POTOMAC FALLSHIGH SCHOOL

PRESENTSGraduation Requirements &

Scheduling Information

Ms. Tamara Christman,

Director of School Counseling

The PFHS School Counseling Department is…

The Counselors:• Mr. Timothy Pitkewicz• Mr. Richard Bader• Mrs. Donna Kelly• Mrs. Rae Ann Paolozzi• Mrs. Amy Burgess• Mrs. Dawn Faust

Support Staff:

• Ms. Lisa Torick• Mrs. Toni Cicirelli• Ms. Silvia Lamb• Mrs. Stacey Thomas, Career Center Assistant• Mr. Peter Kim, Testing Coordinator (SOL testing)

DIPLOMA TYPESRead the Program of Studies!

• Advanced Studies• Advanced Technical • Standard• Standard Technical• Others as determined through

Individualized Educational Plan

Advanced Studies DiplomaEach unit is 140 clock hours of

instruction

• Four units of English• Four units of Math• Four units of Lab Science• Four units of Social Science• One unit of Economics and Personal Finance• One unit of Fine Arts or Career and Technical• Three or Four units of Foreign Language• Two units of Health and PE (PE 9 and 10)• Three or more units of Electives

• Four units of English• Four units of Math• Four units of Lab Science• Four units of Social Science• One unit of Economics and Personal Finance• One unit of Fine Arts or Career and Technical• Three or Four units of Foreign Language• Two units of Health and PE (PE 9 and 10)• Three or more units of Career and Technical

Electives

Advanced Technical DiplomaEach unit is 140 clock hours of

instruction

Standard DiplomaEach unit is 140 Clock Hours of Instruction

• Four units of English• Three units of Math• Three units of Lab Science• Three units of Social Science• Two units of Health and PE (PE 9 and 10)• One unit of Economics and Personal Finance• One Fine or Practical Art• Six units of electives (two must be sequential)

• Four units of English• Three units of Math• Three units of Lab Science• Three units of Social Science• Two units of Health and PE (PE 9 and 10)• One unit of Economics and Personal Finance• One Fine or Practical Art or Foreign Language• 4 or more units of Career and Technical

Electives• 1 unit of electives

Standard Technical DiplomaEach unit is 140 Clock Hours of Instruction

VERIFIED UNITS OFCREDIT REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE ADVANCED DIPLOMA

A VERIFIED UNIT OF CREDIT IS ISSUED WHEN A STUDENT PASSES A COURSE AND THE CORRESPONDING SOL TEST

• 2 VERIFIED CREDITS IN ENGLISH (Taken In 11th Grade)• 2 VERIFIED CREDITS IN MATH• 2 VERIFIED CREDITS IN LAB SCIENCE• 2 VERIFIED CREDITS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE• 1 VERIFIED CREDIT IN A COURSE SELECTED BY THE STUDENT

VERIFIED UNITS OFCREDIT REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE STANDARD DIPLOMA

• 2 UNITS IN ENGLISH (TAKEN IN 11th GRADE)• 1 UNIT IN MATH• 1 UNIT IN LAB SCIENCE• 1 UNIT IN SOCIAL SCIENCE• 1 VERIFIED CREDIT IN A COURSE SELECTED

BY THE STUDENT

A TYPICAL FRESHMAN SCHEDULE!

• ENGLISH 9 (Academic, Honors)

• WORLD HISTORY 1 (Academic, Pre-Advanced Placement)

• MATH (Geometry, Functions, Algebra 2)

• EARTH SCIENCE (Academic, Honors)

• HEALTH/PE 9• FOREIGN LANGUAGE• ELECTIVE• FLEX (6TH PERIOD)

ELECTIVE CHOICES

• ART 1• ENSEMBLE, GUITAR, CHORUS• DRAMA 1 AND JOURNALISM• CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

COURSES• BUSINESS COURSES

ART DEPARTMENT PICTURES FOR YOUR VIEWING ENJOYMENT!

FRESHMAN MAY TAKE ART 1 ONLY:

The course includes drawing, painting printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, ceramics, and textiles, photography, and computer graphics.

