Curriculum Handbook 2021-22

Curriculum Handbook 2021-2022

FRYEBURG ACADEMY

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS One Carnegie Credit is defined as two semesters of work.

Courses

English Math Science Social Studies U.S. History Fine Arts Wellness Health Electives Total Needed

Carnegie Credits 4 3 3 2 1 1 1.5 0.5 5 21

• Students are required to earn four credits to qualify as a member of the sophomore class, nine credits for the junior class, and 15 credits for the senior class.

• To qualify for a Fryeburg Academy diploma, students must complete four years of study with a minimum of 21 credits.

• All students are required to carry at least six credits' worth of courses each semester unless otherwise excepted.

• Students must take four consecutive years of Fryeburg Academy English courses.

• Fryeburg Academy regards four years of sequential high school study as educationally and developmentally appropriate. Therefore, the Academy does not grant requests for early graduation.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM First and Second Semester Our goal is to prepare each student for success in institutions of higher learning and the workplace. To help students identify and follow a pathway to post-secondary study, the military, or the workplace, post-secondary and school counselors work with parents, advisors, and teachers to aid students with their academic program.

TRANSFERRING CREDIT FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS Fryeburg Academy only recognizes credits from other accredited institutions. Home schooling work does not receive credit unless it is done under the aegis of an accredited, recognized institution and a transcript is issued from that institution. Fryeburg Academy accepts transfer credit from other institutions in the following ways: 1. For students who enter into the Academy after the first semester of their freshman year, Fryeburg Academy will transfer in credit from accredited institutions These credits will count towards the students’ graduation requirements but will not be factored into GPA or class rank. The specific determination of which courses are awarded credit and how they count towards graduation requirements is determined by the Director of Studies.

2. Fryeburg Academy will accept students to a specific grade based on previous course work. If this course work is not done at an accredited U.S. institution, the Academy will most likely not transfer in the credit but may use it to accept a student to a higher grade. Students accepted to the 10th, 11th or 12th grade are subject to the three-year, two-year and one-year graduation requirements, respectively, as found in the curriculum bulletin. The Academy does not transfer in any credit from middle school except in limited circumstances.;middle school credits do not count toward graduation requirements.

3. For current students, Fryeburg Academy will transfer in credit from accredited or otherwise approved institutions with pre-approval from the Director of Studies. These credits may count toward graduation requirements but will not count toward GPA or class rank. The number and type of transfer credits which students will be awarded is determined by the Director of Studies. The Director may also limit the number of non-Fryeburg Academy credits that will count towards graduation.

Online Courses The Academy reserves the right of final student placement in individual classes. Research has shown that class size is one of • Online credits are treated as transfer credits. In most cases, the strongest determinants of educational quality, so we strive the number of online courses that will count toward to create the smallest possible, evenly-sized classes. graduation will be limited to two credits.

Therefore, we cannot honor requests for specific sections or • Students must receive approval prior to enrolling in online teachers. courses.

May Term During the three-week May Term, students take up to four courses of their choice. May Term courses are worth between 0.25 and 1.0 credits. Students must register for classes that together total 1.0 credit. Courses are offered in a variety of subjects and are listed in the online May Term catalog.

GRADING

GRADE WEIGHTS/GPA

• Grades are posted on the first Monday of each month.

These grades are progress reports.

Courses are weighted by level. Level 1 and Level 2 classes are given no extra weight. Honor Classes will be awarded 0.5 extra grade points toward a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA).

Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level (CL) classes will be awarded a full 1.0 extra grade points toward GPA. Please refer to the grade weight chart below. Only Fryeburg Academy courses will be included in GPA calculations.

• Grades are cumulative over the entire semester.

• The final semester grades are the only official grades recorded on transcripts and permanent records.

• During the May Term, the same grading scale is used, but there are no progress reports. May Term grades are recorded on the transcript and do count toward GPA.

HONOR ROLL/CLASS RANK • Honor rolls and class rank are based on a weighted GPA as outlined above.

• Honor rolls are calculated after each semester.

COURSE CHANGES

• We cannot honor student or parent requests for specific sections or teachers.

