tenth grade course options are in the Course of Study Guide. WORLD LANGUAGES For students taking French or Spanish in middle school, the current teacher will make the placement recommendation. Placement is based upon previous class performance and performance on the district wide mid-term. Students not previously enrolled in a foreign language, or wishing to begin another one, may choose beginning French, German, Italian, Latin, Spanish, American Sign Language or Mandarin Chinese. ELECTIVES Full year and semester courses are offered in Art, Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, Foreign Language, Mathematics/Computer Science, Media, Music, Science, Technology and Theater Arts. Students are encouraged to select electives that meet their individual interests and goals. Typically freshmen enroll in 1.5 credits of electives. Students who receive special education services will count Academic Lab credit toward their electives. **A Few Reminders** Monday, February 26th at 7 PM: Curriculum Orientation for Parents in the GHS PAC Please join Greenwich High School to learn about our academic and elective programs. The Academic Program Administrators will join Dr. Winters in presenting an overview of our four-year academic program. Afterwards, teachers and program leaders from the different programs will be available to answer questions. There will also be a group discussion held in Spanish. A follow up parent meeting will be held at EMS on March 7 @ 7pm to address additional questions you may have about course selection. On or before March 6th: Course Selection Worksheet Sent Home A Course Selection Worksheet will be sent home with the students. This worksheet will contain their academic course recommendations in the five core subjects (English, Social Studies, Math, Science, World Language). At this time, students also need to finalize their elective choices and document them on
this worksheet. This worksheet must be completed by the student, signed by you, and turned into the 8th grade counselor by March 16th. Thursday, April 26th at 7 PM: House Orientation for Parents Only House placements will be announced the week of April 16th. At the orientation meeting, you will meet your child’s house administrator, school counselor, and mental health support staff. Details to follow from the Greenwich High School House Administrators. If you have any questions, please contact me. My email address is: [email protected] and my telephone number is: 203-637-1744 Sincerely, Emily Lager Eighth Grade School Counselor
Math Course Sequence Guide 2018-2019 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
Math 6 Math 7 Pre-Algebra 8
Algebra 1/ Geometry Course 1
(three year sequence)
C- or below Test & Quiz Average
in Pre-Algebra
Algebra 1/ Geometry Course 2
(three year sequence)
Algebra 1/ Geometry Course 3
(three year sequence)
Algebra 2B or
Topics in Mathematics
Extended Algebra
Between C and B- Test & Quiz Average
in Pre-Algebra
Geometry B Algebra 2B
College Algebra & Trig or
Statistics 1 and 2 or
Topics in Mathematics
Algebra 1
B or better Test & Quiz Average
in Pre-Algebra
Geometry A Algebra 2A
College Algebra & Trig or
Statistics 1 and 2 or
Precalculus 1 and 2
Math 6A Pre-Algebra 7 Algebra 8
Geometry A
C+ or below Test & Quiz Average
in Algebra
Algebra 2A Precalculus 1 and 2
Calculus and/or
AP Statistics
Honors Geometry
B- or better Test & Quiz Average
in Algebra
Honors Algebra 2 Honors Precalculus AP Calculus AB
or AP Calculus BC
Pre –Algebra 6 Algebra 7 Geometry 8
Algebra 2A
C+ or below Test & Quiz Average
in Geometry
Precalculus 1 and 2 Calculus AP Statistics
and/or AB Calculus
Honors Algebra 2
B- or better Test & Quiz Average
in Geometry
Honors Precalculus AP Calculus BC Advanced Calculus
and/or AP Statistics
Four Year Course Planning Chart
22 Credits Total Required for Graduation
9th grade 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade English 4 credits required
Social Studies 3 credits required 4 recommended
Global Studies American History Civics (Govt)
Math 3 credits required 4 recommended
Science 3 years required 4 recommended
Biological Science
Physical Science
World Language 2 credits required 3-4 recommended
Phys Ed/Health 1.5 credits required
.5
.5
.25
.25
‘Arts’ Electives 1.5 credits required
Other Electives
TYPICAL FRESHMAN SCHEDULE at GHS English 1.0 credit 6 blocks + Sem › House Based Team / Social Studies 1.0 credit 6 blocks Skills › 13 or 14 blocks total Science 1.0 credit 6 blocks + lab Math 1.0 credit 6 blocks World Language 1.0 credit 6 blocks Arts Electives 1.0 /1.5 cr 6 blocks + 3 blocks per semester PE/Heath .5 credit 4 quarters @ .125 credit each = 3 blocks Total 6.5 or 7 credits
