Upper School Course Selection 2015-2016 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
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? How will my plan accomplish my goals for next year and beyond? • 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
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English I (9) English II (10) English III (11) American Studies: English (11) English III Honors (11) English IV Selectives (12) AP English Literature IV (12) AP English Language IV (12)
Semester Electives: • Creative Writing (9-12) • Honors Creative Writing (9-12)
English Sequencing • 9th – English I • 10th – English II • 11th – English III OR American Studies: English OR Honors English III • 12th – English IV OR AP English Literature OR AP English Language Electives: Creative Writing/Honors Creative Writing (10-12, Semester 2 only)
Math • 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 • 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
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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 • 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 in any language through summer work is possible • With careful planning, you can take two languages—if you’re interested, ask!
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Spanish I, IB, II, III, IV, V Spanish Honors Intensive AP Spanish Language and Culture AP Spanish Literature and Culture French I, II, III, IV, V French Intensive Honors AP French Language and Culture French V Honors (Literature) Mandarin I, II, III, IV, V Mandarin IV Honors AP Chinese Language and Culture Mandarin V Honors
World Languages Sequencing (using Spanish as an example) Spanish I Spanish II Spanish III OR Spanish Intensive Honors Spanish IV OR AP Spanish Language and Culture Spanish V OR AP Spanish Literature and Culture
Science • Three years are required • The sequence is: Physics à Chemistry à 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 • Honors Chemistry • AP Chemistry • Biology • AP Biology Electives, full year unless noted: • Marine Biology (12) (Sem 1) • Biotechnology (12) (Sem 2) • Science & Society (12) • Neuroscience (H)(12) (prerequisite: AP Bio) • Robotics (9-12)
Science Sequencing Physics OR Accelerated Physics Chemistry OR Honors 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; Robotics
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
• 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) • AP Art History • Trivium (Honors) • Microeconomics (11-12)(Sem 1) • Macroeconomics (11-12)(Sem 2) • Psychology (11-12)(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 • 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 current teacher • Courses with asterisks may be taken for one semester once the full-year Arts requirement is fulfilled (Sem 1 only, unless noted) • More arts courses are on the next slide!
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) • Architecture*
Arts continued • 1 year of Concert Choir is required before trying out for Madrigals • 1 year of Dance Foundation is required before Dance Technique & Performance • Technical Theater has many facets and can be taken all 4 years by interested students
Performing Arts • Concert Choir* (either sem) • Madrigals Honors (10-12)(by audition) • Band* (either sem) • Band: Percussion & World Drumming * • Honors Band • Chamber Orchestra* (either sem) • Honors Orchestra (by audition) • AP Music Theory • Intro to Acting* • Play Production (10-12)(by audition) • Technical Theater* • Dance Foundations* • Dance Technique & Performance
Additional Courses (do not count towards departmental graduation requirements) • AP Computer Science • Mobile Application Development • Introduction to Computer Science (1 semester) • Video Game Creation (1 semester)
Athletics Students must complete a minimum of four trimesters of physical education and/or seasons of athletics during Upper School. Physical Education/ Athletic Credit may also be earned through the Independent PE and summer Strength/ Conditioning programs and/or by serving as a Student Manager.
Physical Education: the General Fitness Class is offered during the Fall and Winter trimesters Summer Strength and Conditioning counts as one trimester and is a six-week course offered from mid-June through July Independent PE is offered for students who are presently participating at a high level yearround in a sport/athletic activity that LJCD does not offer. One full year of IPE counts as one credit (trimester equivalent). Student Team Managers attend home and away games and perform duties as required by the head coach of each athletic program. Student team managers who successfully complete their athletic season earn the same sport credit for that season as other members of the team.
Interscholastic Athletics Men’s Sports Fall • Cheerleading (Co-Ed) • Cross Country • Football • Rock Climbing* • Ultimate Frisbee (Co-Ed)* • Water Polo Winter • Basketball • Fencing* • Ice Hockey* • Cheerleading (Co-Ed) • Rock Climbing* • Roller Hockey • Soccer • Surf* Spring • Baseball • Golf • Lacrosse • Rock Climbing* • Swim and Dive • Tennis • Track and Field
Women’s Sports Fall • Cheerleading (Co-Ed) • Cross Country • Golf • Rock Climbing* • Tennis • Ultimate Frisbee (Co-Ed)* • Volleyball Winter • Basketball • Fencing* • Cheerleading (Co-Ed) • Rock Climbing* • Soccer • Surf* • Water Polo Spring • Lacrosse • Rock Climbing* • Sand Volleyball* • Softball • Swim and Dive • Track and Field
* Torrey Club Sports
Looking ahead: o Discuss with your family o Discuss with your advisor and teachers o More questions? ask Mr. Ballaban or Mr. Jenkins o Speak to your teachers about recommendations for AP/Honors courses o Preliminary recommendations will be in your Quarter 3 comment, but recommendations are not final until Semester 2 ends o Course request forms will be filled out in advisory during the week of April 14