Windsor High School
2015-2016
Course Description Handbook
Table of Contents
Important Contact Numbers ………………………………………………………….………3
General Registration Information …………………………………………………….………4
Graduation Requirements …………………………………………………………….……….5
Credit Recovery Options ……………………………………………………………….…...... 7
Post-secondary Options ……………………………………………………………….……….8
Are you planning to go to college?
NAIA Eligibility……………………………………………………………………….………..9
NCAA Eligibility……………………………………………………………………………….10
Advanced Academic Opportunities ………………………………………………………….14
Advanced Placement
Dual Credit
Concurrent Enrollment
Early Graduation
Weighted Grades
Home-based Education Program Guidelines ………………………………………………..19
Colorado Career Clusters……………………………………………………………………..20
Course Descriptions …………………………………………………………………………...22
Additional 9th Grade Requirement…………………………………………………….……...89
AIMS Community College Career Pathways…………………………………………………90
AIMS Community College Career Academy………………………………………………….93
Additional Education Opportunities …………………………………………………………102
Special Education Programs of Study ……………………………………………….……….105
Special Education Information
Changes in IEP Requirements
The West (Windsor Exceptional Students in Transition Program)
Important Contact Numbers
GENERAL
Main Office Telephone: 970.686.8100
Main Office Fax: 970.686.8101
Attendance Reporting: 970.686.8105
Address: 1100 West Main Street
Windsor, Colorado 80550
Website: www.whs.weldre4.k12.co.us
Office Hours: 7:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
ADMINISTRATION
Michelle Scallon, Principal 970.686.8114
Dick Thomas, Assistant Principal/Activities Director 970.686.8116
Mark Kanagy, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director 970.686.8119
Kevin Copher, Assistant Principal/Academic Affairs 970.686.8115
COUNSELING
Counseling Office Secretary: 970.686.8121
Margie Sherrill, Registrar: 970.686.8118
Counseling Office Fax: 970.686.8125
Counselors
Libba James Last Names A-G 970.686.8123
Keely Garren Last Names H-L 970.686.8122
Amanda LePage Last Names M-O 970.686.8126
and Exceptional Services
Angie Rizzuto, Lead Counselor Last Names P-Z 970.686.8124
General Registration Information
NOTE TO STUDENTS:
This guide is designed to help you and your parents plan your high school program at Windsor High School. It is important to seek the help of parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators in planning an educational program to fit your needs. Each student should strive to get the best preparation out of his or her time in high school in order to be successful in the world of work, technical school, or university.
1. Before enrolling in Windsor High School, it is helpful to plan a four-year course of study with your parents, using the course descriptions and graduation requirements enclosed in this guide. Transfer students are subject to Windsor High School graduation requirements.
2. Complete the pre-registration sheets by requesting eight courses each semester. You will register for both semesters. Make your selections carefully, with your future goal in mind.
3. Select courses for the proper grade level.
4. All required courses not passed must be retaken.
5. Make sure you have met the necessary prerequisites for all of the courses you select. The Administration reserves the right to review prerequisites and make placement decisions.
6. Obtain instructor approval if required.
7. Students are responsible for checking with a counselor regarding their credits for graduation.
DEFINITIONS:
1. School Year consists of two semesters or four quarters. Final grades are awarded at the end of each semester.
2. Quarter Grade is a mid-term checkpoint designed to inform students/parents of the grade standing mid-way through the course. They are NOT separate grades that are averaged together.
3. UNIT OF CREDIT is the measure of school credit. One-half (.5) unit of credit may be earned by satisfactorily completing the work in a subject each semester. The credit value of each subject is published in the course description.
4. PREREQUISITE refers to the courses that are required or recommended before taking certain courses.
5. REQUIRED COURSES are courses that must be completed to qualify for a diploma.
6. ELECTIVE COURSES are courses that may be chosen by the student.
Graduation Requirements
CLASS OF 2016 AND BEYONDBASIC DIPLOMA 28 CREDITS TOTAL
English / 4.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
1.0 9th Grade English
1.0 10th Grade Literature and Composition
1.0 American Literature
1.0 Additional English Class
Mathematics / 3.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
1.0 Algebra 1
2.0 Additional Math Classes
Social Studies / 3.5 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
1.0 World Geography
1.0 World History
1.0 U.S. History
.5 United States Government & Civics
Science / 3.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
1.0 Earth & Space Science
1.0 Biology
1.0 Other Science Class
Physical Education / 1.5 Credits
.5 Physical Education 1
1.0 Other P.E. Electives (Activity based P.E. class not including Responding to
Emergencies)
(PE waivers for athletic participation are no longer granted.)
