HIGH SCHOOL

Subject

Description

World Geography (Grade 7)

In World Geography, students will not only learn facts, names and data about nations and lands of the earth but will gain an appreciation for the richness and variety of the face of our planet.

World History and Civilizations (Grade 8)

World History and Civilizations examines the world from 1500-present day through providing students with the tools used by historians. Students will learn to interpret history through the lenses of chronology, contextualization, and continuity-and-change-over-time. Through this chronological study, students will encounter most major civilizations and their political, cultural, and religious practices. The textbook for this course is World History Patterns of Interaction (McDougal Little, 2009) a collaboration by Roger B. Beck, Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia Ibo Shabaka.

Global Issues (Grade 9 and 10)

Global Studies strives to give students a broad and foundational understanding of the modern world through a cross- disciplinary look at geography, history, culture, and current issues. In-depth studies of select countries and regions in the historical context of the 20th century. Topics of focus include issues of population, globalization, urbanization, government, economy, cultural change, and the environment.

US History (Grade 10)

US History is a one-year course.  It is a study of how the United States grew from just a few colonies to become one of the most important countries in the global community today.  Units covered include The Founding of America, Race & Civil Rights, Politics, War in the 20th Century, Religious Freedom, and Business & Economics. The textbook for this course is United States History (Pearson, copyright 2010) a collaboration by Emma J. Lapsansky-Werner, Peter B. Levy, Randy Roberts, and Alan Taylor.

Government and Economics (Grades 11-12)

Government focuses on the government of the United States and compares it to other countries’ government systems. Economics is a survey of micro-economic concepts and macro-economic structures of free enterprise systems.

Psychology (Grades 9-12)

Psychology is equivalent to an introductory college course in psychology. This course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. This course may also be taken as an AP course for grades 11 and 12.

7-8 Science

Science Fusion by Houghton Miffilin inspires students to use their curiosity and reasoning skills to discover, interact, and apply what they have learned. Students study modular units such as: Cells and Heredity, Human Body, Ecology and Environment, Matter and Energy, Motion, Forces, and Energy, The Dynamic Earth, Earth’s Water and Atmosphere, Intro to Science and Technology, and Space Science.   

Biology (Grade 9)

In Biology, students will discover the complexity and interconnectedness of life on earth. The course introduces basic concepts of biochemistry, cell structure and function, genetics, and principles and practices of ecology. Following this, students study the organization, classification and distinguishing features of living things. The course concludes with human biology and the systems that make up the human body.

Chemistry (Grade 10/11)

Both the theoretical and practical, hands on aspects of Chemistry are taught throughout this course.  Students will be introduced to matter and how it changes in regards to; energy, heat and temperature, molecules and atoms in chemical equations, acid/base chemistry, thermodynamics, etc.

Physics (Grade 10/11)

Important concepts of physics are presented and reinforced throughout this course through examples and experiments.  Rather than following from one topic to the next the course will show how these different topics relate to each other and help to give a good understanding of the physical world. Main course content topics are: Principles of physics, Electricity, Waves, Energy resources and energy transfer, Solids, Liquids and gases, Magnetism and electromagnetism, Radioactivity and particles.

Pre-Algebra

In this course, students experience an overview of a range of math concepts that are essential for future success in high school mathematics. Students will focus on solving equations, factors, fractions and exponents, ratio, proportion and probability, percentages, measuring area and volume, and data analysis and probability.

Algebra I

This course presents the basic concepts of algebra. Concepts studied include working with polynomials, inequalities, linear functions, simplifying and solving quadratic functions and equations, and working with basic functions as preliminary preparation for high school math courses.

Geometry

The first semester of Geometry covers:  Foundations for Geometry, reasoning, parallel and perpendicular lines, triangle congruence, properties and attributes of triangles, and polygons and quadrilaterals.  The second semester covers:  Similarity, right triangles and trigonometry, extending transformational geometry, extending perimeter, circumference, area, spatial reasoning, probability and circles.   

