Upper School Course Selection 2013-2014

2013-2014 LJCDS

Remember: • • • • •

This is your education, no one else’s!

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

Today: y We will take you through an overview of the

curriculum of each department y Ask questions when you need help y This is not the last opportunity you have to get your questions answered!

Questions to Consider: y Which courses would I like to take? How do I get y y y y

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 y Four years are required y Honors is available to 11th

graders (by application) y AP is available to 12th graders (by application); you do not need to be in Honors to gain approval for AP

• • • • • • •

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 y 9th – English I y 10th – English II y 11th – English III

OR American Studies: English OR Honors English III y 12th – English IV OR AP English Literature Electives: Creative Writing/Honors Creative Writing; Speech; Shakespeare (10‐12/2nd Semester)

Math y Three years (including

y y y y

through Algebra II) are required Honors courses are available in 9th grade Difficult to jump to honors “track” if not already on it Teacher recommendations affect your sequencing 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

Math Sequencing Algebra I Geometry Algebra IIA

Honors Geometry

Algebra II w/ Trig

Algebra IIB

Precalculus

Honors Algebra II Honors Precalculus

Math Topics AP Calculus AB/BC Calculus/Statistics

AP Statistics Honors Linear Algebra

World Languages y Two consecutive years of the

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

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Spanish I, IB, 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 IV Honors AP Mandarin V Mandarin V Honors

World Languages Sequencing (using Spanish as an example) Spanish I Spanish II Spanish III OR Spanish III Honors Spanish IV OR AP Spanish IV Spanish V OR AP Spanish V

Science y Three years are required y The sequence is: Physics Æ y y

y y

Chemistry Æ 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 Semester electives carry different prerequisites

• Physics • Accelerated Physics • AP Physics • Chemistry • Accelerated Chemistry • AP Chemistry • Biology • AP Biology Semester Electives : • Biotechnology (12) • Marine Biology (12) • Science & Society (12) • Neuroscience (H)(12) (prerequisite: AP Bio) • Astronomy • Robotics (9-12)

Science Sequencing Physics OR Accelerated Physics Chemistry OR Accelerated Chemistry Biology OR AP Biology Electives (all electives have prerequisites; see Curriculum Guide for more information): AP Chemistry; AP Physics; Honors Neuroscience; Marine Biology; Biotechnology; Science & Society; Astronomy; Robotics

Social Sciences & History y Three years including US y y y

y

y

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

• World Cultures & Contemporary Problems I • WCCP 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) • Microeconomics (11-12)(1 semester) • Macroeconomics (11-12)(1 semester) • Logic (11-12)(1 semester) • Psychology (11-12)(1 semester) • Digital Culture & Modern Power (1112)(1 semester)

Social Sciences Sequencing WCCP I WCCP II OR AP Euro OR AP World US History OR American Studies OR AP US Electives: Government; AP Government; AP European History; AP World History; AP Art History; Psychology; AP Psychology; Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Theory of Knowledge

Arts y One consecutive year required

y y

y y

(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 • Art History • AP Art History • Filmmaking • Film Studies • Honors Film Studies • Ceramics (10-12) • Drafting/Architecture

Arts continued y Choir is highly recommended

before trying out for Madrigals

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

Additional Courses (do not count towards departmental graduation requirements) y Computer Programming (9-12) (can be taken for a semester or year) y Journalism (9-12) (can be taken for a semester or year) y My Digital Life (9-10) (1 semester)

Free Period(s) y All 9th graders have a study hall during their free

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

period?

Athletics—Fall Requirement is one season per year y Men y y y y y y

Cross Country Cheerleading Football Water Polo Ultimate Frisbee* Surf*

*Club sport, non‐CIF=pay to play. See athletic handbook for more information. **PE & Independent PE—see Athletic Office **Strength & Conditioning is also available anytime, even during free periods—arrange with Athletic Office

y Women y y y y y y y

Cross Country Cheerleading Golf Tennis Volleyball Ultimate Frisbee* Surf*

Athletics—Winter y Men

y Women

y Basketball

y Basketball

y Cheerleading

y Cheerleading

y Roller Hockey

y Soccer

y Soccer

y Water Polo

y Fencing*

y Fencing*

y Surf*

y Surf*

Athletics—Spring y Men

y Women

y Baseball

y Lacrosse

y Golf

y Softball

y Lacrosse

y Swimming

y Swimming

y Track & Field

y Tennis

y Surf*

y Track & Field y Surf*

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

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