incoming 8 th & 9 th grade course selection tuesday, february 4, 2014

INCOMING 8TH & 9TH GRADE COURSE SELECTION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

The blueprint to your child’s future!

Penndale Middle School

Welcome -Dr. Sean O’Sullivan

PROGRAM OF STUDIES

Rising 8th Graders Middle School Program of Studies

Rising 9th Graders Grade 9-12 Booklet

Incoming8th Grade

Course Selection

Mr. Flynn Guidance Counselor A-R

Ms. Manalo Guidance Counselor S-Z

SUMMER READING All 8th and 9th grade students will be

required to complete a Summer Reading Program.

All students will be required to read two books, one novel selected by the district and one of their choosing.

The novel for this summer has not been yet been chosen but will be listed on the website (npenn.org) once it has.

COMMONALITIES (8TH & 9TH GRADE)

Bell Schedule 6-day Cycle E3 Major Subjects

English (Grammar, Vocabulary, & Writing)

Social Studies (America in History)

Mathematics (Pre-Algebra)

Science (Earth and Space)

MAJOR ELECTIVES

8th Grade• Business & Banking Concepts• World Language

French 1German 1Latin 1Spanish 1

REQUIRED MINOR ELECTIVES

8th GradeQuarterly

Art 2HealthComputer Applications 2Family and Consumer Science

2x/cycleExploring TechnologyPhysical EducationMusic

(Band, Chorus, Orchestra or Exploring Music)

2014 RISING 8TH GRADE COURSE

SELECTION TIMELINE

January 27 - Guidance counselor met with students at E3 to discuss course selection.

February 14, Guidance counselors will meet with students to input

18,19 electronic course selection.

April 14 - Verification letters distributed/mailed with 3rd MP report cards.

April 25- Verification letters returned to Penndale ONLY IF changes/corrections need to be

made

June 13- Deadline for schedule changes.

Incoming9th Grade

Course Selection

Mr. Harvey Guidance Counselor A-R

Ms. Manalo Guidance Counselor S-Z

KEYSTONE EXAM All Algebra students will take the

Algebra Keystone exam during the May 12-16 window.

Students who do not achieve proficiency on the Grade 8 Algebra Keystone can attend the summer intervention course or re-take Algebra I.

Credits: Graduation Requirements MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED

ENGLISH 4.0

SOCIAL STUDIES 4.0

MATHEMATICS 3.0 or 4.0***

SCIENCE 3.0 or 4.0***

ARTS/HUMANITIES 2.0**

HEALTH 0.9

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1.2

ELECTIVES 3.9

TOTAL 23.0*

* Minimum number necessary for graduation.** Qualifying courses: art, elective English, FCS, technology education, world language, music, computer science, & fourth year of social studies. One NMTCC credit can be substituted.*** Based upon Keystone proficiency.

Credits: Promotion Requirements

PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS

FOR PROMOTION TO REQUIRED CRITERIAGRADE 9 Students must pass English, Social

Studies, Math, & Science.

GRADE 10 4 CREDITS

GRADE 11 11 CREDITS

GRADE 12 16.5 CREDITS

• Students have the potential of earning up to 6.9 credits in their 9th grade year.

• At NPHS, students have the potential to earn up to 6.9 credits per year.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

GPA for graduation is cumulative for grades 9, 10, 11, & 12.

Is calculated using the 5 major courses that would yield the highest GPA.

There are some courses which are ineligible for exclusion from GPA calculation (IFE).

Class rank will be calculated at the end of the 9th grade year.

See page 8 in the Program of Studies for calculation procedures.

MAJOR ELECTIVES9th Grade

World LanguageFamily Consumer Science MajorApplying Technology MajorArt MajorJROTC-@ NPHSIntroduction to BusinessNMTCC (TECH SCHOOL)

WORLD LANGUAGE SELECTIONS

French 1, 2 German 1, 2

Latin 1, 2 Spanish 1, 2

Japanese 1 (@ NPHS)

NPHS OPTIONS Students who attend JROTC &/or

Japanese spend period 1 & 2 @ NPHS, then take a bus to Penndale for the rest of the day.

