BEAVER AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Dear Students/Parents:
One of the very important tasks our school has each year is the course and program selection and planning for the succeeding school year. For the next several weeks our entire staff will be devoting a great deal of time and effort to assist students and parents in making these crucial decisions. While September 2013 seems a long way off, these decisions are necessary so that we may carefully plan our staffing material needs for next year.
Our motto is "Commitment to Academic Excellence." As part of the curriculum we offer a variety of advanced courses in almost every discipline. Advanced courses that do not have prerequisites are open to all students. We strongly encourage students to enroll in them. It is our hope that careful planning can enable all students to take full advantage of the academic opportunities at Beaver Area Middle/Senior High School.
If you have any questions about our program of studies, please call us!
Sincerely,
David J. Zupsic
Principal
BEAVER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
GYPSY GLEN ROAD
BEAVER, PA 15009
(724) 774-0250
Dr. John HansenSuperintendent
Ms. Carrie RoweDirector of Curriculum & Instruction
Mr. David ZupsicPrincipal
Mr. Justin NoelAssistant Principal
Mrs. Patricia WilsonGuidance Counselor
Mrs. Patricia GradisekGuidance Counselor
Mrs. Terri BelangerGuidance Secretary
Registration: A Special Note to Parents and Students
Counselors will visit students in classrooms to distribute and explain the registration process. They will return one week later to review and collect students’ registration sheets. Students who do not return a registration sheet on time may not receive their desired electives.
Individualized scheduling is important for students so they may enroll in classes that challenge and interest them. However, it is even more important to the overall scheduling process. Decisions regarding teaching assignments, number of course sections offered, and the addition/elimination of courses are made based on student requests. We ask all parents to carefully and thoughtfully assist their children through this important process. Students may withdraw from classes only if recommended by their teacher, counselor, and parent/guardian. Students may withdraw from a class on or before the 15th day of the course. Withdrawals after this deadline will result in a “WF” for that course on the student’s transcript.
All ninth and tenth graders are required to take a complete schedule (7 classes). Juniors and seniors who plan on attending college are encouraged to take a minimum of six (6) credits in order to fully prepare themselves for the rigor and challenges of a college workload. Recent graduates have expressed a sincere regret toward “taking it easy” their senior year of high school.
Promotion Policy
At the High School, students are promoted by earning the appropriate number of credits at the completion of the school year:
- A minimum of 4 credits is necessary to obtain sophomore standing.
- A minimum of 10 credits is necessary to obtain junior standing.
- A minimum of 16 credits is necessary to obtain senior standing.
A student who has been retained can be promoted upon obtaining the necessary credits in summer school. A student may graduate from a junior homeroom if he/she fulfills all credit requirements. If a ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade English or Social Studies course is failed the same course must be repeated. An earned grade of “D” or better will be needed in order to pass the class.
Minimum Graduation Requirements
All students must earn a minimum of 23 credits in order to qualify for graduation. Those credits shall include:
SUBJECTCREDITS
English 4.0
Social Studies 4.0
Math 3.0
Science 3.0
Arts or Humanities 2.0
Health 0.5
Physical Education* 2.0
Electives 3.5
Graduate Portfolio** 1.0
* All students must take Physical Education each year.
**In addition, students are required to earn .25 credit per year through the Graduate Portfolio program.
Completion of the senior portfolio and presentation are required for graduation.
Subject Offerings - Required Subjects
Students are required to take a course in each of the content areas listed below:
GRADE 9Credits
English 1.0
Social Sciences1.0
Biology1.0
Mathematics1.0
Health0.5
Physical Education0.5
Graduate Portfolio Seminar0.25
GRADE 10
English 1.0
Social Sciences1.0
Science1.0
Mathematics1.0
Physical Education0.5
Graduate Portfolio Seminar 0.25
GRADE 11
English 1.0
Social Sciences 1.0
Mathematics1.0
Physical Education0.5
11th Grade Advisement0.25
Science*1.0
GRADE 12
English 1.0
Social Science1.0
Physical Education0.5
12th Grade Advisement 0.25
Science* 1.0
*A third credit in Science must be completed in Grade 11 or 12
A reminder: Students are also required to earn 3.5 elective credits to graduate
Grade Point Average and Class Rank
Each student's Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed by assigning quality points for each credit earned.
The following scale applies to all students in grades 9-12:
A+ = 4.0B+ = 3.3C+ = 2.3D+ = 1.3
A = 4.0B = 3.0C = 2.0D = 1.0WF = 0.0
A- = 3.7B- = 2.7C- = 1.7F = 0.0
All classes, except Graduate Portfolio Seminar, are counted in GPA and class rank - including Physical Education.
Grade Point Average is found by dividing the number of quality points by the total number of potential credits taken. Students earning a “C” or better in an AP Course will add.04 to the GPA. A complete listing of Advanced Placement Courses can be found in the AP Section of the registration bulletin.
