West High SchoolWest High SchoolClass 2016

SLC’s - The Smaller Learning SLC’s - The Smaller Learning Community ModelCommunity Model

West High School is divided into West High School is divided into 4 Smaller Learning Communities:4 Smaller Learning Communities:

• About 500 students in each of grades 9-12About 500 students in each of grades 9-12• About 125 students in each SLC for each gradeAbout 125 students in each SLC for each grade• Under the leadership of an assistant principalUnder the leadership of an assistant principal• Your Support Team:Your Support Team: Counselor or Bilingual Counselor, Psychologist, Counselor or Bilingual Counselor, Psychologist,

Social Worker, SLC Principal, Nurse, Social Worker, SLC Principal, Nurse, Case Manager, Core 9 & Core 10 Teachers, Case Manager, Core 9 & Core 10 Teachers, CSE, ERO, and MSCCSE, ERO, and MSC

Learn about graduation Learn about graduation requirements.requirements.

Learn about Learn about requiredrequired & & electiveelective courses. courses.

Explore our Explore our clubs & sports.clubs & sports.

Provide you with scheduling information and Provide you with scheduling information and registration registration materials.materials.

Answer your Answer your questions.questions.

What we’ll do today:What we’ll do today:

Earn a minimum of 22 credits.Earn a minimum of 22 credits. Meet the following specific subject andMeet the following specific subject andcredit requirements:credit requirements: 4 credits of English4 credits of English 3 credits of Social Studies3 credits of Social Studies 2 credits of Math (Algebra and Geometry) 2 credits of Math (Algebra and Geometry) 2 credits of Science (biological & physical 2 credits of Science (biological & physical

sciences)sciences) 1.5 credits of Physical Education1.5 credits of Physical Education .5 credit of Health.5 credit of Health 9 additional credits, including electives9 additional credits, including electives

What are graduation requirements?What are graduation requirements?

Grade 9 RequirementsGrade 9 Requirements English 9*English 9* History 9*History 9* Biology *Biology * Mathematics Mathematics (8th grade math teacher will (8th grade math teacher will

make recommendations)make recommendations) Phy Ed 9 (one semester)Phy Ed 9 (one semester) Health (one semester)Health (one semester) Two electives:Two electives:

• Foreign Language (8th grade Foreign Language (8th grade foreign language teacher will foreign language teacher will make recommendations)make recommendations)

• Art, Business/Marketing, Art, Business/Marketing, Music, FACE, Technology Music, FACE, Technology EducationEducation

Big Decision: Big Decision: How many credits should I take?How many credits should I take?

As you decide about a As you decide about a study hallstudy hall, think , think about these things:about these things:

Homework average: 1Homework average: 11/2 1/2 - 2 hours a day- 2 hours a day School sports/clubs/activities/ Community School sports/clubs/activities/ Community

activitiesactivities Playing an instrument in school Playing an instrument in school

band/orchestraband/orchestra Balancing school, home, friends, healthBalancing school, home, friends, health

Madison West Pre-Engineering Madison West Pre-Engineering Academy - “Project Lead the Way”Academy - “Project Lead the Way”

Intro to Engineering Elective 9 -12 Intro to Engineering Elective 9 -12 * Successful completion of Algebra 1 or * Successful completion of Algebra 1 or concurrent enrollmentconcurrent enrollment

Principles of Engineering Elective 10-12 Principles of Engineering Elective 10-12 Civil Engineering and Architecture Elective 12Civil Engineering and Architecture Elective 12

College Credit AvailableCollege Credit Available

Plan carefully!!!Plan carefully!!!

To do really well,…To do really well,…

……and get all your and get all your work done,…work done,…

……Many 9Many 9thth graders graders could benefit from could benefit from a study hall!!!a study hall!!!

Use your Use your assignment notebookassignment notebook

Take careful Take careful notesnotes, & use them to study!, & use them to study!

Develop a daily study Develop a daily study routineroutine at home. at home.

Complete assignments Complete assignments on timeon time..

Keep your Keep your notebooks and foldersnotebooks and folders organized. organized.

Use the Use the IC Student/Parent PortalIC Student/Parent Portal and and communicatecommunicate with teachers. with teachers.

Who remembers the Who remembers the Secrets of Success in Grade 9?Secrets of Success in Grade 9?

How many credits How many credits should I take?should I take?

Maximum: 7.5Maximum: 7.5 Minimum: 6.5Minimum: 6.5 Many students Many students

benefit from a benefit from a study hall.study hall.

What other What other commitments do commitments do

you have?you have? Don’t overstress Don’t overstress

yourself.yourself.

Talk it over with your parent(s) or Talk it over with your parent(s) or guardian(s) and teachers.guardian(s) and teachers.

Choose your electives.Choose your electives.

Get all the necessary signatures.Get all the necessary signatures.

Turn in your course-request card when Turn in your course-request card when your school directs you to.your school directs you to.

