Wilson High School
Program of Studies
2012-2013
Studies
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
Wilson Senior High School
2601 Grandview Blvd.
West Lawn, PA 19609 610-670-0180
<www.wilsonsd.org>
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
Administration
High School Principal
George Fiore
High School Assistant Principals
Matthew Bender
Laura Shepler
Patrick Sasse
Jeffrey Ebert
Counseling Department
A-Fe Alison Emkey, Counselor
Fi-L William Pors, Counselor
All 9th Michael Piersol, Counselor M-R Becky G. Kaag, Counselor S-Z Sabrina L. Andrieux,
Counselor
WVA+ Rebeka Marconi, Counselor
Diane Arndt, Secretary
Kelly Williams, Secretary
Wilson School District Mission
Statement
Education Excellence today for tomorrow by:
Accentuating Rigor Building Relationships Creating Relevance
The ABC’s of the 3 R’s.
Wilson High School Mission
Statement
We at Wilson High School, in partnership with families and community, encourage the development of students to become principle-centered, life-long learners. We offer a diverse and dynamic curriculum that supports the development of learning skills for success in an ever-changing global society.
Wilson School District
Administration
Board of School Directors
Carol C. Reid– President
Jay Nigrini–Vice President
Dr. Steven Chmielewski
Steve Ehrlich
Jason B. Hopp
George E. Mack- Treasurer Michael W. Martin
Matt Wolf
Superintendent
Thomas (Rudy) Ruth, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent for
Administration and Technology
Steve Gerhard, Ed. D.
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Staff Development
Supervisor of Secondary Special
Education
Anne Douglas
Director of Finance and Support Service
Diane Richards
Public Information Director/Wilson Educa- tion Foundation Executive Director
Tracy Markle
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
Wilson High School is accredited by the Middle States Association for the years 2010-2015.
The Wilson School District complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Public Law 90-202 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or physical handicap.
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
Introduction
Selecting courses for the upcoming school year is an important decision-making process for students and families. The outcomes determine the academic opportunities and experiences a student will have at Wilson High School and create the foundation of knowledge from which the student can pursue future academic and career goals. It is the goal of the Wilson High School counselors and administrators, in conjunction with students and parents, to develop a schedule for each student that meets his or her educational needs and interests.
Please read carefully the scheduling information in this Program of Studies booklet. Students who need individual help are encouraged to make an appointment with their counselor. The counseling office is open from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm daily. Students or parents requesting appointments should call 610-670-0180, extension 1131. The teachers and administrators at Wilson High School will also offer assistance as needed.
The Wilson Curriculum
Academic subjects-English, social studies, mathematics, and science are offered at various instructional levels to accommodate individual differences with respect to learning, preferences, and educational background. Students should select the individual level within each discipline that affords the greatest opportunity for both intellectual challenge and academic success. It is important to review the course content prerequisites, credits, and instructional levels as indicated in the program of studies in order to make the appropriate course selections. Note: Some of the courses written in this catalog may not be offered every school year; it is dependent upon student request.
Students should read very carefully the course requirements of the Academic Academy programs while selecting courses. The Academic Academies suggested course sequences are contained within the Academy pages of the Program of Studies.
One of the outstanding features of Wilson High School is its philosophy of access, options and choice within the vast academic program. We are committed to providing an academic program that meets the needs of the individual student. With the assistance of the faculty and the counseling staff, Wilson High School students select from among the large number of distinct courses to develop a completely individualized program of study designed to address their personal, educational, and career needs and goals.
