PE Waiver

The PE waiver provides the opportunity for students to waive having PE as a required class for graduation.  This option is available to students participating in high school athletics including cheerleading and marching band.  (For ease of explaining and writing this, when I refer to sports or athletics throughout this post, please know that it also includes marching band.)  All students must still earn the full 20 credits to graduate from high school, this waiver would simply mean that what has typically been required (1/2 credit of Physical Education) would not need to be included in the 20 credits earned and an additional 1/2 credit of Elective would be required instead.

The option to utilize a PE waiver is open to all students.  Please be aware that athletic participation during your senior year does NOT count toward the waiver.

In order to utilize the waiver, students must successfully complete two full seasons of athletics.  This can be 2 different sports in one year, it could be 1 sport over two years, or even 1 sport one year and another sport the other year.  So, for example, if I participate in both football and basketball in the same year, I could apply for the waiver.  If I participate in football as a sophomore and again as a junior, I could apply for the waiver.  If I participate in football as a sophomore and track as a junior, I could apply for the waiver.

In order to have your sport counted as one which can be used for the waiver, it must be an approved high school sport.  This means that your club sport participation, like club soccer or club volleyball, is not included in the waiver eligibility.  Also, dance team and the competition cheer team are all club teams and not high school sponsored athletics and so they are not eligible for the waiver option.  Additionally, team managers and statisticians cannot count their involvement as a season toward the waiver.

Students must complete a "full season" in order to have the sport count which is considered from the first practice through the last event or banquet.  If a student is "cut" from a team, quits, or has an athletic/ activity code violation which requires them to forfeit 50% or more of the season, then that season would not be able to be used to meet the two-season requirement.  If you were to get hurt, the injury will not eliminate the option of having the season count if the principal, coach and athletic director determine that the student actively participated and made contributions in spite of the injury.

Many students ask if it can be a partial waiver because they had already completed one of the PE required courses and would only have 1 season of sport eligibility and the answer is no, there is no ability to mix and match.  If you have already completed a PE course, you can still utilize the waiver to eliminate PE as a required course, but you must complete 2 seasons of sports in order to apply for the waiver.  The bottom line is that 0 seasons of sports = needs PE/ doesn't meet the waiver eligibility requirement, 1 season of sport = needs PE/ doesn't meet the waiver eligibility requirement, and 2 seasons of sports = meets the waiver eligibility requirement and therefore doesn't need PE classes.

The district has developed a system to track your athletic participation automatically and that happens at the end of each school year.  Even though it should catch your sports automatically, it never hurts to double check at the end of the year to make sure your waiver appears on your transcript.

Honors Diploma

For some students, earning an Honors Diploma is an important goal. I have to be honest, this is not a factor for the colleges because the honors diploma recognition isn't granted until you graduate so colleges are not considering it when making their admissions decisions. The requirements for the honors diploma are established by the state department of education.

One of the important things to know about the honors diploma requirements is that they are different for future students than they are for kids graduating this year. The interesting challenge is that kids have thought the honors diploma requirements were confusing at times, but for the Class of 2026 and beyond they are definitely more difficult to understand all of the nuances. 

Here is a link to the state's explanation of the Honors Diploma requirements.

Time Commitment & Balance

Hopefully you are ready to request your classes online (and thanks to all those who have already done so) .  Don't forget, you need to submit your online registration by Friday (January 31st) and, if you are a junior scheduled to meet with me this week, please be sure to complete your registration before our meeting. 

When you are considering which classes you want to take it is really important to try to find a balance. You want to challenge yourself with courses that will push you and help prepare you for the future. At the same time you want to remember that it is high school and you need to be reasonable about your expectations for yourself. There is a balance that should be sought - between too many "easy" classes and too many "hard" classes. You know yourself best and what you can handle so while it may feel good to have every teacher recommend you for honors, AP, or IB classes it doesn't mean that it would be the ideal situation to load your schedule with 7 advanced classes. In the past I have even had students stop by proclaiming a plan to take 8 classes by skipping their lunch period.  I get it, there are a lot of incredible classes available at WKHS, but overloading your day and burning yourself out does nothing for your love of learning or your ability to successfully complete your classes.  I cannot stress enough how much I want you to think about the rest of your commitments.  

What sports, clubs, music groups, part-time jobs, and volunteer commitments do you have?  When will you have time to relax and breathe, spend time with your family and friends and, perhaps most importantly, still get a good night's sleep each night?

I completely understand that this can be hard to figure out the balance because you aren't at next year yet to be able to imagine what your days will feel like, but the Kilbourne staff created a Time Commitment Planning Calendar which can help you gain insight into what your intended plan will really look like.  You can find copies on the Kilbourne Counselor website - www.wkhscounselors.com - or there are hard copies available in the counseling center.  A student helped by completing a sample calendar so that you can see what a completed one looks like and that is also on the Kilbourne Counselor website.  I strongly encourage you to consider 2 of your busiest weeks and fill out the calendar so that you can have a realistic perspective for what the classes you are considering would provide a good balance for you - being both rigorous (particularly in any area of passion) and reasonable.

