The Course Selection Process

  • Understanding the Course Selection Process

    Rush-Henrietta Senior High School

     

     

    November marks the beginning of the long, important, and detailed process of course selection for the 2017-2018 school year.  During the course selection process, School Counselors encourage students to challenge themselves by taking advantage of Rush Henrietta’s comprehensive and rigorous courses.  School Counselors understand the expectation of post-secondary opportunities.  This includes the college admissions process and supporting all students leaving Rush Henrietta Central School District college and career ready. 

     

    The steps in the course selection process are as follows:

         

    November

    -          Teachers review course recommendations for 2017-2018 with students on their class rosters and enter these recommendations as an assignment in Schooltool to ensure students and parents are able to view and review the recommendations.

     

    December

    -          During the month of December students and parents are able to make course requests through their grade level specific google form.  A link to these forms are included in the course selection mailing, and emailed to all students.  The Secondary Program Course Guide, along with the student transcript is mailed home.  Students are encouraged to ask their teachers if they have questions about courses.  Parents are also encouraged to call or email teachers with questions or concerns about course opportunities.

     

    December, January, February

    -          Starting in December and going through February, students make individualized appointments with their School Counselor.  Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings.  Parents interested in attending the meeting are encouraged to coordinate with their child, and then call their child’s school counselor to inform them that they plan to attend. Meeting times are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students should come to the course selection meeting familiar with the course recommendations and with planned electives, including alternates.  At these meetings, Counselors will work with students and families to update academic plans and ensure alignment with post-secondary goals.

     

    February - March

    -          All individual student meetings must be completed.

    -          Students and parents are able to view and review course requests that are entered in Schooltool.

    -          Teachers will review students’ course requests and contact the student/family/school counselor with any questions or concerns.

    -          All course requests are reviewed and tallied to make decisions regarding class cancellations, number of sections, and staffing.

     

    April

    -          Class cancellations and closed courses for 2017-2018 are determined.  Students impacted by this are contacted by their School Counselor if they must choose an alternate class due to cancellations. Otherwise, previously chosen alternate course requests may be used.

     

     

    April, May

    -          The master schedule is created by a building administrator.

     

    June

    -          School Counselors meet with students who have conflicts in their schedule. For example, if R-H Singers and Construction Systems are offered at the same time, the student must choose to take one class instead of the other. Counselors will notify parents/students of conflicts if an alternate request is unable to fill their child’s schedule.

    -          School Counselors review end-of-year grades and register students for summer school classes and exams. If students do not earn credit in a course during the school year and do not attend summer school, the counselor reviews the student’s schedule and places him/her back in the required courses for 2017-2018. This may change the student’s previous course requests.

     

    August

    -         Counselors review summer school grades and adjust student schedules accordingly.  Students are provided their updated schedules in August (10th grade students schedules are shared during Orientation and 11th and 12th grade schedules are shared that same day).

     

     

    What You Can Expect to Hear During Your Course Selection Meeting

     

     

    -          School Counselors encourage students to take rigorous and challenging courses. Counselors are aware of the expectations regarding college admission/college and career readiness and advise students accordingly.

     

    -          School Counselors urge students to retake New York State exams in an effort to strive toward earning a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation.

     

    -          School Counselors discuss the limitations placed on a student’s schedule when they plan to attend the Eastern Monroe Career Center (EMCC).

     

    -          School Counselors explain the difficulty and strict course-change policy at Rush-Henrietta.  Please be thoughtful and make good choices.  Remember, many decisions, including staffing are based on the choices students make.                        

     

    -          School Counselors remind students that Rush-Henrietta students must carry a minimum of 6.5 credits.  Therefore, please pick two or three alternate classes you would be comfortable taking if you do not get your first choices.

     

    -          School Counselors will enter student course requests in SchoolTool at the end of the meeting.   Students and families will still be able to VIEW course requests in SchoolTool.