2019-20 PARAMUS HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES PARAMUS HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR Prepared by Tiffany M. Goodson Supervisor of School Counseling Paramus Public Schools, built on a tradition of excellence and innovation, in partnership with its community, empowers students to succeed as global citizens who add value to the world. ADMINISTRATION PARAMUS HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION Raymond J. Kiem Principal Louis A. Natalo Assistant Principal Thomas Montuori Assistant Principal Donald Roll Athletic Director / Supervisor of P.E. & Wellness PARAMUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION Michele Robinson, Ed. D. Superintendent of Schools Sean Adams Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alfredo Aguilar, Ed. D. Business Administrator / Board Secretary Timothy Donohue Director of Innovation, Instruction & Professional Development DEPARTMENT SUPERVISORS Dara Carr Supervisor of Elementary Education & District Programs Margaret Damiano Supervisor of Student Personnel Services Christine Diaz Supervisor of Assessment, Accountability & Evaluations Tiffany M. Goodson Supervisor of School Counseling Lina Gudelis Supervisor of Humanities: English Lang. Arts, ESL, Social Studies & World Languages Robert Lehmann Supervisor of S.T.E.M.: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Lisa Vartanian Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts & 21st Century Life & Careers BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS Joanne G. Bergmann Bernadette McCausland, President Elisa Giblin Lisa Cassesa Melissa Caminiti, Vice President William Holzmann Alison Donoghue Anthony Feorenzo, Jr. Patricia Kim INTRODUCTION The Program of Studies is a publication designed to assist students and parents in mapping out an appropriate and rigorous academic program for high school. Decision-making is an important part of the course selection process and therefore, offerings should be carefully reviewed in order to select courses that will best meet the needs, interests and goals of each individual student. The school counselor, special education case manager (where applicable), teachers and parents/guardians work together to help students through this process. Administration reserves the right to cancel any course or program offerings when insufficient enrollment warrants. Therefore, not all courses listed in this catalog are guaranteed to run every school year. PUBLIC NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION Paramus Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The School Board has adopted a nondiscrimination policy. It is the policy of Paramus Public Schools to offer programming designed to provide a free and appropriate public education to each student with a disability in need of accommodations and/or related aids or services, pursuant to federal regulations. The school district recognizes its obligation to take steps to ensure that students with disabilities are identified, evaluated and provided with appropriate educational services. The following district staff have been designated to coordinate compliance with Title IX: Sean Adams, Affirmative Action Officer; Carla Alvarez, Affirmative Action Officer; Tiffany M. Goodson, Affirmative Action Officer/504 Compliance Officer, Paramus Public Schools, 145 Spring Valley Road, Paramus, New Jersey 07652; 201-261-7800. TABLE OF CONTENTS ADMINISTRATION ....................................................................................................................... 3 PARAMUS HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION ..........................................................................................3 PARAMUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ......................................................................3 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS .........................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 4 PUBLIC NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION ................................................................................... 4 SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES .................................................................................................. 8 SCHOOL COUNSELING TEAM MEMBERS ................................................................................................8 SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES .............................................................................................................8 SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES .............................................................. 9 CHILD STUDY TEAM MEMBERS ...............................................................................................................9 SPECIAL SERVICES ...................................................................................................................................9 COURSE PLANNING ................................................................................................................... 10 INCOMING FRESHMEN SCHEDULING .................................................................................................. 10 MAPPING A FOUR-YEAR PLAN ............................................................................................................. 10 PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ......................................................................................... 10 GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING SCHEDULE CHANGES .................................................................. 11 REQUEST DEADLINES ........................................................................................................................... 11 REQUESTS TO LEVEL UP ....................................................................................................................... 12 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................. 13 PHS DIPLOMA ....................................................................................................................................... 13 COLLEGE PREPARATION ....................................................................................................................... 13 GRADUATION ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT ............................................................................... 14 GRADING SCALE ........................................................................................................................ 15 GPA CALCULATIONS .................................................................................................................. 15 ACADEMIC HONORS .................................................................................................................. 15 ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES ...................................................................................... 16 AP EXAM REQUIREMENT ..................................................................................................................... 16 AP COURSE ENTRANCE CRITERIA ......................................................................................................... 16 AP APPEALS PROCESS .......................................................................................................................... 16 ACADEMIC POLICIES .................................................................................................................. 17 STUDENT RECORDS .............................................................................................................................. 17 TRANSFER CREDITS .............................................................................................................................. 17 REMEDIAL COURSES FOR CREDIT RECOVERY ...................................................................................... 17 COURSES TAKEN PRIOR TO MATRICULATION ...................................................................................... 17 NEW WORK FOR CREDIT ...................................................................................................................... 17 GRADE ADJUSTMENTS FOR LEVEL CHANGES ...................................................................................... 18 GRADE PROMOTION ............................................................................................................................ 18 SPECIAL PROGRAMS .................................................................................................................. 19 DUAL ENROLLMENT ............................................................................................................................. 19 EDUCERE VIRTUAL COURSES ............................................................................................................... 19 DECA ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 SHARED TIME PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS ............................................................................................ 20 ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ..................................................................................................................... 21 SENIOR EXPERIENCE ............................................................................................................................