George Fiore
Principal
Table of
Contents
Policies
Promotion/Graduation...... 6
Promotion Requirements for 2010-11 and 2001-12 School Years
Credit Requirements for Senior Status ...... 6
Credit Requirements for Junior Status ...... 6
Graduation Requirements ...... 6
Credits ...... 6
Completion of a Culminating Project ...... 6
Attainment of Academic Standards...... 7
Paths to Graduation ...... 7
Keystone End of Course exams…………………………………………………………………7
Summer School Eligibility...... 8
Course Selection Process ...... 8
Schedule Change Procedure ...... 9
Interim Reports ...... 10
Mid-Term and Final Exam Policies ...... 10
Honor Roll Calculation ...... 10
High Honor Roll ...... 10
Honor Roll ...... 10
Advanced Placement Program ...... 10
Honors and AP Course Criteria...... 11
Class Rank ...... 11
Valedictorian/Salutatorian Selection ...... 12
National Honor Society...... 12
Courses Requiring Summer Assignments...... 13
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
Guidelines for Exempting Courses ...... 13
Guidelines for Students Participating in Post-Secondary Education ...... 15
Extracurricular Activity Eligibility Policy ...... 15
NCAA Rules and Regulations ...... 16
Berks Career & Technology Center ...... 16
Wilson High School Academies
STEM Academy ……………………………………………………………………….…..……….. 19
Advanced Placement Academy ……………………………………………………….……………...20
Global Studies Academy……………………………………………………………………………...21
Wilson Virtual Academy ………..…………………………………………………………..………..22
Berks Career and Technology Academy………………………………………………………...…....23
Course Descriptions
Art ...... 24
Business ...... 26
English and Reading...... 28
Family and Consumer Sciences ...... 34
Mathematics ...... 36
Music...... 39
Physical Education/Health & Driver Education ...... 41
Science ...... 45
Social Studies...... 49
Technology & Engineering Education………………………...... 60
World Languages ...... 65
Virtual Course Offerings……………………………………………………………………………..70
Special Programs
Junior Reserve Officers Training Courses ...... 72
School to Work...... 73
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
Policies
Promotion/Graduation
• Promotion Requirements for 2012-13 School Year
• Credit Requirements for Senior Status
In order to be recognized as a senior and placed in the senior class, students must have accrued
at least 17 credits by the end of July prior to their senior year. If the student has not accrued the credits specified above, he/she will be placed in a junior homeroom and deemed not aligned to graduate the following June.
• Credit Requirements for Junior Status
In order to be recognized as a junior and placed in a junior homeroom, students must have accrued
at least 10 credits by the end of July prior to their junior year. If the student has not accrued the credits
specified above, he/she will be placed in a sophomore homeroom.
• Graduation Requirements
• Credits
Students are required to earn 24 credits for graduation, class of 2015 will need 25*** credits for graduation. The following courses shall be included in the total credits required for graduation:
2012 – 13 Graduation Requirements*And
2013 – 14 Graduation Requirements**
Content Area / Credits
English / 4.0
Social Studies / 4.0
Math / 4.0*
Science / 3.0
Physical Education / 1.0
Health / 0.5
Electives / 7.5
Total Credits / 24.0
* Math from the 8th grade may be carried for credit only. *** And **Students will need to score proficient on the
Keystone end of course exam.
• Completion of a Culminating Project
In order to graduate from Wilson High School, a student must complete a project in one or more areas of concentrated study under the guidance and direction of the high school faculty. This project is mandated under the State of Pennsylvania Chapter 4 regulations. According to the law, “The purpose of the culminating projects is to assure that students are able to apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and communicate significant knowledge and understanding.”
Wilson High School Program of Studies 2012-13 Page 2
The purpose of the Wilson High School culminating or graduation project is to allow all students the opportunity to explore a career they might be interested in pursuing. Students may investigate this career in one of three ways: career research, community service, or a creative project. Each contains a series of steps the student must complete starting in ninth grade and continuing to twelfth grade. For in-depth information on the project, refer to Wilson High School’s Culminating Project handbook and the Wilson High school web site.
Transfer Students
Any student who transfers into the Wilson School District will be responsible to complete a cul-
minating project prior to his/her graduation. The requirements will remain the same for a student who transfers in as a sophomore or junior as that of a current sophomore or junior already in the district. If a student transfers in as a senior, special arrangements will be made with the culminating project coordinator to complete this state-mandated graduation requirement. If a student completes his/her culminating project at another school, the student will not be responsible to complete another project at Wilson. However, a student may still need to complete a project in order to receive honor of distinction at graduation for any of the academy requirements.
