Course Descriptions

Covering art appreciation and the beginning of art history, Introduction to Art encourages students to gain an understanding and appreciation of art in their everyday lives. Presented in an engaging format, this course provides an overview of many introductory themes: the definition of art, the cultural purpose of art, visual elements of art, terminology and principles of design and two- and three-dimensional media and techniques.

Beginning with an introduction that builds student understanding of the elements, principles and characteristics of human communication, this course offers fascinating insight into verbal and nonverbal messages and cultural and gender differences in the areas of listening and responding. Students enrolled in this course will be guided through engaging lectures and interactive activities, exploring themes of self-awareness and perception in communication. The course concludes with units on informative and persuasive speeches and students are given the opportunity to critique and analyze speeches in the course.

Business English is designed to help prepare students to succeed in the workplace. In this elective course, students will explore various career choices to help determine which field and career options are best suited for their specific interests and personalities. Unlike a typical English course, Business English is designed to cover a range of topics and skills found in everyday work scenarios, such as: how to build and write a resume and cover letter, tips on how to prepare for an interview, and basic professionalism and workplace etiquette. Students will create a personal statement to help determine personal goals and help plan for the future and will also have several opportunities to apply what they have learned by creating various multimedia presentations, including a persuasive email, a speech for a debate, and a museum exhibit. This course will also focus on informational texts and analyzing important workplace documents. Business English communication skills are essential for getting ahead in the workplace, so basic punctuation and grammar rules are covered as well.

Introducing students to the working world, this course provides the knowledge and insight necessary to compete in today’s challenging job market. This relevant and timely course helps students investigate careers as they apply to personal interests and abilities, develop the skills and job search documents needed to enter the workforce, explore the rights of workers and traits of effective employees, and address the importance of professionalism and responsibility as careers change and evolve. Students create a self-assessment profile, a cover letter, and a résumé that can be used in their educational or career portfolio.

Whether pop, classical, or anything in between, music provides a powerful way for people to celebrate their humanity and connect with something larger than themselves. Music Appreciation: The Enjoyment of Listening not only will provide a historical perspective on music from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, but it will also teach you the essentials of how to listen and really hear (with a knowledgeable ear) the different music that’s all around you. Learning how to truly appreciate sound and melody is the best way to ensure a continued love of this delightful art form.

Connecting practical mathematical concepts to personal and business settings, this course offers informative and highly useful lessons that challenge students to gain a deeper understanding of finances. Relevant learning activities cover stimulating topics such as personal financial planning, budgeting and wise spending, banking, paying taxes, the importance of insurance, long-term investing, buying a house, consumer loans, economic principles, traveling abroad, starting a business and analyzing business data. This course also encourages mastery of math skill sets like percentages, proportions, data analysis, linear systems and exponential functions.

Fundamentals of Digital Media presents an overview of the different types of digital media and how they are used in the world today. This course examines the impact that digital media has on culture and lifestyle. The course reviews the basic concepts for creating effective digital media and introduces several different career paths related to digital media. Students learn about the tools used as well as best practices employed for creating digital media. In the course, students explore topics such as the use of social media, digital media in advertising, digital media on the World Wide Web, digital media in business, gaming and simulations, e-commerce and digital music and movies. Students also review the ethics and laws that impact digital media use or creation.

Providing insight into the human dynamics of our diverse society, this is an engaging course that delves into the fundamental concepts of sociology. This interactive course covers cultural diversity and conformity, basic structures of society, individuals and socialization, stages of human development as they relate to sociology, deviance from social norms, social stratification, racial and ethnic interactions, gender roles, family structure, the economic and political aspects of sociology, the sociology of public institutions and collective human behavior, both historically and in modern times.

In this course, students will prepare for all three sections of the required Career Readiness Assessment. This is the state selected career readiness exam required for all students in their third year of high school. The course provides learners the opportunity to explore the world of work, discover the education and training pathways to get there, and develop the foundational career readiness skills for lifelong success. Students will practice and apply test preparation skills to successfully complete the Career Readiness Assessment exam with the goal of earning a level 4 or higher credential. More information from our school testing coordinator is shared with students in their third year of high school. Students do earn 0.5 elective credits upon successfully completing this preparation course.

This course introduces students to a variety of educational and vocational opportunities and helps them identify which pathway will help them reach their goals. The content provides instruction on skills essential for students preparing for college and/or a career, including: how to build an effective resume, how to groom and dress in the workplace, the power of networking and how to develop disciplines that lead to success. Developing values, beliefs, attitude, and social awareness are becoming just as important as developing academic abilities. To be college and career ready signifies that the student has developed the capacity to succeed in whatever they choose to do in life.

