Course of Study Guide, 2011-2012
Spring 2011
Dear Members of the NSA Community,
The Course of Study Guide, attached to this page, has been compiled to help students and their parents make informed decisions regarding course selections for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Preparations for the coming school year are under way. Teachers are in the process of making course recommendations based on established criteria. For rising seniors, the course selection process has begun and continues until college counselors have met with each family individually. For students in grades 8-10, the course selection process starts in mid-March and culminates in mid-April. In early May, teacher recommendations will be reviewed for all students to ensure proper placement before course selection lists are mailed for parental approval. While all students register for their courses, only those students whose enrollment contracts have been returned will have their course requests loaded into the scheduler.
Preparations for the coming school year are under way. Teachers are in the process of making course recommendations based on established criteria. For rising seniors, the course selection process has begun and continues until college counselors have met with each family individually. For students in grades 8-10, the course selection process starts in mid-March and culminates in mid-April. In early May, teacher recommendations will be reviewed for all students to ensure proper placement before course selection lists are mailed for parental approval. While all students register for their courses, only those students whose enrollment contracts have been returned will have their course requests loaded into the scheduler.
As you may know, NSA has a 7-period schedule and a 6-period day with one period dropping each day. Thus, the students will register for seven courses. In the event that fewer than 10 students elect a particular course, it is possible that the course will not be offered. Please understand that our commitment to small, balanced classes means that requests for individual teachers or specific periods cannot be accommodated.
Among the changes planned for the coming year are the scheduling of two class periods for Advanced Placement Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics. This change is necessary to meet the requirements of the course audit for College Board approval as Advanced Placement courses. The additional class period will allow more time not only to satisfy the lab components of these courses but also to complete their respective syllabi. Another change is the elimination of trimester courses. Only yearlong courses will be offered in the school year 2011-2012.
Sincerely,
Brenda Kincaid
Headmaster
Among the changes planned for the coming year are the scheduling of two class periods for Advanced Placement Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics. This change is necessary to meet the requirements of the course audit for College Board approval as Advanced Placement courses. The additional class period will allow more time not only to satisfy the lab components of these courses but also to complete their respective syllabi. Another change is the elimination of trimester courses. Only yearlong courses will be offered in the school year 2011-2012.
Please keep in mind that students do not need to be in all honors or AP courses to be accepted into a good college or university. We encourage you to contact someone in guidance or college counseling if you have questions about the impact of course selection on college acceptance. I also ask you the keep in mind that in order for students to prepare properly for class, they should plan to spend on average 20 to 30 minutes a night for each regular course, about 45 minutes a night for each honors-level course and about one hour a night for each AP-level course.
As you read over the Course of Study Guide, please pay close attention to the curriculum policies and the time frames for adding or dropping a course. Of particular interest might be the list of new courses on pp. 6-8, the sequencing charts on pp. 29-32, the four-year planning chart on on p. 33 and the course offerings chart on pp. 34-35.
The counseling staff and I look forward to working with you in preparation for the coming school year.
Sincerely,
Brenda Kincaid
Headmaster
