1. Welcome to SHS! Presented by:
Tammy Rundle, Department Chairperson, School Counseling, Testing & Career Services, K-12 1

2. Maximize the Opportunity and Reduce the Anxiety…2

3. Agenda SHS Graduation Requirements & Transcript
Overview of the Course Selection Process
Course level options
Teacher recommendation process
Finding balance

4. New to SHS? What to Expect…
Students are building their future from the moment they enter SHS on the first day of school.
For the first time in their academic careers, classes and grades will impact their future graduation and post high school plans.
Ninth grade is a year of adjustment. Students are adapting to a larger school and more responsibilities.

5. Choosing a Well-Balanced Program
Goal – to develop a schedule that maximizes student’s academic potential.
Recommendations of current teachers for course classes. Parent, Counselor, student input is essential.

6. SHS Graduation Requirements
Students are required to earn 96 credits which must include the following:
A full year class = 4 credits, semester class = 2 credits; PE/Health = 1 credit
English credits
World Language credits
Social Studies 12 credits
Math credits
Science credits
Health and PE 8 credits (4 in Health, 4 in PE)
Fine Arts & Music 4 credits
Electives credits
Every final grade and class counts in a student’s GPA.

7. SHS Graduation Requirements
Students must also complete 50 hours of community service.
&
Pass the ELA, Math, & Science MCAS tests.

9. What is Required for 9th Grade Students?
All 9th Graders must take the following subjects:
· English 1 (4 credits)
· Mathematics (4 credits)
· Biology (4 credits)
· World History 2 (4 credits)
· World Language (French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish) (4 credits)
· Health (#950) and Physical Education (#900) (These classes will automatically be scheduled for you.)
Physical Education and Health classes are quarter classes (1 credit).
· Academic Strategies and support classes (if recommended by your teachers)
(2 or 4 credits).
· Students will be able to choose up to three electives from the following list.
Electives are half-year (2 credit) courses unless marked with an *.
Students must choose a minimum of 24 credits and a maximum of 28 credits each year.
8th grade teachers will recommend the appropriate course and level for each of their students (Honors or College Preparatory) for core academic classes.

10. Elective Choices Available to 9th Graders
Business Electives
Sports Marketing (305)
Restaurant & Resort Management (307)
Entertainment & Event Marketing (332)
Social Media Marketing (334)
Business Apps, Internet & Everything Google (338)
English Electives
Intro to Journalism (150)
Intro to Theatre Arts (155)
Public Speaking & TV Production (160)
Poetry, Lyricism & Songwriting (188)
Mythology (189(
Family & Consumer Sciences Electives
Experimental Foods (500)
Fine Art Electives
Introduction to Art (802)
2D Art 1 824)
3D Art 1 (820)
Fine Art Music Electives
*Symphonic Band (850)
*H Symphonic Band 2 (851) ( Permission of Instructor)
*Chorale 1 (860)
*H Music Performance (Chorale and Band) (866)
(with Permission of Instructor)
Voice Class (872)
Music Technology & Recording (873)
Guitar Workshop (875)
Piano Lab (878)
Jazz Improvisation (884)
Instrumental Music Workshop (868)
Science Engineering Technology
Computer Aided Design 1 (552)
Computer Aided Design 2 (553)
Architectural Technology (560)
Robotics 1 (586)
Robotics 2 (587)
Academic Support Rx by Academic Team
Academic Strategies part-time (045, 046)
*Academic Strategies full-time (047,048)
Foundations of Mathematics (259)
Science MCAS Prep (781)
* Full year (4 credit) electives

11. Selecting Courses
Students should review the Scituate High School Program of Studies
Students should choose courses that are consistent with their needs and goals and the school's expectations, and are strongly encouraged to select a varied program each year from all departments.
Freely consult parents, teachers, administrators and your school counselor in the course selection process. Refer to the "Suggested Programs" section in the Scituate High School Program of Studies for an outline of course requirements for typical post-graduate plans.

