Scheduling Night for Parents of Rising Freshmen Briar Woods High School

Scheduling Night Middle school? First time parents of high schoolers?? Home school, private school Stone Hill Middle School Brambleton Middle School Eagle Ridge Middle School Other LCPS middle schools First time parents of high schoolers?? Feeling nervous or overwhelmed???

Evening Program 6:45 – 7:30 Presentation 7:30 – 8:30 Scheduling Fair in the Cafeteria Core departments Elective departments School Counseling department Virtual Loudoun NOVA DE

Presentation Agenda Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process Questions? School counseling table Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements Selecting Courses for Next Year Questions? Department tables

This Information is Online! BWHS School Counseling >>> Student Scheduling for 2019-2020 Tonight’s parent presentation Overview with activities and dates 2019-2020 Program of Studies (soon!) Grade level scheduling forms Classroom presentation and videos LCPS Course Curriculum information – go to the LCPS website and search “curriculum”

Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process

Current LCPS Middle School students BWHS counselors will visit ERMS on February 4 & 5, and walk students through their course selections class-by-class. Stone Hill and other middle schools – dates TBD

Students New to LCPS New students usually begin enrolling in mid-April There is a two week window where we cannot complete enrollments, first two week of May The information and materials needed to enroll a new student can be found on the BWHS and LCPS websites New students and their parents will select courses with a BWHS counselor when they enroll Enrollments are by appointment

Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements

Diplomas Standard Diploma Advanced Studies Diploma Students who earn Advanced Studies Diplomas should be better prepared to perform well in college Plenty of students who earn Standard Diplomas are successful in college

Diplomas Diplomas are based on: Standard Units of Credit – 140 clock hours of instruction & a passing grade Translation: Pass the class, get a credit Verified Units of Credit – Standard unit of credit plus passing the end-of-course SOL associated with that class Translation: Pass the class and SOL, get a verified credit

Standard Diploma Academic Areas Standard Credits SOL Verified Credits English 4 2 Social Studies 3 1 Mathematics Science Health/Physical Education Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career & Technical Education Economics and Personal Finance Electives Total 22 5

Advanced Studies Diploma Academic Areas Standard Credits SOL Verified Credits English 4 2 Social Studies 1 Mathematics Science Foreign Language 3-4 Health/Physical Education Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education Economics and Personal Finance Electives 3 Total 26 5

Courses with SOL’s Reading (Eng. 11) Earth Science Writing (Eng. 11) Biology Chemistry Algebra 1 World History 1 Geometry World History 2 Algebra 2 US History

New SOL requirements Once a student meets their SOL requirements for graduation they will not be required to take anymore SOL’s while in high school – even if they are in an “SOL course”

Diplomas We start all students towards the Advanced Studies Diploma Freshmen generally take the same types of classes regardless of the diploma they want See the Program of Studies for the “fine print” details

Additional Requirements VA Department of Education: Standard Diploma students must pass a board-approved “technical education credential” There is a credential component within the required “Personal Finance” class!

Additional Requirements VA Department of Education: All students must receive online instruction while in high school There is an online instructional component within the required “Personal Finance” class which satisfies this requirement!

Virtual Loudoun (VL) classes Online classes provided by Loudoun County Public Schools. Virtual Loudoun is not an online school Virtual Loudoun is an online program that may supplement the traditional schedule Students may take one VL class per school year, and a total of two summer VL classes = for a maximum of 6 VL classes while in high school

Virtual Loudoun (VL) classes Offered three times/year: Summer, Fall, Spring Students take VL for a variety of reasons: To “catch-up” or “get ahead” To take less classes during the school day To make room for another class

Selecting Courses for Next Year (and beyond)

The three most emotional topics… Politics Religion Should my child take Honors or Academic classes in high school?

Course Options for Freshmen Please relax!!! You have until June 3 to make your final decisions!!!

Course Options for Freshmen English 9: Honors or Academic World History 1: Pre-AP (Honors) or Academic Earth Science *: Research (Honors) or Academic Math: Follows sequence Health & Physical Education 9 Elective – usually a foreign language Elective

Course Options for Freshmen English 9: Honors or Academic World History 1: Pre-AP (Honors) or Academic Earth Science *: Research (Honors), Academic Math: Follows sequence Health & Physical Education 9 Elective – usually a foreign language Elective

AOS & AET Freshmen Academy of Science (AOS) and Academy of Engineering & Technology (AET) freshmen will take: Briar Woods High School AOS or AET English Math Social Science/History Science Health & PE AOS/AET class Elective/Foreign Language

World History Mr. Silliman

Math Ms. Eyerman

Math Progression from 8th grade. 8th grade Math 8 9th grade Algebra 1 8th grade Algebra I 9th grade Geometry 8th grade Geometry 9th grade Algebra II 9th grade Algebra II trig

Algebra II/Trig Expectations: Be able to do math without a calculator. Be able to handle a face paced math class. Be able to recall Algebra I concepts and apply them. Be able to take the basics/foundation/concepts that are presented in class, and further study/research/investigate/analyze/review at home to fully master the skills.

Earth Science Dr. Buchanan

SCIENCE COURSE SELECTION Rising Freshmen

BWHS Science Course OVERVIEW MANY VARIATIONS ARE POSSIBLE 9TH GRADE EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH BIOLOGY 10TH GRADE BIOLOGY RESEARCH CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY PHYSICS 11TH GRADE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OR CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS PHYSICS DE AP SCIENCES

You should enroll in academic earth science if… YOU DO NOT WISH TO TAKE AN HONORS-LEVEL SCIENCE COURSE. YOU DO NOT HAVE AN INTEREST IN PURSUING A CAREER IN SCIENCE. YOU WILL BE ENROLLED IN ALGEBRA 1 AS A FRESHMAN.