Class rank is determined by comparing each student's grade point average to those of all other members of the class. The student with the highest grade point average will be given the rank of number one, the person with the second highest quality point average in the class is ranked number two, etc. The student(s) with the highest cumulative grade point average will graduate with High Honors.
Policy For Course Credit
Course credit at Beaver Area High School may be earned in the following manner:
- Successful completion with a final passing grade (D or better) of any course offered at Beaver Area
High School.
- Only make-up courses taken at an approved summer or evening school will be recordedand awarded credit. Students may take courses other than make-up, but no credit or quality points will be applied to the student record. If any questions exist, please be sure to consult with your guidance counselor prior to enrolling in a course.
Independent Study
Credit for completing an Independent Study will be acceptable under these circumstances:
- Course is one offered by Beaver Area High School for which a planned course is written.
- Instruction must be provided by a person properly certified for that subject by the
PA Department of Education.
- Beaver Area High School planned course and text must be used.
- Copies of all assignments, worksheets, tests, etc. must be presented to the principal before credit is awarded.
- A 65% or better must be earned in order for credit to be accepted.
- The grade will be recorded as pass/fail and excluded from GPA.
- The principal may require the passing of a separate independent examination prepared by the school.
- The tutor must document 60 hours of instruction per remedial course and 135 hours of instruction per non-remedial course.
Dual Enrollment
The Dual Enrollment Program enables high school students (grades 11-12) to take college courses, allowing students to get a “jump start” on their college career. Dual Enrollment classes may be held at the university/college campus or at a designated central location. Courses in the Dual Enrollment program may be offered during the day, evening hours, on Saturdays, and may also be offered during the summer.
To participate in this program, a student must already have completed the most advanced course offerings available in that subject. In some cases, however, the opportunities for enrichment will exist. Students who are interested in participating in this program should speak to their guidance counselor.
*Dual Enrollment does not count towards GPA, class rank, or honor roll.
Athletics in College
The NCAA requires students to complete 16 core credits during their high school career and have a qualifying SAT or ACT score for eligibility as a Freshman.NCAA approved courses are listed throughout this bulletin by placing a (NCAA Approved) notation at the conclusion of each course description. Students expecting to participate in athletics at NCAA institutions should begin to register at their 11th grade year. When taking the ACT or SAT, students should request their test scores be sent to the eligibility center by using the NCAA's code “9999”. Additional information and complete guidelines can be found at the NCAA eligibility website.
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ENGLISH and LANGUAGE ARTS
Students must successfully earn a minimum of 4 English credits in grades 9 – 12 in order to qualify for graduation.
All students must complete a summer reading assignment prior to the beginning of school.
FOUNDATIONS OF WRITING
Course# 180
One semester, one-half credit
Grade 9
All ninth grade students will be required to take this composition course focused upon grammar, punctuation, and paragraph writing. The units of study will be: the parts of speech and their function within the English sentence, types of sentences, paragraph creation, and the proper use of commas, semicolons, and colons. Punctuation of dialogue will also be taught. Successful completion of this course is required before enrollment in any other writing course. (NCAA approved)
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Course# 181
One semester, one-half credit
Grade 9
All ninth grade students will be required to take this literature course focused upon recognizing the variation in literary genres: the short story, the Dickens novel, an American drama, and a Shakespearean play. Plot structure analysis, use of literary devices, character development, and identification of author style and voice will be studied. Vocabulary building will be inherent in the course. Students in this course hope to strengthen their close reading skills, read independently, appreciate writers’ skills and techniques, recognize important themes and ideas, and better understand our literary heritage. Assessments include written tests, short quizzes, short essays, and informal group projects/presentations. Successful completion of this course is required before enrollment in any other literature course. (NCAA approved)
ENGLISH 9 GENERAL
Course #105
Full year, one credit
Grade 9
Students take this introductory course which includes grammar study, research techniques, the writing process, literature analysis, book reports, and public speaking. A lab is included to help students work on improving their reading and writing skills. This class will meet 9 times over the 6-day cycle. Summer reading is required. (NCAA approved)
AMERICAN LITERATURE
Course# 116
One semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
Understanding the cultural value and impact of American literature and its history helps students understand their own culture—because all art and literature is a reflection of the culture which creates it. Therefore, students will read literary selections from major eras of American literary history (i.e., Colonial, Revolutionary/Early American, Romantic, Realistic, and Modern). The course is similar to a college-style American literature “survey” course in which students read multiple works (e.g., letters, poems, articles, short stories, novels, etc.) from a variety of authors (e.g., Winthrop, Hawthorne, Edwards, Jefferson, Twain, Franklin, Bierce, Crane, etc.). Students in this course hope to strengthen their close reading skills, read independently, appreciate writers’ skills and techniques, recognize important themes and ideas, and better understand our literary heritage. Assessments include written tests, short quizzes, short essays, and informal group projects/presentations. Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements
(NCAA approved)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Course# 120
One semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
