GUIDANCE HANDBOOK

VALMEYER HIGH SCHOOL

Table of contents

Table of Contents.........................................................2

General Information.................................................... 3-5

Schedule Changes………………………………………  3-4

Graduation Requirements........................................... 4-5

Agriculture................................................................... 6

Business....................................................................... 7-8

Family and Consumer Science (Home Ec).................     9-10

Fine Arts.......................................................................11-12

Foreign Language......................................................... 13

Language Arts...............................................................14-15

Mathematics..................................................................16-17

Physical Education, Health, Driver Education........... 18

Science...........................................................................19

Social Studies................................................................ 20

Beck Area Vocational School Courses.......................... 21-23

Post-Secondary School Information................................24

GENERAL INFORMATION

TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS

This guidance handbook is a guide to courses offered at Valmeyer High School and to the requirements necessary for graduation.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they schedule the necessary course work for graduation and/or college preparatory requirements.  The purpose of this handbook is to enable students and parents to make the best educational program choices possible.

            In an effort to increase parent participation in the registration process, students are requested to discuss their course and career decisions with their parents.  Students are also asked to obtain parental approval of the course requests for next year before returning them to the Guidance Office.

            Parents who wish to become more actively involved in their student’s educational program are urged to contact the Guidance Office to schedule an appointment.

PRE-REGISTRATION PARTICULARS

The following procedures will be in effect for the registration of students:

1. Students should speak with their counselor, parents, teachers, and friends, and prepare for registration in a serious and sincere manner.  Eighth grade students attending Valmeyer Junior High will meet with Mrs. Karsten during second semester of their 8^th grade year and will complete their pre-registration during this time.  An evening meeting will be held for parents of eighth grade students from the junior high to help parents become more informed about the high school curriculum.

2. Sometime during the late fall/early spring semesters, each high school student will have an individual conference with the guidance counselor to plan the next year’s schedule.  At this time the student’s four-year plan will also be updated.

3. After all students have had their individual conference with the counselor, they will be given a form to fill out with their class requests for the following year.  This form will need to be signed by the student and the parents and returned to the guidance office.  Because of possible schedule conflicts, not all requests may be granted and alternate classes may be assigned.   Priority will be given to required classes.

4.         Students will receive their schedule for the following year before they leave for summer break.  The counselor will schedule two days in late July/early August for schedule changes.  ALL STUDENTS should be prepared to BEGIN CLASSES on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.  Students who cannot attend these scheduled days for changes should call the Guidance Office and arrange a time to complete registration.

SCHEDULE CHANGES

A change of a student’s schedule is time consuming and complicated.  Teachers are employed, textbooks ordered, and rooms assigned on the basis of the number of students requesting various courses.  Therefore, very few schedule changes will be made at the summer registration.  If schedule changes are necessary during the year, the procedure is as follows:

1.         Discuss the proposed change with your counselor, your teacher and your parents.

2.                Students may add a class during the first 5 days of the semester if there is room in the class and prerequisites have been met.  After the 5^th day of classes, no changes may be made. 

3.                 Any class dropped after the 5^th day will result in an F for the course and will appear on the student’s transcript.

4.                 All schedule changes require parental approval.

STUDENT DAILY SCHEDULE

1.         A student may have no more than 1 full study hall, along with ½ study hall for those in either Band/Chorus. 

2.         Students may be excused from physical education under the following guidelines:

I.                    Juniors and seniors may be excused from P.E. under the following circumstances:               

                        A.         Involvement in interscholastic sports

a.         Fall Sports (Cross-Country, Golf, Soccer & Volleyball) can be excused from P.E. 1^st quarter.

b.         Winter Sports (Basketball & Cheerleading) can be excused from P.E. 2^nd & 3^rd quarter.

c.          Spring Sports (Baseball & Softball) can be excused during 4^th quarter.

·         Please Note: Credit is not given for those quarters that a student chooses to opt out of P.E.  This could affect overall GPA for those vying for Valedictorian/Salutatorian.

II.                 Students may be excused from physical education to take a course which they and the Principal agree will help in the preparation for post-secondary education.

III.               Students who are in jeopardy of not graduating on schedule may elect to take an academic class in place of physical education.

