Upper School Curriculum

Students are introduced to the basic elements and principles of art and design using a variety of materials, ( pastels, watercolor, pen and ink, printmaking, etc. ). Students learn about color theory, line and form, texture, and pattern. Artists from the past and present will be introduced to use as an inspiration for creative artworks.

Prerequisite: Advanced Studio Art

This course is designed for Juniors and Seniors who have achieved a certain level of proficiency in art and desire to further their study in art, by exploring painting, sculpture, graphic design, and more. The focus enables the student to prepare a body of work that can be used as a college admissions portfolio. Each student will choose a theme to develop and explore throughout the entire year. this independence will allow for personal growth. Students will be expected to complete the required AP projects and will be graded accordingly. The student fee covers the ordinary cost of materials for drawing, painting, and other materials necessary to complete the AP portfolio. Should a student require extra art materials or unusual supplies, the student is responsible for providing these materials. Student Fee: $75

Students will learn introductory pottery skills, such as how to work with clay and how to apply glazes to works in a functional and decorative manner. Students will use a variety of hand building techniques produce works of art out of clay. An assortment of projects will be created throughout the school year, all of which will include the pinch, slab, and coil methods. Student Fee: $75

Dance for Performance develops the student’s mastery of Limon and contemporary modern dance techniques. Students also learn and perform choreography as a group for Winter and Spring Concerts. Students will learn about Dance Composition and will choreograph and perform dances using this knowledge. Performances are culminating experiences without an equivalent substitute and are a required component of the course.

Prerequisite: Dance for Performance

Teacher Recommendation Required

Advanced Dance is available to students who have taken Dance Performance and have the teacher’s recommendation. This course meets at the same time as Dance Performance and will give a student the ability to take a lead role in class and performance opportunities.

Students will learn about Dance/Movement Therapy as a psychotherapy practice and will learn by doing and working together as a class. Students will explore ways to use movement to increase mental and physical wellness. Topics include Understanding mind/body connection, Increase in communication skills through movement, Increase in expression, Authentic Movement, and Dance/Movement Therapy history.

Prerequisite: Studio Art

This course is designed for the student who has achieved a certain level of proficiency in art and desires to further his or her study in art, by exploring painting, sculpture, graphic design, and more. The focus enables the student to prepare a body of work that can possibly be used as a college admissions portfolio. Student Fee $75.

Vocal Music Ensemble is a course that allows students to explore and develop their voices for both solo and small ensemble singing. A broad range of vocal and choral literature is studied each year, with a focus on vocal development, sight-singing, and ensemble technique along with music appreciation. Students will have the opportunity to perform at multiple events. Performances are culminating experiences without an equivalent substitute and are a required component of the course.

Prerequisite: Vocal Music

Teacher Recommendation Required

Advanced Vocal Music meets at the same time as Vocal Music and will give a student the ability to take a lead role in class and performance opportunities along with creating a folio of work that can be used for college applications. Students will meet with the teacher to make a plan for their folio of work before the school year has started.

Instrumental Music Ensemble is open to all instrumentalists. Piano players (who would/may play a mallet instrument) may join with the permission of the instructor. Students will study music at an intermediate level with an emphasis on developing technical ability, characteristic tonality, and knowledge of phrasing within an ensemble with music appreciation. Performance pieces will focus on a variety of genres. Lessons are highly recommended to all members of the ensemble. Performances are culminating experiences without an equivalent substitute and are a required component of the course.

Prerequisite: Instrumental Music 

Requires Teacher Recommendation

Advanced Instrumental Music meets at the same time as Instrumental Music and will give a student the ability to take a lead role in class and performance opportunities along with creating a folio of work that can be used for college applications. Students will meet with the teacher to make a plan for their folio of work before the school year has started.

Students learn the basics of fine art black-and-white photography. Students learn guiding principles of photography, photocomposition, film processing, and dark room printing techniques through an array of photographic assignments. Students develop their photographic eye through creating artwork that is purposeful and meaningful. Furthermore, Film Photography students work towards assembling a personal portfolio and are presented with opportunities for individual and group shows.

In Photography students learn a variety of concepts and approaches using a digital camera, camera equipment, and Adobe Photoshop. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their creativity through a range of applied concepts and techniques through project-based learning. In addition to developing a personal portfolio, students are presented with opportunities to participate in individual and group exhibits of their works.