• Parental approval is required for core course changes.

• For the first two weeks of a semester, students may change most courses by consulting with their class dean and school counselor.

• After that date and until the first marking period ends, a student may drop or add a course by filling out a drop/add slip which requires the signatures of all concerned. Some courses may not be able be added during this time.

• A course that is dropped by the end of the first marking period will not appear on the transcript.

• Later in the semester, the same drop/add procedure is followed, but a W (for Withdrawn) is registered on the transcript.

LETTER GRADE

LEVEL 1/LEVEL 2

A 4.00 3.67 AB+ 3.33 B 3.00 2.67 BC+ 2.33 C 2.00 C1.67 D+ 1.33 D 1.00 0.67 DF 0.00

• A GPA of 3.0 is necessary for honors and 3.67 for high honors.

A student who receives a ‘D’ grade or lower and/or an incomplete is ineligible for honors roll status.

• Honor roll designations on the commencement program are determined for graduates after the first semester of their senior year.

• To be considered for class rank, students must be carrying a minimum of 3 credits per semester. Exceptions may be made for seniors in special circumstances.

• Class rank will be reported as a decile, not a specific ranking.

Students will be ranked by decile three times, starting at the beginning of their senior year.

• In order to receive decile ranking, students must have attended the Academy for three or more semesters.

• Independent Studies do not factor into a student’s GPA or class rank; they are, however, listed with the grade on a student’s transcript.

4.50 4.17 3.83 3.50 3.17 2.83 2.50 2.17 1.83 1.50 1.17 0.00

Advanced Placement / College Level 5.00 4.67 4.33 4.00 3.67 3.33 3.00 2.67 2.33 2.00 1.67 0.00

CHOOSING A CURRICULUM Fryeburg Academy offers three general types of curriculum of study, each of which is designed to meet the demands of differing post-secondary placements. Students are placed in the appropriate ability course level by subject, depending on their needs and goals. The following sample programs are provided as helpful illustrations only. Each student’s actual program should be individualized to meet interest and post-secondary goals.

Competitive College Curriculum • The competitive college curriculum is comprised of honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and college level (CL) courses and is designed to meet the requirements of the most competitive colleges; students may take more advanced courses depending on their prior preparation and achievement.

• Students should take four years of the same foreign language and as many honors and AP courses as possible and appropriate.

• This curriculum is considered “very demanding” or “most demanding” by competitive colleges.

Competitive College Preparatory Program FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR

English English I H/L1 Math Geometry H Science Biology H Social Studies Western Civ. H World Language 1st/2nd Year Lang.

Wellness Fitness/Health Elective

English English II H/L1 Math Algebra II H Science Chemistry H Social Studies Global Colonialism World Language Third Year Lang.

Elective 1 Fitness/Arts/Technology Elective 2

English English III AP or H Math Pre-Calculus H Science Physics H Social Studies U.S. Hist. AP World Language Fourth Year Lang.

Elective 1 Math/Sci/Hist/Arts/Tech Elective 2 Internship/Study Hall

English English IV AP Math Calculus AP and/or AP Stats Science AP Science or CL Anatomy Social Studies European Hist. AP World Language Language Hon/AP Elective 1 Math/Sci/Hist/Arts/Tech Elective 2

Arts/Technology/Study Hall

Arts/Technology/Study Hall

Internship/Study Hall

College Preparatory Curriculum • The college preparatory curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of colleges.

• Students must take four years of English, mathematics, and science, and three years of social studies including United States History; we also recommend that students take at least three years of a foreign language.

• This curriculum is considered “demanding” by four-year colleges.

College Preparatory Program FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

English English I LI/H Math Algebra 1 L1/H Science Biology L1/H Social Studies World Studies L1 World Language First Year Lang.

Wellness Fitness/Health Elective Arts/Technology/Study Hall

English English II L1/H Math Geometry L1/H Science Chem H/ Env. Sci. L1 Social Studies Global Issues L1 World Language Second Year Lang.

