ACADEMIC INFORMATION

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Staples offers many courses on an Advanced Placement (AP) level. In quality, content, and intensity, these courses are equivalent to college level offerings. In May of each year, Educational Testing Service gives Advanced Placement Examinations on a nationwide basis that allow AP students an opportunity to demonstrate their success in accomplishing college level work. Graded on a 1 (low) to 5 (high) basis, many colleges will waive a course or give credit to a student for a course completion if they receive a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exam. It is possible to enter college as a sophomore on the basis of successful passage of multiple AP examinations. In early February, the Guidance Department sponsors an “AP Information Session” for students and parents interested in AP courses.

COURSE LOAD REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Number

Grade of Classes

9 7

10 6

11 6

12 6

EXTERNAL CREDIT FOR ENROLLED WESTPORT STUDENTS

The following guidelines have been established regarding credits earned outside of the Westport Schools:

1. All credit awarding courses in the Westport Summer School will be given credit.

2. All make-up courses at an accredited secondary school or college will be honored if the school certifies credit on a transcript.

3. All courses taken to accelerate placement, meet prerequisites, or graduation requirements must have both:

§ Prior approval of the program and syllabus by the appropriate department chair.

Approval will be granted based on the match to our curriculum. Approval will not be denied for small differences, but the student will be informed of the missing content. To monitor learning, we think it is important for the student to have regular contact with a teacher.

§ Post completion of the course approval by the appropriate department chair.

Approval will be based on the grade and listing of objectives mastered.

4. If a student chooses to appeal a decision, he or she may ask for a review by the Staples Academic Placement Team chaired by the Coordinator of Guidance.

5. Only courses earned at Staples or the Westport Summer School during the high school years will appear on the student’s transcript and be counted toward grade point average. External transcripts will be attached to the Staples transcript.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Two grade point averages, based on the grades earned at Staples High School, are calculated for all juniors and seniors.

Academic Grade Point Average is based on the average of the weighted final grades earned in the departments of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages classes weighted by instructional levels:

						Grade
Level	A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	D-	F
AP	5.00	4.67	4.33	4.00	3.67	3.33	3.00	2.67	2.33	2.00	1.67	1.33	0.00
HNRS	4.67	4.33	4.00	3.67	3.33	3.00	2.67	2.33	2.00	1.67	1.33	1.00	0.00
A	4.33	4.00	3.67	3.33	3.00	2.67	2.33	2.00	1.67	1.33	1.00	0.67	0.00
B	4.00	3.67	3.33	3.00	2.67	2.33	2.00	1.67	1.33	1.00	0.67	0.33	0.00
C	3.67	3.33	3.00	2.67	2.33	2.00	1.67	1.33	1.00	0.67	0.33	0.16	0.00

Overall Grade Point Average is based on the average of the unweighted grades earned in all subjects, using the numerical grade value that is used for computing the Honor Roll.

At the end of the sophomore and junior years, and end of first semester of the senior year, students will receive:

(1) their two grade point averages (Academic and Overall),

(2) an explanation of their Grade Point Averages and their class distribution.

GRADING SYSTEM

Final Grades: Students will earn a final grade in each of their classes, and that grade will be recorded on the student’s official transcript. Students will also earn quarterly grades that will not become part of the student’s official transcript, but they will serve as an interim report on the student’s progress in all courses.

Grades Earned: The following grades are used in the Staples marking system: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, P, I, WF.

Pass/No Record: Students may elect up to one (1) credit per year to be graded as Pass (P) or, in the case of failure, to have neither the grade nor the title of the course reported on any records (No Record).

Incomplete: Faculty members may give an Incomplete to a student as a quarterly grade if, in the faculty member’s opinion, the student deserves additional time to complete a test, assignment, project, etc. A grade of “Incomplete” must be satisfied within one (1) quarter or the grade will become an “F”. Final grades at the end of the school year must be satisfied prior to the first day of school in the next school year.

Withdrawn-Failing: If a student drops a course after the drop deadline or if a student is withdrawn from a class for attendance or disciplinary reason, that student will receive a final grade of Withdrawn-Failing (WF).

Medical Excuse: If a student is defined, by a doctor, to be medically ineligible to participate in physical education for the quarter for which he is enrolled, the student will be medically excused from physical education for that period of time.

