2009 - 20102009 - 2010Program of Studies Program of Studies

OrientationOrientation

9th – 11th Grade

Hunterdon Central Hunterdon Central Regional High SchoolRegional High School

Scheduling Scheduling GuidelinesGuidelines

Review the online 2009 - 2010 Program of Studies Booklet with your son and/or daughter. http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/onlinescheduling/

Take into consideration state, district, college & career requirements.

Students should take the most challenging course load that they can handle without creating too much stress.

Students should discuss choices with you, supervisors, counselors & teachers.

A Four – Year PlanA Four – Year Plan

When choosing courses it is helpful to “plan backwards”. Scheduling is a four-year journey and students need to think about their eventual destination. Leave options open so that they can enroll in desired courses their Junior and Senior years.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

Earn a minimum of 120 credits by successful completion of the following courses:

(1) At least 20 credits in English;

(2) At least 15 credits in Mathematics;

(3) At least 15 credits in Science;

(4) At least 10 credits of U.S. History;

(5) At least 5 credits of World History;

(6) 5 credits of Health & Physical Education during each year of enrollment.

(7) At least 5 credits in Visual & Performing Arts;

(8) At least five credits in Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills, or Voc-Tech Education;

9) At least 10 credits in World Languages or student demonstration of proficiency.

NOTE!Minimum graduation requirements do not equate to college admissions requirements!

College Preparatory Mathematics

Computer Programming

Language Arts (English)

World Language

Art History & Music Theory

Natural Sciences

Social Sciences

ACADEMIC UNITS

Scheduling Guidelines!Scheduling Guidelines!Make sound initial choices.

Although there are opportunities for schedule adjustments after courses begin next fall, there must be an open seat in any new requested course and in any other courses which may need to be changed in order to accommodate the request. Maintaining optimum class size will be a priority.

In an effort to reduce school expenditures and increase efficiency for parents and students, the HCRHS Program of Studies (P.O.S.) booklet will now be available on-line for students in grades 9 – 11.

A limited number of paper copies will still be

available upon request.

Can access the 2009-2010 HCRHS Program of Studies booklet on-line at:http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/onlinescheduling/

Course ChangesCourse Changes

There is a listing of 2009-2010 course additions, listed in your student password mailing.

““Home Logic”Home Logic”Beginning on February 6th, course requests

can be entered using internet based “HomeLogic” software.

Students currently enrolled in Grade 9 will enter course requests from 8:00 AM on Friday, February 6, 2009 through 8:00 AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2009.  

Students currently enrolled in Grades 10 & 11 will enter course requests from 8:00 AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 through 8:00 AM on Monday, February 16, 2009.  

Go toGo to http://homelogic.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/hlxe/http://homelogic.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/hlxe/

In order to access the software, students/parents use their exclusive, assigned User

Name and Password.

Navigating the HomeLogic System

 

Graduation RequirementsGraduation Requirements

Unofficial TranscriptUnofficial Transcript

Course Request ProcessCourse Request ProcessTo enter the To enter the Course RequestsCourse Requests area of HomeLogic, area of HomeLogic,

click on the click on the Course RequestsCourse Requests menu item on the left menu item on the left side of the screen.side of the screen.

You will also see a “Course Units” counter in the upper left. Course Units are blocks of time in a student's schedule. There are four blocks in a day, and four marking periods in the year. This means that there are 16 blocks of time, or "Course Units", to fill with courses.

Marching Band takes place after the school day, and uses no course units, but it is worth 2.5 credits towards graduation.

Sign up for, but do not exceed 16 course units. Health/PE is already entered as a course request

for students entering grades 9 and 10. This is a required course and should not be deleted from course requests.

Course Requests Mouse Over Course Requests Mouse Over Course DescriptionsCourse Descriptions

If you select a course for which you do not If you select a course for which you do not meet the pre-requisite, and/or, do not meet meet the pre-requisite, and/or, do not meet the grade recommendation, the following the grade recommendation, the following

warning pop-up box will appearwarning pop-up box will appear

“ “Override” ProcessOverride” Process We have eliminated the formal “paper” waiver

process. We encourage students to challenge themselves and

recognize that “academic rigor” is one of the key determinants to learning. Students are also encouraged to evaluate the demands of their entire schedule when considering this course. Students should contemplate the risk involved when choosing courses that build upon previous courses.

