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Four-Year CheverusAcademic Plan
English 4credits
Math 4credits
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Theology 4credits
History 3credits
Science 3credits
World Language 3credits
Fine& PerformingArts
1credit
Computer Science ½credit
CollegeAdvising 11th& 12thgrades
Elective 3credits
English
TheEnglishstudentatCheveruswilllearntousecriticalthinkingandlanguageskills,whichfosteraloveof literatureand ensurecompetenceincriticalreading,writing,research,listening,andspeaking.Suchcompetenceisabasisforthemoreimportant goal:thatthestudyof literature,reflectingdiverseculturaltraditions,enhancesthegraduate?sabilitytomakechoicesbasedupon theJesuitProfileof theGraduateatGraduation.Theliteratureandlanguageskillstaughtwillultimatelypresentacompelling caseforstudentstoleadmoralandempatheticlivesaspeopleforandwithothers .
English I
1credit
Thiscourseisdesigned to introducestudentsto the demandsof high school coursework, encompassing all theaspectsof English: literary analysis, non-fiction synthesis, argumentativewriting, and rhetorical analysis Studentswill read, discuss, and writeabout variousworks. Studentswill read independently ashomework and in class Students will receiveguided instruction in essay writingto givethem aformat for both formal essaysand personal narratives. Astheschool year progresses, studentsareexpected to growin their writingskills and in their readinganalysisskills Theultimate purposeof thiscourseisto createcitizen-scholars who embody thought, compassion, and action, and who understand therelationship between language, identity, and power
English II
1credit
English II buildsoff of thefoundation students gained from English I in order to preparestudents for theintellectual demandsof auniversity English curriculum and theSAT/ACT. Studentsare encouraged to growascritical readers, writers, and thinkersasthey read both fiction and non-fiction textsfrom varioustraditional and contemporary authors English II studentslearn to engagecritically with texts, practicegrammar, expand their vocabulary, writeMLA format literary analysis essays, engagein classdiscussion, creatively express their understanding, and practicethework habits necessary for futureacademicsuccess
English II Honors
1credit
English II Honorsfostersappreciation for close readingof literatureasan art form and portal to the human experience Thecourseintroducesadvanced critical thinkingand analysistechniques. Honors studentsread in greater depth thecoretextsfrom English II and engagein ademandingHonors literaturesurvey Honorsstudentsexamineand synthesizesymbolicand archetypal patterns, analyze collegelevel literatureselectionsincludingan epic poem and Shakespeare, respond to extensiveliterary analysisprompts, annotatetexts, begin to identify allusions, form effectiveclassdiscussion/lecture notes, actively engagein classdiscussion, refine verbal expression, exhibit mastery of grammar fundamentals, and master MLA format through analytical essay writing English II Honorsrequires habitual reading, analytical thinking, and discussion well beneath thesurface
English III
1credit
English III isdesigned to challengeand prepare studentsfor intended collegesof their choice. The readinglist iscomposed of both traditional and contemporary literaturewhilefocusingon specific themes Content overviewincludesemphasisplaced upon masteringeffectivestudy skills, grammar skills, vocabulary enrichment, comprehensivereadingand writingskills, and effectivespeakingand listening skills. Theliteratureselectionsarenovel-based and supplemented by appropriatepoetry, short stories, essays, letters, and lyrics. Thewritingcomponent complementstheliteratureand ispracticed consistently Studentsareexpected to honevarious formsof writingincludingexpository, descriptive, narrative, and theterm paper
English III Honors
1credit
TheEnglish III Honorscourseusessomeof the offeringsof theEnglish III program alongwith additional materials, which present aspecial challengefor thejunior student. Daily class participation isexpected and evaluated aswell as nightly reading Studentsshould beableto express sophisticated, literary analysisthrough written and verbal means. TheHonorsstudent must be self-directed and assumeresponsibility for extensive reading, writing, and research. Two extended literary analysispaperswill bewritten, and bi-weekly in-class essaysareexpected to bewritten with clarity and excellence.
