Freshman Course Guide 2014-2015
Pope High School
Freshman Course Guide
2014-2015
Welcome Class of 2018
Freshman Course Offerings
Welcome to Pope High School, a Georgia School of Excellence. We look forward to your becoming a part of one of the best schools in Cobb County. Our strong academic, technology, and career programs, along with varied and worthwhile extracurricular activities, can make your next four years among the most meaningful you will ever experience. Careful planning is very important. Select your courses after careful study and consideration by you and your parents. The following information will be helpful to you in making your course selections for the 2014-2015 school year.
All Pope High School students register for classes based on their performance and teacher recommendations. All changes/modifications will be based on course needs and availability.
Thank you for taking the time to investigate the wealth of course offerings that Pope High School is proud to offer. On behalf of all of the administrative team, we look forward to personally welcoming you to Pope High School.
As you choose courses, keep in mind that the best advisors about your potential and ability are your teachers. Your academic courses have been selected by your teachers after reviewing your grades, test scores and previous classroom performance. It is not the philosophy of the school to place students in classes which will be discouraging or overwhelming to students. If you choose a course not recommended by your teacher, you must indicate this request for placement change on your registration form or by completing a waiver form which can be found on our website or in the Curriculum Office at Pope.
Welcome to Pope and Best Wishes for a great 2014-2015 school year.
Go Hounds!
Bob Downs Loretta Clune
Principal AP Curriculum & Instruction
Administrative Team
Bob Downs / PrincipalLoretta Clune / Assistant Principal
Lisa Williams / Assistant Principal
Nancy Zarbnisky / Assistant Principal
Josh Mathews / Assistant Administrator /Athletic Director
Clerical Support Staff
Kim Allen / School SecretaryTerry Vorobel / Front Office Clerk
Terri Sabo / PPO Clerk/ Attendance
Marti Schmitz / Scheduling//Curriculum Management Clerk
Emily Tilden / Bookkeeper
School Counselors (Pope Counseling Office 770.578.7903)
Name / Responsible for Last Names Beginning…..Kathryn Sax / A-E
Leslie Shearstone / F-Le
Angie Bruce / Li-R
Jamie Hamrick / S-Z
Keeley Bailey / School Social Worker
Other Counseling Department Members Who Can Help:
Karen Kendall, Counseling Clerk
Alice Brown and Karen Odell, Records Clerks
THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Pope High School uses a 7-period day that incorporates an Academic Opportunity (Homeroom) period and a Teacher Collaboration (X-Block- our early release time period). This schedule provides for 45-55 minute classes during the week (depending on the day) where students take most classes for the entire school year. Each student is assigned a period for lunch. For daily bell schedules please refer to the Pope website.
Course credit is established in Carnegie units. Students register for six classes per semester. All course credits count toward the total requirement for graduation. Students can earn six units of credits per year.
Academic core courses refer to English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language classes and the specific requirements are outlined in the “Graduation Requirements” section of this booklet.
Academic elective courses are additional English, Math, Science, Social Studies or Foreign Language courses other than the ones specifically required for graduation by the Georgia Department of Education. Other elective courses include Physical Education, Art, Music, Business, Career or Technology classes.
For Hope Scholarship eligibility please refer to the Georgia Student Finance Commission website at www.gsfc.org.
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
For the fall semester, all first year freshmen are eligible to participate in sports, cheerleading, chorus, band, orchestra, drama, hold a club office, or be a member of a club. However, in order to participate in any sport or fine art competition for the spring semester and beyond, students must pass 5 out of 6 courses (2.5 Credits) in the fall.
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
Final exams will be given in each course the last three days before winter holidays for Fall Semester classes and before the end of school in May for Spring Semester classes. For certain core classes (CCGPS Coordinate Algebra, CCGPS Coordinate Algebra /Geometry, CCGPS Geometry, Biology and Ninth Grade Literature), an End of Course Test (“EOCT”) mandated by the State will serve as the final exam. The EOCTs are generally conducted a week or two before final exam week.
First semester begins August 4, 2014 and ends December 19, 2014. Second semester begins on January 6, 2015 and ends May 21, 2015.
FRESHMEN ADVISEMENT
In the spring semester, you and your parents will have an opportunity to create a Four Year Plan for the remainder of your high school coursework to ensure that you know how to meet your Graduation Requirements. At that time, you will have one semester of high school grades and your PSAT results to help guide placing you in appropriate classes for your skills, interests and post-secondary plans.
