1) The document provides information for parents about course selection for 8th grade students transitioning to 9th grade at ZIS. 2) It outlines the graduation requirements and the core classes all 9th grade students will take. It also reviews the options available for foreign language, math, electives and other requirements. 3) Key dates are provided for submitting course request forms, parent information sessions, and other transition events to help families and students with the selection process.

1. Grade 8 Parent Information Evening:
Course Requests for Grade 9
February 24th, 2014

2. ZIS Links
• This PowerPoint will be available on
the Parents’ Portal.
• You are welcome to take notes, but it
is not required 

3. Tonight’s Purpose
• Begin transition process
• Basic background information
about the Upper School
• Outline process for course
selection
• Go over the course selection
choices

4. Assumptions
• Child in Grade 8 at ZIS
• Know about ZIS Middle School
• Don’t know as much about ZIS
Upper School
• Excited (& nervous) for child to
be in “High School”

5. Welcome to the Upper School
• Amy Greene
Upper School Assistant Principal
• Adrian Castelli
History Teacher
Grade 9 Program Coordinator

6. Class of 2018

7. Welcome to the Upper School
• Tonight is the beginning of an
important transition: Middle School
→ High School
• Many transition events planned for
Students, Parents and Teachers
• “Transition Program” is outlined on
handout
• August 18th = First day of High
School!

8. Upper
School
=
Seriou
s

9. Parent Transition Events
• Parent Transition Tours:
• Tuesday, March 18th, 14:25 – 15:35
• Friday, April 11th, 10:30 – 11:15
• Monday, May 5th, 9:00 – 10:15
– An email with information on how to register will be sent
by PA rep
• Grade 8 Parent Transition Information
Evening:
– Student and teacher perspectives/ Panel Discussion
– May 13th at 18:30 in the Upper School Theater

10. Student Transition Events
• Course Selection Information Meetings
(March)
• Advisory Q & A (April)
• Student Tours of Upper School (May)
• Student End of Year BBQ (June)
• Grade9 Student Orientation (13:00 Monday,
August 18th)
• First day of High School (Tuesday, August 19th,
2014)

11. Upper School Schedule
2014/15
D

12. Upper School Schedule
• 8 courses (A to H)
• Each course meets 5 times every 2
weeks
• 4 periods per day
• Periods are 85 minutes (65 min on
Wednesday)
•
•
•
•
•
Daily Advisory meetings
50 minute Lunch
School Day Starts at 8.45
School Day Ends at 15.50
Early Release at 14.40 on Wednesday

13. Upper School Schedule
2014/15
D

14. Upper School Schedule
2014/15

15. Upper School Schedule
2014/15

16. Graduation Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
4 credits English
2 credits World Language
3 credits Social Studies
3 credits Science
3 credits Math
2 credits Creative Arts
2 credits Physical Education
4 credits Electives
Service Learning

17. Graduation Requirements
• Each class counts as 1
credit
English 9 = 1 English
Credit
• By the end of Grade 12 you
need to fulfill the minimum
requirements
• Information recorded on
“Transcript”
• Only minor impact on

18. Graduation Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
4 credits English
2 credits World Language
3 credits Social Studies
3 credits Science
3 credits Math
2 credits Creative Arts
2 credits Physical Education
4 credits Electives
Service Learning

19. Graduation Requirements
• 4 credits English
• 2 credits World
Language
• 3 credits Social Studies Helpful to fulfill
Creative Arts
• 3 credits Science
requirement in
• 3 credits Math
Grade 9 & 10
• 2 credits Creative Arts
Students taking the
• 2 credits PE
full IB in grade 11
• 4 credits Electives
& 12 may not be
able to take Creative
• Service Learning
Arts class

20. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
History I
Coordinated Science I
PE / Health 9
English 9
German
Math
Elective 1
Elective 2

21. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
•
•
•
•
History I
Coordinated Science I No selection
English 9
required
PE / Health 9
• German
• Math
Student must
select level
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
Student can
select courses

22. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
•
•
•
•
History I
Coordinated Science I No selection
English 9
required**
PE / Health 9
• German
• Math
Student must
select level
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
Student can
select courses

23. Grade 9 Humanities Option
• Interdisciplinary course
• Explore issues that challenge human
societies
• Extends their understanding of the world
around them in local and global contexts
• Blends together English, Geography,
History, and World Religions
• Students earn 2 credits
• Taken instead of English 9 and History 1

24. Grade 9 Outdoor Pursuits
• Semester Long Elective.
• Can be taken in grade 9 or grade 10.
• Experience Based Outdoor Adventure and
environmental education
• Focus on knowledge and skills and safety.
• Activities may include: mountaineering,
kayaking, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing.
• Expectations: 2 overnight expeditions and
3 hour long sessions on Wednesday
afternoons.

