HSC101 and HSC102 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: Background checks are required before the first day of class. Students must be at least 16 years of age. Physicals, immunization records and a T.B. test are all required before the first day of clinical.
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Certified Nursing Assistant is a full-year program that allows students to earn a Certified Nursing Assistant certification by the end of the school year.  The program will support six DMACC dual-enrolled courses, those descriptions are below.  The program will cover two consecutive class periods  for one semester and first period for the other semester. 

• HSC109 Exploring Health Careers/Team Building – Students will discover the many options available, including roles and responsibilities in health career options. This course is designed to provide the student with the information necessary to make their health career choice. 
• HSC105 Introduction to Health Occupations – This course introduces both the variety and requirements for healthcare careers. Basic core knowledge and professional expectations common to all health careers are explored. Workplace safety and an overview of the health system and current trends are also covered.
• HSC101 Emergency Care – Learn to perform care for medical emergencies: fractures, burns, resuscitation, basic CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, American Heart Level II Standards) Certification.
• HSC114 Medical Terminology – A comprehensive study of medical terminology as the language of medicine. Analyzes words by dividing them into component parts. Relates the medical terms to the structure and functional pathology of diseases and current medical procedures. Emphasizes word usage, abbreviations, pronunciation and spelling.
• HSC172 Nurse Aide 75 Hours – Entry level skills to seek employment in Iowa skilled facilities. 
• HSC182 Advanced Nurse Aide – A continuation of the Nurse Aide course, providing additional skills and clinical to work in hospital

If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost including board exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

MIS432 | First OR Second Semester
Prerequisite: Student must be enrolled in at least four courses, an EL resource and phys. ed.
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Students may sign up each semester they are entitled to EL resources. Students are expected to work at least 15 hours per week and be employed for at least 14 weeks to obtain credit. Students are responsible for obtaining their own employment, as well as providing transportation to and from the job. An EL teacher will visit the jobsite twice per semester. Students will be required to meet with teacher weekly and turn in a time sheet. Students will complete a culminating activity as arranged by the teacher and student. Seniors may waive physical education requirements while enrolled in EL work study.

EMS213 and EMS214 | First Semester OR Second Semester 
Prerequisite: Students must be classified as seniors (grade 12) and at least 17 years of age. Students must have an up-to-date CPR certification and immunization record, as well as a pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) test.
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

This course is designed to educate students on how to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and noncritical patients who access the emergency medical system. EMTs possess the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. These skills include but are not limited to airway management, bleeding control, cervical spine stabilization, vehicle extrication techniques and vital sign assessment. EMT's function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight, and perform interventions with basic level emergency equipment. This course is the required entry-level EMS certification course designed to prepare students for advanced-level EMS courses.  This course must be taken for DMACC credit.

MIS361 | First Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Students will learn the basic components of the teaching profession including understanding and assessing students, history and organization of education, prominent educational theory, effective pedagogy, professional and legal aspects of the teaching profession, societal influences on education, and predictions for the future of education. Students should leave with a basic understanding of the teaching profession and an evaluation in continuing to pursue a teaching career. The course includes required classroom observations. Students must provide their own transportation if necessary. This course must be taken for DMACC credit. A successful background check is required.

MIS105 and MIS106 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: Identification for gifted/talented services
ELECTIVE ⬛9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

GT Seminar is designed to help exceptional students who have been identified for the gifted and talented program continue their personalized educational plan. The focus is action-based and centered on the Autonomous Learner Model. The students will be facilitating seminars, participating in enrichments (service, leadership, cultural activities), exploring individual growth options (career and college), and dialoguing about aspects of giftedness. Scheduling may differ in each building. Maximum of 4 credits  earned, 9-12.

MIS521 and MIS522 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: Identification for gifted/talented service, minimum 3.5 GPA
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Students receive .5 credit each semester for up to 6 semesters at Valley. It is required for Honors students at each level with a bigger vision in mind of where students need to be for Senior Honors Seminar and beyond. The focus is action-based and centered on the Autonomous Learner Model. The students will be facilitating seminars, participating in enrichments (service, leadership, cultural activities), exploring individual growth options (career and college), and dialoguing about aspects of giftedness. 

