Below you will find many of the questions that have already been asked of the counseling department for the upcoming school year in the fall. Hopefully, this blog will answer many of the concerns that have come up already in the registration process.If you do have a question other than those listed here, please give us a call (274-5481) or send us an email. We will try to get them all answered.
Click below to see FAQ's.
1) Why only 14 classes if there are 16 spots in the schedule?
The freshmen next year will actually only have 14 spots available to take classes. The typical freshman schedule will include math, science, and English every day. Fourth and fifth hour will be available for electives. A sample freshman schedule is below.
2) If the 8th grader is currently in Algebra, can he or she go right into Formal Geometry - Honors and skip Algebra I?
YES, but it is the recommendation of the counseling department that all freshmen take Algebra I. The reason for our recommendation is strength of the foundation in place. Since Algebra plays such a crucial role in the understanding of Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus, we feel that the freshman year Algebra class is quite important. Much of what these students learn might be review, but there will be new material covered that was possibly not covered in junior high.
Of the students who have opted out of Algebra in the past, roughly half of them wish they would have taken Algebra I - Acc freshman year.
For strong math students, our recommendation is as follows: FR Year - Algebra I Accelerated, SO Year - Formal Geometry - Honors AND Algebra II - Honors, JR Yr - Pre-Calculus - Honors, SR Yr - AP Calculus.
3) How important is Foreign Language?
Although foreign language is not a graduation requirement, it is quite important when applying for college admission. Most colleges have a foreign language requirement of at least two years. Plus, if a student completes four years of high school foreign language, there is a very good likelihood that he will be exempt in college AND possibly even gets college credit for having completed four years.
4) How does Family and Consumer Science work next year?
In the past, FACS has been a full-year course. For the incoming freshmen next year, FACS is being offered as two separate classes. If a student elects to choose FACS, he or she may choose FACS A and/or B.
Family & Consumer Science A - Foods and Future
Family & Consumer Science B - Family and Sewing (includes one weekend with robo-baby)
5) Can the schedule be changed?
Yes. The perfect chance will be on March 3rd during Grey Ghost Pride Night. The counselors will have a few computers available for the adjustment of schedules.
6) What if we cannot figure out how to input classes into TeacherEase?
Not a problem. Just turn in the sheet by Monday, February 22nd. The counselors will take of it.
7) How do we know who is my student's counselor?
A-H Mark Kosinski mkosinski@ivcschools.com
I-L and students with IEPs or 504s Angie Lee alee@ivcschools.com
M-Z Laura Stewart lstewart@ivcschools.com
8) Are there Study Halls?
Only students with IEPs have the option of a study hall.
9) What if we already worked on a schedule during our IEP meeting?
You do not have to do anything more. The requested classes have already been inputted into the system.