Previewing the 2018-2019 school year Trimesters @ HHS Previewing the 2018-2019 school year

How did RSD arrive at Trimester? Washington State legislature decides Class of 2021 needs to earn 24.0 credits to graduate. 2015-2016: District-wide committee formed to consider possible schedule/credit options beyond a 6 period – 2 semester format. Committee included parents, teachers, counselors, principals, and district-level staff. Several schedule options were considered and well-researched according to an agreed upon rubric Trimester Schedule was recommended by committee and then approved by the School Board RSD committed funding to staffing the trimester model 2016-2017: Trimester Steering Committee was formed to address implementation: Curriculum approval, credit recommendations, identify and make the infrastructural changes necessary. 2017-2018: Every high school and department in RSD is the process of preparing for the transition to Trimester next year.

Why tri? The state of Washington INCREASED credits for graduation, starting with the class of 2021 Trimesters allow students to earn MORE credits per school year Students get MORE opportunities to explore electives Hazen gets to OFFER more electives that students want to take

Annual timeline: Semester vs. Trimester

Credits possible per year Old Semester System NEW Trimester System 1 trimester-long class = 0.5 credit 5 classes per trimester = 2.5 credits per trimester 3 trimesters per year = 7.5 credits possible 1 semester-long class = 0.5 credit 6 classes per semester = 3.0 credits per semester 2 semesters per year = 6.0 credits possible

Possible # of Classes per year Old Semester System NEW Trimester System Sem 1 Sem 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tri 1 Tri 2 Tri 3 1 2 3 4 5 Total possible classes per year: 12 Total possible classes per year: 15

Draft Bell schedule DRAFT Monday – Thursday Schedule Class pds. 70 minutes long DRAFT Friday with Advisory Schedule Class pds. 43 minutes long Pd. Time 1 7:20 – 8:30 2 8:35 – 9:45 3 9:50 – 11:00 4 1st Lunch 11:00 – 11:30; Class 11:35 – 12:45 Class 11:05 – 12:15; 2nd Lunch 12:15 – 12:45 5 12:50 – 2:03 Pd. Time 1 8:50 – 9:33 Advisory 9:38 – 10:18 2 10:23 – 11:06 Lunch 11:06 – 11:36 (all students) 3 11:41 – 12:24 4 12:29 – 1:12 5 1:17 – 2:03

Class of 2019 Required Senior Year Courses (no change) 2 Trimesters of Language Arts 2 Trimesters of Civics Any incomplete graduation requirements Important Considerations: 1st Trimester will be posted to your transcript by Dec. 1 – if you are applying to universities, those credits and grades will be on your transcript and impacting your GPA. Credits to graduate: 22.00 (no change) 9th gr. possible credits earned: 6.0 10th gr. possible credits earned: 6.0 11th gr. possible credits earned: 6.0 12th gr. possible credits earned: 7.5 TOTAL CREDITS POSSIBLE: 25.5

Class of 2020 Credits to graduate: 22.00 (no change) 9th gr. possible credits earned: 6.0 10th gr. possible credits earned: 6.0 11th gr. possible credits earned: 7.5 12th gr. possible credits earned: 7.5 TOTAL CREDITS POSSIBLE: 27.0 Required Junior Year Courses (no change) 2 Trimesters of Language Arts 2 Trimesters of US History 2 Trimesters of 3rd year Math

Class of 2021 Credits to graduate: 26.00 9th gr. possible credits earned: 6.0 10th gr. possible credits earned: 7.5 11th gr. possible credits earned: 7.5 12th gr. possible credits earned: 7.5 TOTAL CREDITS POSSIBLE: 28.5 Required Sophomore Year Courses (no change) 2 Trimesters of Language Arts 2 Trimesters of World History 2 Trimesters of Math 2 Trimesters of Biology

2018 – 2019 Registration timeline Week of Feb. 26 – March 2: Counselors Introduce Registration Materials in Classrooms Friday, March 2: Trimester Fair @ Hazen (1/2 school day activity) Week of March 5 – 9: Counselors visit classrooms to continue Registration Week of March 19 – 22: Counselors available all lunches for Registration help (students and parents welcome) Week of April 2 – 5: Hazen students turn in Registration choices!

Common questions Students and families are asking: 1. Could a student have a 2-trimester course (like US History) split between 1st and 3rd trimester? Yes, students may have a split schedule. On the trimester system, it is just not possible to offer all courses consecutively. 2. Will AP classes be 2-trimesters or 3? Most AP classes will be 3-trimesters but a select few will be 2-trimesters. 3. Do the dates for AP Exam dates change? AP exam dates are set by College Board and cannot be changed. 4. What will the academic eligibility be for sports? Students will need to pass 4 out of 5 classes and maintain a 2.0 GPA. 6. How were the new electives chosen? The new electives were chosen by students! Last year, all students in the Renton School District were surveyed to find out which classes the students were interested in taking. The top choices have become part of the course curriculum and students will choose their electives during Spring registration. 7. Will Orchestra and Band classes be year long? Yes, due to concerts and other performances, it is necessary for these classes to remain year long. 8. Are world language classes year long? World Language courses will be two-trimesters, earning the same 1.0 credit per year as is currently earned.

Common questions Students and families are asking: 5. What will change regarding PE Waivers in the Trimester model? In the trimester model, students will have many more opportunities to take PE! PE is not waived until senior year and our current freshmen and sophomores should have room in their schedules to fulfill the 1.5 credits required for graduation by the State of Washington. 6. How were the new electives chosen? The new electives were chosen by students! Last year, all students in the Renton School District were surveyed to find out which electives they would like to see offered. The top choices have become part of the course curriculum and students will choose their electives during Spring registration. 7. Will Performing Arts classes be year long? Yes, due to concerts and other performances, it is necessary for these classes to remain year long. This applies to choir and instrumental classes. Drama can be selected for 1, 2, or 3 Trimesters.

Common questions Students and families are asking: 8. Are world language classes year long? World Language courses will be two-trimesters, earning the same 1.0 credit per year as is currently earned. 9. With longer classes during the day does that mean lunch will be longer too? Lunches will be the same amount of time as they currently are. 10. Will you need more or fewer teachers? The Renton School District will be hiring more teachers so we may offer all of these new courses.