GRADUATION, EARLY/LATE

A student may petition his/her Dean through a special application, signed by the student’s parents, to alter the duration of his/her stay at Staples. In some cases, this might mean graduating one semester or a full year early. In other cases, this might mean postponing graduation while continuing to take courses at Staples.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Credit and Distribution Requirement – Students must earn a minimum of 22.0 credits in the following areas:

Area No. of Credits

English (1.0 each year) 4.0

Distribution:

As part of the English requirement, all students

must produce a major research paper (usually in the

Junior year) in one of the following courses:

English 3, AP Language, Effective Writing, or

Research and Understanding Literature

Social Studies 3.5

Distribution:

Western Humanities 1.0

US History 1.0

Area Studies .5

American Government .5

Additional Elective .5

Mathematics 3.0

Science 2.0

Technology/Computer Science* .5

Phys. Ed and Health 3.0

Distribution:

Freshman year 1.0

Sophomore year 1.0

Junior year 1.0

Senior year Seniors must enroll

Arts 4.0

Distribution: (Minimum of .5 credits in three of four areas)

1) Fine Arts – Art, Music, Theater

2) Practical Arts – Computer Science, Driver’s Education,

Culinary Arts, Technology Education,

Media/TV Production, Radio Production, Work Study

3) Human Arts – Child Development, Child Study,

Community Service, Senior Option

4) World Language – Only third year level or higher

course may be applied toward this credit.

*Computer requirement waiver: students who meet the exit standards of the middle school computer technology program will be exempted from the .5 high school computer requirement.

Electives 2.0___

Total 22

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE-BASED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Class of 2006

In addition to earning 22 credits and fulfilling the distribution requirements, all members of the class of 2006 must successfully complete the following in order to graduate from Staples High School:

· Meet the standard on the CAPT Reading Across the Disciplines test or, if that is not achieved, the students must successfully meet the Staples Student Expectations for “critical reading” and “effective writing” by completing English 1, 2 and a Junior English Research course.

· Meet the standard on the CAPT Writing Across the Disciplines test or, if that is not achieved, the students must successfully meet the Staples Student Expectations for “critical reading” and “effective writing” by completing Western Humanities and U.S. History.

· Meet the standard on the CAPT Mathematics test or, if that is not achieved, the students must successfully meet the Staples Student Expectation in “problem-solving” by completing either Algebra 3 or Math Problem-Solving 2.

Class of 2007

In addition to earning 22 credits and fulfilling the distribution requirements, all members of the class of 2007 must successfully complete the following in order to graduate from Staples High School:

· Meet the standard on the CAPT Reading Across the Disciplines test or, if that is not achieved, the student must successfully meet the Staples Student Expectations for “critical reading” and “effective writing” by completing English 1, 2 and a Junior English Research course.

· Meet the Staples Student Expectations on “physical, mental and emotional health” by successfully completing Freshman, Sophomore and Junior P.E., and Health requirements.

· Meet the standard on the CAPT Science test or, if that is not achieved, an alternative pathway will be developed during the 2002-03 school year.

GRADUATION WITH HONORS

Certain students graduate from Staples High School with “High Honors” or “Honors” noted on their transcript and diploma. In addition to other criteria noted below, Academic Grade Point Average (GPA), calculated at the end of the first semester of the senior year, is the determinant as to whether a student is graduated with or without formal honors.

High Honors: A student will be designated as graduating with “High Honors” if his/her grade point average falls in the top group of the graduating class as indicated by the table below:

Class Size

as of Dec. 1 Number of Students

Senior Year Receiving High Honors

up to 200 10

201 - 250 11

251 - 300 12

301 - 350 13

351 – 400 14

Notes:

1. Inclusive of Valedictorian and Salutatorian.

2. If the student has received a failing grade on a report card, he/she will not be eligible for High Honors (may be eligible for Honors).

Honors: A student will be designated as graduating with “Honors” if his/her grade point average falls in the top ten (10) percent of the graduating class (inclusive of those students receiving High Honors).

Valedictorian: - The student with the highest grade point average will be designated as Valedictorian. If there are two or more people with the same grade point average, there will be Co-Valedictorians and no Salutatorian. Students transferring into Staples after the sophomore year will not be considered.