Prerequisite: Photography

Throughout the course, students will concentrate on the components of film and digital photography including technical skills of photo equipment and the computer software program Adobe Photoshop. Students learn guiding principles of photography, photocomposition, film processing, darkroom, and digital darkroom techniques. Students work towards assembling a personal portfolio and are presented with opportunities to participate in individual and group shows. This course includes individual student critiques and or instructional conversations with the teacher, enabling students to learn to analyze and discuss their own artwork. Advanced Photography students begin developing their own voice as a photographer. Student Fee: $75

Prerequisite: Advanced Photography

This College Board Advanced Placement-Photography course is designed for the highly invested and motivated Juniors and Seniors. AP Photography enables students to further their study of photography by presenting subject matter and techniques that challenge the artistically motivated student. Students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively and to demonstrate their technical photographic knowledge through expressive experimentation. Students must consistently demonstrate mastery of design in concept, composition and execution while working independently on a concentration that represents a body of work that investigates a strong underlying visual idea. Student Fee: $75

This College Board Advanced Placement-Music Theory course is designed for the highly invested and motivated music student. AP Music explores the building blocks, its depth, its breadth, and its empowerment of the creative process. AP Music Theory students will gain the knowledge needed to communicate in the language of music, analyze historical musical works, and gain a deeper appreciation of music from a thorough understanding. AP Music Theory also affords the opportunity for college credits depending on the individual student-musician performance on the AP Exam.

Theatre is for students interested in building their presentation and speech skills and for those who want to learn the aspects of performance, acting, stage crew, set & costume design, theatre combat, and improv. Performances are culminating experiences without an equivalent substitute and are a required component of the course.

Prerequisite: Theatre 

Teacher Recommendation Required

Advanced Theatre meets at the same time as Theatre Arts and will give a student the ability to take a lead role in class and direct performance opportunities along with creating a folio of work that can be used for college applications. Students will meet with the teacher to make a plan for their folio of work before the school year has started.

Battery Drum Line consists of snare drums, bass drums, tenor drums, and cymbals and rehearses daily, incorporates a high level of commitment and student creation into its shows, and performs at numerous events throughout the school year. Students will learn the basics of music reading/theory and music appreciation. Performances are culminating experiences without an equivalent substitute and are a required component of the course.

Filmmaking is designed for those who want to learn the aspects of filmmaking including how to write a script, camera work, sound recording, lighting, directing, basic acting skills, editing, soundtracks, sound editing, and movie history. The film showings are culminating experiences without an equivalent substitute and are a required component of the course.

Prerequisites: Filmmaking 

Teacher Recommendation Required

Advanced Filmmaking is available only to seniors who have taken Filmmaking and the teacher’s recommendation. This course meets at the same time as Filmmaking and will give a student the ability to take a lead role in class and filming opportunities along with creating a folio of work which can be used for college applications. Students will meet with the teacher to make a plan for their folio of work before the school year has started.

English 9 serves as a genre studies course, exposing students to poetry, stories, plays, novels, epics, graphic novels, essays, and more, with the goal of approaching diverse texts by diverse authors with empathy and curiosity. Students will be equipped with the literary vocabulary specific to each genre. Students learn the defining characteristics of the three modes of prose-writing—argumentative, expository, and narrative—and practice writing in all three modes, with a particular emphasis on key components of argumentation, such as clear thesis statements, supportive evidence, and logical organization. Students also write, revise, and share original creative writing. Class discussion relies heavily on small and large group collaboration, with an emphasis on student-directed exploration of texts and debate of ideas.

English 10 serves as a survey of World Literature. Students read classic and contemporary voices alike from around the globe, taking into consideration many of the political and cultural questions informing their creation. Students continue to develop their skills in analyzing authors’ craft and structure through increasingly complex and sophisticated assignments.

Students practice independent thinking and clear communication by engaging meaningfully and respectfully in conversations about literature and language. Particular focus is given to the writing process in both analytical and personal writing. Interdisciplinary connections and comparisons abound, especially with the curriculum of World History II, which enrolls all the same students.

English 11 serves as a survey of American Literature, exposing students to diverse American voices from colonial to contemporary times. Texts studied may span the breadth of movements in American Literature, including Puritanism, Romanticism, Gothic, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, and the Harlem Renaissance. and they consider how various texts reflect the social, political and moral issues of the nation. Students rely on skills and strategies like close reading, student-led discussions, and interdisciplinary lenses to explore the complex and ever-changing American Dream and American identity. Assignments may include research-based presentations, comparative analyses, and collaborative projects.

