Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 23-19

WELCOME to West Potomac!
excellence is a tradition
WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL

Rising 9th/Curriculum Night
Tonight’s Agenda
• 6:00-6:55pm
• Welcome
• Overview of Academic Advising
• Overview of Advanced Academics at WPHS
• 7:05 – 8:20pm
• Curriculum Breakout Sessions – Quander Rooms
• Electives Open House - Cafeteria

West Potomac High School!
Welcome futureWolverines to
“Ad Astra Per Aspera”

Excellence is aTradition

Resource for Academic Advising
• WPHS Student Services Website

We messaged this to 8th graders last week!

the start of your
journey!
WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL • 2018-2019
Welcome futureWolverines to

C2G
First thing we need to discuss…

Standard Diploma
Requirements
Proposed Standard Diploma Requirements for Students entering 9th
grade for first time in 2019-20
Subject Standard Credits Verified Credits
English 4 2
Math 3 1
Laboratory Science 3 1
History and Social Sciences 3 1
Health and Physical Education 2
World Language, Fine Arts, or Career and
Technical Education 2
Economics and Personal Finance(virtual course) 1
Electives 4
AP, Honors, or Career and Technical
Education Credential
First Aid/CPR/AED Training (via PE 9)
Total Credits 22 5

Advanced Studies Diploma Requirements
Proposed Advanced Diploma Requirements for Students entering 9th
grade for first time in 2019-20
Subject Standard Credits Verified Credits
English 4 2
Math 4 1
Laboratory Science 4 1
History and Social Sciences 4 1
Health and Physical Education 2
World Language 3 or 2/2
Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education 1
Economics and Personal Finance(virtual course) 1
Electives 3
AP, Honors, or Career and Technical
Education Credential
First Aid/CPR/AED Training (via PE 9)
Total Credits 26 5

Academic Advising 2019-20
• What is it?
• Process to select your 7 classes for 2019-20
• Why is it important?
• Determines staffing at WPHS to ensure you get the classes you select
• In September there are no class changes! So take time to make these
important decisions

Expunging Middle School
Grades
• Students may take high school credit courses while in middle school
• Algebra 1, Geometry, World Language, ESOL
• Parents may request that grades for any high school credit-bearing course taken
in the middle school be removed from the student’s high school transcript
• Student will not earn high school credit for the course or be eligible for a verified credit in
the course
• The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to
the high school the student will attend the following year, prior to the end of the
first nine weeks. See current version of FCPS Regulation 2408
• Summer 2019 Classes may NOT be expunged – Summer 2019 begins your HS
Courses.
• Form available on WPHS Student Services Website

2019-2020 Schedule
PE

Typical 9th Grade Schedule
• English 9/English 9 HN
• World History and Geography 1/WHG 1 HN
• Math (see next slide)
• Science
• Health and PE 9
• World Language (see later slide) or Elective (see later slide)
• Elective

• Algebra 1 Part 1 and Algebra 1 (double-block)
Algebra 1 Part 1 is an elective credit
• Algebra 1/Algebra 1 HN
• Geometry/Geometry HN
• Algebra 2/Algebra 2 HN
Teacher feedback is very important!
Typical 9th Grade ScheduleMath Options for Rising 9th
Graders

• Biology Honors
• Individual research Project (Ex: Science Fair) is a requirement
for the class!
• Environmental Science

• French
• German
• Latin
• Spanish
• Spanish for Fluent Speakers (class designed for
student with a background in Spanish or who speak
Spanish at home).
Teacher feedback is important for upper levels!
World Languages

Health and
Physical Education
• PE 9
• 2 quarter of Health
• 2 Quarters of Physical Education
• PE 9 is a PREREQUISITE for PE 10 (Drivers Ed)

Special Education
• Middle School Case Manager makes
recommendations based on the
student’s IEP
• Support available as needed
• Strategies for Success
• Literacy Essentials
• Personal Development

ESOL – English Speakers of other Languages
• Middle School ESOL Dept. will determine each
student’s ESOL level for 2019-20
• Courses determined by the ESOL level
• WIDA testing Jan/Feb – prepare and do your best!