If you are struggling to find that balance, please talk to your parents about the classes you are considering and stop down to see me so that we can discuss it too.

New Courses

It is always exciting when new classes are rolled out to think about the opportunities that they provide. This year we have 2 new classes (both of which were discussed as a part of the registration presentation).

The new Math class is Probability and Statistics. This class is another course that is an alternative as an Algebra 2 equivalent class. So you can take this after Math 2 instead of Math 3 or QR. You can also take this class after Math 3 or after QR. So if you were in Math 3 this year, but don't want to move on to PreCalc next year, Probability and Statistics can be a choice. It should be a good class to give you an introduction to Statistics which could be helpful in the future if you are pursuing a career that is not math heavy as many of those fields require a stats class instead of a calculus class so it is nice to have been exposed to that content before you're in college.

The new Science class is Materials Science. This is a full year long science class that would come as a higher level science option. So after you have completed Physical Science and Biology you then have all of the other science class offerings - Chemistry, AP courses, IB courses, and the semester long science classes (Biomedical Science, Forensics, Astronomy, and Environmental Science). This is another class option for that time frame. It is a VERY hands on class with LOTS of labs. Which means if you are a student who frequently misses classes, this is NOT the class for you. But if you are someone who loves to learn from doing, then this is the perfect class for you. The class is designed to study the materials that make our world function and is likely a course that students interested in science or engineering fields would find appealing.

I recognize that being the first set of students to take a class can be a little scary, but these are great new offerings that you should consider if they sound appealing to you! Also, don't forget that tomorrow night is Curriculum Night from 7-8:30pm so if you want to talk to the teachers more about these two classes and what is the best fit for you along with your parents, come to Curriculum Night as the Math and Science teachers would love to discuss it with you!

Common Registration Questions

Since we distributed registration information last Thursday, I have had many similar questions and so I wanted to try to address those for you...

- If I am already a CC+ student, do I need to apply to the college again? No!  You do not need to apply again if you are already a CC+ student with that particular college.  So, for example, if you have already taken Comp 1 with CSCC and next year want to take Comp 2, then you are already a CSCC student and don't need to apply there again.  However, if you were in Math 3 this year and next year want to take CC+ PreCalculus, then you would need to apply to COTC because you are not already a student there.  It is important to note that even if you are already a CC+ student, you do still have to complete the CC+ registration packet each year!

- I missed the CC+ night, can I still participate? Great question. Thankfully a WKHS student came and recorded the presentation for us so that you can still have that as an option.  You and your parent/ guardian must still watch the presentation (video is linked on the counselor website) and fill out all of the forms and do the applications to the colleges.

- What do I do if I want to take summer school? There is a page in your packet with information about summer school. If you are needing credit recovery then in the coming month the counselors will get access to a registration form and be able to send you a link to sign up for free through Worthington summer school. If you were thinking of taking classes for get-ahead credit (not because you had failed) then you can check out the classes Worthington will offer on the district summer school website or you can also look at any accredited online school to take classes through them and transfer it back to Worthington. It is important to know that there are costs associated with get-ahead credit both through Worthington and through other online schools.

- What online summer school do most students usually use? Truly, you can use any accredited online school that meets your learning needs, but we definitely receive the most transcripts from TRECA each year. TRECA summer school registration opens in early April and ends at the start of June.

- Should I double up on science classes in my sophomore year? The key with your science classes if you are thinking about it from a college perspective is to take a science all 4 years. So it ultimately depends on what classes you want to take in your junior and senior year. If you are hoping for multiple AP or IB science classes, then you would likely want to double up on science in your sophomore year so that you can fit in more of those high level science classes. However if you are not really wanting to take more than 1 AP or IB science class, then no, you definitely should NOT double up in your sophomore year.

- What electives should I take? This is always a tough question for me to answer because it depends on you and your interests! What subject do you like best? What careers might you want to explore? What sounds fun and interesting to you? As you think about those questions, talk to your teachers about the classes they would suggest. If there is a class you really liked, ask that teacher what else might be similar that you could try taking next. And you should also consider attending Curriculum Night on Wednesday evening starting at 7pm. All of the classes will be represented in the commons and you can walk around and talk to the staff about the different classes. Fun hint to make the most of curriculum night... even though it runs from 7-8:30, I strongly encourage you to come at 7 to talk to the staff. That is because all of the current 8th grade parents will be in the auditorium from 7-7:30 listening to a presentation about 9th grade classes and then they will also be released to the commons to talk to the teachers so I anticipate it will be WAY more crowded starting at 7:30.