Salutatorian - The student with the second highest grade point average will be designated as Salutatorian. Students transferring into Staples after their sophomore year will not be considered.

HONOR ROLL

The honor roll will be computed quarterly and based on the arithmetic average of the student’s quarterly grades in all courses. Numeric grade values are:

A+ = 4.33	B+ = 3.33	C+ = 2.33	D+ = 1.33	F = 0
A = 4.0	B = 3.0	C = 2.0	D = 1.0	WF = 0
A- = 3.67	B- = 2.67	C- = 1.67	D- = 0.67

First Honors will be awarded to those students with a quarterly grade average 3.665 or higher.

Second Honors will be awarded to those students with a quarterly grade average that falls between

3.17 and 3.664.

REGISTRATION PROCEDURE

Course Selections - February/March

During this period of time, students should be doing their best thinking in planning their course of studies for the coming academic year. It should be realized that this planning cannot be done in a one year vacuum, but rather with the understanding that decisions in any one year may have an effect on future educational-vocational choices.

In planning their course of studies for the next year, working with their guidance counselor, students should consider the following:

(1) programs of study developed in previous year;

(2) successes and failures in courses previously taken;

(3) successes and failures in current courses;

(4) graduation requirements of Staples High School;

(5) course descriptions as presented in this booklet;

(6) course/program descriptions presented by teachers and special programs;

(7) recommendations made by teachers and counselors;

(8) academic expectations of parents;

(9) academic prerequisites established by various colleges, universities, and vocational choices;

(10) courses that might be taken purely for enrichment.

(This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible sources of information, but rather a highlighting of some areas of information that are available.)

This planning should culminate with the students selecting the courses that will be taken during the next academic year, with his/her counselor.

Both students and parents should conclude this phase with the understanding that this is a final selection. With this selection, students have made a commitment to those courses for the next school year.

Master Schedule Development - April/May

The Staples High School “Master Schedule” will be developed based on the course requests made by students in February and March. Every effort will be made to offer a sufficient number of classes to meet all student requests. However, when there are not a sufficient number of student requests for a given course, that course may be canceled or a limited number of seats may be offered. Conversely, when more students sign up for a course that can be accommodated by staffing, a limited number of seats may be offered in that course.

Class Selections For Sophomores, Juniors, And Seniors - June

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will schedule their classes in the “Arena”. The purpose of arena style scheduling is to provide students with the opportunity to select, within limits, the specific section of the course that was previously chosen. In the arena the student has the right to select, on an available basis, the period and teacher of each of his/her courses. The Arena is not a drop/add period in which the teacher/period choice takes precedence over course selection. Teacher/period choices must be secondary to course selection. Drop/adds will only be permitted to accommodate closed or canceled courses.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors who do not go to the June Arena, will be computer scheduled.

Class Selections For Freshmen - July

Freshmen will be scheduled by the use of a computer. Schedules will be mailed home on or about August 20.

Schedule changes will not be made during the summer.

OTHER PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

CAREER AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Students have many opportunities for acquiring vocational skills and experiences, both at Staples and in other publicly supported programs. Staples High School offers career and technical education courses that may be sequenced to prepare students for the Department of Education State Assessments in the areas of Culinary Arts, Child Development, Cooperative Work Experience, and Graphic Communication (Media). Students who successfully complete the required course work and score at or above 80% on the state exam are awarded a Connecticut Career Certificate, in their respective field of study, from the Bureau of Career and Adult Education.

Regional Vocational-Technical Programs - Four regional schools, supported largely by state funds, provide both high school and post-high school opportunities in a wide variety of skill trades. These trades include carpentry, masonry, beauty culture, plumbing, printing, food services, fashion design, dressmaking, landscaping, nursery management, farm management, and many others. Additional information may be received from your counselor or by contacting the school directly:

J.M. Wright Technical School Stamford

Bullard Haven Regional Vocational Technical School Bridgeport

Center for Vocational Arts Norwalk

Regional Program in Vocational Agriculture Trumbull

Regional Center for the Arts Bridgeport (CES)

COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE - This program allows students to combine school-based learning with community-based learning in a variety of ways. Programs are designed to meet each student’s talent, interest, and scheduling needs. Specific courses are also offered. Refer to Courses Offered in the Cooperative Work Experience section of this booklet.

CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDIES

Sponsored by the City of Norwalk, Department of Public Schools.

Funded by the State Department of Education “Interdistrict Grant”.

The Center for Global Studies (CGS) magnet school provides students from Southern Fairfield County high schools an opportunity to study Japanese and Chinese culture through language, literature and social studies at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk. CGS’ core courses include Japanese or Chinese language study with beginner, intermediate and advanced levels for all four high school grades. Also, students meeting a set of criteria can apply for honors level classes. The literature curriculum is composed of works from all over the world, with particular emphasis on Japan and China. Readings are integrated through universal themes. The literature course is grounded in standards and goals common to Connecticut secondary school English courses. Japanese and Chinese social studies explore the geographic, social, political and economic dynamics that articulate the uniqueness of the two cultures. All other courses required by students’ home schools are met through Brien McMahon’s mainstream classes.

Each March, the CGS hosts Japanese high school students who stay with CGS families and attend classes within the magnet school and Brien McMahon. In May and June, CGS students travel to Japan and China for a two to three-week home stay and study tour with its sister schools. Students live with families and attend a special schedule of classes at the high schools. In addition, students tour historically significant sites and draw upon the experience as field study for their research projects.

Students attending the CGS magnet school from out of district are provided with transportation to and from Norwalk.

For more information see your counselor in the Guidance Office.

NORWALK COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Norwalk Community-Technical College (NCTC) will agree to waive the tuition and fees for up to two courses per semester, for any high school student from the Westport School System, providing the student meets the following criteria:

1. The student must be in the junior or senior year of high school and have an 80 average. (Students with special educational needs will be considered.)

2. The student must be recommended by the High School Partnership Program (HSPP) Coordinator of the Westport School System, in cooperation with the high school principal.

Please see your counselor for further information.

SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The Staples Special Education Department offers a comprehensive program of education and support services for students who are eligible for services. Programs are designed to meet student needs based upon an individualized educational plan.

Special Education should be considered only after adjustments and remedial strategies have been designed, implemented and evaluated in the regular educational program through a pre-referral process. There is a formal referral, assessment and placement process for special education that must conform to state law. Parents who believe their child may have a disability and require special education services should contact their child’s guidance counselor.

The Life Skills Program, which is part of the Special Education Department, is a program for students who are identified as intellectually disabled. The focus of this program is on the development of independent living skills, functional academic skills, and vocational skills.

TRI-TOWN ALTERNATIVE NIGHT SCHOOL

The Alternative Night School is a regional individualized educational program offered to students ages 16-21 cooperatively by the Westport and Wilton Boards of Education.

The Alternative Night School offers a modified course of studies for the basic high school curriculum as well as a work study program. Courses successfully completed will provide the individual with credits towards a diploma from his/her sending town. The program meets four evenings per week in Wilton. Please see your counselor for further information.

504 ACCOMMODATIONS

Students, who have a handicapping condition which substantially impedes learning, are eligible for all programs and services available to non-disabled youngsters. Such students may be in need of accommodations that allow them to access such programs and services. A formal process is required to make these determinations and accommodations. Parents who believe their child is handicapped under section 504 should contact their students’ guidance counselor.

WESTPORT CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Westport Continuing Education program includes summer school classes, as well as driver education along with behind the wheel instruction.

Summer School: The Westport Summer School has been an important and enriching part of Staples’ student learning for more the 40 years. The summer school program provides opportunities for students to make up credits missed, to take a limited number of courses for advancement or to study subjects that time during the regular year doesn’t allow.

Staples’ students should be aware of the following:

· Prior approval for any summer course must be obtained from the Staples High School Principal or designee, such as department chair, by any Staples student seeking to enroll in a summer school class for credit, whether it is for make-up or acceleration, whether it is to be taken in the Westport Summer School or through another accredited program. The prior approval process will determine whether a student takes the course for make-up or acceleration and will include a step of consultation with the student’s guidance counselor.

· The hours of course time required for Westport Summer School course credit will be equivalent to hours of instruction during the school year.

· Courses will follow the prescribed Staples High School curriculum and use the prescribed Staples High School assessments.

· Credit will appear on the student’s transcript and be counted toward the student’s grade point average.

