As the second semester is underway, preparation for the 2011-2012 school year is beginning. During the week of Jan. 10-14, counselors visited most language arts classes to talk about registration for the upcoming year, marking the beginning of the process.
Some classes will be visited later this week due to snow days, but as long as students register for classes on Infinite Campus by the deadline, they have the same priority for course placement as every other student. However, failure to register by the deadline could result in getting fewer of the requested courses in a schedule.
Counselors provided each student with a Course Description Guide, full of just about everything students need to know about registering for classes. This guide provides descriptions of every course offered at LHS, as well as aides to help in planning the best courses suited for various paths students may want to take.
After skimming through this booklet, students can decide on the courses best suited for them and their interests and fill out the Practice Course Request Sheet, with seven spaces for the classes one would most like to take, a space available for Zero Hour, and four spaces for alternate courses in case a course is unavailable, each a semester long course.
These alternate spaces must be filled in carefully, with only standard semester course offerings or else a student could end up with an unwanted class.
Another important thing to remember when registering for classes is to make sure that you are aware of your credits, and what needs to be taken before graduation. To graduate, students must have a total of 24 credits, more specifically outline on page 18 of the Course Description Guide.
As a precaution, it is recommended students make sure of the following before registering for a class:
-Have you have satisfied the necessary prerequisite (s) before signing up for a course
-Make sure the course offered for your grade level
-Make sure you have not already completed the course for credit, unless the course is allowed to be repeated (i.e. Band, Orchestra, Cadet Teaching, Vocal Music, Yearbook Production, Newspaper Production, ROTC courses, certain theatre courses and elective P.E. courses).
Students should be aware of the different types of courses offered:
Flexible Schedule Classes: In order to sign up for these courses modeled after a college schedule, the student must sign up for two of these classes. Page 22 in the course description guide offers more information.
AP (Advanced Placement) and WG (Weighted Grade) Programs:Stiudents must complete an AP application with teacher and counselor signatutres in order to participate in AP classes. These are available in the counseling department and are available in the Counseling Department and due March 17. Page 28-29 in the Course Description Guide offers more information.
College Credit Programs: Page 30-33 in the Course Description Guide provides an in-depth overview of these types of programs available at LHS.
Early Graduation: Students must meet all graduation requirements by the end of the semester prior to graduation. Students interested will be notified of information meetings held in the fall and spring.
Cadet Teaching: Students should not sign up for this course in the first stage of registration. In order to participate students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and have had a B or better in the class they would like to cadet teach in. If interested, meet with your counselor and you can be given more details then.
A useful tool in determining classes is Curriculum Night on Wednesday, Jan 19 from 7 – 9 p.m. at LHS in the commons and gym. Here, students can talk with different teachers or students and become better informed of the classes they are interested in.
Students must fill out the official course request worksheet with the carbon copy attached and register online with a printed course request worksheet within the timeslot.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Online registration begins: 7 a.m., Friday, Jan. 21
Online registration ends: 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb 1
