Classes: High School
High School Core Classes
English
World Literature
In World Literature students are asked to study at least seven different cultures from around the world and use this knowledge to analyze literature from these regions including poetry, short stories, and novels. Students will also continue to build writing skills through a series of lessons focusing on the 6 Writing Traits as well as classroom discussion, presentation, and critique.
American Literature
American Literature is designed to study and analyze literature from the American perspective. Students study many forms of American literature in conjunction with the history of America from the Native Americans’ immigration to the contemporary society we live in now. Students will focus on analyzing literature from a cultural and historical significance, using class discussion and critical thinking skills to determine and asses a piece of literature’s influence on American society. Writing skills will continue to be honed through analytic and opinion essays, creative narratives, and research assignments.
British Literature
British Literature is designed to study and analyze literature from the British perspective. Students study many forms of British literature in conjunction with the history of the United Kingdom from the first Britons and invading Anglo-Saxons to the contemporary writer and playwright. Students will focus on analyzing literature from a cultural and historical significance, using class discussion and critical thinking skills to determine and asses a piece of literature’s influence on society. Writing skills will continue to be honed through analytic and opinion essays, creative narratives, and research assignments.
Research Methods
Research Methods is designed to familiarize and prepare the exiting senior on college level essay and research writing. In order to achieve this goal, seniors will be asked to learn the essentials of essay and research writing as well as how to research and verbally present a given topic. This class will focus on the argument, rhetoric, voice, and grammatical elements an essay or paper needs to satisfy college professors in the coming years after high school, as well as, the world outside of academia.
History
World History
We will begin the class by examining the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment era and the seeds of change these important time periods planted. These seeds grow resulting in significant political and social change as seen in the Glorious Revolution in England, the American Revolution, the French Revolution and eventually the rise of Napoleon. We will then focus on the chain reaction of political events started by this era of change which rip through Europe and Central and South America. The class will then analyze the origins and consequences of the Industrial Revolution and its impact on the world, specifically the Imperialist ambitions of the Western Europe throughout Asia and Africa. Finally, we will explain the causes and consequences of the great military, social, political and economic events of the past century, including World War I, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, World War II, the Chinese Revolution and the Cold War.
American and World Government
Although this will be a full year course, it will be broken down into two components. The first two-thirds of the year will be focusing on America’s system of government. Particular emphasize will be made on the origins of US government, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. We will examine the traditional struggle between the executive and legislative branches and spend significant time on the seminal Supreme Court cases. Time permitting we will also look at the American electoral process. For roughly the last quarter or third of the class we will turn to a more comparative approach to studying government – comparing the US system to parliamentary systems such as Canada and the UK. We will conclude the course on a unit study on the successes and difficulties facing international governing organizations especially the United Nations and the European Union.
Science
Environmental Science
Environmental Science is a course designed to introduce students to major ecological concepts and the environmental problems that affect the world in which we live. There is an urgent need for environmental education. This program provides one way in which students can become aware of the interactions of people and their environment. The curriculum focuses on concepts that are real-life issues. It promotes awareness and understanding of practical everyday problems that affect their lives. It also relates important environmental issues to the lives of the students and their families.
Chemistry
This intensive course deals with such challenging material as matter and energy, atomic structure and electron configuration, the periodic table, ionic compounds, covalent bonds and molecular forces, carbon and organic compounds, chemical equations, causes of change, gases and liquids, solutions, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, reaction rates, electro chemistry, and nuclear chemistry.
Biology
Biology is an introductory course that focuses on fundamental concepts in biology. We will cover the nature of science and biology, ecology, biochemistry, the cell, genetics, microbiology and evolution. We will explore the connections between biology and other disciplines as well as link our study to current events in the world and in biological sciences. In addition to the book we will analyze other scientific work, design projects, collect and interpret data. We will also do extensive writing and presentations throughout the course. Biology has many concepts, system and ideas to explore. It is an exciting time to be studying biology now, our understanding of molecular biology has never been better. Coupled with technology we are diving into a world where it is said that humans can almost “play God”. Exploring the possibilities of biology and trying to find how biology and society can move forward together is our future.
