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Physics- Mechanics exam in May. Prerequisite: 75 average in AP Physics. (NCAA)

2510 Robotics (10, 11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester This course is a hands-on introduction to robotics and robotics programming. Students will be using LEGO NXT Mindstorms Robots and RobotC programming platform developed by Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Students will be introduced to the basic robot elements for movement and control while working in teams to meet a number of robot challenges. Prerequisite: An 80 average in Honors math or an 85 average in College Preparatory Math. (NCAA, Applied Science Concentration)

2520 Anatomy/Physiology (11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester This is an introductory lecture/lab course in Anatomy & Physiology of the human body designed to give students a selective overview of human anatomical structures and the physiology of those structures. This course is for students who are highly interested in the fields of medical or biological sciences. Prerequisite: Completion of a Biology and Chemistry offering. (NCAA, Applied Science Concentration)

2530 Exercise Physiology (11, 12)

5 credits 80 minutes, 1 Semester This course is designed as an introduction to the branch of Physiology that deals with the function of the body during exercise and the adaptations that occur within. Knowledge and application of scientific principles will help explain how to develop peak performance in athletes and maintain health in the general population. Included will be an examination of the scientific theories behind the body’s responses to exercise. Topics will include exercise metabolism, respiration, circulation, neuromuscular, hormonal and environmental influences on exercise. The factors that limit exercise performance and the role of genes in determining athletic performance will also be considered. Through laboratory investigations, students will gain a better understanding of current evidence-based interventions that help to improve overall health. The lab component of class will include inquirybased analyses into a multitude of physiological processes and an exploration of the students’ own physiology. Prerequisites include: completion of Biology and Chemistry. (NCAA, Applied Science Concentration)

2540 AP Environmental Science (11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester AP Environmental Science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography. This course concerns itself with both the ecological principles by which the environment works and the human relationship with that environment and prepares students to sit for the College Board AP exam in May. Topics include: ecology, ecosystem sustainability, population, public policy, resources, land, air and water pollution. Through inquiry-based laboratory investigations, students will gain a greater understanding of ecological principles including management of natural resources and sustainability. This is a Spring semester course. Prerequisite: Minimum 80 average in Honors Biology or completion of AP Biology, and minimum 80 average in Honors Chemistry. (NCAA, Communications Concentration, Applied Science Concentration)

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3040 McAuley English 1 (9)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This course will run concurrently with English 1 and will provide a supplemental curriculum to develop student’s reading, writing, and critical thinking skills as well as complement students in their learning in the study of English 1. Additional emphasis will be placed on note taking and organizational strategies. Placement is determined by the Administrative Admissions Committee. This course will receive a Pass/Fail grade.

3050 McAuley Enrichment Seminar (10, 11, 12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This course is designed to strengthen writing and reading skills and improve appreciation of literature in its various forms. Organizational techniques and testtaking strategies will be an integral part of this course. Critical thinking, public speaking, and note-taking will also be addressed. Placement is determined by the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction and the Counseling Department Chairperson.

3090/8090 Foundations of Writing/Integrated Technologies (9)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester All freshman students will be registered for these two fundamental courses. Every freshman will spend 8 weeks in the technology class and 8 weeks in the writing class. The freshman Integrated Computer Technology course presents a fundamental understanding of technology. Students will learn the valuable use of technology needed to accomplish the tasks necessary to achieve academic success at Notre Dame High School.

Foundations of Writing is designed to help students improve their writing and language arts skills, especially those in persuasive writing. Students will create a writing portfolio that documents their growth as writers. The course will incorporate informational literacy learning that will be done by regular instruction in the Library Media Center. The culminating work of writing will be a five-paragraph research essay including parenthetical citations and works cited page. At the end of the marking period, students are ready to progress onto their Sophomore year as stronger, more proficient writers.

3100 English 1 (9)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Students will be utilizing the SpringBoard Curriculum for College Readiness from The College Board. The focus for the first year of high school is “coming of age.” Students will work with multiple texts as they develop an understanding of narrative and argumentative elements. Students will be introduced to key learning strategies, which they will apply throughout the semester. Students will develop their written voice by creating multiple analytics, narrative and argumentative essays that explore the coming of age theme as it connects to the college experience. Both reading and writing skills will be a priority. (NCAA)