Elective 1 Fitness/Arts/Tech Elective 2 Arts/Technology/Study Hall

JUNIOR YEAR English English III L1/H Math Algebra II L1/H Science Physics L1/H or Chemistry L1/H Social Studies American Studies World Language Third Year Lang.

Elective 1 Math/Sci/Hist/Arts/Tech Elective 2 Internship/Study Hall

SENIOR YEAR English English IV Math AP Stats/ PreCalc H/Finite Science Physics L1/H or AP Options Social Studies Elective World Language Fourth Year Lang.

Elective 1 Math/Sci/Hist/Arts/Tech Elective 2 Internship/Study Hall

Vocational/Technical Curriculum • The vocational/technical curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of two-year colleges or vocational/technical schools.

• Students must take four years of English, should take four years of mathematics and several other required courses.

• Enrollment at Lake Region Vocational/Technical Center or in technical courses at the Academy are important options.

• From this curriculum, students can continue studying at a community or junior college, attend a technical school, or seek job placement.

Two-Year College or Technical School Preparatory Program FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR

English English I L1/L2 Math Intro. or Alg 1A Science Desc. Biology Social Studies World Studies L2 Wellness Fitness/Health Elective 1 Arts/Tech Arts Elective 2 Arts/Technology/Study Hall

English English II L2/L1 Math Algebra 1A or 1B Science Env. Sci. L2/L1 Social Studies Global Issues L2 Wellness/Technology Fitness/Technology Elective 1 Fitness/Arts/Tech Arts Elective 2 Arts/Technology/Study Hall

English English III L2/L1 Math Algebra 1B/ In. Alg. 2 Science Applied Chemistry Social Studies American Civics Elective 1 Vo. Tech/Internship Elective 2 Arts/Tech Arts Elective 3 Arts/Technology/Study Hall

English English IV L2/L1 Math Int. Alg. 2/ Finance Science Elective Social Studies Elective Elective 1 Vo. Tech/Internship Elective 2 Arts/Tech Arts Elective 3 Arts/Technology/Study Hall

CLASS SCHEDULE

4

SPECIAL PROGRAMS Outdoor Learning and Research Center Among American high schools, the OLRC is a program of uncommon scope and possibility, centering on experiential learning to cultivate inquiry, exploration, environmental stewardship, and leadership. Aiming to take best educational advantage of our region’s abundant natural resources and to forge connections with local community organizations and projects, the OLRC provides place-based, hands-on programming for Fryeburg Academy students.

All FA students are introduced to the OLRC in ninth grade when they visit the challenge course with their advisory. The course is situated below campus on our 63-acre field; a floodplain of the Saco River that is cultivated for hay and also features our garden, outdoor classroom, and cross country running path. Later in the year, ninth grade students build the beginnings of an OLRC portfolio, which could include pieces from their English class, accounts of personal adventurers in the White Mountains, or reports from their study of the monarch butterfly populations with their biology class.

Towards the end of each spring semester, 9th and 10th grade students use their portfolios to apply for one of two OLRC certificate programs; either adventure education, or research design.

OLRC Certificate in Adventure Education This certificate is for students seeking experiences that extend beyond our campus into the mountains and rivers around Fryeburg. Outdoor adventures provide a context in which aspiring recipients of this certificate engage in discussions about local environmental issues and Leave No Trace ethics, study risk management and wilderness first aid, and grow into leadership roles. On a capstone trip, students develop lesson plans for teaching skills to general participants and other AE certificate students, and receive feedback on their group facilitation. Whether students just want to engage in outdoor recreation responsibly, or are interested in exploring careers in the outdoor industry, this certificate provides support, resources, and a community of students and faculty that share their interests.

Completion of this certificate fulfills 0.5 credits in wellness.

AE Certificate requirements: •Participate in a minimum of 200 hours of trip time and submit a written reflection for a minimum of six trips to a personal AE portfolio.

•Demonstrate consistent Leave No Trace ethical behavior on trips.

•Train and participate as a student leader on the challenge course advisory programs.

•Complete at least one of the following classes, submitting a supplemental assignment to a personal AE portfolio that highlights the connections between the academic coursework and trip programs.