Teacher Recommendation Required

English 11 Honors is an advanced survey of American Literature. In addition to studying canonical and contemporary texts by American voices, the honors-level program focuses primarily on one single skill in many forms: how to take one text and apply it to another. This skill is the foundation of college and professional work: taking a political tract and applying it to a developing nation, taking a documented standard and applying it to practice, taking a psychological tendency and applying it to a business venture. Along the way, we explore, practice and refine what it means to read, write, think, and discuss at a higher level where students are not passively absorbing the world around them, but shaping it.

The primary purpose of this course is to help students to acquire the skills – and the confidence – to express themselves well in writing. For the first two terms of this course, we read and write about a variety of literary works (short stories, poetry, a couple of plays, and a couple of short novels). In the early fall we write a college application essay. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for the rigors of college writing and thinking. In the spring this course shifts to Public Speaking, which should be a useful course for any students who anticipate making presentations in college and in the real world afterwards.

The primary purpose of this course is to help students to acquire the skills needed to handle the rigors of college writing. For the first two terms of this course, we read and write about a variety of literary works (short stories, poetry, a couple of plays, and a couple of short novels) that are grouped thematically. In the early fall, we write a college application essay. The readings in the spring, which focus on the theme of evil vs. a higher power, include a couple of longer novels, as well as stories and poems.

This course has three movements. First, we learn about and implement a series of college-level rhetorical modes and strategies with the goal of becoming more persuasive writers and speakers. Second, we explore literary studies through the lens of examining heroes and villains with the goal of cultivating a practical approach to academic writing as well as reading, discussing, and thinking critically. Finally, we study the modes and methods of American humor with the goal of being able to “read” the world around us, analyze meaning and impact, and finally write and perform our own responses to that world.

The course covers three units. In Journalism & Media, students read and write across various media (print, radio, television, and Internet), conduct research, and learn interviewing strategies. Assignments may include news reports, reviews, profiles, and source evaluations. In Marketing & Advertising, students learn and apply the principles of persuasion, with a focus on audience awareness and rhetorical appeals. Assignments may include advertising campaigns, press releases, market research proposals, and brand manifestos. In Professional Writing, students combine critical thinking with concise writing to compose practical compositions modeled on real-life exemplars. Assignments may include resumes and cover letters, technical writing, professional bios, business/grant proposals, and persuasive memos.

Senior English V: Race and Gender in Literature and Music

Readings will include novels, essays, poetry, and song lyrics that explore the role of race and gender in an increasingly diverse world. This reading list serves as a lens to navigate the various communities in which students live. Close reading and structured writing hone foundational skills. Students engage with peers in meaningful dialogue and study contemporary writers who give voice to their generation by building on the work of literary greats. Particular attention is paid to racial and gender identities, as well as how writers inform, inspire, and reflect one another’s work.

Senior English VI: Creative Writing

This course covers four major units: 1.) creative nonfiction; 2.) fiction; 3.) poetry, and 4.) drama. (Students will also be exposed to sub-genres of creative writing, such as graphic narratives, children’s literature, and songwriting.) In each unit, students first read exemplary texts by contemporary voices to analyze their craft, and then apply that knowledge by composing original creative works. The course values process— brainstorming, drafting, workshopping, and revising—as well as product, with the goal of producing submission-ready work in each genre. Particular attention is paid to conflict, theme, voice, structure, point-of-view, characterization, imagery, form, figurative language, sound devices, dialogue, mood, and plot.

This course is designed to entice and challenge seniors with a special interest in and talent for English. The readings in this course, which include classics like Macbeth and Medea and more modern works like Beloved and The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as a generous variety of poems, are selected to invite discussion of character and of the world in which we live. Besides writing a college essay in the early fall, students write a number of essays entailing analysis of a variety of works of literature, including pieces from past AP English Literature and Composition exams in preparation for the AP exam in May.

This survey course starts with a robust debate about the assumed progress made by plant and animal domestication. It then serves a healthy dose of geography. The first civilizations of the Middle East follow, and then ancient Greece, Persia, and the Hellenistic world. Rome is fully explored, as is ancient Asia and its transformational philosophies of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, among others. The course will conclude in the medieval era when the Middle East and Asia flourished while Europe uneasily muddled through what some historians call the Dark Ages. There will also be in-depth, compare and contrast Socratic seminars about the origins of today’s major world religions that are the spiritual foundations for the vast majority of modern humanity.

This course continues an exploration of the major themes of the World History I course. A multicultural analysis of modern history provides the student with a strong understanding of recent world events. The course begins with a review of world civilizations leading to the Renaissance, the Age of Discovery, and the Reformation. It continues through the period of intercontinental empires and revolutions and ends with an analysis of 20th-century world wars and the global age of today. Primary sources in addition to secondary texts give the student a broad context in which to examine major historical changes and progressions.