3110 Honors English 1 (9)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Students will be utilizing the SpringBoard Curriculum for Advanced Placement/College Readiness from The College Board. The focus for English 1 is “coming of age.” Students will work with multiple texts as they develop an understanding of narrative and argumentative elements. Students will experience key learning strategies, which they will apply throughout the semester. Students will develop their written voice by creating multiple interview narrative and argumentative essays that analyze the coming of age theme as it connects to the college experience. Both reading and writing skills will be a priority. The pacing is accelerated. Supplemental reading texts will augment the curriculum. Placement is by the Department Chairperson using the following criteria: 7th and 8th grade grades, standardized test scores, placement test scores, writing sample, and Language Arts teacher recommendation letter. (NCAA)

3200 English 2 (10)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The focus for English 2 is “explorations of culture and its components— nationality, family, ethnicity, gender, race, and subgroups.” Students will develop an understanding of their own culture and the culture of others so that they can evaluate different perspectives. Students will also explore the concept of cultural identity and diverse cultural perspectives by examining a variety of texts that range from personal reflections to short stories and art. Both reading and writing skills will be a priority. (NCAA)

3210 Honors English 2 (10)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The focus for Honors English 2 is “explorations of culture and its components—nationality, family, ethnicity, gender, race, and subgroups.” Students will develop an understanding of their own culture and the culture of others so that they can evaluate different perspectives. Students will also explore the concept of cultural identity and diverse cultural perspectives by examining a variety of texts that range from personal reflections to short stories and art. The pacing is accelerated. Supplemental reading texts will augment the curriculum. Prerequisite: 85 average in Honors English 1. Students not enrolled in Honors English 1 who wish to take Honors English 2 must have an average grade of 93 in English 1 for consideration. (NCAA)

3300 English 3/American Literature (11)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The American Dream is a concept that has shaped the national character. The literature studied in this course will blend selections that correspond chronologically or correlate thematically to the study of our heritage from Industrialization through the present day. Ethics and values expressed in literature will be explored as they relate to historical context. (NCAA)

3310 Honors English 3: American Literature (11)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester This course is designed to correlate a vigorous experience in written composition with an in- depth study of fiction, nonfiction, vocabulary, poetry and drama. The American Studies themes and literary content will be stressed along with prescribed honors readings. Literary criticism will be incorporated into formal research experiences. Prerequisite: 85 average in Honors English 2. Students not enrolled in Honors English 2, who wish to take Honors English 3, must have an average grade of 93 in English 2 for consideration. (NCAA)

3400 English 4: Contemporary Shakespeare (12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester This course will analyze why Shakespeare is as relevant today as he was in his lifetime. Students will study Shakespeare’s poetry and drama from multiple and varied perspectives. (NCAA)

3410 English 4/British Literature (12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Students will study western literary movements and their historically-intellectual contexts in order to appreciate how history, geography, and some universal themes shape and reflect the human condition. Seniors will start by studying classics such as Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales and move through different genres up to current 21st century works. They will strengthen their critical thinking skills in written and oral exercises. They will respond to the themes of good vs. evil and humanity vs. nature; and they will assess the feelings, attitudes, and values of characters related to their own personal experiences. Students must be able to show support for the conclusions that they reach as well as test the generalities they reach in researching and reading literature. (NCAA)

3420 Honors English 4: British Literature (12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester This course will introduce major literary voices, themes, genres and movements of Western literature from the late eighteenth century to current 21st century works, including late Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, literature of the World Wars and Post-Colonialism. The students will study representative authors and forms of creative expression critically recognized as influential in shaping the Western literary heritage. Students will study Modern Western literary movements and their historical-intellectual contexts. Prerequisite: 85 average in Honors English 3. Students not enrolled in Honors English 3 who wish to take Honors English 4 must have an average grade of 93 in English 3 for consideration. (NCAA)

3430 Honors English 4: Heroes in Literature (12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Heroism has been a central theme in stories as long as they have been told, connecting time and culture with a recurring power. Students will explore the Hero’s journey as explained in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces and apply that lens while examining archetypes as they appear in both classical literature and popular culture. Students will explore examples of the heroic in stories, novels, poems, music, art, and film. Beginning with the epic hero Odysseus, students will undertake an examination of texts and other media that culminates in selections from the 21st century. Prerequisite: 85 average in Honors English 3. Students not enrolled in Honors 3 who wish to take Honors English 4: Heroes in Literature must have an average grade of 93 in English 3 for consideration. (NCAA)

3500 AP English Language and Composition (11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Students in this college-level course will analyze and interpret a variety of texts from different time periods and in different theoretical patterns and genres. Students will learn different rhetorical patterns, enriching vocabulary through literature based-lists, and will improve writing with journals, in-class writing prompts to stimulate AP Exam questions and out of class essay writings in various rhetorical patterns. Prerequisite: 93 average in Honors English 3 or Honors English 2. Students not enrolled in Honors English who wish to take Advanced Placement English Language and Composition must have an average grade of 85 in AP English Literature and Composition. (NCAA, Communications Concentration)