Students will develop skills in the writing of college/university application essays. Students will synthesize learning with individualized projects related to their own areas of interest in preparation for their Senior Exhibition. Junior Honors students will select an Academic Mentor and propose a project idea. Over the course of a year, Honors students will implement necessary steps for project completion, and then present their Senior Exhibition to an audience of students, teachers, and administrators in May of their senior year. Students must participate in Honors Seminar every semester, complete required coursework, pass the Senior Exhibition, and have a minimum GPA of 3.9 in order to earn the VHS Honors Diploma.  

MIS315 and MIS316 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: Identification process
ELECTIVE ⬛9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) 9-12 is a career exploration and preparation course that provides a hands-on approach to exploring personal strengths and challenges as well as job attainment skills (cover letter, resume, job application, interviewing, etc.) and workplace “survival” skills (interpersonal relations, team work, etc.). Students will work to build strengths in academic areas, time management, and communication.

Individual and team project work will help students come to an understanding of their personality and temperament and the relationship between personal actions and the consequences that follow. Students will make connections to their career interests, abilities, and aptitudes by determining their education and career goals through development of an Individual Career Development Plan.

This full-year, credited course involves individual assignments, team activities/projects, academic remediation support, service learning opportunities, guest speakers, field trips (including some state iJAG events such as the Leadership Development and Career Development conferences in Des Moines), and career exploration through job shadowing. Students will also participate in the iJAG Career Association in various activities focused on Career and Leadership Development, Service Learning, and Civic/ Social Awareness.

iJAG is a multi-year commitment of support including one year of follow-up beyond high school.

See your counselor | First and/or Second Semester
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Introduction to IT courses provides students the opportunity to experience and explore career fields in Informational Technologies. Students would have the opportunity to move into DMACC programs such as Telecom/Data Communications, Information Technology Network Administration, Network Administration, Business Information Systems, Management Information Systems, and Electronics/Robotics. Successful completion of the four introductory courses will result in student earning a total of 12 credits towards an Associate of Arts Degree in one of five IT fields. 

MIS362 | Second Semester   
Prerequisite: Foundations of Education with a C- or better final grade
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬛DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Instruction at Valley will consist of exploring effective ways to create a positive classroom climate, demonstrating successful methods of instruction, identifying effective classroom management, demonstrating an understanding of the responsibilities and duties of the profession, evaluating current trends in education, and constructing a portfolio or exhibits to demonstrate understanding and analysis of the teaching profession. The course includes a required classroom practicum throughout the semester. Students must provide their own transportation if necessary. This course must be taken for DMACC credit.

*Senior students who have completed or are currently enrolled in the highest level of a curricular area may be allowed to do their practicums in a lower level of that area at the high school level, with teacher recommendation. For example, a student in AP Calculus could do a practicum in Algebra A.

West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) is excited to announce that starting in January 2023, WDMCS will begin an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program at Valley High School. Students who attend Valley Southwoods, Valley, and Walnut Creek Campus will be eligible to register for the course.

JROTC Program Overview

• In January 2023, all students will begin with the first course, AFJROTC Aviation History.
• The entire program offers four 1-credit courses.
• Only one of those courses is offered each year.
• All classroom experiences include components of course curriculum, leadership, and physical fitness.
• Classes may include students from multiple grades. 
• Each course will satisfy the Physical Education graduation requirement for the year.
• Transportation will be provided, if needed, for students who attend Valley Southwoods or Walnut Creek Campus.

Learn more and view courses >

MIS321 or MIS322 | First OR Second Semester
Prerequisite: Teacher approval and proficiency in associated course(s).
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

This is a one or two semester course in which a student may support the development of enhancing course curriculum, pursue in depth projects and inquiry learning with the assistance of the teacher in classroom and/or lab settings, assist with classroom preparation and breakdown of lab activities, and work with students in the course.  The intent of the Lab Assistant course is to provide a means for students to deepen and expand both content knowledge and the enhanced experiences in the plication of 21st century skills.  This course is graded as pass/no pass and may be taken for .5 credit if meeting every other day or 1 credit if meeting every day.  A student may accumulate a maximum of one credit as a lab assistant over the course of their high school career. The content standards will be designated by the student and their teacher.  They will be chosen from the 21st Century Employability Skills. 