• Attainment of Academic Standard
According to Wilson School District graduation policy (#217), besides the completion of the grades nine through twelve instructional program and a culminating project, the students graduating in 2003 and thereafter must demonstrate the attainment of academic standards in reading, writing, and mathematics at the “Proficient” level on local or State assessments.
• Paths to Graduation for All Students:
1. A student who scores at the proficient level on the 11th grade PSSA math, reading and writing assessments, and passes all courses with 24.0 credits, and successfully completes a culminating project, will graduate in June of their senior year.
2. A high school student who has not met Pennsylvania standards as determined by Wilson School District in any of the four assessed areas (mathematics, reading, writing, science) must remediate in all deficient areas to graduate. The methods of remediation for individual subject areas will be specified by administration and may result in student electives being specified or eliminated in order to meet graduation requirements.
3. Any junior who has not scored proficient on the PSSA will be required to take the PSSA retest
in his/her senior year.
• Keystone End of Course Exams
The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Literature, English Composition, Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, World History, and Civics and Government.
• The exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s high school graduation requirements beginning for the graduating class of 2014-2015. However the class of 2013-2014 will be required to take the Algebra I, Biology, and Literature exams if they are currently enrolled in these classes.
• The exams are taken near the end of course completion that counts for at least one-third of the final course grade or, based upon School Board approval a proficient or higher, beginning with the class of 2014-2015. The exams are comprised of two (2) modules one Multiple-Choice (MC) and one Constructed-Response (CR) items.
• Students in the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 must demonstrate proficiency in: English Composition; Literature; Algebra I; and Biology. A student who does not score proficient on a Keystone Exam after two attempts will be eligible to complete a project-based assessment.
• Students in the graduating classes of 2016 and 2017 and beyond must demonstrate proficiency on six of the ten Keystone exams in the following areas:
*Proficient on the (2) Literature and English Composition Keystone Exams
*Proficient on (2) of the following (3) math areas: Algebra I, Algebra II, and
Geometry
*Proficient on (1) of the following (2) science areas: Biology, or Chemistry
*Proficient on (1) of the following (3) social studies areas: U.S. History, World
History, and Civics and Government
Summer School Eligibility
A student who has failed a course in math, English, science, social studies, health, or physical edu- cation but attained a year-long average of at least 50% in the course is eligible to make up the credit during a five-week long summer school program held at Wilson High School. The student's summer school grade, when averaged with his/her year-long average in the course, must be 60% or greater. Students attaining this required average will have a grade of 60% recorded on their transcripts.
The Course Selection Process
The interest, effort, and work ethic of the student all have a significant bearing on academic per- formance in a class such as English, mathematics, social studies, science, and world languages. In academic areas, students will be assigned to the class in which the professional staff feels they can best succeed and maximize their potential. All students have the opportunity to select courses based on individual abilities, interest, talents, and career goals. The guidance department and the administration reserve the right to change a student’s schedule based on the student’s past academic performance and standardized testing results and to accommodate the needs of the student body. NOTE: Course offerings are always subject to enrollment number and board approval of the school budget.
1. Students select their courses and note them on the course selection sheet. Generally speaking, courses may be taken only one year for credit. Exceptions are noted.
2. Teachers will initial their recommendations of the courses students select.
3. Each student must select 6 majors (minimum) and physical education.
4. Each student will be expected to maintain a minimum of 6 credits throughout the school
year.
5. Parents and students are encouraged to discuss course selections prior to the students’ schedul- ing courses with their counselors.
6. Counselors will meet with students to review course selection, course prerequisites, course load, graduation requirements, and students’ career educational goals.
7. Scheduling conflicts may prohibit placement in electives. Counselors will ask students to identify an alternate elective which will be substituted for a conflicting course.
8. Requests for changes in course selection must be made during the "drop/add" time frame from September 4, 2012 to September 14, 2012 based upon course availability. The completed course request represents final course selection and requests for changes will not be honored except as outlined in the next section.