Sitka High School

Freshman

Course Descriptions

2017-2018

1000 Lake Street

Sitka, Alaska 99835

(907) 747-3263

Table of Contents

Graduation Requirements………………………………………………………………………….…3

Recommendations for College-Bound Students……………………………………….…….3

Grade Level Calculation by Credits…………………………………………………………….….4

Other Learning Opportunities………………………………………………………………………4

Alaska Performance Scholarship at SHS…………………………………………………….…..5

Tips to Making a Good Schedule……………………………………………………………………6

Required Freshman Courses……………………………………………………………………...…7

Freshman Elective Options……………………………………………………………………...8-12

Physical Education……………………………………………………………………………………….7

Career & Technical Education…….……………………………………………………………8-10

Metals………………………………………………………………………………………………….8

Mechanics…………………………………………………………………………….…………..….9

Design & Construction Technology………………..………………...…….…..………….9

Information Technology……………………………………………………………...…..9-10

Applied Arts………………………………………………………………………………………………10

Music………………………………………………………………………………………………………...11

Drama………………………………………………………………………………………………..……...11

Language Arts……………………………………………………………………………………………12

World Languages……………………………………………………………...………………………..12

Other Electives……………………………………………………….……………………………...... 12

Graduation Requirements

Language Arts / 4 Credits
Social Studies / 3 Credits / 1 credit of U.S. History, 1 credit of American Government, 1/2 credit of Global Issues and
1/2 credit of Alaska Studies
Mathematics / 3 Credits / Must pass Integrated Math 2 or equivalent plus Elective Math
Science / 3 Credits / 1 credit of Life Science
1 credit of Physical Science and
1 credit Science Elective
Physical Education / 2 Credits / Must include 1/2 credit Health
Career & Technical Education / 1 Credit
Electives / 7 Credits
In addition to course credit requirements, all students must pass the following examinations: / Sitka High School Swim Competency
Total Credits / 23 Credits / Minimum required credits
Maximum credits that can be used for graduation:
Teacher/Office Aide / 1 Credit / 1 class/semester maximum
Work Experience / 2 Credits / 1 credit/year (1.2 credit = 100 hours work)
Physical Education / 3 Credits / Including Health

Recommendations for College-Bound Students

A word of caution: students who intend to go on to college or other post-secondary training should do much more than the graduation requirements! The requirements listed above are minimums, and WILL NOT prepare you properly for the rigors of college!

Language Arts / 4+ Credits / See eligible APS courses on the next page for recommendations of college preparatory courses in Language Arts- take challenging ones!!
Social Studies / 3-4 Credits / In addition to required courses, taking World History, Geography, and/or dual enrollment Psychology will give you a nice background in Social Studies
Mathematics / 3-4 Credits / Challenge yourself to make it as high in math as possible! Remember, we’ve got great A/P opportunities in Stats and Calc which could even give you college credit!
Science / 3-4 Credits / Colleges like to see laboratory sciences, so taking courses such as Chemistry, Physics and Forensics will give you a good base in Science
World Languages / 2-4 Credits / Many colleges like to see a minimum of 2 years in a single foreign language (some like more than 2 years).
Fine or Performing Arts / 1+ Credit / Many colleges like to see at least a year of fine or performing arts, this could be music, art, or drama
Challenging Electives / Choose your electives wisely! Make sure that the fun courses you choose challenge you and lead you toward your future goals!
GRADES / Keep your grades up!!! EVERY grade you earn in high school goes on your transcript which will be sent to the colleges and scholarships you apply to!

Grade Level by Credits

Sitka High School assigns grade level by the number of credits students have earned toward graduation (not necessarily by the number of years he or she has been in high school). Credits are earned by receiving passing scores in courses and may be transferred in to Sitka High from other approved high schools.

The guidelines for grade placement are as follows:

0.0-5.0 Credits / Freshman
5.1-11.0 Credits / Sophomore
11.1-16.0 Credits / Junior
16.1+ Credits / Senior

Other Learning Opportunities

As a small high school we may not have all of the learning opportunities you desire within our walls, however we do collaborate with some other wonderful programs to expand your options!

*Please note that any tuition costs or fees associated with such programs are assumed by your family, not by SHS.

REACH Homeschool

For the independent learner, a wide variety of courses in all subject areas are available through REACH Homeschool. Courses may be offered in print materials or through online sources. Homeschool students must have a parent or other reliable adult who will assume responsibility for some grading and keeping students on track. Contact your counselor or the REACH Homeschool office at 966-1330 for more information.

