12th Grade Course Catalog 2018

Course Description: In this class, seniors will complete a high school studio art portfolio through individual projects. This may be used for general admission to college as support material to the student's accomplishments and diversity. The portfolio will also be suitable for admission to art or design programs in colleges or art schools. Students will develop diverse projects, some on an individual basis. Students may explore a career path with their work. Topics covered include: drawing a human skeleton, painting formal color and design projects, sculpturing design and ceramics. Students also use other media such as pastels, watercolor, and stretched canvas paintings.

Course Requirements: Completion of 12-15 quality artworks for a portfolio ( work from more than one year). Strong interest and discipline in studio production of class and individual projects. Student must be able to make original creative choices.

Course Prerequisites: Students must have completed Advanced Studio Art I.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Digital Photography (Course number 8441)

Course Description: This class concentrates on several areas of photography: technical skills, creativity, composition, computer/digital imaging, and some alternative processes. Control of photo equipment and techniques, experimentation and problem solving are critical to the course. Topics to be covered include an introduction to the photograph (portrait, landscape, still life, abstract, color, B&W, etc); principles and elements of design; S.L.R. camera technical skills (shutter speed, white balance, ISO, aperture); digital dark room (Photoshop); and weekly critiques.

Course Requirements: Upon completion of this course, students will understand how to use various features of the camera to have creative control of their photographs; be able to decide what type of lighting to use in a given situation to produce optimum results; see how photographic composition can make or break a photograph; and understand how to use photo editing software to improve the overall appearance of images.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By semester

Graphic Design (Course number 8442)

Course Description: An introduction to the principles of graphic design, communication, elements and issues of visual language. This class will cover the manipulation of graphic form to convey meaning, strategies for idea generation, development of unique concepts, and the designer's role as a visual storyteller. Students will create and critique projects with industry standard software (Adobe Creative Suite). Topics covered include: typography, color theory, visual problem solving, and the elements and principles of design.

Course Requirements: Students will be designing, and critiquing original projects on a daily basis. They will be working on both short and long term assignments and they will be responsible for time management.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By semester

Advanced Placement Studio Art (Course number 8525)

Course Description: AP Studio Art is recommended for the serious art student. The course emphasizes making original art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision making. Successful completion of the course is based on a final portfolio of 24 high quality original works. Topics covered include: portfolio development, sketchbook, technical skills, quality, breadth, critiques, concentration (original artistic vision, concept, style, visual language).

Course Requirements: A.P. Studio Art students are required to complete a portfolio of 24 original works to be submitted to the College Board in May for possible college credit.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam.

Course Prerequisites: Department recommendation

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

English Discipline

Advanced Placement English Language & Composition (Course number 1426)

Course Description: This course is designed to engage students in the analysis of the rhetorical strategies and techniques that authors from a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts use in order to achieve their purpose in nonfiction texts. A major component of this course is the study of the modes of discourse, especially the art of persuasion or argumentation. Students will learn not only how to formulate their own arguments, but also to evaluate the arguments of others. In many ways, this course mirrors an introductory college composition course. The literature in this course is structured thematically, including topics ranging from the effect of society on the individual, the search for justice, and the quest for the American Dream. In addition students examine nonfiction memoirs and essays, including topics, such as the importance of language, issues of gender and race, and the purpose of satire.

Course Requirements: All readings are completed at home and students are expected to annotate and come prepared to discuss in class. The major purpose of this course is to allow students to compose essays in a more confident and effective manner across the curriculum on a college level, and therefore students will be writing on average an essay per week. Students complete several focus papers at home each quarter, which aid in analysis and interpretation. There are also several papers, ranging from a researched argument, to a rhetorical analysis paper. In May, students will take the AP exam.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Advanced Placement English Literature & Composition (Course number 1425)

Course Description: This course is designed to engage students in the intensive study of literary works from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures. Through the careful reading and critical analysis of several works of imaginative literature, students should become more confident in their own interpretative abilities and more appreciative of the way in which writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. Though the emphasis of the course is on the active reading of literature, students are also expected to be able to adequately express their interpretations, critical analysis, and evaluation of each work through written assignments and class discussion. In many ways this class mirrors an introductory college literary analysis course. The course is structured thematically, including topics such as, the idea of flight, the conflict between art and reality, the search for truth, and the formation of identity.

