SCIENCE SCHEDULING

It's time to start thinking about the classes you want to take next year!

Here is a presentation with slides that teachers created for each Science class being offered:

Science Scheduling 2024 - 2025 

And, here is the current Science Course Selection Guide: 

Course Selection Guide 2024 - 2025

NEW for 2024 - 2025: 

AP Computer Science courses (Principles and A) can count as either an Advanced Math OR an Advanced Science credit on your transcript. You just need to let your counselor know if you choose Advanced Math (Science is the default).

Dear Students,

You will notice that a Q3 grade of 100% has been added to the grade book. Each student is guaranteed to earn a score of 100% for the third quarter. We are curious to see if students take responsibility for their learning when they are not required to meet deadlines to “earn a grade”. In other words, we will be experimenting with a strategy known as the Gradeless Classroom. Here is a great YouTube video about how an English teacher “threw out the grade book” in his classes: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kxsiSnRg94

All of the skills in Kahn Academy can be repeated; I recommend revisiting those skills that are “Attempted” or “Familiar” and reach for the “Proficient” and “Mastered” levels for all 65 skills! While no online learning platform is perfect, I do believe that Kahn Academy introduces many important computing concepts. Learning and understanding Computer Science will be beneficial no matter which career/field a student decides to pursue in the future.

I believe that learning is cumulative, therefore you will see all 9 Kahn Academy Units represented for the remainder of the year. Student progress will be regularly updated in PowerSchool (at least once per week, sometimes more). If a student decides to neglect making progress in AP Computer Science, parents/guardians will be notified that progress has NOT been made. These emails will be sent at the end of each week beginning Friday, January 26th.

Ideally all skills in Kahn Academy should be “Proficient” or “Mastered” by mid April; completing Kahn Academy earlier rather than later will ensure that students have plenty of time to complete the Create Performance Task (Create PT). In order to maintain transparency, I will be sure to notify you via email in the event that progress has NOT been made at the end of each week beginning January 26th.

Please note the following important dates for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam:

The Create Performance Task must be submitted by April 30th at 11:59 PM

The End-of-Course Exam takes place on May 15th at 12:00 PM

The Create PT is a project submitted to the College Board worth 30% of their exam score. The Create Performance task requires students to:

1) create a program (either independently or collaboratively), 

2) submit a video of their program running (created independently), and 

3) submit a Personalized Project Reference (created independently). 

I will continue to introduce programming concepts and skills on block days and plan to thoroughly explain all of the requirements for the Create Performance Task with examples. 

Feel free to contact me (coombs_d@milfordschools.org) at any time with questions or concerns, I am looking forward to another successful semester in AP Computer Science Principles!

All the best,

Mr. Coombs