BranfordHigh School
"Improved Learning For Everyone"
185 East Main StreetBranford, Connecticut06405
203-488-7291FAX – 203- 315-6740
ADMINISTRATION
Edmund C. Higgins, Ph.D.Principal
Anna C. PugliaAssistant Principal
David W. MaloneyAssistant Principal
Lee PanagouliasAssistant Principal
PROGRAM LEADERS
Christian MillerEnglish
Peter BouleySocial Studies
Nicholas RinaldiMathematics
Lee PanagouliasScience
Leslie CasanovaWorld Languages
Madelyn PaskiewiczFine & Practical Arts
Kathleen DoonanSpecial Education
Michael GriffinHorizons
Jake Palluzzi/Savas SynodiAthletic Directors
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
Guidance Counselor / Grades9-12
Doug White / A-C
Ed Hayes / D-H
Amy Olszewski / I-M
Cheryl Ryan / N-R
Mike Callan / S-Z
HOW TO USE THIS CATALOG
The Program of Studies and the course registration process will be explained to you during class assemblies. After discussing course offerings with your teachers, you and your parent/guardian will have an opportunity to meet with your counselor to review graduation requirements, BHS Graduation Expectations, career goals, and college entrance requirements. During this conference your counselor will discuss course / level placements and elective options.
You are advised to take this process seriously and make your choices wisely. Before you meet with your counselor you should complete the following:
1Read all the information in Sections I-IV.
2Review your past academic performance.
3Discuss your plans with your family and your counselor to develop your long-range program.
4Consider your goals and the courses that will help you to achieve these goals.
Take courses that will challenge you to stretch your mind and your imagination.
What subjects do I need to meet graduation requirements?
What courses do colleges and employers want me to have?
What subjects am I most interested in?
Which subjects are usually hardest / easiest for me?
What would I like to do after graduation?
What is my career goal?
What activities will I be involved in next year? How might they affect my choice of courses?
5Discuss course descriptions / requirements with your teachers and Department Chairpersons.
6Taking 3 or more "AP" courses will require a significant alteration of your out-of-school responsibilities.
7Fill in the course registration formPRIOR to your scheduled conference with your counselor.
Finally, your schedule of courses is the most important thing you will have to decide on in high school. Our general requirements ensure that you will receive a balanced education in all areas, with strong emphasis on the skills and competencies required to live successfully in the rapidly changing world of the 21st century. The elective programs that you choose should prepare you in a meaningful way for your future and should give you the opportunity to expand your horizons by providing new learning opportunities.
Be sure to check out theSPECIAL PROGRAMS SECTION at the back of this book.
Please be aware that in this year, as in every year, low enrollment may result in the elimination of course offerings during the registration process.
Desktop Publishing by Joanne Hill
Editied byDr. Edmund C. Higgins
Christian Miller
Peter Bouley
Nicholas Rinaldi
Lee Panagoulias
Leslie Casanova
Madelyn Paskiewicz
Michael Griffin
Discrimination Policy
BranfordHigh School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities.
The following personnel have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:
For section 504 – Len Bonn at Branford high school 488-7291
for title ix – Anna Puglia at Branford High School 488-7291, Dr. MaryPeraro at the
Branford Board of Education 488-7276
*************
this school is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students
.i.DISCRIMINATION; -GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The Branford Board of Education agrees to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Title IX prohibits discrimination in education.
Individuals who believe there is discrimination in BranfordHigh School may share their concerns with any administrator, Ms. Virginia Aiello 315-7824 or Mrs. Suzanne Serviss 315-7827. These staff members will explain the appeal procedure and the individual’s rights under Title IX.
Allegations of discrimination may also be referred to Dr. Mary Peraro 488-7276 at the Board of Education Office, or Anna Puglia 4887291 at BHS who are the designated Title IX Coordinators .
Any concerns about section 504 may be referred to Len Bonn at BranfordHigh School.