This survey of United States History reviews events from the founding of the American colonies through the present.  This course focuses on the emergence of the American democratic sentiment, the roots of American political institutions, the Enlightenment, and responses to changing economic and social conditions, as well as domestic and foreign problems. Themes of industrialism, reform and America’s emergence as a world power will also be examined.  Special emphasis is placed on the Constitution, the development of America’s unique economic system, its political structure, and its social conscience. Students hone skills of close reading of a text, examination of primary and secondary sources, taking class notes, writing essays, writing a term paper, and analyzing current events.

Requires Teacher Recommendation

This course is designed for advanced students who have demonstrated interest in and enthusiasm for the study of the past. Honors US History allows students to devote considerable attention to a handful of the most important themes in US history. Readings are varied and include many primary and literary sources, while the course emphasizes project-based learning and active engagement. Students must be recommended to take the course based on student writing samples, grades earned from pervious history courses, and student interest.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course is designed for students who have demonstrated strong motivation, interest, and aptitude in history. Equivalent to an introductory college course, AP United States History students analyze political, economic, cultural, social, and intellectual aspects of the American experience.  In addition to gaining a thorough grounding in factual information, students learn to read historical material critically and to weigh evidence soundly.  Emphasis is placed on analysis and the development of cogent essays.  Testing provides practice in the AP format and includes multiple-choice, document-based, and free-response essay questions.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course gives students a critical perspective on politics and government in the United States, as well as the world’s diverse political structures and practices. This course examines both general concepts used to interpret American politics and specific case studies.  It also requires students to become familiar with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political reality. In-depth discussion of Constitutional underpinnings of American government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties and interest groups, institutions and policy processes of national government, as well as civil rights and civil liberties enables students to become informed, responsible citizens.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course focuses on the study of European history since 1450 and introduces students to the cultural, economic, social, political, and intellectual developments that played an essential role in shaping the modern world. This course is designed to provide students with a focused look at the events, developments, and movements that occurred during this period and which are key to understanding the world in which we live today. This course is aimed at having students further their understanding of some of the principal themes of modern European history, develop skills in analyzing and interpreting historical evidence, and be able to express their ideas through critical writing. The course will prepare students to sit for the Advanced Placement Exam in European History.

History of Western Art will introduce students to art from Prehistory through the Modern Era.  A mix of lecture, discussion, and research projects into individual art pieces and types will characterize the course. Students will learn to discuss and write about works of art and will complete one writing assignment per trimester and a final research project.  We will approach a selected number of paintings, sculptures, and buildings from a variety of perspectives, and the course will address various historical periods, artists, creative practices, and themes through the study of Western art objects that exhibit unique and significant means of expression in visual form. The course will also consider cultural and artistic exchanges between societies of Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, when appropriate. The course is open to students in grades 10 through 12.

What role does and should the government play in our lives? To what extent does the Constitution protect our civil liberties? How does the media influence our decision-making? What are the issues that divide us and why? How do we respect and learn from those on opposing sides? How can I be empowered by citizenship? These questions, among many others, will serve as the backbone of the United States Government and Civics. In this course, students will not only examine the structure and foundations of the United States government but understand how through policy and action, citizens have and can shape our nation. Public policy, foreign policy, and citizen participation will be deeply examined through the case studies that explore both historical and current issues.

Teacher Recommendation Required

Advanced Placement (AP) Comparative Government and Politics examine the political systems of China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The course compares the ways in which these governments and political systems operate and address national problems. It satisfies the requirements for a college-level comparative government and politics course. The course emphasizes analytical and critical thinking about political systems, concepts, and institutions.

The foundation for success in future mathematical endeavors, the course thoroughly reviews properties and operations of real numbers in the transitional process to the higher-order symbolic expressions of algebra. Linear, nonlinear functions, systems, and data analysis are explored as students learn to develop models for essential applications. Skills and concepts are integrated through problem solving activities which are used to explore as well as critique various types of approaches.

The student’s spatial/symbolic cognitive abilities are qualitatively enhanced through an intensive review and extension of Euclidean geometry. The exploration of the properties of multi-dimensional shapes and solids is assisted by the algebraic tools developed in Algebra I. The processes of inductive and deductive reasoning - conditional statements and logical arguments - are thoroughly investigated to refine a student’s understanding of rendering proper conclusions. Fundamental concepts such as congruence, similarity, transformations, areas, and volumes are examined.

This level is for students who desire a greater challenge through problem-solving activities that significantly deepen and broaden the investigations of the comprehensive course. Evidence of readiness for honors includes a previous body of work with a necessary condition of B+ or higher in Algebra I. The condition can be overridden by the department chair.

