Bellefonte area high school
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- Course Description Guide
Inspiring Today’s Learners for Tomorrow’s Challenges
Working collaboratively, we inspire a passion for learning, a commitment to excellence, and a respect for individuals and diversity as we prepare our students to face ever-changing global demands. OUR:
Beliefs, what we believe, what we think is important, what we honor and therefore how we do things. About Students and Learning, the Bellefonte Area School District believes that:
About Teachers and Teaching, the Bellefonte Area School District believes that:
About Learning Communities, the Bellefonte Area School District believes that:
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Dear Parents and Students:
This course description guide is designed to provide the information necessary to help students make informed decisions about their high school curriculum. The proper selection of courses is one of the most important tasks that students will complete during their high school experience. It is imperative that students select the most rigorous courses that match their abilities, interests, talents, and aspirations for the future.
In order to insure the most appropriate course selections, students are encouraged to consult with their parents, teachers, and school counselor. Parental involvement is an integral part of this process; therefore, we encourage families to set aside time to review this booklet together. Teachers may also provide insight regarding the details about specific courses and students’ individual abilities to succeed in those courses. Students are advised to take the time to discuss course selection options with individual faculty members.
The counseling staff is available to discuss individual questions or concerns with parents and students. Our goal is to assist students to get the most out of their education so that they are best prepared for the 21st century.
Shawn Barbrow Mike Willis Jeanie Burns
Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 (L-Z) Class of 2016 (A-K)
Pride – Tradition - Excellence
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I General Information
Course Credits 1-2
Graduation Project 3
State Standards 3-4
PSSA 3-4
Keystone Exams 4
Promotion Standards 4
Scheduling Procedures 5
Prerequisites 5
Course Withdrawal 5
Course Transfer 5
Auditing 5
Incomplete Grades 5 Honor Roll Criteria 6
Class Rank 6
Post Secondary Preparation 7
II Special Programs
Senior Institute 8
Special Education Program 8
Dual Enrollment 8
Gifted Education Program 8
Academic Decathlon 9
Advanced Placement Courses 9
Internship Program 9
Post-Secondary Study 9
Independent Study 9
School-To-Work 10
ESL Program 10
Driver’s Education: Behind the Wheel Training 10
Where To Get More Information and Assistance 11
Extra Curricular Opportunities 12
III Testing Information
Chart of Tests 13
Taking the PSAT, SAT, and ACT 14
IV Elective Offerings 15-16
VI Course Descriptions
English and Communications 17-21
Social Studies/Humanities 22-28
World Languages 29-31
Mathematics 32-35
Science 36-39
Business Education 40-43
Family and Consumer Sciences 44-45
Fine Arts 46-51
Physical Education - Health - Driver Education 52-53
Technology Education 54-56
Agriculture Education 57-58
Career Education 59
Computer Technology 60-62
CPI/Vocational-Technical 63-71
BAHS Success Plan 72
Graduation Credits Worksheet 73-75
Training Agreement for Internship Placement 76-78
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Class of 2013
COURSE CREDITS
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that all students enrolled in schools within the state meet minimum standards of scholastic performance before they may be granted a high school diploma. In addition, the Bellefonte Area Board of Education has established requirements which exceed these state-mandated minimum standards.
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
SUBJECT
MINIMUM CREDIT
English
4.0 credits
Social Studies
4.0 credits *
Mathematics
4.0 credits
Science
3.0 credits
Physical Education
2.0 credits
Health-10
.25 credit
Introduction to Art
.25 credit
Driver Education
.25 credit
Personal Finance
.50 credit
Foundations of Technology
.25 credit
Electives
6.50 credits
Graduation Project
Successful Completion
TOTAL CREDITS
25.00 Credits
*Note: Social Studies must include .5 credits of each of the following courses: U.S. History 1, U.S. History 2, World Cultures, and United States Government.
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Class of 2014, 2015, 2016
COURSE CREDITS
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that all students enrolled in schools within the state meet minimum standards of scholastic performance before they may be granted a high school diploma. In addition, the Bellefonte Area Board of Education has established requirements which exceed these state-mandated minimum standards.