- I don't even know where to start at picking classes. Pause and breathe. You actually know far more than you think you do! Start with your graduation requirements. You know that you'll be taking an English and Math class. What is the next class in the sequence for you in those classes? That gives you 2 of your classes. You likely should be taking Science and Social studies classes so add those in next. Then it is time to add your Lunch and Prep/ Options. Now you have 6 of your 8 classes filled. So with the remaining 2 periods, are you involved in any fine art program (band, choir, orchestra or theater), if so, add that in. Do you want a foreign language class, if so, add that. And then with whatever room you have left, add in other electives. Again, keep in mind those graduation requirements - where are you with your health class? PE classes? Financial Literacy? Fine Art? 

- I go to Academy (or DACC or Linworth), how should I fill out my course requests? If you plan on continuing at Academy, DACC or Linworth, you can select Academy and DACC in your course selection sheet and then for all of those programs you are only selecting your other classes as the classes you plan on taking at WKHS. (So if you'll be full day at DACC you won't have any other classes.) If you are not currently a student at one of those programs, but have applied to them for next year, you are still going to fill out your schedule at Kilbourne as if you'd be here full day. When/ if you get accepted then we can adjust your schedule to cut it down to just the classes you'll be taking at WKHS.

- How does the AP vs CC+ schedule work and how do I know which one is better for me? The schedules are VERY different. So, let's say you're contemplating AP Lang and AP Gov vs CC+ Comp 1 and CC+ Government. All of those classes give you the same college credits. Both will take up the same amount of time in your school day. But that is where the similarity ends. AP Lang and AP Gov are taught by WKHS teachers and meet every day. You need to take a test at the end of the year to earn the college credit for the work you did in the class. For the CC+ classes, they are taught by CSCC professors who come into WKHS to teach you 2 days a week. You meet for the Comp class in 1st semester for 2 periods a day, twice a week and the Gov class meets for 2 periods a day twice a week in the 2nd semester. The grade you earn in the class throughout the semester is the grade you earn for both high school and college credit. How do you know which is better for you? It isn't really a better or worse. It is personal preference and comfort level as well as your future plans. If you are thinking of going to a highly selective type of college, you may want to take AP because those are widely known and recognized. If you are not a good test taker and know that you plan on attending college in-state, then CC+ might be the better option. If you are someone who does better by having a consistent, structured routine with a strong relationship with your teachers, then AP is likely the better path. CC+ requires a high level of independent learning and follow through. I'd encourage you to watch the CC+ video from the presentation to learn more about what some of the advantages and drawbacks of participating in the program would be to help you guide your decisions. One other point that is always important to keep in mind is that with CC+ if you were to fail the class, you are then responsible for paying for that class... where with AP classes if you fail you don't have to pay for the class. But my bigger point of emphasis is that if you are concerned on if you will pass the class or not, then perhaps you should be looking at other traditional college prep high school classes instead of AP or CC+.

- My teacher thinks I should take regular ___ class next year and I wanted to take the honors/ AP or IB version of the course, what should I do? First and foremost, talk to your teacher more about what you are thinking and why they are making the recommendation that they are suggesting. Your teachers are trying to set you up for success next year! Ultimately, if you and your parents disagree with their recommendation then you can use the Course Override Form on the counselor website to say that you want to take a harder class that wasn't recommended. Then, during your 1:1 meeting in February, I will change that class in your schedule if that form has been filled out.

Hopefully all of those answers help you if you have been wondering the same things.

How Many Classes?

As you start thinking about your courses for next year (and any subsequent years), it is important to be sure that you are taking enough classes, but you also don't want to over-extend yourself.

For most 9th, 10th and 11th graders, you will be taking 6 classes.  That would leave you with room for a lunch and an off period (prep or options or early release or late arrival).

For most seniors, if you are in good standing academically, you can drop to 5 classes.  Why do we give you the flexibility to drop to 5 classes?  Because the process of applying to college and applying for scholarships is time consuming and we want to be sure that you can give your best to your course work and also your future plans.  It is important for seniors to remember that 5 classes is the minimum required to be considered a Full Time student.  Being full time is important for a range of reasons - insurance, child support, good driver discounts, plus colleges definitely want to see you as a full time student.  So you definitely won't go below the 5 minimum classes in any semester.

While 5 to 6 classes is the minimum per year, if students are behind on earning credits due to failing classes, then it may be necessary to plan on taking more classes during a semester or the year.

Also, when planning out your classes over the next year, be sure that you double check and make sure you'll be taking enough classes to be eligible to participate in athletics and other co-curricular activities.  (Remember, any school sponsored activity that involves competition requires you to be eligible.  So this includes band, choir groups, Mock Trial, In the Know, etc.)  

In order to be eligible you must PASS at least 5 of the half credit courses each quarter.  IF you are signing up to take a Wellness for Life course or TOK, you need to remember that these classes are only worth .25 credits per semester so they do not count in the courses needed for co-curricular eligibility.  

If you have any questions about eligibility, please stop in the co-curricular office or stop to see me for additional clarification. 

Teacher Recommendations

One aspect of the registration process that can sometimes cause confusion for students related to selecting their classes is how to deal with teacher recommendations. (If you feel like this post is too long and you don't want to read it all my summary is - follow your teachers recommendations unless you feel like you have too many challenging classes recommended. If you want to override a teacher's recommendation to an easier class that is NO problem, we will do that in your meeting. If you want to take a harder class, be VERY cautious before you make that choice, but you can with the override form.)