Following an intense review of the core properties, skills, and algorithms of Algebra I, the student embarks on a mathematical odyssey into regions of irrational, imaginary, and logarithmic proportions. Discovered symbolically and visually are the essential theorems of polynomial functions, the asymptotic behavior of rational functions, the limitations of irrational functions in a real-world, and the natural growth and decay of transcendental functions. The course delves into intense development of trigonometry. Statistics complete the study. Problem-solving skills are refined through a myriad of applications.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This level is for students who desire a greater challenge through problem-solving activities that significantly deepen and broaden the investigations of the comprehensive course. Evidence of readiness for honors includes a previous body of work with a necessary condition of B+ or higher in Algebra I and Integrated Geometry. The condition can be overridden by the department chair.

PREREQ: Geometry
Teacher Recommendation Required

This level is for students who require more practice in the development of their algebraic foundation. A thorough review and extension of real number properties, polynomials, linear functions, quadratic functions, and exponential functions are accompanied by basic modeling applications. Concluding the course is an examination of basic trig relationships and applications.

PREREQ: Fundamentals of Algebra 2 & Trigonometry
Teacher Recommendation Required

This is the companion course to Fundamentals of Algebra 2 & Trig. Students will re-engage the topics from Fundamentals as well as expand their understanding of different types of functions, including logarithmic and piece functions. A deeper investigation into trigonometric ratios, identities, and functions completes the course.

Broadening and deepening the investigations of Algebra II & Trig, the student explores algebraically, visually, and numerically, the behavior and properties of families of functions: polynomial, rational, radical, transcendental, and trigonometric. Essential is the continued mastery of symbolic manipulations as real and complex number properties and operations are intensively reviewed. With the foundational concepts in place, the student is exposed to limits and the rudiments of calculus. Basic differentiation and integration are approached through mechanics and applications. The wealth of investigations heighten the student’s awareness of the power of the language.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This level is for students who desire a greater challenge through problem-solving activities that significantly deepen and broaden the investigations of the comprehensive course. Evidence of readiness for honors includes a previous body of work with a necessary condition of B+ or higher in Algebra II & Trigonometry. The condition can be overridden by the department chair.

The essential goals of calculus are to prepare the student for success in college calculus courses of a pure or applied focus and to enhance the student’s understanding of the practical applications of the tools. The course is a thorough exploration of limits, techniques of differentiation and integration, and their practical uses.

Teacher Recommendation Required

As the course follows the BC curriculum prepared by the College Board, it is an extension rather than an enhancement of Calculus AB. Students considering a major in engineering, science, or mathematics are encouraged to take this course. Successful completion of the AP exam may earn credit for a full year of mathematics in college.

Teacher Recommendation Required

The equivalent of a one-semester college course, students study the unifying themes of derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, and applications and modeling, using all of the families of functions explored in Pre-Calculus. Emphasized is developing the students’ understanding of the concepts through a multi-representational approach, as work is expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. The focus of the courses is a cohesive vision of the broad concepts and methods nurtured through the connections among the different forms of representation.

Equivalent to a one-semester introductory course in college, the purpose of the AP course in statistics is to introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students investigate and develop a unifying vision of the four broad conceptual themes: exploring data, sampling, and experimentation, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference. The emphasis throughout the course is to effectively communicate through efficient written and oral expression the methods, results, and interpretations of statistical studies.

Teacher Recommendation Required

A third year of calculus and advanced mathematical topics for those who have successfully completed AP Calculus BC.
 

PREREQ: Successful completion of Alg/Trig

This elective course will provide a survey of the intersection of the three universal languages:  Math, Art, and Music.  It investigates examples of art inspired by math such as the golden ratio, Pi, spirals, chaos, fractals, infinity, etc. then create our own in a variety of mediums. We will look at the math and physics behind music and the principles of acoustics.  From the math of the musical scales to the design of violin strings, we will explore the interaction of these disciplines.  Then we create our own instruments that use these principles or write original music that explores these relationships.  We will study how sound has informed science, from earthquakes to ultrasounds. Finally, we will do a deep dive into Fractals and Chaos, and their connections to nature and a new generation of art.   Students will be given significant freedom in their projects ranging from the research of works and people that have already been done, to the creation of their own works exploring the connections we study.

This course is designed to give the students the skills and knowledge to become autonomous adults. The topics covered are you and your health, physical fitness and nutrition, and mental and emotional health. Other topics covered are human reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. The students are evaluated on homework/journal assignments, unit tests/quizzes, projects, and participation.

