The Guidance Connection
Scheduling Issue
a note from the supervisor
When people hear the term March Madness they envision college athletes, basketball, tournaments, and the bracket that leads to the Final Four. It is an exciting time for anyone who follows sports, especially college basketball. When we talk about March Madness in the guidance department, we envision something completely different. For us, March Madness signals the scheduling and testing season!
This issue of The Guidance Connection will focus on the scheduling process. Please take some time to review the information below. You will find information on scheduling presentations, student/parent meetings, the academies, electives, and more. Keep an eye out for our next edition which will focus on testing. As always, please contact your child's counselor if you have any questions.
The Scheduling Process
The scheduling process begins at the conclusion of midterm exams for the following academic year. Teachers of core content classes (English, math, science, and social studies) will submit placement recommendations at the close of marking period two. Counselors will then meet with students, beginning with the junior class to discuss the process and provide a general overview of course offerings. All classes must be taken in proper sequence and students must meet all prerequisites for courses. Students cannot enroll in the next level of a course without passing the previous level.
Counselors will provide students with scheduling information specific to their grade level and program. Students are encouraged to review this information with their parents. Students are required to meet with their guidance counselors to discuss and finalize the recommendations and electives chosen. Parents are encouraged to participate in these meetings. Once all students have met with their guidance counselors, the school master schedule is developed and student schedules are generated.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements - Assessment
Graduation Requirements - Coursework
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is run by the College Board. The program allows students to take classes which could earn them college credit. These courses are designed to give students the experience of an entry-level college course. AP exams are administered in May and are scored on a scale of 1-5, with a score of 3 or above considered passing.
Students interested in receiving possible college credit for AP courses should consult with their school counselor for information regarding the AP examination. Any student wishing to take an AP examination in a subject not offered as an LTHS class must see their guidance counselor.
The following Advanced Placement courses are currently offered at Lacey Township High School:
AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
AP Studio Art: 3-D Design
AP Studio Art: Drawing
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics 1
AP English Language & Composition
AP English Literature & Composition
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Psychology
AP US Government & Politics
AP US History
AP World History
AP French Language & Culture
AP German Language & Culture
AP Spanish Language & Culture
Leadership Academy of Humanities
The Leadership Academy of Humanities (LAH) seeks to create everyday leaders. This academy supports excellence in education through a diverse, dynamic, and student-centered academic environment that emphasizes engaged learning. Students develop and apply knowledge through the following multiple disciplinary perspectives: historical and theoretical inquiry, critical analysis, creative cultural examination, and quantitative and qualitative research. Its students, in close collaboration with faculty and staff, develop specialized knowledge, rigorous critical thinking, clear and effective writing, the habits of lifelong learning, and the ability to understand and interpret the cultures of the world.
For their freshman and sophomore years, selected students take their ELA, History, and Leadership Core Elective classes as a cohort in order to build teamwork and leadership, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the humanities.
For their junior and senior years, students will have the option of taking a variety of AP classes or seek an associate’s degree through the LTHS-OCC Lacey Township High School College Academy. Depending on the path they take, they can earn between 18 and 60 college credits. Although students in the LAH have the opportunity to choose one of two pathways for their junior and senior years, they must be enrolled in the Leadership Core Elective courses to maintain their LAH student status. Students who complete the Leadership Academy of Humanities program will also receive special honors at graduation.
Major criteria for placement include teacher recommendation, motivation, achievement on standardized tests, student marking period grades, midterm and final exam grades, reading and writing proficiency, and the ability to work independently. Students will have the opportunity to enter the academy at the beginning of their 9th or 10th-grade years and will be required to take a knowledge survey on historical and English topics. Students must maintain an 84 average or higher to continue to be recommended for an honors course or achieve a 92 average or higher in a college prep course to be recommended for an honors level course. Placement recommendations are reviewed annually according to the multiple criteria identified above. Students enrolled in the Leadership Academy of Humanities must take the required courses for that grade level.
Please see this presentation for a detailed overview and course sequence.
LTHS-OCC College Academy
The LTHS - OCC College Academy provides students with the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credits while completing their junior and senior year of high school. Students who complete the 60 credit program will also be awarded an Associate of Arts degree from Ocean County College. Students who wish to pursue an Associate of Science degree are able to apply credits earned toward that degree.
Liberal Arts Associate's Degree
Academic Commitment
Once admitted to the LTHS – OCC College Academy at Lacey Township High School, students may enroll in courses according to the following guidelines:
Only Lacey Township High School juniors who are in good standing may participate in the degree program. Good academic standing is defined as students who possess at least 70 credits , with no grade lower than a C in a core content area subject,
Students must meet the enrollment criteria as outlined by Ocean County College. Criteria can be found at the following website:
http://www.ocean.edu/content/dam/public/files/jump_start_program.pdf (see Item 4 under Applying for Admission to Ocean County College)
Students who enroll for a fall semester class are required to enroll in the corresponding spring semester class. For example, a student who signs up for English I (ENG 151) in the fall semester must also enroll to take Creative Writing (ENG 152) in the spring semester. Students must enroll in both semesters of a given subject.
