NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL Hello Northwest High School Freshmen. Today - - PDF document
NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL Hello Northwest High School Freshmen. Today we will be reviewing the Course Registration Process for the 20202021 school year and getting ready for Grade 10! Students please look at the registration card in front of
Hello Northwest High School Freshmen. Today we will be reviewing the Course Registration Process for the 2020‐2021 school year and getting ready for Grade 10! Students please look at the registration card in front of you to make sure you received the correct card with your name listed. 1
Review the Northwest HS counselor caseloads. Review graduation requirements and course suggestions for your specific grade level. Review elective options. Plan for completing registration on paper and
We will review Northwest High School’s Counseling Department caseloads, review high school graduation requirements and course suggestions based on your specific grade level. We will review some elective options and plan for completing the registration process. 2
A-Ber
Bes-Deb
Dec-Go
Gp-Kak
Kal-Map
Maq-N
O-Ros
Rot-Thn
Tho-Z
MC2 Grade 9
MC2 Grade 10-12
There are 11 counselors at Northwest High School assigned to students by last name. Your counselors are here to help you with course registration and can provide information about course offerings and what courses may be the best fit for your interests and long term goals. Please write your counselor’s name on the upper left hand corner of your registration card. 3
Honors English 10 A Honors English 10 B Algebra 2A Algebra 2B Honors Chemistry A Honors Chemistry B Honors NSL A Honors NSL B Spanish 2A Ceramics 1A Spanish 2B Honors Health Literature as Film Ceramics 1B Digital Art A and B Photography A and B Honors Financial Planning
Registration Card
Use the back of the card as a reference for courses you may select. Recommendations are pre-printed for you.
Please take a look at your registration card front and back. Northwest High School has many different course offerings to choose from. On the front of the card there are some preprinted course recommendations. These course recommendations were made by your current teachers, but you are not limited to those recommendations! If you would like to try a more rigorous course or level, you are encouraged to seek more information on that course and discuss your thoughts with your current teacher and counselor. I will share the process for registering for a different course than the recommendation in the following
please talk with your teacher and/or counselor to determine the best fit for you if you need help selecting a course. 4
10th Grade Recommended Course Offerings
On the back of your registration card you will see a list of recommended course offerings available for Grade 10. If you would like to learn more about a course, you can find course descriptions listed in the online High School Course Bulletin. Look for the link to the MCPS High School Course Bulletin on the Northwest website. You can search by course name or
weighted credit, and if there are any prerequisites for taking that course. Your teachers are also a good source to ask questions about course content and typical workload. 5
something other then a recommended course:
recommended course and write in the new
the card.
change of level signatures.
On your registration card, your first semester teachers have offered course recommendations. If you would like to choose a different course than is recommended, please follow these steps: To move up to a higher level course, cross off the recommended course and write in the new course. Parent/guardian signature is needed on your registration card. 6
If you would like to move down in a course level, please obtain this form from the counseling
complete each step in order.
To move down, complete the “Change of Level” form and secure appropriate signatures. After getting your teacher, parent, and resource teacher’s signature, turn in the completed form to your Administrator in the main office no later than June 1st. It is important to speak to your teachers and/or counselor to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding recommendations. 7
Gov’t and Science)
When determining what courses to take, you should first consider fulfilling your specific graduation requirements. Most students have room in their schedules to pick up a few electives credits every school year. In order to earn your high school diploma, students must earn 22 credits, complete 75 students service learning hours, and complete the requirements for state testing in English, Algebra, Government, and Science. 8
4 credits of English 3 credits of NGSS Science (1 Physical and 1 Biology) 4 credits of Math (1 Algebra and 1 Geometry) **MSDE requires math every year of high school** 3 credits of Social Studies (USH, NSL, MWH) 1 credit of Fine Art 1 credit of Physical Education 1 credit of Basic Technology .5 credit of Health 2.5 credits of Electives Program Completer Requirement: 2 credits of World Language
OR
2 credits of Advanced Technology
OR
4-9 credits of a Career Development Program
Now let’s review the 22 credits needed for graduation and how to meet them in specific classes or subject areas. We will review each subject area and discuss suggestions for courses to take in Grade 10. Please make notes on your registration card as we go through each subject area. 9
First, we will look at your English class options. All students will need 4 credits of English in
level English 10, Honors English 10, or the appropriate level ESOL class. Please see your registration card for the recommended level course. 10
Next, 4 math credits are required for graduation and must include one credit in algebra and
semester while in high school. After completing geometry, students should register for an algebra 2 class. After completing algebra 2 many students take a precalculus course, followed by a calculus course. There are many different pathways in math to best meet your specific needs. Please look at your registration card to see your teacher’s recommendation for your next math course. 11
Next, all students will need 3 credits of NGSS science in order to graduate. Students should plan to take biology, chemistry, and physics or an AP science class. Biology is a required class needed for graduation that most students complete in 9th grade. If you took biology in 9th grade, you should plan on registering for honors chemistry in 10th
chemistry in 10th Grade. 12
Students are required to take 3 specific social studies courses in order to fulfill their high school graduation requirements. These courses are US History, NSL gov’t, and Modern World History. Students who took on‐level US History in 9th grade will most often take Honors Gov’t in 10th grade. Students who took Honors US History in 9th grade will choose between Honors Gov’t or AP Gov’t in 10th grade. Students who took AP Gov’t in 9th grade will most often take AP US History in 10th grade. 13
Required for graduation: 1 credit in Art 1 credit in Physical Education 1 credit in Technology Fulfill these requirements by the end of 10th Grade.
