FAQ for Incoming Students for 2018-2019 School Year



COUNSELINGWhat does Honor Credit mean???????????????? Honors credit (one point) is added to a grade of C or higher in an Honors or Advanced Placement class; creating a weighted Grade Point Average (GPA). A chart that helps students determine their GPA or weighted GPA can be found in the course catalog under the Counseling section. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT COLLEGES MOST OFTEN REQUEST AND USE THE UNWEIGHTED GPA AND NOT THE WEIGHTED GPA WHEN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS.Is it better to earn an A in a college prep course or a B in an Honors or AP course?It is better to earn an A in an Honors or AP course. Students need to perform to the best of their abilities in the highest level class in which they can be successful. Highly selective colleges like U of M want to see mostly A’s on a transcript. They want to see students earning high marks in a rigorous curriculum. How does my student get to know his/her counselor?Counselors introduce themselves to the 8th grade students by discussing curriculum, scheduling and high school transitions when visiting the middle schools. Counselors conduct assemblies and run orientation groups at the start of each school year, and conduct scheduling assemblies in January every year. Students are allowed to sign up for appointments outside of each counselor’s office or drop in during X Block, before school, during lunch or after school. Counselors want to get to know their students well and appreciate the experience of knowing their students. My student is coming from outside Birmingham Public Schools. How do I register and schedule classes for my student?Anyone coming from outside of the Birmingham Public Schools, either from out of the district or from a private or parochial school, needs to contact the Records/Enrollment Secretary at 248-203-3754 or mailto:ktenjeras@birmingham.k12.mi.us to fill out the appropriate paperwork. Then the student’s Seaholm Counselor will arrange a meeting to go over class selections and other necessary information for the following school year. Counselors usually begin scheduling those meetings in the month of March.My student is interested in shadowing.? How do I register for this?Shadows are recommended for students who are NEW TO THE AREA or coming to Seaholm from a PRIVATE or parochial school. We allow teachers 48 hour notice that they will be hosting a shadow student in their classroom. Please remember that this is an academic day at Seaholm and we are limited to the number of guest students allowed in the building. New students/families, please contact Pam Davis at pdavis@birmigham.k12.mi.us. ?ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGYAre Engineering Technology classes only for students who plan on being an engineer? No, Engineering Technology is for students who enjoy Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Students are taught practical problem-solving skills and are asked to put them to work on different types of real-world problems, skills that are valuable for engineers, doctors, or any career relating to STEM or design. All classes are hands-on and give students the opportunity to work collaboratively and apply the information they learned to create various projects.If my son or daughter has never taken an Engineering Technology class, is it too late to begin at the high school level? No, classes are designed for all students with a variety of educational backgrounds. High school is a great place to start investigating career options through enrollment in an array of classes, including Engineering Technology. ENGLISH What will English 9 be like?The course offers a team-teaching format which allows for students to learn in both large and small group settings. There are generally four sections of the class offered during the same hour. Some days, all four sections meet as one large group for instruction. Then, on days when the lesson is better suited to smaller groups, the sections meet individually, more like a “regular” class that students experienced in middle school. English 9 is a two-trimester course which provides reading and writing instruction through a thematic units literature-based study. The literature is chosen to provide students a foundation in both classic and contemporary works. Writing instruction is provided throughout the two terms and focuses on preparing students for the demands of future high school and college writing. Social Studies classes (World History A and B in the freshman year) are taken in addition to a student’s English courses.Although English 9 is a two-term course, students are encouraged to take a look at our array of electives, which can provide a third trimester of reading, writing, speaking, and thinking that will keep language arts skills honed and student interests piqued.What about the Flex Program?Please see the Flex page for details on how to get English credit in Flex.How do I receive honors credit in English?Honors credit begins with English 9. Students sign up for Honors English 9, and those wishing to gain honors credit are provided with differentiated curriculum. The teachers and the counseling office provide the necessary schedule documentation. After that, courses are designated as Honors English 10 and Advanced Placement Language and Composition in grade 11 and Advanced Placement Literature and Composition in grade 12. I see that I need .5 credit in public speaking. What classes can I take that will fulfill this requirement?Students may choose among the following offerings for the .5 public speaking credit:SpeechRadio SpeechDebateForensicESL 3A/3C (English learners only)(Flex students will take a speech course within that program, so they need not sign up for one of the above.)What are some English department electives that may be good for freshmen