You should Enroll in research earth science if… YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DATA-DRIVEN RESEARCH QUESTIONS. YOU WILL BE ENROLLED IN GEOMETRY OR HIGHER AS A FRESHMAN. YOU HAVE HAD GRADES OF A/B IN SCIENCE CLASSES. YOU HAVE HAD GRADES OF A/B IN MATH CLASSES.

You should enroll in Research biology if … STUDENT WISHING TO TAKE A RIGOROUS HONORS-LEVEL SCIENCE COURSE REQUIRES 1 HOUR OF OUT OF CLASS WORK FOR EACH CLASS. RESEARCH FOCUSES ON DATA DRIVEN RESEARCH QUESTIONS THAT ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN CONCEPTS. STUDENTS ENTERING THE CLASS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF DESCRIPTIVE AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICS TAUGHT DURING RESEARCH EARTH SCIENCE . STUDENTS DEVELOP THE SCIENCE THINKING AND PROCESS SKILLS REQUIRED TO GENERATE A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND DESIGN AN INVESTIGATION TO COLLECT DATA THAT WILL ANSWER THE RESEARCH QUESTION. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE AN IN DEPTH, INDEPENDENT SCIENCE RESEARCH INVESTIGATION FOR PRESENTATION IN A SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM.

English 9 Ms. Peyton

Contact Department Chair Kelly Colebank Kelly.colebank@lcps.org 9th Grade English Contact Department Chair Kelly Colebank Kelly.colebank@lcps.org

English for 9th Graders: Two Options 9th Honors More reading More writing Homework assignments 9th Academic All reading in class All writing in class Rare/only occasional homework

9th Grade Elective Options Intro to Journalism Background of media Libel and ethics Different news writing Mythology Learning the background of myths from various cultures Creative Writing – Semester Class Learn various creative (fiction) writing techniques

Work Load, freshman survey English 9 Academic = 1 hour 29 minutes/week English 9 Honors = 2 hours 40 minutes/week Earth Science Academic = 1 hour 32 minutes/week Research Earth Science Honors = 2 hours 32 minutes/week Research Biology Honors = 2 hours 40 minutes/week World History Academic = 2 hours 10 minutes/week PreAP World History Honors = 3 hours 23 minutes/week Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 = 1 hour 48 minutes/week Algebra 2 w/ Trig = 2 hours 18 minutes/week Foreign Language = 1 hour 21 minutes/week

Work Load, freshman survey All Academic = 8+ hours of work outside of school All Honors = 12+ hours of work outside of school

Course Options for Freshmen One more time… Please relax!!! 3-4 honors/academic decisions in 3-4 months! English, science, social studies; maybe math You have until June 3 to make your final decision!!!

“Lesson in Balance” The Goal: Challenge the student vs. Overloading the student If you figure out the formula for this, create an app! You’ll make millions!

“Lesson in Balance” Often we consider these two factors when selecting courses: What are the graduation requirements? What do colleges want to see, or…What looks good?

“Lesson in Balance” Let’s not forget the most important factors when selecting courses! What are the graduation requirements? What are the student’s interests/passions? What/where are the student’s strengths, work-ethic, time, maturity, etc.? What do colleges want to see/What looks good?

Take the most challenging classes you can handle. “Lesson in Balance” Take the most challenging classes you can handle.

Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle. “Lesson in Balance” Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle.

Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle. “Lesson in Balance” Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle. And…enjoy high school, have a social life, participate in activities, not be too overwhelmed, be happy, and be healthy!

“Lesson in Balance” How much time do you have available to study and do homework? Do you play sports? Are you involved in activities – both in or outside of school? What does your track-record indicate? Do you complete your work with little prompting? How committed and disciplined are you? What are mom and dad prepared for? What do you believe the parent’s role is?

Looking Beyond the Freshman Year Student often mix and match honors-level classes Students are not stuck on an honors or academic “track” They can move “up” or “down” from year-to-year in many subjects throughout high school

Course Options for Freshmen OK… and one more time… Please relax!!! 3-4 decisions in 3-4 months! English, science, social studies; maybe math You have until June 3 to make your final decision!!!

About that deadline… While you do have until June 3…. We cannot make changes to course requests after the deadline of June 3, 2019!

Two notable exceptions Successful completion of a VL summer course BWHS level change days – August TBD

After the School Year Begins Elective changes will not be possible Academic level changes Level change decisions are made case-by-case Input from a variety of sources will be needed A class that is “difficult” is not the same as a class that is “too difficult” for a student! Changing a level often disrupts the student’s entire schedule! Changing a level is often not possible! Class space is limited!

Level-Change Window Academic level changes Level changes cannot be considered until marking period one interims are distributed Request form Detailed reason for request Teacher input – strategies, completed work, extra help??? Parent & teacher communication?

Upcoming Events March 15: BWHS Activities EXPO Private & homeschool students are welcome! An adult must sign them in and supervise visiting students May: Athletics meeting for parents – date TBA Special education meeting – date TBA Week before school begins Freshman Student Orientation Freshman Parent Meeting – meet the principal Monitor our website and look for our newsletter!

Agenda Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process Questions? School counseling table Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements Selecting Courses for Next Year Questions? Department tables – ask the experts!!!

Have Fun at the Scheduling Fair! 7:30pm – 8:30pm Thank you for allowing us to end promptly at 8:30pm