Course Requirements: All readings are completed at home and students are expected to annotate and come prepared to discuss in class. The emphasis of the course is on allowing students to exercise their own interpretative and analytical skills on varied pieces of literature, so there is a good amount of reading for each night. Students complete several papers at home each quarter, which aid in analysis and interpretation. One of the purposes of this course is to allow students to compose analysis essays in a more confident and effective manner on a college level, and therefore students will be writing on average an essay per week. Students are required to take the AP exam in May.

Course Prerequisites: Completion of AP English Language and Composition.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Creative Writing (Course number 1460)

Course Description: This course is designed to allow students to become more confident and comfortable about composing in a variety of formats and genres. Students are encouraged to cultivate their own voice and exercise their creativity through written expression. The format for the class will be workshop style, where students share their work for critique and recommendation. Topics will include autobiographical/ memoir style writing, poetry, short story, children's literature, drama, as well as many other forms.

Course Requirements: Students are required to write frequently and to submit their work to the class to workshop. The writings will range in length depending on the format.

Course Prerequisites: Four credits in English.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Guidance Discipline

Senior College Guidance (Course number 9041)

Course Description: Seniors meet weekly with the College Counselor in small groups and individually as needed to complete the college application process. Students use Naviance to navigate the college application process; they meet with College representatives on campus and they review scholarship and financial aid opportunities.

Information & Communication Technology Discipline

AP Computer Science A (Course number 7425)

Course Description: The AP Computer Science course is a senior elective aimed to prepare students for the AP Computer Science A exam. Integral to the study of computer science is mastering the development of computer programs. Accordingly, the syllabus focuses primarily on the fundamentals of hardware and software components of computer systems and the programming techniques necessary to design and create computer programs that correctly solve a given problem with accuracy and precision. The course also emphasizes the design issues that make programs understandable, adaptable, and, when appropriate, reusable. Readings, classes, case studies, and in-class examples will also cover other important concepts in computer science, including the development and analysis of algorithms, the development and use of fundamental data structures, and the study of standard algorithms and typical application. Students are required to take the AP exam in May.

Course Requirements: Departmental approval is required.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Mathematics Discipline

Pre-Calculus 12 (Course number 3420)

Course Description: This course is part of the student’s preparation for college-level calculus. It includes an in-depth coverage of functions, trigonometry, sequences and series, curve sketching, and the introduction of limits, derivatives and integrals. The graphing calculator will be relied upon for technology-assisted solutions in all applicable areas.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

College Pre-Calculus (Course number 3421)

Course Description: This semester course is part of the student’s preparation for college-level calculus. It includes an in-depth coverage of functions, trigonometry, sequences and series, curve sketching, and the introduction of limits, derivatives and integrals. The graphing calculator will be relied upon for technology-assisted solutions in all applicable areas.

Course Prerequisites: Students must take Algebra 2/Trigonometry first to take this course. Students must also request College Calculus I to take this course.

Course Credit: 1/2 credit/unit, 3 St. John’s University credits available for Fall semester only. (extra fee)

Course Offered: Fall semester

College Calculus I (Course number 3422)

Course Description: This semester course is offered for college credit through a bridge program with St. John’s University. Students who meet the qualifications can receive 4 credits. Topics to be covered are: the Cartesian plane and functions, limits and continuity, and differentiation with applications.

Course Prerequisites: Students must take College Precalculus first to take this course.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit, 4 St. John’s University credits available for spring semester (extra fee).

Course Offered: By semester

Advanced Placement Calculus AB (Course number 3430)

Course Description: This course is offered for possible college credit through the Advanced Placement program. The syllabus for AP Calculus (AB) is followed, and the graphing calculator is used throughout.

Course Requirements: Students are required to take the AP exam in May.

Course Prerequisites: Students must take Precalculus 11 and Intro to AP Calculus first to take this course.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam. 4 St. John’s University credits available for fall semester (extra fee).

