Conner High School Course Descriptions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction, Fees ……………………………………………………………… 2-10

Agriculture ………………………………………………………………. 10-11

Art …………………………………………………………………. 11-14

Arts & Humanities/Music…………………………………………………… 14-16

Business ………………………………………………………. 17-22

Family & Consumer Science …………………………………………………… 23

Foreign Language ………………………………………………………… 24-26

Health & Physical Education ……………………………………………… 27

Internship…………………………………………………………………….. 28

Language Arts ……………………………………………………………… 29-31

Mathematics ………………………………………………………………… 32-34

Practical Living ………………………………………………………. 34

Science ……………………………………………………………………… 35-37

Social Studies ………………………………………………………………… 37-40

Technology Education ……………………………………………… 40-41

Area Technology Center ……………………………………………………….. 42

Academy Matrix/Pre-registration …………………………………………….. 43-52

Conner High School has already begun plans to place every student in a small learning community. Administrators, counselors, and teachers have been studying the impact of small learning communities across the country. Faculty teams have visited other schools and have attended state and national conferences to learn more about small learning communities.

Academies are sub-groups within schools, organized around particular themes. For example, career academies combine key principles of the school-to-career movement – integrating academic and vocational instruction, providing work-based learning opportunities for students, and preparing students for post-secondary education and employment – with the personalized learning environment of a small, focused learning community. Teachers and students integrate academic and occupation-related classes as a way to enhance real-world relevance and maintain high academic standards. Local employer partnerships provide program planning guidance, mentors, and work internships. Career academics share with other restructuring initiatives an emphasis on building relationships between students and adults (teachers as well as work-site supervisors and other employer representatives).

Small Learning Communities

Conner High School implemented its first Small Learning Community (SLC) in 2005 with the beginning of the Freshman Academy. Four more SLC’s were implemented for the 2006-2007 school year. SLC’s are an innovative way to boost achievement by providing high school students with a more intimate learning environment that is centered around particular interest areas such as the arts, technology, liberal arts, business, automotives, language, engineering, and much more.

We have looked at what is working in high schools here and elsewhere and have identified the key elements of successful SLC’s. Families who enroll a child at Conner High School can look for these characteristics:

* Personalized education.

* Courses that relate school learning to real-world experiences.

* Greater connections between students and teachers.

* Using technology as a tool for learning.

* Developing a post-secondary plan for every student.

* Programs that involve students and teachers in leadership positions.

SLC’s fulfill graduation requirements and prepare students for various post-high school options, including college or work. SLC’s will not affect students planning to earn the Commonwealth Diploma and will provide the students of Conner High School with more rigorous curriculum, more relevant coursework, and closer relationships to teachers and administrators.

Conner High School

Small Learning Communities

Health Sciences and Human Services

Students in the Health Sciences and Human Services Academy are students interested in working with others in a helping or facilitative way. Students interested in public service would fall into this academy.

Some examples of careers that exist in the Health Sciences and Human Services Academy are doctors, lawyers, nurses, EMT workers, dental hygienists, teachers, police officers, caterers, medical assistants, counselors, speech pathologists, interior designers, and clothing designers.

Career Outlook: Some of the fastest growing occupations fall in the Health Sciences and Human Services fields. According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, five of the ten hottest jobs for college graduates fall in this field. Registered nurses, for example, top the list of ‘most new jobs’ from 2002 to 2012.

Business, Communication, and Information Technology

Students in the Business, Communication, and IT Academy are students interested in the technology or business fields.

Some examples of careers that exist in the Business, Communication, and IT Academy are accountants, computer programmers, network administrators, radio and television, video production, bank tellers, financial analysts, business owners, real estate agents and retail managers.

Career Outlook: In the IT field, Network systems and data communications analysts tops the list of the hottest job for college graduates with a 57% increase from 2002 to 2012. Computer software engineers are also among the top jobs for the next decade. In the business field, accountants are second on the list of ‘most new jobs for bachelor degrees’ for the next ten years.