12. Selecting Courses
4. All students must enroll in sufficient courses to earn a minimum of
24 credits over the course of the academic year, (equating to a minimum of 6 courses each semester).
5. Read course descriptions carefully as they are the best guide to the subject matter presented and pay attention to the course prerequisites and recommendations that follow each description.
6. Be sure that all graduation requirements are being fulfilled.
7. Students select their high school courses through Aspen.

13. Keep In Mind….
This is the course selection process only. Once selections are made, the master building schedule is built. Once the building schedule is finalized, the students are scheduled into classes. It is important that students make every effort to make their course selections carefully. Please note that all efforts are made to accommodate selections but there is no guarantee that all course requests will be fulfilled.

14. Students will enter course requests through their STUDENT Aspen portal
Keep in Mind, too…
Students will enter course requests through their STUDENT Aspen portal so
It is important to do this together.

15. College Preparatory (CP) Advanced Placement (AP) (10*/11th/12th Grade)
Levels of Instruction
College Preparatory (CP)
Honors (Hon)
Advanced Placement (AP) (10*/11th/12th Grade)
Current teachers will recommend appropriate level for required core courses.

16. Levels of Instruction
College Prep
Honors
Advanced Placement
College Prep level classes are designed to challenge students in their ability to learn independently and prepare them for college and/or career.
College Preparatory classes require students to use their literacy and problem solving skills to learn with independence.
Curriculum units, performance tasks and assessments at the College Preparatory level are aligned with the state curriculum frameworks and provide students with important academic fundamentals.
Honors level classes are designed to challenge students in their ability to learn independently at an accelerated pace.
Honors level classes require students to be highly self-motivated and learn independently.
Curriculum units, performance tasks, and assessments at the Honors level are aligned with those at the CP level; however, additional supplemental texts, assessments, and extension activities are incorporated.
AP level classes are designed to challenge students in their ability to learn independently at the pace of a college-level class.
This level is designed for students who want to experience a college-level class and are willing to work toward meeting or exceeding the standards of college-level work.
Students enrolling in AP courses are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement examination in the Spring.

17. Teacher Recommendations
Current classroom teachers will recommend the appropriate level for the next year's classes in the core academic subjects if the course is needed for graduation. Students will be able to see their recommendations when they enter their courses on the ASPEN portal. Students must select these core courses if they are a required course for graduation.
If a student wishes to override a teacher's recommendation, then they must indicate this request in the "Placement Review Request Form". Forms are due by March 23rd.

18. Factors Considered in Teacher Recommendations
Work ethic
Passion for subject
Self-advocacy and independence
Time management skills
Pace needed to produce best work

19. What if I want to override the recommended level?
If a parent wishes to override the recommended level, this request must be indicated in the “Placement Review Request Form.”
All Placement Review Requests are due to the Gates School Counseling office by March 23, 2018.
This request will be forwarded to the respective Department Chair, who will consult with the classroom teacher, and follow up with the parent/caregiver. 19

20. Setting Realistic Goals
What are my academic & personal goals?
What are my academic strengths and areas of interest?
What are my work habits?
What level did my teachers recommend? Why?
What are my extra curricular activities and obligations?
What is realistic for me?

21. Small Steps…. Establish homework routines Review student planner
Access Aspen/website
Keep a school calendar visible.
Take note of important dates: report cards, exam weeks,
school events for students & parents.
Encourage a healthy lifestyle (sleeping/eating/exercise).
No need for students to be “out” on school nights, bad
habit to start.

22. What’s the timeline? Feb 27-Mar 8 SHS counselors to Gates
March 13- Students enter
March 23 course requests through Aspen.

23. Next Steps: Review Program of Studies with your student.
Consider course level placements and feel free to discuss levels with current teachers and academic team.
Consider elective choice options (2-3 elective choices) as well as 2-3 alternate choices.
Check Aspen messages for instructions, important information.
Download registration materials from School Counseling website.

24. How do I access the Program of Studies and Registration Materials?
school-counseling or
for account information and ASPEN help.