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Planning for High School

GHS Class of 2029

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High School

vs

Middle School

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

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No Teams

• ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHARE THE BUILDING
• YOU WILL HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN EACH CLASS
• EVERYONE’S SCHEDULE IS UNIQUE

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STUDY HALL

• no longer called ACCESS
• 84 MINUTES EVERY OTHER DAY

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

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BLOCK SCHEDULE

• FOUR 84 MINUTE CLASSES EACH DAY

ON AN ABCD DAY ROTATION

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• SCIENCE MEETS THREE DAYS

OUT OF THE ABCD ROTATION

WITH PE BEING THE 4TH DAY

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

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EARNING CREDITS

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• YOU EARN CREDITS FOR CLASSES

THAT YOU TAKE AND PASS

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• FULL YEAR CLASS = 1 CREDIT

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• SEMESTER CLASS (½ YEAR) = .5 CREDIT

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

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BUILDING A TRANSCRIPT

• SUMMARY OF ALL YOUR GRADES

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• FINAL AVERAGE AND FINAL EXAM GRADES

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• 8TH GRADE WORLD LANGUAGE

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• ALGEBRA, BIOLOGY, STUDIO ART

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• 4 credits of English
• 4 credits of social studies
• 3 credits of math
• 3 credits of science
• 2 credits of PE
• 1 credit of world language
• 1 credit fine art
• 1/2 credit of health
• 18 ½ required credits

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The remaining courses are electives for a minimum total of:

22 credits

What’s a requirement?

A course you must take

and pass in order

to graduate from high school

What’s an elective?

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A course you choose to take

to further explore an interest

Regents Diploma Requirements

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All Students must pass the following

Regents exams with a

sixty-five (65) or higher:

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• English
• One Social Studies Exam
• Algebra 1
• One Science Exam

PLUS

• Complete At Least One Pathway

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Advanced Regents Diploma Requirements

Students must meet regents diploma requirements,

PLUS

• 3 or 4 units of a World Language and Culture (and pass the Checkpoint A & B exams)

OR

• a 5 unit sequence in art and design, music, business, technology, or career and technical education (CTE)

AND

Pass additional Regents Exams with a 65 or higher:

• 2 additional Math exam
• 1 additional Science exam

Diploma requirements are talked about in detail at your parent teachers conference in 9th grade with your School Counselor!

CLASS LEVELS:

Regents Honors

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• You want a good fit for your abilities
• Higher level content may connect to your interests and goals
• You are not able to switch levels during the year

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Why is level important?

REGENTS Level

• Typical course level for high school students

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• Prepares students for the Regents exams

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HONORS Level

• More challenging assignments than regents level
• More work
• Stronger reading, writing and interpreting skills
• More projects and research
• Able to work independently of teacher support
• Requires you to spend more time outside of school on assignments

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English and Global History �CHOICES�

(by application and selection only)

TRADITIONAL

English

TRADITIONAL

Global

History

“A”

Aligned

English

AND

Global History

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(Regents)

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ALIGNED�English and Global History�

• high interest in Social Studies
• high interest in reading and writing
• able to work independently and in group activities
• frequent class presentations
• quantity of assignments may be higher than traditional English and Global 9
• assignments based on individual ELA or Global teacher, but all projects are interdisciplinary

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ALIGNED�English and Global History�

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• One Social Studies credit and One English credit
• Will earn Regents credit

If more than 50 requests, a lottery is used to determine which students will get into the 9A program

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Honors Process

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For English and Social Studies:

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• Skill-based Teacher recommendation
• standards based performance test
• Self-assessment
• Minimum first semester GPA
• POTENTIAL SUMMER ASSIGNMENT

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DON'T WAIT!

Talk to your teachers NOW if you are thinking about honors

MATH

If in Math 8 now:

Algebra 1 in 9th

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How many Math credits needed for graduation?

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If in Algebra now:

Regents Geometry or

Honors Geometry in 9th

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Honors Geometry

To be recommended for Honors Geometry:

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• Complete Algebra in 8th grade
• 90 average or above in Algebra 1
• Demonstrate ability to learn independently
• Demonstrate strong effort
• Recommendation of Algebra teacher

SCIENCE�

If Science 8 now:

Regents Biology

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If Biology now:

Regents Earth and Space Science or Honors Earth and Space Science

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How many Science credits needed for graduation?