During the last few days of classes, your teachers (hopefully) reviewed the different classes offered within their departments as well as talking with you individually about the courses they would recommend for you to take next year.  Some of the core and foreign language teachers directly submitted their recommendations for what class they would suggest for you to take directly into Infinite Campus.

If you don't agree with what a teacher has recommended, you are not locked into that course.  For example, we know that there are MANY students who will be recommended for lots of honors or AP classes and not want to take all of them.  This is completely appropriate and acceptable... in fact, I would say that I absolutely WANT you to prioritize and schedule a balanced load that meets your interests and goals for the future.  (And your teachers and administrators want that for you too!)

The first place that we suggest you start is by talking with your teacher about their recommendation and the course that you would prefer to take.  Since your teachers know your learning style and approach they will have important and valuable information for you and your parents to take into consideration when selecting classes.  I encourage you to carefully take their recommendations into consideration - especially if they are suggesting you take an "easier" course than the one you were previously considering.

However, we also know that some students may not feel comfortable telling a teacher that they want to take a different class than the one the teacher was recommending.  I am anticipating that this could be the case if a teacher is suggesting their elective or core course and you wanted a different one and don't want to hurt the teachers feelings.  I get it, but I will also remind you that the teachers should NOT be pressuring you into anything!  This is YOUR future and YOU are the one who will be in the class and doing the work next year!  So, know that I am more than happy and willing to talk to you about what courses you would like to change and make adjustments for you.  If you and your parents have decided that it is not in your best interest to take a class that your teacher has recommended and you want an easier or comparable course, then that is what I can easily fix during our individual meeting.

If you have decided that you want a more difficult course than what was recommended by your teacher then you must complete the Course Override form (on the Counselor website) in order for me to change that in your schedule.  Before you decide to go with a more difficult course than has been recommended, please be VERY careful in thinking through all of the possible implications of doing that because your teacher's are recommending based upon what they know about your learning AND what they know about the classes.  They want to make sure that you are being recommended for classes that will help you to be successful in the future.

Graduation Requirements

Understanding the graduation requirements can feel daunting for students and parents because there are so many components involved.  With registration kicking off today, having an idea of what you need to complete is essential to selecting your classes, so I wanted to take a moment and give a quick overview of the requirements to graduate.  

Basic Academic Requirements:

• 4 credits of English
• 4 credits of Math
• 3 credits of Science
• 3 credits of Social Studies
• 1/2 credit of PE (or additional elective credit if earning the PE Waiver)
• 1/2 credit of Health
• 5 credits of Electives (anything other than the classes listed above count as electives
• 1 full year worth of Fine Art completed between grades 7-12
• Financial Literacy requirement (can be met through Personal Financial Management, Economics & Financial Literacy, Independent Living, and Financial Algebra)

Demonstrate Comptency in English and Math:

• For most students this will be done by earning comptency scores of 684 or higher on the English 2 and Math 1 state End of Course tests.  Students can repeat these tests as needed.
• There are a range of other options for how comptency can be demonstrated, but testing is the clearest path.  If you need other options, I will be working with you to identify what pathway would work and be a viable option for you in the future.

Show Readiness by earning 2 Seals:

• There are 12 seals (9 state seals and 3 local seals) that students can try to earn.  
• All students must earn 2 seals and one of those two seals must be a state seal.
• If you visit the counselor website and look at the graduation requirements page there is a link to information about all of the seals.  As you click on each seal you will be able to see the specific information about what is required to try to earn that seal.

Lots of Reminders

How lucky are we to get 2 cold days on top of our long weekend? I hope that you are cuddled up inside with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book or shows to watch.  But, I have lots of reminders for you because this week also kicks off registration for next year's classes and more.

- For seniors, don't forget that Friday, January 31st is the deadline to order your cap and gown! Graduation is coming that fast.  You will order it online at https://buckeyescholastic.com/worthingtonkilbourne/

- For all students who are even remotely interested in participating in CC+ next year, the information night for you and your parents/ guardians is still on tomorrow night at 7pm in the WKHS auditorium.  This is a night for both WKHS and TWHS families so anticipate a full crowd.  All of the area colleges are also planning to be there for individual conversations specific to their schools as the formal presentation in the auditorium wraps up.

- Registration information was supposed to kick off tomorrow, but the modified 2A/B/C schedule will be pushed to Thursday so know that you will be under a very different bell schedule when we return on Thursday so taht all of the students in grades 9-11 hear the information about selecting your classes next year.

- Junior students and parents - I sent out an email over the weekend to "my" student's parents inviting you to sign up for our 1:1 junior meeting.  Every counselor will meet with their junior students for individually scheduled 30 minute meetings.  I also invite parents to join in on those sessions if interested.  If you are a junior or the parent of a junior, please use the calendar link I sent this weekend to the parent email address to sign up for your session.  I will explain more about those meetings durnig the registration presentation on Thursday.

