• Agriculture Education
• Art
• Business Education
• Drivers Education
• English
• Family and Consumer Education
• Foreign Language
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technical Education
• Additional offerings

January 2006  

Dear Students:

I hope you find this course description booklet helpful as you plan your classes for the coming academic year.  Many people have worked hard to provide you with the best information to make good choices for your academic future.  

There is a proud tradition of excellence at Black River Falls High School .  The course offerings support that tradition of excellence.  Hopefully, you will take advantage of the opportunities to select the most rigorous courses you can master.  Your efforts to learn and grow now will provide amazing benefits to you in your future.  

As you plan your schedule, you are encouraged to imagine what possibilities you would like available to you when you graduate.  What do you want to do after high school?  What additional schooling or training will allow you to pursue the job or lifestyle you desire?  What skills do you need to develop to become the best you can at what you choose to do with your life?  Reading through this booklet will provide you with helpful information and guidelines.  Pay particular attention to high school graduation requirements and the post-secondary planning guide.  I think you will find many helpful resources in these pages.

Good luck in your efforts to map out your remaining future at Black River Falls High School .  I encourage you to make use of the guidance counselors, administration, and faculty as you select courses for the coming year.  Listen to people who encourage you to take challenging classes that will stretch your abilities.  High school is a short, but vital experience on your life journey.  Choose wisely.

Best Regards,

Dr. Robert Lecheler, Principal
Black River Falls High School

PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK

This course description handbook is designed to provide students, parents, and staff with information necessary to plan a sequence of courses to satisfactorily complete requirements for graduation from Black River Falls High School .  In doing so, the student should be aware that he/she is creating a credential that will document his/her qualification for the post-secondary phase of his/her life.   

Society is more complex and challenging than ever before.  A high school diploma is the passport allowing you to enter into other areas, including college, technical college, military service or the job market.  Choices you make now will affect the rest of your life. 

Wise selection and sequencing of courses are important keys to a successful high school career.  Counselors, teachers and administrators are available to offer assistance in course selection.  The initiative, however, must rest with the student since he/she will experience the effects of his/her decisions and how individual efforts and talents are applied.  

As students design their four-year plan, they should use this handbook as a resource to answer the following important questions:  

1. What do I want to be qualified to do when I leave high school?

2. Am I working each year to meet graduation requirements?

3. Am I selecting courses consistent with my interests and abilities?

4. Am I being realistic when balancing course selection and time allotment for quality course  completion?

BLOCK SCHEDULING

Black River Falls High School has block scheduling – 4 periods per day.  There will be four terms; each of which will be nine weeks in length.  

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The School District of Black River Falls shall comply with all state and federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination.  No person shall be discriminated against on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, marital status, national origin, race, sex, and any other basis protected by state or federal law.  Complaints and inquiries regarding the interpretation or application of this policy shall be processed in accordance with established procedures. 

School Board Policies 112, 411, 511

State Statute 118.13  

Complaints regarding discrimination may be filed with the superintendent by calling 715-284-4357, or by contacting the Region V Office for Civil Rights:

U.S. Department of Education
111 North Canal Street, Suite 1094
Chicago , IL 60606-7204
Telephone: 312-353-8192
FAX: 312-353-5147

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Black River Falls High School ’s graduation requirements are designed to provide each student with a strong foundation in the “basics”.  We also provide opportunities to elect a number of other courses designed to meet an individual student’s interests and needs.  The minimum credit requirement for graduation from Black River Falls High School is 28 credits.  Course credits needed for graduation are as follows:

English   (4 credits) 

Social Studies  (3 credits)  

Science (2 credits)

Mathematics (2 credits)           

Physical Education  (1 ½ Credits)                                                                 

Health (½ credit)

(Students must accumulate their remaining 15 credits from elective classes.)  

WARNING: By meeting these minimum graduation requirements without taking additional rigorous courses in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies, you may be unprepared for future jobs, education, or military opportunities.  It is recommended that you attempt the most rigorous selection of courses you can handle.

