1. Welcome to Westford Academy
8th grade Parent Night

2. Tonight’s Agenda Introduction
Overview of Westford Academy website and Program of Studies
Curriculum Coordinators review offerings by department
Course recommendation process through iPass
Closing/FAQs
Coordinators available for individual questions

3. Westford Academy website
Program of Studies
Freshman Course Selection Link
Freshman Course Listings Link

4. A successful honors student:
Has a teacher recommendation
Has a passion for content
Is very organized
Works independently
Manages a fast-paced curriculum
Participates in class discussion
Reads and understands complex text
Uses evidence to support a claim

5. Curriculum Coordinator, Science Department
Ms. Jenny Kravitz
Curriculum Coordinator, Science Department

6. WA Science: Grade 9 Offerings
Required: Biology (MCAS Biology in June) Elective Option: Intro to Engineering I (Fall) and II (Spring) Descriptions and prerequisites can be found online in the WA Program of Studies – Science Department

7. Biology Level Prerequisites
Honors
95 Overall Average in 8th grade Science
CP 1*
80 Overall Average in 8th grade Science
CP 2*
Below 80 Overall Average in 8th grade Science
CP 2 Fundamentals
AND “NI” or lower on 5th grade Science MCAS
*CP1/CP2 Biology runs as a bi-leveled course.
Students may apply for an override ONLY if their overall average falls within 6 points of the prerequisite cutoff value.
Students may only override ONE level. For example, a student recommended for CP 2 Fundamentals may NOT override to the CP 1 level.

8. Honors Biology Expectations
Content depth and pace is very rigorous, requiring advanced skill in scientific inquiry.
Students are required to complete an independent scientific research project as part of their final exam.
Students will also be required to perform a year-long, extensive study of the local ecosystem including field observations, independent investigations, and formal reports.

9. Mrs. Sharon Charbonnier
Curriculum Coordinator, World Language Department

10. World Language
Languages Offered: Multiple Entry Points French German Latin Mandarin Spanish
Graduation Requirement:
two sequential years of the same language

11. Curriculum Coordinator, English Department
Ms. Janet Keirstead
Curriculum Coordinator, English Department

12. Required: English 9 Elective: Journalism I

13. Curriculum Coordinator, History/Social Studies Department
Mrs. Libby Porter
Curriculum Coordinator, History/Social Studies Department

14. History & Social Studies Grade 9
World History II
A continuation of World History I
Starts at the French Revolution and goes through the 20th Century
Content is challenging!
Levels
Honors
College Prep 1
Each year, grade determines eligibility for the next year

15. What is the difference between Levels
All levels
Content
Curriculum aligned
* May move levels from one year to next, no loss of info
Skills
Research & Writing
Emphasis on skill development
Honors- Greater Independence
Content
Read with understanding
Primary source documents
Secondary sources
Discuss - come to class prepared to discuss material
Skills
Research & Writing – identify and use appropriate evidence to support a thesis; citations

16. Curriculum Coordinator, Mathematics and Computer Science
Ms. Krissy McHugh
Curriculum Coordinator, Mathematics and Computer Science

22. A second math course is an elective
Doubling up costs you another elective
In most cases, doubling up is better Sophomore year
Opt-out testing
Skip Geometry Honors, (Take Algebra 2 Honors in 9th) If you choose this option you will need to take a math course off campus your senior year.
We do NOT recommend opting-out
Date for test out is April 5, 2017 (2 hour test)
Contact Ms. McHugh at by March 17
Skip Intro to Programming, (Take Java Honors) this is only recommended if you have taken a programming course
Exploring Computer Science Parts A and B is a better option than testing out
Date for this is April 15, 2017 (after school at WA, will need to write a program)
Contact Mrs. Trehan at by March 17

23. A second math course is an elective Opt-out testing
Doubling up costs you another elective
Opt-out testing
Skip Geometry Honors, (Take Algebra 2 Honors in 9th) If you choose this option you will need to take a math course off campus your senior year.
We do NOT recommend opting-out
Date for test out is March 17, 2016 (2 hour test)
Contact Ms. Coughlin at
Skip Intro to Programming, (Take Java Honors) this is only recommended if you have taken a programming course
Date for this is March 15, 2016 (after school at WA, will need to write a program)
Contact Mrs. Trehan at

24. Curriculum Coordinator, Visual and Performing Arts Department
Mrs. Andrea Mejia
Curriculum Coordinator, Visual and Performing Arts Department

25. Westford Academy Theater Arts Elements of Theater - Semester Course

26. Westford Academy Visual/Digital Art
Visual Art – Semester and Year long Courses
Foundations of Art - Semester Course
Ceramics (2nd semester)
Photo I (2nd semester)
Painting (2nd semester)
Visual Art I - Year long Course
Digital Art - Semester Courses
Image Editing
3D Animation and Modeling
Intro to Movie Making

27. Westford Academy Music
Performance Ensembles
Concert Choir
Concert Band
Chamber Orchestra
Dual Ensemble
Applied Music
Elements of Guitar
Piano Lab
Songwriting
Electronic Music
Music in Film
Elements of Ukulele

28. Business/DECA electives
Many opportunities for grade 9
Must be enrolled in one half year business elective to participate in DECA
Pathways to Business Success
Marketing
Management
Accounting I
Microsoft Certified Specialist

29. Digital Learning at Westford Academy
One-to-World
Digital Learning at Westford Academy

30. What is One-to-World?
One-to-World provides a personal device for our students who will keep it for 4 years
One-to-World PHASE 1 started August 2016 with Class of 2020
Class of 2121 PHASE 2 in August of 2017.
This is a short introduction full details will be available on the WA and middle schools websites by May 31, 2017

31. One-to-World in the classroom
Increased student engagement and offers students more choice in how they demonstrate their learning.
Teachers have received professional development in digital and blended learning over the last 2 ½ years.
Some teachers have hit the ground running while others are gradually implementing digital learning into their classroom instruction.