MIS103 and MIS104 | Full Year Course
Prerequisite: Identification process.
ELECTIVE ⬛9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

An academic support teacher will serve identified students in need of academic, social, or emotional assistance. The teacher will help students develop the academic, social, and self-management skills they need to succeed.

Students from Indian Hills and Stilwell will be assigned to the Learning Lab at Valley Southwoods by the Valley Southwoods Administration.

ART601 and ART602 | First OR Second Semester
Prerequisite: screening process
ELECTIVE ⬛9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬜12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

In this class, entitled students with significant physical and/or intellectual disabilities participate with Valley Southwoods student coaches in a modified curriculum and level of activity resulting in a safer environment and enhanced learning possibilities. Student volunteers will be chosen through a screening process. This class meets every other day for 0.5 credit per semester. This course will require a study hall on the opposite day of Peer Partner Art. This course does not meet the art elective credit requirements for graduation.

Curricular topics include: 

• Video/Performance Art—different viewpoints, 
• Abstract Art—emphasis on color and texture to express feeling and emotion, 
• Conceptual Art—meaning/concepts (most important: student choice), 
• discovering and use of new techniques with traditional art materials, and 
• peer portraits using varying art mediums. 

Classroom activities include: students working collaboratively on art projects; students using varying art materials (paint, colored pencils, chalk pastels, clay, mixed media, video and digital); students learning about varying artists with personal and other connections to students in class; and creating collaborative art projects in the community. Students requesting this course will be required to submit an application and will be interviewed by the Valley Southwoods teacher before being selected as a student coach for this class. Application must be attached to registration worksheet. Applications are available in your junior high main office.

MIS309 or MIS310 | First OR Second Semester
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Success Center
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

This is a one-semester course that offers students the opportunity to engage in a self-paced exploration of skills and strategies that meet their personal needs to improve academic performance and social-emotional well-being. Course content includes: Learning Strategies, Self-Management Skills, Development of Executive Functioning Skills, Career Exploration, and Career Planning.

MIS351 or MIS352 | First OR Second Semester
Prerequisite: Senior Status
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬜10 ⬜11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI

Students may take this class for one semester (one credit) or for two semesters (two credits). Students may enroll in the field experience by finding a teacher who will oversee their career exploration. Students will also be responsible for finding a mentor in the community to shadow. Requirements for the field experience will be determined by the student, teacher, and mentor and will vary given the area to be explored. The course will consist of 90 total hours per semester of shadowing, contact time with the teacher, and research. Documentation of semester’s work is required.

MIS313 and MIS314/MIS103 and MIS104 | Full-Year Course
Prerequisite: Identification process
ELECTIVE ⬜9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

• High school credit (10-11-12) – Students who have failed a required course or who are behind in credits may enroll in an online or a DMACC correspondence course which is proctored in the Success Center. Valley counselors make the student recommendations.
• Credit Recovery (10-11-12) – Proctored by certified teachers in the Success Center, this opportunity allows eligible students to pass required courses they have failed by completing necessary work assigned by their former classroom teacher. Eligibility is established through a set of qualifying guidelines.
• Work experience (11-12) – A course for selected students to earn credit for practical job experience. Recommendation is based on credit need and counselor recommendation.
• Learning Lab (10-12) – A class for identified at-risk students. Emphasis is placed on developing skills that promote academic success. All students are required to bring homework and study materials from other classes. This class meets either every day or every other day. 

PHY505 and PHY506 | First OR Second Semester 
Prerequisite: screening process
ELECTIVE ⬛9 ⬛10 ⬛11 ⬛12
⬜DMACC ⬜NCAA ⬜RAI 

Unified Physical Education provides a unique opportunity for students with and without disabilities to come together through ongoing educational and physical activities. The Unified Physical Education course is structured around the national physical education standards and grade-level outcomes, which include gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness. Additionally, the class supports the development of leadership skills for all students, and the empowerment of ALL students to foster an inclusive class and school-wide environment.