When we have data which supports a “likelihood of success” it is provided in the course descriptions:

Specifically, our data shows that students scoring less than (INSERT GRADE) in the prerequisite (INSERT COURSE TITLE) generally receive a “C” or below in this course.

You may “override” a grade recommendation by selecting “Yes”.

You may not “override” a pre-requisite UNLESS you are planning on taking the pre-requisite course first semester and the requisite course second semester. In this scenario you may also select “yes”.

When making this decision, please understand that once a student has been waived into a higher level course, the ability to make a subsequent level change is dependent upon seat availability in the requested course.

Assigning Alternates  

It is recommended that you enter an "alternate" choice for elective courses chosen.  In the event a first choice elective course is unavailable, or if a scheduling conflict, i.e. two courses offered at the same time, prevents the first choice elective course from being scheduled, the software will substitute the requested alternate option.  

 

Clicking in the Alternate field to the immediate right of any of the Primary Requests will bring up an Alternate Request

Selection window.

Congratulations!Congratulations!After entering all requests and hitting “Next” …

you should see a pop-up window indicating that you have successfully submitted your course

requests!

Verifying Your Requests 

Selecting “OK” will bring you to a summary page that outlines your entire list of Primary and Alternate Requests. Your total Credit tally will

also be shown. 

Computer AccessComputer AccessIf you do not have internet/computer

access, computer room 621 on the 11/12 campus will be staffed during block 5 (2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m) on February 9 - 12. Students who do not have computer access are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

It makes no difference if you select courses first or last during the time frame.

However, if you fail to input courses during this time frame you will be assigned a lower scheduling priority. This may affect your ability to enroll in courses which are filled or are low enrollment courses.

Online Support!Online Support!

For technical difficulties with the Homelogic system, please email homelogic@hcrhs.k12.nj.us with a brief description of the problem and contact information.

Course Levels & Course Levels & WeightingWeighting

1 - Weighted: AP (Advanced Placement courses) HNS (Honors courses)

2 - Unweighted: Any course not designated AP, or HNS

WEIGHTED UNWEIGHTED

Grading Scale AP/HNS Standard

100 - 99 5.004.50

92 - 90 4.00 3.50 83 -82 3.00 2.50 75 -74 2.00 1.50 69 - 0 0 0

Key to GPA & WGPA Numeric Equivalents

Basic Scheduling GuidelinesBasic Scheduling GuidelinesIt is better for students to experience

success in an appropriate placement than to experience extreme difficulty in an inappropriate placement.

This must be weighed against the realities of what colleges look for……

A core curriculum of at least five academically challenging courses each year including:four years of English and Math; three to four years of laboratory science such as biology, chemistry and physics; three to four years of history or social studies; and two to four years of foreign language.

To leave doors open some colleges…. -require physics. -require two, three, or four years of foreign language in high school. -require a certain number of AP courses.

There are no hard fast rules, but the more rigorous the course load (with good grades), the more college options will be available.

Although these “Core” courses are important, choosing electives wisely can also make a big difference.

Electives provide an opportunity for students to follow their passions and round out their education.

Planning how to incorporate the various important secondary school subjects, such as the Practical Arts, and the Visual & Performing Arts, can be critical.

Some post-secondary institutions place greater value on academics, while others lean more toward the student's portfolio or audition.

Course “Load” is Very Important!!!

Colleges want to see “solids” and students challenging themselves

consistently throughout all four years!

Grade Depreciation is a Killer!

Non - Traditional Non - Traditional “Credit Attainment Pathways”“Credit Attainment Pathways”

If you are considering Outside HS Course Work for Additional HS Credit this summer…

You must apply and that application must be reviewed and approved by the Principal’s Credit Committee. You may call HCRHS Counseling Services for an application or go to the HCRHS website.

Requests must be received by May 15.

Appointments SchedulingAppointments Scheduling

Students will meet with their counselor sometime this spring to review their course selections.

The order in which they see their counselor will not affect their ability to enroll in courses.

Student Student SchedulesSchedules

You will 1st receive a scheduling request verification in the mail

The master schedule will then be built

Conflicts will then be resolved

Actual student schedules will be mailed prior to the close of the school year

Departmentalized Departmentalized “Q & A” Sessions“Q & A” Sessions

Departmentalized Departmentalized “Q & A” Sessions“Q & A” Sessions