32. What do families need to know right now?
9th graders receive a Chromebook provided by the school (Student hands back the device when he or she leaves WA)
Most People purchased Optional insurance for the Chromebooks cost $40 per year
Student may ‘opt out’ and bring their own device - which must meet mandated specifications
Less than a dozen students opted out in Class of 2020
It is highly recommended that students participate in the Chromebook program
WA does not provide any support for BYOD devices

33. Looking ahead...
Full details on the WA and middle schools websites by May 31, 2017
Parents will receive updates via thru the summer (please be sure WA has your current address)
All rising 9th grade parents and students should attend and:
complete online orientation over the summer vacation
then set up an appointment online to pick up their Chromebooks or connect BYOD deviceIf a family can’t make any of the 4 launch dates in Aug - a limited supply of loaner devices will be available during the school day until an appointment can be made for the student and parents - this may take a few weeks.
One-to-World Launch
Aug 14, 15, 21, 22

34. Prepare your student. Available in June:
Complete the online Orientation
Schedule an appointment online for Launch. (Aug 14, 15, 21, 22)
and bring their own device. The device has to be checked to see if it meets specification guidelines and connected to the WA network.
Students cannot bring a BYOD to school on the first day without attending the Launch
ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS need to set up an appointment for the One-to-World launch even students who wish to ‘opt out’.

35. Course Selection Process
Review Freshman course listing and descriptions/prerequisites in the Program of Studies online
Complete worksheet with required courses and 1st choice and 2nd choice electives
Login to iStudent and complete the following steps…

38. Log in to iStudent
STEP 1: Log into iStudent using your username (active user ID) and password. The username is the same as the username you use to log into Active Directory to access your home folder and your files. Example: 19lsmith (the year of graduation and (in most cases) your first initial and your last name) .The first time you log in, your password will be your four or five digit student ID. You will be prompted to change it to something you can remember and we suggest using your googledocs password. You should keep this password in a safe place and you should NOT share your password with anyone.

39. Online Scheduling Process
Click on iStudent Recommendations

40. Once you log in, you will see your current teachers’ recommendations.
Check Approved next to every course you plan to take next year.
You must click on this box on the bottom to acknowledge that you have reviewed all recommendations.

41. Once you’ve checked all of your choices and the box at the bottom, click on the Submit button.

42. If you wish to select a course other than the one your current teacher recommended, do not click on Approve. Instead, enter the number of your choice down below.
In this example, the teacher recommended Latin II, but the student wants to switch to
Spanish I.

43. After you click submit at the bottom, the screen will show Spanish I Approved.
Latin II not approved.

44. Electives Electives are courses that students choose to take.
Electives are available to give you the opportunity to explore areas of interest.
Enter your elective choices and include alternates in case your first choice electives are not available.
Electives available to incoming 9th graders are listed on the scheduling worksheet.

45. Students entering Grade 9 will have one or two first choice electives
Students entering Grade 9 will have one or two first choice electives. Enter the course ID # for your 1st choice elective.
Click on the magnifying glass to look up a course ID number.

46. Click +Add if this is an elective you wish to request.
Be sure you choose electives that are available to 9th graders.

47. Although the screen says “Please Select 6,” incoming 9th graders pick no more than two electives and two alternates. Use scheduling worksheet to determine choices so that total credits are a minimum of 32.5 and a maximum of 35.
Enter your one or two first choice electives here and click Submit

48. The first choice electives now appear
Next to the first choice entry, click on Add Alternate

49. Type in course number for Alternate or use Search button to select, then click Submit

50. Alternate now appears for first choice elective
Now click on Add Alternate to left of second elective

51. Example of completed electives; two first choice electives and alternates for each

52. Final Steps

53. Total credits-
minimum 32.5 credits, maximum 35 credits

55. Challenge Success Data

57. Some FAQs…
How involved should I be with my child’s course selections? Take the team approach. Teach them how to be informed consumers
Is there a limit to how many honors courses a student can take? We do not limit the number of honors courses.
If a student is recommended for honors, can they request CP1 instead? Does that require an override? Yes, they can choose CP1 instead. No, that is not an override
Is there summer reading? Yes and it is posted online
How much homework can students anticipate nightly? See Time Management activity for estimated time by level
How is the GPA calculated ? See WA Profile on Guidance webpage for scale/formula
Do 9th graders have to take PE/Wellness and Health? See graduation requirements on 9th grade worksheet. Health is grade 9. 4 semesters of PE required. If a student doesn’t take PE in grade 9, they must take a full year of PE in grade 10, 11 or 12.

58. FAQs continued
If courses are overwhelming, can students drop down? Yes if they were originally recommended for honors, No if they override.
When will students get their schedules? Early June
How can my child prepare now for success in high school? Practice time management, study skills, self advocacy
What do colleges look for? See Junior Parent night PowerPoint on Westford Academy Guidance Dept webpage

59. Questions?