Connecting Waters

Charter School

High School Catalog

2008-2009

Dear Parents & Students:

This handout has been provided to assist your high-school student as he or she makes course selections. Within these pages you will find helpful information such as graduation requirements, college admission requirements, and suggested sequence of study. After high school your student may go to college, technical school, enter the military or workforce. Please take the classes that will provide the most opportunity.

Our ESes, guidance and curriculum departments are committed to help your student make the best choices for their educational plan. It is the parent’s responsibility to know the course requirements for the other schools your student may attend during his/her high school year and to inform the ES of those requirements. The parent should also save all coursework completed in case of need for transfer to another high school or future college enrollment.

Table of Contents

Contact List………………………………………………………………………..................... 2

Mission………………..………………………………………………………….….................. 3

Expected Schoolwide Learning Results…..………………………………….….................. 4

Graduation Requirements Menu………………….…………………………………….......... 5

Graduation Requirements Agreement…………….……………………………………........ 6

Suggestions for Determining Course Placement for your High School Student……....... 7

Suggested Schedules for High School Completion…………………………………........... 8

Other Educational Opportunities: ROP, Turlock Adult Ed, Community College…........... 9

Clubs and Awards for High School Students………………………………….……….......... 10

Beyond High School……………………………………………………………………............ 11

Career Planning…………………………………………………………………………............ 12

What Type of Colleges Exist?........................................................................................... 13

What are “a-g” College Prep Courses?............................................................................ 14

UC-CSU Comparison of Minimum Eligibility Requirements………………………............. 15

Student ”A-G” Checklist………………………………………………………………….......... 16

UC Riverside Admission as a Homeschooled or Other Nontraditionally

Educated Student……………………….………………………………………….............. 17

Steps to College Entrance and Scholarships………………………………………............. 18

SAT and ACT Dates and Financial Aid/Scholarships………………………………........... 19

Guidance Department Educational Series…………………………………………............. 20

Reading/Writing Courses……………………………………………………………….......... 21

Life Skills………………………………………………………………………………….......... 24

History and Political Process…………………………………………………………............ 25

Math……………………………………………………………………………………….......... 26

Science………………………………………………………………………………..….......... 27

Special Interest Electives……………………………………………………………….......... 28

Foreign Language & Visual and Performing Arts……………………………………......... 29

Fact Sheet……………………………………………………………………………….......... 31

Popular Internet Websites………………………………………………………………........ 34

4-year Planning Sheet………………………………………………………………….......... 35

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MISSION

The mission of CWCS is to: Empower a community of parents, students, and teachers to create learning opportunities which will develop accountable, responsible, and contributing members of society who are independent, life-long learners.

Creating learning opportunities by:

v Assisting students and parents with educational guidance

v Individualizing curriculum to meet students’ needs

v Providing materials, resources and supportive instruction

v Allowing flexibility in both teaching styles and learning styles

v Promoting real-life context-based learning

v Challenging students to achieve mastery of academic standards

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Expected Schoolwide Learning Results

(ESLRs/Growth Areas)

CWCS will prepare its graduates to be:

1. Effective Communicators (Reading/Writing). “Student will read and write effectively.” Student:
 
· reads actively and derives meaning from written media.
· reads extensively for a variety of purposes.
· writes using grammatically acceptable English.
· adjusts tone and style of writing for purpose and audience.
· supports statements using well-rounded facts, theory, and opinion.
· separates fact from opinion.
· logically reaches conclusions based on sufficient evidence.
· clearly and succinctly states key points.
· organizes ideas in a variety of ways.
· demonstrates creativity through style, organization, and development of content.
 
2. Technologically and Socially Skilled Individuals (Life Skills). “Student sufficiently understands and functions in the world around him/her.” Student:
 
· demonstrates involvement in his/her community.
· has knowledge of the reciprocal relationship between the individual and his/her environment.
· demonstrates various skills in seeking employment and/or college admission.
· understands and demonstrates his/her role as an employee, consumer, and financial manager.
· identifies and documents the effects of technology on his/her environment.
· participates in physical activities that develop strength, endurance, and personal fitness.
 