to take?Writing for Publication: If you are interested in working on the school paper or you just like the idea of exploring your options, begin here with this course in the fundamentals of newspaper and yearbook writing.Contemporary Literature: Enroll in this class to become a good reader, to maintain your reading skills, or just because you love to read! You get to choose your reading and the pace of your reading.Forensic - If you love public speaking and performance, this is the class for you! This course begins with a clear analysis of public speaking and builds towards expertise in the performance of literature. Debate - Students enrolled in debate undertake an in-depth analysis of various current controversial topics, which are predominately chosen by the students. Students will learn to excel at prepared and impromptu speaking, as well as strategically asking and answering questions.Graphic Novels: This course is designed for those who enjoy this emerging genre of literature and art. Super heroes, good vs. evil, and fantasy art all combine to create a 21st century kind of reading experience. Theater 1: If you are interested in the theater arts, this class is a great place to provide a class period in your day in which you can learn to express your creative self on stage.(Please refer to the course catalog for a more complete course description.)My child has struggled with reading and writing, and we are nervous about the increased expectations for these skills at the high school level. Does the English department have a program or class that would strengthen my child’s skills?Please make an appointment with your student’s counselor to discuss your child’s situation. We offer a support program for developing readers, and to ensure your child has the optimum placement, we suggest a one-on-one visit to address individual needs.ESLWhat is the difference between ESL and EL?ESL stands for English as a Second Language and that is what the program to teach English to bilingual students is called.? EL stands for an English Learner and this stands for the bilingual student him or herself who is studying English and qualifies for ESL services.?????? ESL = Program.? EL = StudentHow do I know if my child qualifies to take ESL classes?If a second language is the primary language spoken in the home (even if the student was born in the United States), the student may qualify and may benefit from enrollment in high school ESL classes.? After testing (see below), a recommendation will be made.? The final decision is always up to the parents.? What are the steps to enroll my child in high school ESL classes?For Continuing Students Coming from Middle School:The middle school and high school ESL staff meet to discuss appropriate high school ESL/English class placement for each EL student and the recommendation is given to the student and his or her parents/guardians and to the middle school and high school counselors before scheduling for the new year.For New Students Enrolling in the District for the First Time:Incoming potential EL students MUST be tested before a high school schedule can be made.? This initial testing usually takes approximately two (2) hours per student.? To schedule testing or for answers to any other questions, contact the district ESL Department at bpsesl@birmingham.k12.mi.usFLEXWhat is Flex?Flex, short for the Flexible Scheduling Program, is an integrated, interdisciplinary program. It combines English, Social Studies, and Humanities components in a four-year curriculum cycle. Flex is an honors program for grades 9-12 and has been a part of the Seaholm community since 1964. At its core, Flex is a community of learners guided by a team of teachers dedicated to developing students who are curious, compassionate, civically engaged, and courageous. Is Flex the right choice for me?Flex attracts an array of diverse students who show interest in writing, history, philosophy, and the arts. While the readings, assessments and pacing of assignments reflect an honors level program, we welcome any student seeking to challenge him/herself. As a program, we also encourage all Flexies to take advantage of the opportunities to take their learning to another level through our community building activities such as our Day of Service, field trips, student exchange programs, and leadership pathways. The best way to find out if Flex is a good fit for you is to arrange a visit to check out both Flex and the traditional English and Social Studies programs at Seaholm. Will taking Flex make scheduling more difficult? Seaholm is fortunate to have many choices within core academic programs and their elective programs, thus making it difficult for any student to schedule all the classes they may want to take during their high school career. Flex is a two hour, three trimester class and will therefore take up a significant block of a student’s schedule. However if a student stays in Flex, all graduation requirements for English, Social Studies, Speech, Economics, and Government will be met. In addition Flex students have opportunities within the program to take and teach electives that relate to the core curriculum for the year. Some of the electives offered have focused on art history, child soldiers, feminism, Shakespeare, anti-intellectualism in America, poetry, science fiction, music, and local history. Will taking Flex prepare me for AP exams?While Flex is not considered to be an AP course, we offer several opportunities within the program to prepare for certain AP exams. 