This semester survey course will cover the beginnings of literature, particularly pieces that are often referenced by other authors and our culture. Major literary developments as well as influential texts from the Ancient Greeks and Romans will be the main focus. Some study of the ancient gods will also be part of the curriculum, since attention to the cultural context is an essential component of the course. Examples of possible literature selections include: "The Odyssey,” "The Iliad,” and "The Aeneid.” Students in this course hope to strengthen their close reading skills, read independently, appreciate writers’ skills and techniques, recognize important themes and ideas, and better understand our literary heritage. Assessments include written tests, short quizzes, short essays, and informal group projects/presentations. Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements (NCAA approved)
CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
Course# 128
One semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
The overarching purpose of this literature course is to introduce students to “contemporary classics”:
literature of the last 50-60 years that has become iconic in today’s culture. Through an exploration of different genres, students will explore how cultural influence in the last half-century has prompted writers to respond to the world around them, and how they can use their own cultural influences to respond in writing as well. Chosen with the intent of exposing students to experiences different than their own, the diverse group of writers explored in this course come from a variety of racial and cultural backgrounds. Students in this course hope to strengthen their close reading skills, read independently, appreciate writers’ skills and techniques, recognize important themes and ideas, and better understand our literary heritage. Assessments include written tests, short quizzes, short essays, and informal group projects/presentations. Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements (NCAA approved)
CROSS-CULTURAL DRAMA
Course# 129
One semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
Our study of literary drama focuses on building awareness of what happens in drama, how drama might be interpreted, and how the world can be better understood by experiencing drama from many different cultural perspectives. Students will read, interact with, and analyze a variety of plays, and our discussions will center on how drama reflects social and political trends. Students will learn to compare/contrast the attitudes and values of specific historical periods and diverse cultures through consideration of the historical and cultural situations represented. Student responses will focus on thematic and stylistic analysis of the plays, as well as personal interpretations of characters and actions through performance. Students in this course hope to strengthen their close reading skills, read independently, appreciate writers’ skills and techniques, recognize important themes and ideas, and better understand our literary heritage. Assessments include written tests, short quizzes, short essays, and informal group projects/presentations. Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements (NCAA approved)
STUDIES IN SCIENCE FICTION
Course# 130
One semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
Science fiction is a rich, dynamic literary genre that allows readers to critically examine culture from the safe distance of the unfamiliar. This course will explore the strategies involved in reading science fiction, the genre’s common themes and metaphors, the methods of social commentary authors use, and our own responses to the challenges presented in the texts. Students will identify major characteristics of science fiction as a literary genre, will demonstrate the ability to read science fiction texts with an attention to literary detail, and will write about them analytically.Students in this course hope to strengthen their close reading skills, read independently, appreciate writers’ skills and techniques, recognize important themes and ideas, and better understand our literary heritage. Assessments include written tests, short quizzes, short essays, and informal group projects/presentations.Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements (NCAA approved)
MODES OF WRITING
Course# 132
One Semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
The concept behind this composition course is twofold: 1) Students learn the different modes of writing and appropriate scenarios for each, and 2) Students learn and practice the revision process in order to complete the semester with a portfolio that contains five pieces that portray the students’ best work, in which each piece has undergone a minimum of two revisions. Examples from the text 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology by Samuel Cohenwill be used to model different modes and to teach the obvious and subtle differences between different modes. The course will also include grammar review (specific content as determined by teacher depending on observable need) and vocabulary studies, which would be expected to be included in student writing.
Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements (NCAA approved)
WRITING FOR THE PROFESSIONS
Course# 178
One Semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
Writing for the Professions is a composition course focused upon helping students acquire writing skills necessary for post-secondary study and careers. Students will learn specific formatting for workplace documents, manuscript guidelines, group presentations, and mass communications, while developing a concise and targeted message. A course portfolio offers students the opportunity to prepare personal documents in anticipation of future applications to undergraduate study or employment. Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 requirements (This course has not been approved by the NCAA)
WRITING FOR THE DIGITAL AGE
Course# 179
One semester, one-half credit
Grades 10, 11, 12
This composition course will examine the technical, rhetorical, and ethical nature of the change in writing practices caused by emerging digital technologies now utilized in twenty-first century college and workforce settings. The students will research, analyze, and evaluate changing modes of writing, and will then apply this understanding to the production of various digital multimodal texts in tandem with rigorous study and practice in rhetoric and style. They will learn key rhetorical concepts (e.g., argument, arrangement, appeals, audience, context, delivery, invention) which can guide both the reading and writing of digital multimodal texts. Through study of grammatical rules and stylistic principles, they will also develop fluency and a unique and personal voice. This blended study of contemporary modes and tools of writing with traditional elements and devices will prepare the students for the demands of twenty-first century academia and the professional world. Prerequisite: successful completion of English 9 (NCAA approved)