Encouraging students to make responsible, respectful, informed and capable decisions about topics that affect the well-being of themselves and others, this high school course provides students with comprehensive information they can use to develop healthy attitudes and behavior patterns. This informative and engaging course encourages students to recognize that they have the power to choose healthy behaviors to reduce risks

This elective English course is designed to develop critical reading and writing skills while preparing students to meet the demands of college-level work. While students will explore some critical reading skills in fiction and poetry, the focus of this course will be on expository and persuasive texts and the analytical reading skills that are necessary for college success. Students will read a range of short but complex texts, including works by Walt Whitman, Cesar Chavez, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Amy Tan, Langston Hughes, Ayn Rand, Naomi Shihab Nye, Maya Angelou, and Gary Soto.

Introduction to Coding covers a basic introduction to the principles of programming, including algorithms and logic. Students engage in hands-on programming tasks in the Python programming language as they write and test their own code using the approaches real programmers use in the field. Students will program with variables, functions and arguments, and lists and loops, providing a solid foundation for more advanced study as well as practical skills they can use immediately.

SAT Test Prep will prepare the student to take the math section of the SAT college entrance exam. The course will guide the student through what is on the test and how to respond to the questions asked. Students should expect a higher score on the SAT after working through the lessons in this course.

SAT Test Prep will prepare the student to take the reading section of the SAT college entrance exam. The course will guide the student through what is on the test and how to respond to the questions asked. Students should expect a higher score on the SAT after working through the lessons in this course.

The Academic Success class is designed to provide support services that will assist students in developing access skills for general education coursework. It is a specific learning environment in which students develop and incorporate compensatory strategies while focusing on self-regulated learning skills. It provides structural support to students who have needs in organizational skills and strategies, related services, content area, and social skills/self advocacy needs. Objectives include: [1] Identify, develop and apply learning styles and strengths, [2] Develop and apply appropriate organizational, planning, study skills and strategies, [3] Develop and apply social and emotional skills, and [4] Access accommodations and related services.

The Academic Success class is designed to provide support services that will assist students in developing access skills for general education coursework. It is a specific learning environment in which students develop and incorporate compensatory strategies while focusing on self-regulated learning skills. It provides structural support to students who have needs in organizational skills and strategies, related services, content area, and social skills/self advocacy needs. Objectives include: [1] Identify, develop and apply learning styles and strengths, [2] Develop and apply appropriate organizational, planning, study skills and strategies, [3] Develop and apply social and emotional skills, and [4] Access accommodations and related services.

The Academic Success class is designed to provide support services that will assist students in developing access skills for general education coursework. It is a specific learning environment in which students develop and incorporate compensatory strategies while focusing on self-regulated learning skills. It provides structural support to students who have needs in organizational skills and strategies, related services, content area, and social skills/self advocacy needs. Objectives include: [1] Identify, develop and apply learning styles and strengths, [2] Develop and apply appropriate organizational, planning, study skills and strategies, [3] Develop and apply social and emotional skills, and [4] Access accommodations and related services.

Throughout the ages, religions from around the world have shaped the political, social, and cultural aspects of societies. This course focuses on the major religions that have played a role in human history, including Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, and Taosim. Students will trace the major developments in these religions and explore their relationships with social institutions and culture. The course will also discuss some of the similarities and differences among the major religions and examine the connections and influences they have.

Theater and cinema are both forms of art that tell a story. Let's explore the enchanting world of live theater and its fascinating relationship to the silver screen. The course introduces students to theater and allows them to explore the different genres and how to develop the script for stage and film.

This course allows students to dive deeper into theater theory, set design, technical elements, makeup, wardrobe, sound design, and the production process.

ACT Math will prepare the student to take the mathematics section of the ACT college entrance exam. The course will guide the student through what is on the test and how to respond to the questions asked. Students should expect a higher score on the ACT after working through the lessons in this course.

ACT Language Arts will prepare the student to take the reading section of the ACT college entrance exam. The course will guide the student through what is on the test and how to respond to the questions asked. Students should expect a higher score on the ACT after working through the lessons in this course.

How is technology changing the way we live? Is it possible nature can provide all the answers to some of science’s most pressing concerns? In Biotechnology 1: Introduction, students will learn the basics of biotechnology and evolutionary theory, explore the various ways we store and preserve food, and discover the process of fermentation and microbiology. This course will also cover the importance of breeding plants and hybridization and how early breeding programs led to the study of genetics and an understanding of the function of genes. Finally, you’ll delve into early industrial discoveries and explore the developments in biotechnology during the industrial revolution.