Slide 2 NEEDHAM HIGH SCHOOL Slide 3 AGENDA: Minuteman High
School (Jack Dillon) Introduction to NHS Curriculum Course
Selection Nuts & Bolts Freshman Seminar Announcements Slide 4
NHS Curriculum The Basics 92 credits required to graduate Subject
Area Requirements 16 credits (4 years) English 12 credits (3 years)
Laboratory Science 12 credits (3 years) Mathematics 12 credits (3
years) History/Social Studies 8 credits (2 years) World Language 8
credits (4 semesters) Fine and Performing Arts 8 credits (4
semesters) Health/Physical Education 2 credits (60 hours) Community
Classroom Pass MCAS: Eng, Math, Science Slide 5 Slide 6 9TH GRADE
English Science (Biology) World History Math Algebra I, Algebra II
World Language Spanish I or II, French I or II, Mandarin I, Latin I
Directed Study- Freshman Seminar (Fall) Health/PE (Spring)
Elective(s) (4 credits) Skill Center (if your student is on an IEP)
Slide 7 COURSE LEVELS Basic Standard Honors Accelerated Slide 8
Slide 9 COURSE SELECTION PROCESS Teacher recommendations in
PowerSchool Students choose electives (though not assured of
getting them) Parent review via PowerSchool See 8th grade Timeline
Slide 10 COURSE SELECTION TIMELINE: 2014- 2015 DATEEVENT &
DESCRIPTION Week of February 3 rd NHS Counselors visit 8th Graders
at Pollard Tuesday, February 4 th School Committee approves 2015
Program of Studies Wednesday, February 5 th 8 th grade Curriculum
Night- NHS Auditorium 7:00-8:30pm (Snow Date: Thursday, February 27
th ) Thursday, February 13 th Special Education Information Night-
NHS Library 7:00-8:30pm (Snow Date: Thursday, March 6 th ) February
10 th - February 14 th Teachers input course level recommendations
into PowerTeacher. All recommendations are due by Friday, February
14 th. March 3 rd -7 th Student input week. Students input elective
choices into PowerSchool by March 7 th. Students who miss the
deadline will be assigned to elective courses by Guidance. Students
without PowerSchool access should go to the Grade Level Office.
Students seeking to override a teacher recommendation must complete
the Recommendation Override form found on the NHS Website. March 10
th -14 th Parents review student courses via PowerSchool parent
access. Friday, March 14 th Override Forms Due! Monday, August 25
th Guidance counselors return from summer break; 2014-2015 student
schedules available on PowerSchool. Slide 11 Please remember
Teacher Recommendations Override with caution Student & Parent
sign the override form Deadline is Friday, March 14 th, 2014. Only
a very small percentage of students successfully navigate all
accelerated classes (approximately 7%) Due to increased enrollment
and schedule constraints, changing course levels later may not be
possible. Encourage your children to get involved Slide 12 Course
Overrides Slide 13 FRESHMAN SEMINARS 1 small group meeting with a
School Counselors during their study, discussing topics related to
course selection and graduation requirements In addition, freshmen
meet individually with their School Counselors before the semester
break Slide 14 RESOURCES TO HELP Your child s current teachers and
counselor High school department chairs High school School
Counselors NHS Website Course Selection Page: http://nhs.needham.k1
2.ma.us/guidance/Cour seSelection http://nhs.needham.k1
2.ma.us/guidance/Cour seSelection Slide 15 Slide 16 Slide 17
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Special Education Course Selection- parents and
students do not chose Skills or PLC- it is assigned (Special
Education Curriculum Night Thursday, February 13 th 7-8:30pm). Fall
Sports Start Before School Starts (Starting Dates for 9th Graders
between 8/18 - 8/25) Sports Seasons run through all 3 School
Vacations Slide 18 NHS ATHLETICS Announcements and SPRING SAVE THE
DATES The Needham High School Athletic Department is excited to
offer the following Spring events for 8 th graders and their
families: 8 th Grade Student-Athlete Step-Up Day @ Needham High
School Tuesday, June 3 rd (early release day) Program open for all
8 th graders to tour NHS, hear from NHS athletes, coaches &
teachers, and experience interactive Positive Coaching Alliance
(PCA) athlete workshop. NHS ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES FAIR for
rising 9th graders and parents/guardians Wednesday, June 4 at
6:00pm Orientation session in NHS Auditorium Fall Sports Start
Before School Starts (Starting Dates for 9th Graders between 8/18 -
8/25) Sports Seasons run through all 3 School Vacations Slide 19
CLUB SPORT OFFERINGS & 2014-15 Proposed Options CLUB SPORTS
PROGRAM Club Cheer- Fall & Winter Club Dance- Fall & Winter
Club Sailing- Fall & Spring Boys Ultimate Frisbee - Spring
Girls Ultimate Frisbee - Spring 2014-15 Proposed Club Options Club
Bowling- Winter Club Squash- Winter Slide 20 ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONTINUED: METCO Night Auditions for FPA Slide 21 THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING! Questions?
