Flow chart helps students follow track to graduate
A team of Brown County High School teachers has created a course pathway to help students stay on the right track for graduation.
The flowcharts for science, math and technology classes show students what classes they need to take based on what they took in junior high and how they did in those classes, so they can achieve a certain type of diplomas by the time they’re supposed to graduate.
“If you achieve this grade, then great, go on to this. If you don’t achieve this grade and struggle with the content, then maybe you should think about this class instead of this class,” science teacher Kady Lane said.
The pathways also will be made available to eighth-grade students as recommendations when they meet with counselors to plan their freshman schedule, said Debbie Harman, director of student learning.
“We’re preventing high school failure. We want to promote graduation,” Harman said.
“Not every student needs to take calculus, yet there seems to be somewhat of an understanding that if I don’t take calculus, there’s something wrong with my choices. That’s really not the case. Calculus is there for you if that’s what you need to take for what you think you want to do. There are other great selections in math as well,” she said.
The pathways will also give students a better chance at passing their courses the first time, allowing more room in their schedules for electives, Harman said.
The board also approved a course prerequisite waiver. The waiver would allow a student to enter into a course even if he or she did not meet the recommended criteria for the course. The waiver will be signed by parents, the student, principal and teacher.
“We want to be very upfront with our parents that there is kind of a risk that you’re kind of taking, and you’re going to have to work hard to succeed in that class,” Superintendent Laura Hammack said.
New junior high school courses OK’d for next year
Brown County Junior High School seventh- and eighth-graders will have four new classes to choose from next school year.
The school board approved Introduction to Computer Science, History of Sports and Leisure, Jazz Band and Introduction to Engineering Design.
The semester-long Intro to Computer Science will allow eighth-graders to earn high school credit. It will have an emphasis on computational thinking, web design and basic programming. It is also eligible for Career and Technical Education credits, which means the district can receive funding from the state for teaching it. Amy Oliver will be the instructor.
Introduction to Engineering Design is a year-long course for eighth-graders, replacing the Project Lead the Way. It also will allow students to earn high school credit.
Dan Lewellen will instruct students, individually and in teams, to design solutions to problems using sketches and 3D design and modeling software. Students will gain more experience that may lead to “more sophisticated engineering” courses at the high school level, Superintendent Laura Hammack said.
This is also a course that is eligible for CTE funding for the district.
Seventh-graders will have the option to take History of Sport andLeisure, which will trace the evolution of sports and leisure activities from the perspectives of economics, civil rights and war, the proposal states.
Jazz band will become available to eighth-graders for one semester beginning next school year.
School board approves personnel moves, donation
The Brown County School Board of Trustees approved the following Feb. 16:
- A 10-day trip to France and Spain for students and staff from the high school foreign language department, March 12-21, 2018.
- Maternity leave for Helmsburg Elementary School Title I teacher Malini Stiles beginning Feb. 15 until the end of the school year. Long-term substitute Cortney Hitchcock was appointed to replace her at $197.76 per day, experience level B-0, effective Feb. 16.
- A $1,000 donation from St. John Associates Inc. to Bridget Rinehimer for Van Buren Elementary School music department supplies.
- Separating junior high science academic team coach Wendy Weddle, effective immediately. This was not a termination. Erich Nolan was appointed to replace her, $622 stipend.
- Appointing BCJHS long-term substitute Jane Davis, full-time, $242.73 per day, level M-5, effective Jan. 23. She is filling in for Weddle.
- Appointing Brown County Intermediate School fifth- and sixth-grade boys track coach Matt Williams, $2,234 stipend. This is a new position.
- Appointing BCIS fifth- and sixth-grade assistant track coach Jake Koressel, $1,241 stipend.
- Transferring BCJHS assistant track coach Kristen Cole to BCIS fifth- and sixth-grade girls track coach, $2,234 stipend.
