Curriculum

Dear Mercy Students and Parents,

We are very proud of the academic program that we are able to offer our students here at Mercy High School. The administration and faculty have collaborated on our course offerings and designed with care this guide to our course selections. In this booklet you will find all of the information you need to effectively plan your educational program and to make the important decisions that will impact your future.

You are about to engage in the course selection process. As you begin we would like to express the importance of thoughtful choices, careful planning, and solid communication between home and school. We ask you to become familiar with all course offerings so that knowledgeable, responsible choices will be made. Your course selections should be based upon our graduation requirements, as well as your own future educational and career plans. We believe that parental involvement in the educational process is vital. Therefore, we invite both students and parents alike to utilize the expertise of our faculty and Guidance Department in the course selection process.

Once again, we encourage you to become very familiar with this booklet and to seriously reflect upon your choices. The building of the master schedule rests upon the totals of the course requests made by the students during course selection time. Accuracy of course request numbers will reduce the number of conflicts and maximize our opportunity to fill those requests. Please keep in mind, however, that a course will be scheduled only if there is sufficient enrollment. We reserve the right to cancel and make revisions to the courses offered should that become necessary.

As you begin to read this Curriculum Guide, be assured that our staff is ready to assist you in selecting the educational program that will pave the way for a successful future. We look forward to working with you in this important endeavor.

Sincerely,

Kristi Walters Wessling ‘88 Principal

This catalog lists all the courses currently taught at Mercy High School. Not all courses are offered each year. The decision to offer a course is made by the administration and is determined, in part, by student interest and enrollment. Further, the number of sections and seats for a course may be limited. This can result in students being unable to enroll in a particular class.

Careful choices during course selection time should eliminate the need for schedule changes. Students are required to consult with their Academic Advisor to ensure that the courses being selected are appropriate and fulfill their needed requirements for graduation. Parental involvement is also essential in the process as students evaluate choices. Thoughtful planning during the course selection time will result in fewer changes for the student. Since student course requests are used to build the master schedule, fewer conflicts will result when the information used is accurate.

However, if a course change is needed, the following policies will be implemented. Entry into a class will be considered if there is space available in the class and if the student is free to take the class at the time it is offered. Placement policies may also affect whether or not the student is granted permission for a schedule change. A course change request may be initiated within the first two weeks of school for any of the following reasons:

• A. Scheduling errors
• B. Teacher-initiated course change
• C. Counselor-initiated course change
• D. Student-initiated course change
• E. Parent-initiated course change

A, B, and C are considered necessary changes. There is no charge for these changes. There will be a $50 charge after June 1 for changes D and E, those initiated by students or parents. Schedule changes will not be made to change a teacher or as a sole remedy for poor performance.

To request a schedule change, the student must first discuss the matter with her Academic Advisor. If a change is deemed necessary and/or desirable, the advisor will give the student the necessary Schedule Change Form. This form requires the signatures of the teacher of the class being dropped and of a parent or guardian.

After the Schedule Change Form is completed, the student submits it to her advisor. If the change is approved, the student will report to her new class after she has received a copy of her new schedule.

After the first two weeks of school, students will be unable to drop, add, or change courses. It is imperative that the student adequately reflect upon her choices for the entire school year before selecting courses. Course changes that occur as a result of a student’s lack of careful planning are detrimental to that student, as well as disruptive to the total educational process. Therefore, schedule change policies and deadlines will be followed.

Students who wish to compete as collegiate athletes must meet guidelines set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), or the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Information concerning eligibility for each of these organizations can be found on the following websites:

NCAA

NAIA

NJCAA

Dual Enrollment means the student has the option of registering to earn college credit, based on successful completion of the Mercy course, at a price much lower than typical college tuition. Registration to the college and payment of the dual enrollment fee (varies by university) occurs during the first few weeks of the course. Mercy currently has dual enrollment arrangements in place for the following courses. These arrangements are subject to change.

The Advanced Placement® Program is administered by The College Board®, a national nonprofit membership association. Mercy High School is a member school offering AP® courses. Courses are taught by Mercy faculty and are comparable to first-year college courses. At the conclusion of an AP® course, students must take the corresponding exam. The College Board® cites these benefits to Advanced Placement® Courses:

1. Students have the opportunity to study a subject in-depth at the college level, so they will be more prepared for college work.
2. Students receiving a qualifying grade on an AP® Exam may be eligible for advanced placement or course credits at the vast majority of colleges and universities in the United States. Acceptance of the credit depends on the policies of the particular college or university where the student enrolls.
3. The AP® Program offers a number of Scholar Awards to students for outstanding performance on AP® exams. This achievement is noted on the transcript and recognized by colleges

AP® courses are open to those students who meet the requirements specified for each course. All students taking an AP® course at Mercy who are not dual-enrolled must sit for the exam. Current AP® offerings are listed below. Please keep in mind that courses with insufficient enrollment may not be offered.

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Calculus AB
• Statistics U.S.
• History
• U. S. Government and Politics
• English Literature Composition
• English Language and Composition
• Computer Science Principles
• Psychology

AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board®. Used with permission.

Mercy Learning Online is a program of the Mercy Education System of the Americas, which links all 41 Mercy-sponsored high schools around the United States. It provides an opportunity for students to take courses online. All courses are taught by faculty employed by Mercy secondary schools and are available only to students attending Mercy secondary schools. These courses provide opportunities for students to take classes for enrichment and acceleration or for makeup credits.

Students must have access to the internet and must log onto the class every day the class meets.

For a complete and current listing of summer courses please visit.