AP Languageand Composition
1credit
Thiscourseisdesigned to help studentsbecome skilled readersof prosewritten from avariety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contextsand to becomeskilled writerswho can composefor a variety of purposes Through their readingand writingin thiscourse, studentsshould becomeaware of theinteractionsamongawriter?spurposes, audienceexpectations, and subjects, aswell asthe way genericconventionsand theresourcesof languagecontributeto effectivewriting Weekly formal essays, nightly reading, aswell assummer readingand writingassignmentsarerequired
English IV
1credit
Thepurposeof thesenior English classisto completetheprocessof preparation for thecollege English curriculum To that end, studentswill reacquaint themselveswith therulesof grammar, learn to recognizethecharacteristicsof strong writing, acquireavocabulary necessary to the understandingand analysisof literature, examine thegenresof theshort story, novel, poetry, drama, and journalism, and, in concert with their religious studies, begin to facephilosophical questions Studentscan expect to writecritically and creatively and will completeoneproject over thecourseof the year. Dual enrollment credit with St. Joseph?s Collegeisavailable
English IV Honors
1credit
English IV Honorsstudentsshould enjoy readinga multitudeof textsfrom avariety of cultures, and they should speak and writeabout theliterature with both skill and integrity Coursework, lectures, and discussionsencouragestudentsto develop their uniquevoice Independently and collectively, studentssurvey theextensivelanguageof reading and examineauthors, texts, narrators, characters, readers, and artistic movementsto identify patterns and common levelsof significance English IV Honorsstudentsassimilatewhat it meansto read, discern, and deconstruct literature Thereadingand writingstandardsarerigorous?expect nightly close-readingassignmentsincludingannotationsand critical thinkingliterary analysisquestionsand prompts. Studentswriteand reviseseveral compositionsemployingrhetorical, literary, and critical devices. Studentsexhibit courseknowledge through short answer, quotation, and essay exams English IV Honorsstudentsmust demonstratethey areautonomous?ableand willingto take responsibility for their own edification Thecourse requiresafundamental desireto intellectualizeand elucidate Dual enrollment credit with St Joseph?s Collegeisavailable.
AP English Literature
1credit
TheAPEnglish Literatureand Composition student will read college-level literaturefrom several genres and from different timeperiods, rangingfrom classicAmerican and British textsto translations from avariety of cultural origins An emphasiswill beplaced on slow, careful examination of theliteral, metaphoric, and symbolicmeaningsof each text as they pertain to theculturefrom which they originateand to theimmediate, contemporary cultureof thestudent Thestudent will writeboth analytical essaysand creativepieces, but alwayswith theintention of deepeningthestudent?s comprehension of thecraft and magic of literature. Theexpectationsfor thestudent?swritingeffortsare high; theexcellent APLiteraturestudent will composesophisticated, well-organized arguments whiledemonstratingasubtlecommand of vocabulary and recognition of what it meansto writewith style Studentsshould expect avariety of major evaluations: takehomeessayswith timefor research and reflection; in class, timed essaysin responseto questionsgenerated by theinstructor; and quotation tests, which ask thestudentsto respond critically to excerptsfrom either the narrativeor thedialogueof thetext.
Mathematics
TTheCheverusMathematicsDepartmentbelievesmathshouldbestudiedforitsbeautyaswellasitsutility.Themysteriesof sciencearewritteninthelanguageof mathematicsandthedepartmenthopestoopentheirstudents?eyestothepowerof math,as wellasdevelopacatalogof skillsfordailyliving.Technologywillbeusedwhereappropriateandthedepartmentrequiresthe purchaseof aTI-83/ 84graphingcalculatorforitsupper-levelcourses .
Typical MathematicsCourseProgressions
AlgebraIA ? Geometry A ? AlgebraIIA ? Statistics
AlgebraI ? Geometry ? AlgebraII ? Statistics, APStatistics, or Pre-Calculus
AlgebraI Honors? Geometry Honors? AlgebraII Honors? APCalculusAB, APStatistics, or Pre-Calculus
Geometry Honors? AlgebraII Honors? APCalculusAB* ? APCalculusBC*
*TakingAPStatisticsconcurrentlywithAPCalculusABorAPCalculusBCisstronglyencouraged.
Algebra IA
1credit
Thisalgebracourseisdesigned for thestudent who needsextratimeto understand mathematical concepts, such aspolynomialsand linear/quadratic equations Thecourseisinformal, inductive, and the paceslowed so that fewer topicsarecovered, but they aremastered in preparation for Geometry
Algebra I
1credit
AlgebraI isthefoundation coursefor all secondary mathematics. For most students, it istheir first exposureto an axiomatic approach to learning mathematics. Symbolic manipulation will be important, but problem solvingwill bethemain focusof our study Topicscovered in thiscourse includelinear equations, inequalities, polynomials, and quadraticequations
Algebra I Honors
1credit
Designed for thestudent takingfirst-year algebra who wantsto challengehim/herself, thiscourse coversall theessentialsof elementary algebra included in theregular program aswell aschallenges thestudent to grasp advanced concepts. Thesubject matter enhancestheproblem-solvingcapabilitiesof thestudent. Studentsselected for thiscoursemust behighly motivated and haveahistory of outstandinggradesin mathematics.
Geometry A
1credit
Thiscoursecoverstheessential topicsof geometry from an inductivepoint of view. Algebraskillsare continuously reinforced whiletopicssuch as parallelism, congruent triangles, similarity, right triangles, area, and volumeareexamined.