Cultural Studies and the Arts

Students in the Cultural Studies and the Arts Academy are students interested in the liberal arts, social sciences, and creative and performing arts.

Some examples of careers that exist in the Cultural Studies and the Arts Academy are actors, filmmakers, historians, artists, archeologists, creative writers, music directors, and photographers, musicians, travel agents, cartoonists, video game designers, and concept design artists

Career outlook: Studies over time have shown that liberal arts majors are more successful in many professional settings because they tend to be better problem solvers and original thinkers than their professional counterparts. While many of the careers in this field do not top the lists of growing fields or increased job outlook, a liberal arts education is valuable in our society. Careers in the artistic fields not only include the ‘on stage’ careers, but also the technical fields involving sound, lighting, and stage design.

Sciences and Industries

Students in the Sciences and Industries Academy are students interested in math, the sciences or in the technical fields.

Some examples of careers that exist in the Sciences and Industries Academy are physicists, chemists, engineers, welders, surveyors, electricians, carpenters, microbiologists, geologists, and mechanical drafters.

Career Outlook: While some industries are declining, such as machine feeders and textile workers, many careers in these fields are on the rise, according to the US Department of Labor. From 2004 to 2014, there will be an increase of 200,000 jobs in the US for maintenance and repair workers. All construction fields, including surveying and electrical work, are expecting increases in both replacement workers and new positions created.

**For more information, go to the U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics homepage at www.bls.gov.**

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

All programs of study and all individual course offerings are equally available and open to students regardless of their race, color, creed, sex, or natural origin.

INTRODUCTION

This handbook contains information to help students plan an appropriate course of study. Students are encouraged to seek additional information from individual teachers concerning courses. Individual planning is necessary since needs and interests vary. Final course selection is the responsibility of each student. Parental approval is requested. Teachers, counselors and administrators are willing to help you.

FEES

A number of years ago the state legislature cut the educational budget. Funds that were to be used for supplies and materials were greatly reduced. Rather than letting the quality of education deteriorate, the Boone County Board of Education approved a plan that allows the schools to collect class fees. The budget cuts have never been restored by the state. Every year the policy on fees is reviewed and changes may or may not be made. Fees for the 2008 – 2009 school year will be a $35.00 general fee and a $ 15.00 technology fee and are subject to change by the Board of Education). There are a few classes where an additional fee is collected. An example is Foods class where the student is expected to buy the food consumed in that class.

BOOK RENTALS: $8.00 PER CLASS PER YEAR

The state legislature in the past has provided money to schools in order to buy class textbooks. They stopped providing this money a number of years ago. The books that were provided free to students are now purchased by the district. Rather than have students buy their textbooks, the state has passed legislation that allows students to rent these textbooks. The maximum fee is $8.00 per class per year.

Any course offered at Conner High School may be canceled due to staffing conflicts or limited equipment. Any fees are subject to change and board approval.

Individual Learning Plan

Kentucky's minimum high school graduation requirements include the expectation that all students will develop and follow an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which emphasizes career development. Students will be encouraged to plan a sequence of academic and technical courses that will provide them with an opportunity to develop academic and technical skills based on their career goals. Students will begin to develop their ILPs in the 6^th grade and implement and revise it throughout high school.( ILPs will be monitored in the POUNCE meetings)

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE LEVEL PLACEMENT

At the completion of a school year in order to be considered:

Sample Graduation Outline

English 1 English 1

Math 2

Science 1 or 2

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE LEVEl PLACEMENT

At the completion of a school year in order to be considered:

Sample Graduation Outline

English 1 English 2

Math 2 Electives 6

Science 1 or 2

Graduation Requirement

Grading Scale

A 96 – 108 , A- 94 – 95,

B+ 92 - 93 , B 89 – 91, B- 87 – 88