9th Grade Electives
• English
Journalism, PhotoJournalism 1, Creative Writing, Film Study, Debate,
Literacy Lab
• Math
Computer Science (Co-requisite of Algebra 2)
• Social Studies
AP Human Geography
• Business
Economics & Personal Finance (required for graduation)
Programming, Accounting, Business Law/Business Management
• Marketing
Marketing

9th Grade Electives
• Technology Education
STEM Design, Electronics, Aerospace Science
• Visual Arts
Studio Art 1, Digital Art and Design 1, Photography 1
• Performing Arts
Band, Orchestra, Guitar, Percussion Ensemble, Piano, Chorus
(recommendation/audition)
• Theatre Arts
Theatre Arts 1, Technical Theatre 1
• West Potomac Academy
Dance 1
• General
Army JROTC 1, AVID, Leadership Training (interview)

an elective option!
• Advancement Via Individual Determination
• AVID is an academic program designed to increase the rigor
of coursework taken by West Potomac students.
• Every AVID student is in at least one Honors/AP.
• All AVID Students have the goal of going to college!
• Over the last four years all AVID seniors who applied to a
four year college were accepted into at least one four year
school!
• Application required – see Ms. Caldwell for more
information
• Young Scholar? This is a great fit for you!

Advanced
Academics
world‘s greatest high school
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

What is the Advanced Academics Program?
Rigorous academic studies
Open access to all students
Academic exploration and knowledge beyond the standard course of
study
Require dedication of time and individual effort beyond the school day
College preparatory (Honors) and college-level (AP) courses

Basics
The
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

Honors Courses
College preparatory courses offered to either prepare
students for AP Courses or where a comparable AP course
does not exist.
Students who do well in Honors courses have a
foundation for doing well in AP and college courses.
Have a +0.5 weighted grade overall.

Advanced Placement
College-level courses offered in high school. Reflect what is
taught in top introductory college courses
AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well
students have mastered college-level course work, taken in
May. (Some classes also have an SOL.)
Have a +1.0 weighted grade overall (upon successful
completion of the course and AP exam.)

Of Taking Advanced Courses
Benefits
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

Rigor of high school curriculum is linked to success in college
Expand a student’s ability to read, write, and think critically;
analyze and solve problems; and build 21st century skills.
Advanced Academics courses can bolster a HS transcript and
improve college acceptance.
 Recognition by College Board of outstanding academic
performance
Many colleges grant credit for courses in which students earn
a qualifying score on AP examinations.

What to Expect from AP
classes?
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL • 2018 -2019
Typically demand more of students than on-level or honors courses.
Tend to be faster-paced and cover more content material.
More time outside of class required.
 Extensive reading
Strong expectation for students to:
think critically
analyze and synthesize facts and data
weigh competing perspectives
write clearly and persuasively.

Supports
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

 West Potomac’s Strong Curriculum Team Culture: Working collaboratively, teachers
can structure common activities, interventions, and instruction based on analysis of
assessments.
 Diverse Instructional Approaches: Project-based learning (PBL), Blended learning,
Hands-on and other strategies that encourages student collaboration
 Silver Rotation: Remediation/intervention period on every Silver day during which
student can visit teachers.
 Mastery Learning Policies: Opportunities to relearn and show mastery of material
already covered.
 WICOR Strategies: WICOR strategies stem from AVID philosophy and are becoming a
mainstay of West Potomac instructional culture

You! (Parents/Guardians)
Advanced Academics is for the PREPARED not the ELITE
Rigor ≠ More work…BALANCE is key
Time Management and organizational skills
Play to strengths and interest areas when selecting
courses
Last and most important support

Information
Additional
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

 All registration materials are located on the WPHS website
through the Student Services office
https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-
services/academic-advising
 Further information on Advanced Academic Programs can be
found on the FCPS website
http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml

IMPORTANT DATES
• January 8/9: WP Counselors visit SMS
• January 23: Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising and Curriculum
Night
• March 15: Course Selections available on ParentVue
• March 22: Deadline to make any change to course selections –
contact High School Counselor
• April: Course Selection Verification mailed home for review
• Corrections by end of March – final deadline May 1st

Action Items
• BRING your course selection sheet to counselor
meeting.
• Select seven courses and two alternate electives.
• Seek out teacher feedback (HN – expected to stay in
the course for the first nine weeks).
• Work with your counselor
• Sign up for News You Choose WPHS and Class of 2023
• Start Planning Summer 2019 (Activities – Aug 1!)
• For more information, visit our website:
https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/
under “Student Services” and “Academic Advising”

What’s next??

An exciting journey ahead!!

Thank you and Go Wolverines!!

Rising 9th grade curriculum night presentation 1 23-19

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