8th Grade Parent Night Belmont High School February 13, 2018 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

8th Grade Parent Night

Belmont High School February 13, 2018

• Principal Dan Richards
• Asst. Principals Sherri Turner, Lisa Hurtubise, & Tom Brow
• School Resource Officer, Melissa O’Connor
• BHS Directors: Deb McDevitt (Social Studies), Patty Soliozy

(Math), Elizabeth Baker (Science), Arto Asadoorian (Visual and Performing Arts), Lindsey Rinder (English), Colleen Foley (Foreign Language), Jim Davis (Athletics/Physical Education/Wellness), Diane Wiltshire (METCO)

• Guidance Dept. Head, Jim Brown
• Special Education Lead; Mike Bruno
• Minuteman Admissions Director/Asst. Principal, George

Clement

Welcome Parents of the Class of 2022

Guidance Department

• Mr. Jim Brown, Lead Counselor
• Ms. Stacie Ross
• Mr. Matthew Ruane
• Ms. Brittney Field/Ms. Jessica Truslow
• Ms. Elise Rowley
• Ms. Emily Taylor

GUIDANCE SUPPORT

• Course scheduling
• Support for seeking academic help with teachers
• Navigation through graduation requirements
• Support and referral around emotional

support/mental health needs.

• Post-secondary/Future Planning

This is all done through individual and small group meetings.

• All Grade 9 students will configure an iPad in

June to use in all of his or her classes in the fall.

• Students will pick up their iPad at Freshmen
• rientation in late August.

Additional Information:

• Join the BHS List Serve

▫www.belmont.k12.ma.us

=>For Families => E-mail sign up

Other Information:

Special Education Department

Services provided to students with:

• An Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• A 504 Plan
• A District Curriculum Accommodation

Plan (DCAP)

Grade Based Learning Centers

• Direct special education instruction, support, and case management
• Skill development, academic support, organization, self-advocacy,

understanding of disabilities Campus Program

• Focus on students with social and emotional challenges
• Coordination of program development with school psychologists and
• utside service providers

All Children Experience Success (ACES)

• Focus on students with Autism Spectrum and Social Communication

Disorders

• Social pragmatic skill development in coordination with district Speech

and Language Pathologist

Special Education Programs

If your student is currently receiving services:

• Contact your child's special education liaison or guidance counselor
• Ensure there is a plan in place for your child as they transition to the

high school If your child does not receive services, but experiences difficulty at BHS:

• Communicate your concerns to teachers and guidance counselor
• If appropriate, the guidance counselor will refer your child to a Student

Review Team (SRT)

• Student may receive classroom accommodations, direct supports, or be

referred for an evaluation

Tips for Parents

Global Certificate Program

Belmont High School

Overview

• ฀The Global Certificate Program provides students with an opportunity to

distinguish themselves by demonstrating global competency.

• ฀During their four years at Belmont High School, students will complete

specific coursework, an interdisciplinary portfolio of projects and reflections, and a summative global action project.

• ฀The program is voluntary and open to all students. It will help them

develop 21st century skills and global awareness, preparing students for life after BHS.

• ฀better prepare students for an interconnected world
• ฀give students the opportunity to develop an interest

and expertise in a global issue or culture

• ฀provide interdisciplinary learning experiences
• ฀create experiential and real world learning
• pportunities
• ฀reinforce the development of 21st century skills such

as problem solving, critical thinking, research and analysis, as well as oral and written communication

The Global Certificate program seeks to…

฀Coursework

• ฀Four years of Foreign Language
• ฀A globally oriented elective (for example, Global Music, Current Issues

and Global Politics, AP Environmental Science) ฀Portfolio

• ฀Four Globally Oriented Projects from the standard BHS curriculum
• ฀Reflections for each project

฀Global Action Project

• ฀Students must research, design, and implement a project that positively

impacts a community

Requirements

Why Minuteman?

An Introduction for Parents

Education with Purpose

• Travel in Color-Coded Groups to meet with:

▫Colleen Foley (Foreign Language) and Deb McDevitt (Social Studies) in the Little Theater ▫Lindsey Rinder (English) in the Library ▫Patty Soliozy (Math) and Liz Baker (Science) in the Cafeteria ▫Sherri Turner (Physical Education & Wellness) and Arto Asadoorian (Visual and Performing Arts) in auditorium

Program for the Evening

Director of Science and Technology/Engineering

Liz Baker 617-993-5975

ebaker@belmont.k12.ma.us

Director of Mathematics Patty Soliozy 617-993-5965

psoliozy@belmont.k12.ma.us

• 9th grade courses
• Progression of Courses
• Recommendation

process

What are the math options for my daughter or son at Belmont High School?

