• Feb. 14: Valley Southwoods counselors visit Indian Hills Junior High to show them how to select courses.
• Feb. 16: Valley Southwoods counselors visit Stilwell Junior High to show them how to select courses.
• Feb. 16, 17, 21: Parent/student conferences with junior high classroom teachers to discuss course recommendations.
• Feb. 14-18: Parents/students review courses and complete Google form with course requests.
• Feb. 25: Deadline to make any changes to requested courses. Junior high counselors will then enter courses for students into Infinite Campus.

• January 13: Ninth-Grade Parent Night
• January 27: Students explore course options at school during Advisory.
• January 31: Students explore course options at school during Advisory.
• February 4: Valley counselors visit Valley Southwoods for course presentations.
• February 7-8: Students enter courses into Infinite Campus during Advisory.
• February 10-11: Counselors, ESOL, and special education staff visit Valley Southwoods to follow-up with students.

• January 6: All students begin work on their graduation checklist, course exploration, and future planning.
• January 10: All students complete work on their graduation checklist, course exploration, and future planning.
• January 20, 24: All students explore course options at school and work on course registration form in Canvas.
• January 25, 27: Students enter courses into Infinite Campus.
• Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Students currently in grade 11 meet with counselors.
• Feb. 2-3: Students currently in grade 10 meet with counselors.

Eighth-graders will not register for courses through Infinite Campus. Junior high counselors will complete this step for you. Please follow the directions below to sign up for courses in February.

1. Review presentation overview (this will be posted in February).
2. Attend conferences with junior high classroom teachers.
3. Parents/student sit down and complete Google form (this will be available in February).
4. Look for email confirmation of courses after junior high counselors enter information into Infinite Campus (this will be sent in late February).

1. Log into Infinite Campus Student Portal.
2. In the menu on the left side of the screen, click “More.”
3. Click on “Course Registration.”
4. Click on NEXT school year.
5. Select your school (Valley or Valley Southwoods).*
6. Click "Add Course."
7. Search or scroll to find the course and click the blue + sign to add a course request.
8. Continue to add courses until you fill your schedule.

*Students attending Walnut Creek Campus register for courses through their counselor.

1. Log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
2. Select the student you wish to register by clicking their name in the upper right corner of the page.
3. In the menu on the left side of the screen, click “More.”
4. Click on “Course Registration.”
5. Click on NEXT school year.
6. Select your student's school (Valley or Valley Southwoods).*
7. You can view the courses your student selected OR add courses if you choose to go through this process with them.

What are AP Courses?
Advanced Placement is an international program. The program offers college-level rigorous courses and examinations. Valley High School currently offers 23 classes to prepare students for the examinations each May.

Why Take an AP Course?
There are many factors to consider when deciding on advanced classes, but you should start with the recommendation of teachers. They may not be able to give you a definitive answer, but they can help you weigh your options.

Students should also ask themselves why they want to take an advanced class. Students looking to “get a course out of the way,” or who don’t plan in taking four years in a particular subject will often regret taking the advanced course. If the student really enjoys the course and wants to take on a challenge to learn more about the subject matter, then an advanced class might be a great opportunity.

Another important tool that can help with this decision is Characteristics of Effective Learners. Download the PDF and answer the 15 questions with your student.

AP Exam Information
It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum. Starting with 2022-2023 school year, students will automatically receive a .5 weighting for taking an AP course. If the student takes the associated AP exam in May 2023, they will be awarded an additional .5 weighting for the class.

Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Learn more about the AP exam process and dates >

What is this?

Career Pathways are a new tool to guide West Des Moines Community Schools students as they launch their futures — all based on potential careers. Right now, we have pathways in:

• Apparel and Textiles,
• Culinary Arts,
• Education,
• Health Science,
• Manufacturing,
• Performing Arts (Band, Orchestra, Theater, Vocal Music),
• Programming and Software Development, and
• Visual Arts (Graphic Art, Photography and Audio/Visual Technology and Film, Studio Art).
  
  

How do I start?

The first step is figuring out which career pathway(s) you want to explore. Videos, descriptions, and assessments from Naviance, Roadtrip Nation, and CareerOneStop can help you narrow it down.

Then, learn more about each pathway by exploring:

• pathway courses,
• related electives,
• career-related activities,
• certifications,
• workplace learning experiences, and
• potential college majors.
  
  

Want to learn more?
If you are interested in Career Pathways, you can:

• Go to our Career Pathways Overview web page and start exploring!
• Talk to your counselor.
• Check out our new "Introducing the Career Pathways!" podcast episode with Secondary Curriculum Director Shane Scott.
  • Listen to the podcast on:
    • Amazon Music/Audible >
    • Podbean >
    • Spotify>
  • Watch the podcast on YouTube >

Valley High School offers more than 100 elective courses for students to explore new interests, build existing skills, or pursue a hobby that could become a career.

Click on any of the electives links to view more information and watch a video.

• Art electives range from foundational courses – where students learn basics including drawing, sculpting, and photography – to courses focused on specific media, such as metal working, film photography, and digital art and animation classes.
• Business classes teach fundamental professional skills, allowing students to master common computer applications, learn the ins and outs of running a business, and explore interests in fields such as marketing, advertising, and business law.
• Computer Science classes cover the basics of computer programming all the way up to Advanced Placement courses, allowing students to master a variety of programming languages and learn to design and code their own websites.
• Drama elective courses allow students to take center stage (or work behind the scenes!) in Acting I and II, Dramatic Literature, and Theatre Production classes. These courses can be found listed in the Language Arts portion of the course catalog.
• Engineering Technology courses allow students to explore future careers in fields such as construction, manufacturing, design, and engineering. Students can explore a trade in carpentry or welding, get their hands dirty in an automotive class, or prepare for college with engineering fundamentals.
• Family and Consumer Science courses offer students the opportunity to explore textiles and design, food preparation, child development, and personal and career interests. Here, students can gain real-world experience running a restaurant – Valley’s own Café V – or in local preschool classrooms.
• Music classes teach music theory and history in addition to individual and ensemble performance. Band classes include ensemble, jazz, and marching band; choir offerings include a Capella, mixed ensemble, and Select Treble Clef Chorus; and orchestra students may audition for placement in chamber orchestra.
• World Language courses offer students the opportunity to communicate with others from around the world and learn about another region’s culture. Students may choose from Chinese, French, German, Latin, and Spanish, and courses range from beginner-level to Advanced Placement.