Additional Required Courses

FIRST YEAR FOUNDATIONS

Level: Grade 9, required (0.5 credit)

This course, which meets in the Fall trimester, is designed to help freshman understand themselves as individuals, understand their role in a global community and make informed choices related to their health, interaction with others and daily responsibilities. In class, students are engaged in activities to help enhance their academic strategies, which include time management, organization, presentational development, study habits and note-taking. In addition, the Grade 9 class completes the online Brainology program, which helps students develop Growth Mindset thinking. Through this program students learn about brain functioning and engage in lessons that explore challenges, setbacks, resiliency and personal growth. Anatomy, reproduction, STDs, contraceptives, pregnancy and abstinence are covered in this unit. Finally, we also attend a seminar that displays the social norms of gender identity. A guest speaker comes to the WMA campus to help with gender identity awareness.

SOPHOMORE HEALTH SEMINAR

Level: Grade 10, required No Credit

Sophomores will engage in the health and wellness curriculum through seminar-style lectures by guest speakers. The seminars will cover three topics: mental health, substance use and abuse and sexual health. Guest speakers who are experts in the field will engage with and educate our students. This is not a scheduled class.

HEALTH 11

Grade 11, required (.25 credit)

This course is designed to enhance personal health and wellness through the discussion of mental health, positive psychology, sexual education and personal identity. The focus of this course is the development of identity, personal values and a goal-oriented mindset. Students will meet once per week over the course of one trimester. Students are graded on in-class assignments.

COLLEGE COUNSELING SEMINARS

(required, no credit) This series of courses has been developed by the College Counseling Office to aid our students in researching and selecting the colleges or universities that will best meet their needs and to assist them in the process of application. These seminars are required at each grade level and students earn no credit. Classes are scheduled to fit with the students’ other classes and meet with a frequency determined by College Counseling.

SOPHOMORE SEMINAR

Sophomore Seminar classes are offered by the College Counselors during the spring trimester. These classes will focus on a variety of topics including the importance of self-reflection in the college process; strategies for developing a strong personal statement; and an introduction to SCOIR, WMA’s college counseling software. This course has been designed to help our students find educational opportunities – primarily programs of study in postsecondary institutions – that are consistent with their occupational interests. All sophomores are administered the Self-Directed Search Assessment.

JUNIOR SEMINAR

These classes meet during the winter trimester. Students meet in a small group setting with a College Counselor and are provided an in-depth exploration of the college admission process. Students will learn how to research and identify colleges that are a good “match,” how to navigate SCOIR and a college website, how to complete the Common Application, brainstorm essay topics and work on the development of an effective personal statement. Students will create a Common Application account as part of the class.

SENIOR SEMINAR

By the fall of senior year, our focus turns to one-on-one meetings with our students. A number of required classes are offered to review the Common Application, to instruct students how to “link” their Common Application and Naviance accounts (a necessary step for the submission of their online applications), to understand the various application options (Early Decision, Early Action and Priority) and to address other important topics. Seniors will also have the opportunity to meet with college admission officers who visit our campus each fall.