Four years of math required for graduation Core courses: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2

• College Prep Algebra 1 (#402)
• College Prep Geometry (#410)
• Honors Geometry (#406)

Based on:

• Math Performance:
• Report Card Grades
• Cumulative Tests
• MCAS/PARCC Scores
• Study Skills & Habits
• Attitude Toward Learning
• Independence of Effort

Math Team

• Highly Competitive
• Fun, Exciting and Social
• One Meeting per Week

American Mathematics Competitions

• AMC 10/12
• AIME-American Invitational Mathematics Exam
• USAMO-United States of America Math Olympiad

Patty Soliozy

Director of Mathematics 617-993-5965 psoliozy@belmont.k12.ma.us

What are the science options for my daughter or son at Belmont High School? 4 years of Science required for graduation

Four years of science required for graduation

A Sequence for the 21st Century: Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Why Physics First ?

• Content builds on previous course
• Synergistic with algebra
• Concrete Abstract

• College Prep Physics (#504)
• r
• Honors Physics (#503)

Teacher recommendation continues to be the best predictor of proper placement. Based on:

• Science performance
• Math performance
• Study and work skills & habits
• Independence of effort

• Coding Club (Ms. McLeod)
• Engineering and Design Club
• Science Team (Mr. Abruzzese)
• Women in Science (Mr. Abruzzese)
• FIRST Robotics (Ms. Phillips)
• Science Experiment Club

(Mr. A & Mr. Loosmann)

Elizabeth Baker

Director of Science and Technology/Engineering

617-993-5975 ebaker@belmont.k12.ma.us

Social Studies Department Deborah McDevitt

617-993-5985

dmcdevitt@belmont.k12.ma.us

Good Evening & Welcome!

Foreign Language Department Colleen Foley 617-993-5955

cfoley@belmont.k12.ma.us

Belmont High School

Colleen Foley cfoley@belmont.k12.ma.us 617-993-5955

Foreign Language Program

• Graduation requirement: 2 years
• More than 2 years is encouraged!
• Every language has options for 4 years
• Heritage speakers can take advanced levels (a placement

test is required)

• Mixed grade levels in classes (depends on starting point)

Information about Foreign Language Program

➔

Begin a new language.

• Chinese 1
• French 1
• Latin 1
• Spanish 1

Choices

• Continue studying the same language.
• Chinese 2 CP/ 2 Honors
• French 2 CP/ 2 Honors
• Latin 2 CP/ 2 Honors
• Spanish 2 CP/ 2 Honors (or Spanish 1B)

Choices

This form will be sent home with students in their foreign language class. It will be due back to their foreign language teacher by Monday, March 5.

Teachers recommend the course that best matches each student’s learning needs.

• 1st year course / college prep
• 2nd year course / college prep
• 2nd year course / honors

Recommendations

Social Studies

World History Modern World History United States History

Grade 9: World History College Prep & Honors

Content: World History from 500 - 1500 C.E. ■ India, China, Japan, Europe, the Middle East, & Latin America ■ Politics, Economics, Religion, & Culture Skills: ■ Reading, Research, & Writing ■ Collaboration & Critical Thinking

What does it look like in the classroom?

Rome and Byzantine Debate Historical “Speed Dating”

Expectations

■ For Students: ■ Nightly homework (approximately 30 minutes) ■ Assessment: projects, tests, open response questions, essays, and the thesis ■ For Teachers: ■ Unit Planners with daily objectives, guiding questions, and key terms provided for all units

Honors or College Prep?

Factors to Consider: ■ A common core curriculum is taught to all students ■ Both Honors and College Prep classes prepare students for college level work ■ Students who take College Prep as a 9th grader can move to Honors as a 10th grader and AP as an 11th grader

How much support does your child need?

■ When there is a test at the CP level, most of the materials on the test will have been discussed in class; ■ At the Honors level, students are expected to master more material independently through readings and project based learning.

Community Service Requirement

■ 40 hours required for graduation, to be

completed over 4 years of high school

■ Presidential Awards

Grade 10

■ American Studies CP or Honors (US History from 1877 to Present) OR ■ AP United States History Thesis Paper required in all courses

Grade 11

■ Modern World History CP or Honors OR ■ AP European History Thesis Paper required in all courses

Electives

■ You and the Law ■ Economics (AP and Honors) ■ Psychology (AP and Honors) ■ Modern World Issues Honors ■ Global Leadership Honors ■ Community Service ■ Global Certificate Capstone Course (CP/H)

A WRITER…THINKS OF LANGUAGE PARTLY AS A SYSTEM, PARTLY AS A LIVING THING OVER WHICH ONE HAS CONTROL, BUT MOSTLY AS AGENCY - AS AN ACT WITH CONSEQUENCES.

• -TONI MORRISON’S NOBEL PRIZE LECTURE,

1993

English Department

What to Expect:

• More independent work, especially at the honors level
• Longer, multi-part compositions: literary analysis
• More challenging syntax and diction in text
• More complex themes

How you can help:

• Ask your child what work s/he has to accomplish and help him or her plan
• ut how it will get done
• Encourage your child to read and write, and talk with him or her about

what s/he is reading and writing

The 8th/9th Transition

College Prep:

• More scaffolding and teacher support
• More instructional time spent on the reading and

writing processes Honors:

• Greater responsibility for independent learning
• Most reading and writing done outside of class
• More challenging texts

English 9: Two Levels

• Genre studies: short story, novel, poem & play
• Coming of age & the loss of innocence
• Lord of the Flies & Romeo and Juliet
• Descriptive writing and literary analysis

Grade 9

Creative Writing CP/H

Read mentor texts Workshop original writing “Finish” pieces to submit to publications, contests, and college admissions.