Typically, students take 6.5 credits in grade 9, 10 and 11, and 5.5 credits in grade 12 for 25 Credits total. A “full-time” course meets 6 blocks in an eight-day cycle. A “half-time” course meets 3 blocks in an eight-day cycle. Courses that meet for a full-year, full-time earn 1.0 credit. Courses that meet for a semester, full-time earn .5 credit. Courses that meet half-time (3 blocks) earn .5 credits per year or .25 per semester. PE/Health courses meet half-time (3 blocks) and earn .125 per quarter There are a total of 48 blocks in an eight-day cycle (A-H). A TYPICAL SCHEDULE with 5 core subjects (Eng, SS, Sci, Math, WL or RR) + 1 full time elective + 1 half time elective + PE = 45 scheduled blocks and 3 Learning Centers = 7 credits scheduled Most freshmen have non-scheduled time for Learning Centers; 3 or 6 blocks per cycle. The Arts elective requirement can be in any of the following areas: art, business, family and consumer sciences, human development, media, music, technology education and theater arts. Resource Room earns Elective Credit = 1.0 credit (6 blocks) GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS English/Language Arts 4.0 Social Studies 3.0 Science 3.0 Mathematics 3.0 World Language 2.0 Arts 1.5 Physical Education 1.0 Health/Wellness 0.5 Electives 4.0 Total 22 credits To be promoted from grade to grade, one must accumulate:
• 6 Credits to be considered a sophomore • 11 Credits to be considered a junior • 17 Credits to be considered a senior
Graduation Performance Standards must be met in Reading, Writing, Science and Mathematics.
Innovation Lab Program at Greenwich High School Innovation Lab is a flexible learning environment in a school-within-a-school model. This progressive and personalized model is designed and implemented by a dedicated team of GHS educators who are leveraging innovative teaching methods, project-based and blended learning strategies, and leading edge technology applications, all within the larger infrastructure of GHS. Innovation Lab is devoted to fostering creativity, curiosity, and purpose within an interdisciplinary and academically rigorous, college preparatory curriculum. Teachers blend STEM and Humanities core disciplines in a project-based approach, allowing students to explore their interests and harness their innovative potential. In this approach to learning, students develop the skills and content knowledge they require by connecting to questions and topics of interest they identify. With guidance, they discover their passions and impact the community at large. Foundational Principles:
● Cross-disciplinary approach to content and skill development ● High levels of student-teacher collaboration and connection ● Student agency and ownership of learning ● Focus on metacognition and growth mindset ● Project-based learning opportunities ● Community involvement with real world internship/mentoring ● Regular public exhibition of student work ● Technology as a dynamic tool for learning ● Access to the resources available in the existing structure of GHS
Student Schedules within Innovation Lab: Freshmen enroll in a double block Humanities class, comprising English and Global Studies courses, as well as a one block Design Studio 9. Students may also enroll in Geometry within Innovation Lab. Sophomores and Juniors in Innovation Lab enroll in a double block STEM class, a double block Humanities class, and a one block Design Studio class within the program. Humanities blends curricular requirements from both the English and Social studies departments. During the sophomore year STEM, students take Environmental Chemistry and typically either Algebra II or Precalculus. In junior year STEM, students take Physics and either Precalculus or Calculus. STEM and Humanities courses are team taught. Seniors in Innovation Lab enroll in an internship class, designated as Design Studio 12, as well as at least one of the two InLab research classes: Social Science Research or Science Research. Senior year schedules are planned in conjunction with school counselors and InLab faculty to support personalized learning goals. While our 12th grade students take more classes in the wider high school than do our younger students, all classes are deliberately chosen to support their Senior year InLab projects. Although Innovation Lab offers both standard college preparatory and honors level courses, there are no AP classes offered, as these conflict with both our philosophy of depth over breadth and our unique scheduling needs. All Innovation Lab students take World Language, Physical Education, and other elective classes in the wider high school. They also participate in the wide array of extracurricular activities available at GHS. For more information about Innovation Lab, or to apply to this program, please see our website at: GHS Innovation Lab webpage Freshman year Innovation Lab Transcript Designations:
Humanities: English 112 IL or English 113 IL or English 113A IL And Global Studies 112 IL or Global Studies 113 IL or Global Studies 113A IL