Geometry
1credit
Thiscoursecoverstheessentialsof planegeometry from aformal point of view Topicscovered in this courseincludeparallelism, congruent triangles, parallelograms, similarity, right triangles, circles, areas, volumes, and coordinategeometry. An introduction to someconceptsin elementary logicis included
Geometry Honors
1credit
Prerequisite:AlgebraI Honors
Geometry Honorspresentsacompletecoursein planegeometry for thewell-prepared mathematics student Thecourseistheoretical and an introduction to formal, deductiveproof beginsvery early. Algebraic skillswill beconstantly reviewed and strengthened through application to solving geometricproblems. Supplemental material will be used to enrich thetext Freshmen selected for this coursemust behighly motivated, haveahistory of outstandinggradesin mathematics, and scorewell on theCheverusmath assessment.
Algebra IIA
1credit
Thiscourseisdesigned to providethestudent with areviewof skillsfrom first-year algebraand then to study rational, radical, and trigonometric functions, but with extratimeallotted to ensureconceptsare mastered. Thecoursefinisheswith counting methodsand probability in preparation for thenext coursein thesequence, which isStatistics.
Algebra II
1credit
Thiscourseisdesigned to providethestudent with areviewof skillsfrom first-year algebraand then to study trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functionsaswell asother topicsastimeallows. The emphasisison equation solvingand itsapplication to thesolution of word problems.
Algebra II Honors
1credit
Prerequisite:GeometryH andAlgebraI H
Thiscourseisdesigned for highly motivated math studentswho haveexcelled in AlgebraI Honorsand Geometry Honors. AlgebraII and trigonometry topicsarestudied in great detail and depth Conic sectionsand matrices, typically covered in Pre-Calculusclasses, areexamined Thenext course in thesequenceisAPCalculusAB.
Pre-Calculus
1credit
Prerequisite:AlgebraII
Thiscoursedevelopsafoundation so studentswill bewell-prepared for acollegecalculuscourse, such asin an economicsor businessprogram. Trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functionswill bestudied in detail. Limitswill be introduced in thesecond semester.
AP CalculusAB
1credit
Prerequisite:AlgebraII Honors
Thisisacollege-level coursefor studentswho have completed AlgebraII Honors. Sometimeisspent strengtheningthestudent?spre-calculusbackground, but thefocusof thecourseisdifferential and integral calculus Studentswill grapplewith theidea of instantaneouschangeand theareaunder acurve, and thenumerousapplicationsof theseconcepts.
AP CalculusBC
1credit
Prerequisite:CalculusAB
Thiscourseisboth amorerigorousexamination and an extension of thetopicsstudied in APCalculusAB. Thecalculusof parametricand polar functionsare introduced and seriesasapproximationsfor functions arestudied in detail
Statistics
1credit
Thiscourseintroducesstudentsto thefundamentalsof statistical thought. Methodsto describedata, both visually and numerically, areexamined aswell astopics from linear regression, survey and experimental design, probability, and basichypothesistesting Topicsin financial literacy, such asinterest, loans, budgeting, and credit cards, will beconsidered in thesecond semester
AP Statistics
1credit
Prerequisite:AlgebraII
Thefocusof thecourseison thefour critical ideasof elementary statistics: planningasurvey, probability, describingdata, and makinginferencesabout a population from asurvey. Thiscourseisequivalent to aonesemester collegestatisticsclass Dual enrollment credit with St. Joseph?sCollegeisavailable.
CalculusC
1credit
Prerequisite:APCalculusBCandDepartmentapproval
Thiscourseextendsthetopicslearned in APCalculus BC into multipledimensions. Thesameconceptsof limits, differentiation, and integration arestudied, but areno longer restricted to theCartesian plane Partial derivatives, multipleintegrals, and lineintegralsare amongthenewideasintroduced Thiscourseishonors level.
Linear Algebra
1credit
Prerequisite:Departmentapproval
Thetopicsin thiscourseincludematrix operations, determinants, vector spaces, inner product spaces, eigenvalues, and linear transformations. Thiscourseis honorslevel
Theology
TheTheologyDepartmentiscommittedtoleadingstudentsonajourneythatsystematicallyexaminesdivinerevelation,specifically theCatholicFaith,MoralTheology,Scripture,andSocialJustice.Throughsuchastudy,itisourgoalthatstudentswillhavea solidunderstandingof thesubjectmattersothattheirownfaithmaybedeepenedtoapointwheretheyareconfidentlyandhumbly puttingthatsamefaithintoactionforthebettermentof others.Wehopethatthestudentsplacedinourcarewillhavenurtured reflectivehabitsthataidtheminstrivingforexcellenceinallthings .