Physical Education in the Upper School is a four-year graduation requirement and an important component to a student’s full educational experience. The requirement is met through participating in interscholastic athletics or a general physical education class each trimester. The goal of the athletic program is to develop each student’s will, strength, skill, endurance, and ability to function in a team environment. If not involved with an athletic team for the trimester, students participate in a physical education class to develop individual fitness goals and proper techniques on how to achieve those goals.

This course is designed to give a general overview of athletic training.  It will provide the students an introduction into the fundamentals of athletic training. This will encompass prevention, assessment, and treatment of injuries.  The students will learn basic first aid, injury assessment, taping and bracing, rehabilitation techniques, and strength and recovery concepts.

This introductory course presents a study of the fundamental processes of living organisms. Major themes include unity and diversity of life, structure, and function of environments. Laboratory investigations stress the nature of inquiry in science and utilize the components of scientific research.

This course provides an integrated approach to chemistry that combines theory and practical application into a basic introductory program. Topics include states of matter, atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, periodicity, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, acids and bases, and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory investigations introduce familiarity with data acquisition technology, writing quantitative and qualitative analyses of results, and application of the scientific method.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This advanced course emphasizes the theory underlying the structure and behavior of matter and focuses on the development of problem-solving skills. Topics include states of matter, atomic and molecular structure, the periodic table, descriptive chemistry, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and organic chemistry. Qualitative and quantitative laboratory investigations illustrate principles presented in lectures using data acquisition technology and basic chemistry experiments. The course is designed to provide a strong foundation for AP Chemistry.

This introductory course acquaints the student with the general principles of physics. While problems will be assigned, advanced mathematics skills are not required, as the course focuses on understanding the principles of the discipline. Topics include mechanics, thermodynamics, sound, light, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics. The emphasis will be on “doing physics;" experiences include a number of computer activities and lengthy laboratory experiments.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This introductory course in physics for accelerated students presents mechanics, thermal physics, electromagnetism, light and optics, and modern physics. Understanding of the basic principles and their application is achieved through lectures, discussions, labs, and problem sets, with an emphasis on applying mathematics. Laboratory exercises will feature the use of computer-driven sensors with both a conceptual and a mathematical emphasis. This course provides a strong foundation for AP Physics B or other college-level introductory physics courses.

This course is designed to familiarize students with the basics of engineering and design, providing an overview of what engineers do as well as an introduction to the design process and various types of engineering careers.  The design process will be discussed and the importance of teamwork and good communication skills will be stressed.  Students will work in teams on simple design projects, culminating in a major project which may be entered in a local competition in the spring.

Anatomy and Physiology course is an upper-level elective that investigates the close relationship of form and function in human and comparative vertebrate biology. In addition to text materials, students perform many dissections and compare the forms of structures that various animals use to perform vital functions. Included among the dissections will be in-depth studies of a dogfish shark, cat, and several cow and sheep organs. Students write detailed lab reports, at least one major paper each trimester, and complete a lab practical at the end of the course.

This course is designed to acquaint the student with our present understanding of the universe, with an emphasis on the formation, structure, and evolution of stars and galaxies. The Big Bang, expansion of the universe, and its ultimate fate will also be briefly explored. Understanding of the basic principles and their application is achieved through lecture, discussion, and problem sets.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This rigorous course, equivalent to a college-level biology course, provides students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to understand critically the rapidly advancing knowledge of biology. Topics include biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, diversity of organisms, population dynamics, and the anatomy, physiology, and development of plants and animals. The AP College Board program specifies laboratory investigations.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This rigorous course, equivalent to a college-level chemistry course, includes analysis and data interpretation and advanced problem-solving. Topics include states of matter, atomic and molecular structure, the periodic table, descriptive chemistry, chemical reactions, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and organic chemistry. Laboratory work will be of an advanced nature utilizing data acquisition technology as specified by the AP College Board program.

Teacher Recommendation Required

AP Physics C is one of the most challenging science classes available to Academy students. It is a college-level calculus-based course that covers two major areas of physics - mechanics (motion, forces, and energy) and electricity & magnetism. Concepts, intensive problem solving, and lab work are all areas of focus. Students who successfully complete this course should find themselves well-prepared for more advanced college courses in physics and engineering.

Principles of Engineering is a course designed to integrate math and science skills into engineering/engineering technology.  Students will gain an understanding of the intricacies associated with technology systems and manufacturing processes.  Students will learn how engineers and technicians use math, science, and technology in an engineering problem solving process to benefit people.  Students will engage in hands-on, real-world projects, to gain an appreciation for the social and political consequences of technological change. 