It is Not Too Early to Think about College!
It is Pope’s desire (and part of our mission) that students become life-long learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to compete successfully in a global society. We expect our students to continue their education after high school graduation and indeed to continue it throughout adulthood. Post-secondary education could be a traditional four-year college or university, a two-year (community) college, a technical college or institute, or a vocational program. Other students may choose to enter the world of work or the military service after high school graduation.
As you choose a course of study, classes and levels of classes, please always have in mind your post-secondary plans. The course of study for graduation from Pope High School is based on minimum state requirements. Many colleges have admissions criteria that exceed these basic requirements.
EACH POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH HIGHER STANDARDS THAN THOSE LISTED. CHECK IN ADVANCE WITH THE COLLEGES OF YOUR CHOICE. MANY COLLEGES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL UNITS OF SOCIAL STUDIES AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE AS WELL AS ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, CAREER TECH OR FINE ARTS.
Visit Pope’s website at: www.cobbk12.org/pope .
Please become familiar with the requirements and criteria of the college(s) that interest you. Do your homework! Requirements differ not only from college to college, but requirements can vary between courses of study. Requirements may also change from year to year. www.gacollege411.org is a great resource for career and college planning. The best place to find college admission information is directly from the college website. Pope counselors can assist you; it is best to begin the discussion earlier in your high school career rather than later for the most effective planning.
Graduation Requirements
In September, 2007, the State Board of Education passed a new set of graduation requirements that went into effect for students enrolling in the ninth grade for the first time in 2008-2009 and beyond. The rule was revised in conjunction with the implementation of the new Georgia Performance Standards in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, as well as electives.
All students will be required to complete a total of 23 units for graduation. All students must complete:
· 4 units of English
· 4 units of Science
· 4 units of Mathematics
· 3 units of Social Studies
· 3 units from : Foreign Language* and/or CTAE and/or Fine Arts for all students
· 4 units additional electives
· ½ unit health
· ½ unit personal fitness
*Students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia Institution MUST take at least two units of the same foreign language. Some colleges such as Clemson and the College of Charleston require 3 units of the same foreign language.
**Note - Some colleges require a unit of Fine Arts such as University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee and all California Public Colleges
Please consult the website of the colleges you are interested in for detailed requirements.
End of Course Tests (EOCT) are required in 9th Lit, Biology and Math Freshman year. The EOCT counts 20% of the course grade and the course must be passed in order to graduate.
Promotion Requirements
In order to promote to the 10th grade a student must earn 5 units, and 3 of those units must be in English, Science and Math.
ENGLISH
Graduation Requirements
1 unit Ninth Literature (EOCT)1 unit English Literature (British Literature)
1 unit American Literature or AP Lang/American Lit.(EOCT)And at least one of the following:
World Literature, Multicultural Literature, AP Literature, AP Language 12th
English/ESOL 1/2 unit per semester
This course is designed for the student for whom English is a second language. This course integrates basic English grammar and vocabulary by emphasizing comprehension and production of spoken and written English. This course focuses on interpersonal communication skills and United States culture.
Ninth Lit/Comp Honors AB 1/2 unit per semester
May EOCT 20%
This course is an accelerated course designed for the student who has a serious interest in the interpretation of literature. It integrates writing, grammar and usage, speaking and listening, and a research paper. It includes reading a variety of genres: short stories, novels, tales, poetry, mythology, drama and nonfiction, and emphasizes oral and written response to literature, distinguishing characteristics of various genres and vocabulary study.
Ninth Lit/Comp A&B 1/2 unit per semester
May EOCT 20%
This course integrates composition, grammar and literature in a variety of genres. It covers the writing process: planning drafting, revising, editing and proofing. The development of vocabulary, speaking, listening, and a research paper will be included. Some sections will be co-taught with a special education teacher to make indicated adjustments in methodology and management.
MATHEMATICS
Graduation Requirements
1 unit CCGPS Coordinate Algebra
1 unit CCGPS Analytic Geometry
1 unit CCGPS Advanced Algebra
The 4th unit may be CCGPS Pre-Calculus, Advanced Mathematical Decision Making, Statistical Reasoning, AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Statistics, or Multivariable Calculus.
