WINTERSCHOOL DISTRICT
High School
Program and Course Guide
2017/2018
Graduation requirements
26 Credits
Four credits of Language Arts; three credits of Social Science; three credits of Mathematics; three credits of Science; 1 credit of Math or Science; one and a half credits of Physical Education; one half credits of Health; 1 credit of Computer Applications; 1 credit of Personal Financial Literacy (new);one credit of Vocational/Technical; and remaining elective credits.
*The electives must include one additional math or science credit.
Four Year Plan
9th Grade:
High School Phy Ed
Language Arts I or II
Survey of Social Sciences 9
Math (Geometry/Algebra I/or Practical Math)
Physical Science: Biology
Health
Electives:
10th Grade:
High School Phy Ed
Language Arts I or II
Algebra I/Geometry/Algebra II
Biology: Physical Science
Electives:
11th Grade:
High School Phy Ed
American Literature/Composition: British Literature/Communication for the Workplace
United States History
Chemistry/Environmental/Physics/Anatomy
Math (Geometry/ Algebra II/ or Analysis)
Personal Finance Literacy
Electives:
12th Grade:
Physical Education/Health (if credits have not already been earned)
American Literature/Composition: British Literature/Communication for the Workplace
American Government
Chemistry/Environmental/Physics/Anatomy
Personal Finance Literacy (if credit has not already been earned)
Math
Electives:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Area of Study
Arts, Communication
Business Education
Health
Language Arts
Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Science
Social Sciences
Technology Education
Arts and Communications
All the courses in the Art Department are elective courses. Students who are going on to college should be aware that courses in the fine Arts may be accepted by colleges as meeting the five additional credits students must have beyond the basic core courses for admission. Those students who plan to go to college or technical college pursuing an art related field are encouraged to elect as many of the art courses as their schedule allows. Students are also advised to review the handbooks of colleges and technical colleges to determine which courses are recommended.
Course:Introduction to Art
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:ART113
Introduction to Art is a one year course designed to provide a variety of art experiences for personal enjoyment or as a foundation for more advanced art classes. An emphasis will be placed on developing drawing skills and will include painting, printing, design, sculpture, fibers, and art history. Students will experience creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. Students in all art classes are responsible for a sketchbook. Student’s work will be displayed regularly. Select items will be held to the end of the year for display in the annual art show.
Course:Two Dimensional Art
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:1/2 credit
Course No.:ART123
Prerequisite:Intro to Art
Two-Dimensional Art is a one-semester course designed to explore two-dimensional media. Drawing and painting skills will be strengthened and media could include pencil, charcoal, pastels, watercolor, acrylics, oils, and mixed media. Projects will develop technique and increase knowledge of the principles and elements of design. Students in all art classes are responsible for a sketchbook. Students work will be displayed regularly. Select items will be held to the end of the year for display in the annual art show.
Course:Three Dimensional Art
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:1/2 credit
Course No.:ART133
Prerequisite:Intro to Art
Three-Dimensional Art is a one-semester course designed to further explore some of the materials used in Introduction to Art. 3-D possibilities include paper mache’, wood, wire paper, cardboard, fibers, ceramics, and jewelry. Projects will develop technique and increase knowledge of the principles and elements of design. Students in all art classes are responsible for a sketchbook. Student work will be displayed regularly. Select items will be held to the end of the year for display in the annual art show.
Art, continued
Course:Yearbook
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:ART141
Prerequisite:Need instructor permission
Students will create the annual high school yearbook through a cooperative learning process. During the course of the year, students will learn how to use InDesign & Photoshop software and design guidelines to produce their yearbook. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in Visual Communication as a background for this course. There may be extra time during the year for additional projects. Class limit: 14
Preference will be given to students who have completed Visual Communications I/II and one year of Yearbook.
Course:Digital Photography/Media I
Level:Grades 10-12
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:ART162
In this course you will learn photography basics: What makes a photo good, how to take a good photo, and more. Students will also explore Photoshop techniques for editing or enhancing photos. Students taking this course need a good phone camera, cord for downloading, and are encouraged to take Visual Communications first. Students in this course will have the opportunity to experiment with the settings of a DSLR camera to create good photos.
This project-based course allows students to creatively express themselves through digital media, audio and video. Students will learn various computer editing programs as well as creating story boards, scripts and digital media projects.
Course:Digital Media II (lab)
Level:Grades 10-12
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:TEC291
This is a continuation of Digital Photograph and Media I. Students must have taken Digital Photography/Media I first. Students will be expected to create their own projects, mentor students in the lab, and create school/community projects.
Art, continued
Course:Visual Communications I and II
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:ART161
Visual Communications I/II is a year-long class designed to explore non-traditional ways we can communicate ideas. Projects will include digital photography, advertising, photo journalism, movie-making, Claymation and more. Students will learn Photoshop and InDesign basics. Students in all art classes are responsible for a sketchbook and portfolio. Students’ work will be displayed regularly. Select items will be held to the end of the year for display in the annual art show. This course may be taken more than one semester. Class size will be limited to 15 students.