IV.               Students may be excused from physical education for medical reasons.  A written statement from a doctor is required.  This statement, which must state the length of time of the medical excuse, will first be shown to the teacher involved and then turned in to the Guidance Office.  The physical education teacher in conference with the student will determine if the student will be assigned to a study hall or be given supplemental activity in the class.  If sufficient class is missed to cause a loss of credit, that credit will have to be earned with other class work.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Number of credits needed for graduation: 24        

          Note: Although number of credits earned to date may be sufficient for graduation, students must meet certain graduation requirements regardless of credits earned.

          Also, remember that these are graduation requirements, not college requirements.  Every college has its own requirements.  See the guidance counselor for detailed information.

Classes required for graduation:

          4 credits of English

          3 credits of Social Studies (U.S. History, Geography, Intro to S.S., & Government are required plus either Economics, World History, or Contemporary History)

          3 credits of Math including Algebra I or IA & IB (Class of 2009, 2010, 2011)

          2 credits of Math (Class of 2008)

          2 credits in Science

          Resource Management (CO-OP or 4 years of Ag. will satisfy this or passing the Consumer Ed. Proficiency Exam)

          Driver’s Education/Career Awareness

          Health

          Keyboarding

          1 credit from Music, Art, Foreign Language, Vocational, or Humanities

          P.E. each year (exemption only by counselor or principal)

EARLY GRADUATION

Any student who has successfully fulfilled all the requirements for graduation will be allowed to graduate early. 

The guidance counselor must be notified in writing no later than the eleventh day of attendance during the semester in which the student will be graduating.  If the student is under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the notification.  Students who choose early graduation may participate in the end of the year ceremony if they attend practices.  It should be clearly understood that students who graduate at mid-term will be considered graduates and will not participate in student activities.

CORRESPONDENCE CREDIT

Students may have up to one credit (2 semester courses) accepted from an accredited correspondence school.  All costs related to the course will be the responsibility of the student.  Any student taking a correspondence course to graduate must complete the work so that the school receives a copy of the student’s grade ten school days prior to the scheduled graduation ceremony.  Valmeyer High School uses the University of Missouri Extension for correspondence courses.  See the guidance counselor to register.  Final approval must be granted by the principal.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Valmeyer High School uses a 4.0 scale to determine GPA. (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0).  Class rank will be updated at the end of each semester.  Final class rank is based on the cumulative GPA after 8 semesters. 

Valmeyer High School will calculate honor roll for each grading quarter and semester.  High Honors will designate students with a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0.  Honors will designate students with a GPA of 3.0 to 3.49.

AGRICULTURE

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

This course is designed for students in their first year of Agriculture.  The course covers computer literacy, FFA, Parliamentary Procedure, record books, and surveying the livestock, aquaculture, and crop industries.

AGRICULTURE SCIENCE

This course is for students in their second year of Agriculture.  It covers fertilizers, Parliamentary Procedure, water quality, Forestry, nutrition, arc welding, gas welding, aquaculture, crop judging, and genetics.

AG MECHANICS & TECHNOLOGY

This course is designed for students in their third or fourth year of Agriculture.  The course covers Parliamentary Procedure, land use, greenhouse production, electricity, and using microcomputers.

AGRICULTURE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

This course is designed for seniors in their third or fourth year of Agriculture.  The course covers the planning of the program of activities, computer literacy, land use, record keeping, small engines, concrete, using credit, electricity and using insurance.

HORTICULTURE

This course is designed for Juniors or Seniors and will be offered for dual credit at Southwestern Illinois College.  It involves greenhouse production, turf management, Floriculture, and Pomology.

BUSINESS

KEYBOARDING & FORMATTING –  (First Semester course – Grades 9-12)

Develops basic keying skill techniques for operation of automated equipment.  Emphasis is on proper touch-keying technique for developing speed and accuracy.   Proofreading and formatting skills for business and personal use document production is emphasized. Some of the units of instruction include basic word processing activities, formatting letters, envelopes, memorandums, reports (standard and MLA with references & Works Cited), and simple and complex tables.  Students are instructed with the proper use of the computer numeric keypad.  Workplace skills, Internet Web Search activities, as well as communication skills are taught and integrated throughout the entire course.  An exit requirement is to key at least 25 wpm on 3-minute straight copy within the required error limit.

