Secondary 7-12

Secondary Curriculum

Pinewood offers a complete American-type college-preparatory program in Grades 7-12. The school also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (see below). A full range of courses is now provided in all the major subject areas, from beginning levels to very advanced. High standards are stressed and academic excellence is rewarded in several ways, including Honor Roll and annual prizes. In addition, advanced students are sometimes given special attention and independent work within the regular classes, most of which are quite small. The school also has an arrangement whereby advanced students can take university-level courses for Pinewood credit at the neighboring American College of Thessaloniki (ACT).

COURSE OFFERINGS (Grades 7 – 12)

Grades 7	Grades 8
English 7	English 8
Pre-Algebra	Algebra I or Pre-Algebra
Social Studies 7	Social Studies 8
Science 7	Introduction to Physical Science
Foreign language or ESL	Foreign language or ESL
PE/ IT/ Art	PE/ IT/ Art

Grades 9	Grades 10
English 9	English 10
Geometry or Algebra I	Algebra II or Geometry
Social Studies 9	World History or US History (for US students)
Biology	Chemistry
Foreign language or ESL	Foreign language or ESL
PE/ IT/ Art	PE/ IT/ Art

Grades 11	Grades 12
IB English A1 or B	English IB2/ English 12
Math IB 1 or Math Studies IB 1 or Algebra II	Math IB2 or Math Studies IB 1
Physics IB 1, Biology IB 1 or Chemistry IB 1	Computers IB 2
History IB 1	Economics IB 2
Economics IB 1 or Computers IB 1	Physics IB 2 or Physics
Foreign language or ESL	Foreign language or ESL
US History	US History
IB1 Visual Arts	IB1 Visual Arts
PE/ IT/ Art	PE/ IT/ Art

* IB 1 classes will offered if there are at least 4 students who have signed up for the course.

Host Country Studies

As part of the school's concerted effort to introduce Pinewood students to the history and culture of the host country, Greece, all students in Grades 7-8 will be involved in special study units or projects related to some aspect of the Greek experience. Regular educational field trips to places of interest all over Greece will be an integral part of this program.

English as a Second Language (ESL): Grades 7-11

The primary goal of the Secondary ESL Program is to develop each student’s fluency and accuracy in the English language for specific academic purposes related to the subject matter curriculum, as well as for general communication and social needs. Students are placed in one of five levels ranging from Basic Beginner to Advanced; these levels are defined according to scores given on a widely used standardized test of English language proficiency for secondary ESL students. Secondary ESL classes provide focused English language instruction and a variety of language practice activities during class time; therefore, students are expected to come to class everyday with all course books and required course materials, ready to work on English language development. Students are also expected to do all homework assignments and complete all required projects on time. Because secondary ESL courses often have small numbers of students, ESL instruction can be individualized and the basic curriculum adapted to suit the needs of a particular group of students. Students are thus encouraged to invest in their learning and interact closely with the classroom teacher to increase their skills in English for academic purposes.

Academic Policies

Homework Policy

While the school recognizes that students have many learning experiences outside school hours, Pinewood requires that some of this time be set aside for school-initiated homework. This may be of two kinds - formal or informal. Formal homework is work directly assigned by a teacher, while informal refers to a variety of activities, including personal reading, writing, research and practice/review.
Teachers will assign homework on a regular basis. The following times are recommended as a minimum total per night:

- Grade 7: one and one-half hours per night
- Grade 8: one and one-half hours per night
- Grade 9: two hours per night
- Grade 10: two hours per night
- Grade 11: two and a half hours per night (IB students four hours + per night)
- Grade 12: three hours per night (IB students four and a half hours + per night)

The exact amount of homework will vary from night to night, depending on the nature of the assignments, upcoming tests, projects, lab reports, etc., and on the relative ability of the student in each subject.

If students are absent from school for any reason, they are responsible for making up all the class work and homework missed.
If students are going to be absent from school for many days on a pre-arranged absence, it is their obligation to make sure that they obtain all assigned work before leaving. If this is not done, a zero grade will be given for each missed homework assignment.

Test/Presentation Policies

The dates of tests and major projects are placed on the board outside the coordinator’s office. It is the responsibility of each student to check the board on a regular basis.

A maximum of two tests may be given on any day.
Students can make up a missed test/presentation only if the absence is excused. In this case, the student will take the test or give the presentation on their return.
Missing a review session is not an excuse for missing a test.
Students involved in cheating will receive a zero grade. Further penalties may apply.
Chronic absences (3 or more absences on test days, per course) will be seen as a form of cheating, in that, it allows unfair advantage over the other students and will be dealt accordingly.

