The purpose of this handbook is to provide students and their parents with information helpful in planning a high school program. Graduation requirements, course descriptions, definitions of terms, policies and procedures are included. Parents and students are encouraged to work closely with their school counselors to plan a program that will help them achieve their educational goals. To download a copy of the Curriculum Guide, click here.
Recognizing that learning is a life-long process and that all students can learn,
The Weedsport Central School Community
is committed to providing and promoting an environment that:
The purpose of this handbook is to provide students and their parents with information helpful in planning a high school program. Graduation requirements, course descriptions, definitions of terms, policies and procedures are included. Parents and students are encouraged to work closely with their school counselors to plan a program that will help them achieve their educational goals.
The Counseling Office offers many services. Counselors work to assist students with academics, post-secondary planning/awareness and social/emotional/personal needs and development. These include academic, career, and college planning, as well as assistance with personal development and the transition to adult life. More specifically, school counselors offer the following:
Student schedules are planned during consultations with school counselors. Changes should be requested only after serious consideration by students and with signed schedule change forms. All students requesting changes will need to make appointments by coming into the counseling office during a study hall or lunch (if possible).
Student schedules for the following school year are developed with the school counselors from mid- January and run through mid-April.
The selection of courses is an activity which requires careful thought and long-range planning. Beginning in the eighth grade, students and counselors make an extended, four-year plan for the educational program. As interests and needs change so does the plan, but not without careful consideration by the student, the parents, and the counselor. The student’s primary responsibility is to make the counselor aware of preferences and goals. The parents’ role is to work with the student in the planning stages and to become as familiar as possible with local and state options and requirements as well as elective courses available. Perhaps the greatest responsibility lies with the counselors whose job is to determine the schedule which best fits each student’s abilities and needs. Students are expected to complete full and challenging programs, which are consistent with ability levels and career desires.
All schedule change requests must be submitted to the student’s school counselor on a schedule change form which is available in the counseling office. Signatures of a parent and teacher must be included before the request will be considered. If a teacher wishes to discuss the change with the student or parent(s), the teacher may request a parent/teacher conference before the change is initiated.
Weedsport, in collaboration with Cayuga Community College, SUNY Oswego, and SUNY ESF, offers a variety of courses at the college level. Students are able to take the courses at Weedsport and receive 3-6 college credits per-course.
Courses offered at the high school level which may result in college credit. National examinations are given in May at the student’s expense.
Students may choose to attend a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at the Regional Educational Center to gain skills in a trade area and earn a certificate of proficiency by graduation. A majority of students are ready to go into the work force immediately following graduation as a result of attendance in this program.
Weedsport offers a wide range of online courses. Course instruction and assignments are all provided online through BOCES. Students who choose to take these courses are those who are strong independent learners, work well on the computer and manage their time well. Online courses will be offered to juniors and seniors. Any sophomore wishing to take an online course will need counselor and principal approval. Students are supported throughout the course by an E-Learning Specialist who is accessible to students and will meet with students at the beginning of each semester as well as on an as needed basis. Students and parents will be required to sign a contract to participate in and online course.
Any course which is not required for graduation.
A final examination developed by the New York State Education Department. Passing the Regents examination is required to earn credit toward a Regents diploma. Regents can be retaken if a student did not pass the first time or wants to improve his/her grade.
One unit of credit is awarded for the successful completion of a full-year course. Completion of course is passing with a grade of 65 or more.
Language other than English.
Certain courses require that an introductory class is taken and passed before being permitted to participate in the higher level course. Example: Studio in Art is a prerequisite to participation in Drawing/Painting and/or Ceramics/Sculpture.
Grade point average and rank in class are computed for the first time in junior year (4 semester, unofficial transcript) and again in senior year (six semester, official transcript). A final transcript (demonstrating completion of all graduation requirements) is sent to the college that the student will actually attend. All courses for which a numerical average is recorded are used in the calculation, with the exception of P.E. Class rank is not made public until February of the senior year.
