Ms. Staci Polozola

 

_{Welcome to Denham Springs Freshman High School and your first year of high school.  This syllabus will provide you with descriptions of all course offerings as well as other information that you will need to get off to a great start!}

_{It is important that you discuss this information with your parents and teachers.  Decisions based on consultation with your parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators will result in a much better course of study that will best fit your needs during your high school career.  These choices are extremely important because it is very difficult to change schedules after the initial selections are made.  Please read this selection carefully.}

CONFERENCES/ GUIDANCE:
Teacher conferences are encouraged.  Each teacher has a planning period during the school day.  If parents want a teacher conference with any teacher, they should take the following steps:
1.   Contact the school counselor (Mrs. Polozola) to arrange a time.
2.   Tell the counselor the reason so that the teacher can be notified.
3.   If, for some reason, the parent must cancel the appointment, the school counselor should be notified.
The school will collect homework assignments for student on the  3rd day of consecutive absences, if parents call that morning to request.

 

_{The 23 Carnegie Units listed below and pass the Math, English, & Science and/or Social Studies portion of the LEAP Test}

 

_{English I, II, III, IV, or Business English} 

_{Math may be selected from the following courses and may include a maximum of 2 entry level courses (designated with *)}

_{*Introduction to Alg/Geom.}                                  

_{*Algebra I-Part I}                                   

_{*Algebra I}

_{Algebra I-Part I}

_Geometry

_{Algebra II}

_{Algebra III}

_{Advanced Math}

_Calculus                                                                                                                                 

_{Business Math}                                                                                                

_{Shall be Biology and two of the following:}

_{Physical Science}

_{Chemistry I}

_{Physics I}                                                                                                         

_{Biology II}

_{Chemistry II}

_{Physics II}

_{Environmental Science}

_{Physics of Technology}

 _{Agriscience I & II combined = 1 credit toward graduation} 

_{Shall be ½ Civics, ½ Free Enterprise, 1 unit of American History, and one of the following:}

_{World History or World Geography} 

_{FIVE REQUIRED FRESHMAN COURSES: (you must schedule these five courses)}

_{(Credit)                        Course Name}

_{(1)         English I or I Honors}

_{(1)         Math (Intro to Alg/Geom., Algebra I/Part I, Algebra I, Geometry or Geometry Honors)}

_{(1)        Science (Physical Science or Biology)}

_{(1)        Social Studies (World Geography)}

_{(½)       Health}

_{(½)       Physical Education}

_{***In order to be considered for an honors course, an application must be filled out and signed by your current teacher and parents, and have very strong grades in the subject area, both in class and on the LEAP Test.  If you schedule Eng. Honors, you WILL NOT be allowed to switch to Eng. I anytime during the year!}

_{FRESHMAN ELECTIVES (select two credits of electives)}

_{(Credit)                 Course Name}

_{(1)                           Agriscience I}

_{(1)                           Band}

_{(1)                           Speech & Drama}

_{(1)                           Flags (must be selected during tryouts)}

_{(1)                           Family & Consumer Sciences}

_{(1/2)                       Psychology}

_{(1/2)                       Keyboarding (Personal Typing)}

_{(1/2)                       Computer Literacy}

_{(1)                          Introduction to Business}

_{(1)                          Keyboarding Applications}

_{(1)                          Spanish I}

_{(1)                          Spanish II (must be currently enrolled in Spanish I)}

_{(1)                          World History}

_{(1/2)                       Electronics}

_{(1/2)                       Civics}

_{(1/2)                       Family Economics}

_{(1)                          Transitional Reading***}

_{(1)                          Study Skills***}

_{(1)                          Transitional Math***}

_{(1)                           Reading I***}

                                                                     

_{***Classes can only be scheduled by teacher &/or guidance counselor}

 _{TUITION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS}

_{UNITS               COURSES}

_{4          English I, II, III, IV}

_{1          Algebra I or Applied Algebra IA & IB}

_{1          Algebra II}

_{1          Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus or Advanced Math}

_{1          Biology}

_{1          Chemistry}

_{1          Earth Science, Environmental Science, physical Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics I, Physics II, or Physics For Technology.}

_{1          American History}

_{1          World History, World Geography, or Western Civilization}

_{1          Civics and Free Enterprise (one unit combined)}

_{1          Fine Arts Survey (or substitute 2 units of courses in dance, music, and/or theater; or 2 units of visual art, studio art; or substitute 1 unit of an elective from among the other subjects listed in this curriculum.)}

_{2          Foreign Language (two units in the same language)}

_{½                   Computer Science, Computer Literacy, or Business Computer Applications (or substitute at least one-half unit of an elective course related to computers approved by the State or one-half unit as an elective from among the other subjects listed in this core curriculum.)}

 _{16.5 total units required to be eligible for the TOPS Scholarship.}

 _{Minimum GPA = 2.5 on core units only (The grade point average fulfilling the TOPS requirement will be calculated using the grades earned in the 161/2 core curriculum courses only.)}

_{ACT minimum = 20 (this number could change yearly)}

 _{Course work must be completed before the date of graduation.}

 _{The ACT Test must be taken and scores received by the date of high school graduation to receive the TOPS award without penalties.  The June ACT score will be accepted with a one semester of eligibility penalty for graduates who have not previously qualified for a TOPS award,}

 _{When Calculating The}

_{TOPS Core GPA}

_{1.  Add the numeric value for all letter grades earned in the courses taken to fulfill the 16 ½ units required for the TOPS curriculum.  Use the following scale: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0}

 _{2.  Divide the total of quality points derived from step 1 by the total number of courses taken in the TOPS curriculum.  The core GPA must be carried to 3 decimal points.}

 _{***If a student has received credit for more than 16.5 units of courses that are included in the core curriculum, the GPA will be calculated by using the course in each core curriculum category for which the student received the highest grade.  If a student takes the same course more than once, the GPA must be calculated using each of the grades earned in the repeated course.}

_{How does calculating the Core GPA vs. Total GPA affect my child?} 

_{EXAMPLE:    Total GPA} 

_{English              B          3pts}

_{Algebra              C         2pts}

_{P.E.                  A         4pts}

_{History             B          3pts}

_{Health              A         4pts}

_{Biology             C         2pts}

_{Typing             A         4pts}

_{Spanish            C         2pts}

_24pts/8=3.00

 _{The student has a 3.00 overall GPA.}

 _{EXAMPLE:    Core GPA}

 _{English            B         3pts****}

_{Algebra            C         2pts****}

_{P.E.                  A         4pts}

_{History             B         3pts****}

_{Health               A         4pts}

_{Biology            C         2pts****}

_{Typing              A         4pts}

_{Span I              C         2pts****}

_12pts/5=2.40

 _{The student has a core GPA of 2.40.} 

_{.Be careful to calculate the GPA on Core Courses Only!!!!!}

 _{Important Websites:}

_{www.osfa.state.la.us}

_{www.ulsystem.net}

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