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3

Honors Earth and Space Science

To be recommended for Honors:

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• Complete Biology in 8th grade
• 90 average or above in Biology
• Demonstrate ability to learn independently
• Demonstrate strong effort
• Strong Math Skills
• Recommendation of Biology teacher

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Fine Arts Requirement

• Studio in Art
• Studio in Media Arts
• Studio in Creative Crafts
• Design and Drawing for Production (PLTW)
• Design and Drawing for Production (non-PLTW)
• Music in our Lives
• Music Technology
• Music Theory and Composition (must be able to read music)
• Band/Choir/Orchestra (1/2 credit per year)
• Dance Choreography and/or Styles (1/2 credit each class)
• Acting and Directing (½ credit each class)

You need 1 Art credit for graduation

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WORLD LANGUAGES

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• All students are encouraged to continue

in world languages

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• Continuing in world language increases one’s options to attend a four year college

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• One way of meeting a requirement for the Advanced Regents Diploma

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• Spanish 2, French 2, Italian 2 & American Sign Language 1
• Potential college credit for 11th and 12th grade courses

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AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

American Sign Language 1 is a course open to all students in grades 9-12. Students will learn about different occupations that use Sign Language, how to identify a home that is Deaf Friendly, and connect with students that are Deaf through face to face communication. American Sign Language 1 completes the Checkpoint A requirement for graduation.

Performing Music OPTIONS

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Performing

Music

Music

Study Hall

The only class where the block is split into two 40 minute sections

Performing

Music

Health

Performing

Music

Performing Music

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Eighth Course or Not?

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If you want to replace

your full block study hall

with an 8^th course selection,

it may be possible…

See your counselor to discuss

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(There is no guarantee you will get into an 8th course)

Can I take both Art and Music?

• One will be your 8th course in place of study hall

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• You will only have a 1/2 block study hall opposite the 1/2 block of performing music

In some cases you may not have any study hall

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• You must decide which is your primary choice and which is your secondary choice

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• There is no guarantee you will get both

Additional Electives

The electives listed may be taken as an 8th course

or with ½ credit course such as literacy tutorial (reading)

Business

Career and Money Skills (.5 credits)

Financial Literacy for Life (.5 credits)

Sports and Entertainment Marketing (.5 credits)

Social Media Marketing and E-commerce (.5 credits)

Basic Computer Applications (.5 credits)

College Executive Digital Technologies (.5 credits, SCCC credit)

Technology

Introduction to Electricity (.5 credits)

Manufacturing Systems (.5 credits)

Math

Intro to Game Design (.5 credits)

Computer Science Principles (.5 credits)

*JAVA (.5 credits, Computer Science Principles is prerequisite)

Art

(do not meet fine arts requirement, often no spots available)

Sculpture, Cartooning, Animation, Art and Game Design,

Studio in Photography, Studio in Film

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GHS Curriculum Guide

Sample High School Block Schedule

Activity Period = Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

What do I have to take for 9th grade?

• English
• Global History
• Math
• Science
• One full year elective or two 1/2 year electives
• PE
• World Language or an elective
• World Language classes are open to all students. If you have an IEP that exempts you from this, we still encourage you to take a language
• TOTAL = 6 full year classes plus PE

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Deadline for final decisions:

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Friday, February 7th

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Complete the selection form by 2/7
• View recommendations in Eschool after February break
• Email or meet with your school counselor if you have any questions

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Deadline for making any changes to your course request is March 7th

Tech Valley High School

• Project Based Learning
• Strong math and science emphasis

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• Learning skills to participate in high tech and global economy

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techvalleyhigh.org

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On campus and virtual open houses are scheduled December through March.

You must attend an open house to apply. Applications are due to your counselor by

Friday, March 8th.

Enrollment is determined by lottery!

Career Technical Education

For 11th and 12th grade based on availability.

Career Tech Guide

CTE

Activities, clubs, sports...

Clubs and Activities

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FMS Counseling Website and Resources