- Remember, EVERY student will meet with me 1:1.  We will see freshmen out of your English classes and sophomores out of your History classes.  Juniors are the only ones who will need to schedule individual meetings on their own based on their off periods.

Enjoy your cold day tomorrow and of course, stay home, stay warm and stay safe!

College Credit Plus Information Night

In addition to the wide range of traditional high school courses we have available at WKHS, there are other academic options available to our students.

The College Credit Plus (CC+) program is an opportunity for high school students to take college courses while still enrolled in high school. Students have the option of completing courses on a college campus, online, or at WKHS.  College classes at WKHS include both classes that are taught by WKHS teachers who are eligible to serve as adjunct faculty at colleges and classes where CSCC instructors are coming to Kilbourne to teach our students.

Classes that we anticipate being taught at WKHS (dependent on enough students enrolling in them) include: Pre-Calculus, Calculus 1, English Composition 1, English Composition 2, Intro to Psychology, Intro to Sociology, Intro to American Government, and Ethics.

There are a lot of details involved in participating in the CC+ program and students must complete and submit the paperwork before April 1st to indicate their intent to participate in the CC+ program in the following school year.  CC+ is also available for students to take classes during the summer in addition to during the school year.

In order to explain all of the details of the program and to provide you with the forms necessary, ALL students and parents interested in participating in this program must plan to attend the Academic Options night which will be held 2 weeks from tonight on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00pm in the WKHS auditorium.  This will be a joint meeting for all of the students and parents in Worthington.  Every college in a 30 mile radius was invited to participate in the meeting.  

One thing that is important for students and parents to realize is that we are now back to the post-COVID requirements for CC+ and so this is a state requirement that you must participate in an information session.  As a result, please see me if you are unable to attend this meeting so we can explore other options for sessions being provided at local colleges which you can attend if you can't make it to the Worthington meeting.  Let me stress this again - this is a mandatory meeting for any students who want to participate in CC+ next year!

Credit Flexibility is another program we will highlight during the Academic Options night.  Credit flexibility allows students to earn credit based on a demonstration of subject area competency, instead of, or in combination with, completing hours of classroom instruction. Students are able to customize aspects of their learning around their interests and needs. It encourages student self-direction and motivates learners to develop new skills and fulfill their potential. Examples of credit flexibility opportunities include, but are not limited to, independent study, online learning, and demonstration of course proficiency.

If you have any interest in learning more about College Credit Plus and Credit Flexibility, please plan to join us January 22nd!

Next Year's Schedule

Mr. Almanson has been working tirelessly on the master schedule for next year.  He has determined where each class will be held during the school day to meet the most student requests possible. This includes running your requests through the computer to try to match as many of the requests as possible between what you had asked for and what is possible in the computers.  As of this morning, the administrators have officially "locked" the master schedule into place. 

Unfortunately, now that the schedule is locked it becomes crazy for the counselors as we go through each of the schedules that didn't match and try to figure out if there is a solution and what possible options we can use to make a schedule fit together. We will spend hours pouring over schedules and will have to call down some of you to talk about back up choices based upon the conflicts in your schedule. This is never easy and I know it is disappointing when you don't get all of the classes that you wanted, so I promise that I am doing the best I can to make everything work together.

I started the process of calling kids down today.  In the coming days, if you get a pass, an email or a remind message from me to come see me during your lunch, off period or between periods, I am asking you to please make every effort to come at the day and time I am calling for you so that we can look at your schedule together.  (And that specific timing is when I think I should be able to fit you in without making you wait for long.)  You don't want me to be the one to make those tough choices for you so we really do need to meet and look at the options together.

Inevitably, when everyone hears that the schedule is locked, students will be curious about the schedule and what their classes will look like for next year.  I am more than happy to talk about this with you, but not until all of the conflicts are resolved.  So, I ask you to please be patient with me and wait until the last three days of school (next week during your exams) to try to come and get a sneak peek at what your schedule will hopefully be for next year.  (Full disclosure though, all schedules are 100% up for revision and changes based on whatever has to happen with the master schedule as the summer progresses.)

Meeting Day CC+ Reminders

Tomorrow I will start meeting with sophomore students before transitioning back to juniors later this week and next week.  One quick reminder to all students who are hoping to participate in CC+ classes at any time next year, you need to bring your completed CC+ forms with you to our 1:1 meeting.

That means you need to have:

- Watched the videos

- Applied to the college(s): Columbus State for English, Psychology, Ethics, Government, or Sociology and Central Ohio Technical College for Math (there are detailed directions to complete this step on the Counselor Website)

- Filled out the Intent to Participate form and full packet (for the CSCC packet, that will include having your Cougar ID number which will come to you via email sometime between 2 days and a week after you have applied.

If you don't have those steps completed by the time we have your 1:1 meeting that is ok.  I will put your desired CC+ classes in as alternates and change your schedule once you have turned your forms in to me.