INFORMATION PROCESSING I – (Second Semester course) (prerequisite Keyboarding & Formatting – Grades 9-12)

Refines and enhances skills in keyboarding and information processing.  Emphasis is on developing more speed and accuracy.  Units include formatting arranged and unarranged copies of various styles of memos, letters, outlines, reports, tables, and other forms.  Intensive drills in  the computer numeric keypad, and  Internet Web Search activities, as well as communication skills are  integrated throughout the entire course.  All activities are more advanced from those introduced in Keyboarding & Formatting.  Students complete a unit in PowerPoint, as well as a Simulation workplace packet the final nine weeks to assess skill development.  A final unit involves job  preparation, keying and composing resumes, reference lists, application letters and forms, and post-interview follow-up letters.  An exit requirement is to key at least 35 wpm on 5-minute straight copy within the required error limit.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS I & II – (Prerequisite:  Keyboarding & Formatting.  Semester courses for Grades 10-12, need not be taken in succession)

Orientation course designed to develop awareness and understanding of various types of application software and equipment for both business and personal use.  Units of instruction include Microsoft’s Word and  Excel for the first semester, and Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and FrontPage for the second semester.  Students apply problem solving skills to hands-on, real-life situations as they explore introductory topics related to computer concepts and operating systems, progressing to mastery level.

ACCOUNTING I & II – (Grades 10-12; must be taken in succession)

Accounting I is a skill development course which familiarizes students with how to maintain financial records for various types of businesses in marketing and management areas.  The year course includes instruction for keeping financial records, summarizing them for interpretation, and analyzing them for decision making.  Personal financial accounting for consumer decision-making is also emphasized.  Computer applications are integrated in each chapter throughout the course and Simulation workplace sets are used to assess skill development.

Accounting II is the second-year course designed to prepare students who are interested in careers in accounting or other areas of business management.  Units of instruction are designed to be more comprehensive than Accounting I, including managerial, financial, corporate, and cost accounting.   Computer applications are integrated in each chapter throughout the course and Simulation workplace sets are used to assess skill development.

INFORMATION PROCESSING II & DOCUMENT PRODUCTION --  (Prerequisite:  Keyboarding and Formatting -- Grades 11 and 12 )

Students develop and enhance their skills with application software to produce various publications, including a monthly school newspaper, the school yearbook, and various other documents such as newsletters, brochures, informational flyers, music and sports programs, and menus. One unit involves presentation software with PowerPoint. Also introduced is Pagemaker and Josten’s Yeartech, in addition to instruction on scanners and digital photography used in preparing pages for the school yearbook.  Typography, photography, and proper layout and design of publications is emphasized in this course.  Students will apply proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and proofreading practices to all documents and publications.  Accuracy will be emphasized and workplace skills as well as communication skills will be taught and integrated throughout this course.

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCE

HOME ECONOMICS I (NOT OFFERED EVERY YEAR)

Family & Consumer Sciences I&II are designed to introduce students to 4 major areas of Family & Consumer Sciences: foods, clothing & textiles, parenting & child development, and interior design. Family & Consumer Sciences I will concentrate on foods.  Students will learn basic cooking terms and techniques as well as kitchen safety and sanitation.  Quick meals using conventional and microwave cookery will be taught.  Emphasis will be placed on nutrition and healthy lifestyles.  The course will provide lab experience in the following food groups: milk, cheese, eggs, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and quick breads.

HOME ECONOMICS II (NOT OFFERED EVERY YEAR)

Family & Consumer Sciences I & II are designed to introduce students to 4 major areas of Family & Consumer Sciences: foods, clothing & textiles, parenting & child development, and interior design.  Students will learn about fibers and weaves and make a simple garment.  The course will teach principles of laundering clothes, rules of etiquette, making garnishes and preparing appetizers.  Child development, house designs and building plans, furniture placement, conflict resolution, family issues, and the importance of good choices will be discussed.  Homemade ice cream will be made in the spring.  It is recommended that students have previous credit in Family & Consumer Sciences I.

FOODS I

Foods I will teach concepts such as cleaning the kitchen, basic kitchen principles, and colonial & regional U.S. cuisine.  Students will learn to prepare rice and pasta, quick bread and yeast bread, pies and pastries, cookies, candies, and cakes.  It is recommended that students have previous credit in Family & Consumer Sciences I & II.

FOODS II

Foods II will teach professional cake decorating as well as the preparation of meats, poultry, and fish.  Appetizers will also be introduced and culminate with a hands on lab. The course will conclude with foreign foods.  Students will prepare foods from Latin America, Europe, the Mediterranean, China, Africa, and the Middle East. It is recommended that students have previous credit in Family & Consumer Sciences I & II, and Foods I.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Resource Management is designed to teach economic systems, decisions, advertising, technology, fraud, rights & responsibilities of consumers, taxes, credit, budgets, investments, and insurance.  Special focus on banking, writing checks, and reconciling accounts is also included in the class.