•NE Agriculture •Environmental Science (any level) •Research Design •Complete a certification in wilderness first aid.

•Complete at least two approved experiential adventures: certain May term classes, summer camp experiences, personal trips.

•Complete one semester of OLRC internship, during which time the capstone trip is organized and led.

OLRC Certificate in Research Design This certificate is for highly-motivated students that want to develop their academic skills by exploring complex problems and conducting field-based research. The core of this program is an honors-level Research Design class and the sequential Independent Study Research Project. The Research Design class presents the principles of qualitative and quantitative research through a series of projects. In the fall semester, an emphasis on environmental science research takes students into the surrounding forests and fields for data collection, while the spring semester emphases are analysis, mapping, and social sciences. Several projects require collaboration with other FA classes and with local organizations.

Students that go on to the independent study select a faculty member as an adviser for their self-designed project, which culminates in a presentation to the community. Successful completion of Algebra I is required for enrollment in the Research Design class, which is designated as an elective credit.

RD Certificate requirements: Complete all four of the following courses: • Honors and/or AP Environmental Science (1 credit) • Honors Research Design (1 credit) • Statistics (any level, at least 0.5 credits) • Research Project (at least 0.5 credits; project must be approved by OLRC) director • An exhibition of your research • Complete one semester of OLRC internship, assisting with field data collection and project management.

Fryeburg Academy Certificate of Arts The FA Certificate of Arts program gives students the opportunity to enhance their arts training through course work and extracurricular offerings on and off campus. With the guidance of an arts faculty mentor, students earn a Certificate of Arts that accompanies their FA diploma. Students apply to the Certificate of Arts program during their freshman or sophomore year. Exceptions can be made for students transferring in as juniors. Accepted students may choose General Arts or one of two areas of concentration- Visual Arts or Performing Arts. Students are paired with an arts faculty mentor who monitors yearly progress and facilitates off campus activities that fulfill student goals and satisfy the requirements of the certificate. Students in the Certificate of Arts program meet with the arts faculty once each semester, including a final meeting during the spring semester of each student’s senior year. Following this meeting the arts faculty will determine if the student has satisfied the requirements of the certificate.

Requirements: • Fryeburg Academy Arts Courses: 10 (minimum). An internship approved by the arts faculty may be substituted for one arts course • Arts Experiences: A minimum of two pre-approved extracurricular or community arts experiences • Capstone project or performance Applications are available from the Director of Studies; students may apply up to the end of the fall semester of their sophomore year.

The Center For International Students The Center for International Students (CIS) at Fryeburg Academy serves all international students, regardless of language ability.

Our CIS includes English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses, TOEFL prep courses, specialized college and financial aid assistance, and a senior English course to prepare international students for college-level reading and writing. Our faculty members also work with students on topics such as course selection and cultural issues.

Fryeburg Academy Internships This program is an opportunity for junior and senior students to gain business or other community-based experience in a field of interest and to apply skills learned in FA classrooms.

Internships are intended to broaden student awareness of potential career fields, develop their workplace skills and ethics, and contribute positively to business and services in the Mount Washington Valley. Internships will conclude with a formal presentation on the experience, and they will be completed on a ‘pass/fail’ basis for either .25 or .50 credits, depending upon weekly time commitment. Intern-ships will last for one semester; some may be renewed for a second semester.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students may not receive compensation for internships. A student’s existing or potential part-time employment will not be considered in an internship request.

Sophomore and junior students who are interested in community internships for their upcoming junior and senior years will have an opportunity to indicate fields of interest and submit an internship request during course-sign up period in the spring. Internsrns report to their sites at least twice a week during the internship period or a free period.

The following are requirements for internship placement. A student must: 1. Be in and maintain good academic standing; have and maintain consistent record of good school citizenship.

2. Make a commitment of at least 120 min. weekly for a semester 3. Have parental permission (if under 18) 4. Maintain five non other classes at the Academy 5. Make a commitment to be professional, respectful, and a good representative of the Fryeburg Academy.

6. Offer a presentation to an audience of FA administrators, faculty, and area business/community representatives upon completion of internship.

