Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School 8 th9 th

Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School 8 th-9 th Grade Course Selection Process Overview 2016

Presentation Goals ● To become acquainted with MASH Faculty ● To understand MASD Graduation Requirements ● To preview Course Selection Information ● To preview a generic 9 th grade schedule ● To ask teachers specific, course related questions as they relate to course scheduling

MECHANICSBURG AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Mr. Nick Butt School Counselor MASD Classes of 2016 and 2020 Goal: Graduation and a Plan Daily Activities: Talk with students, parents, teachers and administrators (academic, social emotional and career focus).

MASH School Counseling Department - 2016 -2017 ● 9 th Grade - Nick Butt ● 10 th Grade - Brenda Schmidt ● 11 th Grade - Robin Clarke ● 12 th Grade - Gail Hiestand ● Counseling Assistant - Dory Wenthe

MASD Mission Statement The mission of the Mechanicsburg Area School District is to develop: ● Resilient, self-directed learners able to achieve personal goals ● Critical and creative thinkers capable of transferring knowledge to new situations ● Collaborative team players with effective communication skills ● Productive, responsible citizens in a diverse and ever-changing global society.

MASD Graduation Requirements ● Graduation Eligibility Checklist ○ Credit Threshold (22 course specific credits) ○ Senior High Project – Project Dreams ○ PSSA Proficiency/Keystone Test Proficiency ■ Biology ■ Algebra I ■ Literature

MASD Academic Graduation Requirements ● 22 Credits ○ 4 English ○ 3 Math ○ 3 Science ○ 3 Social Studies ○ 2 Arts and Humanities ○ 1. 5 Health and PE ○ 5. 5 Electives (. 5 for Senior High project) ● PSSA/Keystone Proficiency

MASH Course Selection Process Overview 1. Teacher Recommendations 2. High School Counselor Visits MMS a. Course Description Booklets b. Course Request through Sapphire Gradebook 3. Parent Course Selection Night at MASH 4. Small Group Course Selection Meetings 5. Save Course Requests on Sapphire by February 12 6. Course Conflict Discussions 7. Course Schedules Distributed

Big Ideas to Consider When Selecting Courses ● ● ● Course levels Teacher recommendations Course Weights Class Rank NCAA Eligibility Course and Level Changes

MASH Course Levels Page 72 in CDB Most courses are offered with a choice of levels ● Level 1 – most challenging; college prep; lecture/discussion based lessons; 23 hours of test preparation time; homework every night. ● Level 2 – slower pace than level 1; still college prep; more direct teacher instruction; more group work; homework used to review concepts; 1 -2 hours of test preparation time. ● Level 3 – for those students who have not experienced much success academically in English/Science/Social Studies and who require additional reading support. TRUST THE JUDGMENT OF YOUR CHILDREN’S TEACHERS COMMUNICATE DIFFERENCES EARLY.

Teacher Recommendations ● Teachers will make course recommendations via Sapphire/Community Portal. These recommendations will appear in green on your student’s course request form. ● These recommendations can not be changed by the student. If your child does not agree with this recommendation, they MUST have a conversation with the teacher to discuss their concern

MASH Course Weights and Class Ranks COURSE WEIGHTS ● All major courses are given a weight based on difficulty of subject matter ● Weights range from 1. 0 to 1. 3 ● Course Weights will have impact on your Weighted Quality Point Scale and Weighted Class Rank Page 70 -71 in CDB CLASS RANKS ● Class rank is reported two ways based on major course grades ○ Cumulative Class Rank – based on grade point average ○ Weighted Class Rank – takes into consideration the difficulty of course load.

NCAA Eligibility ● Students who desire to participate in college athletics at Division I or II schools should be familiar with the information detailed on page 5 ● www. eligibilitycenter. org ● For a list of approved courses refer to the Courses & Weights list on pages 72 -73 Page 5; 70 -71 in CDB

Course and Level Changes ● Changes made prior to the end of this school year may be permitted with a parent note ● After the start of the school year, no course changes will be made ● Level changes may be approved dependent upon the students ability level ● Course Change vs. Level Change ● Any change requires the principal’s approval.

9 th Grade Courses ● ● Required Minors ○ Health, PE and Career Development Mandatory Majors ○ English – Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 ○ American Studies – Level 1 or Level 2 ○ Earth and Space Science – Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 ○ Math is determined by current math placement ■ Algebra I – Level 1 or Level 2 ■ Geometry – Level 1 or Level 2 ■ Algebra II – Level 1 or Level 2 ■ Trigonometry ■ Trig/Pre-Calc – Level 1 ■ Trig/Selected Topics – Level 2 These c pre-se ourses hav e lected by tea been chers. Stude nt select s are only ing the ir and m inors. 5 th major

Schedule Not Quite Finished - 9 th Grade 5 th Major Options ● World Languages ● Business and Computer Applications ● Computer Technology ● Technology Education ● Family and Consumer Sciences ● Fine Arts

Miscellaneous ● Supplemental Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II ● Elective Minors ● Gifted Program ● Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School (CPAVTS)

9 th Grade Generic Course Schedule - 1 st Semester Per. 1 English English Per. 2 Am Stud Am Stud Per. 3 Earth Sci Earth Sci Per. 4 Math Math Per. 5 5 th 5 th 5 th Lunch Lunch Per. 6 Car Dev Phys Ed SH SH Per. 7 SH SH SH

Conclusion ● Take your time in assisting your children with course requests. ● Trust teacher recommendations. ● Course requests due February 12 - Sapphire. ● Course changes accepted through end of school year. ● Administrators, teachers and counselors will be available to talk following this presentation.