ENSEMBLE, CHORUS AND GUITAR• ENSEMBLE 1 OR 2 (BASED ON AUDITION)

• CHORUS, MEN’S, WOMEN’S SHOW CHOIR, PANTHERA (BASED ON AUDITION)

• GUITAR: BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED LEVELS OFFERED (BASED ON AUDITION AND TEACHER RECOMMENDATION)

• STRINGS (AUDITION)

• MUSIC APPRECATION: Students will explore music throughout the ages and how it relates to history.

• MUSIC THEORY: Students will learn about the language of music. This course is designed for students who are planning on pursuing music in college. No performance is required.

DRAMA 1 AND JOURNALISM

• Both courses are intro courses.

• Journalism prepares you for newspaper and yearbook classes and how to write objectively

• You do not need to be enrolled in Drama to audition, but it might help!

• Drama I: Students survey the technical and performing art of theater, including improvisation, mime, basic acting, the history of the theater, stage settings, costuming, make up, and lighting.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL COURSES • INDEPENDENT LIVING – how to make a budget, let

yourself in the house and be independent!• LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT – public speaking,

community leadership, politics!• FASHION DESIGN – wardrobe, color analysis, and

the business of designing fashions!• INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AND MARKETING –

marketing, advertising and fun!• CHOICES – exploring the stuff teens deal with daily!• GOURMET FOODS – learn to cook, clean, measure

and impress!• HUMAN DEVELOPMENT – what do small children

need now to be productive healthy teens later?• APPLIED TECHNOLOGY – tools of the trade and how

to use them!

BUSINESS COURSES

• KEYBOARDING

• COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (You may only take this if you pass the keyboarding exam! See High School Keyboarding Teacher for details!)

WHAT IS CAMPUS?

• An academic and college preparation program designed to meet the specific needs of students from historically under-represented populations in higher education and prospective first-generation college students attending LCPS high schools

• Seeks to support and encourage students who demonstrate ability to achieve academic success and college admission

• Serves over 450 students countywide

• Admission to and success in college are among the goals of the program.

How CAMPUS Supports You!• Academic enrichment and support (Mandatory CAMPUS

class and/or meetings)• 2-Day Summer Seminar• College and university visits• College and scholarship preparation• Community service projects and activities• Leadership development• If your parents never graduated from college, and you will be

the first in your family to attend college, TALK TO YOUR COUNSELOR about CAMPUS!

Application Process

• Majority of applicants are selected from rising 9th grade applicant pool.

• Applications are available through LCPS website and middle and high school guidance offices beginning late January/early February.

• See your counselor for more information and deadlines!

EXPUNGING HIGH SCHOOL CREDITED COURSES TAKEN IN

MIDDLE SCHOOL…

• REVIEW ALL MATERIALS SENT HOME WITH THE LAST REPORT CARD

• FILL OUT EXPUNGEMENT FORM AND

RETURN TO THE PFHS COUNSELING

OFFICE BY THE DEADLINE LISTED ON THE PAPERWORK

• SUMMER BEFORE THE FRESHMAN YEAR IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPUNGE!

COURSE CHANGES

• 3RD QUARTER REPORT CARDS WILL ALSO INCLUDE COURSE REQUEST LETTER WITH TEACHER-RECOMMENDED COURSES

• AFTER 4TH QUARTER REPORT CARDS ARE SENT HOME, YOU HAVE ABOUT ONE WEEK TO VERIFY THE COURSE REQUESTS.

• REVIEW COURSE REQUESTS AND THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES CAREFULLY!

• NO CHANGES WILL BE GRANTED AFTER FRIDAY, JULY 1st, 2011!

WORDS OF WISDOM FORINCOMING FRESHMAN AND THEIR

PARENTS…

• KEEP IN CONTACT WITH TEACHERS• GET INVOLVED• GET TO KNOW THE MAIN OFFICE AND

COUNSELING STAFF• READ THE NEWSLETTER AND REVIEW THE

PFHS WEBSITE OFTEN