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Advanced Placement And Honors Courses Policies
All PVHS students may request to enroll in the more rigorous honors and/or advanced placement course assignment. No class changes will be made for students from honors and/or advanced placement courses during the first semester. By selecting an honors or advanced placement course, a student is committing to that course for at least one complete semester.
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Regional Occupational Program Courses (ROP)
Rop prepares students for employment and is an excellent way to prepare for college. If students are uncertain of their collage major or career choice, ROP gives them a chance to explore a career field. They may also use their skills to work part-time to help pay college expenses. Each class includes a job finding skills unit to help develop a resume, review effective interviewing techniques and identify sources of employment. Students also complete a portfolio of their class class work. ROP courses provide "hands-on" experience. Students have the opportunity to "try-out" career choices before investing time and money in college or technical school.
Any junior or senior student (or any student sixteen years of age and older) is eligible to enroll in an ROP course. Students may take ROP cores at Pinole Valley High School or another district high school. ROP courses are designated as such alongside their description.
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Academies
Academies provide students with opportunities to explore career paths in a general area of interests. Students must be in their sophomore year before applying for admittance into an academy.
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Environmental Studies Academy
The Environmental Studies Academy is an exciting, three-year, 'school-within-a-school" program that is offered to students beginning sophomore year. The academy integrates subject matter from Science, Social Studies, English and technology courses largely through semester projects. Students enrolled into the Environmental Studies Academy must take Science, Social Studies, English and technology courtesies within the academy. It is the intent of the academy to provide students with an alternative high school path that enables students to pin both college-prep academics and experiences for entry-level careers in the area of Environmental Studies. Students will achieve this trough required, extensive field work, including ecological researching wetlands, creeks, parks, forests and grasslands, literature research in libraries and public offices, critical research at parks, museums, zoos, arboretums, colleges and businesses, and, observations of professionals by job shadowing and mentoring.
The Environmental Studies Academy has pined a strong partnership with many businesses that work with the teachers in the academy to provide help for students with their projects and give an opportunity for students to gain contacts for possible training, summer internships or jobs that mat lead to a career. There are numerous careers related to Environmental Studies including; naturalist, environmental law, journalism, urban management, water quality technician, ranger and landscape architect. Often an employer will hire a prospective employee on the open market because of job-related experiences rather than education alone. This link with the business world also provides meaning to the rigorous academic work required of students in the academy. Many students do not see the point of their class work. Working with a professional in a career field will give insight for the reasons to learn the material in class. The courses offered in the Environmental Studies Academy are listed below the years that they should be taken. English Science and Social Studies must be taken each year. The technology course, Urban Ecology, can be repeated for credit and should be taken at least twice during the time a student is enrolled in the Academy. The academy may consider allowing a course to be substituted on a very limited basis.
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