If you have any questions, please call the Staples High School Guidance Department (341-1225) or the Westport Summer School (341-1209).

Driver and Traffic Safety Education (1/4 credit for graduation): (Students must be at least 16 years in age.) Consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction covering the highway system, vehicle operation and maneuvers, vehicle maintenance, traffic and motor vehicle laws. The student in this course is also prepared to apply for a learner’s permit and the license examination required by the Connecticut Motor Vehicle Department. Evaluation in the course is based on classroom participation, assignments, quizzes and attendance. The final grade will appear on the student’s transcript, and will be calculated in class rank.

Driver Safety - Drug and Alcohol Education: A special course designed for students who receive their driver training through private driving schools or through the home training program. Students will be provided with the five hours (now required by the state, P.A. 89-242) in safe driving and alcohol and drug education needed to qualify for a Connecticut driver’s license.

Behind-the-Wheel Instruction: Eight hours of driving instruction are provided after school and/or weekends. Areas of instruction include: local driving, covering traffic situations as well as residential areas; dusk and night driving practice; expressway driving; and parking skills. Vehicles are dual-controlled with brakes. Lessons are well structured with goals established in advance. As a follow-up to each lesson an additional 2 to 3 hours of practice driving with a parent is strongly advised. Students who complete both classroom and behind-the-wheel portions of the program may obtain insurance discounts which remain in effect for several years. Students must be 16 years old to begin behind-the-wheel instruction. For additional information, call the office of Continuing Education at 341-1209.

COURSE COMBINATIONS FOR SCHEDULING

A Scheduling Note

Most classes at Staples meet four days per week. Some classes in the Fine Arts may be taken for two days per week, thereby allowing two courses to be scheduled in the same time slot. Listed below are those combinations:

Can Be Scheduled With:

538 Freshman Band (2 days) and 552 Fr. Orchestra – Winds (2 days) and 570 Freshman Chorus (2 days)

and 684 Introduction to Theater(2 days)

542 Sophomore Band (2 days) and 558 Sophomore Orchestra – Winds (2 days)

and 572 Staples Chorale (2 days)

and 688 Advanced Theater (2 days)

546 Symphonic Band (2 days) and 562 Symphonic Orch. – Winds (2 days)

and 572 Staples Chorale (2 days)

and 688 Advanced Theater (2 days)

550 Fr. Orchestra – Strings (2 days) and 538 Freshman Band(2 days)

and 570 Freshman Chorus (2 days)

and 684 Theater 1: Act.Fundamentals (2 days)

552 Fr. Orch. – Winds & Percussion (2 days) and 538 Freshman Band (2 days)

and 570 Freshman Chorus (2 days)

and 684 Theater 1: Act.Fundamentals (2 days)

556 Soph. Orchestra - Strings (2 days) and 546 Staples Band (2 days)

and 572 Staples Chorale (2 days)

and 688 Advanced Theater (2 days)

558 Soph. Orch. - Winds & Percussion (2 days) and 542 Sophomore Band (2 days)

and 572 Staples Chorale (2 days)

and 688 Advanced Theater (2 days)

562 Symph. Orch.-Winds & Percussion(2 days) and 546 Symphonic Band (2 days)

570 Freshman Chorus (2 days) and 538 Freshman Band (2 days)

and 550 Fr. Orchestra – Strings (2 days)

and 684 Theater 1: Act.Fundamentals (2 days)

572 Staples Chorale (2 days) and 542 Sophomore Band (2 days)

and 546 Symphonic Band (2 days)

and 556 Sophomore Strings (2 days)

and 558 Sophomore Winds (2 days)

and 684 Theater 1:Act.Fundamentals (2 days)

and 688 Advanced Theater (2 days)

684 Theater 1:Act.Fundamentals (2 days) and 538 Freshman Band (2 days)

and 550 Fr. Orchestra – Strings (2 days)

and 570 Freshman Chorus (2 days)

and 572 Staples Chorale (2 days)

688 Advanced Theater (2 days) and 546 Symphonic Band(2 days)

and 542 Sophomore Band (2 days)

and 556 Sophomore Strings (2 days)

and 558 Sophomore Winds (2 days)

and 572 Staples Chorale (2 days)