The Weedsport High School transcript will indicate both the weighted and unweighted GPA for a student. Rank in class, however, is weighted and calculated using a seven semester cumulative GPA. When calculating rank, the weighting formula adds 10% to the final average in Advanced Placement (AP) and all college courses.
Courses
Required Regents Exams (Score of 65 or better)
Regents Diploma
Required Regents Exams (Score of 65 or better)
Notes
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
Notes
The State Education Department and the State Board of Regents have developed standards of academic achievement which every student in New York State must meet in order to receive a high school diploma. These standards are Measured by the New York State Regents Examinations that assess student abilities in the areas of Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science (see info below). Regardless of what academic average a student has or what credits a student has received for high school courses passed, he or she must still satisfy the state requirements for graduation. Students must pass all required state assessments in order to be eligible for graduation. Where needed, students will have multiple opportunities to pass the assessments. The school will keep thorough, updated records of each student’s status related to passing the state assessments.
Please Note: The Weedsport Central School District requires students to earn at least a score of 65% on all Regents Examinations that are required for graduation.
ELA Regents: Comprehensive Regents Exam in ELA: June of Junior Year
Math Regents: Algebra I Regents: June of Freshman Year* or June of Sophomore Year
Global History: Regents Exam in Global History: June of Sophomore Year
US History & Government Regents: Regents Exam in US History & Government: June of Junior Year
Science Regents: Regents exam in Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry: June of Freshman Year
* NOTE: The above lists minimum requirements to obtain a Regents Diploma. The Advanced Designation Regents Diplomas require passing a second Regents Exam in Science and two additional Regents Exams in Math (total three Math Regents Exams).
A variety of full and half year courses are available to students in an online format. These courses require students to work independently with the support of the E-Learning Specialist from the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. Please contact the school counselor for further information concerning these courses.
It is the responsibility of the student and the parents to understand that when a student selects an elective course to fill out his/her schedule for a given school year, the school district is committing time, staff, and financial resources to ensure the availability of the course for the student requesting it. Once the student is scheduled for a course generated by the request, the student is expected to fulfill the commitment by completing the course. Requests to drop an elective course will only be honored in extreme situations where teacher, counselor and principal agree that such a request is warranted. Student and parent input will be considered. To ensure that a course is right for a student, the student should investigate the course offerings thoroughly. This investigation should take place during the spring scheduling process. The student can talk with the teacher teaching the course during the current school year. The student can speak with other students who are taking or have taken the course, and a student can review this course curriculum guide for course descriptions (copies are available in the counseling office).
A guideline for requesting courses or changing courses will be as follows:
a. The school counselor, principal and parent agree the academic load of the student is in need of relief – 6½ credits is the average course load.
b. The student has demonstrated, through effort in class, homework assignments and extra help that he/she is unable to be successful in the class. The teacher’s evaluation of the above will be a primary consideration.
c. Due to administrative decisions, a student may have to drop a course, i.e. disciplinary, over enrollment, or the elimination of the course.
d. Deadline to drop a course is 20 school days from the start of each semester.
Students planning to complete a Regional Educational Sequence through an REC offered program must take Career and Financial Management I.
(See Program Brochure for Detailed Information)
Today, students are entering a world where professional knowledge is changing more rapidly than any other time in our history. Learning how to learn and access current professional information has become a skill in itself. To rise to this challenge, our educational settings are beginning a transformation that focuses on relevancy while attaining real world standards. Through the development of the Professional Careers Program at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, authentic professional settings take the place of traditional classrooms creating exciting learning environments while providing lessons in career specific areas. This New Vision redefines the teaching-learning process and broadens instructional resources. While enrolled in the New Visions Program, students will spend the morning at their component high school attending chosen classes. Students will then attend their New Visions Program from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Students also have the opportunity to earn a total of (9) nine college credits. This results in an actual college transcript that the students may apply toward his/her college choice. Students enrolled in these programs may also receive high school credits from their component high schools that will be part of their graduation requirements.
