Welcome Parents!

Mrs. Reiss, Counseling Department Chair

Mrs. Charlton, High School Principal

Program

Graduation RequirementsYearly Curriculum

Specialized CurriculumElective Course Offerings

Report Periods and GradesAcademic Help

Academic AwardsNCAA Eligibility Center / AthleticsHome - School Communication

Counseling Services

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM 23 CREDITS 4 Credits of English 3 Credits of Social Studies 3 Credits of Math 3 Credits of Science 1 Additional Credit of Social Studies, Math or Science 1 Credit of Physical Education 1/2 Credit of Health 1/2 Credit of Microcomputer 2 Credits of Arts & Humanities 5 Credits of Electives

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL

Students must have attained at least 5.25 credits in grade 9 to move to grade 10

Students must have attained at least 10.50 credits in grade 9 and grade 10 to move to grade 11

Students must have attained at least 16.75 credits in grade 9, grade 10, and grade 11 to move to grade 12

Yearly Curriculum: Grades 9 and 10

Grade 9:1 Credit of English1 Credit of Social Studies 1 Credit of Math1 Credit of Science.50 Credit of Microcomputer.25 Credit of Physical Education1.50 Credits of Electives

Grade 10:1 Credit of English1 Credit of Social Studies 1 Credit of Math1 Credit of Science.50 Credit of Health.25 Credit of Physical Education1.50 Credits of Electives

Yearly Curriculum: Grades 11 and 12

Grade 11: 1 Credit of English 1 Credit of Social Studies 1 Credit of Math 1 Credit of Science .25 Credit of Physical

Education 2 Credits of Electives

Grade 12: 1 Credit of English 1 Credit of Social Studies,

Math or Science .25 Credit of Physical

Education 4 Credits of Electives

Typical 9th Grade Schedule Choices

Courses Desired Cr. Days Sem1

DaysSem2

CourseCode #

AlternativeCode #

Academic English 9 1 6 6 1913

Academic Soc. Stud. 9 1 6 6 2913

Algebra I 1 6 6 3123

Academic Biology 1 8 8 4913

Microsoft Office .5 6 5685

Digital Photography .5 6 6765 1365 TV I

Spanish II 1 6 6 0323

Phys. Ed. Swim .125 2 9215

Phys. Ed. Regular .125 2 9235

TOTAL 6.25 40 40

Specialized Curriculum

For students at the extreme levels of ability, special courses are offered – from Advanced Placement and honors classes to special education classes.

9th Grade Weighted Course Options

(1.05 multiplier)

Honors English 9 (ex. 93% would be 93% x 1.05 = 97.65%)

Honors American History 9 Honors Algebra II Honors Geometry Honors Biology Honors Spanish II Honors French II

Additonal Honors and AP Courses

Honors English 10 Honors Social Studies

10 Honors Chemistry Honors Pre-Calculus Honors French III, IV Honors Spanish III, IV

AP English Literature AP English Language AP American History AP World History AP Gov’t & Politics AP Economics AP Chemistry AP Physics I, II AP Biology AP Calculus I, II AP French V AP Spanish V

Upcoming Forum: Scheduling Multiple

Honors Courses Students considering enrollment in two or

more honors courses are invited to join us on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school mini-theater.

Current ninth grade honor students will be there to speak about course expectations, degree of homework, handling several honors courses, and more. A question and answer period will follow.

Special Education Courses

Enrollment in any special education course requires the recommendation of the IEP Team.

Courses are as follows: English 9, 10, 11, 12 Learning Skills I, II American History, World History, Applied Economics,

Government Math II, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I Part 1, Algebra I Part 2 Biology, Physical Science, Earth & Space Science Career Planning, Cooperative Work Experience

Inclusion classes are offered in English, Social Studies, Science, and Math.

Elective Course Offerings

Hempfield Area High School offers a wide selection of courses to accommodate students’ varied interests and abilities.

Samples of elective courses follow. *denotes ninth grade offering

Art Department Intro to Creative

Design* Drawing & Painting

I*, II* Animation I*, II* Ceramics &

Sculpture I*, II Digital Video I*, II*

Digital Photography*

Photography I, II Art Studio Portfolio

Business, Computer, and Information Technology

Department Exploratory Business* Creative Web Design Adv. Web Page Design Principles of Management Small Bus. Management International Business Business and Personal Law Money Matters Marketing Sports & Entertainment

Marketing

Accounting I Advanced Accounting Video Game Development Gaming in Visual Basic Web / Apps Tools

English Department TV Writing & Broadcasting I*, II*, III, IV Fundamentals of Theater I*, II* Language Studies College Writing Literary Studies Journalism I, II, III Mass Media Yearbook I, II

Family and Consumer Science

Skills For Living* Fashion* Fabric Arts I*, II*, III Fast Foods* American / Regional Foods* Specialty Foods* On Your Own Family Living Child Development I, II, III

Health & Physical Education

Anatomy / Physiology I, II

Mathematics Department Probability & Statistics Introduction to Computer Programming Programming in C++

Music Department Music Theory I*, II*,

III Classical Guitar I* Percussion Methods* Piano / Keyboard I*,

II* Concert Choir I*, II*,

III, IV, V, VI Jazz Choir I*, II*, III,

IV

Concert Band I*, II*, III, IV

Jazz Band I*, II*, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII

Science Department Biology II Chemistry II Physics II Forensic Science Geology Astronomy

Ecology Ocean Science

Social Studies Department

Study of Personality Sociology Humanities Great Civilizations Political Action – Project 18

Technology Education Department

Foundations of Technology*

Graphic Communications*

Digital Communications

Information Technology*

CADD* Transportations

Systems*

Robotics & Automation Systems*

Manufacturing Enterprise*

Construction Systems* Engineering CADD Architectural CADD Engineering Design

World Language Department

French I*, II*, III German I*, II, III, IV Latin I*, II, III Spanish I*, II*, III

Central Westmoreland Career and Technology

Center (CWCTC) Beginning in their sophomore or junior year, students

may elect to spend ½ of their day at the CWCTC in any one of 23 different programs.

