MISSION STATEMENT

West High School provides a safe, orderly, and respectful learning environment that fosters open-minded and caring young people. Students are provided a diverse, international curriculum, a student-centered schedule, and an environment of accountability where instruction and assessments are research-based and data-driven.

Welcome Class of 2020 Katherine Banner Principal, West High School Katherine.Banner@knoxschools.org Melissa Walsh 9th Grade Principal Melissa.Walsh@knoxschools.org

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Rising 9th Grade

Information Night

February 19, 2009

2016

West High School Welcome Class of 2020

Planning For the 2016/2017 School Year and Beyond

IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) at West High School All 9th and 10th graders are active in the MYP Programme MYP is a philosophy of learning focused on international mindedness and approaches to learning Entering 9th graders will choose at least 6 of the 8 MYP subject areas to study.

Approaches to Learning (ATLs) • ATLs help students develop the self-knowledge and skills they need to

enjoy a lifetime of learning. • ATL skills empower students to succeed and prepare them for further

success in rigorous academic programmes such as the Diploma Programme in the 11th and 12th grades, and post-secondary education.

ATLs emphasized in our classrooms are: 1) Communication 2) Social (collaboration with others) 3) Self-Management (organization, reflection, personal affective mgmt) 4) Research Skills (information and media literacy) 5) Thinking (critical, innovative, “transfer” thinking)

The IB Learner Profile Focus

• Students will create a “Personal Project” in their 10th grade year

• Topic of their choice

• Begin in Spring of 9th grade

• Completed in 10th grade

• Each student in the c/o 2020 will participate in the WHS Personal Project exhibition in Spring 2018

• Areas of Interaction:

• Community and Service

• Health/Social Education

• Human Ingenuity

• Environments

• Approaches to Learning

IB MYP Personal Project

Examples: • Participate in/ help organize a Walk for Autism • Create a music video to inform students how to

rise above negative peer pressure • Create a scrapbook of role models and mentors

for young teens • Paint a mural to celebrate diversity and respect

West High School International Baccalaureate, Advanced

Placement, and Honors Program

Full Diploma • 7 IB courses in junior and senior

year

• Complete Biology, Chemistry, Algebra 1 and Geometry, 2 years of World Language by end of 10th grade

• Honors and AP in 9th and 10th

• Apply in January of 10th grade

Certificate Courses • Students choose courses in which

they have an interest

• Must satisfy prerequisites

• Apply in January of 10th grade

IB Questions? For further questions about KCS IB

Programming, please contact:

Shannon Siebe, Knox County Schools IB Facilitator

Shannon.Siebe@knoxschools.org

(865) 594-4894

Registration Calendar

Course Selection and Sequencing

Graduation Requirements

Focused Plan of Study

Determining Course Readiness

Student and Family Support

Topics

2016-2017 Registration Calendar Counselor Visits to Middle Schoolers:

Monday, March 21: Counselors visit Bearden Middle

Tuesday, March 22: Counselors visit West Valley Middle

Wednesday, March 23: Counselors visit Northwest Middle

Counselor Nights for Parents with Enrollment Questions (optional):

A-M Tuesday, March 22, 5-7 PM

N-Z Wednesday, March 23, 5-7 PM

Private School Students may register beginning now.

June-July: Schedule adjustments – schedule concern forms will be available online and in

person on Wednesday mornings the summer

August 5, 2016: Freshman Orientation ½ Day

August 8, 2016: 1st day of school

Course Selection Sheet Overview

WHS English Sequencing

WHS Math Sequencing

WHS Science Sequencing

WHS Social Studies Sequencing

Students have an assessment (final, EOC, TNReady, etc) that comprises 25% of the student’s final grade

22 of 28 total credits are prescribed.

Elective Focus Guidelines • Math and Science • Humanities • Fine Arts • Career and Technical Education (CTE) • Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate/Dual

Enrollment • ROTC • Human Services • Physical Fitness

All students will sit down with a counselor to determine an appropriate four year plan of study.

• Achievement Data • TCAPs, Explore, PLAN, ACT, etc.

• Course grades • Teacher Recommendations

• Grades achieved in previous courses

Determining Course Readiness

1. Recommendations from middle

school/testing

2. High school review

3. Final placement decisions

**Don’t forget about honors summer assignments!**

Honors Placement

Student Transition Support

• Freshman Academy, WISE, and Upper House • Free tutoring is available in every subject • Study and organizational skills are incorporated into our

standard teaching practices • Parent communication: Aspen Parent Portal, Student

Portal, School Messenger, 3 week marking periods • Recognition wall: Success is celebrated!

• Academy Achievers = Passing all classes • Dean’s List = All A’s and B’s from most recent marking

period • Students of the month

• Your School Counselor is here to help

ACT Preparation for 9th Grade Students: West High School has a 9-12 ACT program in place. 9th grade students practice ACT style questions through curricula 10th grade- ACT prep class 11th grade- Pareto (personalized tutoring) program 12th grade offers after school ACT prep

Jason Myers – Curriculum Principal Jason.Myers@knoxschools.org Melissa Walsh – 9th Grade Principal Melissa.Walsh@knoxschools.org Lisa Roberts – 9th Grade Counselor Lisa.Roberts@knoxschools.org Lindsay Bell – Dean of Freshmen Lindsay.Bell@knoxschools.org

Shannon Siebe – Knox County Schools IB Facilitator Shannon.Siebe@knoxschools.org Sarah Bast – IB DP Counselor Sarah.Bast@knoxschools.org

Questions?

Lisa Roberts, M.S.S.W., Ed.S.

Freshman Academy Counselor, West High School

An International Baccalaureate World School

lisa.roberts@knoxschools.org

(865) 594-4492 - office

(865) 594-4457 - fax

Welcome to West!

For More Information, Contact: