Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Contents
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How does a student get to see his/her
school counselor?
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What help is available to help students
pay for college?
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How does a student make a schedule
change?
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What can a student do if he or she
is not doing well in a class?
-
How can parents monitor a student's
progress?
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How do students register for summer
school?
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How do students register for night
school?
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Can one lose credit for a course?
-
What are things students should be doing
each year to be ready for graduation?
-
What are the sports and extra-curricular
activities eligibility requirements?
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Can a student receive high school
credit for courses taken in middle school?
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What is the Student Service Learning
(SSL) Requirement?
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How is grade point average computed?
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How does a student obtain Age of Majority?
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How many Advanced Placement classes should
a student take?
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How can a student earn a Certifcate of
Merit?
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How can a student obtain a work permit?
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If a student fails courses for the
year, is he or she retained?
For other questions, contact the
Counseling Office staff.
How does a student
get to see his/her school counselor?
Students can come to the counseling
office to see their counselors on a walk-in basis during
lunch. They can make appointments to see their counselors
during the school day by completing appointment cards in the
counseling office.
Contents
What help is available
to help students pay for college?
Information on sources of financial aid and scholarship
information are available in the College/Career Center. The
school counselors and the College/Career Coordinator, are
available to assist students in the search for financial aid.
Contents
How does a
student make a schedule change?
Each winter students have the opportunity to select their
classes for the following year. Students and counselors meet
to discuss course selections. Students are encouraged to maintain
their classes; students may make changes through the summer
on a space-available basis. After school begins, there will
be no course selection changes except for those instances
when a student:
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Failed a prerequisite course and cannot continue
in that course;
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Attended summer school and can advance in
sequence;
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Registered for the wrong level, i.e. should
be in French III and is incorrectly scheduled in French
I;
Contents
What can a student
do if he or she is not doing well in a class?
Teachers are available during lunch and after school to
help students. Students are asked to let teachers know they
would like to meet with them, and they can schedule an agreed
upon time. In addition, each academic department has lunch
time help available. Peer tutors are also available through
the National Honor Society.
Contents
How can parents
monitor a student's progress?
Currently, students and parents can access the students'
grades through Edline.
Each student has a password. The school and MCPS Calendar
lists the end of the marking period, distribution of interim
reports, and distribution of report cards. Wootton
Calendar
The purpose of the interim/ progress report is to inform
parents about their child's academic progress in each subject
area. The interims/progress reports are mailed out to all
students at the midpoint of each of the four marking periods.
As always, parents are encouraged to contact teachers with
questions and concerns regarding their child's performance.
Teachers are available via e-mail. Teachers' e-mail addresses
are available in the student handbook. They can also be found
at on our website.
Counselors are also available by phone or e-mail. Contact
your child's counselor to discuss
your concerns.
Contents
How do students
register for summer school?
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offers high school
courses at six schools. The MCPS extended hours web site describes
courses available, registration processes, and other information
at:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/
Summer school schedules are available in the Counseling
Department, usually in May. Registration occurs through June,
and summer school begins in late June/early July. Students
may take two semesters of summer school earning a maximum
of one credit. Courses failed during the year may need to
be repeated in summer school. Students should consult with
their counselor about course selection.
Many students take summer school to fulfill prerequisites
or to allow them the opportunity to explore electives during
the regular school year. Again, these options should be discussed
with a counselor prior to registration.
WHS often offers Health Education for one semester during
the summer.
Contents
How do students register
for night school?
The MCPS Evening High School (Extended Hours Program) is
described at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/.
Registration forms and information are available in the
Counseling Department at the beginning of each semester. Students
should consult with their counselor about course selection.
Contents
Can one lose credit
for a course?
Three (3) un-excused tardies to class equal one (1) un-excused
absence. Upon the third un-excused absence, an Loss of Credit
(LC) warning form is prepared by the teacher, forwarded to
the appropriate administrator then mailed home. Upon the fifth
un-excused absence, the teacher prepares the final LC form,
gives it to the appropriate administrator who notifies the
parent/ gardian of the loss of credit. The report card will
show "E2" for the grade and be calculated in students'
GPA. The student MUST STILL ATTEND CLASS!
MCPS has an issue booklet titled, "Student Rights and
Responsibilities". It can be read at:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/students/rights/pdf/StudentRightsResponsibilities.pdf
The current MCPS policy and practice can be found at: Grading
and Reporting, Current Policy and Regulation: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/grading/
Contents
What are things students
should be doing each year to be ready for graduation?
9th and 10th Grades
Students should not necessarily be taking the most rigorous
courses available. Complete a self awareness of your interests
and study skills to help you to choose the most appropriate
level of courses. Ultimately, a students' schedule should
be challenging but not overwhelming. MCPS publishes a booklet
called "Getting
Started - Career/College Planning Guide" to help
you.
11th Grade
Continue taking a challenging and interesting courseload.
In October, take the PSAT. In May or June, take the SAT's
http://www.collegeboard.com/testing
or the ACT’s
http://www.act.org/aap/index.html. In the spring, meet
with your counselor to discuss post-graduation plans. Do a
college search using Naviance in the Career Center . Visit
colleges during your vacations.
In the spring of 11th grade students receive the booklet
"Getting
Ready, Career/College Planning Guide for Eleventh Grade Students."
This handbook provides information about post high school
options, career planning, college planning, scholarships and
financial aid, and an updated countdown to graduation for
juniors and seniors.
12th Grade
Maintain and if possible enhance your good record. Wootton
sends senior grades and attendance to all colleges to which
students apply. Colleges have been known to rescind acceptances,
so it is important to keep your grades high. Graduate with
honors, you deserve it!
