Welcome to Upper St. Clair High School! Ninth Grade Information Night Tuesday, February 11, 2020 — 7:00PM Upper St. Clair High School Theatre
This Presentation is Available Online!
The High School Administrative Team Ms. Amy Pfender — Assistant to the Superintendent for Grades 9-12 Dr. Tim Wagner — Principal Dr. Dan Beck — Assistant Principal (A-K) Mr. Dan Zelenski — Assistant Principal (L-Z) Curriculum Leaders & Department Chairs School Counselors
The Three (+ 1) “As” Academics — Curriculum Leaders & Department Chairs Arts — Activity Sponsors, Dr. John Seybert, & Mr. Matt Cosgrove Athletics — Dr. Kevin Deitrick Activities — Mr. Dan Holzer & Ms. Brooke Tarcson
Savor Imperfection. Listen to Each Other. Work Together.
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling Course Overview Course Title Freshman Seminar ● Four-year planning, Career Exploration, Personality Strengths, Learning Styles, Goal Sem/Year Setting, High School Resume, High School First Nine Weeks Transcript, Connecting interests/strengths Core Requirement? with potential career pathways, Connecting Yes courses with careers ● Students will meet in weekly classes taught Levels Available by School Counselors N/A ● Freshman Seminar culminates with a small Prerequisites group meeting with each students’ assigned N/A School Counselor ● Paired with Wellness Education 9
Social Studies
Social Studies About the HS Social Studies Department ● Focus on nurturing globally-minded, engaged, responsible citizens ● Requirements are 3 years (6 credits), although most students take additional credits. ● Proud of our numerous elective offerings (student choice) Courses Available to 9th Graders ● Shaping the Modern World I (core requirement) ● 21st Century Global Affairs (semester elective) ● Psychology (semester elective) ● Sociology (semester elective)
Social Studies Course Overview Course Title Shaping the Modern World I ● Interconnected nature of the world today ● What’s happening now, and how did we get here? Sem/Year ● Regional approach (i.e. U.S., Europe, & Russia) Year ● Combines history, geography, world cultures, civics/government, and economics Core Requirement? ● Preparation for Shaping the Modern World II (10th) Yes Key Differences Between Levels Levels Available Academic Honors For the Honors/MYP Honors level, expect: ● more frequent nightly reading & higher level readings MYP MYP/Honors ● more autonomy/choice on projects/presentations Prerequisites ● more comprehensive & frequent writing expectations 8th grade social studies teacher rec; high motivation level
Social Studies 21st Century Global Affairs Course Title Semester Electives ● Case study approach (e.g. Globalization, Global threats, Foreign Policy Challenges) Sem/Year Semester Psychology Core Requirement? ● Major domains (approaches): Biological, Behaviorist, No Cognitive, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Sociocultural Levels Available Sociology N/A ● Major elements of human society (e.g. Prerequisites Culture/Subculture, Socialization, Stratification, High motivation/interest level Conformity vs. Deviance)
Certificate of Global Fluency
English
English About the HS English Department ● Focus on sequential reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary ● Requirements are all 4 years (8 credits) ● Proud of our scaffolded writing program Courses Available to 9th Graders ● English 9 (core requirement) ● Speech (semester elective) ● Creative Writing (semester elective) ● Intro to Video (semester elective) ● Video Media Essentials (semester elective) ● Theater (year-long elective)
English Course Overview Course Title English 9 ● Reading: genre study (short story, novel, drama, nonfiction, poetry) Sem/Year ● Writing: timed writing and formal papers, including Year incorporating primary source quotations ● Vocabulary/Grammar programs (including Sadlier Core Requirement? Vocabulary online and NoRedInk) Yes Levels Available Key Differences Between Levels Academic Honors For the Honors/MYP Honors level, expect: MYP MYP/Honors ● 2 additional core texts Prerequisites ● Supplemental reading program with 6 additional texts ● Additional timed writings N/A ● More reading and writing done outside of class
English Speech Course Title ● Workshop class: focus on practicing various modes of Semester Electives speaking in different formats Sem/Year Creative Writing Semester ● Workshop class: poetry, short story, children’s literature, flash fiction, and/or one-act play Core Requirement? No Intro to Video ● Lab-based course: focus on pre-production, production, Levels Available and post-production N/A Video Media Essentials Prerequisites ● Online course: developing individual skills through High motivation/interest level projects, using Chromebook software
English Course Title Theater Theater Sem/Year ● Workshop class: focus on scene and monologue work, improv, Year and creative expression using a variety of theatrical approaches Core Requirement? No Levels Available N/A Prerequisites High motivation/interest level
Mathematics
Mathematics About the HS Mathematics Department ● Focus on developing critical thinkers, problem solvers, and logical communicators. ● Requirements are 3 years (6 credits), most students take 4 years of math. ● Proud of a wide variety of options, meeting learners at their levels of need. Courses Available to 9th Graders ● Algebra I (core requirement option) ● Geometry (core requirement option) ● Honors Algebra II (core requirement option)
Mathematics Course Overview Course Title ● Keystone course required by PA for graduation Algebra I ● Foundation for all future math courses in high school Sem/Year Key Differences Between Levels Year ● Algebra I is a one-year course for students who have not yet taken any Algebra I. Core Requirement? ● Conceptual Algebra I Part A is the first year of a two-year Yes Algebra I course for students who want a more individualized pace. Levels Available ● Conceptual Algebra I Part B is the second year of the Conceptual Academic Conceptual Algebra I course for students who took Part A in 8th grade. Prerequisites Pre-Algebra
Mathematics Course Overview Course Title ● Introduces proofs and understanding of basic logic Geometry ● Reinforces algebraic concepts through the exploration of geometric relationships. Sem/Year Year Key Differences Between Levels For the Honors level course, expect: Core Requirement? ● a heavier emphasis on geometric proofs Yes ● knowledge not only of geometric theorems, but also when to apply them Levels Available For the Conceptual level course, expect: Conceptual Academic ● more differentiation in pace through the use of intelligent tutoring software. MYP Honors MYP/Honors Prerequisites Algebra I
Mathematics Course Overview Course Title Honors Algebra II ● Applicable only for students who have taken Geometry in 8th grade. Sem/Year ● Continuation of the algebraic concepts taught in Algebra I. Year ● Prerequisite for future math courses including Functions, Statistics and Trigonometry. Core Requirement? Yes Levels Available Honors MYP/Honors Prerequisites Geometry
Science
Science About the HS Science Department ● Focus on making science accessible for all students. ● Requirements are 6 credits (3 courses), although many students take additional credits. ● Proud of wide variety of course offerings 9-12 and experienced staff Courses Available to 9th Graders ● Conceptual Biology (core requirement option) ● Academic Biology (core requirement option) ● Honors Biology (core requirement option)
Science Course Overview Course Title Biology ● PA Keystone Biology Exam required for graduation ● Variety of topics from ecology to cell structure Sem/Year Year Core Requirement? Key Differences Between Levels Yes ● Required outside reading and assignments for Honors Level Levels Available ● Guided instruction and some outside reading at the Academic Honors Academic Level ● Material broken into smaller units for Conceptual Level MYP MYP/Honors Prerequisites N/A
Wellness Education
Wellness Education About the HS Wellness Education Department ● Focus on the knowledge and skills that will enable students to achieve and maintain a physically active and healthy lifestyle. ● Requirements are 3.5 credits for grades 9,10, and 11. ● Proud of our program that encourages students to think critically about the important life decisions they will make about their own wellness as well as those around them. Courses Available to 9th Graders ● Wellness Education 9 (core requirement)
Recommend
More recommend
