Upper School Curriculum Guide 2012-2013

2012-2013 LJCDS

Remember: • • • • •

This is your education, no one else’ s!

Seek advice and ask questions Participate actively in the process Take ownership of your academic life Pay attention to your own recommendations and choices, not your neighbor’ s!

Questions to Consider: Which courses would I like to take? How do I get there? Which courses interest me most? What does the “big picture” look like? Is my plan

sustainable? When should I consider AP/Honors courses? What are the pros and cons of taking them? What new things would I like to try?

English  Four years are required  Honors is available to 11th graders

(by application)  AP is available to 12th graders (by application); you do not need to be in Honors to gain approval for AP  Speech is required for the class of 2013 (seniors) – optional for everyone else

English • • • • • • •

English I (9) English II (10) English III (11) American Studies: English (11) English III Honors (11) English IV (12) AP English IV (12)

Semester Electives: Speech (9-12) • Creative Writing (9-12) • Honors Creative Writing (9-12) • Shakespeare (10-12) •

English Sequencing English I English II English III

OR Am. Studies OR English III

English IV Semester Electives Creative Writing Creative Writing Honors

Honors

OR AP English IV

Shakespeare (10-12) Speech

Reminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

M ath M ath

 Three years (including through

Algebra II) are required  Honors courses are available beginning in 9th grade  Difficult to jump to honors “ track” if not already on it  AP Statistics can be taken as a second math class in 11th or 12th grade—discuss with your current teacher

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Algebra I Algebra IB Geometry Geometry Honors Algebra IIA Algebra IIB Algebra II w/ Trig Algebra II Honors Precalculus Precalculus Honors Math Topics (12) Calculus (1 semester) Statistics (1 semester) AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Honors Linear Algebra

M ath Sequencing Reminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites Algebra I

Geometry Algebra IIA Algebra IIB

Algebra II w/ Trig

Precalculus

Math Topics AP Calculus AB/BC Calculus/Statistics Linear Algebra

Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II

Honors Precalculus

AP Statistics

World Languages  Two consecutive years of the

same language and through Level III are required  Entry point for honors/AP is level III; it is rare to move to honors/AP at any other time  Acceleration through summer work is possible  With careful planning, you can take two languages—if you’ re interested, ask!

World Languages Spanish I, II, III, IV, V • Spanish III Honors • AP Spanish IV • AP Spanish V • French I, II, III, IV, V • French III Honors • AP French IV • French V Honors • Arabic I, II, III, IV, V • Arabic III H, IV H, V H • Mandarin I, II, III, IV, V • Mandarin III Honors • AP Mandarin IV • Mandarin V Honors •

World Languages Sequencing Reminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

(using French as an example) French I French II French III

French III Honors

French IV

AP French IV

French V

Honors French V

Science  Three years are required  The sequence is: Physics 

Chemistry  Biology  Each of the above lab courses is required  In some cases, a student may benefit from delaying science for one year (taking it from 10th-12th grades instead of from 9th-11th)  AP courses become available in 11th grade

Science Physics • Accelerated Physics • AP Physics • Chemistry • Accelerated Chemistry • AP Chemistry • Biology • AP Biology • Semester Electives: Astronomy (prerequisite: Physics) • Science & Society (12) • Biotechnology (12) (prerequisite: • Biology) Marine Biology (12) (prerequisite: • Biology) Neuroscience (H)(12) • (prerequisite: AP Bio)

Science Sequencing Reminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

Physics OR Accelerated Physics Chemistry OR Accelerated Chemistry Biology OR AP Biology OR AP Chemistry* 12th Grade Electives (all have prerequisites) Neuroscience (H) AP Physics Astronomy (10-12) Marine Biology Biotechnology Science & Society * Students who take AP Chemistry in 11th grade must take Biology or AP Biology in 12th grade

Social Sciences (History)  Three years including US History

are required  All 9th graders take WCCP I  AP courses become available in 10th grade  You do not need to be in AP as a 10th grader in order to take it as an 11th or 12th grader  All students must take US, AP US or American Studies, usually during 11th grade  Semester electives do not count towards the three year requirement

Social Science •World Cultures & Contemporary Problems I •World Cultures & Contemporary Problems II •AP World History •AP European History •US History •American Studies: History •AP US History Electives: •US Government •AP US Government •AP Psychology (12) •Theory of Knowledge (12) •Case Study in History: Persia (11-12)(1 semester) •Economics (11-12)(1 semester) •Psychology (11-12)(1 semester)

Social Sciences Sequencing Reminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

WCCP I WCCP II

OR AP Euro OR AP World

US History OR American Studies OR AP US History 12th Grade Electives Government Psychology Economics AP Government AP Psychology Theory of Knowledge Case Study in History: PersiaAP Euro or AP World

Arts  One consecutive year required

(two different semesters are not acceptable)  Studio I and Graphic Design are avenues to Studio II  AP and advanced courses require approval from the teacher  Some courses may be taken for one semester  More arts courses are on the next slide!

Arts Visual Arts Studio Art I • Studio Art II • Studio Art III • AP Studio Art • Graphic Design • Digital Photography • AP Art History • Filmmaking • Ceramics (10-12) • Drafting/Architecture •

Arts continued  Choir is highly recommended

before trying out for Madrigals

Performing Arts Music Appreciation & Songwriting • Concert Choir • Madrigals Honors (10-12)(by • audition) Band • Chamber Orchestra • Honors Orchestra (by audition) • AP Music Theory • Intro to Acting • Advanced Acting (1 semester) • Playwriting (1 semester) • Advanced Directing (1 semester) • Technical Theater • Dance I • Dance II •

Additional Courses ď‚—Computer Science (9-12) (does not count towards

departmental graduation requirements) (can be taken for a semester or year) ď‚—Journalism (9-12) (does not count towards departmental graduation requirements) (can be taken for a semester or year)

Free Period(s) All 9th graders have a study hall during their free “ lab”

period All US students have at least one free block; you can choose to have two free blocks if you take 5 classes instead of 6 Choose wisely whether or not to have an extra free period  What are your reasons?  Will it get you where you want in the end?  How will you use your free period?  Do you really have enough time to NOT have a free period?

Athletics—Fall Requirement is one season per year Men Women  Cross Country

 Cross Country

 Football

 Cheerleading

 Water Polo

 Golf

 Ultimate Frisbee* *Club sport, non-CIF=pay to play. See athletic handbook for more information. **Independent PE—see Athletic Office ***PE (Strength & Conditioning) is available during free periods— arrange with Athletic Office

 Tennis  Volleyball  Ultimate Frisbee*

Athletics—Winter Men

Women

 Basketball

 Basketball

 Roller Hockey

 Cheerleading

 Soccer

 Soccer

 Fencing*

 Water Polo  Fencing*

Athletics—Spring Men

Women

 Baseball

 Lacrosse

 Golf

 Softball

 Lacrosse

 Swimming

 Swimming

 Track & Field

 Tennis  Track & Field

After Today Discuss with your family Discuss with your homeroom teacher/advisor Discuss with your teachers Questions? Start with your advisor; then go to scheduling

coordinator and/or academic dean (Ms. M) Return form (with signatures) to your homeroom teacher/advisor by Friday, April 13 Keep working hard if you are trying for an approval/want to maintain a course recommendation Remember that borderline recommendations will not be finalized until the school year ends