Sitka High School Course Descriptions 2015-2016 1000 Lake Street Sitka, Alaska 99835 (907) 747-3263 Table of Contents Enrollment Requirements and Documentation……………………………………………..3 Grade Level Calculation by Credits……………………………………………………………….3 Graduation Requirements……………………………………………………………………………4 Recommendations for College-Bound Students…………………………………………….4 Alaska Performance Scholarship at SHS………………………………………………………..5 Other Learning Opportunities………………………………………………………………………6 Tips to Making a Good Schedule……………………………………………………………………7 Individual Course Descriptions………………………………………………………………..8-20 Language Arts………………………………………………………………………………………..…8-9 Social Studies……………………………………………………………………………………..……...10 Mathematics…………………………………………………………………………………………11-12 Science………………………………………………………………………………………………....12-13 Physical Education………………………………………………………………………………….…13 Vocational Education……………………………………………………………………………14-16 Design & Construction Technology……………………………………………..………14 Metals……………………………………………………………………………………………….14 Family & Consumer Science……………………………………………………………….15 Information Technology………………………………………………………………...…..15 Mechanics…………………………………………………………………………………………16 Health Sciences………………………………………………………………………………….16 General Vocational Electives………………………………………………………………16 World Languages……………………………………………………………...………………………..17 Music…………………………………………………………………………………………………...17-18 Applied Arts………………………………………………………………………………………….18-19 Drama………………………………………………………………………………………………..……...19 Other Electives……………………………………………………….………………………………....20 2 Enrollment Requirements Welcome to Sitka High School! If you and your family are new to our Sitka we look forward to enrolling your student into our school community. Please call the SHS Registrar’s Office at (907) 966-1905 to schedule an enrollment appointment. You will need to personally appear to register your child, complete a registration form and other required documentation. Please bring the following documents to your registration meeting: Completed registration form (found on Sitkaschools.org) Student Birth Certificate or Passport Parent/Guardian Photo ID Proof of Parental Relationship, Custody, or Guardianship (if applicable bring legal proof of custody) Current Immunization Records Two Current, Local Emergency Contact Phone Numbers Previous School Transcripts, and Withdrawal Grades (if applicable) Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and/or 504 Accommodation Plan (if applicable and available) Other- Medical Forms, Allergy Alerts, Etc. Please Note: Only the persons or agencies with educational rights for a student may enroll that student in school. Step parent, other relative, or non-relative, noncustodial parent, or agency must present a notarized statement granting permission to reside with you, and make educational and medical decisions for the student. Steps to Enrollment 1. Schedule an enrollment appointment with the registrar 2. Gather required documents (see shaded area above) 3. Attend enrollment appointment and complete all registration documents 4. Schedule an appointment with SHS Counselor 5. SHS requests records from your previous school- this may take a few days 6. Meet with SHS Counselor to develop a class Schedule 7. Meet with Ms. Loree in the front office to pay any course fees and book deposits 8. Meet Principal and Vice Principal 9. Your student starts school at Sitka High! Grade Level by Credits Sitka High School assigns grade level by the number of credits students have earned toward graduation (not necessarily by the number of years he or she has been in high school). Credits are earned by receiving passing scores in courses and may be transferred in to Sitka High from other approved high schools. The guidelines for grade placement are as follows: 0.0-5.0 Credits Freshman 5.1-11.0 Credits Sophomore 11.1-16.0 Credits Junior 16.1+ Credits Senior 3 Graduation Requirements Language Arts 4 Credits 1 credit of U.S. History, 1 credit of American Government, Social Studies 3 Credits 1/2 credit of Global Issues and 1/2 credit of Alaska Studies 2 Credits Must pass Integrated Math 2 or equivalent Mathematics 3 Credits Class of 2018 and beyond need 3 credits 1 credit of Life Science Science 3 Credits 1 credit of Physical Science and 1 credit Science Elective Physical Education 2 Credits Must include 1/2 credit Health Vocational 1 Credit Electives 8 Credits Testing The State of Alaska will determine the final exam for each In addition to course credit graduating year. requirements, all students must pass the following Sitka High School Swim Competency examinations: Total Credits 23 Credits Minimum required credits Maximum credits that can be used for graduation: Teacher/Office Aide 1 Credit 1 class/semester maximum Work Experience 2 Credits 1 credit/year (1.2 credit = 100 hours work) Physical