Class of 2022 course selection Mrs. Schmidt

THE FOUR YEAR PLAN A successful high school experience is based on: Careful planning Career and personal goals Interests and abilities Career plan

Career planning Our last meeting involved the career interest survey Your career direction can change many times between now and the time you graduate from high school but… Choosing your classes for 9th grade should involve current thoughts about your career direction It’s not a forever choice but your career ideas should guide your decisions for next year

CAREER PATHWAYS FINDING YOUR FUTURE NEST WHAT It is the desire of the Lower Dauphin School District to provide students with the resources and encouragement to choose a future pathway that is based on employment opportunities and student abilities, interests, and personality. The Career Pathways, organized and developed by state and federal workforce agencies, provide groupings of careers that share similar characteristics and whose employment requirements call for common interests, strengths and competencies. WHY Choosing a pathway helps a student to focus on classes that match career interests. A pathway can help student set goals, experiment with interesting subjects, and take courses that relate to future plans. When students leave our nest, we would like for them to have a direction to fly! HOW Students will research career fields and personal interests while in middle school so that in 9th grade, they are able to choose elective courses that are aligned with their plans or career goals.

Pg 9 Training options & Why this is important Pg 10 Career planning resources Pg 11 The Pathways

Graduation Credit Requirements English 4 Math 3 Social Studies 4 Science (depending on level) 3 – 4 Careers/Personal Finance 0.5 Health 0.5 Physical Education 1.5 Remainder of credits comprised of elective courses 6 – 7 TOTAL 23.5

Academic Levels General/Career Prep Tech Prep The General and Career Prep courses provide sound basic education for those who expect to enter the work force immediately after graduation. Academic foundation for students planning to attend trade/technical schools or two- year colleges Honors/ Advanced Placement College Prep An academic foundation for college bound students who have achieved at least an A- final average in a specific discipline Or, those in honors level this year must maintain at least a B- final average to continue in the honors level at the high school (for example: Geometry, Algebra 1, Honors Science, Honors English) The College Preparatory curriculum provides an academic foundation for college bound students.

9th grade schedule – 8 period day Required Courses: English 1.0 Earth & Its Environment (Science) 1.0 US History 1.0 Math (see sequence) 1.0 PE (daily for one semester) 0.5 Computer Applications (daily for one semester) 0.5 TOTAL : 5.0 credits/periods **The rest of the schedule will be electives (2-3)

Geometry (CP or Honors) Math Sequences Pre-Algebra Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A Geometry (CP or Honors) Algebra 2 (CP or Honors)

Elective Courses -- Choose 2, 2.5, or 3 Art Business English Family & Consumer Sciences Foreign Language (CP students should take 2-3 years) Music Social Studies Technology Education 2 electives = study hall every day 2.5 electives = study hall daily for one semester 3 electives = no study hall

Sample Schedules First Semester Second Semester MP 1 and 2 MP 3 and 4 Period 1 Public Speaking Study hall 2 CP US History 3 Chorus 4 CP Earth & It’s Environment 5/6 Spanish 2 7/8 CP English C lunch lunch 10 Algebra 1 11 Computer Apps Foundations of PE 9 First Semester Second Semester MP 1 and 2 MP 3 and 4 Period 1 Band 2 Honors US History 3 Honors Earth & It’s Environment 4 Foundations of PE Computer Applications 5/6 Spanish 2 B Lunch lunch 8/9 Honors English 10 Geometry 11 Architectural CAD

COURSE SELECTION PROCESS Course Selection - Class of 2018 COURSE SELECTION PROCESS Review Career & Course Planning Guide -- Full Course Selection Guide (with descriptions) is online www.ldsd.org/page/6560 Discuss course options – teachers, students and parents Students will seek out teachers for their recommendations and signatures… parents must also sign card and check recommendations Course Selection Cards will be signed in school now- Feb 8. **Courses will NOT be scheduled without proper signatures (from teachers & parents) Course Selection Cards are due on Friday, February 9!

COURSE CHANGES Anytime between now and August … Contact Mrs. Schaefer or me to change selections You can email me directly or ask mom/dad to make contact Schedules will be mailed home at the beginning of August Parent/ Student initiated elective and level changes are permitted during the summer up to August 17, 2018 Once the school year begins…

POLICY FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES August 18, 2017 – Last day for student-initiated schedule changes. Summer changes do not include teacher or lunch reassignments. Once the school year begins: Students will remain in classes as scheduled for the first two weeks of school.  No schedule changes will be made. In weeks 3 and 4 of school, schedule changes are permitted for academic misplacements (with teacher and parent approval) AND elective changes can be made (from one elective to another – also with parental approval) From week 4 of school through week 7, the ONLY types of changes will be for academic misplacements (with teacher and parent approval). After week 7, no schedule changes will be made unless they are approved by a principal. For second semester classes, students will only be able to make a change up until the second week of the course (week 2 of the 3rd MP)

REMEMBER… Pay attention to your teacher recommendations Let Mrs. Schaefer know if you’d like to meet with me and I will be glad to stop over to see you or… Send me an email: fschmidt@ldsd.org Choose an extra course or two as alternates! While we do our best to give you the classes you pick, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your first choice Even if you have applied to DCTS, please complete a Course Selection Card anyway

Remind 101 Text reminders from me to communicate with students and parents See flyer and sign up! Students will sign up during fall 9th grade presentation

You or your parents can contact me: Questions? You or your parents can contact me: Mrs. Schmidt 566-5347 fschmidt@ldsd.org www.ldsd.org/highschoolguidance