1. Valley Forge Middle School Class of 2016
8th to 9th Transition
Valley Forge Middle School
Class of 2016

2. Upcoming Events & Deadlines
February 2, 2012
CHS counselors visit VFMS 8th graders and give out course selection cards. CHS counselors will go over, in detail, the Conestoga course selection process.
**Students should have their Program of Studies booklet with them.
February 7, 2012
Conestoga Special Areas and Core Class Department Chairs visit VFMS and make presentations to our students regarding course offerings, credit requirements, and other curricular information.
Special Areas:  8:00am - 8:46am (1st period)
Core: 12:06pm - 1:44pm (6th & 7th periods)
February 8-17, 2012 (Wednesday to the following Friday)
8th grade teachers will make recommendations on students’ course selection cards.
February 17, 2012 (Friday)
Completed course selection cards are due back to Mrs. Neary.

3. CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR 9-12
English 4.0
Social Studies 3.0
Science 3.0
Math 3.0
Core Electives 2.0
Must include at least one course in each of these three areas:
Visual & Performing Arts
Business & Technology
Family and Consumer Sciences
Health & Phys Ed 1.9
Culminating Project 0.1
after freshman year (can be a college application)
Electives 5.0

4. World Language Requirements
Level 1, 2 – CHS; if changing languages for 9th, must take minimum of 2.0 credits
Level CHS; if continuing same MS language for 9th, must take minimum of 1.0 credits in same language and 1.0 elective in any other course.
**every student must finish at least one Level 2 or 3 language course at CHS
**Any student planning to attend college should take a minimum of 4 years of ONE language at CHS.

5. COURSE LEVELS: Academic (A) Accelerated (X) Honors (H)
serious academic studies- pace is modified to accommodate the individual needs and abilities of the students. College-prep level.
Accelerated (X)
solid foundation for success in most colleges and universities. Pace is accelerated and the workload is demanding.
Honors (H)
taught at high school level, but like AP courses, provide greatest challenge and best preparation for success at academically rigorous colleges.
Advanced Placement (AP)
college-level courses taught according to syllabi prescribed by The College Board Advanced Placement Program. Possible college credit can be awarded by the college through AP tests.

6. Course Levels – 9th grade Core classes
SCIENCE
Biology
AP, H, X, A
ENGLISH
World Literature
H, X, A
SOCIAL STUDIES
World History
AP, H, X
MATH
Next level after 8th grade math class
Offered: A, X, H for all freshman math classes
LANGUAGES
French, German, Latin, Spanish
Italian, Chinese
Offered: A, X, H for levels 1-3.

7. AP COURSES – 9th Grade offered only in Biology & World History
For students with:
Strong reading and writing skills
Strong motivation ( pages of text + note-taking)
College-level text books
Strong organizational and study skills
Speed matters: reading and notes
For students who have excellent attendance
AP is not a track…

8. HEALTH – 9th grade No summer Health
Freshman Health is now called “Health & Fitness”
Semester course meeting every day (6/6 days of cycle)
4/6 days Health (one full semester)
2/6 days Phys. Ed. (lab)

9. PHYS. ED. – 9th Grade Called “PE – 9”
Semester course
Meets 2/6 days
PE required in 10th through 12th grades
After 9th grade, students can substitute PE with “alternative experiences” (sports, ‘extended experience’, etc)

10. Periods Per Cycle
Students must schedule 36 (min.) and 42 (max.) periods per cycle
Exceptions not counted towards the 42 class period cap:
ESL
Resource Room
Co-Curriculars
Writing: Spoke (newspaper), Lit. Mag., Yearbook
Science Olympiad
Music Groups: Camerata, Chanteuses, Chorale, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble
Experiential Learning Opportunities -ELO (online courses, service learning)
Academic Seminars
Science labs

11. STUDENT BLOCK SCHEDULE
1st Semester
2nd Semester
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Period 5
Period 6
Period 7
Period 8

12. 9th Grade Student BLOCK SCHEDULE
1st Semester
2nd Semester
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Period 5
Period 6
Period 7
Period 8
WORLD LITERATURE
WORLD HISTORY
MATH
BIOLOGY
WORLD LANGUAGE0
HEALTH & FITNESS
PE 9
ELECTIVE
ELECTIVE
ELECTIVE
STUDY HALL
STUDY HALL

13. LUNCH Four 30-minute lunch period per day – 5th or 6th period
You find out first day of school which one you have.
Does not count to 42 periods per semester

14. ENGLISH CO-CURRICULARS
Applications due back to CHS
Newspaper (Spoke)
Yearbook
Lit. Mag.
Multimedia Mag.

15. See Mrs. Neary Make an appointment! Before school After school
Lunch or lunch activity
Make an appointment!