11th grade level Writing Group is designed to prepare students to take the AP English Language and Composition exam. Honors Economics, also offered at the 11th grade level, helps students prepare for the AP Macroeconomics exam. Finally, Honors Government, offered at the 12th grade level, helps students prepare for the AP U.S. Government exam. We strongly encourage all Flex students interested in taking AP exams to seek additional study opportunities in the subject area in order to ensure maximum success with the exam. Will taking Flex prepare me for college?Yes! Flex students have always done well getting into and graduating from the many universities and colleges to which they are admitted. Flex students have attended schools such as NYU, Kalamazoo College, the University of Chicago, West Point, Washington University in St. Louis, Albion College, Oakland University and Michigan State University. The admittance rate for Flex students into the University of Michigan has for the past three years trended higher than UMich’s national average admittance rate. What does a typical day in Flex look like?There’s almost no such thing as a typical day in Flex! Within our two hour block of time students find themselves immersed in seminars, lectures, music performances, art projects, and more.For more information about Flex please visit our website at To schedule a visit to Flex please contact Pam Davis, at pdavis@birmingham.k12.mi.us or 248-203-3725. MATHEMATICSHow will I know what math course to choose?Your eighth-grade math teacher will make the recommendation for your math course. These placements have always been extremely accurate. What if I don’t feel ready for Integrated Math 1?We offer a Pre-Algebra class that can be very helpful in shoring up numeracy skills and building a strong foundation in algebraic reasoning prior to beginning the Integrated Math sequence. When can I take an Honors math class?At the end of the Integrated Math sequence, Seaholm’s common mathematics foundation for all students, your Integrated Math 3 teacher will make a recommendation for either Pre-Calculus or Honors Pre-Calculus. What AP classes are offered in the Math Department?AP Statistics is equivalent to a one-semester, introductory, non-calculus-based college course in statistics.?This is a two-trimester course.AP Calculus AB is roughly equivalent to a first semester college calculus course devoted to topics in differential and integral calculus. This is a three-trimester course.AP Calculus BC is roughly equivalent to both first and second semester college calculus courses and extends the content learned in AB to different types of equations and introduces the topic of sequences and series. This is a three-trimester course.Can I make it into an AP math class if I take Integrated Math 1 in the ninth-grade?Absolutely. Depending on your interests and achievement, you have the ability to take either AP Statistics or Calculus. AP Statistics can be taken immediately following Integrated Math 3. Pre-Calculus is a prerequisite for AP Calculus, so you would need to accelerate yourself within Seaholm’s mathematics program.How and when can I accelerate myself in the math program?If you start ninth grade in Integrated Math 1, you can still make it to AP Calculus by your senior year. In your sophomore year, you can take Integrated Math 2 and the first half of Integrated Math 3. Then as a junior, you can finish Integrated Math 3 and take Pre-Calculus. You need to discuss this plan with your counselor when you’re selecting your sophomore classes in January of ninth grade.Do I have to take calculus?No. Calculus is a powerful tool for certain fields. If you plan on pursuing a STEM-related career, then calculus will serve you well. For many other college majors and careers, probability, statistics, data analysis, quantitative reasoning, and mathematical modeling may be much more valuable and relevant tools. Not everybody needs to take calculus.MUSICCan my child take both instrumental music and choir at the same time? Answer: yes. Several students are doing so. They just need to plan carefully.How can students get into SEA, the pop ensemble?Answer: SEA is selected by audition from the Voices Choir. SCIENCE?What science courses are offered for ninth-grade students?Most students should take Core Chemistry (0.5 credits) and Core Physics (0.5 credits). Other options include Core Biology A & B (1.0 credit) and Chemistry A & B (1.0 credit).?Why should most students take Core Chemistry and Core Physics in ninth grade?Modern Biology courses cover many topics that are rooted in biochemistry. Core Chemistry provides a better foundation for students to understand those concepts. Similarly, many concepts in chemistry require students to understand motion, energy, and forces. Core Physics provides students with an understanding of those concepts prior to taking the full-year chemistry course.How will I know which science course to choose?All of the classes are college preparatory. Your eighth-grade teacher will make the recommendation. Students electing Chemistry, a sophomore-level course, must have Integrated Math 1 or higher in eighth grade.?If my student starts with Core Chemistry and Core Physics, are they able to take Advanced Placement science before they graduate?Yes, students starting in Core Chemistry and Core Physics are able to take any of the Advanced Placement science courses during their high school years. The new science program gives your student options to personalize their science program. Please see the sample course clusters given in the course catalog. Please note that these are simply examples, many other combinations of courses exist.?What courses are required for graduation? Students must take courses in each of the four core science disciplines, biology (1.0 credit), chemistry (0.5 credit), physics (0.5 credit), and Earth science (0.5 credit).? In addition, students need to take an additional 0.5 credits in an elective or core area of their choosing. Please see the course catalog for a list of courses that meet these requirements.What AP classes are offered in the Science Department?AP Biology is equivalent to a two-semester, introductory biology course in college.?This