DACC/ Academy/ Linworth

When we are talking about registration for next year, it often leads students to think about some of the other learning program partnerships that are options available to you as Kilbourne students.  I am specifically thinking of the Delaware Area Career Center (DACC), Linworth, and the Worthington Academy.

It is important to remember that the Delaware Area Career Center requires students to apply and even though the priority deadline has passed, they assure us that they still welcome your application.  So, if you are interested in applying to DACC, please get your application completed and submitted online ASAP.  

For current juniors who are already enrolled as students at DACC, as long as you are in good standing with your program then you are automatically eligible to continue in your program next year.  So, when you register online you will select the 1/2 day or Full day option that you prefer and register only for the classes at WKHS that you plan on taking.

If you are a sophomore or junior who has applied to the career center, then when you are completing the online course registration, you will fill out the request as if you are taking a full day at WKHS.  Later, when you find out that you have been accepted to the program of your choice, then I will go back in and adjust your classes to reflect your half day or full day DACC preference.

Linworth is another incredible option for some of our WKHS students.  While most students who attend Linworth start there as freshmen, there are limited opportunities for older students to apply and attend.  If you are interested, we need to set up a time for you to visit and interview.  For current Linworth students, please register online for just the classes you will take at WKHS.  As always, you will set up your Linworth schedule at Linworth on the first day.  

Worthington Academy is another application based program available to WKHS students.  The Academy is housed on the west end of Perry/ Phoenix Middle School and it provides students with the opportunity to blend their learning with a mix of teacher instructed and online courses.

Much like the DACC and Linworth, students who are already attending the Academy and are in good academic standing can register for the Academy as a part of their registration process and then select only the classes you plan on taking at WKHS.  Those students who are applying for the Academy for the first time will register as if you were going to be attending classes at WKHS for the full day.  Once you are accepted, the Academy staff and I will go in and update your course requests so that you have the Academy and only the classes you plan on taking at WKHS in your schedule.

Please know that there are limited seats available at the Academy, so if you are interested in applying you want to get your application in as soon as possible.

If you have questions about the Worthington Academy, feel free to stop and see me or you can also contact the Academy Principal, Dr. Flynn, via e-mail at sflynn@wscloud.org.

Financial Literacy

One of the graduation requirements is for all students to complete a Financial Literacy Course.  There are a lot of different classes that can fulfill that requirement, but this tends to make the requirement a bit confusing.

All students grades 9-12 can take:

Economics and Financial Literacy - this class is a Social Studies elective course that will give you a SS elective credit and meet the financial literacy requirement.

Personal Financial Management - this class is a Business elective course that will give students an elective credit and fulfill the financial literacy requirement.

Independent Living - this is one of the Family & Consumer Science classes and it will give you an elective credit and fulfill the financial literacy requirement.

The cool thing about these classes is that they are all covering the same financial literacy standards, but the additional content and approach in the classes are different so that you can select the course which appeals most to you.

The state has changed the guidelines for students in the class of 2026 and beyond related to financial literacy so the following classes cannot be counted on to meet the Financial Literacy requirement for current 9th graders  and 10th and beyond, but do count for our current juniors through seniors:

Financial Algebra - this is a year long math class that meets the financial literacy requirements.

IB History SL or HL - Mr. Jordan currently addresses the financial literacy components within both the SL and HL versions of IB history. 

IB Business HL - Mrs. Kucharek currently addresses the financial literacy components in the HL version of the IB Business class.

As of this moment, there are a lot of questions on if the Financial Algebra or IB classes will be able to fulfill the requirements for Financial Literacy for the Class of 2026 and beyond, but if you are trying to plan now for what you will be taking in the future, the safest way to plan would be to anticipate taking one of the 3 classes identified that definitely can meet the Financial Literacy requirement.

CC+ Classes

On Tuesday night I wrote about AP and IB classes and how they might be able to result in you earning college credits for the high school work you complete.  College Credit Plus (CC+) is another avenue students can pursue to earn both high school and college credit.  The big difference is that CC+ classes are available to students for free and don't require you to take a test to try to earn the college credit.  The credit is earned by how you do in the classes.

The College Credit Plus (CC+) information for next year was released for students in Worthington at the same time as the registration information was rolled out last week.  The state helps to facilitate the costs of this program so they have established very specific requirements for students to complete in order to participate.  One of those requirements is that students have to attend a mandatory meeting every year - even if you have taken CC+ classes in the past.  Fortunately, this meeting requirement is still able to be fulfilled by watching a 2 part video series that is posted on the WKHS Counselor website.

With CC+ classes, there are some classes that will have WKHS teachers teaching the classes all year just like normal, but you get college credit for it.  This includes the PreCalculus and Calculus courses taught by Kilbourne's math teachers.