Design Studio IL Design Studio (grade 9)
Stand Alone Mathematics Course Innovation Lab Transcript Designation
Geometry Geometry B IL, Geometry A IL, Honors Geometry IL
Sophomore year Innovation Lab Transcript Designations:
Humanities: English 212 IL or Honors English 213 IL And American 212 History IL or Honors American History 213 IL
STEM: Environmental Chemistry IL or Honors Environmental Chemistry IL And Algebra 2A IL, Honors Algebra 2 IL, Algebra 2 B IL, Honors PreCalculus IL, PreCalculus IL, Algebra/ Geometry II IL, or Algebra/Geometry III IL
Design Studio IL Design Studio (grade 10)
Junior year Innovation Lab Transcript Designations:
Humanities: Semester One American Literature II IL or Honors American Literature IL And Civics 400 IL or Honors Civics IL Semester Two Modern World Literature IL or Honors Modern World Literature IL And Introduction to Economics IL, Honors Introduction to Economics IL, Law In America IL, Honors Law in America IL, Contemporary Global Issues IL, and Honors Contemporary Global Issue IL
STEM: Practical Physics IL, Physics IL, or Honors Physics IL And PreCalculus IL, Honors PreCalculus IL, Discrete Math IL, Algebra/Geometry III IL, or Calculus IL
Design Studio IL Design Studio (grade 11)
Senior year Innovation Lab Transcript Designations:
Humanities: Social Science Research IL or Honors Social Science Research IL
STEM: Science Research Seminar IL or Honors Science Research Seminar IL
Design Studio IL Design Studio (grade 12)
AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination
The AVID elective is driven by specific strategies for writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading.
AVID targets students in the academic middle - B, C students - who have the desire to go to college and the potential for honors and AP work in high school, but need aca-demic and emotional support paired with the rigor.
AVID students must be hard workers, have a positive attitude, and be collaborative in nature.
In addition to academic and personal qualities, students must fit one or more of the following criteria:
- Be one of the first people in their family to attend college. - Economically disadvantaged - Historically underrepresented in 4-year Colleges
An application and interview process helps select students who are a good fit for the program.
Once selected for AVID, What are the student requirements?
AVID students must: Attend AVID Elective class 6x cycle for four years Maintain satisfactory citizenship and attendance Utilize AVID strategies Complete all homework assignments and commit to studying every night Attend AVID activities
Name of Student______________________________________________ Yes! I have Individual Determination; I’m definitely interested in AVID _______ I’m not sure about AVID, but I’d like to learn more _______ If you’ve checked either of these boxes, please return this form to your school counselor, or contact your child’s school counselor by email or phone.
AVID (por sus siglas en inglés) significa: avance a través de la determinación individual
La asignatura optativa de AVID se basa en la enseñanza de estrategias específicas de escritura, de indagación, colaboración, organización y lectura.
AVID está diseñado para estudiantes con notas académicas de B y C con el deseo de ir a la univer-sidad y el potencial para realizar el trabajo de las clases de honores y AP en la High School pero que necesitan apoyo académico y emocional acompañado de rigor.
Los estudiantes de AVID tienen que ser muy trabajadores, tener una actitud positiva y ser colabo-radores por naturaleza.
Además de las cualidades académicas y personales, los estudiantes tienen que satisfacer por lo menos uno de los siguientes criterios:
- Ser una de las primeras personas en la familia que vaya a ir a la universidad. - Desaventajados económicamente. - Históricamente poco representados en las universidades de 4 años.
Un proceso de inscripción y entrevistas favorecerá la selección de los estudiantes que mejor en-cajen en el programa.
¿Una vez que se ha sido seleccionado para AVID, cuáles son los requisitos que el estu-diante debe cumplir?
Los estudiantes de AVID deben de:
Permanecer en la clase optativa de AVID en un ciclo de 6x durante cuatro años.
Mantener un civismo y una asistencia satisfactoria.
Utilizar las estrategias de AVID
Completar todas las tareas y comprometerse a estudiar todas las noches
Asistir a todas las actividades de AVID
Nombre del estudiante______________________________________________ ¡Sí! Tengo determinación individual y definitivamente estoy interesado en AVID ____ No estoy seguro pero me gustaría saber más sobre AVID _______ Si ha marcado cualquiera de estas opciones, rogamos devuelva este formulario al consejero de su escuela o póngase en contacto con el consejero de la escuela de su hijo/a por email o por teléfono.