Pacific High School

Located on Lincoln Street, Pacific High School is also in the Sitka School District. Courses offered at PHS do run on a different schedule than Sitka High School, but with careful planning some students are able to enjoy learning opportunities at both schools. For information talk with a Sitka High counselor or the co-principals at PHS.

Various Online or Distance Education High Schools

Sitka High will accept transfer credits from a wide variety of accredited distance and online high schools. Some common programs that we have accepted credit from include Brigham Young University High School, Raven Correspondence, North Dakota Center for Distance Education, AVENTA, Alaska K12, and Alaska’s Learning Network (AKLN). If you intend to take a course through an outside agency such as these, talk with your counselor to verify that credits earned will be accepted at Sitka High. We do not endorse any specific program.

Alaska Performance Scholarship at SHS

To qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must take a rigorous course load including specific course titles. The tables below indicate which Sitka High School courses are included in eligibility for this scholarship.

For details about the Alaska Performance Scholarship please visit http://acpe.alaska.gov

Mathematics Department

Approved Mathematics Courses / Recommended as
“Equivalent Courses”
to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist / Recommended as
“Additional Courses”
for APS eligibility / Math Courses NOT Approved for APS Eligibility
Integrated Math 1 / Equivalent to: .75 Algebra 1& .25 Geometry
Integrated Math 2 / Equivalent to: .75 Algebra 2 & .25 Geometry
Integrated Math 3 / Equivalent to: .5 Algebra 2 & .5 Geometry
Integrated Math 3/PreCalc / Equivalent to: .5 Algebra 2, .5 Geometry & 1.0 PreCalculus
PreCalculus / X
A/P Calculus / X
A/P Statistics / X
Algebra for College / .5 Algebra 2

Language Arts Department

Approved Language Arts Courses / Recommended as
“Equivalent Courses”
to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist / Recommended as
“Additional Courses”
for APS eligibility / Language Arts Courses
NOT Approved
for APS Eligibility
English 9 / Equivalent to: .5 American Lit 1 & .5 Composition 1 / Alaska Literature
English 10 / Equivalent to: .5 World Literature 1 &
.5 Composition1 / Surveying Literature & Writing
American Literature / X / Drama
Creative Writing / X / Young Adult Literature
Debate/Speech / X
Honors English / Equivalent to: .5 Advanced Composition &
.5Advanced World Literature
Mythology / Equivalent to: .5 Advanced Composition
.5 Advanced World Literature
Shakespeare / Equivalent to: 1.0 British Lit.

Science Department

Approved Science Courses / Recommended as
“Equivalent Courses”
to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist / Recommended as
“Additional Courses”
for APS eligibility / Science Courses NOT Approved for APS Eligibility
Life Science / Equivalent to: 1.0 Biology / Alaska Naturalist
Physical Science / X / Field Science
Chemistry / X / Robotics
Forensics / X / Science & Tech
Physics / X
Science Mentorship / X

Social Studies Department

Approved Social Studies Courses / Recommended as
“Equivalent Courses”
to the 2015 Eligibility Checklist / Recommended as
“Additional Courses”
for APS eligibility / Social Studies Courses NOT Approved for APS Eligibility
Alaska Studies / Equivalent to: .5 Alaska History
A/P Human Geography / X
American Government / X
American Studies/U.S. History / X
Global Issues / Equivalent to: .5 Geography
U.S. History / X
World Geography / X
World History / X

Keys to making a good schedule

Make sure you’ve included your graduation requirements! During registration your counselor will provide you with a list of the courses you need to take to stay on track. Make sure that you include the required courses in your schedule or… 1) your schedule will be changed by your counselor to include what you need or 2) you will be behind in credits toward graduation and will need to catch up on required courses the next year!

Make your courses count! Every course you take at Sitka High School should be leading you in a future direction. Required courses are helping you achieve your goal of Graduation. Elective courses should also be chosen with great care so that you take courses that will help you toward your future career. Talk to your counselor about career pathways and/or college preparatory plans so that you can get the most out of your high school experience.

Choose courses for the right reasons! Never take a class just because you assume it will be easy or because your friends are all taking it! Your chosen schedule should be helping YOU reach your future goals. This may mean that you have to challenge yourself or meet new classmates.

Make a long-term plan! Use the 4-Year Academic Plan below to plot out your high school career. This will keep you on track for graduation and let you evaluate whether your course choices are leading you toward your future goals.


