8 th to 9 th Transition

1. 8th to 9th Transition VF Middle School Class of 2022

2. Upcoming Events & Deadlines • February 1, 2018 Your parents go to CHS to hear presentations from Counselors and department chairpersons regarding curriculum and credit requirements. Bring your Program of Studies home! Your parents need bring your Program of Studies!!! • February 5, 2018 CHS counselors visit VFMS 8th graders in math classes and give out course selection cards. CHS counselors will go over, in detail, the Conestoga course selection process. **Students should have their Program of Studies booklet with them. • February 9, 2018 Conestoga Special Areas and Core Class Department Chairs visit VFMS and make presentations to 8th graders regarding course offerings, credit requirements, and other curricular information. • Special Areas:  8:00am - 8:45am (1st period) • Core: 12:10pm - 1:44pm (6th & 7th periods) **Students should have their Program of Studies booklet with them. • February 5-15, 2018 (9 SCHOOL days to get teacher recs) 8th grade teachers will make recommendations on students’ course selection cards. • February 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Completed course selection cards are due back to Mr. Sola. • ‘Green Cards’ must have teacher (for recs), parent, and student signatures on it • Late submissions will receive lower priority for electives!

3. CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR 9-12 • English4.0 • Social Studies3.0 • Science3.0 • Math3.0 These are minimum requirements; most college-bound students will take these core courses all four years at CHS • Core Electives2.0 • Must include at least one course in each of these three areas: • Visual & Performing Arts • Business & Technology • Family and Consumer Sciences • Health & Phys Ed1.9 • Electives 5.1

4. World Language Requirements • World Language2.0 • Level 1, 2– CHS; if changing languages for 9th, must take minimum of 2.0 credits • Level 3- CHS; if continuing same Middle School language for 9th, must take minimum of 1.0 credits in same language and 1.0 elective in any other course. • French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Latin • every student must finish at least one Level 2 or 3 language course at CHS • 4 years of same language is strongly recommended by the department • If you plan on taking two languages your freshman year – please see Mr. Sola to plan your electives

5. COURSE LEVELS: • Academic (A) • serious academic studies- pace is modified to accommodate the individual needs and abilities of the students. College-prep level. • Accelerated (X) • solid foundation for success in most colleges and universities. Pace is accelerated and the workload is demanding. • Honors (H) • taught at high school level, but like AP courses, provide greatest challenge and best preparation for success at academically rigorous colleges. • Advanced Placement (AP) • college-level courses taught according to syllabi prescribed by The College Board Advanced Placement Program. Possible college credit can be awarded by the college through AP tests.

6. Course Levels – 9th grade Core classes • SCIENCE • Biology • AP, H, X, A • SOCIAL STUDIES • World History • AP, H, X, A • ENGLISH • World Literature • H, X, A • MATH • Next level after 8th grade math class • Offered: H, X, A for all freshman math classes • Except Algebra-1 (offered at X and A levels only) • LANGUAGES • French, German, Latin, Spanish, Italian, Chinese • Offered: H, X, A for levels 1-3.

7. AP COURSES – 9th Grade • AP courses offered to 9th graders for core, required courses are: • Biology • World History • AP classes are for students with: • Strong reading and writing skills • Strong motivation (800-1000 pages of text + note-taking) • College-level text books • Strong organizational and study skills • Speed matters: reading and notes • For students who have excellent attendance

8. HEALTH – 9th grade • Freshman Health is now called“Health & Fitness” • Semester course meeting every day (6/6 days of cycle) • 4/6 days Health • 2/6 days Phys. Ed. (lab)

9. PHYS. ED. – 9th Grade • Called “PE – 9” in 9th grade • Requirement for ALL students • One semester course • Meets 2/6 days of the cycle • PE required in 10th through 12th …EVERY semester • After 9th grade, students can substitute Core PE with “alternative experiences” (CHS team sports, ‘extended experience’, etc)

10. Periods Per Cycle • Students must schedule36 (min.) and 42 (max.) periodsper cycle • Exceptionsnot counted towards the 42 class period cap: • ESL • Academic Seminars • Co-Curriculars • Writing: Spoke (newspaper), Lit. Mag., Yearbook • Science Olympiad • Music Groups:Camerata, Chanteuses, Chorale, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble • Experiential Learning Opportunities: • ELO (online courses, service learning) • Science labs

12. WORLD LITERATURE WORLD HISTORY MATH BIOLOGY WORLD LANGUAGE HEALTH & FITNESS PE 9 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE ELECTIVE STUDY HALL STUDY HALL

13. LUNCH • There are four 30-minute lunch periods per day (in either 5th or 6th period) • You find out first day of school which lunch you have. • Lunch does not count towards 42 periods per semester

14. ENGLISH CO-CURRICULARS Applications due back to your English teacher • YearbookFebruary 28, 2018 (tentative) • Newspaper (Spoke)February 28, 2018 • Lit. Mag.February 28, 2018 See your English teachers for applications • Multimedia Magazine English co-curricular elective • If you are applying to Yearbook, Spoke, or Lit Mag. – sign up for Multimedia Magazine • If you are not accepted to Yearbook, Spoke or Lit. Mag. as a freshman - taking Multimedia Magazine will provide students with journalism training that will: • enable students to acquire the skills needed to increase the likelihood of acceptance into the publication of choice for their sophomore year • If you are accepted to one of the three publications for 9th grade – Multimedia Magazine will be dropped from your schedule.

15. See Mr. Sola • Before school • After school • Lunch or lunch activity • Make an appointment!