There are also classes taught by CSCC instructors who will come to Kilbourne and teach their courses.  These courses are different from traditional WKHS classes in that they will be taught 2 days a week for 2 periods a day.  The extra time available on the other 3 days can either be filled with another CC+ class or as time for you to work on studying and completing the work for your college class.  Below is a list of the classes that are going to be offered (depending on level of interest) and when they will run:

First Semester:
- English Composition 1: M/W
- Psychology: T/R
- Ethics: T/R

Second Semester:
- English Composition 2: M/W
- Sociology: T/R
- Government: T/R

If you are currently in AP Lang, when you take the AP Test at the end of the year, if you earn a 3 or higher then you will have earned the equivalency of the English Composition 1 class.  This would make you eligible to go straight to Comp 2.

One of the keys to understand about the CC+ classes is that this is guaranteed college credit IF you pass the class.  (So, unlike AP classes, no test to take on one specific day to try to earn the college credit.)  The credit is guaranteed for every public college in the state of Ohio.  Private colleges and out-of-state colleges all have the option of accepting or rejecting the credit just like they do with AP courses.

If you need me to help you map out how this would look for the classes you are considering, we can do this during your individual meeting or you can drop by and see me to discuss the choices.  This is a great, free opportunity and with the cost of college being so expensive, every free class can help so I don't want you to miss out on the chance.  If you are even remotely considering CC+ classes next year, please be sure to watch the videos with your parents, apply to the college(s), and complete and return the intent to participate packet to the Counseling Center!

AP/ IB Classes

Students have the opportunity to push themselves with rigorous classes such as honors, AP and IB.  And, with the AP and IB courses there is also the potential of earning college credit for completing the classes and performing well on the tests at the end of the year.  I wanted to spend a few minutes giving you highlights related to these options so that you are aware as you are scheduling your classes.

One of the top factors colleges consider when evaluating applicants is the strength of the academic schedule students take on during high school.  (And, of course, that they do well in those classes.)  One of the options that students can consider for selecting a rigorous academic schedule that also has the benefit of providing students with a global perspective and integrated learning to make connections across courses, is the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Students who are interested in completing the full IB diploma program will have specific IB courses to take along with completing the IB exams, an extended essay, and a community action service project along with a Theory of Knowledge course.  Even if students are not sure that they want to take on the full diploma program, you can still participate in IB courses!  You can take just a handful of classes (or even just 1) if that is what appeals to you.  For example, students interested in Psychology or History might elect to take just the IB Psychology course or just the IB History course.  

As an IB World School, our students have the opportunity to participate in a rigorous group of classes to push themselves to learn and grow.  Students that are in the IB program are among the first to talk about how much they have enjoyed the program and the small cohort of students who they study with in the program.  If you have questions about IB, I definitely encourage you to talk with students in the IB program or to Ms. Goodwin who is the IB program coordinator.  And, of course, you can always talk to me too.

Students must pay to take the IB exams and, depending on the level of the class, how well you performed on the test, and the college you are attending, you may be able to earn college credit for the course.  It is helpful in your planning to be aware that most colleges do not grant credit for individual SL classes - only Higher Level (HL) courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered in a wide range of subject areas from core subjects like English and Science to the arts such as AP Studio Art and AP Music Theory.  These classes are designed to fulfill the college course content and the teachers are following the curriculum requirements to prepare students for the AP exam at the end of the year.  

Students must pay to take the AP exam and, depending on how you do on it, you can earn college credit for the class.

Each college gets to set their own policy for what AP or IB classes they will give students college credit for completing and what the qualifying score must be in order to earn that credit.  You can usually find this information on the college websites as well as on the CollegeBoard website for AP exams.

Course Selection & Balance

When you are considering which classes you want to take it is really important to try to find a balance. You want to challenge yourself with courses that will push you and help prepare you for the future. At the same time you want to remember that it is high school and you need to be reasonable about your expectations for yourself. There is a balance that should be sought - between too many "easy" classes and too many "hard" classes. You know yourself best and what you can handle so while it may feel good to have every teacher recommend you for honors, AP, or IB classes it doesn't mean that it would be the ideal situation to load your schedule with 7 advanced classes. I get it, there are a lot of incredible classes available at WKHS, but overloading your day and burning yourself out does nothing for your love of learning or your ability to successfully complete your classes.  I cannot stress enough how much I want you to think about the rest of your commitments.  

What sports, clubs, music groups, part-time jobs, and volunteer commitments do you have?  When will you have time to relax and breathe, spend time with your family and friends and, perhaps most importantly, still get a good night's sleep each night?

I completely understand that this can be hard to figure out the balance because you aren't at next year yet to be able to imagine what your days will feel like, but the Kilbourne staff worked with students and created a Time Commitment Planning Calendar which can help you gain insight into what your intended plan will really look like.  You can find copies on the Kilbourne Counselor website - www.wkhscounselors.com - or there are hard copies available in the counseling center.  A student helped by completing a sample calendar so that you can see what a completed one looks like and that is also on the Kilbourne Counselor website.  I strongly encourage you to consider 2 of your busiest weeks and fill out the calendar so that you can have a realistic perspective for what the classes you are considering would provide a good balance for you - being both rigorous (particularly in any area of passion) and reasonable.