BRANFORDHIGH SCHOOL
"Improved Learning For Everyone"
The course selection process is extremely important and deserves your fullest attention because you will live for the next school year with the decisions you make now. Those decisions will either limit or open opportunities for you upon graduation.
This Program of Studies has been prepared to help you make wise course selections for the next school year. To help you in your course selection process, this booklet contains valuable information, including:
*Branford Public Schools’ graduation requirements
*BHS’s Performance Graduation Expectations and Standards of Assessment
*Academic expectations from a variety of college admissions offices
*NCAA eligibility requirements
*Course descriptions which include the skill and content learner outcomes which are assessed in each course
*Descriptions of special programs that open up learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.
You should be familiar with all of these items so you can plan a program of studies that will help you achieve your goal of graduation and success after high school.
School and learning are the top priorities for every high school student. Therefore, you should take a course of studies that willchallenge you to stretch your mind, to explore new areas of interest and learning while, at the same time, allowing you to fulfill your out of school responsibilities. The entire staff, teachers, department leaders, guidance counselors, and administrators are ready to answer your questions and guide you toward a program that will meet your individual needs.
Please select your courses with care. The schedule that you develop during this time will be treated like a contract - you will be expected to take all the courses on your schedule.
COURSE REGISTRATION CALENDAR
Class of 08 (Current Juniors, Incoming Seniors)Junior Class Parent Coffee / Thursday, Feb. 1
Class Orientation Meeting / Wednesday, Jan. 31, Advisory Time
Registration Meetings / Feb. 5-9
Feb. 12-16
Class of 09 (Current Sophomores, Incoming Juniors)
Sophomore Class Parent Coffee / Thursday, Feb. 15
Class Orientation Meeting / Wednesday Feb. 14, Advisory Time
Registration Meetings / Feb. 26-Mar. 2
Mar. 5, 9, 12
Class of 10 (Current Freshman, Incoming Sophomores)
Freshman Class Parent Coffee / Thursday, Mar. 8
Class Orientation Meeting / Session I: Wednesday, Mar. 21, Advisory Time
Class Orientation Meeting / Session II: Wednesday, Mar. 28, Advisory Time
Junior College Program - Students / Wednesday, Mar. 14, Advisory Time
Class of 11 (Current 8th Grade, Incoming Freshman)
8Th Grade Parent Coffee @ BHS / Monday, Mar. 12, 7:30 pm Library
8Th Grade Parent Coffee @ BHS / Tuesday, Mar. 13, 7:30 pm Library
8Th Grade Parent/Student Orientation / Thursday, Mar. 15, 7:30 pm BHS/AUD
Registration Meetings @ WIS / Mar. 26-30, Apr. 2-5
Registration Meetings @ St. Mary’s School / Apr. 4
CAPT / Mar. 6, 7, 8, 13, 15
No registrations
C O N T E N T S
How To Use This Catalog2
Discrimination Policy3
Calendar for course registraton4
Contents5
Branford Public Schools’ Mission Statement6
BranfordHigh School’s Statement of Purpose and Expectations7
Section OneGraduation Requirements & Expectations8
Branford Public Schools’ Graduation Requirements 8
Senior Graduation Exhibition9
Performance Graduation Requirements10-21
Section TwoAcademic School Policies22
Minimum Course Load Requirement22
Rank-In-Class/ AcademicGrade Point Average 22, 23
Prerequisite Policy24
Honors Option24
Honors/Pass/Fail Option24
Credit Make-up Due To Failure/Lack Of Attendance25
Course Withdrawal Limitations25
Early Out For Seniors27
Section Three Course Selection Process28
Section Four College Admissions29
NCAA Eligibility Requirements30
Section FiveCourse Descriptions32
Language Arts32
Reading39
Social Studies 40
Mathematics 47
Science 52
World Languages58
Career and Technical Education62
BHS Futures in Information Technology63, 64
Business and Technology Education65
Technical Education70
Family Consumer Sciences (Home Economics)75
Art78
Music82
Physical Education/Health 84
Section SixSpecial Programs85
School-To-Career / Career ExplorationWorld Languages Special Programs @ Yale
Advanced Placement (A. P.)Horizons
Business Cooperative Work ExperiencePeer Connections
Special EducationSAT Preparation
Classroom AideInterdistrict Magnet Schools
Tech. Prep Systems
Driver Education
index93
Branford Public Schools
MISSION STATEMENT
We, the members of the Branford Public Schools community, are committed to developing life-long learners who are capable and confident, who contribute to their community, and who succeed in a changing global society.