Algebra II

Algebra II continues and extends the study of Algebra I concepts. Topics studied include quadratics, polynomial functions, rational functions, probability, data analysis and statistics, sequences and series, trigonometric ratios and functions

Calculus

AP Calculus AB covers the basic concepts and skills of differential and integral calculus. Some topics studied include: Limits and their properties, differentiation, integration, logarithmic exponential and other transcendental functions, differential equations, integration techniques, L’Hopital’s Rule and improper integrals, linear systems and matrices, analytic Geometry in three dimensions.

Statistics

This field of mathematics introduces new concepts and terms that many students may not have encountered before.  The module is broken down into five broad sections covering: Sequence and Series; Finance; Probability; Statistics and Distributions.

Seventh Grade Language Arts

Seventh Grade Language Arts is divided into two sections: Reading helps students to enjoy reading and to develop reading comprehension and vocabulary, as students are exposed to various types of literature including poetry, short stories, nonfiction, novels, and drama. Grammar and Composition focuses on improving English grammar and on learning creative, analytical, and persuasive styles of writing.

Eighth Grade Language Arts

Eighth Grade Language Arts is divided into two sections. Reading helps students to enjoy reading and to master reading comprehension, analysis, and vocabulary through the use of various types of literature such as poetry, short stories, novels, and drama. Grammar and Composition focuses on gaining competency in English grammar and on mastering creative, analytical, and persuasive styles of writing.

World Literature I and II

World Literature is taught as a two-year cycle that combines a survey of literary traditions  from around the world with an exploration of modern and contemporary world literature centering on six “Big Questions” dealing with truth, conflict, knowledge/understanding, communication, personal/cultural differences, and heroism. Emphasis is placed on enjoying, understanding and appreciating various types of literature including, poetry, epic storytelling, speeches, essays, drama, short stories, and novels, and various genres within those types, and on developing skills in critical and creative reading and writing. Critical understanding emphasizes the relationship of literature to its socio-cultural context as well as connecting it to the common social and spiritual experience of being human.

American Literature

American Literature provides students with a survey of the literature of North America throughout six major periods of national and literary history: Pre-Colonial, Colonial and Revolutionary America (beginnings-1800), American Renaissance (1800-1870), Westward Expansion and Diversity (1850-1914), American World Ascendancy (1914-1945), American Prosperity (1945-1970), and Contemporary America (1970-present).
Critical reading of a variety of texts (epics, wisdom literature, essays, poetry, novels, short stories, and theater) focuses on three Essential Questions: the relationship between literature and history (time and place), literature and society, and literature and literary tradition. The course seeks to instill in students vital critical reading, thinking, and writing skills, along with a lifelong love of reading and an appreciation for good literature of all kinds.

British Literature

British Literature provides students with a survey of the literature of the British Isles throughout eight major periods of national and literary history: Old English and Medieval periods (449-1485), The English Renaissance including the Elizabethan period (1485-1625), the revolutionary period (Civil War, Restoration, the Glorious Revolution, the industrial and agricultural revolutions, and the American and French Revolutions, 1625-1798), the Romantic period (1798-1832), the Victorian period (1833-1901), and the Modern and Post-modern periods (1901-present). Critical reading of a variety of texts (epics, wisdom literature, essays, poetry, novels, short stories, and theater) focuses on three Essential Questions: the relationship between literature and history (time and place), literature and society, and literature and literary tradition. The course seeks to instill in students vital critical reading, thinking, and writing skills, along with a lifelong appreciation for good literature of all kinds.

Character Curriculum

Students are taught values such as honesty, compassion, sensitivity, and determination with the purpose of educating the whole person towards adulthood and maturity.

HEALTH AND PE

One-half credit of health and two credits of PE are required during the four years of high school.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Two credits of foreign language are required during the four years of high school.  Chinese is offered at all elementary and high school levels.

ELECTIVES

Electives are offered throughout the four years of high school.  Some offerings may be:  Critical Thinking, Sociology, Psychology, and Yearbook. 

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