THOMAS DOWNEY HIGH S CHOOL A Modesto City School PROGRAMMING GUIDE & COURSE DESCRIPTION CATALOG TABLE OF CONTENTS MCS Website: mcs4kids.com 3 Administrative Team…………… 3 Counseling Staff………..……….. 3 Round-Up.....……………………. 3 MCS Requirements……………….. 4 How To Choose Classes…………. 4 Changing a Class………………… 5 P.E. Requirements………………… 6 Health Center Information….….. 6 Renaissance……………….…….. 6 Bell Schedule……………………… 7 Club Advisors…………………… 7 Graduation Requirements…………….…..… 8 College Preparation ………………………… 8 University of California & California State University Entrance A-G Requirements…….. 9 CSU Eligibility Index…………………………. 9 UC Entrance Requirements…………………. 10, 11 NCAA Eligibility………………………..……. 11 Extra Curricular Eligibility…………………… 12 A-G Approved Courses Offered 2018-19…. 13 College Planning Calendar …………………. 14 Sample 4-Year Academic Plan ……………… 15 Academic Planning Worksheet…………….. 15 Class Designations ………………………….. 16 Course Descriptions Agriculture………………………... 16 Business…………………………… 17 English…………………………….. 17 Foreign Language………………….. 19 Health…………………………...… 20 Math………………………………. 20 Physical Education………………… 22 Practical Arts……………………... 24 Science………………………….… 25 Social Science…………………….. 26 Visual and Performing Arts………. 27 Other Electives…………………… 30 ROP………………………………. 31 A Modesto City School 2 MODESTO CITY SCHOOLS WEBSITE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Richard Baum, Principal Nicole Burrows, Associate Principal Curriculum and Instruction Sam DeLaRosa, Assistant Principal Pupil Services Ryan Sherwood, Assistant Principal Student Supervision Ossiel Ramirez, Administrator of Student and Family Support Services COUNSELING STAFF Leah Verderame 492-6812 Academic Counselor Christine Hammell 492-3279 College Counselor Michelle Luz 492-4355 Academic Counselor Jana Osgood 492-5291 Academic Counselor Tish Nuno-Traverso 492-5213 Academic Counselor Please see your student’s schedule for their assigned counselor in the fall. Or for more information please contact the Main Office at 574-1685. ROUND-UP An Orientation Day called Round-Up is planned for sometime around the beginning of August at Downey. You should receive a packet in the mail describing it. Administrators, counseling staff, and others will be on hand to provide information about student programs, district, and site procedures. On that day, you will visit a series of stations with the forms you received in your packet. You may purchase your Student Body card, yearbook, PE clothes, etc. at the stations. At the final station, you will pick up your new class schedule and a map of the school. You should visit your classrooms and familiarize yourself with the course at that time. Downey High’s student clubs and organizations will have information and materials available during Round-Up day. DON’T MISS OUT! 3 THOMAS DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL To Students and Parents: HOW TO CHOOSE CLASSES Please read this Programming Guide carefully. It will help you to select your classes for the next year and the three CHOOSE YOUR CLASSES WISELY. THERE IS LITTLE, IF years following. ANY, OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AFTER YOUR BALLOT IS TURNED INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL. IF YOU 1. All ninth grade students must take six (6) classes. Ninth DON’T WANT TO TAKE A CLASS, DO NOT CHOOSE IT ON grade students are required to take a course in: English, YOUR BALLOT. Mathematics, Science, World Geography/Health and Physical Education. Some students will also be assigned When choosing courses to take for your freshman year, a support class in one or more subject areas. In addition, you may select one (1) elective and two (2) alternative you must consider the following factors: electives. Please mark your choices #1, #2, and #3, in order of your preference. Required Courses – All freshmen will have English, Math, 2. Students will receive an official ballot on which they are Science, Physical Education, and World Geography/ to mark selections. Please be sure to print student’s full Health. (Check the Graduation Sample Programs) legal name on the front page and both student and parent should sign the back. College Preparation – If you plan to go to a state college 3. If students are enrolled in an 8th class, they must re- or university, you must have College Prep (CP) classes or main in that class for the entire quarter/semester. Clas- higher all four years in high school. If you plan to go to a ses will meet from 7:55 am to 2:55 pm. Late buses are community college, these courses will be very helpful. available at 3:30PM and 5:00PM. 4. To receive credit for activities such as athletics, Additional information: Entering high school is a sig- students must sign up for an optional period. Students in competitive sports must also take a freshman P.E. class. nificant step for both students and parents. Getting started and continuing on the right track is very im- portant. We encourage you to contact your counselor for assistance with any problems or questions you might have. Levels of MCS BOARD POLICY Course Offerings PRE–ADVANCED PLACEMENT (Pre-AP) – Students enrolled in Pre-AP classes should have an excellent abil- Students