Interdisciplinary Signature Programs AP Capstone Diploma Program & AP Research and Seminar Certificate Indian Creek School has been accepted as one of approximately 2,000 schools worldwide to implement the AP Capstone Diploma program – an innovative program that encourages students to develop skills for college and future success, including critical thinking, research, collaboration, and communication. The program consists of two yearlong courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who score a 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research (and not on 4 additional AP Exams) earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. ICS will start offering the AP Seminar course in the fall of 2022. In AP Seminar, which will be available to tenth and eleventh graders, students choose real-world topics and evaluate them from multiple perspectives. Students identify credibility and bias in sources and develop arguments in support of a recommendation. The AP Seminar course, while interdisciplinary in nature, will receive an English graduation credit. In the subsequent AP Research course, which we will offer beginning fall 2023 to juniors and seniors, students design and execute a college-level research project on a topic of personal interest. Students receive firsthand experience in writing a research question, executing an appropriate method, analyzing data, presenting their results, and defending their findings. AP Research will receive a History graduation credit. This program represents an exciting evolution of our Voros Senior Thesis project, which will be incorporated into Indian Creek’s AP Capstone program as the highest level of achievement students can attain. Please see the AP Seminar course description in the English department for course specifics. The AP Research course description will be published in the 23-24 Curriculum Guide.
Eagles with a Purpose Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
Yearlong – X-Block
.5 credit, Pass/Fail
Note: This course may be taken multiple times and receives a .5 credit. It meets during X-Blocks and conflicts with the STEM program in the schedule so cannot be taken by students in STEM. Eagles With a Purpose gives students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to gain a better understanding of social justice, participate in community engagement, realize individual and collective agency in meeting the needs of others, advocate for social justice, and engage in reflection. The program allows students the opportunity to explore their passions through hands-on activities that utilize their abilities for the benefit of the community at large. Stanford University professor William Damon, author of The Path to Purpose, defines purpose as “a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at the same time meaningful to the self and consequential for the world beyond self.” In other words, purpose happens when students develop a meaningful connection to someone or something outside of themselves—and they do something about it. In the first quarter students focus on community engagement and team building through volunteer work and outdoor leadership. The second quarter students continue with service-learning opportunities and hear from invited speakers. In the
25- Updated 3/2/22