Course:Visual Communications III/IV
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:ART167
Visual Communications III/IV builds upon the computer skills learned in Visual Communications I/II. Students will create more advanced design solutions using Photoshop and InDesign. Adobe Illustrator will be introduced through various tutorials. More specific techniques for movie-making will be part of the curriculum. Students will learn filming skills and how to use the green screen.
Business Education
Course:Accounting I/Financial Accounting 1A (WITC)
Level:Grades 10-12
Credit:1 credit (2 semesters)
Course No.:BUS311
Accounting is the language of business and if you are considering a business career, this course will provide a firm foundation. Taking high school accounting will give you a head start if you plan to study business, management, or marketing at a university or technical college. You will learn how to analyze and record accounting transactions, perform the adjusting process, and complete the accounting cycle for both a service business and a merchandising concern. You will also learn how to implement internal control procedures and accounting for cash, accounting for receivables, current liabilities and payroll. You will practice both manual and automated accounting procedures, applying your accounting knowledge through chapter, reinforcement, and simulation activities.
Note: Accounting I is recognized by WITC as Transcripted Credit. Students can earn both 1 high school credit and 2 WITC credits (they must complete the course with a minimum of 78% for WITC credit).
Course:Accounting II
Level:Grades 11-12
Credit:1 credit (Two semesters)
Course No.:BUS321
Prerequisite: Accounting I
This course builds on the fundamental accounting concepts learned in Accounting I. You will learn how to prepare and analyze financial transactions and statements for partnerships and corporations. You will practice both manual and automated accounting procedures, applying your accounting knowledge in chapter, reinforcement, and simulation activities.
Course:Business Word/Microsoft Word A (WITC)
Level:Grades 10-12
Credit:.5 credit (one semester)
Course No.:BUS213
Prerequisite: Keyboarding and Document Processing I
This course will enhance your ability to produce top quality documents for high school classes as well as prepare you for the workplace, where Microsoft Word is a standard platform in business applications. Unleash the power of MS Word as you learn advanced formatting tools for business documents and academic research reports, desktop publishing and marketing publications. Concepts covered include basic Word features, followed by more in-depth skill development involving tables, mail merge, sort, and graphics.
Note: Business Word is recognized by WITC as Transcripted Credit. Students can earn both .5 high school credit and 1 WITC credit (they must complete the course with a minimum of 78% for WITC credit).
Business Education, continued
Course:Keyboarding I/Document Formatting (WITC)
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:.5 credit (one semester)
Course No.:BUS133
Strong keyboarding skills as well as basic word processing skills are critical for college, career, and beyond. You will develop “touch” keyboarding skills and build speed and accuracy through drill and practice throughout the semester. In addition, you will apply these skills while learning to produce memos, letters, tables, reports, and other word processed business documents.
Note: Keyboarding is recognized by WITC as Transcripted Credit. Students can earn both .5 high school credit and 2 WITC credits (they must complete the course with a minimum of 78% for WITC credit).
Course: Personal Finance Literacy
Level:Grades 11-12
Credit:.5 credit (one semester)
Course No.:BUS111
Required Course:This course satisfies the Personal Financial Literacy graduation requirement.
Beginning with your first paycheck, you are faced with financial decisions that can have long-term positive or negative effects on your goals, relationships, and quality of life! This course covers many important topics to help you make the right decisions and avoid money problems. Topics covered include: saving and budgeting, how to avoid debt, “life after high school” decisions, consumer awareness, bargain shopping, investing and retirement, insurance, money and relationships, careers and taxes, and charitable giving.
Note: Personal Financial Literacy articulates at WITC as Advanced Standing.
Course:Computer Applications
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:.5 credit (one semester)
Course No.:BUS341
Prerequisite:Keyboarding I
The more knowledge you acquire in computer applications, the more empowered you become. Do you want a practical skill that will benefit you in college and post-secondary training, and a marketable skill to move you ahead in the workplace? In this course you will learn Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher. In addition, you will gain knowledge and experience in alternative platforms such as Google Docs and Prezi. Webpage design and HTML will also be introduced. Skill mastery will be reinforced through practice tasks, projects, and simulation
Business Education, continued
Course:Introduction to Business (WITC)
Level:Grades 9-12
Credit:.5 credit (one semester)
Course No.:BUS123
In this introductory course, you will learn how the exciting world of business works – from the local shop owner in town to the international company that operates worldwide! The content covered includes the fundamental concepts of competition and trade, finance and risk, business organization and data collection, sustainability and ethics, marketing and sales, and, of course—entrepreneurship. Introduction to Business will make use of multiple modes of instruction: classroom materials, discussion, online websites and simulations, guest speakers, field trips, student presentations, and projects. Two main projects where you will apply concepts learned are 1) creating and presenting a detailed business plan and 2) creating and presenting a marketing campaign. Note: Introduction to Business is recognized by WITC as transcripted credit. Students can earn both .5 high school credit and 3 WITC credits (they must complete the course with a minimum of 78% for WITC credit).