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
SUBJECT
MINIMUM CREDIT
English
4.0 credits
Social Studies
4.0 credits*
Mathematics
4.0 credits
Science
3.0 credits
Physical Education
2.0 credits
Health
.50 credit
Introduction to Art
.25 credit
Driver Education
.25 credit
Personal Finance
.50 credit
Electives
6.50 credits
Graduation Project
Successful Completion
TOTAL CREDITS
25.00 Credits
*Note: Social Studies must include .5 credits of each of the following courses: U.S. History 1, U.S. History 2, World Cultures, and United States Government.
Graduation requirements for the class of 2015 and beyond will be subject to change based upon the Keystone Exams and State requirements.
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GRADUATION PROJECT
All students in Pennsylvania are required by Pennsylvania law to complete a graduation project in order to graduate. The Bellefonte Area High School’s Graduation Project has the following two components:
a. 30 hours of Community Service
b. Senior English Research Project
Community Service
Students can start to accumulate community service hours upon completion of eighth grade. Through participating in Day of Caring each year, students will be able to meet at least a portion of these hours. Other activities in which students can participate include volunteering time to help others. Some activities would include volunteering with children as a teacher or coach, volunteering to help the elderly, serving on a community-based committee, helping a neighbor in need of special assistance, and giving blood to name a few. For each activity, students need to complete a Community Service Form and return it to the High School Guidance Department. Forms can be obtained in Guidance or from the Guidance web page.
Senior English Research Project
The project will be completed by students during their senior year English class. The project has two parts, a research paper and an oral presentation. This project may include the following:
1. Selecting and narrowing a topic
2. Developing a thesis
3. Researching using appropriate sources
4. Use of the Pattee Library
5. Writing a formally documented research paper
6. Following the rules of MLA formatting
7. Designing a formal presentation (5-20 minutes) that includes:
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Designing a PowerPoint presentation which will include images as well as words -
Presenting the PowerPoint to the full class using public speaking skills -
Note cards for use during the presentation
STATE STANDARDS:
PSSA
Additionally, in order to graduate from high school in the state of Pennsylvania, every student must demonstrate proficiency in math, reading, writing, and science. The simplest way for students to achieve this goal is to score at the “Proficient” or “Advanced” level on state standardized tests titled the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), taken their junior year. If proficiency or better is not demonstrated on the PSSA, a number of alternatives are available to students to meet this requirement. The Senior Counselor will work with individual students as needed to determine the most appropriate pathway for each student’s success.
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The easiest route is to take the PSSA retest and score at the proficient level or above. -
Writing – You must receive a 73% or better on your Senior English Research Project with faculty signing off that you have met proficiency in the areas indicated on the PSSA that you need to improve. -
Reading – You must receive a 73% or better in your senior English class with faculty signing off that you have met proficiency in the areas indicated on the PSSA that you need to improve. If you are receiving an English grade between 65% and 72%, you will need to complete a Reading Program with one of our tutors.
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STATE STANDARDS CONT:
PSSA
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Math – You must receive a 73% or better in your senior math class with faculty signing off that you have met proficiency in the areas indicated on the PSSA that you need to improve. Should you not have a math class this year or you receive a grade between 65% and 72% in your math class, then in consultation with the senior counselor, you will work through the following options in this order:-
Receive programmed training -
Sign up and receive tutoring services. -
Work with an approved text independently with teacher supervision following
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administrative approval.
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Science – You must receive a 73% or better in your science class in junior or senior year.
KEYSTONE EXAMS
Starting with the class of 2015, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will require that students show proficiency in literature (reading), English composition, math, science and social studies as determined through one or more of the following: use of Keystone Examinations, local assessments, and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Examinations.
Graduation requirements for the class of 2015 and beyond will be subject to change based upon the Keystone Exams and State requirements.
PROMOTION STANDARDS
On the path to a diploma, there are grade level benchmarks or expectations for each year of high school. Students must earn a minimum grade of "65%" in a course in order to receive credit. It is recommended students earn a minimum of six and one half (6.5) credits per year in order to graduate on time.