CAREER AWARENESS

Career awareness is designed to help students explore themselves and various work opportunities that would fit their personalities, interests, and skill abilities.  Personality tests are connected to career possibilities.  Students will experience job-shadowing a person who has the career of their interest.  A college project helps students find the cost and requirements of post-high school training and helps students know what high school courses are needed to prepare for college.  Students will also consider ethics in the workplace and think about how they will implement those ethics themselves.

FINE ARTS

ART I

The first semester of this course covers basic principles of drawing and design. The second semester of the course places an emphasis on color theory, paiting, sculpture and ceramics.  A wide variety of materials are used and the course in a general exposure to visual art.

ART II

This course is an intermediate art class which builds from Art I and offers more advanced media techniques.  There is an emphasis on idea development and creative problem solving.

ART III

This course is a structured independent study course.  Students are given a quarterly syllabus which offers a mixture of teacher-developed and student-developed art assignments which they must complete on a quarterly basis.

ART IV

This is an independent study course for senior art students only.  Students develop and produce art pieces on an independent basis.  This course is primarily for the serious art student who is considering majoring in the Art field in college.  There are five required quality pieces which must be submitted each quarter for evaluation and grading.

HISTORY OF THE FINE ARTS

This course covers the history and culture of Western civilization from the Renaissance to modern times through the exploration of its art.  Visual art, architecture, literature, music and theatre are the topics discussed and evaluated by the student.  This is a lecture course.

MIXED CHORUS

 Enrollment in High School Chorus is open to all students who love to sing and wish to join.  Emphasis is placed on a variety of choral literature ranging from Madrigals to 21st century popular music.  The class meets 2 or 3 times per week in an alternate schedule with High School Band.  The chorus members form the nucleus of the cast and crew for the production of the all-school musical.  They participate in a variety of contests, concerts and community performances.  Attendance at required concerts and contests is essential and a part of the grade in the class.

BAND

High school band offers students the opportunity to perform music from
many musical periods and genres. Students are exposed to music history,
music theory, and performance practice applicable to music being
rehearsed. The high school band performs formal concerts each semester,
at selected home athletic events, music contests, local parades, and
other venues. Band students also have the opportunity to play in
additional groups such as jazz band and the musical pit orchestra.

MUSIC THEORY

Music Theory is a study of how to read and write musical notation as well as a study of analysis of music.  A music background is helpful, but not required.  The class is open to juniors and seniors.  Sophomores may enroll only with permission of the instructor.

INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE ARTS

Theatre Arts is an introduction to all of the elements of theatre production and theatre history.  The class is interactive and students are able to experience not only acting, but also some directing and production techniques.  A field trip is taken each semester and a final project is required.  The class is open to juniors and seniors.  

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

SPANISH I

This is an introductory course to learning how to speak, write, listen, and read in Spanish. Although speaking is an emphasis in the class, there is a lot of grammar that will be introduced. We will start off with learning basics. For example, we will learn how to greet people, how to say our ages, and how to say what we like or dislike. As the year progresses, we will start to learn how to express ourselves in the past, present, and future. Likewise, the history and culture of several differing Spanish countries will be introduced.

SPANISH II

This course is a continuation of Spanish I.  From the start we will do a quick review of what was last covered in the previous year. Then, we will move on to a more in depth study of Spanish grammar and culture.  This class is primarily taught in Spanish; however, in the beginning, students are allowed to speak in  English. By the end of the year, students should be able to speak, write, listen, and read in Spanish with a limited degree. If you were to visit a Spanish speaking country, you should be able to survive.

SPANISH III

This course starts off with a huge review of what was learned from the previous years. After reviewing, we start off by learning to express our emotions, fears, and doubts. We will begin to move from “survival Spanish” to “conversational Spanish.” In this way, we will be able to actually share ideas and life experiences. Moreover, through reading and research, we will continue to learn about other cultures and their customs. Also, in this year, students have the privilege of teaching Spanish to the 2^nd graders.

SPANISH IV

This course has a quick review of past grammar, but then jumps into compound verb tenses. Spanish IV is an exciting class in which we will really focus on culture, speaking, reading, and writing.  Conversation is the key. The class will be taught in Spanish and students will be expected to speak only in Spanish as well.

LANGUAGE ARTS