The New Visions Medical Professions Program is a challenging option for high school seniors who are interested medicine and related life sciences, and who would like to learn the fundamentals about health care professions. Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, in cooperation with Auburn Memorial Hospital, will provide an inside look at medical professions found in hospitals and ancillary health care facilities. Through daily involvement with various departments in these facilities, students will learn what is required of health care professionals and the application of their education to real-life situations on the job. Students will gain better understanding of the responsibilities and professional demands of a busy technical environment and will see how working together as a team can provide quality patient care.
*Course credits for the Regional Educational Center:
English is required each year in grades 9 through 12. All students pursue the Regents level course sequence and take the Regents exam at the conclusion of English 11. All courses include the development and refinement of writing (composition/grammar), literature, speaking, and listening skills, which vary in emphasis and complexity over the four-year course of study. All students entering 9th grade in September 2013 or after must pass the Common Core English Language Arts Regents Exam to receive a High School Diploma.
Social Studies 9/Global History I and Social Studies 10/Global History II – The syllabus for grades 9-10 provides for the opportunity to study other nations and their cultures within a framework that is designed to develop a global perspective. This approach aims to cultivate students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to function effectively in a world characterized by ethnic diversity, cultural pluralism, international and domestic violence, and increasing interdependence. The two-year syllabus is a chronological and thematic study of the people of the world from the earliest civilizations to the present. The course is a focus on the global connections and interactions of civilizations in the following themes and concepts and during these areas of study:
Themes:
Belief systems
Geography
Justice and Human Rights
Change
Interdependence
Nationalism
Culture and Intellectual Life
Imperialism
Political Systems
Movement of Peoples and Goods
Science and Technology
Diversity
Urbanization
Economic Systems
Areas of Study:
Chemistry – Chemistry is the branch of science that is concerned with the structure, properties, composition and changes in all forms of matter. 1200 minutes of laboratory work are required. The Regents Examination is the final examination for the course. The basic units to be studied are:
Students need to have successfully completed Algebra 1, Geometry and Living Environment with a minimum course average of 70% to enroll in this course. (1 year, 1 credit)
Course topics may include (but are not limited to):
This course is intended for students who pass the chemistry regents exam and have either passed the algebra 2 regents exam, or are taking algebra 2. (1 year, 1 credit)
Astronomy is a non-Regents elective for students who have successfully completed Algebra 1, Earth Science, and Living Environment. (½ year, ½ credit)
Students must complete three (3) years of high school math to fulfill their graduation requirements. The State Education Department requires students to pass the Algebra 1 Mathematics Regents Exam before they can graduate.
College Algebra & Trigonometry (Math 104), College Pre-Calculus (Math 106), or College Calculus (Math 108) placement policy
Physical Education is required each year. The focus of the program is to emphasize lifetime sport and fitness activities. Participation is aimed towards encouraging students to continue to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle after graduation. A change of clothes is required for PE. The dress code includes shorts, sweats or wind pants, t-shirt or sweatshirt (no inappropriate comments on t-shirts/sweatshirts) and sneakers that tie or Velcro. (1 year, ½ credit)
9th-10th Grade Philosophy: To focus on game concepts, rules, and strategies of sports while incorporating personal fitness/wellness plans.
11th-12th Grade Philosophy: To focus on lifetime activities, personal fitness, and being proficient in select movement skills.
List of Potential Activities:
Grade 9-10
Grade 11-12
Students interested in pursuing a 5-unit Career and Technical Education Sequence in Business/Marketing may receive a 5-unit sequence according to the schedule below:
GRADE 9
Students must choose two units from the following courses to complete five-unit sequences:
Business Computer Applications: 1 Unit R
Business Law: 1 Unit
Entrepreneurship: 1 Unit
Sports and Entertainment Marketing: 1 Unit
Total: 5 Units
E-LEARNING (on-line courses): Available in collaboration with the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. Please see the School Counselor for information about these courses.