is a three-trimester course.AP Chemistry is equivalent to a two-semester, introductory chemistry course in college.?This is a three-trimester course.AP Environmental Science is equivalent to a two-semester, introductory environmental science course in college.?This is a three-trimester course.AP Physics 1 is a first-year physics course that is not equivalent to an introductory college-level course. Students have the option of taking an AP exam at the end. This exam may be recognized for credit at the university level. This is a two-trimester course.AP Physics 2 Algebra-Based is a second-year physics course that addresses college-level physics concepts. This is a two-trimester course.AP Physics C is a second-year physics course that is equivalent to a two-semester, introductory physics course in college. This is a three-trimester course.SOCIAL STUDIESIf I don’t take AP US History in sophomore year, am I ineligible for all the other AP classes?Students may choose to take as many or as few AP courses in the social studies department as they wish. At any point in a student’s career they may opt into an AP. We have many students that don’t take an AP until their junior or senior year and others that take three or four in the department.Can I take government earlier than my senior year?No, government is a senior level course.Can I use AP European History as my World History credit?No. Advanced Placement European History, while an excellent and comprehensive course, only covers European history, while the state mandated curriculum is very broad and surveys history across the entire globe.Since I only need one trimester (1/2 credit) of economics and one trimester (1/2 credit) of government, can I just take AP Economics A and/or AP Government A to satisfy my graduation requirement?No. The state mandated curriculum for both economics and government is spread out across two trimesters in the Advanced Placement courses. A higher level of understanding of the same concepts is expected in an AP class. For example, while students in a regular economics class might be expected to understand supply and demand curves, in AP Economics students would be expected to draw their own graphs of these curves and explain market pressures that would impact the slope of these curves. If a student completes only one trimester of an AP Economics or AP Government course and does not wish to continue in Advanced Placement, the student must then take the one trimester regular course to complete their graduation requirements.WORLD LANGUAGEHow many credits do I need to graduate?Beginning with the class of 2016, students need to complete 2 credits of the same language as a State graduation requirement. However, most of our students graduate with at least three credits.What class should I take freshman year?You should follow your 8th-grade teacher’s recommendation. Because the middle-school and high-school language programs are aligned with each other, repeating the 8th grade experience is equal to repeating the same course. I have been recommended for level 3. Can I handle the work of level 3 as a freshman?Yes. Your teacher has recommended you for this level because he/she believes that you are ready. As mentioned above, because the high-school and middle-school programs are aligned with each other, signing up for a class below the recommendation is equivalent to repeating a class. Do I get credit for completing language courses in the middle school?You may receive credit that counts towards the State of Michigan’s graduation requirement of two years. However, students who earn credit at the middle school must still complete at least one additional credit of the same language between grades 9 and 12.Can I drop down or move up a level once the trimester starts?Movement between levels is discouraged, especially movement towards a lower level. However, there is a small window at the beginning of trimesters 1 and 2 to make scheduling changes, during which requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Do I need to test out of a class in order to place into a higher level?Not if you are coming in from 8th grade. If your middle-school teacher has recommended you for level 2 or higher, you don’t need to test into that level. But if wish to skip a level once you have started a language sequence in high school, you must test out of the level you wish to skip.How do I test out of a class?You must first visit with your counselor and the world-language department chair. The student handbook has the published dates of when testing out takes place. You must contact the particular level teacher prior to the testing period to make arrangements. Students who achieve a 78% or above on the assessment will be granted credit for the course (but not a grade). Please note that the teacher will determine and explain what will be included in the assessment.Additionally, English learners may be able to meet this requirement based on their native language studies prior to their arrival at Seaholm, or through their heritage language use if they test out.?Is there an honors program or is honors available only in level 4?Honors credit is available only in level 4 and AP classes in all languages, as well as in the Hispanic Perspectives course in Spanish. ?What do colleges expect?Colleges expect you to be successful in the most rigorous academic program possible. Most colleges expect a minimum of two years of the same language, while the most selective universities expect three to four years. BPS HS Academic Summer School What summer school classes can my child take for prior to entering high school?BPS offers Academic Summer School at GROVES High School.? Classes are held Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm.? There are two semesters and your child can take one class per semester.? This year the semesters are:? June 25-July 12 (no classes July 4), and July 16-August 1.? The two classes that incoming freshmen are eligible to take for credit are:Personal Fitness June 25-July 12?