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Modern Foreign Language Discipline

College Spanish (Course number 5450)

Course Description: College Spanish is an intermediate/advanced course whose goal is to increase oral communication, listening, reading and writing skills. Students will also work on increasing their vocabulary and improving their grasp of grammatical structures as they read a list of select cultural topics. Most of the class discussion is in Spanish. Students will be engaged in the acquisition of Spanish language, that is, the ability to communicate with educated fluent speakers of the language on a variety of topics. At the conclusion of this course students will demonstrate the following competencies and knowledge bases: to understand native speakers in daily life situations; to acquire a working knowledge of phonetics in order to improve pronunciation, and listening; to read and understand easy to moderate difficulty texts as they appreciate a Spanish Culture; and to write in Spanish texts of simple to moderate complexity using correct grammatical structures.

Course Prerequisites: 90 Average in Spanish 3 and third year instructor approval necessary.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit, 3 St. John’s University credits are available for each semester (extra fee).

Course Offered: By year

College French (Course 6400)

This advanced course will be taken by all qualified students who have passed the French Checkpoint B to master fluency in the French language. Special attention is given to the language as a literary medium and French cultural expression. Lectures and discussion are conducted in French. Resource materials include: Middlebury Interactive Online Learning Program, books, articles, videos, and websites. Students may receive college credit for this course, which fulfills the requirements for French 2030 and French 2040 from St. John’s University.

Course Prerequisites: 85 average in French III and third year instructor approval necessary.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit, 3 St. John’s University credits are available for each semester.

Course Offered: By year

Physical Education Discipline

Advanced Physical Fitness for Life (Course number 9410)

Science Discipline

Advanced Placement Biology (Course number 4225)

Course Description: This course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during the first year of college. The textbook and support materials used in this course are college-level. The major topics covered in this course are set forth by the College Board. Topics to be covered include: the four big ideas of evolution, cellular processes, genetics, and ecology. Students will conduct two inquiry-based labs per “big idea”.

Course Requirements:

1. Excellent performance in prior science and math courses

2. Mid-year and an in-class final exam

3. All registered students are required to sit for the AP Exam in early May

4. Seniors may apply for St. John's University College Extension credit

Course Prerequisites: Department recommendation - recommendation is based on an application essay and a minimum score of 85% in Biology, Chemistry, and Math courses.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit, 4 St. John’s University credits available for each semester (extra fee).

Course Offered: By year

Physics (Course number 4300)

Course Description: Enhanced offering of The Physical Environment: Physics. In addition to the Regents Physics curriculum, this course includes pre-AP concepts and National Science Curriculum standards. It addresses the content and processing skills as applied to the rigor and relevance to be assessed by the Regents examination. Major topics covered include mechanics, work and energy, electricity and magnetism, waves, Newtonian and Modern Physics.

Course Requirements: All New York State Regents level physics requirements plus preparation for AP Physics. Independent assignments/assessments include questions from the New York State Regents curriculum, National Standards and AP curriculum as set forth by the College Board.

Course Prerequisites: Department recommendation - recommendation is based on an application essay and a minimum score of 75% in Biology, Chemistry, and Math courses.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Anatomy & Physiology (Course number 4310)

Course Description: This course is intended to provide a well-balanced and carefully integrated introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the human body, an introduction that is suitable for students of varying needs and interests. This course includes a weekly lab period, and is also open to qualified seniors. Students who might be interested in pursuing careers in the health-care professions should consider taking this course. Topics covered include: human body systems (with emphasis on current topics), disease, and treatment. This course has been certified for St. John’s University College Extensions credit.

Course Requirements: In addition to exams/quizzes, students are expected to perform independent study and deliver oral presentations. Mid-year exam and final exam/project will also be administered.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit, 3 St. John’s University credits available for Spring semester (extra fee).

Course Offered: By year

Advanced Placement Physics 1 (Course number 4325)

Course Description: Builds on the conceptual understanding attained in the Regents level physics course. The course includes topics in both classical and modern physics. Proficiency in both algebra and basic trigonometry is required for the course. The general areas to be investigated are: Newtonian mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics. In addition to the science average requirement, an overall math average exceeding 85 is also a prerequisite.