Students learn important aspects of building and site design and development. They apply math, science, and standard engineering practices to design both residential and commercial projects and document their work using 3D architecture design software.

In Environmental Sustainability, students investigate and design solutions in response to real-world challenges related to clean and abundant drinking water, food supply issues, and renewable energy. Applying their knowledge through hands-on activities and simulations, students research and design potential solutions to these true-to-life challenges.

Teacher Recommendation Required

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to engage students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.

Teacher Recommendation Required

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics (motion and forces, including rotational motion); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory, simple circuits. Course work will include both classroom instruction and lab exercises designed to help students develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills.

AP Physics II is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course that explores topics such as fluid statics and dynamics; thermodynamics with kinetic theory; PV diagrams and probability; electrostatics; electrical circuits with capacitors; magnetic fields; electromagnetism; physical and geometric optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. Course work will include both classroom instruction and lab exercises designed to help students develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills. AP Physics I or a comparable introductory course is required as a prerequisite.

This is an introductory course to the official spoken and written language of Mainland China and is designed for students who have had no prior exposure to the Chinese language.  Through this course, students will develop a basic competency in the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will be introduced to the Pinyin phonetic system as well as Simplified Chinese characters.  They will also gain a basic understanding of grammar usage and conversational Chinese through real-life topics, incorporating social, historical, and cultural contexts. Various projects and hands-on activities will allow students opportunities to explore Chinese culture, holidays, festivals, and calligraphy.

Prerequisite: Chinese I

Students will continue to develop language skills for everyday communication and will build upon vocabulary and grammar taught in level I.  Students will not only develop the ability to convey nuance through grammatical structures and colloquial expression, they will also cover topics, such as host/guest etiquette, making plans, studying Chinese, and school life. Language study will be complemented by explorations in Chinese culture, art, and history.

Prerequisite: Chinese II

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Chinese II and constitutes the intermediate segment of Chinese studies. The aim of this course is to further develop overall language proficiency. Students will build vocabulary and sentence patterns in communicative contexts as well as solidify pronunciation. There will be an emphasis on conversational fluency, along with a wider range of topics and more complex grammar. Reading and writing will be developed in conjunction with speaking and listening skills, and students will continue to develop cultural awareness through authentic readings and media, conversational activities, and hands-on projects.

Prerequisite: Chinese III

The aim of this course is to further develop overall language proficiency and is largely project-based. Students will be introduced to more advanced grammar and idiomatic expressions with an emphasis on strengthening communication skills. Students will continue to refine language skills developed through a variety of activities and projects. Students will also begin exploring more advanced readings from classical Chinese literature, and will be expected to speak, read, and write exclusively in Chinese. Language study will be complemented by explorations in Chinese history, culture, literature, and film.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course is designed to enable students to develop and demonstrate their proficiency in the three modes of communication: Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational. The aim of this course is to strengthen communication skills through an exploration of advanced topics and authentic materials. Since this course is generally offered as an Independent Study, it is tailored to the interests and skills of the student and is largely project-based. Classes are conducted in Chinese. Students must be recommended for this course.

Teacher Recommendation Required

The AP® Chinese Language and Culture course emphasizes aligning students’ development of language proficiencies in listening, speaking, reading, writing , and typing within five themes: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities through the three communicative modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. Implementing content related to China’s history, culture, and contemporary development will enhance students’ learning effectiveness in using the language. Authentic instructional materials include signs, advertisements, posters, books, magazines, e-mails, video clips, films, newspapers, magazines , and contemporary literature. Chinese is the language used to deliver instructions to provide students with an immersive language environment for effective learning.

This introductory course targets Francophone cultures and the sound and spelling of the basic French language. Students attain an entry-level proficiency by practicing the four essential skills of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The program emphasizes listening and speaking skills in meaningful activities geared to increase one’s command of everyday language. Simple writing and speaking opportunities about one’s life, interests, and activities are abundant.

Prerequisite: French I

Following a review of material studied in French I, more advanced grammar, syntax, and vocabulary are studied. The emphasis remains on oral/aural skills, but with more attention gradually devoted to reading and writing skills. The study of Francophone cultures in the world is enhanced with a variety of media. Speaking proficiency is developed via structured activities such as skits and role-playing.

Prerequisite: French II

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the French II course or its equivalent. Students are expected to have a strong grasp of basic and intermediate grammatical concepts. This course includes a study of intermediate and advanced  French grammar. Students build a rich vocabulary through cultural and literary studies and read one complete work of fiction. The ultimate goal of this course is to develop each student's cultural awareness and to enhance and strengthen speaking, writing, listening, and reading comprehension skills.

