Fennimore High School Course of Studies 2020-2021
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FENNIMORE HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDIES 2020-2021 The Fennimore Community Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability in any of its student programs and activities or any of its hiring, employment, or volunteer opportunities and procedures. Please indicate if you need this information presented in another language. Por favor indique si necesita esta informaciόn en Español. 2 Table of Contents School Mission and Philosophy 3 Nondiscrimination/Equal Access 4 Academic and Career Planning 5 Graduation Requirements 5 Awarding High School Credits 5 Withdrawal from Class 6 Early Graduation Requirements 6 Academic Honor Roll 6 Graduation Awards and Honors 6 Foreign Travel Credit 7 Valedictorian and Salutatorian 7 Laude System 8 Co-Curricular Activities/Clubs 11 Advanced Placement (AP) Program 12 Advanced Standing Courses 12 Transcripted Credit 12 College Level Examination Program 13 Description of High School Courses Agriculture 14 Art 17 Business Education 18 Computer Science 20 Driver’s Education 20 English, Language, & Speech 21 Foreign Language 22 Health 22 Mathematics 23 Music 25 Physical Education 26 Science 27 Social Studies 29 Special Education 30 Technology Education 31 Vocational Education/Dual Credit 33 Aides, Assistants, & Tutors 34 Silver Cord Program 35 3 Fennimore Community Schools District Mission To continuously improve student achievement, utilizing all of the resources available to our community. We strive to improve course offerings, promote a positive school climate, build relationships, increase parent involvement, promote community involvement, set clear performance collaborative standards, and facilitate faculty commitment to the mission. School District Philosophy The Board of Education believes that the purpose of education is to facilitate the development of the potential of each student. In a free society, every individual has both the right and responsibility to make choices and decisions for himself/herself and for society. A prerequisite for every member of such a society in meeting those responsibilities is competence in the use of the rational thought processes needed to make intelligent, ethical choices and decisions. If our society, as originally conceived, is to survive and function effectively, its young people need to be prepared to exercise their rights and their responsibilities in ways that benefit them and the society. Likewise, if individuals are to be able to achieve their life goals in a free society, they need to be competent to choose among the myriad alternatives that are and continue to be available to them. 4 Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity The Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including transgender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability ("Protected Classes") in any of its student program and activities. This policy is intended to support and promote non discriminatory practices in all District and school activities, particularly in the following areas: A. use of objective bases for admission to any school, class, program, or activity; B. prohibition of harassment towards students and procedures for the investigation of claims (see Policy 5517); C. use of disciplinary authority, including suspension and expulsion authority; D. administration of gifts, bequests, scholarships and other aids, benefits, or services to students from private agencies, organizations, or persons; E. selection of instructional and library media materials in a nondiscriminatory manner and that reflect the cultural diversity and pluralistic nature of American society; F. design and implementation of student evaluation practices, materials, and tools, but not at the exclusion of implementing techniques to meet students' individual needs; G. design and configuration of facilities; H. opportunity for participation in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, provided that separate programs for male and female students may be available provided comparable activities are made available to all in terms of type, scope, and District support; and I. the school lunch program and other school-sponsored food service programs. Reporting Procedures Students, parents and all other members of the School District community are encouraged to promptly report suspected violations of this policy to a teacher or administrator. Any teacher or administrator who receives such a complaint shall file it with the District’s Compliance Officer at his/her first opportunity. Students who believe they have been denied equal access to District educational opportunities, in a manner inconsistent with this policy may initiate a complaint and the investigation process that is set forth below. Initiating a complaint will not adversely affect the complaining individual's participation in educational or extra-curricular programs unless the complaining individual makes the complaint maliciously or with knowledge that it is false. District Compliance Officers The Board designates the following individuals to serve as the District’s "Compliance Officers" (hereinafter referred to as the "COs"). Boone Tollefson Carmen Burkum Middle/High School Principal Elementary Principal 608-822-3245, ext. 3100 608-822-3285 510 7th Street, 830 Madison Street, Fennimore, WI 53809 Fennimore, WI 53809 [email protected] [email protected] A CO will be available during regular school/work hours to discuss concerns related to student discrimination in educational opportunities under this policy. See school district policy #2260 for more information. 5 Academic and Career Planning Students at Fennimore High School engage in Academic and Career Planning during the school year at each grade level. The purpose of this planning is to educate students and their families as to the choices they should make as students during the scheduling process. Knowledge of a student’s interests and pathways is essential to taking advantage of the many opportunities available in this Course of Studies. For further information, parents and guardians are encouraged to take advantage of the Parent Portal in Xello, which our students utilize to measure their interest in the various career clusters. Opportunities for sign-up and training are offered throughout the year. For more information, please consult with the school guidance counselor, Jonah Roth. Graduation Requirements (see Policy 5460) Credits Required: 24 English 4 Social Studies 3 Science (3 credits for class of 2017 and beyond) 3 Mathematics (3 credits for class of 2017 and beyond) 3 *Health 0.5 Personal Finance Literacy 0.5 Physical Education (unless medically excused) 1.5 Electives 8.5 24 *Health will have been taught in grades seven and eight. Successful completion will be necessary for graduation. Grading will be pass-fail without grade point averaging. Students who have not completed health prior to Grade 9 will be scheduled to fulfill this requirement. Awarding High School Credits 1. The Fennimore Board of Education with recommendations from the high school principal and district administrator shall determine which courses will be offered at Fennimore High School and how much credit a student may earn by taking a course. One credit will be given for a full year (courses meeting one class period five times weekly) of passing work in any district course. The smallest division of credit used by the school will be the quarter credit. 2. A student who successfully completes a course (previously approved by the district) at a post-secondary institution will be awarded high school credit at a rate of .25 high school credits for one course credit. (example: a 2 credit course would receive.5 high school credits, a 5 credit course would receive 1.25 credits.) The grade for the course will be included in the student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) and on the student's high school transcript. 3. A student who is making up a high school course through another institution, or who applies to take course(s) in another public high school under the part-time open enrollment program must obtain prior approval from the high school principal and district administrator to determine whether the course satisfies District requirements. A course description/syllabus must be submitted for review. If the course is approved for high school credit, the course grade will be included on the high school transcript and in the student's cumulative GPA. 4. A student taking and completing one year of algebra in eighth grade will receive a grade on his/her transcript. However, the course will not count toward the three-credit math requirement for graduation and will not count in the student’s cumulative GPA. The credit(s) will count toward the required elective credits. 6 Withdrawal from Class A student may withdraw from a class during the first five school days of a semester without penalty, but must have signed parent permission. If the student withdraws after these five school days, the following applies: If the withdrawal is in the first or third nine weeks, the student will receive an "F" for the quarter and a "W" for the semester. The student must have signed parent permission.* If the withdrawal is in the second