Welcome Parents!

1. Welcome Parents! Mrs. Reiss, Counseling Department Chair Mrs. Charlton, High School Principal

2. Program Graduation Requirements Yearly Curriculum Specialized Curriculum Elective Course Offerings Report Periods and Grades Academic Help Academic Awards NCAA Eligibility Center / Athletics Home - School Communication Counseling Services

3. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSMINIMUM 23 CREDITS • 4 Credits of English • 3 Credits of Social Studies • 3 Credits of Math • 3 Credits of Science • 1 Additional Credit of Social Studies, Math or Science • 1 Credit of Physical Education • 1/2 Credit of Health • 1/2 Credit of Microcomputer • 2 Credits of Arts & Humanities • 5 Credits of Electives

4. CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL • Students must have attained at least 5.25 credits in grade 9 to move to grade 10 • Students must have attained at least 10.50 credits in grade 9 and grade 10 to move to grade 11 • Students must have attained at least 16.75 credits in grade 9, grade 10, and grade 11 to move to grade 12

5. Yearly Curriculum: Grades 9 and 10 Grade 9: • 1 Credit of English • 1 Credit of Social Studies • 1 Credit of Math • 1 Credit of Science • .50 Credit of Microcomputer • .25 Credit of Physical Education • 1.50 Credits of Electives Grade 10: • 1 Credit of English • 1 Credit of Social Studies • 1 Credit of Math • 1 Credit of Science • .50 Credit of Health • .25 Credit of Physical Education • 1.50 Credits of Electives

6. Yearly Curriculum: Grades 11 and 12 Grade 11: • 1 Credit of English • 1 Credit of Social Studies • 1 Credit of Math • 1 Credit of Science • .25 Credit of Physical Education • 2 Credits of Electives Grade 12: • 1 Credit of English • 1 Credit of Social Studies, Math or Science • .25 Credit of Physical Education • 4 Credits of Electives

7. Typical 9th Grade Schedule Choices

8. Specialized Curriculum For students at the extreme levels of ability, special courses are offered – from Advanced Placement and honors classes to special education classes.

9. Honors English 9 (ex. 93% would be 93% x 1.05 = 97.65%) Honors American History 9 Honors Algebra II Honors Geometry Honors Biology Honors Spanish II Honors French II 9th Grade Weighted Course Options(1.05 multiplier)

10. Additonal Honors and AP Courses • Honors English 10 • Honors Social Studies 10 • Honors Chemistry • Honors Pre-Calculus • Honors French III, IV • Honors Spanish III, IV • AP English Literature • AP English Language • AP American History • AP World History • AP Gov’t & Politics • AP Economics • AP Chemistry • AP Physics I, II • AP Biology • AP Calculus I, II • AP French V • AP Spanish V

11. Upcoming Forum: Scheduling Multiple Honors Courses • Students considering enrollment in two or more honors courses are invited to join us on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school mini-theater. • Current ninth grade honor students will be there to speak about course expectations, degree of homework, handling several honors courses, and more. A question and answer period will follow.

12. Special Education Courses • Enrollment in any special education course requires the recommendation of the IEP Team. • Courses are as follows: • English 9, 10, 11, 12 • Learning Skills I, II • American History, World History, Applied Economics, Government • Math II, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I Part 1, Algebra I Part 2 • Biology, Physical Science, Earth & Space Science • Career Planning, Cooperative Work Experience • Inclusion classes are offered in English, Social Studies, Science, and Math.

13. Elective Course Offerings Hempfield Area High School offers a wide selection of courses to accommodate students’ varied interests and abilities. Samples of elective courses follow. *denotes ninth grade offering

14. Art Department • Intro to Creative Design* • Drawing & Painting I*, II* • Animation I*, II* • Ceramics & Sculpture I*, II • Digital Video I*, II* • Digital Photography* • Photography I, II • Art Studio Portfolio

15. Business, Computer, and Information Technology Department • Exploratory Business* • Creative Web Design • Adv. Web Page Design • Principles of Management • Small Bus. Management • International Business • Business and Personal Law • Money Matters • Marketing • Sports & Entertainment Marketing • Accounting I • Advanced Accounting • Video Game Development • Gaming in Visual Basic • Web / Apps Tools

16. English Department • TV Writing & Broadcasting I*, II*, III, IV • Fundamentals of Theater I*, II* • Language Studies • College Writing • Literary Studies • Journalism I, II, III • Mass Media • Yearbook I, II

17. Family and Consumer Science • Skills For Living* • Fashion* • Fabric Arts I*, II*, III • Fast Foods* • American / Regional Foods* • Specialty Foods* • On Your Own • Family Living • Child Development I, II, III

18. Health & Physical Education • Anatomy / Physiology I, II

19. Mathematics Department • Probability & Statistics • Introduction to Computer Programming • Programming in C++

20. Music Department • Music Theory I*, II*, III • Classical Guitar I* • Percussion Methods* • Piano / Keyboard I*, II* • Concert Choir I*, II*, III, IV, V, VI • Jazz Choir I*, II*, III, IV • Concert Band I*, II*, III, IV • Jazz Band I*, II*, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII

21. Science Department • Biology II • Chemistry II • Physics II • Forensic Science • Geology • Astronomy • Ecology • Ocean Science

22. Social Studies Department • Study of Personality • Sociology • Humanities • Great Civilizations • Political Action – Project 18

23. Technology Education Department • Foundations of Technology* • Graphic Communications* • Digital Communications • Information Technology* • CADD* • Transportations Systems* • Robotics & Automation Systems* • Manufacturing Enterprise* • Construction Systems* • Engineering CADD • Architectural CADD • Engineering Design

24. World Language Department • French I*, II*, III • German I*, II, III, IV • Latin I*, II, III • Spanish I*, II*, III

25. Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center (CWCTC) • Beginning in their sophomore or junior year, students may elect to spend ½ of their day at the CWCTC in any one of 23 different programs. • Program offerings include: *Auto Collision Technology *Automotive Technology *Construction Trades *Carpentry *Commercial & Advertising Art *Computer & Info. Science *Cosmetology *Sports Therapy *Mechatronics *Culinary Arts *Graphic Design Technology *Health Occupations *Heating & Air Conditioning *Horticulture *Electrical Technology *Machine Trades *Masonry *Logistics & Warehouse Mgt. *Painting & Decorating *Plumbing *Power Line *Welding *Protective Services

26. Report Periods and Grades • Each student receives computerized report cards indicating percentage grades for that period. Report cards are posted to Skyward Family Access every nine weeks on specified dates as indicated by the alert system. • All subjects will be assigned a percentage grade. Percentage grades and the corresponding letter values are as follows: 93-100% A 90-92% A- 87-89% B+ 83-86% B 80-82% B- 77-79% C+ 73-76% C 70-72% C- 67-69% D+ 60-66% D 59% and below F • Citizenship grades appear on the report card in addition to the percentage “scholarship” grade. Citizenship grades are indicative of the student’s attitude and behavior in class and translate as follows: 1 Superior 2 Satisfactory 3 Unsatisfactory 4 Conference Requested

27. AP and Honors - Weighted Grades • A weighted grade system has been devised to compensate for the increased level of difficulty of selected courses. • Courses weighted at 1.05 are as follows: *Honors English 9 *Honors English 10 *Honors Social Studies 9 *Honors Biology *Honors Social Studies 10 *Honors Algebra II *Honors Chemistry *Honors Geometry *Honors French II *Honors French III *Honors French IV *Honors Spanish II *Honors Spanish III *Honors Spanish IV

28. AP and Honors - Weighted Grades • Courses weighted at 1.10 are as follows: *Honors Pre-Calculus *AP English Language *AP English Literature *AP American History *AP Gov’t & Politics *AP Economics *AP World History *AP Chemistry *AP Physics I *AP Physics II *AP Biology *AP Calculus I *AP Calculus II *AP Spanish V *AP French V

29. GPA (Grade Point Average) • GPA is cumulative and is computed at the end of each year using all grades • GPA is calculated in two ways: • Un-weighted GPA is calculated without regard to the subjects taken • Weighted GPA places greater emphasis on courses that are more academically challenging • Both GPAs are calculated for each student and recorded on their transcript

30. Academic Help • Parents can see their child’s classroom performance at any time by utilizing their family access information. Additionally, an alert will be given to inform parents when mid-9 weeks progress reports and report cards are available. • When additional academic help is necessary, sources may include: *Daily classroom teacher help during activity period *Peer Tutoring help during activity period *Thursday tutoring help during after school hours

31. Academic Awards • Honor Roll • Distinguished...96-100% Honor…….90-92% • High Honor…93-95% Honorable Mention..86-89% • Academic Achievement Banquet • High School single year GPA of 97%, without rounding, for grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 after third nine weeks. • National Honor Society • 93% cumulative GPA without rounding. Averages are calculated at the end of 5 semesters for Juniors and 7 semesters for Seniors. Other criteria include citizenship, service, and character.

32. Academic Awards • Honor Graduates • 94.625% cumulative GPA in grades 9 through 12, including three 9 weeks of the senior year. • President’s Award for Educational Excellence • Top 10% of class based on cumulative GPA from grades 9 through 12, including the first three 9 weeks of the senior year.

33. STUDENT ATHLETESNCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOUR TEEN MIGHT BE A DIVISION I OR DIVISION II COLLEGE ATHLETE, PLEASE MAKE THE COUNSELOR AWARE OF THIS EACH YEAR DURING SCHEDULING SO THAT APPROVED NCAA COURSES CAN BE CHOSEN!

34. Home – School Communications • Guidance Office: Secretary • 724-850-2062 • Main menu of items: 724-834-9000 • 1 – Athletics • 2 – Attendance (Home School Visitor) • 3 – Nurse • 4 – Grade Level Offices • 5 – Main Office • 6 – Guidance Offices • 7 – Library • 8 – Work Permit Information • 9 – Former Student Transcripts

35. Family Access • Having an individually assigned username and password sent via mail, Family Access can be utilized from the Hempfield Area School District website at www.hasdpa.net. This site is intended to assist all parents and guardians who want to be more involved with their child’s education. Information such as attendance, grades, homework, and health related issues can be reviewed easily from your home or office. Further, if you have a question or require teacher contact, Family Access provides links for you to email teachers.

36. Counseling Services • Counselors are assigned to students alphabetically and all counselors have all grade levels. • Counselors assist in educational, career, and personal issues. • Hempfield Area High School offers a Student Assistance Program (SAP) designed to help students displaying problems that interfere with school performance. • Hempfield Area High School offers a Peer Mediation Program designed to help students discuss and resolve conflicts peaceably.

37. The “Helpers” • Guidance Department: • Mrs. Moffa, secretary 724-850-2062 • Mr. Joe Altman 724-850-2063 • Mrs. Carla Livermore 724-850-2064 • Mrs. Julie Razza 724-850-2065 • Mrs. Terri Reiss 724-850-2066 • Mr. Dom Vaccaro 724-850-2068 • Guidance Department Webpage: • www.hasdpa.net • Updated information regarding your child’s counselor, available scholarships, college visits, and websites of interest

38. Thank you for attending this evening’s program. Enjoy the rest of the night!