10 12th grade curriculum night presentation 1-8-18

WELCOME to West Potomac!

excellence is a tradition

WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL • 2017-2018

Curriculum /Advanced Academics Night

2018

world‘s greatest high schoolexcellence is a tradition


Tonight’s Agenda

• 6:00-6:55pm• Welcome/Introductions• Overview of Academic Advising• Overview of Advanced Academics at WPHS

• 7:05 – 8:30pm• Curriculum Breakout Sessions – Quander Rooms• Electives Open House - Cafeteria

Advanced

Academics

Excellence is a Tradition


ENGAGED

LEARNINGSUPPORT

SYSTEMS

DEEPENED

CULTURE

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

LEARNINGSUPPORT

SYSTEMSDEEPENED

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. 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 classes also have an SOL.)

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

Of Taking Advanced CoursesBenefits



ENGAGED

LEARNINGSUPPORT

SYSTEMSDEEPENED

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

LEARNINGSUPPORT

SYSTEMSDEEPENED

CULTURE



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

Tend to be faster-paced and cover more content material.

More time outside of class required.

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

Supports



ENGAGED

LEARNINGSUPPORT

SYSTEMSDEEPENED

CULTURE



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

Silver Rotation: Remediation/intervention period on every Silver day during which student can visit 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

InformationAdditional



ENGAGED

LEARNINGSUPPORT

SYSTEMSDEEPENED

CULTURE



All registration materials are located on the WPHS website through the Student Services office http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/studentservices/studentservices.html

Further information on Advanced Academic Programs can be found on the FCPS website http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml

http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/studentservices/studentservices.html

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml

Resource for Academic Advising



• WPHS Student Services Website

C2G



First thing we need to discuss…

Standard Diploma

Requirements



Advanced Studies Diploma Requirements



Academic Advising 2018-19



• What is it?• Process to select your 7 classes for 2018-2019

• 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

2018-2019 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 ScheduleMath 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

• Literacy Essentials

• Personal Development



ESOL – English Speakers of other Languages

• ESOL chair works closely with teachers and counselors to review levels and recent scores and determine appropriate placement.

• Levels will be reviewed in spring when February WIDA testing scores come in.

• WIDA testing in February – 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 what is best for you

• We recommend course in 11th/12th grade

• Wise Test – counts for CTE Credential Requirement for Standard Diploma – make sure to take it!



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

• Includes a tool to develop a four year course plan

• Talk with Teachers – Today (Hopefully ) and tomorrow to get course recommendations.

• Electives Flyers will be posted to website in coming days –be sure to review and follow up with questions to teachers.



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 five 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. Application is now online!



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 11 and 12

• Utilize the Electives Fair – January 16 and 18 (HR)

• 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 11: Curriculum Night/Advanced Academics/Electives Fair Open House

• January 11: Materials Distributed in 3rd Period

• January 11/12: Course Recommendation Days

• Course selections available on ParentVue/StudentVueafter meeting with counselor

• Early April: Course Selection Verification mailed home for review

• May 1: 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:

https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-services

https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-services



An exciting journey continues!!



What’s next??