Supplement 23OctOber 2012

Stephanie CardeReporter

Many students decide to go above and beyond graduation re-quirements. The most common reasoning is that many colleges prefer to admit students who chal-lenge themselves and take AP or Honors classes. These classes have a different weight placed on each grade. An “A” in an AP class would have a greater impact on your overall grade point average

than a regular College Preparatory (CP) class. An “A” in an AP class, Honors class, and CP class would be a 4.07, 4.05, and 4.0, respec-tively.

In addition to the aforemen-tioned requirements, a student is required to take three full years of social studies, two of which in-clude Civics and US History. Stu-dents can opt out of taking Civics, replacing the course with AP US Government and Politics.

Guidance Counselor Mrs.

Goodwin encourages her college-bound students to go above and be-yond what they are expected to do. “The requirements are only a mini-mum of what you need to graduate. If a student wants to go to college, I encourage them to take [the most] rigorous and challenging courses that they could handle. Ultimately, a student is able to graduate with 140 credits, versus the 100 needed to graduate,” Goodwin said.

Many students do not com-pletely agree with Westhill’s class

requirements because they believe that they should focus on classes that will benefit them in their future endeavors. “I think students should be able to focus on the classes that they feel will be the most appli-cable to their future career. For in-stance, I wish I could focus more on the sciences and less on English because I want to be a doctor,” se-nior Noah Barr said.

In addition to completing all classes, a student must pass the Connecticut Academic Perfor-

mance Test (CAPT). The CAPT tests Connecticut students in sci-ence, math, reading, and writing. If a student does not pass all of these sections their sophomore year, they are required to take them again ju-nior year.

Upon failing the test a second time around, students must take a CAPT class, in which they learn the material found on the test. Af-ter passing the CAPT or the CAPT class, a student is eligible to gradu-ate from Westhill.

After you create your schedule, the rest of the school day is a blur. Before you know it, the bell rings to indicate the end of sixth pe-riod. You survived your first day as a Viking! As you prepare to board the bus, your friend stops you to chat about your day. She tells you that she is trying out for the field hockey team and wants to know if you’re playing a fall sport as well. Earlier in the day, your

History teacher had reccomended joining the debate team. Which do you choose?

If you decide to join a club, go to page 25

If you decide to play a sport, go to page 26

You chose the standard academic track!

FAST FACTS 12 Guidance counselors 4 Languages offered to students 23 English teachers 3 Trips to foregin countries offered

In order to graduate from Westhill, a student must complete and pass four years of English, three years of math, two years of science, and three years of social studies. In addition, students are required to complete one year of unified arts, one year of health, one year of physical education, and four years of an elective. For every full-year

class that a students passes, five credits are accumulated, ultimately totaling to 100 credits.

Anjali Khetan & Laura Rey / Contributor & Photo Manager