Welcome to Blue Hills Regional Technical School

Program of Studies

PLEASE DOWNLOAD A COPY FOR EASIER READING

DOWNLOAD IN PDF - DOWNLOAD IN WORD (.DOC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter to Parents and Students .................. 2

Promotion - Graduation Requirements .................. 3

Course Requirements for Graduation .................. 4

Grading / GPA Scale .................. 5

Class Rank .................. 5

Honor Roll Requirements .................. 5

Physical Education Requirement .................. 5

Tech Prep .................. 6

AACES Program .................. 6

Cooperative Education Program .................. 7

Vocational Technical Programs .................. 8

Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing .................. 9

Automotive Repair ................. 10

Computer Technology ............ 11-12

Construction Technology ................. 13

Cosmetology ................. 14

Culinary Arts ............ 15-16

Design & Visual Communications ............ 17-18

Drafting / CAD ................. 19

Electrical Technology ................. 20

Electronics ............ 21-22

Graphic Communications ............ 23-24

Health Occupations Cluster ............ 25-27

Early Education and Care ............ 25-26

Health Assistant ............ 26-27

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 28

Metal Fabrication & Joining Technologies ............ 29-30

Academic Programs ................. 31

English Language Arts ............ 32-34

Mathematics ............ 35-38

Science ............ 39-42

Social Studies ............ 43-45

Physical Education / Health Education ............ 46-47

Title I / ESL ................. 48

MCAS Preparation ................. 48

Special Education Resource / Instructional Programs ................. 49

Success Skills, Computer and Business Requirements ................. 50

Electives: Business Electives ................. 51

Foreign Language Elective: Spanish ................. 51

Technical Drawing Electives ................. 51

Engineering Program ............ 52-53

Dear Parents and Students:

The Program of Studies provides a complete listing of vocational program and academic course offerings for the coming school year. Please take this opportunity to review this document. This year, we have added a few new and creative academic elective course options. Also, certain required courses have been reformatted to include content necessary for student success on MCAS, the Certificate of Occupational Proficiency and in high school. As a result, students and parents are urged to consult with administration, faculty members and guidance counselors to seek information and/or advice before the course selections are made.

The Program of Studies, as well as additional course selection materials and forms will be distributed to students. They should bring this information to the class where the teacher of each subject will discuss the course offerings in his/her subject area and will make individual recommendations to each student for next year. Next, students should thoroughly discuss their selections with a parent or guardian and return all pertinent materials to school as will be indicated.

Please keep the following in mind: The ability to accommodate requests for schedule changes is minimal once the school year begins. Careful consideration should be exercised in the selection of courses. Also, the determination of which courses will run is based upon the number of students selecting each course, and the constraints of the school’s master schedule. All students will have their Vocational Program (Exploratory for Freshmen), as well as other courses such as Title I, added to their schedule as needed or as necessitated through testing results and/or IEP.

Blue Hills has a tradition of preparing students for future technical employment, as well as continued education. We invite you to be part of that tradition.

Regards,

James P. Quaglia

Assistant Superintendent Director / Principal

The Blue Hills Regional Technical School District is an equal opportunity educational institution. All programs, courses of study and activities are open to all students without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin or handicap. The School District is in full compliance with Massachusetts Law, Chapter 622 of the Acts of 1971, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (U.S. Code), and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Individuals may make inquiries relative to Chapter 622 and Title IX from the coordinator, at the school address or by phoning 781-828-5800.

PROMOTION - GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

As a student at Blue Hills, you will spend approximately half of your time in vocational - technical programs and the other half of your time in academic classes, on an alternating week basis. During your four years, you must earn 64 units of credit in both your vocational programs and academic classes in order to satisfy our graduation requirements. Throughout your time here, you and your families will have opportunities to select classes in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Electives that you find interesting, challenging and that most meet your needs for your goals regarding higher education and/or future employment. Guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators are all here to help you make choices around which classes can help you build a strong foundation from which you can expand your interests and skills towards a rich and rewarding post graduate path.

Promotion and graduation requirements are as follows:

· Year-long academic classes that meet for two periods each day are worth TWO (2) credits

· Year-long academic classes that meet for one period each day are worth ONE (1) credit

· Half-year academic classes that meet for one period each day are worth HALF (.5) of one credit

· Full participation in vocational technical programs, as well as its technical/related class, are worth EIGHT (8) credits

· You MUST earn a MINIMUM of FIFTEEN (15) credits each year in order to be promoted to the next grade.