Education 3 Credits Including Health Recommendations for College-Bound Students A word of caution: students who intend to go on to college or other post-secondary training should do much more than the graduation requirements! The requirements listed above are minimums, and WILL NOT prepare you properly for the rigors of college! See eligible APS courses on the next page for recommendations of college Language Arts 4+ Credits preparatory courses in Language Arts- take challenging ones!! In addition to required courses, taking World History, Geography, and/or dual Social Studies 3-4 Credits enrollment Psychology will give you a nice background in Social Studies Challenge yourself to make it as high in math as possible! Remember, we’ve got Mathematics 3-4 Credits great A/P opportunities in Stats and Calc which could even give you college credit! Colleges like to see laboratory sciences, so taking courses such as Chemistry, Science 3-4 Credits Physics and Forensics will give you a good base in Science Many colleges like to see a minimum of 2 years in a single foreign language (some World Languages 2-4 Credits like more than 2 years). Many colleges like to see at least a year of fine or performing arts, this could be Fine or Performing Arts 1+ Credit music, art, or drama Choose your electives wisely! Make sure that the fun courses you choose Challenging Electives challenge you and lead you toward your future goals! Keep your grades up!!! EVERY grade you earn in high school goes on your GRADES transcript which will be sent to the colleges and scholarships you apply to! 4 Alaska Performance Scholarship at SHS To qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must take a rigorous course load including specific course titles. The tables below indicate which Sitka High School courses are included in eligibility for this scholarship. For details about the Alaska Performance Scholarship please visit http://acpe.alaska.gov Mathematics Department Recommended as Recommended as Math Courses NOT Approved Approved Mathematics Courses “Equivalent Courses” “Additional Courses” for APS Eligibility to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist for APS eligibility Equivalent to: .5 Integrated Math1 semester 1 Math 1 Lab Integrated Math 1A *NOTE- limited APS credit Equivalent to: .5 Integrated Math 1 semester 2 Math 2 Lab Integrated Math 1B *NOTE- limited APS credit Integrated Math 1 Equivalent to: .75 Algebra 1& .25 Geometry Integrated Math 2 Equivalent to: .75 Algebra 2 & .25 Geometry Integrated Math 3 Equivalent to: .5 Algebra 2 & .5 Geometry Equivalent to: .5 Algebra 2, .5 Geometry & 1.0 Integrated Math 3/PreCalc PreCalculus PreCalculus X A/P Calculus X A/P Statistics X Algebra for College .5 Algebra 2 Language Arts Department Recommended as Recommended as Language Arts Courses Approved Language Arts Courses “Equivalent Courses” “Additional Courses” NOT Approved to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist for APS eligibility for APS Eligibility English 9 Equivalent to: .5 American Lit 1 & .5 Composition 1 Alaska Literature Equivalent to: .5 World Literature 1 & Surveying Literature & English 10 .5 Composition1 Writing American Literature X Drama A/P Language & Composition X Young Adult Literature Creative Writing X Debate/Speech X Equivalent to: .5 Advanced Composition & Honors English .5Advanced World Literature Equivalent to: .5 Advanced Composition& Mythology .5 Advanced World Literature Shakespeare Equivalent to: 1.0 British Lit. Science Department Recommended as Recommended as Science Courses NOT Approved Science Courses “Equivalent Courses” “Additional Courses” Approved for APS Eligibility to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist for APS eligibility Life Science Equivalent to: 1.0 Biology Alaska Naturalist Physical Science X Field Science Chemistry X Robotics Forensics X Science & Tech Physics X Science Mentorship X Social Studies Department Recommended as Recommended as Social Studies Courses NOT Approved Social Studies Courses “Equivalent Courses” “Additional Courses” Approved for APS Eligibility to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist for APS eligibility Alaska Studies Equivalent to: .5 Alaska History A/P Human Geography X American Government X American Studies/U.S. History X Global Issues Equivalent to: .5 Geography U.S. History X World Geography X World History X 5 Other Learning Opportunities As a small high school we may not have all of the learning opportunities you desire within our walls, however we do collaborate with some other wonderful programs to expand your options! *Please note that any tuition costs or fees associated with such programs are assumed by your family, not by SHS. University of Alaska Southeast-Sitka Campus SHS and UAS offer dual enrollment opportunities