CCGPS Coordinate Algebra A & B 1/2 unit per semester May EOCT 20%
The fundamental purpose of Coordinate Algebra is to formalize and extend the mathematics that students learned in the middle grades. The critical areas, organized into units, deepen and extend understanding of linear relationships, in part by contrasting them with exponential phenomena, and in part by applying linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend. Coordinate Algebra uses algebra to deepen and extend understanding of geometric knowledge from prior grades. The final unit in the course ties together the algebraic and geometric ideas studied. Freshmen entering in this course can expect to finish high school with CCGPS Pre-Calculus.
Accelerated CCGPS Coordinate Algebra / Analytic Geometry A&B 1/2 unit per semester May EOCT 20%
The fundamental purpose of Accelerated CCGPS Coordinate Algebra/Analytic Geometry A is to formalize and extend the mathematics that students learned in the middle grades. The critical areas, organized into units, deepen and extend understanding of linear relationships, in part by contrasting them with exponential phenomena, and in part by applying linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend. Coordinate Algebra uses algebra to deepen and extend understanding of geometric knowledge from prior grades. The next unit in the course ties together the algebraic and geometric ideas studied. Transformations on the coordinate plane provide opportunities for the formal study of congruence and similarity. The study of similarity leads to an understanding of right triangle trigonometry and connects to quadratics through Pythagorean relationships. The study of circles uses similarity and congruence to develop basic theorems relating circles and lines and rounds out the course. Freshmen entering in this course can expect to finish high school with AP Calculus BC and/or AP Statistics
CCGPS Analytic Geometry A & B 1/2 unit per semester
May EOCT 20%
The focus of Analytic Geometry on the coordinate plane is organized into 6 critical areas: Transformations on the coordinate plane provide opportunities for the formal study of congruence and similarity. The study of similarity leads to an understanding of right triangle trigonometry and connects to quadratics through Pythagorean relationships. The study of circles uses similarity and congruence to develop basic theorems relating circles and lines. The need for extending the set of rational numbers arises and real and complex numbers are introduced so that all quadratic equations can be solved. Quadratic expressions, equations, and functions are developed; comparing their characteristics and behavior to those of linear and exponential relationships from Coordinate Algebra. Circles return with their quadratic algebraic representations on the coordinate plane.
Freshmen entering in this course can expect to finish high school with AP Calculus AB and/or AP Statistics
CCGPS Honors Analytic Geometry A & B ½ unit per semester
May EOCT 20%
The focus of Honors Analytic Geometry is the same as Analytic Geometry but at greater depth. And is organized into 6 critical areas: Transformations on the coordinate plane provide opportunities for the formal study of congruence and similarity. The study of similarity leads to an understanding of right triangle trigonometry and connects to quadratics through Pythagorean relationships. The study of circles uses similarity and congruence to develop basic theorems relating circles and lines. The need for extending the set of rational numbers arises and real and complex numbers are introduced so that all quadratic equations can be solved. Quadratic expressions, equations, and functions are developed; comparing their characteristics and behavior to those of linear and exponential relationships from Coordinate Algebra. Circles return with their quadratic algebraic representations on the coordinate plane.
Freshmen entering in this course can expect to finish high school with AP Calculus AB and/or AP Statistics
Accelerated CCGPS Analytic Geometry B / Advanced Algebra 1/2 unit per semester
Dec. EOCT 20%
The focus of Accelerated CCGPS Analytic Geometry B / Advanced Algebra is organized into 10 critical areas. The need for extending the set of rational numbers arises and real and complex numbers are introduced so that all quadratic equations can be solved. Quadratic expressions, equations, and functions are developed; comparing their characteristics and behavior to those of linear and exponential relationships from Coordinate Algebra. Circles return with their quadratic algebraic representations on the coordinate plane. The link between probability and data is explored through conditional probability. They apply methods from probability and statistics to draw inferences and conclusions from data. Students expand their repertoire of functions to include polynomial, rational, and radical functions. They expand their study of right triangle trigonometry to model periodic phenomena. And, finally, students bring together all of their experience with functions and geometry to create models and solve contextual problems. Freshmen entering in this course can expect to finish high school with AP Calculus BC and Multivariable Calculus, along with an AP Statistics option.