Please note:

q A student receiving a failing grade for three (3) terms in any subject has failed that subject for the year.

q A student receiving four F’s in a subject is not eligible for summer school.

q A yearly average of a D- or above is required to pass a course. To receive credit in any course, you must pass at least two marking periods, one of which must be the last marking period.

q Students who have difficulty in meeting these requirements or who have questions pertaining to these credits should contact their guidance counselor.

q An Academic Review Board meets at the end of the school year to determine eligibility for promotion or graduation.

Course Requirements for Graduation

While at Blue Hills, you will have many opportunities to make choices about the academic classes and vocational programs that best meet your needs as a student. However, in order to be eligible for graduation, you must earn the following credits over your four years as a student:

English 8 credits
Mathematics 8 credits
Science 3 credits
Social Studies 3 credits
PE/Health (alternate P.A.S.S. / ESL) 3 credits
Vocational Exploratory (Grade 9) 4 credits
Vocational Program (Grade 9) 4 credits
Vocational Program (Grades 10-12) 24 credits
MCAS Preparation (Grade 10) 1 credit
Other requirements:

Success Skills (Grade 9) ½ credit
Intro. To Computer Skills (Grade 9) ½ credit
Small Business Operations (Grade 11) ½ credit
Personal and Professional Skills (Grade 11) ½ credit

Electives: Foreign Language, Tech Drawing,

Engineering Program courses 3 or more credits

Grading / GPA Scale

Blue Hills Regional Technical School uses the following system in determining its letter grades:

Letter Grade	Numerical Grade	Grade Point Average
A	93-100	4.0
A-	90-92	3.7
B+	87-89	3.3
B	83-86	3.0
B-	80-82	2.7
C+	77-79	2.3
C	73-76	2.0
C-	70-72	1.7
D+	68-69	1.3
D	63-67	1.0
D-	60-62	0.7
F	Below 60	0.0

CLASS RANK

Quality grade points are used when applying to college and are determined by what level classes you choose to take. Many of your core academic classes are offered at different levels:

Honors * = 4 QP College = 3 QP Standard / Team = 2 QP 4) Resource/Other = 1 QP

* Honors level courses (4 Quality Points) may require department head approval.

Rank in class will be determined by multiplying the GPA Raw Number for each course taken (based on end of course grades) by the quality points (QP) assigned to the course. Total Quality Points are cumulative starting with grade nine.

Letter Grade

GPA

GPA Raw Number

4.0

A-

3.7

Class Rank

B+

3.3

Quality Points

(QP)

3.0

B-

2.7

C+

2.3

2.0

C-

1.7

D+

1.3

1.0

D-

0.7

0.0

HONOR ROLL REQUIREMENTS

A student shall be placed on the Honor Roll provided he/she has earned the following grades:

1. Students receive high honors when they receive A’s in all areas listed on the report card

2. Students receive honors when they receive A’s and B’s in all areas on the report card

Physical Education Requirement

Physical education, consisting of gym, pool and health, is required of all students unless a doctor’s certificate is on file stating that participation in physical education would be injurious to your health. One credit towards promotional/graduation requirements will be earned each year for passing physical education/health. However, credit adjustments due to special programs may alter some of the above requirements.

TECH PREP

The Blue Hills Regional Technical School’s Tech Prep program is a partnership with several community and technical colleges in Southern New England. Beginning in high school and continuing through two years of a post-secondary school (listed below), Tech Prep consists of a common core of sequential course work in mathematics, science, communication and technology. Its purpose is to graduate students with an associate degree in a high demand occupational field through a strong career educational component and rigorous academic and technical preparation. Students can earn advanced standing and credit towards an associate degree (articulated credit), as well as guaranteed admission into specific post-secondary programs. Participating Schools:

Boston University Center for Digital Arts; Franklin Institute of Technology; Johnson & Wales University; Massachusetts Bay community college; Lincoln Technical Institute; Massasoit Community College; New England Institute of Technology; Northeastern University; Quincy College; University of Massachusetts, Boston; Wentworth Institute of Technology.

AACES PROGRAM

(Accelerated Articulated College Entrance)

This collaborative program with Massasoit Community College gives qualifying grade 12 students the opportunity to attend Massasoit full time during their senior year. They earn credits to complete their freshman year in college while fulfilling all the requirements to graduate from high school. Seniors who wish to participate must meet specific academic, attendance, and discipline requirements. Students interested in applying should contact their Guidance Counselor in the spring of their junior year.

AACES Guidelines:

1.) Any college or university course taken through the AACES program will count as the equivalent of a 4 quality point course offered at BHR for the purposes of calculating student GPA.

2.) AAC