25. Upper School Schedule
2014/15

26. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
•
•
•
•
History I
Coordinated Science I No selection
English 9
required
PE / Health 9
• German
• Math
Student must
select level
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
Student can
select courses

27. Math Options
• Math 9 Studies
• Math 9
• Math 9 Honors
Current Math
teacher will help
you determine
which course is
most
appropriate.

28. German Options
All students must enroll in one German
class.
• German I
• German 1b / 2a
• German II
• German 2b
• German III
• German IV
• German Studies for Fluent Speakers
• German Standard for Fluent Speakers
Current German teacher will help you determine which

29. German – from MS to US
MS German Course
US German Course
German:
Beginner/Basics
Intermediate
Advanced
German I, Ib, II, IIb,
III or IV
German Mother
Tongue
Speakers/
Mother
based on recommendation of teacher.
German Studies for
Fluent Speakers
German Standard for
Fluent Speakers

30. All Grade 9 students take
EIGHT classes
•
•
•
•
History I
Coordinated Science I No selection
English 9
required
PE / Health 9
• German
• Math
Student must
select level
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
Student can
select courses

31. Elective Options
Languages
• French
• Spanish
Creative Arts
• Concert Band
• Concert Choir
• Creative Music
• Essential Theater
• Foundation Art and
Design
• String Orchestra
English
• EAL III
• Digital
Journalism*
does not count as an English
credit.
Other
• Learning Support
• Virtual High
School (VHS)

32. French Options
•
•
•
•
•
French
French
French
French
French
I
II
III
IV
for Fluent Speakers
Current French teacher will
help you determine which
course is most appropriate.

33. Spanish Options
•
•
•
•
•
Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III
Spanish IV
Spanish for Fluent
Speakers
Current Spanish teacher will help you
determine which course is most
appropriate.

34. Creative Arts Requirements
• 2 Creative Arts credits
needed to graduate.
• Art, Music and Drama
classes all count towards
this requirement.
• STRONGLY encouraged
to complete this
requirement before Gr 11.
• *especially true for IB Diploma students

35. Music Options
• Creative Music
Gives students a chance to explore music and musicianship
through a wide range of activities. Students will learn
skills on the guitar and keyboards for a large portion of
the course and apply those skills to performance and
composition. Students get to choose the music that they
enjoy the most…
• Concert Band
• Concert Choir
• String Orchestra

36. Art Option

Foundation Art and Design
Aims to provide a firm foundation in the fundamentals of Art
and Design. The curriculum provides a broad range of
experiences utilizing the full range of media available in the
Art department, including painting, drawing, graphic design,
sculpture, digital software and photography.

37. Drama Option

Essential Theater
Introductory course
designed to give
students a sampling of
what the theater has to
offer. The course covers
both work on-stage and
backstage. Students are
exposed to acting and to
the history of theater
through scripted work
and improvisation

38. English Elective Options
Digital Journalism
Multimedia
news, opinion features
and investigative reports.
Publication
on individual blogs and
school newspaper, The Lion’s
Journal
Teamwork
and cooperation on
projects and shared publications.

39. Virtual High School (VHS)
• More information at http://www.govhs.org
• Not a common course for grade 9 students.
• Students who choose this option should be
independent workers, self-motivated and
serious in their studies.
• Permission is needed to enroll. Talk to
Mr. Kirkwood or Mr. Soldner.

40. Mandatory “Electives”
Some Students may be “required” to take
certain electives based on teacher
recommendations.
 EAL
Students enroll in EAL and English 9 at
the same time.

Learning Support
Designed to assist students achieve a
level of skills which enables them to
compete in the mainstream academic
arena and make progress towards the
completion of their education goals.

41. What’s Next?
• Student Meetings:
Students will have a
chance to hear this same information on
Wednesday.
• Conversations:
Students, teachers and
parents talk about the most appropriate classes
for next year.
• Research:
Go to http://www.zis.ch/ to view
the Program of Studies for more information
about each class
• Complete:
Fill-out the Course Request Form

43. Course Selection Timeline:
• February 24th: Parent Information
Meeting
• February 26th / March 5th : Student
Information Meetings. Students
receive Course Request Forms
• Now – March 7th (Kilchberg) March
14th (Baden) Students discuss course
selection with parents and current
teachers
• By March 7th or March 14th:

44. Questions???
• Right Now: General interest questions as a
large group
• In A Moment: Specific questions about
personal situations. Mrs. Greene, Mr.
Castelli, Mrs. Fox, Mr. McGrath and Mr.
Friesen will all be available to speak with
you individually.
• Additional Information: Grade 9
Transition Program email sent from PA

45. Key Dates
• March 7th – Course Request Forms
Due
• March 18th – Parent “Transition
Tour” #1
• April 11th – Parent “Transition Tour”
#2
• May 5th – Parent “Transition Tour”
#3
• May 14st – Grade 8 Parent
Information Evening