1) The document provides information for parents about course selection for students entering Grade 9 at ZIS. It outlines the graduation requirements and gives details on the core classes all students must take as well as the language, math, elective and other options. 2) Key dates are provided for submitting course request forms as well as several parent transition events to help with the transition from middle to upper school. 3) Questions are invited from parents about their student's individual situations and course selection process.

1. Grade 8 Parent Information Evening:
Course Requests for Grade 9
February 23rd, 2015

2. ZIS Links
• This PowerPoint will be available on
the Parents’ Portal.
• You are welcome to take notes, but it
is not required 

3. Tonight’s Purpose
• Begin transition process
• Basic background information
about the Upper School
• Outline process for course
selection
• Go over the course selection
choices

4. Assumptions
• Child in Grade 8 at ZIS
• Know about ZIS Middle School
• Don’t know as much about ZIS
Upper School
• Excited (& nervous) for child to
be in “High School”

5. Welcome to the Upper School
• Jonathan Kirkwood
Upper School Assistant Principal Grades 9 and 10
• Adrian Castelli
History Teacher
Grade 9 Program Coordinator

6. Class of 2019

7. Welcome to the Upper School
• Tonight is the beginning of an
important transition: Middle School
→ High School
• Many transition events planned for
Students, Parents and Teachers
• “Transition Program” is outlined on
handout
• August 18th
= First day of High
School!

8. Upper
School
=
Seriou
s

9. Parent Transition Events
• Parent Transition Tours:
• Monday, March 17th
, 14:30 – 15:45
• Friday, April 16th
, 14:30 – 15:45
• Monday, May13th
, 9:00 – 10:15
– An email with information on how to register will be sent
by PA rep
• Grade 8 Parent Transition Information
Evening:
– Student and teacher perspectives/ Panel Discussion
– May 12th
at 18:30 in the Upper School Theater

10. Student Transition Events
• Course Selection Information Meetings (Feb /
Mar)
• Advisory Q & A Feb / (April)
• Student Tours of Upper School (May)
• Student End of Year BBQ (June)
• Grade9 Student Orientation (13:00 Monday,
August 17th
)
• First day of High School (Tuesday, August 18th
,
2015)

11. Upper School Schedule
D
2015/16

12. Upper School Schedule
• School Day Starts at 8.45
• School Day Ends at 15.50
• Early Release at 14.50 on Wednesday
• 8 courses (A to H)
• Each course meets 5 times every 2
weeks
• 4 periods per day
• Periods are 80 minutes (75 min on
Wednesday)
• M, T, Th, Fri Advisory meetings
• 50 minute lunch

13. Upper School Schedule
2014/15

14. Upper School Schedule

15. Graduation Requirements
• 4 credits English
• 2 credits World Language
• 3 credits Social Studies
• 3 credits Science
• 3 credits Math
• 2 credits Creative Arts
• 2 credits Physical Education
• 4 credits Electives
• Service Learning

16. Graduation Requirements
• Each class counts as 1
credit
English 9 = 1 English
Credit
• By the end of Grade 12 you
need to fulfill the minimum
requirements
• Information recorded on
“Transcript”
• Only minor impact on

17. Graduation Requirements
• 4 credits English
• 2 credits World Language
• 3 credits Social Studies
• 3 credits Science
• 3 credits Math
• 2 credits Creative Arts
• 2 credits Physical Education
• 4 credits Electives
• Service Learning

18. Graduation Requirements
• 4 credits English
• 2 credits World
Language
• 3 credits Social Studies
• 3 credits Science
• 3 credits Math
• 2 credits Creative Arts
• 2 credits PE
• 4 credits Electives
• Service Learning
Helpful to fulfill
Creative Arts
requirement in
Grade 9 & 10
Students taking the
full IB in grade 11
& 12 may not be
able to take Creative
Arts class

19. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
• History I
• English 9
• Coordinated Science I
• PE / Health 9
• German
• Math
• Elective 1
• Elective 2

20. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
• History I
• Coordinated Science I No selection
• English 9 required
• PE / Health 9
• German Student must
• Math select level
• Elective 1 Student can
• Elective 2 select courses

21. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
• History I
• Coordinated Science I No selection
• English 9 required**
• PE / Health 9
• German Student must
• Math select level
• Elective 1 Student can
• Elective 2 select courses

22. Grade 9 Humanities Option
• Interdisciplinary course
• Explore issues that challenge human
societies
• Extends their understanding of the world
around them in local and global contexts
• Blends together English, Geography,
History, and World Religions
• Students earn 2 credits
• Taken instead of English 9 and History 1

23. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
• History I
• Coordinated Science I No selection
• English 9 required
• PE / Health 9
• German Student must
• Math select level
• Elective 1 Student can
• Elective 2 select courses

24. Math Options
• Math 9 Studies
• Math 9
• Math 9 Honors
Current Math
teacher will help
you determine
which course is
most
appropriate.