Prerequisite: French III

his culture-based course is designed for students who wish to strengthen their language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness. Advanced grammar and more sophisticated language skills develop through a variety of activities and projects. In addition to grammar and vocabulary study, students write and perform original skits and prepare projects related to the readings, films, and Francophone culture.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course prepares students to take the French AP Language and Culture Examination administered in May. The course includes a review of advanced grammar, and emphasizes strengthening communication skills. The six AP cultural themes are studied through film, literature, and a variety of media. These themes promote a sophisticated vocabulary and idiom expansion, as well as discussions of current topics. Students practice writing email exchanges and persuasive essays in accordance with the AP exam requirements. They produce practice recordings and complete exercises in preparation for the seven sections of the AP exam. Students must be recommended for this course.

In this introduction to the Latin language and Roman culture, students acquire basic knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Through a variety of exercises, they develop skills necessary to read and understand written as well as spoken Latin. English derivatives from Latin are also a part of the course. Thus, students recognize forms and easily understand longer passages of classical Latin prose as well as acquire familiarity with fundamentals of everyday life of the ancient Romans.

Prerequisite: Latin I

Following an intensive review of material studied in Latin I, students are introduced to more advanced Latin grammatical forms and uses. They learn a variety of vocabulary seen in translations and in various Latin sayings. They also make connections between English and Latin vocabulary through the study of cognates. Using grammatical concepts and vocabulary, they develop skills in producing translations of sophisticated passages and expressions. Aspects of ancient Roman religion, mythology, and history are explored.

Prerequisite: Latin II

In the Latin III course, students begin to learn more advanced elements of Latin grammar, including the subjunctive mood and various uses thereof.  In addition, substantial attention is devoted to the history of the late Republic and early Empire. By the end of the year, students will have a solid grasp of most of Latin grammar and will be prepared to move forward to translating unadapted Latin texts.

Teacher Recommendation Required

In Latin IV, students learn the final advanced elements of Latin grammar that were not covered in Level III.  Students will then begin to read original Roman literary texts, gaining familiarity with major cultural and historical sources of Rome in prose and poetry.  Students develop a fuller understanding of both Latin prose and poetry and become more proficient in the language.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course’s goal is to prepare students to excel on the AP Latin exam.  Students will learn to read, translate, understand, analyze, and interpret the lines of Caesar’s De Bello Gallico and Vergil’s Aeneid that are required for the exam.  Students will also be expected to discuss events and themes which arise in untranslated portions of both works; selections in English are therefore also part of the curriculum.

This course enables students to reach a basic level of proficiency in Spanish. Students will be using technology to focus on communication, connections, cultures, comparisons, and communities. This is accomplished through activities that are tailored specifically to build a student's speaking, listening reading, and writing skills.

Prerequisite: Spanish I

This course enables the student to reach a mid novice or higher level of proficiency in the four primary communicative skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  This is accomplished through a variety of conversational activities, listening tasks, reading selections, and writing assignments, as well as further study of Spanish grammar. Another goal is to increase the student’s knowledge of the diverse cultures in which Spanish is spoken by means of readings, presentations, videos, songs, and other activities.

Prerequisite: Spanish II

The goal of Spanish III is to enable students to reach a high-intermediate level of proficiency in Spanish. This is accomplished through activities that are tailored specifically to build a student's speaking, listening reading, and writing skills. These will include speaking exercises conversations, reading selections, skits, games, presentations, and writing assignments. In addition to examining selected literary works, students will explore the history, geography, and culture of the Spanish-speaking people of the world.

Prerequisite: Spanish III

This course is intended to enable the student to reach an Intermediate Mid or higher level of proficiency in the four primary communicative skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.  This is accomplished through a variety of creative conversational activities, including original skits; listening tasks of various kinds; articles, poems and short fiction; writing assignments; and study of advanced topics in Spanish grammar. In addition to examining selected literary works, students begin to explore facets of the geography, history, economics, and music of the Spanish-speaking world.

Teacher Recommendation Required

This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam by enabling them to develop and demonstrate their proficiency in the three modes of communication: Interpretive, Interpersonal and Presentational. The course is based on the integrated use of authentic audio, visual, audiovisual, and printed/written materials. Per College Board requirements, there is also a strong emphasis on the ability to compare and contrast products, practices, and perspectives found in the many cultures of the Spanish-speaking world with those of the student's own culture.