1. Scheduling Night for Parents of Rising Freshmen
Briar Woods High School

2. Evening Program 6:45 – 7:30 Presentation
7:30 – 8:30 Scheduling Fair in the Cafeteria
Core departments
Elective departments
School Counseling department

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

4. This Information is Online!
BWHS School Counseling >>> Student Scheduling for
Tonight’s parent presentation
Key points are in red font
Program of Studies
Grade level scheduling forms
LCPS Course Curriculum information

5. Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process

6. Current LCPS Middle School students
BWHS counselors will visit Eagle Ridge Middle School on February 2 & 3, and walk students through their course selections class-by-class.
The core class will be selected by your child’s teachers
The BWHS counselor will help your child pick electives
The middle school will send home your student’s course selections for your review
You will have until June 9, 2017 to make changes

7. 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 their courses with a BWHS counselor when they enroll
Enrollments are by appointment

8. Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements

9. 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

10. 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

11. Standard Diploma Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits English 42
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics
Science
Health/Physical Education
Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career & Technical Education
Economics and Personal Finance
Electives
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total 22 6

12. Advanced Studies Diploma
Academic Areas
Credits
SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies
Mathematics
Science
Foreign Language
3-4
Health/Physical Education
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education 1
Economics and Personal Finance
Electives 3
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total 26 9

13. SOL Courses = Verified Credits
Reading (Eng. 11) Earth Science
Writing (Eng. 11) Biology
Chemistry
Algebra 1 World History 1
Geometry World History 2
Algebra 2 US History

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

15. 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!

16. 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!

17. Virtual Loudoun (VL) classes
Online classes provided by Loudoun County Public Schools.
These are the ONLY online credits we accept.
Offered three times/year: Summer, Fall, Spring.
Students take VL for a variety of reasons:
To “catch-up” or “get ahead”
To make room for another class
To take less classes during the school day

18. Selecting Courses for Next Year (and beyond)

19. The four most emotional topics…
Politics
Religion
Should my child take Honors or Academic classes in high school?
What’s the difference between Earth Science and Biology?

20. Course Options for Freshmen
Please relax!!!
You have until June 9 to make your final decisions!!!

21. 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

22. 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

23. AOS & AET Freshmen
Academy of Science (AOS) and Academy of Engineering & Technology (AET) freshmen will take:
AOS/AET freshmen may consider taking one of their BWHS classes through Virtual Loudoun so they may fit in an elective of interest
Briar Woods High School
AOS or AET
English
Math
Social Science/History
Science
Health & PE
AOS/AET class
Elective/Foreign Language

24. Math Sequence See Program of Studies, page 31
Math 8 >>> Algebra 1
Algebra 1 >>> Geometry
Geometry >>> Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 w/Trig
Algebra 2 w/Trig is for the “easy straight A” math student!
Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 w/Trig >>>
Advanced Functions and Modeling
Advanced Algebra/Precalculus
Math Analysis

25. Course Levels – English, Social Studies, & Science
Academic
Course content and expected student performance require reading and writing at a rigorous level.
Academic is a “college-bound” level.

26. Course Levels – English, Social Studies, & Science
Honors, Research, Pre-AP
Course content is rapidly paced with additional depth. Lessons are often designed to be complex, abstract, and open-ended.

27. 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

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

29. * Freshman Science Earth Science – 9th grade course
Research/Honors
Academic
Biology – 10th grade course
Academic is not available for freshmen

30. * Freshman Science Earth Science Honors or Biology Honors
Most freshmen take Earth Science, 78%.
Skipping Earth Science is not recommended by LCPS/BWHS:
Students have not had the same level of exposure to this subject in middle school
Students who skip freshman Earth Science will miss important science content – perhaps the most important science content an involved citizen should have. (Academy of Science students receive Earth Science instruction and take the Earth Science SOL)
Earth Science is a prerequisite for taking A.P. Environmental, so if you select not to take Earth Science you will not meet the prerequisite for taking A.P. Environmental
Research Biology-Honors focuses on data driven research questions that are embedded with biological concepts.
Students entering the class are expected to have a basic understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics taught during Earth Science.
Students should have a strong mathematical foundation and work ethic to ensure success in this rigorous, fast paced course.
Students who skip Earth Science can “fit in” one additional science class while in high school with one less concession (assuming they want to; and assuming they have the math to do so)

31. Science: What/When/Ask
Talk with your child about what science classes they may be interested in – next year, and beyond. What other classes are they interested in?
Use the plan of studies worksheet/four-year plan to estimate when your child might want to take those science classes. Can they still fit in the “other” classes they want to take? – the middle schools will also do this with your child
Ask: Is skipping Earth Science necessary to meet my child’s goals?

32. LCPS Science Courses SUBJECT GRADE LEVEL PREREQUISITES
9th grade: Earth Science
9-10
None
10th grade: Biology
11th grade: Chemistry
10-12
Algebra 1; Algebra 2 recommended
12th grade: Physics
11-12
Algebra 2
11th or 12th: Conceptual Physics
Algebra 1
11th or 12th: Environmental Science
Two science classes
AP Biology
Biology & Co-requisite of Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
Earth Science & Biology
AP Chemistry
Chemistry
AP Physics
Physics & Co-requisite of Calculus
DE Independent Science Research (GMU)
DE Geospatial Science I (JMU)
NOT FOR SCIENCE CREDIT
DE Geospatial Science 2 (JMU) 12

33. Plan of Studies

34. Reminders A rising freshman course selection worksheet is online
A plan of studies/four-year plan worksheet is online
The Program of Studies is online
Course curriculum information can be found on the LCPS website
The middle school counselors and teachers are a great resource when making these decisions

35. 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 9th to make your final decision!!!

36. “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!

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

38. “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, etc.?
What do colleges want to see/What looks good?

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

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

41. 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 overwhelmed, be happy and be healthy!

42. “Lesson in Balance”
Enjoy high school, have a social life, participate in activities, not be overwhelmed, be happy and be healthy, while taking the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle.

43. “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?

44. 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

45. 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 9th to make your final decision!!!

46. About that deadline… While you do have until June 9th….
We cannot make changes to course requests after the deadline of June 9, 2017!

47. 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 finite!

48. 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?

49. 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!!!

50. Upcoming Events Date TBA: 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!

51. Have Fun at the Scheduling Fair!
7:30pm – 8:30pm