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

2. 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???

3. 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

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

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

6. Rising 9th Grade Scheduling Process

7. 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

8. 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

9. Diploma Types & Graduation Requirements

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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”

16. 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

17. 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!

18. 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!

19. 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

20. 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

21. Selecting Courses for Next Year (and beyond)

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

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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. World History
Mr. Silliman

28. Math
Ms. Eyerman

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

30. 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.

31. Earth Science
Dr. Buchanan

32. SCIENCE COURSE SELECTION Rising Freshmen

33. 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

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

38. English 9
Ms. Peyton

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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

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

44. 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!!!

45. “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!

46. “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?

47. “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?

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

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

50. 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!

51. “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?

52. 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

53. 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!!!

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

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

56. 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!

57. 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?

58. 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!

59. 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!!!

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