Making Social Change CP/H

Want to think globally? Start by acting locally! Research a problem Brainstorm solutions Hold a public hearing Make a proposal to town government

10th-12th: Electives

• Global Literature and Moral Action: American

Born Chinese, Macbeth, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Slaughterhouse-Five

• Persuasive/Argumentative Writing
• MCAS preparation

Grade 10

• American Literature: the Transcendentalists,

slave narratives, Dickinson, Whitman, Twain, Fitzgerald, Hurston, Miller, Wilson

• Personal/reflective writing
• Literary research paper
• Preparation for senior thesis

Grade 11

• AP English 12 Honors
• English 12 Honors
• English 12 CP
• Literary research
• Synthesis

Senior thesis required in all courses. All students read Hamlet, No Exit, and The Things They Carried.

Grade 12

Don't you remember being young when language was magic without meaning?

• -Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize Lecture, 1993

Students must earn 2 credits per year in Physical Education.

• 9th Grade: Wellness
• 10th Grade: Positive Decision Making
• 11th Grade: 2 PE Electives (Mindful Movement,

Outdoor Pursuits, Fitness Group Games, Strength Training, Team Sports & International Games, and Recreational Sports & Backyard Games)

• 12th Grade: 2 credits of either PE Electives, Athletics or

Outside Independent Study.

WELLNESS / PHYSICAL EDUCATION

• Wellness (I) is a required course for all

freshmen.

• The course combines physical education and a

comprehensive health education.

• Meetings take place in the classroom and in the field

house.

• Students will be scheduled into either a semester

course or a two day a week full year course.

WELLNESS I

Topic 1 - Physical Fitness

• 1. Topic 2 - Nutrition
• 2. Topic 3 - Human Reproduction & Sexuality
• 3. Topic 4 - Drugs, Alcohol, & Other Substances

Topic 5 - Safety & Prevention Topic 6 - Life Skills

WELLNESS I

• Belmont High School offers ten (10) sports during the fall
• season. The fall 2018 practices begin on Friday August

17th for Football only, with all other fall sports anticipated to beginning on Thursday August 23rd .The regular season runs from September through October with most teams ending league competition in late October. Tournament qualifications for varsity teams could have teams participating into November. Football concludes its regular season on Thanksgiving Day.

2018 BHS FALL ATHLETICS

• Football V, JV & Frosh
• G Volleyball V, JV & Frosh
• B&G Soccer V, JV & Frosh
• B&G Cross Country V & JV
• G Swimming & Diving V & JV
• Field Hockey V, JV & Frosh
• Cheerleading V , JV
• Golf V

18 BHS FALL ATHLETICS

All students must complete a minimum of one full year of coursework in the Visual & Performing Arts in order to graduate. The vast majority of BHS students complete more than one year.

• Can be met by completing one full-year course, or two one-semester

electives.

• Participation in co-curricular activities or other work outside of school

cannot take the place of enrollment in at least one year of VPA coursework at BHS.

Visual & Performing Arts

All Level 1 Visual Arts electives are open to students in Grade 9:

• Drawing and Painting 1 (5 credits)
• Sculpture 1 (5 credits)
• Photography 1 (5 credits)
• 3D Art 1 (5 credits)
• Animation 1 (2.5 credits)
• Digital Art 1 (2.5 credits)

Students need a total of five credits to fulfill the one-year VPA graduation requirement.

Visual Art

Non-performance Music Electives:

• Electronic Music (one semester)
• Guitar Lab (one semester)

Music

Performing Ensembles in Band, Orchestra and Chorus:

BAND

Concert Band - Honors

CHORUS

Men’s Chorale – Honors Freshman Women’s Choir – Honors

ORCHESTRA

Concert Orchestra – Honors

Music

Curricular electives in Theater Arts:

• Acting 1 (full year)

Theater Arts

After School Activities in Music:

• Marching Band & Color Guard – Requires participation in Band

Camp, one week prior to the start of school. Sign up in May.

• Basketball & Hockey Pep Band
• Jazz Ensemble – by audition in the fall.
• A Cappella Choirs – sign up in the fall

*Requires payment of the $275 Participation Fee for FPA After School Activities.

Co-curricular Activities*

BHS Performing Arts Company (PAC)

• Broadway Night
• Fall Play
• Spring Musical
• One Act Plays
• Improv

Students may sign up in the fall for the Performing Arts Company. *Requires payment of the $275 Participation Fee for FPA After School Activities.

Co-curricular Activities*

Arto Asadoorian, Director of Visual & Performing Arts aasadoorian@belmont.k12.ma.us www.belmont.k12.ma.us/fpa Follow the Dept. of Visual & Performing Arts on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/bpsvpa

Any Questions?