8th Grade Course Requests
April 22, 2024
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Dear 8th-grade students and families,
We have enjoyed meeting the 8th graders during our 8th-grade visits and look forward to seeing them at Watertown High School in September!
Based on teacher recommendations and student elective selections, preliminary course requests for the 2024-2025 school year have been loaded in PowerSchool. 8th graders will receive a printed copy of their requests and a sign-off sheet to be returned to their 8th-grade counselor.
As a reminder, all 9th grade students must take:
English (full year)
Math (full year)
Science (full year)
US History (full year)
Health (half year)
Please review this list with your student and use the sign-off sheet to note any changes. If your student was unable to make elective selections during the WHS visit, please use this form to note their choices. Once you have reviewed this list with your student, please sign the form to indicate that you have seen the verification sheet your student brought home. Please have your student return this form to their school counselor by Friday, May 3.
Remember, a student's courses for next year may still change based on any appeals process, end-of-year grades, and/or availability of space in an elective. Final schedules will be available on PowerSchool at the end of August and distributed on the first day of school, but students should expect to be enrolled in the courses they see listed on their course request sheet and in PowerSchool. Please see below for additional information about the appeals process and Watertown High School's Add/Drop procedures.
If you have any questions about your student's schedule for next year, please contact the WHS school counseling team (see anticipated counselor assignments below). The WHS Guidance Department returns in late August and will be available to meet with students who have questions about their schedule or wish to discuss the possibility of a schedule change before the first day of school.
Be well,
Adrienne Eaton, Interim Assistant Principal
Watertown High School
Appeals Process
If a student wishes to appeal a core academic course recommendation (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, or World Language), they should begin by speaking with their current teacher. Their teacher and school counselor will support them in beginning the course appeal process if necessary. If a student wishes to change an elective course request, they should indicate their change requests on the form noted above by May 3.
Add/Drop Procedure
Students are expected to choose preferred courses and alternates carefully. Alternatives will be chosen for students if they do not do so themselves during the course selection process. Should a student desire to change a course, the student must request this change prior to the first day of school or during the appropriate Add/Drop period (see below). During the Add/Drop Period, changes to student schedules will be made under the following conditions:
1. Student receives written permission from the teacher, the curriculum coordinator, and the parent/guardian. Students should obtain the appropriate form in Guidance.
2. The courses being exchanged occur during the same scheduled block during the day.
3. The courses being exchanged will not be over/under-enrolled due to the student's departure or arrival in the course.
Add/Drop Period for Semester 1 and Full-Year Courses:
Prior to the first day of school OR between the 8th and 14th day of school.
Add/Drop Period for Semester 2 Courses:
Prior to the first day of 2nd semester OR between the 1st and 5th day of Semester 2.
Changes to any course will not be allowed after the Add/Drop Period unless:
- a recommendation for a level change is made by the school
- an error has been made in inputting a student’s course choice
- a change is necessary for a Grade 12 student in order to meet graduation requirements
- an authenticated health or education plan issue necessitates the change
- an approval has been granted at the discretion of the principal
Students who withdraw from a class within two weeks of the end of the quarter will receive a grade for that course. Students who withdraw more than two weeks before the end of the quarter will receive W as a grade for that marking period.
Elective Descriptions
Descriptions of all courses being offered can be found in the Program of Studies located on the WHS website. Descriptions are also available by clicking on the following links:
Viewing Course Requests in PowerSchool
Course requests can also be viewed through the Student Portal (https://powerschl.watertown.k12.ma.us/). After logging in, click the "Class Registration" option in the lefthand Navigation bar to view your current requests. This should be accessed through a web browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.), not the PowerSchool mobile app. If you have trouble accessing the PowerSchool Portal with your username and password, please contact Ms. Laurie Brackett (laurie.brackett@watertown.k12.ma.us).