Additionally, when you are thinking about balance, don't forget that you want to have a balanced approach to your 4 years of high school.  Don't try to load up in your sophomore or junior year with the intention of taking a super easy senior year.  That isn't good either.

If you are struggling to find that balance, please talk to your parents about the classes you are considering and stop by to see me so that we can discuss it too.  I am emphasizing balance first because my plan is to talk about some of the rigorous course opportunities in the days ahead and I want the importance of balance to be the foundational thought you have before anything else!

Register Online

Just a quick reminder to all WKHS students, the online registration is now OPEN for you to log into Infinite Campus and submit your course requests.

Don't forget, you will want to search for courses using the course NUMBER from your course selection sheet (and not the course name).

If you need a reminder on how to submit your registration requests, we have screenshots with the step by step directions on the Counselor website - www.wkhscounselors.com

Be sure to fill your day to reach the 100% of units selected.  That means you will need to include lunch for both semesters and, if you want an off period, a prep/ options/ early release or late arrival for each semester.

Remember that you must select 3 alternate courses that you would want to take if your desired classes will not work in the way you had hoped.

Teacher Recommendations

One aspect of the registration process that can sometimes cause confusion for students related to selecting their classes is how to deal with teacher recommendations.

During classes, your teachers will be reviewing the different classes offered within their departments as well as talking with you individually about the courses they would recommend for you to take next year.  Some of the core and foreign language teachers are directly submitting their recommendations for what class they would suggest for you to take directly into Infinite Campus.

If you don't agree with what a teacher has recommended, you are not locked into that course.  For example, we know that there are MANY students who will be recommended for lots of honors or AP classes and not want to take all of them.  This is completely appropriate and acceptable... in fact, I would say that I absolutely WANT you to prioritize and schedule a balanced load that meets your interests and goals for the future.  (And your teachers and administrators want that for you too!)

The first place that we suggest you start is by talking with your teacher about their recommendation and the course that you would prefer to take.  Since your teachers know your learning style and approach they will have important and valuable information for you and your parents to take into consideration when selecting classes.  I encourage you to carefully take their recommendations into consideration - especially if they are suggesting you take an "easier" course than the one you were previously considering.

However, we also know that some students may not feel comfortable telling a teacher that they want to take a different class than the one the teacher was recommending.  I am anticipating that this could be the case if a teacher is suggesting their elective or core course and you wanted a different one and don't want to hurt the teachers feelings.  I get it, but I will also remind you that the teachers should NOT be pressuring you into anything!  This is YOUR future and YOU are the one who will be in the class and doing the work next year!  So, know that I am more than happy and willing to talk to you about what courses you would like to change and make adjustments for you.  If you and your parents have decided that it is not in your best interest to take a class that your teacher has recommended and you want an easier or comparable course, then that is what I can easily fix during our individual meeting or you can send me an email or drop by my office and I can make those adjustments.

If you have decided that you want a more difficult course than what was recommended by your teacher then you must complete the Course Override form (on the Counselor website) in order for me to change that in your schedule.  Before you decide to go with a more difficult course than has been recommended, please be VERY careful in thinking through all of the possible implications of doing that because your teacher's are recommending based upon what they know about your learning AND what they know about the classes.  They want to make sure that you are being recommended for classes that will help you to be successful in the future.

Number of Classes

As you start thinking about your courses for next year (and any subsequent years), it is important to be sure that you are taking enough classes, but you also don't want to over-extend yourself.

For most 9th, 10th and 11th graders, you will be taking 6 classes.  That would leave you with room for a lunch and an off period (prep or options or early release or late arrival).

For most seniors, if you are in good standing academically, you can drop to 5 classes.  Why do we give you the flexibility to drop to 5 classes?  Because the process of applying to college and applying for scholarships is time consuming and we want to be sure that you can give your best to your course work and also your future plans.  It is important for seniors to remember that 5 classes is the minimum required to be considered a Full Time student.  Being full time is important for a range of reasons - insurance, child support, good driver discounts, plus colleges definitely want to see you as a full time student.  So you definitely won't go below the 5 minimum classes in any semester.

While 5 to 6 classes is the minimum per year, if students are behind on earning credits due to failing classes, then it may be necessary to plan on taking more classes during a semester or the year.

Also, when planning out your classes over the next year, be sure that you double check and make sure you'll be taking enough classes to be eligible to participate in athletics and other co-curricular activities.  (Remember, any school sponsored activity that involves competition requires you to be eligible.  So this includes band, choir groups, Mock Trial, In the Know, etc.)  

In order to be eligible you must PASS at least 5 of the half credit courses each quarter.  IF you are signing up to take a Wellness for Life course or TOK, you need to remember that these classes are only worth .25 credits per semester so they do not count in the courses needed for co-curricular eligibility.  

If you have any questions about eligibility, please stop in the co-curricular office or stop to see me for additional clarification.