are responsible for completing all courses assigned ity in reading comprehension and writing. The wide to them on their official schedule of classes. Students can be range and complexity of materials and concepts offers removed from assigned classes only by the principal or his the more able student the opportunity to understand designee. the rich history of the various disciplines. Students in Students who do not pick up their schedules in August or advanced courses will be expected to read assigned liter- attend the first day of school will be dropped from their ature, complete research papers, make oral presenta- assigned courses and must re-enroll on the first day they tions, design special projects, and work independently return to school. and in groups. The level is approved by the University of California for entrance upon graduation. Unless specifically designated as quarter or semester classes, all courses are a full year long. COLLEGE PREPARATORY (CP) – Students enrolled in college prep classes should have a strong ability in reading comprehension and writing. It is highly recom- mended that the students in these classes have better than average study and organizational skills. The stu- MCS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS dents in college prep classes will be expected to read assigned literature, complete written reports, and make oral presentations, design special projects, work inde- In order to receive a diploma of grad- pendently and in groups. (College Prep classes are ap- proved by the University of California for entrance uation, a student must complete the upon graduation.) following graduation requirements: Pass 230 units Pass required courses A Modesto City School 4 MODESTO CITY SCHOOL’S REGISTRATION PROCEDURES FOR CHANGING ASSIGNED COURSES – GRADES 9 - 12 Students are responsible for completing every course assigned to their official schedule of classes. Courses chosen at the time of registration will be assigned to the student’s official schedule of classes. CLASS CHANGE PROCEDURES All requests for class change will be made using the ‘Petition for Class Change’ form. Parents, students or teachers can initiate changes. However, unless all information, including signatures is complete, forms will not be processed. Semester Class: A student may request to change one class for a dissimilar class ( example: from Algebra to Art or from Algebra to General Math, but not from Algebra to Algebra) with no penalty or restriction within the first 20 instructional days of a semester provided: 1. The student submits compelling reasons for the change. 2. The counselor approves the change into a new class. 3. The student shall be required to obtain the approval of a parent and the Associate Principal, Curriculum and Instruction or Assistant Principal, Pupil Personnel Services. 4. Students going from one class to a dissimilar class will not transfer a grade from previous class (example: a student going from Algebra to Art will start Art class without a previous grade). After the deadline date to drop a course: 1. Students shall not drop courses unless, in the judgment of the Assistant Principal, Pupil Personnel Services, or the Associate Principal, Curriculum and Instruction, there are serious extenuating circumstances. 2. Students shall obtain parent approval. 3. Drops after the 20th day will result in a semester grade of “F”. Quarter Classes (e.g. PE): 1. A student may change one class for a dissimilar class within the first 10 days of a quarter under the same provisions as listed under #1 of the semester class. 2. A student may not change a quarter class after the 10th school day. 3. Drops after the 10th day will result in a quarter grade of “F”. Appeal Procedures: Students may be allowed to appeal the decision of the Associate Principal, Curriculum and Instruction and/or Assistant Principal, Pupil Personnel Services. 5 THOMAS DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION DRESS REQUIREMENTS Sports Physical A physical examination is strongly recommended for each 1. All students are expected to provide neat and clean freshman prior to the beginning of the school year. Any gym clothes at the beginning of each week. student planning to participate in a sports program or become a cheerleader must have a physical. A physical 2. All students are expected to wear gym clothes for all examination may be obtained from your private physician or activity classes, unless other arrangements are at the sports physical screening provided by Modesto City specified. Schools. The P.E. Department will notify students of the 3. Recommended dress for physical education classes will date and location of the clinics. Also, watch for the date in consist of the following items: the sports section of The Modesto Bee. a. Trunk-type gym shorts (the school color is Health Problems recommended) If your child has any health problems the school needs to be b. A standard white crew T-shirt with sleeves. aware of, such as diabetes, heart problems, seizures, c. White athletic socks (stripes are permissible). asthma, allergies requiring Epipen, ADHD, etc., please notify the school Health Center staff at 574-1688 to ensure your d.