Course Requirements: A summer assignment will be assigned. All registered students are required to sit for the AP Physics exam in early May. There will be both a mid-year and final exam. Students may apply for St. John's University College Extension credit.

Course Prerequisites: Department recommendation - recommendation is based on an application essay and a minimum score of 85 in biology, chemistry, and math courses.

Course Fee: $95 for the AP Exam.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit, 4 St. John’s University credits available for each semester (extra fee).

Course Offered: By year

Environmental Science (Course number 4350)

Course Description: This course will provide students with the principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world; identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made and examine alternative solutions for a sustainable future. This course will cover a broad range of topics including: biodiversity, ecosystems, climate, energy and waste.

Course Requirements: The grade for this course will be based on exams, term paper, class presentations, lab reports and homework.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit 3 St. John’s University credits available for fall semester (extra fee).

Course Offered: By year

Social Studies Discipline

Participation in Government (Course number 2400)

Course Description: The one-semester Participation in Government curriculum is designed to be a culminating course of study that focuses on Social Studies Learning Standard 5 - Civics, Citizenship, and Government. Students are prepared for active citizenship by a close examination of such topics as voting procedures, federalism, the electoral process, and political parties.

Course Requirements: An issue-based approach to public policy is designed to engage students in the analysis of policies and issues that are relevant to individual students. Issue-based inquiry will take a number of different forms such as class discussion, in-class assignments, and student/class projects.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By semester

Economics & Economic Decision Making (Course number 2405)

Course Description: This one-semester course examines the basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics and is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for them to function as economically literate citizens. The course examines the principles of supply and demand, various sectors of the United States economy such as business and consumers, rational decision- making, and the performance of the national economy as a whole.

Course Requirements: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of how the United States and other societies develop economic systems and institutions to allocate scarce resources. The use of market case studies, examination of current and historical economic data, investigation and analysis of current economic issues will enable students to develop and apply these skills. Assessments will consist of quizzes, tests, short research papers, and class discussions.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By semester

Sociology (Course number 2410)

Course Description: Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior and of the results of social activities. This one-semester course will introduce the student to sociology's unique perspective and its key concepts. The wide-ranging interests of the sociologist will be explored in a study of such topics as socialization, research methods, inequalities of gender, age, race, and social groups.

Course Requirements: In addition to textbook and primary source readings, the class will explore sociological topics through film, class discussion, and individual and group research projects.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By semester

Psychology (Course number 2415)

Course Description: This one-semester elective course is an introductory examination of the fundamental concepts of psychology with particular emphasis on human development over the lifespan. This class may be taken for college credit and will be taught as a college introductory class. An exploration of the major psychological theories from Freud to the present day, data gathering, the dynamics and structure of personality, the causes and correlates of behavior are among the topics which will be examined in this class.

Course Requirements: In addition to textbook and primary source readings, the class will explore topics in psychology through case studies, film, class discussion, and individual and group research projects. Students who register for St. John's credit will be expected to do an additional major assignment based on an area of interest.

Course Credit: ½ Credit/Unit, 3 St. John’s University credits available (extra fee).

Course Offered: By semester

Theology Discipline

Theology 12 - Living as a Disciple (410)

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to deepen the understanding, focus and practice of the Church’s social teachings. Students will learn how Christ’s concern for others, especially the poor and marginalized, is present in the gospel and social teachings, and can be lived out in their everyday lives.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year

Music Discipline

Chorus (Course number 8600)

Course Description: The chorus program is curricular in design and teaches basic vocal music fundamentals and stages two major performances annually. The Christmas Concert offers a traditional repertoire of seasonal music, both secular and sacred, and the Spring Concert finishes the year with classical, modern, and student-composed selections. The Chorus performs regularly at many school celebrations, liturgies and events. Students meet daily at 7:30 am, are graded for their work and receive academic credit for their participation.

Course Credit: 1 Credit/Unit

Course Offered: By year