Institutional Goals
In order to achieve this mission, the faculty and administration of the Branford Public Schools join with parents and members of the community -
1.To foster continuous growth toward excellence in each student, class, and school.
2.To enhance community understanding and appreciation of the schools.
3.To enhance the schools' effectiveness in responding to the increased demand to serve an expanded role in student and community life.
4.To increase management efficiency and effectiveness.
- To promote growth opportunities for staff which will enable them to experience continuous improvement.
6.To develop and maintain facilities which meet growing and changing educational and community needs.
7.To broaden the use of advanced technologies which support continuous improvement of the educational process.
8.To develop in each student an understanding of and an ability to function in a multi-cultural interdependent world.
Strategic Planning for School Improvement
Fall – 1993
NEASC ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
BranfordHigh School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., a non-governmental, nationally recognized organization whose affiliated institutions include elementary schools through collegiate institutions offering post-graduate instruction.
Accreditation of an institution by the New England Association indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer group review process. An accredited school or college is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and give reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by The New England Association is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of the quality of every course or program offered, or competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding the status of an institution's accreditation by the New England Association should be directed to the administrative staff of the school or college. Individuals may also contact:
NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES,
209 BURLINGTON ROAD, BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS01890
(781) 271-0022, FAX (781) 271-0950.
BranfordHigh School is accredited by the Connecticut State Department of Education and is a member of the New England
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
BranfordHigh School’s
Mission Statement & Expectations for Student Learning[1]
The mission of BHS is to foster academic and personal excellence. To this end, we join with the home and community to cultivate skills, attitudes and talents that will prepare our graduates not only to succeed in college and careers, but also to become informed, responsible citizens who respect diversity, value lifelong learning and lead fulfilling lives.
Academic Expectations
The Branford High School graduate is able to:
Read non-fiction actively and critically for a variety of purposes
Write using standard English for a variety of purposes and audiences
Convey ideas and/or feelings through a chosen area of the fine and practical arts
Use technology to find, organize and communicate information
Utilize evidence to formulate, support, and present positions
Understand and appreciate texts from many literary periods and cultures
Communicate mathematically
Use mathematical reasoning in problem solving
Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the basic principles of biological, earth and/or physical science
Identify and design techniques for solving problems in science or technology
Design and execute a major project that fulfills the student’s own stated purpose
Civic and Social Expectations
The Branford High School students demonstrate:
The ability to be contributing members of their community
Respect for themselves, their fellow students, the faculty, staff, as well as their school and community
A recognition and an understanding of the benefits of diversity in their school and community
Integrity while participating in all academic and social activities
An understanding of the life-long value of personal physical fitness and good health
SECTION ONE
MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
English 4.00 credits
Social Studies3.00
Mathematics3.00
Science2.00
Physical Education/Health1.00
Fine & Practical Arts*1.00
Electives6.00
Total Credits20 credits
Graduation Requirements
A new state law requires all school systems to insure that all students are able to perform CAPT [Connecticut Academic Performance Test] related skills at an acceptable level before they are graduated. To meet this new requirement, as well as to insure that all BHS graduates have successfully demonstrated proficiency in other significant competencies and skills, the Branford Board of Education approved the Performance Graduation Requirements listed below.