The following standards apply to all students:
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A student must earn a minimum of 5 credits during grade 9 to enjoy 10th grade standing.
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A student must earn a minimum of 11 credits during grades 9 and 10 to enjoy 11th grade standing.
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A student must earn a minimum of 18 credits during grades 9, 10, and 11 to enjoy 12th grade standing.
This affects homeroom standing assignment as well.
Students who fail a required course during their freshman, sophomore, or junior years must successfully make up the course prior to graduation. This can be accomplished at the student’s expense either by completing the course in one of the following ways:
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In an approved summer school program -
Through individualized/independent tutoring from a certified teacher approved by the High School Principal -
Through an approved on-line course -
Be advised, not all courses are available in summer school or online. Students should check with their counselor for course availability. -
As a last resort, students may also reschedule the class the following year.
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SCHEDULING PROCEDURES
The Bellefonte Area School District highly recommends and encourages all students to take a wide range of courses and carry a credit load each year that exceeds the minimum standards of scholastic performance. Students should schedule a minimum of 7.0 credit hours per year.
Counselors will meet with students during the second semester and have them complete their scheduling requests for the following year. Completed student schedules will be mailed home in the summer. Students will then be allowed to request schedule changes. These change requests must be made before the beginning of the school year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should consult the course descriptions to be certain they are eligible for enrollment in the course before registering. Many courses have prerequisites and are available only to those students who have fulfilled such requirements. Prerequisites may be disregarded only with the permission of the teacher and department chairperson in the affected subject area and with final approval by the Principal.
COURSE WITHDRAWAL
Dropping a course is a serious step that can affect a student’s permanent record and may jeopardize satisfactory academic progress and athletic eligibility.
Students may drop courses without penalty through the first quarter (semester courses) or first semester (year courses). However, any student who wishes to drop a course must first complete a success plan with the teacher. (A copy of the BAHS Success Plan form is on page 72 for review.) If this plan is followed and success is still not met the student shall be able to drop the course. Success is defined as producing passing work (65% or higher) from the implementation of the success plan on.
Furthermore, a full year course that is dropped after the first semester will appear with a failing grade on the student’s transcript. Likewise, any semester course that is dropped after the first nine weeks of the course will appear with a failing grade.
COURSE TRANSFER
When a student transfers from one teacher to another within the same course or from one level within a subject area to another, the grade will be transferred as well. Administrative approval will be needed.
AUDITING
In very special cases with advance permission of a student’s parents/guardians, course instructor, school counselor, and the Principal, a student may audit a class. When a course is audited, the symbols AU will appear on the report card and transcript. In no case will the student receive credit for auditing.
INCOMPLETE GRADES
Students will receive an Incomplete “I” grade on the report card if they have outstanding work that is still eligible for completion (as defined by the student handbook). All incomplete grades must be made up within 10 days of report card distribution.
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HONOR ROLL CRITERIA
Students will be recognized at the end of each nine weeks grading period for outstanding work based on weighted grades. The following criteria will be used to determine these honors:
Distinguished Honors:
Grade Point Average of 95% - 100%
With no grades of 64% or lower
No incomplete quarterly grades
High Honors:
Grade Point Average of 91% - 94%
With no grades of 64% or lower
No incomplete quarterly grades
Honors:
Grade Point Average of 85% - 90%
With no grades of 64% or lower
No incomplete quarterly grades
In order to be eligible for Honor Roll consideration, incomplete grades must be made-up within five days after report cards have been distributed. A student with an incomplete grade after the five days will be ineligible for Honor Roll consideration.
CLASS RANK
Class rank is computer generated, utilizing the students’ cumulative weighted grade point
average in grades nine (9) through twelve (12). Grades for courses will be calculated as
follows:
Grading Scale
Percentage Grade Letter Grade Equivalent Weighted Percentage Grade
93% - 100% A 97% - 107%
83% - 92% B 86% - 98%
73% - 82% C 76% - 88%
65% - 72% D
Below 65% F
Grades will be determined and recorded as percentages.
For purposes of comparison, letter grade equivalents are listed above.
In addition, the weighted percentage grade is also shown.
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