25. German Options
All students must enroll in one German
class.
• German I
• German 1b / 2a
• German II
• German 2b
• German III
• German IV
• German Studies for Fluent Speakers
• German Standard for Fluent Speakers
Current German teacher will help you determine which

26. German – from MS to US
German Mother
Tongue
Speakers/
Mother
German Studies for
Fluent Speakers
German Standard for
Fluent Speakers
German:
Beginner/Basics
Intermediate
Advanced
German I, Ib, II, IIb,
III or IV
based on recommendation of teacher.
MS German Course
US German Course

27. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
• History I
• Coordinated Science I No selection
• English 9 required
• PE / Health 9
• German Student must
• Math select level
• Elective 1 Student can
• Elective 2 select courses

28. Elective Options
Languages
• French
• Spanish
Creative Arts
• Concert Band
• Concert Choir
• Creative Music
• *Composition Workshop
• Essential Theater
• Foundation Art and
Design
English
• EAL III
• Digital
Journalism*
does not count as an English
credit.
Other
• Learning Support
• Virtual High
School (VHS)

29. French Options
• French I
• French II
• French III
• French IV
• French for Fluent Speakers
Current French teacher will
help you determine which
course is most appropriate.

30. Spanish Options
• Spanish I
• Spanish II
• Spanish III
• Spanish IV
• Spanish for Fluent
Speakers
Current Spanish teacher will help you
determine which course is most
appropriate.

31. Creative Arts Requirements
• 2 Creative Arts credits
needed to graduate.
• Art, Music and Drama
classes all count towards
this requirement.
• STRONGLY encouraged
to complete this
requirement before Gr 11.
• *especially true for IB Diploma students

32. Music Options
• Creative Music
Gives students a chance to explore music and musicianship
through a wide range of activities. Students will learn
skills on the guitar and keyboards for a large portion of
the course and apply those skills to performance and
composition. Students get to choose the music that they
enjoy the most…
• *Composition Workshop
• Concert Band
• Concert Choir
• String Orchestra

33. Art Option
 Foundation Art and Design
Aims to provide a firm foundation in the fundamentals of Art
and Design. The curriculum provides a broad range of
experiences utilizing the full range of media available in the
Art department, including painting, drawing, graphic design,
sculpture, digital software and photography.

34. Drama Option
 Essential Theater
Introductory course
designed to give
students a sampling of
what the theater has to
offer. The course covers
both work on-stage and
backstage. Students are
exposed to acting and to
the history of theater
through scripted work
and improvisation

35. English Elective Options
Digital Journalism
Multimedia news, opinion features
and investigative reports.
Publication on individual blogs and
school newspaper, The Lion’s
Journal
Teamwork and cooperation on
projects and shared publications.

36. Virtual High School (VHS)
• More information at http://www.govhs.org
• Not a common course for grade 9 students.
• Students who choose this option should be
independent workers, self-motivated and
serious in their studies.
• Permission is needed to enroll. Talk to
Ms. Johnson

37. Mandatory “Electives”
Some Students may be “required” to take
certain electives based on teacher
recommendations.
 EAL
Students enroll in EAL and English 9 at
the same time.
 Learning Support
Designed to assist students achieve a
level of skills which enables them to
compete in the mainstream academic
arena and make progress towards the
completion of their education goals.

38. What’s Next?
• Student Meetings: Students will have a
chance to hear this same information on
Wednesday.
• Conversations: Students, teachers and
parents talk about the most appropriate classes
for next year.
• Research: Go to http://www.zis.ch/ to view
the Program of Studies for more information
about each class
• Complete: Fill-out the Course Request Form

40. Course Selection Timeline:
• February 24th
: Parent Information
Meeting
• February 25th
/ March 4th
: Student
Information Meetings. Students
receive Course Request Forms
• Now – March 7th
(Kilchberg) March
14th
(Baden) Students discuss course
selection with parents and current
teachers
• By March 20th
or March 27th
:

41. Questions???
• Right Now: General interest questions as a
large group
• In A Moment: Specific questions about
personal situations. Mr. Kirkwood and
Mr. Castelli will be available to speak with
you individually.
• Additional Information: Grade 9
Transition Program email sent from PA
Rep.

42. Key Dates
• March 20/27th
– Course Request
Forms Due
• March 17th
– Parent “Transition
Tour” #1
• April 16th
– Parent “Transition Tour”
#2
• May 13th
– Parent “Transition Tour”
#3
• May 12th
– Grade 8 Parent
Information Evening