Mathematics
Geometry
Geometry involves the student as problem solver, one who can reason mathematically and who can communicate and make connections among various mathematical ideas, including the following: points, lines, planes and angles, parallel lines and planes, transformations and congruence, congruent triangles, similar polygons, right triangles, circles, areas of plane and solid figures, volume and surface area of solids, organizing proofs logically and using formulae to solve problems.
Algebra II
The major component of this course is advanced topics in algebra. The students continue the study of statistics including probability, distributions, and linear regression. The course integrates geometry, algebra, statistics, discrete mathematics, algebraic and transcendental functions, and problem solving with the use of graphing calculators.
Pre-Calculus
The course is designed to prepare students for a course in calculus. The course includes topics in the following areas: functions and their graphs; functions and their zeros; polynomial functions; rational functions and asymptotes; functions involving radicals; trigonometric functions and the right triangle; trigonometric functions and the unit circle; graphs of trigonometric functions; inverse trigonometric functions; solving trigonometric equations; trigonometric identities; law of sines; law of cosines; parametric equations; polar coordinates; certain topics in analytic geometry including parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.
High School Elective Classes
AP World History
The AP World History course is designed to be the equivalent of a college course with a successful score on the AP exam earning the student college credit. AP World History deals with the broad outlines of complex human societies from their beginnings to the present – a vast amount of time and material compared to most history courses – but it focuses on specific themes and thinking skills (Habits of Mind). The course is aimed at helping students gain the higher level thinking skills/habits of mind needed to succeed in college. The fundamental purpose of the AP World History exam is NOT to test students’ encyclopedic knowledge of world history, but rather to assess their ability to analyze and evaluate large scale global processes over time, and to test their analytical skills as historians.
AP United States History
Advanced Placement United States History is a challenging course designed to be the equivalent of a college freshman survey course in United States History. It is specifically designed to provide students with an in-depth study of United States history from the early colonial period through the modern day. The course will follow a traditional chronological format but with heavy emphasis on recurring themes. The thematic approach is to encourage students to think conceptually about history and gauge historical change over time. This course also includes extensive instruction in analysis and interpretation of a wide variety of primary source materials and student will be expected to apply these skills when writing essays. Students successfully mastering the course material may earn college credit by passing the annually administered AP United States History Exam; the individual college or university determines how many, or, if any credits will be granted for the AP exam score.
AP Calculus
An AP course in calculus consists of a full high school academic year of work that is comparable to calculus courses in colleges and universities. It is expected that students who take an AP course in calculus will seek college credit. Broad concepts and widely applicable methods are emphasized. The focus of the course is neither manipulation nor memorization of an extensive taxonomy of functions, curves, theorems, or problem types. Thus, although facility with manipulation and computational competence are important outcomes, they are not the core of this course. Through the use of the unifying themes of derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, and applications and modeling, the course becomes a cohesive whole rather than a collection of unrelated topics.
AP Biology
This course is equal to a first year biology course you would take in university. The course will cover the same content and as a result students will be expected to meet the same requirements expected of university students. You will study much of the content on your own, and develop a learning style that allows you to research, write, give constructive criticism and learn in an independent fashion. We will cover the major themes of biology as identified by the College Board - Science as a Process, Evolution, Energy Transfer, Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, Interdependence in Nature, Science, Technology and Society. At the end of this course you will also be well versed in the fundamental concepts of biology and have a great understanding these topics and modern biology.
AP Statistics
The AP Statistics course is designed not only to prepare students for the AP Statistics Exam, but to become analytical people. They will practice collecting, analyzing and representing data. Students will learn to draw their own conclusions, communicate effectively and work with others to produce lucid arguments for conclusions drawn based on data collected.
Spanish I
The purpose of Spanish I is for students to become familiar with another language and culture. This class focuses on listening, writing and group activities to practice and speak Spanish. The goal of Spanish I is to encourage your interest in a broader world.
French II
French II is a second-year, intermediate course in French language and culture. Students will begin the year by reviewing the basic material they learned in French I. After students regain their confidence and competence in using the language, they will continue on into more advanced grammar, language usage and vocabulary, concurrently honing their conversation skills and correct pronunciation. We will spend time during each unit exploring not only the language of France, but also its culture, society and prominent cities.