EARLY GRADUATION

Seniors who have earned 28 credits are eligible to graduate at the end of Term 2 or Term 3.  Early graduation candidates and their parents must complete an early graduation application form and meet with a guidance counselor to develop their graduation plan. Early graduation students are invited to participate in the graduation ceremony.    If students are planning to begin post-secondary studies the spring of their senior year, they must request prior approval to finish their Term 2 high school courses early.   This request must be made before Term 2 courses begin.  Applications for early graduation are available in the guidance office.

REPORT CARDS

BRFHS is on a four term system.  Each term is nine weeks long.  Grades are reported each nine weeks.  Due to the block schedule final grades come at nine weeks.  The final grade is the only one that is entered into the permanent record. Report cards are distributed at the end of each nine-week term.  Teachers are expected to regularly inform students as to their progress.  Likewise, students must take responsibility in knowing their own progress.  A secure computer-access program is available to students and parents/guardians to check grades on a regular basis.  The honor roll will be published at the end of each term.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (G.P.A.)

All courses are calculated on the following 4.00 unweighted grade point scale.  

To determine the grade point average, the total points earned are divided by the number of classes taken during that grading period.  Cumulative grade point averages are computed using all courses and points earned during a student’s high school career.  

All courses receiving a letter grade shall be included in this average.  College-level coursework, technical college coursework, and summer school courses are included in this calculation.  Pass/Fail grades are not calculated into a student’s grade point average.  

ACADEMIC RECOGNITION

Students can be recognized academically each term through the Tiger Academic Recognition Program.  Levels of recognition are:

• Honor Roll  3.00-3.499

• High Honor Roll  3.50-4.00

• Academic Letter: Students who receive a 3.667 or higher GPA for 2 consecutive terms qualify for this award and other academic recognition awards.

• National Honor Society: Students can also qualify for NHS by meeting criteria for the organization in areas of academic achievement, leadership, service and character.

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Some students find it difficult to succeed in a typical high school.  BRFHS has programs designed to help students who may have special needs but do not qualify for Special Education classes.  

1.      High School Equivalency Degree – (HSED)

2.      Basic Skills Diploma – (BSD)

3.      Renaissance Alternative Education – 17 – 18 year old

4.      Phoenix Alternative Education – 16 year old

The Renaissance and Phoenix programs award a Black River Falls High School diploma to students who successfully complete required criteria.  

For further information regarding these programs, consult the guidance department.  

FAILURES

Students are responsible for the re-scheduling of required subjects made necessary because of failures.  Students who fail courses should set up an appointment with their counselor at the earliest opportunity to revise their schedule for the next semester or school year to include the failed required course.  Required courses that have been failed should be rescheduled as soon as possible.  For example, courses that were failed during the ninth grade should be rescheduled to be taken in grade ten.  

STUDENT SCHEDULING

Students are asked to give serious attention to course selection, as schedule changes are strongly discouraged.  Balancing classes is a priority and every effort will be made to keep classes as small as possible.

Students are randomly scheduled to all teachers in all departments.  If students and their parents have a specific reason for requesting a teacher other than the one randomly scheduled, they must complete a written request listing specific reasons for the change.  Students who failed a course may request to retake the failed course with a different instructor in the department if one is available.  This request must be made in writing before the term begins.                                                               

Schedule adjustments will ONLY BE ALLOWED the FIRST TWO DAYS of each term (ONLY IF NECESSARY).  Students will not be allowed to leave a class to make changes.  Students need to visit with their counselor during their free time.  Classes dropped AFTER the second day will receive an “F” in the class.  Students will not be assigned to an additional class.  

Priority will be given to students who see their Guidance Counselor BEFORE the new term begins.  Make an appointment to see your counselor before the start of the term.  Copies of schedules will be made for students FREE OF CHARGE towards the end of the term by signing up in the guidance office.  The day after you sign up, you may pick up your copy in the guidance office.  

Black River Falls High School Graduation Requirements

Black River Falls High School's graduation requirements are designed to provide each student with a strong foundation of the “basics”.  We also provide an opportunity to select a number of other courses designed to meet individual student interests and needs.  

