grade 9 course selection presentation for g8 parents

Grade 8 Parent Information Evening:

Course Requests for Grade 9February 24th, 2014

ZIS Links

• This PowerPoint will be available on the Parents’ Portal.

• You are welcome to take notes, but it is not required

Tonight’s Purpose

• Begin transition process

• Basic background information about the Upper School

• Outline process for course selection

• Go over the course selection choices

Assumptions

• Child in Grade 8 at ZIS• Know about ZIS Middle School• Don’t know as much about ZIS

Upper School• Excited (& nervous) for child to

be in “High School”

Welcome to the Upper School

• Amy GreeneUpper School Assistant Principal

• Adrian CastelliHistory TeacherGrade 9 Program Coordinator

Class of 2018

Welcome to the Upper School

• Tonight is the beginning of an important transition: Middle School → High School

• Many transition events planned for Students, Parents and Teachers

• “Transition Program” is outlined on handout

• August 18th = First day of High School!

Upper Schoo

l = Seriou

s

Parent Transition Events• Parent Transition Tours:

• Tuesday, March 18th, 14:25 – 15:35• Friday, April 11th, 10:30 – 11:15• Monday, May 5th, 9:00 – 10:15

– An email with information on how to register will be sent by PA rep

• Grade 8 Parent Transition Information Evening:– Student and teacher perspectives/ Panel Discussion– May 13th at 18:30 in the Upper School Theater

Student Transition Events

• Course Selection Information Meetings (March)

• Advisory Q & A (April)

• Student Tours of Upper School (May)

• Student End of Year BBQ (June)

• Grade9 Student Orientation (13:00 Monday, August 18th)

• First day of High School (Tuesday, August 19th, 2014)

Upper School Schedule

D

2014/15

Upper School Schedule

• 8 courses (A to H)• Each course meets 5 times every 2

weeks• 4 periods per day• Periods are 85 minutes (65 min on Wednesday)

• Daily Advisory meetings• 50 minute Lunch• School Day Starts at 8.45• School Day Ends at 15.50• Early Release at 14.40 on Wednesday

Upper School Schedule

D

2014/15

Upper School Schedule

2014/15

Upper School Schedule

2014/15

Graduation Requirements

• 4 credits English• 2 credits World Language • 3 credits Social Studies• 3 credits Science • 3 credits Math• 2 credits Creative Arts• 2 credits Physical Education• 4 credits Electives• Service Learning

Graduation Requirements

• Each class counts as 1 creditEnglish 9 = 1 English Credit

• By the end of Grade 12 you need to fulfill the minimum requirements

• Information recorded on “Transcript”

• Only minor impact on Grade 9 course selection

Graduation Requirements

• 4 credits English• 2 credits World Language • 3 credits Social Studies• 3 credits Science • 3 credits Math• 2 credits Creative Arts• 2 credits Physical Education• 4 credits Electives• Service Learning

Graduation Requirements

• 4 credits English• 2 credits World Language • 3 credits Social Studies• 3 credits Science • 3 credits Math• 2 credits Creative Arts• 2 credits PE• 4 credits Electives• Service Learning

Helpful to fulfill Creative Arts requirement in Grade 9 & 10

Students taking the full IB in grade 11 & 12 may not be able to take Creative Arts class

All Grade 9 students take EIGHT classes

• History I• Coordinated Science I• PE / Health 9• English 9• German• Math• Elective 1• Elective 2

All Grade 9 students take EIGHT classes

• History I• Coordinated Science I No selection• English 9 required• PE / Health 9

• German Student must • Math select level

• Elective 1 Student can• Elective 2 select courses

All Grade 9 students take EIGHT classes

• History I• Coordinated Science I No selection• English 9 required**• PE / Health 9

• German Student must • Math select level

• Elective 1 Student can• Elective 2 select courses

Grade 9 Humanities Option

• Interdisciplinary course• Explore issues that challenge human

societies• Extends their understanding of the world

around them in local and global contexts• Blends together English, Geography,

History, and World Religions • Students earn 2 credits• Taken instead of English 9 and History 1

Grade 9 Outdoor Pursuits

• Semester Long Elective. • Can be taken in grade 9 or grade 10.• Experience Based Outdoor Adventure and

environmental education• Focus on knowledge and skills and safety.• Activities may include: mountaineering,

kayaking, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing.• Expectations: 2 overnight expeditions and 3

hour long sessions on Wednesday afternoons.