-OR- July 16-August 1; 7:30 am-12:30 pmComputer Technology July 16-August 1, 7:30 am-12:30 pmFurther information about these classes will be available on February 1 on the Community Education website homepage: .? Registration is online only and begins on March 1, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. for BPS residents.SCREEENAGER Growing up in the Digital AgePARENT’S GUIDEWe believe in the importance of parents helping children find a healthy balance with screentime. This is challenging! Our Screenagers team is made up of parents who know this all toowell. We hope you find the ideas below helpful. You can also consult many resources at . We would love to hear from you. Please share your ideas onFacebook (@screenagersmovie).FAMILY SCREEN TIME CONVERSATIONSTo be effective in influencing your children on this issue, begin by committing to have manyshort, calm and caring conversations. Start with this guide and continue by participating in TechTalk Tuesdays using conversation prompts from the Screenagers website.Some things to consider before you beginThere may be a lot of built-up tension about these topics in your home. That is normal! Parents often express anxiety and frustration, and children may feel defensive.Keep in mind that a big goal is to help everyone become more conscious of when and why they use technology and how it affects self-esteem, social skills, relationships, work, academics and more. Being conscious is key to making realistic use guidelines.Start conversations by encouraging everyone to share positive aspects of technology in their lives. Then move on to ideas about when screens should be turned off.Include your own technology behavior goals in the conversations. Finding balance is a joint family project, not one of adults versus kids.Stick with it — over time, these conversations build trust and understanding so behaviors can really change.Some discussion questionsHow much time do you think kids in the US spend looking at a screen on average? (Kids spend an average of 6.5 hours a day on screens, not including classroom or homework screen time, according to a 2015 Common Sense Media report.)How much time do adults spend on their phones? How about teens?How much time do you think you spend every week on screen-related activities? (Turn this into a nonjudgmental techuse inventory family game and guess what each person wrote.)How often do you multi-task ? Do you think it affects you in any way? (A study by Common Sense Media reports that nearly ? of teens do not think watching television, texting or using social media while doing homework has an impact on them. Meanwhile research has shown that when people “taskshift” tackle multiple tasks simultaneously they are less effective than when they do one task at a time. The brain is not capable of focusing on two mental activities at once, and thus the idea that multitasking boosts performance is a myth.)What activities do you like that don’t involve screens? (Think of offline activities that are valuable and fun like playing outside, sports, music, reading, hobbies, community service, family time and even chores.) 4153067967FB:@screenagersmovie● Does using screens change your brain ? (The film featured a study in which baby mice exposed to screen time developed fewer cells in the areas of learning and memory than non-exposed mice. Could this prove true for humans too?)● Why do so many video games involve violence? (First person shooter games were first developed by the military to decrease sensitivity to shooting people. What are some popular games that don’t involve violence?)● Have you seen social media affect our behavior? (Have you experienced people using screens to avoid face-to-face interactions or make comments they would not make in person?)FAMILY ACTION ITEMSStrengthen Self Control (read more about this at our website)Research shows that strong self control is a better predictor of academic and othersuccess than is IQ. To help kids “strengthen the muscle” of self control, clear guidelinesaround technology are needed. Instructions like, “Don’t be on your phone so much” setsthem up for failure because they are too vague. When you connect with your children todecide together how much screen time is acceptable, such as 30 minutes for video gamesevery other day, and when to be off a cell phone, like at dinner or in the morning beforeschool, success is much more attainable.Recognize situations when self control is not working for your child. It often makes sense toremove screens or use software that limits screen time. For example, Delaney, the filmmaker,used the app OurPact to turn off her daughter Tessa’s apps at night when Tessa was havinga hard time getting off the phone on her own.Create A Contract / Family Agreement (find examples and templates at our website)A contract is where you put into writing the guidelines you create together based on yourconversations about what are the acceptable amounts of time, times of day and situations tobe on screens and be off screens.Some contracts limit screen use in the car, after certain hours at night, in the bedroom, at thedinner table or during homework except for periodic tech breaks. Different families do itdifferently, but it is not too late to do something.Build in rewards for success in sticking to the contract. Rewards have been proven to bemuch more effective in creating behavior change than punishments. And be flexible aboutadjusting the contract as you learn what works best.WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR KIDS! The filmmaker and producers canall be reached at info@ .Warmly,Delaney and the whole team! 4153067967FB:@screenagersmovie ................
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