INTRODUCTION The information contained in this catalog will assist students in setting up their academic program for the coming year and will help them understand the rationale behind course recommendations and class assignments that academic departments and counselors make. Students and parents should read the 2017-2018 Course Catalog carefully as it contains many important changes. Justin-Siena builds its master schedule based primarily on student requests and needs. Thus it is critically important that students make careful, well-informed decisions when requesting their courses and that they work with their counselors to communicate their priorities. In those subjects in which students may have options, this catalog will assist in making prudent requests in light of college admissions requirements, graduation requirements, personal academic goals, and personal academic strengths as demonstrated by grades earned in pre-requisite courses and scores received on standardized tests. Counselors are excellent resources to advise students on the most sensible choice of classes given their overall academic record and individual college plans. Please note that transfers out of courses once the school year has begun will be granted only in extraordinary cases and that requests for transfers out of year-long courses at the beginning of the second semester will almost assuredly be denied. It is the responsibility of students and parents to follow published deadlines for submitting course requests, appeals, and requests for transfers. Therefore, students should consider carefully their choices for elective courses and list alternate courses that are satisfactory to them as well. In particular, seniors should be mindful that an intended course of study is usually submitted to colleges as part of the application process and that any change to the intended course of study (particularly to second semester courses) may impact college admissions. Students and parents should read this guide and the Student/Parent Handbook to understand the processes for stating course requests and registering for courses. Please follow deadlines that are communicated in meetings with counselors, in this catalog, through the Justin-Siena website, Braves Bulletin, Braves Bites, Schoology, and other media. Please note: Not all courses described in the course catalog will be offered. Some courses are offered in alternating years, and others, though offered, may be dropped due to insufficient numbers of course requests. While every effort will be made to accommodate student requests, first choices cannot be guaranteed.
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