Upper School Schedule

2014/15

All Grade 9 students take EIGHT classes

• History I• Coordinated Science I No selection• English 9 required• PE / Health 9

• German Student must • Math select level

• Elective 1 Student can• Elective 2 select courses

Math Options

• Math 9 Studies• Math 9• Math 9 Honors

Current Math teacher will help you determine which course is most appropriate.

German OptionsAll students must enroll in one German class.• German I• German 1b / 2a• German II• German 2b• German III• German IV• German Studies for Fluent Speakers• German Standard for Fluent Speakers

Current German teacher will help you determine which course is most appropriate.

German – from MS to US

German Mother Tongue Speakers/Mother Language

German Studies for Fluent Speakers

German Standard for Fluent Speakers

German: Beginner/BasicsIntermediate Advanced

German I, Ib, II, IIb, III or IVbased on recommendation of teacher.

MS German Course US German Course

All Grade 9 students take EIGHT classes

• History I• Coordinated Science I No selection• English 9 required• PE / Health 9

• German Student must • Math select level

• Elective 1 Student can• Elective 2 select courses

Elective Options

Languages• French• Spanish

Creative Arts• Concert Band• Concert Choir• Creative Music• Essential Theater• Foundation Art and

Design• String Orchestra

English• EAL III• Digital

Journalism*does not count as an English credit.

Other• Learning Support• Virtual High

School (VHS)

French Options

• French I• French II• French III• French IV• French for Fluent Speakers

Current French teacher will help you determine which course is most appropriate.

Spanish Options

• Spanish I• Spanish II• Spanish III• Spanish IV• Spanish for Fluent

Speakers

Current Spanish teacher will help you determine which course is most appropriate.

Creative Arts Requirements

• 2 Creative Arts credits needed to graduate.

• Art, Music and Drama classes all count towards this requirement.

• STRONGLY encouraged to complete this requirement before Gr 11.

• *especially true for IB Diploma students

Music Options

• Creative MusicGives students a chance to explore music and musicianship through a wide range of activities. Students will learn skills on the guitar and keyboards for a large portion of the course and apply those skills to performance and composition. Students get to choose the music that they enjoy the most…

• Concert Band• Concert Choir• String Orchestra

Art Option Foundation Art and DesignAims to provide a firm foundation in the fundamentals of Art

and Design. The curriculum provides a broad range of experiences utilizing the full range of media available in the Art department, including painting, drawing, graphic design, sculpture, digital software and photography.

Drama Option

Essential TheaterIntroductory course

designed to give students a sampling of what the theater has to offer. The course covers both work on-stage and backstage. Students are exposed to acting and to the history of theater through scripted work and improvisation

English Elective Options

Digital Journalism

Multimedia news, opinion features and investigative reports.

Publication on individual blogs and school newspaper, The Lion’s Journal

Teamwork and cooperation on projects and shared publications.

Virtual High School (VHS)

• More information at http://www.govhs.org

• Not a common course for grade 9 students.

• Students who choose this option should be independent workers, self-motivated and serious in their studies.

• Permission is needed to enroll. Talk to Mr. Kirkwood or Mr. Soldner.

Mandatory “Electives”Some Students may be “required” to take

certain electives based on teacher recommendations.

EALStudents enroll in EAL and English 9 at

the same time.

Learning SupportDesigned to assist students achieve a

level of skills which enables them to compete in the mainstream academic arena and make progress towards the completion of their education goals.

What’s Next?

• Student Meetings: Students will have a chance to hear this same information on Wednesday.

• Conversations: Students, teachers and parents talk about the most appropriate classes for next year.

• Research: Go to http://www.zis.ch/ to view the Program of Studies for more information about each class

• Complete: Fill-out the Course Request Form

Course Selection Timeline:

• February 24th: Parent Information Meeting• February 26th / March 5th : Student

Information Meetings. Students receive Course Request Forms

• Now – March 7th (Kilchberg) March 14th (Baden) Students discuss course selection with parents and current teachers

• By March 7th or March 14th: Completed Course Request Form turned in to Advisor

Questions???

• Right Now: General interest questions as a large group

• In A Moment: Specific questions about personal situations. Mrs. Greene, Mr. Castelli, Mrs. Fox, Mr. McGrath and Mr. Friesen will all be available to speak with you individually.

• Additional Information: Grade 9 Transition Program email sent from PA Rep.

Key Dates

• March 7th – Course Request Forms Due• March 18th – Parent “Transition Tour” #1• April 11th – Parent “Transition Tour” #2• May 5th – Parent “Transition Tour” #3• May 14st – Grade 8 Parent Information

Evening• August 18th – Grade 9 Orientation• August 19th – First day of High School!!!