3510 AP Literature and Composition (11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The course is designed to correlate a vigorous experience in philosophical analysis and its in- depth application to literary studies of novels, drama, and poetry. It prepares students for the Advanced Placement English Literature examination taken in the Spring. Prerequisite: 93 average in Honors English 3 or Honors English 2. Students not enrolled in Honors English who wish to take Advanced Placement English Literature must have an average grade of 85 in AP English Language and Composition. (NCAA)

3600 Academic Writing 1 (10, 11, 12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This course intensively addresses the elements of writing across the curriculum. Students will focus on the key elements of grammar, usage and mechanics through actual writing and reading assignments rather than from a traditional grammar textbook. Assignments will focus on descriptive and narrative essays including a This I Believe essay, process writing, argumentative and analytical essays. The procedures of brainstorming, proofreading, revising, peer editing and self-assessing will be reinforced as critical components of the writing process. Students will learn the power of diction as they complete a portfolio of their best work for their final assessment. Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Freshman Foundations of Writing. (NCAA, Communications Concentration, Applied Science Concentration)

3610 Film Studies (11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The primary goals of the Film Studies course is to teach appreciation of filmmaking as an art form, critical thinking, formal research, and writing. This course teaches students to approach film analysis using and developing the same skills that are applied to studying literature. The class will screen and analyze full- length films and will read and study a college- level textbook, journal articles and popular reviews. Additionally, students will learn four models of writing about film. This course familiarizes students with basic film production and terminology, it may include a field trip and guest speakers from the professional film world to help elevate the learning and application of concepts.

3620 Introduction to Creative Writing (10, 11, 12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester Students who have a serious interest in writing creatively will approach writing as a process. They will write daily, analyze the styles of accomplished writers, draw conclusions about the effects of various writing techniques, consider the importance of audience, practice the steps of the process (thinking, reflecting, organizing, writing, and rewriting), and engage in peer editing. Guided practice will focus attention on establishing purpose, controlling dominant impression, and selecting details. They will attend to word choice and sentence structure. Students will write poetry, essays, short narratives, dialogue, play scripts, advertising copy, and letters. A workshop atmosphere presupposes a serious approach to writing, critiquing, and building a portfolio of writing samples. (NCAA)

3630 Intro to Mass Communications (11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Intro to Mass Communications will examine the history and evolution of the major mass communication media: books, newspapers, magazines, radio, recordings, film television, and the Internet with a focus on their impact on American Society and beyond. Students will analyze the economic, political, cultural, and behavioral impacts of the mass media and new information technologies. A primary aim of this analysis is to recognize and identify the influence of the media on our perceptions, values, behaviors, and the extent of that effective collaboration, and oral discussion. (Communications Concentration)

3640 Journalism 1 (10, 11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester Students will have the opportunity to be a part of the news team that designs and creates our school newspaper, The Voice. Students will learn the basics of news writing, feature writing, sports writing, editorial writing, page layout and design. They will brainstorm story ideas and write and edit their own pages. They will learn interviewing techniques under strict deadline pressure. The class will be divided into the different sections of the school newspaper. A strong interest in journalism, writing, current events, and/or computer design and layout is strongly urged. (Communications Concentration)

3645 Journalism 2 (10, 11, 12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester In this production, workshop-style course, students gain first-hand experience in planning, writing, organizing, and laying out materials essential to producing an online digital student publication, The Voice. The course is a continuation and more advanced application of the journalistic skills mastered in Journalism 1. Emphasis is placed on the carry-over and advancement of the basic skills introduced in the first journalism course. The course is designed to provide advanced training for students in the techniques of editing and production. Strong leadership skills, independence, motivation, and a sense of individual responsibility are essential in the course. Prerequisite: successful completion of Journalism 1. (Communications Concentration)

3650 Public Speaking 1

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This class is designed to help the student develop the skills necessary for confident, independent public speaking. Students learn the rudiments of effective speech, articulation, projection, rhythm, pace, expression, and posture. (NCAA, Communications Concentration, Applied Science Concentration)

3655 Public Speaking 2 (10, 11, 12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This class is designed to be a more intense study of public speaking by focusing on speech analysis, preparation, delivery style and listening skills Prerequisite: Public Speaking 1. (NCAA, Communications Concentration)