10 12th grade curriculum night presentation 1-23-19

Academic Advising for 2019-20
excellence is a tradition
WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL

Curriculum/Advanced Academics Night 2019
world‘s greatest high school
Tonight’s Agenda
• 6:00-6:55pm
• Welcome/Introductions
• Overview of Academic Advising
• Overview of Advanced Academics at WPHS
• 7:05 – 8:30pm
• Curriculum Breakout Sessions – Quander Rooms
• Electives Open House - Cafeteria

Advanced
Academics
ENGAGED
LEARNING
SUPPORT
SYSTEMS
DEEPENED
CULTURE

WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL • 2018-2019
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

world‘s greatest high school
 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
http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/studentservices/stu
dentservices.html
 Further information on Advanced Academic Programs can be
found on the FCPS website
http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml

Excellence is aTradition

• Graduation requirements are based on the year you
entered high school.
• Graduation requirements are different for our current
9th graders and those in 10th and 11th.
• We will briefly review these requirements and you can
visit the course catalog on the West Potomac website
for more information.

Standard Diploma for those entering high school in 2016-17
and 2017-18 (current 10th and 11th graders)

Advanced Diploma Requirements those entering high school in
2016-17 and 2017-18 (current 10th and 11th graders)

Standard Diploma Requirements for those entering high
school in 2018-2019 (current 9th graders)

Advanced Studies Diploma Requirements those entering
high school in 2018-19 (current 9th graders)

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
• Class changes are never a guarantee! So take time to make these
important decisions.
• Visit Student Service website for more course information!

Resource for Academic Advising
• WPHS Student Services Website

C2G
First thing we need to discuss…

2019-2020 Schedule
PE

Typical 10-12th Schedule
• English
• Social Studies
• Math (see next slide)
• Science
• PE or elective
• World Language (see later slide) or Elective
• Elective (see later slide)

• Algebra 1/Algebra 1 HN
• Geometry/Geometry HN
• AFDA – Algebra Functions and Data Analysis
• Algebra 2/Algebra 2 HN
• Precalculus/Precalculus HN
• AP Math/Math Electives
Typical 9th Grade ScheduleMath Options

• 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 important for upper levels!
World Languages

Health and
Physical Education
• Graduation Requirements
• PE 9 in 9th Grade
• PE 10
• 2 quarters of traditional PE
• 1 quarter of Drivers Ed
• 1 quarter of Health

Special Education
• Utilize case manager as support - Case
Manager submits feedback regarding
levels of support based on the student’s
IEP
• Support available as needed
• Strategies for Success
• Literacy Essentials
• Personal Development

ESOL – English Speakers of other Languages
• ESOL chair works closely with teachers and
counselors to review levels and recent scores and
determine appropriate placement.
• Levels will be reviewed in spring when February
WIDA testing scores come in.
• WIDA testing in February – prepare and do your
best!

Economics and Personal Finance
• Multiple ways to complete this requirement
• Traditional EPF course (612000)
• AP Micro/Macro Economics
• Self-paced EPF as 8th course/summer course
• Fee associated with course (about $150 with sliding scale
available)
• Online EPF (full course) – summer
• Summer Class fees apply
• Consider all options in determining what is best for you
• We encourage course in 11th/12th grade
• Wise Test – counts for CTE Credential Requirement for
Standard Diploma – make sure to take it!

Electives
• Review all options – visit open house in cafeteria NEXT!
• Consider your interest areas or areas you may want to learn more
about
• Use High School to explore subjects
• Naviance Students has tools to help students identify areas that may
be good fits
• Includes a tool to develop a four year course plan
• Talk with Teachers – Tonight and academic days of emphasis to get
course feedback.
• Electives Fair on January 28th during the school day for students.

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 five years all AVID seniors who applied to
a four year college were accepted into at least one four
year school!
• Application required – see Mr. Holloway tonight!

Things to do before selecting classes:
• Talk with teachers both tonight and current
classroom teacher
• Discuss student interest/motivation
• Review overall workload of seven courses
• Balance with other commitments (extra-curricular
activities, family time, leisure, etc.)
• Time management and organizational skills are
important

Student Wellness
• It is important to keep overall wellness in mind
during academic advising season
• Talk with your child – balancing rigor, activities, and
overall wellness
• Review how current year is going, compared to
previous years
• Think about what next year might include? Leading
a club? Applying to college?

Tips with Academic Advising
• Talk with your teachers
• Academic Days of Emphasis were on January 17 and 18
• Utilize the Electives Fair – January 28
• Be prepared for your counselor meeting
• Rising 10th and 11th through PE
• Rising 12th through English 11
• Review Course Catalog on Student Services website

IMPORTANT DATES
• January 17/18: Academic Days of Emphasis
• January 23: Curriculum Night/Advanced Academics/Electives Fair
Open House
• January 23: Materials Distributed in Advisory
• January 28: Electives Fair
• Course selections available on ParentVue after meeting with
counselor
• Maximum flexibility with adjustments through March 15
• Early April: Course Selection Verification mailed home for review
• May 1: Deadline for any updates/changes based on space
availability.

Viewing Course Requests in ParentVUE

Action Items
• Students should bring their course selection to
counselor meeting.
• Students will select seven courses and two
alternate electives.
• Seek out teacher Feedback (HN – expected to stay
in the course through October 1).
• Work with your counselor
• For more information, visit our website:
https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-services

An exciting journey continues!!

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10 12th grade curriculum night presentation 1-23-19

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