Dual Enrollment(Embedded classes)
Students enrolled in the LTHS-OCC College Academy will receive credit for classes from Lacey Township High School and Ocean County College. Class rank and GPA, however, will be calculated using OCC classes taken in the fall semester ONLY.
Financial Commitment
Students and parents will be responsible for making tuition payments directly to Ocean County College. Students are not eligible for financial aid because the federal government currently does not provide loans or aid for students taking college courses in high school due to the reduced tuition. Failure to make tuition payments will prevent registration for future semesters and may result in the removal from the LTHS-OCC College Academy Program.
The JumpStart rate will apply to all classes in this program. $99.50 per credit (OCC classes = 3 credits), excluding additional course and registration fees. *Subject to change.
Attendance
The OCC/LTHS attendance policy allows for 7 absences in any semester course. An 8th absence can potentially result in withdrawal of Lacey credit. The teacher and administration will evaluate special circumstances. Lates are not permitted and may be treated as absences.
Grading
Courses taken as a part of the LTHS-OCC College Academy Program will be recorded on a student’s high school transcript. The final grades of the fall semester courses ONLY will carry the weight of an Advanced Placement (AP) course. In addition, please note the following:
No grades will be issued for the 1st and 3rd marking periods because OCC only issues final grades at the end of each semester.
Students are responsible for sending an official transcript from OCC to the colleges to which they are applying by contacting the Ocean County College Registration and Records Office at 732-255-0304.
Grades earned from this program will appear on students’ high school and college transcripts.
Not all colleges accept Ocean County College credits. Students and parents are encouraged to investigate credit transfer options to other institutions of higher learning.
Lacey Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Academy (STEM)
Lacey Township High School offers a four-year cohort program for students interested in the STEM fields. The goal of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Academy (STEM) is to foster coursework and collaboration in these academic areas in order to produce professional graduates for the workforce. Students are required to be enrolled in specific aligned math, science, and engineering courses. Students are also encouraged, but not required, to explore the many opportunities in advanced math and science courses. Participants will be offered the opportunity to compete in engineering competitions against other students in Ocean County. Emphasis is placed on students’ ability to collaborate and use critical thinking skills to solve authentic, real life STEM problems. Projects developed by a team of high school teachers and Lakehurst Naval Air Base engineers will be integrated. More information on the STEM Academy can be found on the school website: STEM Academy Information. in the Science Department portion of this Program of Studies.
Coming Soon . . . LTHS Business Academy
The time is better than ever for students to get exposure to topics such as personal finance, the stock market, and business management. Students can benefit from the cohort model honing on their collaboration skills with like-minded peers.
Students will begin in the Lacey Business Academy their sophomore year at the high school with taking Exploratory Business. In addition to their experiences in the classroom, students will be required to participate in DECA and/or FBLA.
In their Junior year, students will have the opportunity to join the Ocean County College Academy, to earn their Associates degree prior to their graduation from high school. LTHS is currently exploring options for students to earn an Associates degree specialized in Business Administration from Ocean County College.
If students choose not to obtain their Associates degree, but still wish to take OCC classes, they will be enrolled in future course offerings such as; Small Business Management, Integrated Office Software, Principles of Marketing, Public Speaking, and Introduction to Financial Software. In this course, they will try their luck in the Stock Market, learn about cryptocurrencies, learn how to build wealth through personal investment and the ability to obtain Bloomberg Certification.
In addition to these courses, LTHS is currently exploring options for an internship course or capstone courses that would allow our students to gain experience in working in the business field in our community.
New Electives
Advanced Placement Macroeconomics
AP Macroeconomics is a college-level course that introduces students to the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination. It also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. AP Macroeconomics is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in economics.
Computer Science Discoveries
Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory course to computer science. In this course, students will engage in problem solving, programming, physical computing, user centered design, and data. The course will be taught through inquiry and discovery, with an emphasis on logical thinking and problem solving. Students will have opportunities to build their own websites, apps, animations, games, and physical computing systems. The course also focuses on emergent technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Forensic Science Honors
Forensic Science offers students an introduction to crime scene investigations. Students will apply scientific principles and methods utilized to assist in criminal and civil investigations and litigations. Students will investigate, document and process evidence at potential crime scenes. As an extension of their learning, students will engage in research and project based learning in topics such as fingerprint analysis, documentation analysis, trace evidence, ballistics, entomology, and handwriting analysis.