Health 101 / 1.0 credit
World Languages / No World Language Required
Fine Arts / 1.0 Credit Selected from:
Performing Arts
Vocal & Instrumental Music
Visual Arts
Career and Technical Education / 1.0 Credit Selected from:
Family & Consumer Sciences
Business
Industrial Design & Technology
Agriculture
Electives / 10.0 Credits
CLASS OF 2016 AND BEYOND
ADVANCED DIPLOMA 28 CREDITS TOTAL
The Advanced Diploma requires all Basic Diploma coursework
plus the additional requirements listed below:
English / 4.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
To include .5 credit of College Composition and .5 credit of College Literature, or 1.0 credit of AP Literature and Composition or AP Language and Composition taken in the senior year
Mathematics / 4.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
To include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Dual-credit or AP courses, and coursework considered higher than Algebra I (excluding Intermediate Algebra). Advanced Diploma coursework must be taken at the high school. Geometry taken in 8th grade will be applied toward the four math credits required for the Advanced Diploma.
Social Studies / 4.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
Advanced Placement or other approved college level coursework also accepted.
Science / 4.0 Credits (to include the basic requirement coursework)
Physical Education / 1.5 Credits
.5 Physical Education 1
1.0 Other P.E. Electives (Activity based P.E. class not including Responding to
Emergencies)
(PE waivers for athletic participation are no longer granted.)
Health 101 / 1.0 Credit
World Languages / 2.0 Credits from the same World Language (must be taken at the High School)
Fine Arts / 1.0 Credit Selected from:
Performing Arts
Vocal & Instrumental Music
Visual Arts
Career and Technical Education / 1.0 Credit Selected from:
Family & Consumer Sciences
Business
Industrial Design & Technology
Agriculture
Electives / 5.5 Credits
Credit Recovery Options
If a student fails to receive credit in a course for any reason (failing grade, poor attendance, etc.), they may choose to re-take the class through:
1. PLATO credit recovery program or other on-line recovery options not associated with Weld RE-4 School District. These options must be pre-approved by a Windsor High School counselor.
PLATO is available for a cost of $150.00 (per session). Students may also pursue credit recovery options not associated with Weld RE-4 School District—those fees vary program to program and the student should work with their counselor for enrollment procedures.
2. Re-scheduling the class during the regular school day if space is available.
3. Summer School may be offered during the month of June. The PLATO Credit Recovery Program is used during summer school for a cost of $150.00 per session.
REQUESTS FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE
Procedures:
· Complete request form for schedule change.
· Obtain approval from the principal or a counselor.
· You will be notified by the Counseling Office if your schedule change request was approved.
Factors which will preclude schedule changes:
· You cannot move from a small class to a large class.
· You cannot make requests to change teachers.
Factors which may warrant a schedule change:
· A schedule conflict (classes are offered at the same time).
· Missing a graduation requirement.
· Necessary prerequisites are not satisfied.
· The schedule is incomplete or there is an error in scheduling.
· Adding a college course (Juniors and Seniors).
· The change is directly related to an educational or career decision, and be in line with your plan of study on your ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Plan).
The period for the processing of schedule changes at the beginning of a semester is limited to three (3) attendance days on the block schedule. After this period, students who choose to drop a class will receive a permanent failing grade on their transcript; however, the Principal or designee reserves the right to review extenuating circumstances when assigning this failing grade. When appropriate, a conference with the administration, counselor, student, parent and teacher involved may be held prior to a schedule change.
Post-Secondary Options
Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP)
All students 9th -12th will create an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP); this plan will assist students in developing and maintaining a personalized postsecondary plan. ICAP’s are designed to help students and their families begin exploring postsecondary opportunities through career exploration and academic planning. Each year students will have a series of guided lessons that will assist them in meeting the yearly ICAP requirements.
Are you planning to go to college?