3. Historically Aware (History). “Student appreciates the history of mankind in all its diversity.” Student shows his/her appreciation for history by identifying relationships between past and present events or situations-
 
· involving cause and effect: people, events, or situations influencing an action or result.
· involving comparison: similarities and differences.
· involving classification: events and situations explained as political, economic, social, and/or intellectual.
· involving anticipation of the future using evidence from the past and the present to draw conclusion about the future.
· involving understanding of the extent of time.
· student applies physical and cultural geography to his/her understanding of societies.
 
4. Effective Citizens (Political Process). “Student comprehends the political process.” Student:
 
· understands the structures, operations, and relationships of the governments in the United States.
 
5. Mathematical Thinkers (Math). “Student applies mathematical principles and operations to solve problems.” Student demonstrates knowledge of basic skills, conceptual understanding, and problem solving--
 
· with numbers and operations.
· in geometry and measurement.
· in functions and algebra.
· in statistics and probability.
· student solves problems with problem formulation, problem implementation, and/or problem conclusion.
· student communicates own knowledge of basic skills, understanding of concepts, and ability to solve problems and understand the mathematical communication of others.
 
6. Scientific Thinkers (Science). “Student applies scientific concepts and skills to explain his/her world and find solutions to its problems.” Student:
 
· observes, compares, orders, and categorizes characteristics and behaviors.
· communicate ideas.
· relates factors of differing objects and events, and infers about unknown or unseen processes.
· applies knowledge and thought processes to explain his/her world and solve problems.
· demonstrates recognition of the interrelationships among the scientific themes (energy, interactions, patterns, change). 
· demonstrates recognition of the four spheres (litho-, hydro-, atmo-, eco-).
· recognizes the effects of the sciences, technologies, and societies on one another and on the environment.
 
7. Lifelong Learners (Special Interests). “Student realizes his/her own unique educational interests, talents, and abilities.” Student:
 
· has experience or knowledge in a variety of the arts, trades, professions, languages and other disciplines.

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Graduation Requirements Menu

A student must pass the CAHSEE , as well as meet all requirements listed below, to receive a diploma from CWCS.

Students who meet the below requirements but do not pass the CAHSEE, can earn a School Certificate.

Successful completion of 210 units or its equivalent is required for high school graduation, in addition to successful completion of both sections of the CAHSEE exam. School options for completing each growth area are listed under the growth area. Choose one track for each growth area below:

Reading/Writing

This Charter School graduate reads and writes effectively.

A. 30 Units of Reading/Writing electives B. School Demonstrations 1 and 2 C. Student Developed Demonstration

Life Skills

This Charter School graduate sufficiently understands and functions in the world around him/her.

A. 50 Units including: B. School Demonstrations 3 to 8

10 units Typing/Computer electives (optl. typing test) C. Student Developed Demonstration 20 units Physical

20 units Physical Education electives

5 units Health

15 units Life Skills electives to meet school standards (20 electives if student passes the typing test)

(Beginning with graduating class of 2012, required: 5 units of Education and Career Planning, leaving 10 units of life skills electives.)

History

This Charter School graduate appreciates the history of mankind in all its diversity.

A. 25 Units of History including: B. School Demonstrations 9 and 10

10 units World Studies C. Student Developed Demonstration 10 units US History

5 units Economics

Political Process

This Charter School graduate comprehends the political process.

A. 5 Units United States Government B. School Demonstration 11

C. Student Developed Demonstration

Mathematics

This Charter School graduate applies math principles and operations to solve problems.

A. 20 Units Mathematics including: B. School Demonstration 12

10 units Algebra 1 C. Student Developed Demonstration 10 units Mathematics elective

Science

This Charter School graduate applies scientific concepts and skills to explain his world and find solutions to its problems.

A. 20 Units of Science including: B. School Demonstration 13

10 units Physical Science elective C. Student Developed Demonstration 10 units Life Science elective

Special Interests

This Charter School graduate realizes his own special interests, talents and abilities.

A. 60 Units of Electives including: B. School Demonstrations 14 or 15 10 units Foreign Language or Visual and Performing Arts electives

50 units electives (college prep, academic or vocational)

State Required Assessment

CAHSEE ELA and CAHSEE Math must both be completed with a score of “PASS”. Six opportunities to pass are offered during 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grades.

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