Personalized Learning

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: none

Graduation Requirement Area: additional credits only

Students are eligible to earn credit for community service they have completed (.5 credit for 60 hours). Credit may only be earned for community service conducted while enrolled as a Staples student and outside of the school day, starting with the summer between grades 8 and 9. Students may earn no more than .5 credit for community service. Community service does not count toward the number of courses a student is required to take each semester in order to be considered fully enrolled. Students receive a grade of Pass for community service, which is not calculated in the grade point average. Students must complete the Community Service Credit Form describing their service experience and provide a signed letter from their supervisor that verifies the activity and number of hours completed.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Application review and approval from Personalized Learning Teacher

Graduation Requirement Area: additional credits only

This is a pathway for students who want to accelerate their learning beyond the classroom setting and exhibit a strong desire to work independently on an enriching project, coursework, or independent study that is not otherwise offered at Staples High School. Students spend a semester working independently to bring that passion project to fruition, with the support of the personalized learning teacher and a faculty mentor. Students showcase and present their work at the conclusion of their studies. A review panel is assembled with content area specialists, the personalized learning teacher, and administrators. Students are graded on a pass/fail basis.

A maximum of 1.0 credit of independent learning can be earned in one school year. Students may take two unique .5 credit ILEs. Or, upon completion of a .5 credit semester-long ILE, students may choose to extend their project into a second semester for an additional .5 credit with approval from their faculty mentor and the personalized learning teacher. If students wish to pursue more than one credit of independent learning, they must receive permission from their school counselor, the director of school counseling, and their grade-level assistant principal.

For more information, visit the SHS Independent Learning Experiences website or contact Personalized Learning Teacher, Mrs. Karen Thompson, at kthompson@westportps.org.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Application and approval by school counselor and Personalized Learning Teacher; other prerequisites vary by course as determined by program

Graduation Requirement Area: additional credits only

Online elective courses carry benefits to students with the independence, motivation, and interest in a particular topic to succeed. Westport Public Schools is contracted with the Edmentum learning platform to deliver PLATO online courses. PLATO provides the appropriate content and level of critical thinking expected of students, along with the flexibility to customize courses to the expectations Staples holds in high regard. As the board-sanctioned provider of online educational services, the cost of approved PLATO coursework will be covered by the school system. The student must be in good standing in terms of academics, behavior, and attendance and demonstrate fit for the rigorous, independent demands of an online learning environment. Only approved courses where there is no equivalent Staples course can be selected. Students should take the course with the intent of new learning; if a student is enrolled in a course that then indicates a strong prior knowledge, the student will not be eligible for course credit.

The student must complete, and will be held to, a contract outlining specific course standards and expectations. An approved PLATO course may count toward the six required courses each semester for a student to be considered fully enrolled. Online elective course enrollment cannot exceed 1.0 credit per school year. Students are expected to complete the course within the semester they are enrolled. Online elective courses may be used to fulfill elective credit requirements only, not to fulfill specific subject area graduation requirements. PLATO courses will earn Staples High School credit and appear on the student’s transcript along with the designation (online). The student will receive a letter grade for the course, and the grade will be factored into the grade point average as an elective course (no level weight).

Visit the Online Learning Electives page on our website for more information.

*Note: Staples PLATO courses are not approved as NCAA core courses. Distinct from being taken as an elective, a PLATO online course may also be taken by Staples students for credit recovery due to failure or loss of credit for poor attendance or for the purpose of supporting progress in a current Staples course, remediating skills and/or content knowledge, or serving as an alternative educational program during a formally-approved extended absence, as determined by the RTI, Section 504, PPT, or administrative team.

No credit                  Grades 11, 12                  Full-Year, S1, S2

Prerequisite: Course instructor recommendation and approval from Personalized Learning Teacher

Graduation Requirement Area: none

As a TA, students serve as an apprentice to the teacher outside of the role as a student. A TA experience is intended to foster a student’s growth in a particular content area and help build lifelong skills. Students may only request to be a TA once their schedule has been created for the school year in which they would like to serve in this role. If a student’s schedule aligns with a particular course in which they would like to be a TA, the request should first be made directly to the teacher of this course. This teacher would then agree to be the student’s mentor and would be involved in overseeing the work of the teaching assistant. For more information and access to the plan/contract, students should contact their school counselor or Personalized Learning Teacher, Mrs. Karen Thompson, at kthompson@westportps.org. 

*Note: Serving in a TA position does not appear on the student’s Staples transcript.