1. Williamston High School 8th Grade Orientation Night April 24, 2019

2. Agenda Welcome and overview – Steve Delp, Principal
WHS Curriculum Guide
Michigan Merit Curriculum Graduation Requirements
Departmental Presentations
Scheduling Process
Sample Four-Year Academic Plans

3. WHS Curriculum Guide
The WHS Curriculum Guide can be found online at:
Click on “Academics” tab across top and select Curriculum Guide
duleinstanceid=4924&dataid=5490&FileName=WHS%20CURRI CULUM%20GUIDE% pdf
Printed copies are available in the Counseling Office.

4. Curriculum Guide Book Graduation Requirements
Information on Scheduling and Special Programs
Ex: CHAMPS, ISHALL, Study Abroad, Work-Based Learning
Course Descriptions
Course Prerequisites
Testing Out Procedures
Dual Enrollment
And much, much more!

5. Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) Graduation Requirements
To earn a diploma, a student must earn at least 22 credits and fulfill all of the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements for graduation.
Four (4) credits in English Language Arts.
Four (4) credits in math including Geometry, Algebra I and Algebra II. At least one (1) math course must be taken in the senior year.
Three (3) credits in science including physical science, biology, and earth science.
Three (3) credits in social sciences including U.S. History & Geography; World History & Geography; ½ credit Civics; and, ½ credit Economics.
One (1) credit in Visual, Performing, and/or Applied Arts.
½ credit in Physical Education.
½ credit in Health.
Two (2) credits in World Language

6. English Requirements – 4 credits Katie Nolen - Department Chair
Traditional Schedule:
9th grade - English 9 or English 9 Enrichment (Intro to English)
10th grade - English 10 (American Literature)
11th grade – English 11 (World Literature and Analysis)
12th grade – English 12 (College Preparation)

7. English Courses Creative Writing* Film Literature*
Mythology and Fantasy*
Sports Literature*
Yearbook*
Advanced Placement (AP) English Language & Composition
Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature
*Cannot replace required English 9, 10, 11, or 12

8. Math Requirements – 4 credits
Sarah Conklin - Department Representative
Traditional Schedule:
9th grade - Geometry
10th grade - Algebra I
11th grade - Algebra II
12th grade - Math course must be taken

9. Math Electives Geometry Support Algebra Enrichment
Algebra II Extended (4 semesters)
MSA Algebra I & MSA Algebra II
Pre-Calculus
Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics
Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus
Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles
MSA Robotics I and MSA Robotics II
Robotics and Programming

10. Science Requirements – 3 credits John Travis - Department Chair
Traditional Schedule:
9th grade - Physics of Earth & Space (Physics & Earth Science)
10th grade - Life on Earth (Biology)
11th grade - Chemistry in Earth (Chemistry & Earth Science)

11. Science Electives Forensics (1 semester) Human Anatomy and Physiology
College Prep Chemistry/Chemistry
Advanced Placement (AP) Biology
Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry
Advanced Placement (AP) Physics 1 – Algebra based
MSA versions of Physical Science, Biology, and Earth Science

12. Social Studies Requirements – 3 credits Anne Wade - Department Chair
Traditional Schedule:
9th grade - U.S. History and Geography
10th grade - World History and Geography
11th or 12th grade - Civics (1 semester)
11th or 12th grade - Economics (1 semester)

13. Social Studies Electives
Psychology (1 semester)
Sociology (1 semester)
Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology
Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government
Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History and Geography
Offered in
Advanced Placement (AP) World History and Geography
Offered in

14. World Language Requirements – 2 credits
Spanish I
Spanish 2
Other online options
Electives
Spanish 3
Spanish 4
Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish
Taken as an Independent Study

15. Art Department - Semester Electives
Art Buffet: Exploring Multimedia
Adventures In Art: Art For Beginners
Eat, Breathe, Art: Advanced Art
Fun With Photography
Playing With Clay: Ceramics For Beginners
Advanced Ceramics: Hard Core Edition
AP Studio Art (Year Long Independent Study)

16. Performing Arts Department Electives
Symphony Band
Jazz Band
Takes place before school during zero hour
Choir (Verismo)
Choir (Bel canto)
Theater

17. Business Department Electives
Accounting
Business Management
Business Technology
Desktop Publishing
Personal Finance
Sports Marketing
Web Technology
Business Professionals of America
Students must have a business class first semester
Over 60 members each year
Option to compete in over 50 different events at regional, state, and national level individually or as a team.

18. 9th Grade Scheduling
Met with incoming 9th grade students (4/22/19) at WMS and explained the scheduling process.
Students received a scheduling packet
Available online:
Please review the materials with your child. Paperwork will require student and parent signatures.
Scheduling forms are due to WMS office on April 29
WHS counselors will be meeting with all 8th graders individually April 30 & May 1 to discuss schedule requests.

19. Scheduling Packet
Form 1: Directions for filling out Scheduling Paperwork
Form 2: Graduation Requirements
Form 3: 2019/20 Master Schedule

20. Scheduling Packet Continued
Form 4: Scheduling Information Sheet
Form 5: Elective Choices Sheet
Form 6: 3 Schedule Options Sheet

21. Make Informed Course Selections
Consider required and elective course selections carefully keeping in mind future career or post-secondary options.
Semester Abroad
Have a “Plan A”, “Plan B” and “Plan C” for your course selections.
Schedules available at orientation in August.
Drop and add session in August.
For schedule change requests.
Information ed home in early August.

22. Sample Four-Year Plan #1
Grade
English
4 credits
Social Studies
3 credits
Math
Science
Elective
8 total credits
9th
English 9
US History
Geometry
Physical Science
Health PE
Spanish I
10th
English 10
World History
Algebra I
Biology
Bus. Tech
Bus. Mgmt
Spanish II
11th
English 11
Civics
Economics
Algebra II
Earth Science
Ceramics
Art I
Spanish III
12th
AP English Literature
Pre-Calculus
Personal Finance
Sociology
Spanish IV

23. Sample Four-Year Plan #2
Grade
English
4 credits
Social Studies
3 credits
Math
Science
Elective
8 total credits
9th
English 9
US History
Algebra I
Physical Science
Band/Choir
Health PE
10th
English 10
World History
Algebra II
Biology
Spanish I
11th
English 11
Civics
Economics
Pre-Calculus
Earth Science
Spanish II
12th
AP English Literature
AP Statistics
Personal Finance
Art I

24. Four-Year Plan Possibilities...
Dual Enrollment (9-12)
Michigan Virtual Online Learning (9-12)
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses (10-12)
Wilson Talent Center (11 & 12)
Work-based learning (11 & 12)
Early College (11, 12, 13)
Semester Abroad (12)

25. Scheduling & Contact Information
As a reminder, all scheduling and staff contact information can be found on the WHS website

26. Thank you for attending!
We look forward to welcoming your student
to Williamston High School in the fall!