A Short Guide to Evaluations, Expectations, Credit, Graduation Requirements, Graduation Project, & Independent Studies at Watershed
Evaluations:
Students will receive a brief progress report midterm and a more detailed narrative report from every teacher at the end of each semester. The purpose of evaluation is to support student growth. Examples of student work will be maintained in portfolios. Colleges may receive selected semester-end evaluations; abstracts of course content descriptions; or materials from student portfolios.
Course Expectations:
At the beginning of each semester faculty will provide students with written “course expectations.” These expectations outline what will happen in the course and describe what students will have to do in order to get credit for the course. Sample Expectations
How Course Credits Are Gained:
Students must attend a course and complete all course expectations provided by their teacher in order to gain credit for the semester. Students who do not complete course expectations will not get credit. They will not get a “fail” on their transcripts (as in a pass-fail system or a letter grade system), they simply will not receive credit and their time in the class will not count towards graduation requirements.
What are the consequences of taking a course but not receiving credit?
- If the course is a graduation requirement the student will need to take the course again. This might result in fewer opportunities to take non-required courses in art, music, drama, crafts, etc.
- Loss of credit may delay graduation.
- Regular loss of credit may be grounds for dismissal from the Watershed School.
- Unless a student’s health is so impaired that they cannot do any work at home, illness or absence does not necessarily excuse a student from course expectations/requirements. If a student falls behind on expectations, they should call their teacher or advisor for advice and support.
Course Schedules:
Most Watershed students take a full schedule (six courses) every semester. Watershed students enrolling as freshmen will have four years each of English, Science, Foreign Languages, History, Arts, and three or more years of math.
For the College-Bound:
By sophomore year, students and parents should learn what colleges expect of applicants and, with Watershed’s Dean of Students, plan a college preparatory education at Watershed School. More selective colleges have many more applications than openings and look for students who’ve taken a more rigorous course load.
Most four-year colleges expect the following high school course background as a minimum:
- 4 years English.
- 3-4 years History/Social Studies.
- 3 years Mathematics.
- 1+ years Visual and Performing Arts.
- 3 years Science.
- 1-2 years challenging electives.
- 2-3 years Foreign Language.
- For admission to technical or health care professional schools, 3-4 years each of math and science are recommended.
Minimum Graduation Requirements:
- 4 years English.
- 2 years History.
- 2 years Math.
- 2 years Science (including one year of a lab science).
- 2 years Arts-related study and practice.
Plus
- At least one full-schedule academic year of Watershed credits.
- Successful completion and public presentation of a graduation. project.
- Completion of community service requirement.
We recognize that some students will arrive later in their high school careers and others may choose alternative educational paths. To that end we have developed minimum requirements for graduation. At present our minimum graduation requirements are:
Graduation Project:
In the European guild tradition, apprentice or journeymen craftspeople must eventually prepare a project illustrating their mastery of basic skills developed during their years as craftspeople in training. This project marks their passage to membership in the guild community. Graduation Project at the Watershed School is an opportunity for students to illustrate mastery of the skills and understanding gained during their high school years and as such is a mark of passage to adult life. Students may pose an essential question, such as “What is Community?” or “What is Art?” or “What is Freedom?” Or they may pose a more focused question within a particular discipline. They answer their question through research and creative work, producing a multidisciplinary project that they present to the Watershed community.
A completed Graduation Project at the Watershed School will have two or three components:
- A written thesis (required).
- A formal presentation (required).
- A product in addition to a written thesis (optional).
Independent Study at Watershed School:
Choice of curriculum is not limited to courses offered. Those with motivation and self-discipline may work independently or with the assistance of local specialists or other resources within or outside of our school. Students may elect to study through travel.
Students interested in independent study should first discuss their ideas with an advisor or the Dean of Students. A detailed proposal would then need to be developed for approval by the Dean and the student's independent study mentor. Students/families are responsible for any expenses associated with independent study. Several students interested in a common field can propose arranging a seminar or small class.