Lake Region Vocational-Technical Program Lake Region Vocational Center, located in nearby Naples, ME, offers a variety of sequential two-year programs designed to give students an entry-level skill in an occupational area and/or serve as preparation for further career education/ training.

Students who attend the Pre-Vocational Program (Diversified Occupations) at Lake Region and/or the Vocational Programs will receive 4 credits for a full year of work (2 credits per semester).

No additional credits are awarded for May Term. Credits earned through Lake Region are awarded by Fryeburg Academy and will be distributed to subject areas as determined by the Director of Studies so as to fulfill Fryeburg Academy’s high school graduation requirements. Grades received in Lake Region programs are recalculated to conform to Fryeburg Academy’s grading system. Programs are as follows: • • • • • • • •

Automotive Technology I & II Cooperative Education “Co-Op” Construction Technology I & II Culinary Arts I & II Diversified Occupations Health Occupations I &II Early Childhood I & II Law Enforcement I & II

SPECIAL SERVICES

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

The faculty of the Special Services Department has a humanistic outlook and considers the needs of the whole child. Instruction begins at a level where the student can succeed, and each student is accepted as a unique individual with different learning styles. To enable students to develop self-esteem through successful learning experiences, each student’s strengths are recognized and instruction is built on those qualities. The faculty accents the positive. Realizing that adolescents with learning problems are apt to suffer from frustration after experiencing repeated academic difficulties, rapport and trust between teacher and student are an integral part of the program. We believe that all students benefit from the experience gained in school and from working with others of diverse abilities and differences. These interactions help students function more effectively as members of society.

Pequawket Valley Alternative School

The Special Services Department provides specialized instruction and supportive services to students who have been identified as having a disability which requires specialized instruction in order to make progress in the general curriculum. Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA, Maine is required to identify and evaluate students who have disabilities and to offer them individualized education programs (IEP) for special education and related services. Decisions regarding the services that are included in an IEP are made by a team using a process specified in the law.

504 Services A person is considered to be a “disabled person” under Section 504 when he/she “has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment.” 29 U.S.C.§706(8)(B) “Students who are disabled under Section 504 qualify for reasonable accommodations. Accommodations are determined by the 504 team and must be relevant to the disability as well as necessary, rather than just beneficial, to the student. By definition, “changes in course/standard/ test presentation, location, timing/scheduling, expectations, student response, and/or other attribute which provide access for a student with a disability to participate in a course/ standard/test, which do not fundamentally alter or lower the standard or expectations of the course/standard/test, and which abide by conditions developed by the test maker or course/standard designer so that the results are valid, and curriculum/standard integrity is maintained.”

Students who qualify for Section 504 are only entitled to accommodations and not modifications. If the regular education teacher considers the accommodation to invalidate the test or the integrity of that course (be an essential component), the accommodation is no longer considered an accommodation, but rather a modification.

The Pequawket Valley Alternative School (PVAS) at Fryeburg Academy is designed for 3rd and 4th year students who have been unsuccessful in the traditional school setting and whose strengths may not have been reflected in their past school performance. Our faculty provides an integrated curriculum focusing on the individual learning styles of the students with a strong focus on experiential education.

Another core element of the PVAS curriculum is community service. In addition to many local projects, each year students and faculty plan, fundraise, and partake in a large service learning project. These opportunities integrate academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service, in keeping with our philosophy of experiential education while enriching the learning experience and teaching civic responsibility.

PVAS enrolls a maximum of sixteen students per semester with two full time teachers and follows the Maine State guidelines for all curriculum requirements. In addition to earning a high school diploma, students are guided through the exploration process of post secondary education planning and career choices. Students who are interested in learning more about this program should talk to their class dean or school counselor.

The Arrow Program The Arrow program provides a small group of freshman and sophomore students with a safe, supportive learning and social-emotional environment. It offers courses in the four main academic areas (English, Math, Social Studies, and Science) that meet in small groups with differentiated instruction, as well as the opportunity to access an Arrowspecific elective or other, non-Arrow electives.