Now that we have covered your core academic classes, let’s move on to options for meeting your other specific graduation requirements. Students will need to complete 1 credit in fine art, 1 credit in physical education, and 1 credit in technology for graduation. Please think about what requirement you may have completed as a 9th grader and what you have remaining for 10th grade. For example, if you have taken PE and art in 9th grade, it is strongly recommend that you sign up for your technology class in 10th grade. Completing your fine art, physical education and technology credits in 9th and 10th grade will allow you room in your schedule in 11th and 12th grade to choose from variety of elective, internship, and dual enrollment options. There are many different course options to fulfill these requirements‐ please see the back of your registration card. 14
All 10th Graders should take: 784100 Honors Health & pair with a semester elective
All sophomores should sign up to take Honors Health. It is a semester course, so students should plan to take a semester elective to pair with this course. Some students are interested in taking health online through MCPS or during summer school. If you plan to do this, please still sign up for honors health on your registration card and let your counselor know of your plan when you meet with him or her. The online and summer school health course costs approximately $300 and you will need to complete registration with your counselor. 15
Language Or
Technology Or
Development Program
The last piece of graduation requirements to consider is called your program completer
complete 2 credits of world language to meet this requirement. Students often choose this
alternative options to completing 2 credits of world language, can choose either completing 2 credits in advanced technology coursework, or 4 credits in a career development program. Students can choose from a variety of career development programs to complete their graduation requirement and/or to have a focused program of study in an area of interest. We will discuss career development programs in more detail in the next few slides. 16
Students have the ability to complete career development programs at Northwest High School and at off campus locations, such as Seneca Valley HS, Gaithersburg High School, or the Fire Science Academy. At Northwest we offer career development completer programs including the Academy of Finance, Biotechnology, Business Management, Computer Science, College Career Research and Development and Early Child Development. If you are interested in these programs, please speak with your counselor about the specific courses required for these pathways. 17
Academy of Finance ACES
World Language Scholar
Academy of Biotechnology Academy of Fine Art
After registering for your graduation requirements, it is likely you will have space to pick up
electives that align with your future career interests and/or what classes will best help prepare you for college. We encourage you to have conversations with your parents, teachers, and counselor to explore a variety of course options. One big decision you may consider as a sophomore is if you would like to be part of one of Northwest High School’s Smaller Learning Communities. Northwest High School offers a few different academies that offer a specific course program in a specialized area. Students who have a strong interest in science may consider the ACES program or the Academy of
Academy of Finance. Student who are taking higher level world language classes should consider earning the World Language Scholar distinction. Details about the specific requirements and course sequences can be found on the Northwest website under academies. 18
Engineering:
bachelors of science degree (BS) in engineering
through rigorous and specific MC coursework.
General Studies:
Montgomery College Middle College (MC2) at Northwest High School gives students the
General Engineering degree; or a General Studies Associate's degree. The General Studies Associate's degree include a choice of three core concentrations: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); Humanities, Arts, Communication, and Language (HACL); Social Science, Administration, and Health (SSAH); or an integrated combination of two cores (INTG). The college credits towards the associate's degree are earned through a combination of NWHS Advanced Placement (AP) courses with the corresponding AP test scores, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations, and/or college courses with Montgomery
school experience to a college‐like experience on the high school campus, and finally to full college coursework and experience on the MC college campus their 12th grade year. 19
STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(student can earn an AS depending on coursework)
HACL core: humanities, arts, communications, and
languages
SSAH core: social science, administration, and health INTG: integrated studies flexible pathway designed to meet
specific transfer credits by combining core courses or combine core courses to explore career opportunities. Nine credits from each core pathway must be selected
Please visit the Northwest High School Middle College website to see detailed information about the pathways. Here is an overview of some of the General Studies pathways. Are you interested in nursing, kinesiology, communications, or cyber security? Those are only a few of the many degree options now open to students here at Northwest High School! 20
Go to the Northwest website for more information on (MC)2.
Any students interested in the Montgomery College Middle College program please visit the Northwest High School Middle College website and click on the current NW student application button to fill out the google interest form. The application deadline is Tuesday, February 18th. Once applications have been reviewed you will be notified of your acceptance and your counselor will meet with you to adjust your 2020‐2021 course
counselor. 21
22
Hon US Hit B
Please spend time carefully considering your course options and completing your registration card. All students should complete the paper registration card and also enter their course selections online. For the paper registration card, circle recommended classes to confirm you wish to register for that class or follow the procedures for moving up or down a level. Fill in the blank boxes with course names and numbers of other classes so that you have selected 7 classes 1st and 2nd semester. Finally, don’t forget to write down alternate electives in the bottom section. These are your back up choices in case we run into a scheduling conflict. 23
Log into myMCPS Portal & enter courses online Paper instructions Video instruction posted on NWHS website
After completely filling out your registration card, please have a parent or guardian sign the
process you have done in the past. You have been given an instruction sheet that outlines the steps to enter your course selections online. If you need additional instruction, there is a video posted on the Northwest website that reviews the process. Registration is only complete when you have entered your courses online and have turned in your registration card to your counselor on the designated day for your social studies class. 24
December 12th - January 5th
social studies class the week of January 6th to turn in their registration cards and confirm their online selections.
Registration windows and deadlines. The registration window for current grade 9 students is December 12th – January 5th. Students must fill out their registration form, with parent signatures and enter courses online no later than January 5th. Students will be visiting the Counseling office via social studies classes to turn in registration cards. Counselors will briefly review selections with students individually. If you have detailed questions about registration or what courses may be best for you, please schedule a time to meet with your counselor PRIOR to January 5th. 25
course selections in the Portal.
Northwest by June 1st if you want to make any changes to your schedule for the 2020-2021 school year.
In May, we will ask that you review your course selections in the Portal. If you need to make any changes, please notify your counselor no later than June 1st. If you have any additional questions about registration, please email or stop by to see your counselor. 26