JROTC & Tech School can be taken together. In this case, the student would spend the first 3 periods @ NPHS, and 4th & 5th periods @NMTCC.

REQUIRED MINOR ELECTIVES

9th Grade2x/cycleHealthPhysical EducationComputer Applications 3

MINOR ELECTIVES2x/cycle Art Family Consumer Science Applying Technology Tech Drawing Exploratory Business Theatre Arts Related Fine Arts or Music Theory &

Technology

2-4x/cycle Band, Chorus, Orchestra (2-4x/cycle)

2014 RISING 9TH GRADE COURSE SELECTION TIMELINE

January 13 - Met with 8th grade students to discuss the course selection process.

February 14 - Guidance counselors will meet with students 18,19 to input electronic course selection.

April 14 - Verification letters distributed/mailed with 3rd MP report cards.

April 25- Verification letters returned to Penndale ONLY IF changes/corrections need to be made

June 13 - Deadline for schedule changes.

North Montco Technical Career Center offers 22 programs grouped in 8 career clusters

Construction Trades Technology ClusterConstruction Carpentry

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning)

Industrial ElectricalHealth & Human Services Technology Cluster

Allied Health (12th grade only)

Biotechnology (11th & 12th grades only)

Health Occupations Protective Services

Cosmetology Cluster Cosmetology

Culinary Arts Cluster Culinary Arts

Floral Design & Landscape ClusterFloral Design & Landscape

Engineering/Manufacturing Design ClusterDrafting & DesignMechatronicsPrecision MachiningWelding & Fabrication

Power & Transportation ClusterAutomotive Collision RepairAutomotiveDiesel & Heavy EquipmentRecreational Power EquipmentRetail & Distribution

Visual CommunicationsCommercial ArtInternet TechnologiesGraphic Arts

If you would like more information about the opportunities at

North Montco Technical Career Center

see Mrs. Kloss in the lobby after this presentation or call North Montco,

during school hours, at

215-368-1177and speak to one of the counselors.

What is Air Force Junior ROTC all about?• Creating a Great Group of Friends

• Giving Back to the Community

• Exploring Aviation and Space Flight

JROTC Program

Did you Know?• There is NO commitment to the military –

NONE!• Wearing the uniform is YOUR OPTION -- so keep

your hair as long & multi-colored as YOU like• All of the JROTC courses count as Science

Electives• As a 9th grader YOU can take classes at the High

School – get a jump compared to your Middle School peers!

• JROTC participation looks great on college applications and opens windows for potential college scholarships and also admission to America’s Service Academies

• Aerospace Science:– Science of Flight (3915)– History of Aviation (3903)– The Exploration of Space (3925)– Global Studies (1935)

• Leadership Education– Intercommunication Skills– Life Skills– Principles of Management– Summer Leadership School

• Graduation Project

YOU CAN EARN…College Credit

Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado• $180 per course ($60 per course credit)• “B” Grade Required• 3 Elective College Credits/Class, which equals 10-12College Credits while attending High School

Class Flight Simulators

Spacecraft Design/Flight

History of Aviation

JROTC Curriculum

Global Studies

• Offered at the end of June or beginning of July: Open to all 8th-12th grade students– Leadership Exercises and Challenges– McGuire Air Force Base Trip (Aircraft, Battlefield Simulators)– Extreme Water Adventure park– Obstacle Courses with the Pennsylvania National Guard at their

Training Complex– Laser Quest

• More details to come- sign-ups are in March.

Summer Leadership School

HOME ACCESS CENTERwww.npenn.org For Families Home Access Center

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN THE LOBBY

Personnel from various departments of the school will be

in the lobby to answer any specific questions

The Penndale Administrative and Guidance Team would like to thank you for your support and participation in helping our students create the

blueprintfor their futures!

Penndale Middle School