What to do now:What to do now:

Important Dates to RememberImportant Dates to Remember 9th Grade Transition Meeting9th Grade Transition Meeting

January 30, 2012January 30, 2012 (Parent Meeting)(Parent Meeting) 7:00pm7:00pm WHS AuditoriumWHS AuditoriumFocus: Scheduling InformationFocus: Scheduling Information

88thth grade Orientation grade OrientationFebruary 6, 2012 (Parents & Students)February 6, 2012 (Parents & Students) 7:00pm7:00pm WHS AuditoriumWHS AuditoriumFocus: Elective NightFocus: Elective Night

Movin’ WestMovin’ WestMay 7, 2012 (Parents & Students)May 7, 2012 (Parents & Students) 7:00pm7:00pm WHS AuditoriumWHS AuditoriumFocus: Sports, Clubs, ActivitiesFocus: Sports, Clubs, Activities

A link to the WHS Curriculum Guide 2012-2013 is available on the WHS webpage under the A link to the WHS Curriculum Guide 2012-2013 is available on the WHS webpage under the “Students” section: “Students” section: http://westweb.madison.k12.wi.ushttp://westweb.madison.k12.wi.us

RETURN THIS CARD AS YOUR SCHOOL INSTRUCTS YOURETURN THIS CARD AS YOUR SCHOOL INSTRUCTS YOU..

West High School Course Request CardWest High School Course Request Card

Check the requested course and write in the Check the requested course and write in the elective course requests. Include the elective course requests. Include the following:following:• Course nameCourse name• Course codeCourse code• Teacher signature indicates Teacher signature indicates

recommendationrecommendation• Total number of credits must equal 6-7 Total number of credits must equal 6-7

credits. The credit value for each course per credits. The credit value for each course per semester = .50 credit.semester = .50 credit.

Write in alternate course requests.Write in alternate course requests. Student and Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must sign Student and Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must sign

your course card.your course card.

Schedule adjustments will only be made during Schedule adjustments will only be made during enrollment week if:enrollment week if:

• A student A student did not pass a class that was did not pass a class that was required and/or the student’s schedule required and/or the student’s schedule does not meet grade level or graduation does not meet grade level or graduation requirements.requirements.

• A student did not pass a class that was a A student did not pass a class that was a prerequisite for another class.prerequisite for another class.

• A student’s Youth Options course or A student’s Youth Options course or other approved MMSD course conflicts other approved MMSD course conflicts with the student’s schedule.with the student’s schedule.

• Summer schoolSummer school coursework necessitates a coursework necessitates a change in the student's schedule.change in the student's schedule.

Our strength is ourOur strength is ourdiverse communitydiverse community

Each of you enriches our diverse Each of you enriches our diverse community, especially if you community, especially if you participate in activities beyond the participate in activities beyond the classroom. Student government, classroom. Student government, clubs, sports, creative arts…the clubs, sports, creative arts…the opportunities are boundless. opportunities are boundless.

So get involved!!!So get involved!!!

ClubsClubs(These are just some of them!)(These are just some of them!)

Asian ClubAsian Club Good Movies Club Good Movies Club Native Am. ClubNative Am. ClubBreakdance ClubBreakdance Club Green Club Green Club Pre-Med ClubPre-Med ClubBlack Student UnionBlack Student Union HOSA HOSA RADDRADDCycling ClubCycling Club Club Regent Club Regent Review NewspaperReview NewspaperDebateDebate Jazz West Jazz West Rocket ClubRocket ClubDECADECA Knitting Club Knitting Club Roof Over Your HeadsRoof Over Your HeadsDrama ClubDrama Club LaCrosse- Girl’s LaCrosse- Girl’s Peer PartnersPeer PartnersEngineering ClubEngineering Club Latin Club Latin Club Science OlympiadScience OlympiadForensicsForensics Math Team Math Team Strong Latinas UnidasStrong Latinas UnidasFrench ClubFrench Club Men’s Club Men’s Club Taiko DrummingTaiko DrummingGay-Straight AllianceGay-Straight Alliance Music Club Music Club YearbookYearbook

IF WE DON’T HAVE THE CLUB YOU LIKE, WHY NOT START ONE?

MEET PEOPLE & HAVE FUN… GET INVOLVED!!!!!

SportsSports

FallFall WinterWinter SpringSpringFootball-BFootball-B Basketball* Basketball* Track* Track*Golf-GGolf-G Wrestling Wrestling -B Softball-G-B Softball-GTennis-GTennis-G Swim-B Swim-B Soccer-G Soccer-GCross Country*Cross Country* Gymnastics-G Gymnastics-G Golf-B Golf-BVolleyball* Volleyball* Hockey* Hockey* Baseball-B Baseball-BSwim & Dive-GSwim & Dive-G Tennis-B Tennis-BSoccer-BSoccer-B

Academic SupportAcademic Support

We have:-Resource Hall: Literacy Center, Honor Guard & Schools of Hope, BRS (Bilingual Resource Support)- Tutorial support in Math, Science, English, & History during Lunch/Learn-ASPIRA

OUR HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSEOUR HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE

Please come see us for...Please come see us for...Questions/Concerns Questions/Concerns

relating to:relating to: ENGAGEMENT - joining ENGAGEMENT - joining

clubs or activitiesclubs or activities LEARNING - Study skills LEARNING - Study skills

and academic progressand academic progress RELATIONSHIPS - RELATIONSHIPS -

getting along with getting along with othersothers

Planning your futurePlanning your future Other concernsOther concerns

Our House is Your HouseOur House is Your House

Welcome to the Welcome to the West High School West High School

class of class of

2016!2016!