If you are going to college, you must plan your high school experience accordingly. College admission is usually dependent on the following:
1. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education adopted the Higher Education Admission Requirements that are entry requirements for students planning to attend any of Colorado’s public four-year colleges or universities. Private colleges and universities set their own admission standards, so students should contact those institutions directly for information regarding their enrollment policies. Additionally, public two-year colleges have open enrollment policies, meaning that students applying to these schools do not need to meet the following admissions requirements. Students planning to attend a four-year college or university in Colorado will need to complete the following classes in order to fulfill the Higher Education Admission Requirements. Meeting the Higher Education Admissions Requirements does not guarantee admission to a four-year public institution. Colleges and universities may have additional requirements.
Academic Area: 2010+ Graduates
English 4 years
Mathematics (must include Algebra I, Geometry,
Algebra II or equivalents) 4 years
Natural/Physical Sciences (two units must be
Lab-based) 3 years
Social Studies (at least one unit of U.S. or
World History) 3 years
Foreign Language 1-3 years, depending on the institution
Academic Electives* 2 years
.
*Acceptable Academic Electives include additional courses in English, mathematics, natural/physical sciences and social sciences, foreign languages, art, music, journalism, drama, computer science, honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate courses, and appropriate CTE courses.
2. Grade Point Average
3. Rank in graduating class
4. Personal recommendations from teachers, counselors, and community members
5. Participation in school and community activities
6. College essay (required at selected colleges)
7. Standardized Test Scores (ACT or SAT)
Colorado's 2008 Preschool to Postsecondary Education Alignment Act (SB 08-212), requiredthat the Commission on Higher Education review and align the admissions standards policy. Beginning in the fall of 2019, public four year institutions in Colorado will use revised admissions standards that will include assessment scores, GPA, and rigor of coursework. The index that has been used as a part of admissions will be phased out. At the time of this publication, details are still being developed. More information can be found at:http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Admissions/.
NAIA ELIGIBILITY
If you will graduate from a U.S. high school this spring and enroll in college this coming fall, the requirements are simple. An entering freshman must:
· Be a graduate of an accredited high school or be accepted as a regular student in good standing as defined by the enrolling institution and
· Meet two of the three following requirements. If as an entering fresh- man you do not meet at least two of the three standards, you cannot participate in athletics for the first full year of attendance (2 semesters, 3 quarters, or equivalent).
MUST MEET TWO OF THE THREE
Learning disabilities. Students with diagnosed learning disabilities, who do not meet the freshman eligibility requirements, may have their academic profiles reviewed by the NAIA National Eligibility Committee at the request of an NAIA institution.
For more information on NAIA Eligibility and to register, please visit www.playnaia.org.
ncaa ELIGIBILITY
NCAA Division I Initial-Eligibility Requirements
Core Courses: (16)
Initial full-time collegiate enrollment before August 1, 2016:
o Sixteen (16) core courses are required (see chart below for subject-area requirements).
Initial full-time collegiate enrollment on or after August 1, 2016:
o Sixteen (16) core courses are required (see chart below for subject-area requirements).
Ten (10) core courses completed before the seventh semester; seven (7) of the 10 must be in English,
math or natural/physical science.
These courses/grades are "locked in" at start of the seventh semester (cannot be repeated for
grade-point average [GPA] improvement to meet initial-eligibility requirements for competition).
o Students who do not meet core-course progression requirements may still be eligible to receive athletics aid and practice in the initial year of enrollment by meeting academic redshirt requirements (see below).
Test Scores: (ACT/SAT)
Students must present a corresponding test score and core-course GPA on the sliding scale (see Page No. 2).
o SAT: critical reading and math sections.
Best subscore from each section is used to determine the SAT combined score for initial eligibility.
o ACT: English, math, reading and science sections.
Best subscore from each section is used to determine the ACT sum score for initial eligibility.
All ACT and SAT attempts before initial full-time collegiate enrollment may be used for initial eligibility.
Enter 9999 during ACT or SAT registration to ensure the testing agency reports your score
directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Test scores on transcripts will not be used.
Core Grade-Point Average:
Only core courses that appear on the high school's List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org) will be used to calculate your core-course GPA. Use this list as a guide.
Initial full-time collegiate enrollment before August 1, 2016:
o Students must present a corresponding test score (ACT sum score or SAT combined score) and core-course