Course:Game Design I
Level:Grades 10-12
Credit:.5 credit (spring semester)
Course No.:BUS112
Prerequisite:Approval of instructor
From the early text-based, one-player computer games to the modern 3D games with thousands of gamers sharing the same virtual gaming world simultaneously, computer games have gone through a remarkable evolution. Despite this evolution, principles of computer game design are not well understood. In this course, we will study the history of gaming, the broad issue of game design, particularly tailored toward computer video games. We will analyze various modern computer games and use PC-based applications to create basic games. Here are some of the topics that will be covered in the course:
- History of video games
- Narratives in games
- Interactivity and games
- Emergency in games
- Use of games in areas such as education, healthcare, business and military
- Games as information systems
- Future of gaming and virtual reality
Health
Course:Health
Level:Grade 9
Credit:1 semester, ½ credit
Course No.:HEA113
The students in this class will obtain an understanding on one’s own body. An emphasis on overall health and well-being will be stressed. Students will learn how to relate the health issues of the past and present to their own life and to the future. The students will learn how to locate and use resource materials. They will also learn to recognize health issues that are facing society and be aware of what decisions they should be making in dealing with them.
Students will be involved in units such as: Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Mental and Emotional Health, Family and Social Health, Growth and Development, Drugs and Alcohol, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Students will also have the opportunity to have some “hands-on” training with the “Ready or Not Tot” and be able to reach CPR and AED certification.
Students will be evaluated on daily assignments, quizzes and tests, as well as in daily classroom behavior and participation.
Language Arts
Language Arts I and Language Arts II will be offered every other year. Students in grades 9 and 10 will be grouped and scheduled accordingly.
Course:Language Arts I
Level:Grade 9/Grade 10
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:001158
This course is a year-long course based on the Common Core standards in Language Arts. Students will learn to read and write effectively for a variety of purposes. Non-fiction reading and writing are the main focus of the year. Students will also be developing their vocabulary by working on word structures: roots, prefixes and suffixes and grammar skills. Students will produce or expand a writing portfolio demonstrating their proficiency in writing. Poetic forms and terms will be studied along with media literacy. Oral language is developed through oral readings and discussion. Students will create media products appropriate to audience and purpose.
Course:Language Arts II
Level:Grade 9/Grade 10
Credit:1 credit
Course No.:001159
This course is a year-long course based on the Common Core standards in Language Arts. Students will learn to read and write effectively for a variety of purposes. Fiction reading and writing are the main focus of the year. Students will also be developing their vocabulary by working on word structures: roots, prefixes and suffixes and grammar skills. Students will produce or expand a writing portfolio demonstrating their proficiency in writing. Students will become proficient in the elements of fiction and drama. Oral language is developed through oral readings and discussion. Students will create media products appropriate to audience and purpose.
American Literature and Composition are offered as a full year course. British Literature and Communication for the Workplace are offered as a full year course. They will be offered in alternating years.
Course:American Literature
Level:Grade 11/Grade 12
Credit:1/2 credit
Course No.:001183
This course is a one semester course that focuses on American Literature. It is offered as a full year course with Composition. It is based on the Common Core Language Arts standards. It continues the development of reading strategies to determine readability, interpretation and critical analysis of details to produce tone/effect/theme, and evaluation of reliability and authenticity of information. Oral language centers on presentationand fluency through presentations and discussions. This course is offered as a one semester course in combination with Composition. It is offered 1st semester.
Language Arts, continued
Course: Composition
Level: Grade 11/Grade 12
Credit: ½ Credit
Course No.:
This course focuses on writing analysis and reflection and peer revising in writer’s workshop. Students expand knowledge of media through evaluation and editing skills while researching. They continue to evaluate the usefulness and creditability of data and sources moving towards digital literacy. Higher level of thinking skills form a foundation for moving from simple to more complex understanding of communication. This course is offered as a one semester course in combination with American Literature. It is offered 2nd semester.
Course:British Literature
Level:Grade 12
Credit:1/2 credit
Course No.:ENG321
This course is a one semester course that focuses on British Literature. It is based on the Wisconsin State Language Arts Standards. It continues the development of reading strategies to determine readability, interpretation and critical analysis of details to produce tone/effect/theme, and evaluation of reliability and authenticity of information. Oral language centers on presentationand fluency through presentations and discussions. This course is offered as a one semester course in combination with Communication for the Workplace. It is offered 1st semester.