10 12th grade curriculum night presentation 1-11-17

WELCOME to West Potomac!

world‘s greatest high schoolexcellence is a tradition

WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL • 2016-2017

Curriculum /Advanced Academics Night 2017



Tonight’s Agenda

• 6:00-6:50pm• Welcome/Introductions• Overview of Academic Advising• Overview of Advanced Academics at WPHS

• 7:05 – 8:40pm• Curriculum Breakout Sessions – Quander Rooms• Electives Open House - Cafeteria

AdvancedAcademics



ENGAGED LEARNING

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

DEEPENED CULTURE

Sara Veinbergs, Advanced Academics Coordinator

Programs?



What are Advanced Academic Rigorous academic studies

Open access to all students

Academic exploration and knowledge beyond the standard course of study

Require dedication of time and individual effort beyond the school day

College preparatory (Honors) and college-level (AP) courses

BasicsThe



ENGAGED LEARNING

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

DEEPENED CULTURE

Courses



Honors College preparatory courses offered to either prepare

students for AP Courses or where a comparable AP course does not exist.

Students who do well in Honors courses have a foundation for doing well in AP and college courses.

Have a +0.5 weighted grade overall.

Placement (AP)



Advanced College-level courses offered in high school. AP courses

reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses

AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work, taken in May. (Some also have an SOL.)

Have a +1.0 weighted grade overall (upon completion of the course and the exam.)

Of Taking Advanced Courses

Benefits



ENGAGED LEARNING

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

DEEPENED CULTURE



Rigor of high school curriculum is linked to success in college

Expand a student’s ability to read, write, and think critically; analyze and solve problems; and build 21st century skills.

Advanced Academics courses can bolster a HS transcript and improve college acceptance.

Many colleges grant credit for courses in which students earn a qualifying score on AP examinations.

From Advanced Placement (AP)What to Expect



ENGAGED LEARNING

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

DEEPENED CULTURE



Typically demand more of students than on-level or honors courses.

Tend to be faster-paced since more content material is covered.

Strong expectation for students to: think critically analyze and synthesize facts and data weigh competing perspectives write clearly and persuasively.

Supports



ENGAGED LEARNING

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

DEEPENED CULTURE



West Potomac’s Strong Curriculum Team Culture: Working collaboratively, teachers can structure common activities, interventions, and instruction based on analysis of assessments.

Wolverine Time: Daily remediation/intervention period during which student can visit any of their teachers.

Mastery Learning Policies: Opportunities to relearn and show mastery of material already covered.

WICOR Strategies: WICOR strategies stem from AVID philosophy and are becoming a mainstay of West Potomac instructional culture

Capstone



Advanced Placement

“AP Capstone™ is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges.”

All information and text taken from https://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/ap-capstone

Capstone



Advanced Placement

Seminar may be taken 10th, 11th, or 12th grade year

Seminar is a prerequisite to Research

Research may be taken 11th or 12th grade year

Intended to teach and develop skills to support other AP content

All information and text taken from https://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/ap-capstone

Support



Most Important

You! (Parents/Guardians)Advanced Academics is for the PREPARED not the ELITE

Rigor ≠ More work…BALANCE is key

Play to strengths and interest areas when selecting courses

Worlds Greatest in all we do!



Resource for Academic Advising



• WPHS Student Services Website

C2G



First thing we need to discuss…

Standard Diploma Requirements



Advanced Studies Diploma Requirements



Academic Advising 2017-18



• What is it?• Process to select your 7 classes for 2017-18

• Why is it important?• Determines staffing at WPHS to ensure you get the

classes you select

• In September there are no class changes! So take time to make these important decisions

2017-2018 Schedule



PE

Typical 10-12th Schedule



• English • Social Studies• Math (see next slide)• Science• PE or elective• World Language (see later slide) or Elective• Elective (see later slide)



• Algebra 1/Algebra 1 HN• Geometry/Geometry HN• Algebra 2/Algebra 2 HN• Precalculus/Precalculus HN• AP Math/Math Electives

Typical 9th Grade Schedule

Math Options



• French• German• Latin• Spanish• Spanish for Fluent Speakers (class designed for

student with a background in Spanish or who speak Spanish at home).

Teacher Recommendation for upper levels!

World Languages



Health and Physical

Education• Graduation Requirements

• PE 9• PE 10



Special Education• Utilize case manager as support - Case

Manager submits feedback regarding levels of support based on the student’s IEP

• Support available as needed • Strategies for Success, Reading, Personal Development,

etc.)



ESOL – English Speakers of other Languages• Middle School ESOL Dept. will determine each

student’s ESOL level for 2016-17• Courses determined by the ESOL level• WIDA testing this winter – prepare and do your

best!



Economics and Personal Finance• Multiple ways to complete this requirement

• Traditional EPF course (612000)• AP Micro/Macro Economics• Self-paced EPF as 8th course/summer course

• $140 fee with course• Online EPF (full course) – summer

• Summer Class fees apply

• Consider all options in determining best for you• We recommend course in 11th/12th grade • Wise Test



Electives• Review all options• Consider your interest areas or areas you may want to learn

more about• Use High School to explore subjects• Family Connection has tools to help students identify areas

that may be good fits• Talk with Teachers – Electives Fair January 11th

• 3rd period – Bell Schedule 1, 7, 5, 3.



an elective option!

• Advancement Via Individual Determination• AVID is an academic program designed to increase the rigor

of coursework taken by West Potomac students. • Every AVID student is in at least one Honors/AP. • All AVID Students have the goal of going to college!• Over the last four years all AVID seniors who applied to a four

year college were accepted into at least one four year school!• Application required – see Ms. Hubbard tonight for more

details.



How To Be Successful in High School?



Things to do before selecting classes:• Talk with teachers both tonight and current

classroom teacher• Discuss student interest/motivation• Review overall workload of seven courses • Balance with other commitments (extra-curricular

activities, family time, leisure, etc.)• Time management and organizational skills are

important



Student Wellness• It is important to keep overall wellness in mind

during academic advising season• Talk with your child – balancing rigor, activities, and

overall wellness • Review how current year is going, compared to

previous years• Think about what next year might include? Leading

a club? Applying to college?



Tips with Academic Advising

• Talk with your teachers• Academic Days of Emphasis are January 12 and 13

• Utilize the Electives Fair – January 11

• Be prepared for your counselor meeting• Rising 10th and 11th through PE• Rising 12th through English 12

• Review Course Catalog on Student Services website

• Utilize Credit Tracking Tools on website!



IMPORTANT DATES• January 9: Curriculum Night/Advanced Academics/Electives

Fair Open House• January 10: Materials Distributed in 3rd Period• January 11: Electives Fair• January 12/13: Academic Days of Emphasis• Course selections available on ParentVue after meeting with

counselor• Late April: Course Selection Verification mailed home for

review• June 2: Deadline for any updates/changes



Action Items• BRING your course selection to counselor meeting.• Select seven courses and two alternate electives.• Seek out teacher recommendations (HN – expected

to stay in the course for the first nine weeks).• Work with your counselor• For more information, visit our website:www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS under “Student

Services” and “Academic Advising”

http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS



An exciting journey continues!!



What’s next??