Getting Rich: Investing & Money Management
This interactive course is all about advanced financial concepts being applied to a students progressing financial life. Students will apply their prior financial education to enhance their knowledge with Investing, Taxes, Insurance, and Credit. Students will participate in interactive activities along with the lesson to enhance their understanding of the concepts. This will allow the students to apply what they have learned to their real life situations.
Microbiology and Genetics
This is a hands-on, lab based course split into a microbiology semester and a genetics semester. The microbiology semester focuses on the classification, physiology, ecology, and genetics of microbes and their impact on human health and environmental impact. Microbes including bacteria are important for our daily life as there are many symbiotic relationships humans have with them. Adversely, there are many microbes which can negatively impact our quality of life. This course studies the differences between the different microbes including bacteria, viruses, algae, and protists and looks at the benefits and harmful impacts of these species on humans and the planet.
The genetics component of the course examines this ever growing and exciting field in biology. Labs and hands-on activities are used to learn about topics such as bioethics, human genetics, heredity, and gene editing technology. This course provides an overview of many great career opportunities that exist in these fields.
Social Media Marketing
In this course, students will be able to learn the ins and outs of the social media marketing field in conjunction with learning real-world lessons from within the profession. In turn, this course will give students a firm base of their future careers involving marketing and will also help them with branding products, brands, organizations, or individuals. Social Media Marketing will also give students the opportunity to learn responsible digital citizenship and how to act in an appropriate manner when using social media. Students will engage in creating visual representations of their concepts including building a website, creating logos, inventing a fictitious social media platform, creating broadcast and print media advertisement campaigns, and competing in a social media think tank forum.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS)
SHARED TIME:
OCVTS offers career majors in over 30 areas for students going on to college or directly to the world of work. OCVTS works hand-in-hand with the high school to provide a complete education for the juniors and seniors attending. The students attend their home school (LTHS) for a half-day and then are transported to their vocational school center (Lakehurst, Brick, Toms River, Jackson, or Waretown).
FULL TIME:
Students accepted to one of the Career Academies – PAA: Performing Arts Academy Theater, Dance and Voice (Lakehurst), MATES: Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (Manahawkin) or ALPS: Academy of Law and Public Safety – attend full time and receive a rigorous four-year college preparatory academic program which fulfills all requirements for high school graduation and admission to competitive colleges and universities.
SHARED TIME PROGRAMS:
Full descriptions of Shared Time and Full Time programs may be found in the OCVTS Course Guide which is available in the Guidance Department. Students may also access information about the various programs by clicking the link next to each program.
APPLIED/PERFORMING ARTS http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/applied-arts.html
Audio for Electronic Media (Tech Prep*)
Design and Visual Communications (Tech Prep*)
COMPUTERS/DESIGN http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/computer-design.html
Architectural/Engineering Design (Tech Prep*)
Computer Science (Tech Prep*)
Computer Service Repair
CONSTRUCTION TRADES http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/construction.html
Building Construction Technology
Custom Woodworking/Cabinetmaking
Electrical Trades
Electrical Trades/Integrated Cabling Technology
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) (Tech Prep*)
Plumbing (Tech Prep*)
Welding
HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/health.html
Dental Assisting
Health and Fitness Technology (Tech Prep*)
Medical Assistant (Tech Prep*)
Medical Skills and Related Health Careers (Tech Prep*)
Medical Administration (Tech Prep*) New Course
SERVICE OCCUPATIONS http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/service-occ.html
Child Care Professions
Cosmetology (Tech Prep*)
Culinary Arts (Tech Prep*)
Fashion Merchandising/Design (Tech Prep*)
Homeland Security
Law and Public Safety (Tech Prep*)
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/transportation.html
Automotive and Diesel Engine Technology (Tech Prep*)
Automotive Technology (Tech Prep*)
Aviation Aerospace Technology (Tech Prep*)
Collision Repair (Tech Prep*)
Marine Trades
Motorsports Technology (Tech Prep*)
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS http://www.ocvts.org/htm/programs/afterhighschool.html
Automotive Technology (Tech Prep*)
Cosmetology (Tech Prep*)
Cuisine on the Green at Atlantis (Tech Prep*)
Practical Nursing (Tech Prep*)
New Home Construction (Tech Prep*)
Twilight Automotive Technology (Tech Prep*)
SPECIAL SERVICES http://www.ocvts.org/htm/specialneeds.html
Employment Orientation Programs
Vocational Assessment Purpose
Application Procedure
Students Served
Mainstreaming
*Tech Prep: Short for “technical preparation,” it is a nationally recognized program which focuses on providing a meaningful education and career preparation during high school, to be followed with coursework to attain an associate degree at a community college or post-secondary institution.
Additional information is available by calling the Lacey Township School District Child Study Team Office (609-971-2020 ext. 1021) or the Office of Special Services at Ocean County Vocational Technical School at 732-473-3100 ext. 3326.