Grading System

The following grading system applies to all students in the secondary school:
A 90 – 100% Superior achievement and outstanding progress
B 80 – 89% Above average achievement and very good progress.
C 70 – 79% Average achievement and fair work.
D 60 – 69% Below average achievement and less than satisfactory work.
F Below 60% Unsatisfactory achievement, no credit earned.
ESL English as a Second Language grading scale.
Inc Incomplete.

The addition of the grade ESL is for students who are enrolled in ESL classes as per guidelines approved by the school board. ESL 1 and ESL 2 have specially modified work and tests given to them. ESL 3 students may be awarded a discretionary 10% plus, depending on the style of the task. ESL 5 students cannot be given an ESL grade.

Honor Roll

To recognize outstanding academic achievement, an Honor Roll has been established at Pinewood. Students with an average of 90 or above in a given marking period, in both major and block subjects (weighted appropriately), earn a place on the Pinewood Honor Roll each Quarter and Semester. The school does not rank students against other students in their grade unless specifically requested to do so. In such cases, the average of all academic courses is used.

Report Cards

Report cards, which include grades and teachers’ comments, are issued four times a year, at the end of the 1st Quarter, 1st Semester, 3rd Quarter, and on the last day of school. (See annual school calendar for the specific dates).

Interim Progress Reports

Students having academic and/or disciplinary concerns between marking periods receive Interim Progress Reports. Copies of these are mailed home to parents in the middle of each of the four Quarters to alert them to emerging problems and to ask for parental assistance in remedying the situation. Parents are asked to acknowledge receipt of a progress report by signing the report and having the student return it to the individual teacher.

Grade Requirements for Continuing Courses

In the case of certain continuing or sequential courses (e.g. Foreign Languages, Mathematics) a higher grade than the minimal passing grade may be required for promotion to the next level.

Pre-Requisites for Chemistry and Physics

To be eligible to enroll in Chemistry, a student must have completed Algebra I, and either completed or be enrolled in Geometry. To be eligible to enroll in Physics, a student must have completed Geometry and either completed or be enrolled in Algebra II.

Make Up for Failures (Grades 7 -11)

Failures must be made up over the summer and an examination be taken based on the entire year’s course before the beginning of the first week of the new school year. Otherwise, the course must be repeated. The dates for make up exams are announced to the students, published in the last newsletter of the previous year, and a letter also sent to the parents. The student must sit for a make up exam in every course that was failed before being allowed to register for the next school year.

Repeating of Courses

A course taken over owing to failure the first time around counts for one credit only.
Promotion Policy The following policy will apply to all students in Grades 7-11:
A student may be invited back to Pinewood, but will have to repeat the year (i.e. he/she will not be promoted to the next grade level) if the said student (1) receives a failing grade in three or more academic subjects (subjects which meet five periods per week), or (2) receives a failing grade for two academic subjects, plus two or more specialist subjects (subjects which meet fewer than five periods per week).
Such students will also be placed on academic probation for the first Quarter of the new school year, at the end of which time their cases will be reviewed. If there has been no improvement from the previous year, students who are repeating may be asked to withdraw from school.

Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance may be granted to students who have completed grades 9-12, but who do not meet the specific graduation requirements for a Pinewood diploma.

Credits and Graduation Requirements

Credits

a. Counting of Credits

In Grades 9 - 12, one credit is awarded for each full year course completed with a passing mark of 60 or above. Each semester course passed counts as 1/2 credit. A minimum of 21 credits properly distributed is required for graduation. Students may transfer credits from another school. High school level courses taken and passed before Grade 9, will also be counted towards the diploma.

b. Distribution Requirements by Subject:

English - 4
Social Studies - 4
Math - 3 (recommended 4)
Science - 3
Physical Education - 1
Foreign Language - 2
Electives - 4

c. Notes on Specific Requirements:

English - Successful completion of English 12 required for graduation.
Mathematics - Students must successfully complete Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II or Math Studies I.
Social Studies - Successful completion of Social Studies 9, World History, European World History. U.S. History required for U.S. citizens who want to study in a U.S. college or university.
Science - Students must successfully complete Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Physical Education - Successful completion of two PE courses in Grades 9 - 12. PE courses beyond the two that are required will not count towards the 21 graduation credits.
Foreign Languages; - Successful completion of 3 years of study in a foreign language (Greek or French).

Greek: Students are encouraged to take the Greek Language Proficiency Exams offered by the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki at the appropriate Level 1-3.

French: Students are encouraged to take the French Language Proficiency Exams DELF administered by the French Ministry of National Education and held at the French Institute of Thessaloniki. In special cases, students who are in Grades 9-12 and are not native speakers of English may be exempted from this requirement and/or given credit for course work completed in their mother tongue.