Welcome to the Class of 2017! Bellevue High School 2016 - 2017
Bellevue’s Mission To provide each and every student with an exemplary college preparatory education so they can succeed in college, career and life. The Wolverine Way. It's Worth the Climb. Our Mission: We Are Bellevue. We are a community dedicated to learning. We are students, teachers, parents, staff, family, alumni, and neighbors. Together, we strive for excellence in all we do. We educate our minds and strengthen our hearts. We are preparing for college and for life.
BSD Graduation Requirements vs. College Entrance Requirements BSD Grad BSD Grad College Admission Requirements Requirements Requirements (class of 2019/2020) (class of 2017/2018) English 4 years 4 years 4 years Social Studies 3.5 years 3.5 years 3.5 years Math 3 years 3 years 3 – 4 years Science 3 years 2 years 2 – 4 years PE 1.5 years 2 years Fine Arts 2 years 1 year 1 year CTE 1 year 1 year Health .5 year .5 year World 2 years 2+ years Language/Personal Pathway Total Credits 24 credits 23.5 credits
Additional Graduation Requirements: 2.0 cumulative GPA 40 hours community service (10 to explore, 30 in-depth) State Testing Requirements Smarter Balance ELA Math (Algebra 1 or Geometry) EOC or Smarter Balance Math Biology EOC
English Courses Honors Freshman Composition & Literature Grade 9 Honors Sophomore Composition & Literature Grade 10 American Literature AP Language & Composition & Composition Grade 11 Grade 11 AP Literature Senior & Composition English Grade 12 Grade 12
Math Courses Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra 2 Math Models Business Pre- Pre-Calculus AP Statistics Calculus AP Calculus AB Differential Advanced Equations Calculus
Science Courses Biology Chemistry Environmental AP AP Biology Physics Science Chemistry AP Physics AP 1 Environmental AP Physics Science C AP Physics 2
Social Studies Requirement Foundations of World History World History AP World History US History AP US History American Government/ AP American Government Current World Affairs Pacific Northwest Psychology Economics History AP Micro /Macro AP Psychology Economics
Classes with additional requirements Yearbook and Newspaper Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band and Advanced Drama
Academic coaches … a great way to help! Academic coaches are needed for core subject areas during the school day. You earn a letter grade while helping younger students Looks good on your resume Interested? See Ms. Blumenstein (next to the Accountant’s office) or your counselor for an application.
What are colleges looking for? Rigorous classes, GPA, ACT/SAT test scores Strength of senior year classes Extension of academic interests outside the classroom Leadership in work, volunteer, clubs/sports/drama/music The college essay - initiative, motivation, self- discipline, persistence, ability to overcome hardships, strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, creativity, special talents …
Why challenge yourself in high school? Increasing ( with balance) rigor throughout high school is critical for starting strong as a college freshman. Your GPA in the first two years of college is often the primary factor in determining whether or not you are accepted into your chosen major Math is a gate-keeper for many majors and needs to be taken all four years in high school Biology, Chemistry and Physics are minimum science requirements for many colleges Colleges view World Language as a core academic subject The quality and rigor of your coursework will result in strong ACT/SAT scores
Options to add rigor to your schedule Challenging classes beyond the minimum requirements WANIC Running Start AP Classes Classes that offer college credit (“College in the High School” and “Tech Prep”)
What we believe about AP? Our goal is for all Bellevue graduates to receive an education that prepares them to continue their education at the college level. Nationally, only about 50% of the students who begin college graduate within ten years. Preparing students to begin college is not good enough. They must have the skills, knowledge, attitudes and work ethic to complete college. In higher education, students must make connections among disciplines, integrate the knowledge and skills from all the disciplines, and apply them effectively to new and unfamiliar challenges. One way we work toward this goal is through the AP Program at Bellevue High School.
Increasing success in college through AP High school graduates who do not take any AP courses graduate from college at a rate of only 33% by age 30. Students who take only one AP course nearly double the likelihood of college graduation to 59%. Students who take two or more AP courses raise the likelihood to 76%. Nationally, research shows that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP exam typically earn higher grade point averages in college and have higher graduation rates than their non-AP peers.
Suggestions for AP classes Because writing is such an important skill for college, consider taking AP English Language at a minimum. Consider a gradual increase in the amount of AP classes. It is often not the number of AP classes that is a problem for students, but rather the large change from one year to the next that becomes a problem. Consider taking 1 or 2 more than last year.
What is the AP Capstone Program ?
AP Capstone : The Benefits • Earn Distinction – Stand out in the college admission process and have the opportunity to earn valuable college credit or placement • Acquire Critical Skills – Students acquire rigorous college-level analysis, writing, and research skills that are increasingly valued by colleges • Choose what to study – Students choose their own research topic and study issues and topics of interest and importance to them
The Pinnacle of Distinction – AP Capstone Diploma This challenging program helps students deepen their passion for learning, gives them greater confidence in your academic skills, and a broader perspective on their world. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Students who earn scores of Seminar and AP Research 3 or higher in AP Seminar will receive the AP and AP Research and on Seminar and Research four additional AP Exams Certificate™ will receive the AP Capstone Diploma™ .
AP Seminar Typically taken in grade 10 or 11. Students learn how to: Exam score based on: Investigate real-world topics 1. Team Project & Example Topics from multiple perspectives Presentation Aesthetics Democracy • 25% Carefully analyze Education Environment information, write evidence- Revolution based arguments and 2. Individual Research- Technology effectively communicate Sustainability Based Essay & them Presentation Work independently and with • 35% a team to research a topic, develop a written report and deliver a presentation 3. End-of-Course Exam 40% • Teachers & Students select and study 2-4 topics.
Examples of AP Seminar Research Topics • Impact of youth sports on adolescent • Serial killers and the media development • Is graffiti art or vandalism Fossil fuels and global warming • Implications of accessing the “deep • • Ethics of personality testing in web” determining employability The effects of decriminalizing • Consequence of genetically modified prostitution • organisms The impracticality of colonizing Mars • • A study of transhumanism • Impact of differing parenting styles How should the US respond to the • Syrian refugee crisis Technology dependency and internet • addiction • Pros and cons of online dating
BHS Student Comments on AP Seminar “I think that this whole class as a whole has helped me grow as a presenter, a writer, a researcher, and a debater. I honestly love this class, It has been my favorite class this entire semester. This is probably because my passion lies in argumentative writing and debating, and it is what I want to pursue. I came into this class already fairly confident with my writing skills, but I my researching skills have expanded immensely during this semester. Now I feel very confident when it comes to finding credible and reliable sources for my topics, thanks to the databases we were introduced to. I've also improved at collaborating with others to achieve one specific goal. I used to hate working with groups because I felt as though I had to do everything for everyone, and I had to perfect everyone elses work. Although I still feel this way, I have been able to put more trust in people I work with lately. Additionally, I know that my argumentative writing itself has improved because I'm able to construct a clear line of reasoning now, and I feel like I'm much better at creating a thesis. I think this Performance Task 1 project, and the one we did right before that are the times that I have experienced that most personal growth in this class.”
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