The following tentative four-year plan worksheet is provided for you to map out the coursework that you need to complete during your time at the high school to satisfy graduation requirements, college entrance requirements, and individual preferences.  

____28 credits needed for graduation

Post-Secondary Planning Guide  

Introduction  

A satisfying career requires careful planning and informed decision-making.  Time spent gathering information, understanding the various alternatives available, and thinking through personal preferences will be of enormous benefit as a student makes career decisions.  Many people need help with career decision making and planning.  This booklet provides information the student and parent may find helpful in exploring educational opportunities beyond high school.  

Most occupations will require some form of schooling beyond high school.  The basic academic competencies necessary to achieve are reading, writing, speaking and listening, mathematics, reasoning, and study skills.  These competencies are the broad intellectual skills essential to effectively work in many fields of post high school study.  They provide a link across the disciplines of knowledge.  Students should also have an understanding of the capabilities of a computer and possess some ability to use a computer for self-instruction.  

Whether your plans include additional education or employment, you should keep in mind the following factors, which post high school admission personnel and employers generally depend upon:  

Attendance and Tardy records

• The quality of the student’s course selection and completion

• The results of scholastic aptitude and achievement tests

• Activities, both in and out of school

• High school scholastic record as reflected in terms of grade-point-average, class rank, and difficulty of program.  

The Basics  

Before you decide your future career, you need to first successfully complete your current educational journey.  A Black River Falls HS student needs 28 credits to graduate.  Planning is important as you develop your high school schedule.  Make course selections that are challenging and reflect the needs you see for your future.  

Black River Falls HS Graduation Requirements include:

English, 4 credits

Social Studies,  3 credits

Math, 2 credits

Science,   2 credits

Physical Education, 1.5 credits

Health, .5 credit

Other electives, 15 credits

Career Planning  

The sophomore year in high school is a time for students to give careful thought to what they want to do in the future.  During the sophomore and junior year, students should start narrowing down their career options and start looking at the various post-high school facilities that offer similar educational degree programs.  

Career Information websites:  

1)      Planning a Career (www.mapping-your-future.org/planning) is a guided tour helping students find out how to choose a career and how to reach a career goal.  Useful tips on job hunting, resume writing, and job interviewing techniques are included.  

2)      Undecided about what your career interests are?  Take about 10 minutes to complete a career interest assessment at The Career Key (www.careerkey.org/english) This is a good free and short interest survey that links to the career information in the US government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.  Click first on the “You” section, then “Take the Career Key”.  This site also has some good “stuff’ for making career and college major decisions.  

3)      America ’s Career InfoNet (www.acinet.org/acinet) has state-specific information on careers.  Use this website to: a) learn about typical wages and employment trends across occupations and industries, b) check education, knowledge, skills and abilities against requirements for most occupations, c) search for employer contact information nationwide, cost of living data, and call up state profiles with labor market conditions, and d) find more than 4,000 external links to the most extensive set of career resources available on the Internet.  For information on a specific state, click on the “state info” tab and select the state.  

4)      For first-hand profiles of what people do on their jobs, check Job Profiles (www.jobprofiles.org/index) Here, experienced workers, people from chimney sweepers to top executives share their motivations, basic skills and education needs, rewards, and advice for those interested in a similar career.  

5)      Our school is a member of the Wisconsin Career Information System (http://wiscareers.education.wisc.edu) Using our student registration code (brf_c074), students can obtain career information based on individual interests, skills, values, or budget.  Salary information, employment outlook, and education path for the occupations you find most suitable are also provided.  

These websites are valuable resources for learning more information about specific career possibilities.  Continue to meet periodically with a high school guidance counselor to learn even more current and accurate information pertaining to your future educational and career goals.

The Next Step  

After researching and choosing your future occupation, the next step is to pursue the educational track that suits your career needs.  Included in this booklet is general information on the four main post-secondary options:

·        College/Universities

·        Technical Colleges

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