Music Theory
Students will identify musical elements, for. ms, voice, and instruments from aural examples. They will describe what they will hear though movements, writing, and illustration. Students will read, write, and perform rhythms and melodies as found in notated music. They will apply an expanded vocabulary of musical symbols and terms. Furthermore, students will apply an expanded vocabulary of musical symbols and terms. Students will be able to read, notate, and perform quarter, dotted quarter, eight half, dotted half, sixteenth and whole notes and quarter, half and whole rest in double and triple meters using rhythm syllables. Additionally, students will identify the musical symbols for sharps, flats, and naturals and identify the diatonic scale and the key signatures of C-G- and F-major.
Orchestra
Students will describe tempo, dynamics, articulation, and rhythmic and melodic elements though movements. Students will also identify and describe AB, ABA theme and variations, and rondo forms using movement and symbols. Furthermore, students will be able to identify members of the string, brass, woodwind, and percussion families and instruments associated with those cultures. Students will demonstrate appropriate listening behavior for various types of performances.
High School Multimedia
This course is a continuation of MS Multimedia with more emphasis on Project-based learning. With access to full-time technology having exploded over recent years, students now have available a variety of tools to enable them to reach out beyond the text book and classroom and into the real world. They can now be presented with the challenges of more complex problems than ever before. They are not simply passive consumers of information and computer technology, but rather, as future leaders, creators, producers of such products. Students will publish research to inquiries and projects in a wide array of forms using various tools: software and presentation tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, emerging online tools), blogs, online forums; they will also learn imaging tools like Photoshop, and, time permitting, introductory website tools like HTML and CSS and Flash. A longer-term project involves participation in the school yearbook.
High School Writing
High School Writing A is designed as a remediation course for high school students. The class is based on introducing and reinforcing writing and grammar skills that students have not fully grasped in their writing abilities. Each section is fully explained, demonstrated, reinforced through relative experience and then applied in a realistic writing format. This class is very student oriented in that each day they add a new skill and produce relevant work. This class is based on the skills necessary for academic acceptance and success at the university and professional levels of society.
World Religions
The World Religions course introduces students to the diversity of world religions as they examine the origins, beliefs and practices of the major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, etc.
For each religion they will explore:
- origins and history
- spiritual leaders and key personalities
- concept and presence of God
- beliefs and teachings
- rituals and rites of worship
High School Art
In this course students will develop and apply skills using a variety of two dimensional and three dimensional media, tools, and processes to create works that communicate personal meaning. Students will be identifying and controlling different media, techniques, and processes to effectively communicate their ideas, experiences, and stories including: drawing, painting, printing, printing, sculpture /architecture, fibers, mixed media, new media. Students will also explore what is art, who makes it, and why it is made. Every student will have a group exhibition at the end of the year. Students will participate in the exhibition. By preparing a group exhibition, students will learn how to articulate their ideas and visualize their thoughts. The class will help students improve their drawing and painting skills.
High School Physical Education
The High School Physical Education course offers a variety of health and fitness activities. We will practice the strategies, mechanics and complex motor skills necessary to play sports at a high level of competency.
Goals:
- Identify available school and community resources that promote an active and healthy lifestyle.
- Set both short and long term personal health and wellness goals.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules and strategies for various sports and activities.
- Become a supportive helpful classmate by learning how to give and receive constructive criticism.
Introduction to Psychology
The focus of this course will be upon the various theories of human behavior, the study of the brain, the senses and perception, motivation and emotion, the factors that influence personality development, the dynamics of group behavior, the unique nature of adolescence, gender differences, scientific methodology, and the historical significance of psychology. After completion of this course students will develop a better understanding of the basic vocabulary and concepts of psychology and hopefully attain a better understanding of themselves and others.
High School Speech and Presentation
Students will have the opportunity to improve their communication skills through several interactive activities. The goal of this course is for students to develop their interpersonal skills and build confidence for public speaking.
High School ELL Center
Students will have the opportunity to receive assistance and feedback on course materials and to create an environment for more English language learning.
High School Language Arts
Students will have the opportunity to improve their reading and writing skills, while exploring various elements of language arts. Students will be learning how to properly structure sentences using correct grammar and spelling; they will be learning all aspects of the writing process with the goal of being able to write a proper English essay by the end of the course.