DSST FAQ’s for Incoming High School Students 2015-2016 1. What is the High School Dress Code? a. Shirts (tops) with a collar, this includes dresses. The sleeves must be short or long as long as it covers the student’s full shoulders. Turtlenecks, mock turtlenecks and polo shirt with a collar are also permitted. b. Pants – No jeans, capri’s mid-calf or lower, no leggings or tights c. Shoes – Must have hard bottom and be closed-toe, , no athletic shoes d. Skirts/Dresses – Must be 1 inch above the knee or lower 2. What classes do students take each year in High School? 9th Grade: 11th Grade: Physics Biology (option for Biology X) Humanities Earth Science Math (Integrated Algebra/Geometry 1 American Literature or 2 or Honors Algebra 2) Math (Algebra 2 or Pre-Calc or AP Spanish Calculus) *Student have the opportunity to choose Spanish between these two courses: U.S. History (option for U.S. History X) Internship Creative Engineering This course aims to bring technology such as 12th Grade: laser printing, computer coding, electronics, and 3D printing into projects. English Math (Pre-Calc or AP Calculus) Drama Civics This course is designed for students to learn Science (Choose Physics/AP Physics or and appreciate all aspects of Bio-Chem) theatre. Students will develop their creativity and imaginations with workshops in Lab (Choose Engineering or Bio-Tech) playwriting, set construction, costume and Senior Elective (Currently Spanish/AP makeup design, and performance Spanish, Psychology, AP Chemistry) Senior Project th 10 Grade: Chemistry World Literature Math (Integrated Algebra/Geometry 2, Algebra 2 or Honors Pre-Calc) Spanish World History 3. How are classes weighted? ALL GRADE LEVELS HIGH SCHOOL ONLY Honors Performance Non-AP Classes AP Classes Grade Points Classes Descriptor Non-X Classes X Classes A+ Outstanding 99-100 4.25 4.75 5.25 A Excellent 90-98 4.00 4.5 5 B+ Very Good 88-89 3.25 3.75 4.25 B Good 80-87 3.00 3.5 4.0 C+ Average 78-79 2.25 2.75 3.25 C Satisfactory 70-77 2.00 2.5 3.0 4. What are some of the Student Clubs, Activities, and Electives at DSST? DSST offers a variety of clubs and activities. Students and parents are encouraged to implement new clubs and activities. OFFERINGS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Student Clubs/Activities List of potential Electives/Seminars Mock Trial Drama A Capella Robotics Improvisation Music Appreciation Gay-Straight Alliance Guitar Creative Writing Strength and Conditioning Drawing Book Clubs Running Club Yearbook Crafts and Scrap Drama Club Booking Bike Club Physics of Bridge Building Music Club Sound National Honor Society Personal Graphic Design Yearbook Finance Service Learning Gaming and AP Biology Support Academic Quiz Bowl Probability Pi Colorado Uplift Service Learning Art Club Journalism Design Dean’s Council Running Fitness Biking 5. What type of sports program and physical activities does DSST offer? DSST is part of the CHSAA sanctioned Frontier League and does offer a competitive sports program in addition to “Lifetime Activities” alternatives. Physical education graduation requirements are met through participation in (1) competitive sport or “Lifetime Activity” per year. Please contact the DSST Athletic Director, Kate Dresher ([email protected]) with questions or for more information or visit our website Competitive Sports: If DSST does not offer a particular sport, it is possible that arrangements can be made for a student to participate in that activity elsewhere. Fall Competitive: Boy’s Basketball Weight Training Boy’s Tennis Girl’s Basketball Cycling Boy’s Soccer Girl’s Soccer Field Hockey Girl’s Volleyball Boy’s Baseball Fitness Dance Coed Cross Country Yoga Ultimate Frisbee Trimester Lifetime/Misc. Spring/Winter Physical Activities: Competitive: Ultimate Frisbee 6. How else are students graded? Academic Effort Grades: teachers grade on effort throughout the trimester. On the report card, these grades are noted using a 1-5 scale (1 Unsatisfactory, 5 Outstanding). Core Value Grades: Students are also graded by how well they have lived our core values each trimester. Core values are also used in determining awards and honors. On the report card, these grades are noted using a 1-5 scale (1 Unsatisfactory, 5 Outstanding). 