In addition to the existing credit based graduation requirements cited above, to be graduated from Branford High School a student must demonstrate ‘proficiency’ in areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, technology, the arts, civics, community service, as well as the skills of an autonomous learner. To demonstrate ‘proficiency’ a student must earn a ‘proficient’ rating of “3” or better on the following BHS Performance Graduation Requirements:
- Read non-fiction actively and critically for a variety of purposes
- Write using standard English for a variety of purposes and audiences
- Convey ideas and/or feelings through a chosen area of the fine and practical arts
- Use technology to find, organize and communicate information
- Utilize evidence to formulate, support, and present positions
- Understand and appreciate texts from many literary periods and cultures
- Communicate mathematically
- Use mathematical reasoning in problem solving
- Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the basic principles of biological, earth and/or physical science
- Identify and design techniques for solving problems in science or technology
- Design and execute a major project that fulfills the student’s own stated purpose
- Demonstrate the ability to be contributing members of their community
Except for the last two, these performance requirements are aligned to multiple course offerings in various departments so students who enroll in those courses can develop the appropriate skills and understandings, and be assessed for the purpose of meeting these performance graduation requirements.
‘Senior Graduation Exhibition-To demonstrate the skills of an autonomous learner, each student is expected to design and execute a major project that fulfills the students own stated purpose.In fulfilling this graduation requirement, each student is expected to address five key questions:
1.What activities am I going to participate in as part of my Senior Graduation Exhibition?
2.What are my learning goals for this involvement?
3.What are my plans to achieve my learning goals?
4.How will I present my learning achievement to an audience?
5.What did I learn from this experience that I might apply to future independent learning?
Each senior is assigned to a faculty advisor who meets with the senior in regularly scheduled advisory periods. In addition, each senior selects a Content Consultant who is knowledgeable of the student's topic and who works closely with the individual student.
Senior Graduation Exhibition Calendar
September- November Proposal Phase
November - MarchResearch and Development Phase
April - MayPresentation Phase
April- May Reflection Phase
SPECIAL PROGRAM:Early Start Senior Graduation Exhibition
Juniors may elect to begin the Senior Graduation Exhibition prior to becoming seniors. An Early Start Option is available to students wishing to begin their Senior Graduation Exhibition in the spring of their junior year and complete their work the following December. Students who elect this option must be able to devote significant time during the summer months and the early part of their senior year to this requirement.
Students who enroll in this program fulfill each of the Senior Graduation Exhibition requirements in the same fashion as students who begin the Senior Graduation Exhibition Program in September EXCEPT:
- They begin in April instead of September;
- They meet with an advisor regularly during the school year and during the summer, as needed, instead of just during the school year and;
- They complete the Senior Graduation Exhibition in January, rather than inMay.
SENIOR GRADUATION EXHIBITION - EARLY START REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Students should discuss the Early Start option when they meet with their guidance counselor during course registration conferences. They must submit a completed Early Start application to the Career Office and attend Early Start orientation meetings in March to be considered for the program. Students who plan to participate in the regular Senior Graduation Exhibition Program need not take any action during their course registration conference. They will automatically be given advisors in September 2007.
Early Start – Senior Graduation Exhibition Calendar
- April– JuneProposal Phase
- June – OctoberResearch and Development Phase
- November – JanuaryPresentation Phase
- November – JanuaryReflection Phase
- Seniors accepted into the Early Start Program upon successful completion of the Proposal Phase make a binding commitment to complete the Early Start Program by mid-year of their senior year. Early Start Seniors cannot change to the regular program after August 15, 2007.
- A senior who plans to complete BHS studies by the end of the fall semester (January, 2008) must participate in the Early Start Program. These individuals are encouraged to discuss this option with their counselor during their course registration conference.
Community Service – To demonstrate that one is a contributing member of the community, a student must complete at least 40 hours of community, maintain a journal of that service, and write a reflective essay about what was learned through the service experiences.