Contents
What are the sports
and extra-curricular activities eligibility requirements?
A student must meet eligibility standards in order to participate
in MCPS sponsored extracurricular activities which include:
school athletic teams after school intramural activities,
extracurricular clubs, and school sponsored after-school dances
A brief summary of the policy says:
The policy requires students to maintain a 2.0 average with
no more than one "E" (failure) in the previous marking
period to be eligible to participate in the listed activities.
A student's report card will state whether they are eligible
or ineligible for extracurricular activities.
If a student becomes ineligible, the student will be encouraged
to attend an academic support program. The student may appeal
at report card time to the activity sponsor to show that they
are now meeting eligibility standards. The procedure is as
follows:
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Student obtains an Eligibility Petition Form from the
activity sponsor.
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Student obtains their current grades from all of their
teachers that is signed and dated. The grades must demonstrate
that the student is now eligible.
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Student turns in the completed form to the activity
sponsor.
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The final decision regarding the student's petition
will made by the principal.
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A student who receives an incorrect grade must see the
teacher, the counselor and/ or the appropriate Assistant
Principal.
See MCPS Regulation IQD-RA: Academic Eligibility for High
School Students Who Participate in Extracurricular Activities),
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/iqdra.pdf
The Montgomery County Board of Education is continuing the
extracurricular activity (ECA) fee that you may be required
to pay for high school students for the school year 2008-2009.
The MCPS Extracurricular Activity Remittance Form can be downloaded
and printed from:
http://mcps.k12.md.us/departments/forms/pdf/280-37.pdf
Fees can also be paid online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/fms/payeca.shtm
Contents
Can a student receive
high school credit for courses taken in middle school?
Students taking high school courses in middle school are
required by State of Maryland regulations (COMAS 13A.03.02.05)
to pass the course and the final examination at the end of
the second semester in order to earn credit towards high school
graduation. In additional, Montgomery County Public Schools
(MCPS) Regulation ISB-RA, High School Graduation Requirements,
states (II .A) that original credit may be received for foreign
language and mathematics courses taken in middle school if
the student successfully completes the course and passes the
examination at the end of the second semester. Currently,
MCPS, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2 and foreign languages
levels 1-3 are the high school courses offered in middle school.
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What is the Student Service
Learning Requirement?
Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements
contain a student service learning (SSL) component. MCPS students
are required to complete a minimum of 60 SSL hours. Middle
school students complete 30 SSL hours through the infusion
of service learning experiences in the middle school curriculum.
The remaining 30 hours may be earned in middle or high school.
New students enrolling in MCPS as second semester juniors
are required to accumulate 15 SSL hours; those enrolling anytime
during the senior year are required to complete 10 SSL hours.
All documented SSL hours from any school system will be
accepted toward the MCPS graduation requirement.
Students who earn 260 or more SSL hours are eligible to
receive a Certificate of Meritorious Service.
Hours may be accumulated through the following:
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Curriculum - Courses with service learning outcomes
and activities are identified in the course descriptions.
Students may earn all, part, or none of the identified
hours based upon evidence of attainment of the service
learning outcomes for the course.
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Co-curricular - A list of approved school activities
and organizations that include SSL is available in schools.
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Community Organizations - Students may complete SSL
hours through activities offered by approved organizations
outside the school setting and day. The MCPS listing of
approved organizations is available to students in media
centers, career centers, and guidance offices, from the
SSL coordinator, Ms. Gay Maslow, in Room 156, by phone
at 301-279-8591 or by e-mail.
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Special Student Service Activities - A student must
present a written proposal for approval to the school
service learning coordinator before performing service
learning activities not approved as described above.
Verification of service is required for hours earned through
co-curricular activities, community organizations, and special
activities.
Visit the Wootton
SSL web page .
For more information see:
Contents
How is grade point average
computed?
All semester grades (A-E) appear on the report card and
on the permanent record card and are used in determining grade
point average (GPA) and weighted grade point average (WGPA)
in accordance with the procedures set forth in MCPS Regulation
IKC-RA, which can be read/downloaded from
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ikcra.pdf,
Grade Point Averages and Weighted Grade Point Averages. An
additional quality point is added to grades of "A"
and "B" in all honors courses and to a grade of
"C" in advanced placement and advanced level courses
to determine WGPA. MCPS does not rank students.
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How does a student obtain
Age of Majority?
Age of Majority can be requested occurs whenever a student
has attained 18 years of age or is married; the permission
or consent required of and the rights accorded to the parents
of the student shall thereafter be required of and accorded
to the student.
Students desiring Age of Majority should write a letter
to their principal and copy their counselor.
Contents
How many Advanced Placement
classes should a student take?
Students should consider the increased time needed to successfully
handle the rigor of AP courses, and not select more AP courses
than they can realistically handle. AP courses are college
level courses. AP Exams are given during the second week of
May. Exams cost about $80. Fee waivers and other assistance
are available at WHS if families experience hardship in paying
for these exams. Students who score well on the exams may
be able to earn college credit for AP courses.
See
http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/students/index.html
How does a student earn
a Certifcate of Merit?
A Certificate of Merit is earned with a grade point average
of 3.0 or above and 12 credits earned in advanced placement
courses.
Contents
How can a student obtain
a work permit?
Work permits may be obtained from the secretary in the main
office. A work permit is needed for each job held by a student
until they reach the age of 18. Students should have the promise
of a job before requesting a work permit.
Contents
If a student fails
courses for the year, is he or she retained?
Students are promoted to the next grade based on the total
number of credits earned.
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To be promoted to 10th grade, students must have 5 credits.
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To be promoted to 11th grade, students must have 10
credits.
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To be promoted to 12th grade, students must have 15
credits.
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