Full-year course (Semester 1 Skills, Semester 2 VPF) Level 0 1 credit               Grade 9

Freshman Seminar is a year-long course that helps you build the skills needed for success in high school and beyond. During the first semester, you’ll focus on executive functioning skills like organization, time management, goal setting, and study strategies, while developing IB Approaches to Learning skills such as self-management, thinking, and communication. You’ll also review school expectations, wellness strategies, and explore career interests. During the second semester, you’ll complete a virtual Personal Finance course, a new graduation requirement, where you’ll learn real-life money skills like budgeting, saving, and understanding credit. During extra time at the end of the block, you can work quietly, using the time as a guided study hall.

Half-year course Level 0 0.5 credits Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 No Prerequisite

Academic Skills is a supportive class for students who want help strengthening organization, time management, and study skills. The semester begins with lessons on executive functioning strategies like planning, goal setting, and managing assignments. As the course progresses, it becomes a structured, guided study block where you’ll set priorities, use dedicated work time, and reflect on your progress with teacher support. This is a credit-bearing supported study hall designed to help you build independence, confidence, and strong academic habits. This class can be taken multiple times. 

No credit

Juniors are permitted to take one study hall per semester.
Seniors are permitted to take up to two study halls per semester.

Only Seniors who have both a morning study hall (first block) and an afternoon study hall (last block) do not need to report to school during those study hall periods and may arrive late or leave early accordingly.

Students are expected to use study hall time responsibly for academic work and school-related tasks.

Four years Level 0 0.5 credits Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Graduation Requirement 

The intent of the Valley Regional High School summer reading program is to challenge students to become lifelong readers and learners by encouraging them to read during non-instructional time. Through this reading program, the school promotes intellectual stimulation, social awareness, diversity of viewpoints, and independent thinking. Summer reading written (via chromebook) and oral presentation assessments are typically delivered the first week of school in a student’s Core/ Advisory group. For yearly program details, visit the Summer Reading booklet at http://www.vrhs.reg4.k12.ct.us/student_resource/summer_reading. Students must pass all four years of Summer Reading as a graduation requirement. 

200 Hours = 0.5 credit Level 0 Up to 2.0 credits               Grades 10, 11, 12 No prerequisite

Work-Based Learning allows you to earn school credit for having a job. Your job can take place during or outside of the school day. While it’s recommended that your job connects to a career you’re interested in, it doesn’t have to. To participate, you’ll meet with the School-to-Career Coordinator to review expectations, eligibility, and required paperwork. Credit is based on the number of hours you work (200 hours = 0.5 credit). You may earn up to two credits in this program during your four years at Valley.

100 Hours= 0.5 credits Level 0 Up to 2.0 credits Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 No Prerequisite

You can earn school credit by volunteering in your community. Before you start, you must get approval from the School-to-Career coordinator, have a community supervisor, and get parent/guardian permission. You’ll need to set learning goals, keep track of your hours, and turn them in. Your supervisor will complete an evaluation, and your progress will be checked during the program. Credit is based on the number of hours you complete (100 hours = 0.5 credit). You can complete your hours over a semester, a year, or longer. You may earn up to two credits in this program during your four years at Valley.

50 Hours 1 credit Grades 11 and 12 Graduation Requirement

Capstone is your chance to explore a career or field you’re interested in before you graduate. You’ll design your own experience based on your goals. You can focus on one career path or try out different areas. This might include an internship, job shadowing, interviews, research, or even an independent project. You’ll work with Mrs. Fragola to create a plan that fits your interests. Capstone is required for graduation, and it will appear in PowerSchool and on your transcript. You’ll need to complete at least 50 hours before the second semester of your senior year. Hours can include career research, job shadowing or internships, mentor interviews, visiting colleges or training programs, journal reflections, and other approved activities connected to your plan.

One semester Junior year & One semester Senior year IB 1 credit Grades 11 and 12 Must be a CP Diploma student

This course is required for students in the IB Career Programme. You’ll tie all of the required IB Career Programme components together in this course. Personal & Professional Skills will build communication and workplace skills. Community Engagement will use what you’re learning to help meet a community need. The Reflective Project is research and reflection on an ethical issue connected to your career-related studies. This is a two-semester course. Completing this program also fulfills the Capstone graduation requirement. 

One semester Junior year & One semester Senior year IB 1 credit Grades 11 and 12 Must be a DP Diploma student

This course is for students in the IB Diploma Programme and covers the required core components (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service). Theory of Knowledge (TOK) explores big questions like "How do we know what we know?" and "Can we ever be certain?" You’ll think critically about knowledge across different subjects. You will write an Extended Essay, which is an in-depth research paper on a topic of your choice. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is participation in experiences outside the classroom that involve creativity, physical activity, and service to others. This is a two-semester course. Completing this program also fulfills the Capstone graduation requirement.

Valley Regional High School’s membership in Virtual High School allows students to take courses online. Virtual High School offers courses each semester. Although anyone may participate, students who are good independent learners may benefit the most from this opportunity. High school credit will be determined after successful completion of the course.

The following guidelines apply:

1. The VHS program shall be viewed as an enrichment opportunity for students, not as a replacement for VRHS class offerings.

2. Seat availability is limited; therefore, registration preference will be given based on seniority.

3. Interested students should discuss options with their school counselor and the VHS coordinator.

4. Enrollment in VHS must be approved by the student's counselor and the administration.

5. Students must agree to all VHS policies posted at http://thevhscollaborative.org/ and the Distance Learning Policies of Regional School District 4.

6. Parent/guardian must give permission for the student to take the course and authorize the Regional School District 4 to obtain and forward records or information to appropriate VHS personnel.

7. The student’s school counselor must recommend the student for participation in the VHS course.

8. The last day to drop a VHS course is five calendar days after the course begins.

1. Students may apply to register for ONE VHS course and courses are approved on a first-come, first-served basis according to their seniority and the time-stamp of the VHS registration request form.

2. There is no guarantee that the course(s) applied for will be available. Available seats are assigned in the following order:  Rising seniors, juniors, then sophomores. The Virtual High School (VHS) Site Coordinator will register students online as soon as the completed application is received and the enrollment period begins. If the student is enrolled, they will be notified about course title, login and password information through their Region 4 Gmail.

3. The full VHS catalog is available online at https://vhslearning.org/catalog. The VHS catalog indicates prerequisites, VHS Levels, Grade Level, Semester and VHS policies. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the policies of VHS.

4. Students are responsible for maintaining email and/or verbal communication with the Site Coordinator, Mrs. Ehrhardt, and your VHS teacher throughout the course regarding your progress, media material, etc.

5. Students taking an AP course are required to take the AP exam and have scores reported to both VHS and VRHS. AP courses usually have required summer assignments. 

6. The final date to drop a VHS course is five CALENDAR days, including weekends and holidays, after the course start date. After that time, students are required to remain in the course and grades will be based on the work completed through the remainder of the class.

7. Grades are updated in Power School approximately every three weeks. The most current grade is always the grade posted in your course. Weekly emails regarding your login history and grades will be sent via email to both students and parents