Program offerings include:*Auto Collision Technology *Automotive Technology*Construction Trades *Carpentry*Commercial & Advertising Art *Computer & Info. Science*Cosmetology *Sports Therapy*Mechatronics *Culinary Arts*Graphic Design Technology *Health Occupations *Heating & Air Conditioning *Horticulture*Electrical Technology *Machine Trades*Masonry *Logistics & Warehouse Mgt.*Painting & Decorating *Plumbing*Power Line *Welding*Protective Services

Report Periods and Grades

Each student receives computerized report cards indicating percentage grades for that period. Report cards are posted to Skyward Family Access every nine weeks on specified dates as indicated by the alert system.

All subjects will be assigned a percentage grade. Percentage grades and the corresponding letter values are as follows:

93-100% A 90-92% A-87-89% B+ 83-86% B 80-82% B-77-79% C+ 73-76% C 70-72% C-67-69% D+ 60-66% D59% and below F

Citizenship grades appear on the report card in addition to the percentage “scholarship” grade. Citizenship grades are indicative of the student’s attitude and behavior in class and translate as follows:

1 Superior2 Satisfactory

3 Unsatisfactory 4 Conference Requested

AP and Honors - Weighted Grades

A weighted grade system has been devised to compensate for the increased level of difficulty of selected courses.

Courses weighted at 1.05 are as follows:*Honors English 9 *Honors English 10*Honors Social Studies 9 *Honors Biology*Honors Social Studies 10 *Honors Algebra II*Honors Chemistry *Honors Geometry*Honors French II *Honors French III*Honors French IV *Honors Spanish II*Honors Spanish III *Honors Spanish IV

AP and Honors - Weighted Grades

Courses weighted at 1.10 are as follows:*Honors Pre-Calculus*AP English Language *AP English Literature*AP American History *AP Gov’t & Politics*AP Economics *AP World History*AP Chemistry *AP Physics I*AP Physics II *AP Biology*AP Calculus I *AP Calculus II*AP Spanish V *AP French V

GPA (Grade Point Average) GPA is cumulative and is computed at the

end of each year using all grades GPA is calculated in two ways:

Un-weighted GPA is calculated without regard to the subjects taken

Weighted GPA places greater emphasis on courses that are more academically challenging

Both GPAs are calculated for each student and recorded on their transcript

Academic Help Parents can see their child’s classroom

performance at any time by utilizing their family access information. Additionally, an alert will be given to inform parents when mid-9 weeks progress reports and report cards are available.

When additional academic help is necessary, sources may include:

*Daily classroom teacher help during activity period*Peer Tutoring help during activity period*Thursday tutoring help during after school hours

Academic Awards Honor Roll

Distinguished...96-100% Honor…….90-92% High Honor…93-95% Honorable Mention..86-89%

Academic Achievement Banquet High School single year GPA of 97%, without rounding,

for grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 after third nine weeks.

National Honor Society 93% cumulative GPA without rounding. Averages are

calculated at the end of 5 semesters for Juniors and 7 semesters for Seniors. Other criteria include citizenship, service, and character.

Academic Awards Honor Graduates

94.625% cumulative GPA in grades 9 through12, including three 9 weeks of the senior year.

President’s Award for Educational Excellence Top 10% of class based on cumulative GPA from grades

9 through 12, including the first three 9 weeks of the senior year.

STUDENT ATHLETESNCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER

IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOUR TEEN MIGHT BE A DIVISION I OR DIVISION II COLLEGE ATHLETE, PLEASE MAKE THE COUNSELOR AWARE OF THIS EACH YEAR DURING SCHEDULING SO THAT APPROVED NCAA COURSES CAN BE CHOSEN!

Home – School Communications

Guidance Office: Secretary 724-850-2062

Main menu of items: 724-834-9000 1 – Athletics 2 – Attendance (Home School Visitor) 3 – Nurse 4 – Grade Level Offices 5 – Main Office 6 – Guidance Offices 7 – Library 8 – Work Permit Information 9 – Former Student Transcripts

Family Access Having an individually assigned username and

password sent via mail, Family Access can be utilized from the Hempfield Area School District website at www.hasdpa.net. This site is intended to assist all parents and guardians who want to be more involved with their child’s education. Information such as attendance, grades, homework, and health related issues can be reviewed easily from your home or office. Further, if you have a question or require teacher contact, Family Access provides links for you to email teachers.

Counseling Services Counselors are assigned to students

alphabetically and all counselors have all grade levels.

Counselors assist in educational, career, and personal issues.

Hempfield Area High School offers a Student Assistance Program (SAP) designed to help students displaying problems that interfere with school performance.

Hempfield Area High School offers a Peer Mediation Program designed to help students discuss and resolve conflicts peaceably.

The “Helpers” Guidance Department:

Mrs. Moffa, secretary 724-850-2062

Mr. Joe Altman 724-850-2063 Mrs. Carla Livermore 724-850-2064 Mrs. Julie Razza 724-850-2065 Mrs. Terri Reiss 724-850-2066 Mr. Dom Vaccaro 724-850-2068

Guidance Department Webpage: www.hasdpa.net Updated information regarding your child’s counselor, available

scholarships, college visits, and websites of interest

Thank you for attending thisevening’s program.

Enjoy the rest of the night!