Freshman Requirements
Last Updated (4.9.14)
LANGUAGE ARTS
ENGLISH 9-100: / Required for Grade 9 / Year-Long
This course is required for all 9th graders and is integrated with American Studies.
English 9-100 is an entry-level English requirement, equivalent to English 9-101, but that is integrated with American Studies known collectively as Freshman Block. Students will explore major themes in American History from 1800 to the present by reading a wide array of fiction--short stories, poems and novels. Including To Kill a Mockingbird--and non-fiction literature (primary and secondary sources) while exploring the historical record. Students will demonstrate their language and writing skills throughout the year with persuasive, narrative, and reflection essays and research papers, along with critical thinking and personal journal responses.
ENGLISH 09-101: / Required for Grade 9 / Year-Long
Prerequisites: None
English 09-101 is an entry-level English requirement and is equivalent to English 9-101. It is taught as a stand-alone course. Students taking English 09-101 take U.S. History as a stand-alone course. Students will read a variety of short stories. Additionally, students will be assigned to choose titles to read in small groups of two to three classmates (“lit circles”). Students will also read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Researching skills and MLA citation will be reviewed and practiced. Major assignments include the I-Search paper, speech, and self-portrait writing.
SOCIAL STUDIES
AMERICAN STUDIES (U.S. History): / Required for Grade 9 / Year-long
This course is required for all 9th graders and is integrated with English 9.
Students will study American history from 1800 to the present. American Studies is a block class taught in combination with English 9. This is a required course for all 9th graders.
MATHEMATICS
You will be placed into the appropriate math course based on teacher recommendation, current grades and SBA scores
INTEGRATED MATH 1: / Grades 9 – 12 / Year-long
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the 8th grade math course
This course consists of seven units, each covering a different mathematical topic. Topics include Algebra/Functions, Geometry/Trigonometry, Statistics/Probability, and Discrete Mathematics.
INTEGRATED MATH 2: / Grades 9 – 12 / Year-long
Prerequisites: Must successfully pass Integrated Math 1 (or Algebra 1) with a grade of C or better, or referred by current math teacher.
This course consists of seven units, each covering a different mathematical topic. Topics include Algebra/Functions, Geometry/Trigonometry, Statistics/Probability, and Discrete Mathematics.
SCIENCE
LIFE SCIENCE: / Grade 9 / Year-long
Prerequisites: None
Life Science is the study of living things – their similarities and diversity.Topics include scientific method, diversity of life, and chemistry of life, cells, and genetics. Life Science is a requirement for graduation.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
HEALTH: / Grade 9-12 / 1 Semester
Prerequisites: None
Students will learn about outdoor survival, drug/alcohol awareness and prevention, and social/emotional health including stress management and communication skills. Students will learn nutrition, fitness principles, and the components of an affective workout program. Students will be taught a sexual education curriculum that promotes abstinence while still giving students the detailed information they need to stay safe and healthy.
Elective Options
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
INDIVIDUAL/TEAM ACTIVITIES: / Grades 9-12 / 1 Semester; Repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: None
Emphasis in this course will be to continue conditioning, refine skills, and become proficient in a variety of recreational activities, whereby the student will continue these activities past his/her high school years.
STRENGTH TRAINING / Grades 9-12 / 1 Semester, Repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: None
Fitness and health related activities are lifelong skills that promote a healthy active lifestyle. The course is designed to improve strength and conditioning of the student in an individualized conditioning program. The course will emphasize a variety of fitness activities.
PHYSICAL TRAINING: / Grades 9-12 / 1 Semester; Repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: None
The class will rotate through various forms of exercise. Exercises will include, but are not limited to, body conditioning through weight training, low impact and high impact aerobics, hiking, and body weight exercises.
BODY BLAST: / Grades 9-12 / 1 Semester; Repeatable for credit once
Prerequisites: Females only
The class will rotate through various forms of exercise, in conjunction with lectures/discussions on health and nutrition, diets/body image, and fitness. Exercises will include, but are not limited to, body conditioning through weight training, fit ball, low impact aerobics, and aqua aerobics.
SHS TEAM PE: / Grades 9-12 / Repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: Approval by Coach and Counselor
Students earn credit toward the Physical Education graduation requirements by participation in extracurricular sports. Up to .5 credit may be earned in a semester by successfully completing the entire season of a SHS sport, or by completing a minimum of 75 hours of community-based sports such as dance through the Sitka Studio of Dance. Students are responsible for informing the counseling office prior to beginning of the sport season, completing a request for credit report, and successfully completing the sport season. SHS Team PE cannot be used to complete all of the PE graduation requirements.