High School Course Guide 2016-2017 IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING
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High School Course Guide 2016-2017 IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING SCIENCE AND HEALTH ENHANCEMENT The Science and Health Enhancement Curricula are under review by the school district during 2015-2016. Some of the science and health enhancement courses listed in this Course Guide could be changed after the review is complete. If necessary, the counselors at each high school will adjust student schedules prior to the 2016-2017 school year. MISSOULA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Michael Beers – Member Korbin Bragstad – Member Grace Decker - Member Debbie Dupree – Member Marcia Holland – Board Chair Heidi Kendall - Member Diane Lorenzen – Member Jennifer Newbold - Member Michael Smith – Member Julie Tompkins – Member Ann Wake – Member CENTRAL ADMINISTRATORS Mark Thane – Superintendent Trevor Laboski – Executive Director Region 1 Roberta Stengel – Executive Director Region 2 Karen Allen – Executive Director Region 3 Pat McHugh – Executive Director of Business Services David Rott – Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations Burley McWilliams – Operations and Maintenance Supervisor Hatton Littman - Director of Technology and Communication HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS BIG SKY HELLGATE SEELEY SWAN SENTINEL PRINCIPAL Natalie Jaeger Lisa Hendrix Kathleen Pecora Ted Fuller ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Matt Clausen Lynn Farmer Brian Fortmann ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Jennifer Courtney Hallie Koppang Margo Duneman (Interim) GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Missoula County Public Schools requires that all students earn 24 credits to graduate. Freshman students enrolling during and after the 2013-14 school year are required to successfully complete 3 math credits during high school. **Students enrolled prior to the 2013-14 school year are required to successfully complete 2 math credits during high school MISSOULA COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION English-Language Arts (EN) 4.00 credits Health Enhancement (HE) 2.00 credits Mathematics (MA) (includes 1 credit Algebra 1) 3.00 credits (**2.0) Science (SC) 2.00 credits (Includes 1 credit Integrated Earth, Space & Physical Science and 1 credit Biological Science) Social Studies (SS) 2.50 credits (Includes 1 credit U.S. History, 1 credit U.S. Government, and .5 credit Social Studies Elective) Career and Technical Education (CTE) (chosen from the program areas below) 1.00 credit Agriculture, Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, Industrial Technology Fine Arts (AR) (chosen from the program areas below) 1.00 credit Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts *Electives (EL) 8.50 (**9.5) (*7.5) *Total Credits Required to Graduate 24.00 credits (*22) THESE DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEED STATE REQUIREMENTS A student who wishes to graduate early should talk to his/her counselor to develop a plan to fulfill all credits and requirements in less than four years. Credits for transfer students will be evaluated on an individual basis by your high school counselor to determine graduation requirements. In compliance with Title IX requirements, all classes and activities at Missoula County Public High Schools are open to all students without discrimination according to sex. OPTION OF DUAL CREDIT WITH UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA The “OPTION OF DUAL CREDIT” is indicated for certain courses throughout this Course Guide. Dual Credit means that you may be able to earn university credit, in addition to high school credit, for a specific high school course. Additional requirements and/or university fees may apply. Please talk to the course teacher or your counselor if you are interested in taking a course that offers the “OPTION OF DUAL CREDIT.” INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME The International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) is currently offered at Hellgate and Big Sky for Juniors and Seniors. Students may take International Baccalaureate courses either as part of the full IB Diploma Programme or as individual classes. Students choosing the full IB Diploma take six academic IB courses during the junior and senior year. Students choosing individual IB courses in their junior and senior year are eligible to take IB examinations to earn a completion certificate for each course. Please schedule an appointment with your counselor or the IB coordinator regarding this opportunity. MCPS intends to offer the IB Programme throughout the District in future years. ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS - COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS Students have a responsibility to register on the NCAA Clearinghouse website if they believe they may compete athletically at the college level. The NCAA website is www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. There are requirements for Division I and Division II schools, which include core classes and grade point average requirements. NAIA Colleges may have academic requirements which students should investigate. ACADEMIES BIG SKY HIGH SCHOOL - HEALTH SCIENCE ACADEMY o The Health Science Academy based at Big Sky, is the first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) academy offered at MCPS. It includes biomedical and veterinary programs. HELLGATE HIGH SCHOOL – FINANCE ACADEMY o Finance Academy based at Hellgate will provide career exploration in Accounting, Banking and Financial Planning with in-depth financial literacy curriculum. Job shadows, internships, industry certifications, and dual credit are just some of the benefits to students invested in the Finance Academy. o The Finance Academy is open to all MCPS students. Students at Big Sky and Sentinel can start on the requirements for the Finance Academy designation at their home schools by taking any of the following courses: Accounting I, Personal Finance, and Introduction to Business. The more advanced Finance Academy career pathway courses are only offered at Hellgate, and students will be accommodated for traveling arrangements. SENTINEL HIGH SCHOOL o Sentinel presently offers students career themed pathways in the CTE fields of media arts, journalism, business marketing, automotive technology, engineering, computer science, and culinary. MCPS intends to offer a variety of academies throughout the District in future years. Please visit with your counselor regarding these opportunities. SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES School counseling services are available for all Missoula County Public Schools students. Each counseling department will work to serve your needs in the following ways: LISTEN TO YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION ON COURSES HELP YOU SCHEDULE YOUR CLASSES HELP YOU DEVELOP A COURSE PLAN OFFER CAREER INFORMATION PROVIDE INFORMATION ON EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDE ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIPS HELP YOU COPE WITH PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS SCHOOL COUNSELORS STRIVE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO STUDENTS LIBRARY MEDIA SERVICES The Missoula County Public Schools’ library media program provides for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people in the school community. Materials and information present all points of view on current and historical issues. Class and individual instruction in library skills, resources for research and recreational reading, and stimulation and guidance in all phases of media use highlight the services provided in the library media centers. As an integral part to the school curricula, the media collections contain materials at all reading and interest levels and represent all forms of media, print and non- print. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES Enrollment in Special Education programs is restricted by State and Federal guidelines. Students are placed by a specific referral process which includes a comprehensive evaluation. LEAST RESTRICTIVE EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVE Special education services for a student with a disability shall be provided in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Under LRE, students with disabilities are educated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. Special education services delivered outside of the regular classroom, e.g. placement in special education classes in different school facilities occur only when the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) team has determined a more restrictive environment is appropriate. These more restrictive environments may be in a special classroom within the student’s neighborhood school, in a separate school facility within the district, or a residential facility outside of the school district. It is the goal of Missoula County Public Schools to educate students with disabilities in their neighborhood school to the maximum extent possible. ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS – WILLARD The Alternative High School Program at Willard is a “school of choice” designed for students who want to earn a high school diploma and who want to participate in a rigorous and relevant educational experience preparing them for their adult roles and responsibilities in the 21st Century. This program is not designed to meet the needs of remedial or special education students who require extensive replacement classes. The Alternative High School Program is comprised of three components: The Alternative Plan is for students with alternative learning styles in need of smaller classes and more hands-on curriculum. Students attend six 45-minute periods per day. The Independent Study Classes are primarily for students who benefit from an independent learning approach. Students who are referred for this program have already earned the bulk of their credit requirements and need seven or fewer credits to graduate. There are two sessions, morning and afternoon, consisting of three 45-minute periods per session. The Freshman