7. What is the daily schedule? ( Schedule is subject to change) 2014-2015 (Prep Academy 9th & 10th) 2014-2015 Prep Academy Daily Schedule Time Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday 8:15-8:35 All-School PA Morning PA Morning All-School Morning Meeting Meeting Morning Meeting Meeting 8:40-9:40 Period 1 Period 1 Period 1 Period 1 9;45-10:45 Period 2 Period 2 Period 2 Period 2 10:50-11:30 Advisory Electives Advisory Electives 11:35- Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 12:15 12:20-1:20 Period 3 Period 3 Period 3 Period 3 1:25 – 2:25 Period 4 Period 4 Period 4 Period 4 2:30-3:30 Period 5 Period 5 Period 5 Period 5 3:30 First Dismissal First Dismissal First Dismissal First Dismissal 3:35 – 5:00 College Prep College Prep College Prep College Prep Clubs/ Clubs/ Clubs/ Clubs/ Athletics/ Athletics/ Athletics/ Athletics/ Tutoring Tutoring Tutoring Tutoring 5:00 Second Second Second Second Dismissal Dismissal Dismissal Dismissal Wednesday “A” Week (With Elective) “B” Week (No Elective) Period 1 8:15 – 9:25 Period 1 8:15 – 9:25 Period 2 9:30 – 10:40 Period 2 9:30– 10:40 Elective 10:45 – 11:30 Lunch 10:45 – 11:20 Lunch 11:35 – 12:15 Period 3 11:25 – 12:35 Period 3 12:20 – 1:30 Period 4 12:40 – 1:50 Period 4 1:35 – 2:45 Dismissal 2:45 Dismissal 1:50 8. How do students handle transportation? DSST does not provide transportation for their students. Many families rely on programs like My Way to Go. Another form of transportation widely used by DSST students is public transportation (RTD). For route and schedule information, please visit http://www.rtd-denver.com/ or call 303.638.9000. Monthly bus passes are available at DSST at a rate of $39.50, or may be purchased at a local King Soopers. 9. How does DSST handle discipline issues? The DSST community is founded on the school’s six core values: respect, responsibility, integrity, courage, curiosity and doing your best. Students, parents and teachers formally commit to doing their best to live and support these core values. The core values provide students with the opportunity for self- improvement, individual growth, and character development as well as support stewardship of our entire community. Most student errors are handled through direct conversation and using the mistake as a “teachable moment”. The student may be assigned to a Refocus or College Prep session for specific behaviors. DSST follows Denver Public Schools’ guidelines regarding serious offenses. Please refer to the DPS website for more information. 10. How is summer school placement determined and when will it be? We use a combination of a placement test, IA Scores, MAP tests and teacher recommendations to determine whether or not a student has summer school for English or Math. Summer School will last for three weeks. Specific dates are yet to be determined. 11. What colleges and universities have accepted DSST Graduates in the past? 1. Adams State University 39. Grambling State University 70. School of the Art Institute of 2. Alabama State University 40. Hampton University Chicago 3. Alaska Pacific University 41. Harvey Mudd College 71. Smith College 4. American University 42. Haverford College 72. South Dakota School of Mines 5. Amherst College 43. Howard University and Technology 6. Arizona State University 44. Kansas State University 73. Spelman College 7. Beloit College 45. Knox College 74. Stanford University 8. Bentley University 46. Lane College 75. Syracuse University 9. Bethune-Cookman University 47. Louisiana State University 76. Tennessee State University 10. Boston University 48. Macalester College 77. The College of Wooster 11. Bowdoin College 49. Massachusetts Institute of 78. The Evergreen State College 12. Brown University Technology 79. Trinity University 13. Carleton College 50. Metropolitan State University of 80. Tuskegee University 14. Carnegie Mellon University Denver 81. United States Air Force Academy 15. Clark Atlanta University 51. Montana State University, 82. University of California at Los 16. Clark University Bozeman Angeles 17. Coe College 52. Montana State University, 83. University of Colorado, Colorado 18. Colorado College Bozeman Springs 19. Colorado Mesa University 53. Morehouse College 84. University of Colorado, Denver 20. Colorado School of Mines 54. New Mexico Highlands 85. University of Colorado, Boulder 21. Colorado State University University 86. University of Kansas 22. Colorado State University 55. New Mexico Institute of Mining 87. University of Louisiana at Pueblo and Technology Monroe 23. Columbia College Chicago 56. New York University 88. University of Maine at Augusta 24. Community College of Aurora 57. North Carolina A&T State 89. University of Nebraska at 25. Community College of Denver University Lincoln 26. Cornell College 58. Northeastern University 90. University of New Mexico 27. Cornell College 59. Northern Arizona University 91. University of North Carolina at 28. CUNY-Macaulay Honors College 60. Norwich University Chapel Hill 29. Dartmouth College 61. Oberlin College 92. University of Northern Colorado 30. Drury University 62. Occidental College 93. University of Oklahoma 31. Eckerd College 63. Pitzer College 94. University of Puget Sound 32. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical 64. Pomona College 95. University of Waterloo University 65. Prairie View A&M University 96. University of Wyoming 33. Emerson College 66. Princeton University 97. Wesleyan University 34. Fisk University 67. Regis University 98. Whittier College 35. Florida A&M University 68. Rochester Institute of 99. Worcester Polytechnic Institute 36.