Theology 9: Ignatian Identity and Introduction to Christianity
1credit
Thiscourseisan introduction to thebasicsof Christianity, itsChurch teachings, and Scripturefor all Cheverusstudentsregardlessof religious background. Studentsstudy St. Ignatiusof Loyola, thefounder of theSociety of Jesus, and are introduced to basicprinciplesof Ignatian Spirituality. Studentsexaminetheexperiencesof growth and questioning, which arepart of early adolescence, and explorewho God isand howHe callsusto faith, individually and collectively Studentsbecomeacquainted with theOld and New Testaments. Special attention ispaid to God?s self-revelation, thedevelopingCovenant, and humanity?sevolvingunderstandingof God. Thelife and teachingsof Jesuslead to discussionsabout the spirit over theletter of thelawand what it truly meansto be?peoplefor and with others?Jesus? passion and resurrection arethen seen asthe Christian Passover--our rebirth to newlifemade possibleby God?slove A final unit on the development of theChurch helpsstudents understand howChristianity becamean independent religion and howtheCatholicChurch relatesto other Christian churches Lessonson Catholicdoctrine, liturgy, sacraments, Holy Days, saints, and structureareintroduced throughout the year
Theology 10: Mission, Sacrament and the Good Life
1credit
Thiscourseexaminesthemission of theCatholic Church--her constitution, self-understanding, models, themarksof theChurch, diverseroles within theChurch, ecumenism, and inter-religious dialogueincludingtheChurch?ssacramental vision of theworld generally, and theseven sacraments particularly. Studentsstudy ethics, moral decision making, and virtue Thenatureof thiscourseis both catechetical and theological Studentsare responsiblefor understandingChurch teaching, but they will also bechallenged to engagein honest inquiry, raisingdifficult questionsand searchingfor meaningand personal understanding. Thequestions raised in theology classwill help studentsevaluate their own ideasabout what constitutesameaningful life, howGod isactivein their lives, and howto movemoredeeply and responsibly into their own uniquegifts Despitedifferencesin religious backgroundsand levelsof faith, thecoursewill help studentsdevelop skill in findingcommon ground as well ascelebratingpersonal differences Somecentral questionsfor theyear: Howisreligion shaped by society?Howissociety changed by religion?What doesit mean to say that theChurch issacrament?
Theology 11: Scripture
1credit
Thiscourseusesthehistorical-critical lensto examinetheJewish and Christian scripturesfound in theBible Thecoursedependson careful reading of primary textsaswell asrelyingon thebest scholarship availableto understand better both the library of booksfound in theBibleand theunified narrativeof salvation it reveals Progeny and land, thestory of thepatriarchs, theExodusliberation, theSinai covenant, theconquest of Canaan, the Davidicpromise, and theprophetic tradition all figureprominently in studyingtheJewish scriptures. With theChristian testament, focusfixesfirmly on Jesus-who isheto each of theevangelistsand to Paul, and why doeshematter to each of them? Through acritical examination of thetexts, students areencouraged to contemplatehowbiblical truths help them to reflect on their own lives, aswell as their own faith and beliefs.
Theology 12: Social Justice
1credit
Senior theology isdedicated to thestudy of social justice. Studentsexaminepersonal spirituality in order that they may develop an authentic viewof justice, onebased in humility and aconsequent understandingof responsibility Albert Camus?The Fall isused asan examination of conscience. Examplesof Christiansand peopleof integrity will beexamined asresponsesto our own selfishnessand theinjusticewefoster. Aspectsof Ignatian Spirituality that areimplicit to theCheverus education becomealensfor viewingtheapplication of thesetheological beliefsin daily lifeand toil Studentsread excerptsfrom GregBoyle?sTattooson theHeart so that they may seesuch aresponselived in themodern world. Thecourseengagesin concretemodern social justiceissuesincluding social-economicissuesof poverty, hunger, the homeless, just wages, thedignity of work, business ethics, and theenvironment Social issuesabout the dignity and sanctity of lifeincludingracism, sexism, abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, non-violence, and thejust war arestudied. Students? understandingof grace, solidarity, and cultivating virtues, which strengthen our concern for the common good, can beapplied to thesevery real concernsour society faces
Political Philosophy
1credit
Thiscoursecoversthewestern political philosophy tradition, startingwith itsGreek foundations, movingthrough liberal ideasborn of the Enlightenment, and examinestwentieth century reactionsand synthesis. Concurrent with thehistory of political thought, studentsmarshal thoseideasin verbal argument Theclasswill periodically become alab science, incorporatingLincoln-Douglasand PublicForum debateformats, pressingthe philosophical ideascovered into spoken arguments.
