Archer Course Catalog

Course Catalog

2015-2016

11725 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90049 www.archer.org • 310-873-7000

Middle&School&Course&Grid!

201542016&!

Subjects&!

!

th

6 &Grade!

th

7 &Grade!

ENGLISH!

English!6:!The!Journey!of!

Me!

English!7:!Exploring!

Relationships!

English!8:!Coming!of!Age! !!

HISTORY!!

History!6:!Time!Travelers!

History!7:!World!Cultures!

History!8:!US!History! !!

MATH!!

DMath!6!

DIntro!to!Integrated!Math!!

DIntro!to!Integrated!Math!

DIntegrated!Math!I!

DIntegrated!Math!I!!

DIntegrated!Math!II! !!

SCIENCE!!

Science!6:!!

Earth!Science!

Science!7:!!

Life!Science!

Science!8:!!

Physical!Science! !!

MODERN& WORLD& LANGUAGES!

Language!Foundations:! (quarter!rotation)!

Spanish,!French,!

Chinese,!Coding!

DFrench!1A! DSpanish!1A! DChinese!1A!!

DFrench!1B!!

DSpanish!1B! DChinese!1B! !!

FITNESS&&& WELLNESS!

Fitness!&!Wellness!6!

Fitness!&!Wellness!7!

Fitness!&!Wellness!8! !!

ARTS!

Arts&6&(quarter!rotation)!

DVisual!Arts!

DStrings!

DVocal!Music!

DTheater!

Arts&7&(semester)& DVisual!Arts!

DMusical!Theater!

DStrings!

DDance!!

DIntegrated!Arts!

DAnimation! !

Arts&8&(semester)& DPhotography!

DMixed!Media!

DCeramics!&!Sculpture!

DWeb!&!App!Design!

DShow!Choir!

DFilm!&!TV! DMS!Dance!Performance!

Company!(by!audition,! year!long!course)!

CO4CURRICULARS&& (xDblock!and!after! school)!

Middle!School!Choir!

Middle!School!Orchestra!

MS!Play!

MS!Musical!

Robotics!

Coding!

Middle!School!Choir!

Middle!School!Orchestra!

MS!Play!

MS!Musical!

Robotics!

Coding!

Middle!School!Choir!

Middle!School!Orchestra!

MS!Play!

MS!Musical!

Robotics!

Coding!

COMMUNITY& SERVICE&THEME!

Clean!Water!&!Global!

Hunger!

Making!a!Difference!

Social!Justice!

Unless!otherwise!noted,!all!courses!are!a!full!year!and!do!not!have!a!preDrequisite! !

th

8 &Grade!

ENGLISH! English&6:&The&Journey&of&Me! With!literature!as!a!guide,!students!begin!to!question!and!explore!the!big!ideas!of!who!they!want! to!be,!what!they!believe!in,!and!how!their!values!shape!their!actions.!We!embark!on!this!journey! of!selfDreflection!and!creative!riskDtaking!alongside!the!dynamic!characters!in!Walk%Two%Moons,!

Wonder,!and!Antigone.%Units!are!aligned!to!their!exploration!of!ancient!civilizations!in!History,!so! students!have!a!coherent!humanities!base.!They!practice!clear!and!effective!communication! through!engaging!in!the!writing!process,!practicing!public!speaking,!and!collaborating!with!their! peers.!Class!activities!channel!curiosity!into!a!strong!foundation!for!abstract!thinking!and!analysis.!

Ultimately,!students!demonstrate!their!understanding!by!writing!expository!paragraphs,!engaging! in!mock!trials,!participating!in!Socratic!Seminars,!creating!academic!blogs,!composing!original! poetry,!performing!skits,!and!creating!digital!portfolios.!!

Grade%Level:%6%%%

!

English&7:&Exploring&Relationships!

This!course!embraces!the!middle!school!mindset,!by!focusing!on!the!power!of!relationships!with! self!and!others.!Students!explore!the!way!in!which!relationships!can!alter,!enrich!and!influence! their!lives!through!the!lens!of!short!stories,!poems,!novels!such!as!The%Outsiders!and!The%House% on%Mango%Street,!and!the!Shakespearean!comedy!A%Midsummer%Night’s%Dream.!In!addition!to! practicing!active!readership!by!analyzing!plot!structure!and!characterization,!students!engage!in! the!writing!process!by!considering!audience!and!purpose!in!their!own!writing!and!public!speaking.!

With!a!firm!belief!that!words!hold!power,!this!class!aims!to!engender!a!love!of!language!and!an! understanding!of!the!messages!that!shape!our!relationship!with!self!and!others.!

Grade%Level:%7%

!

English&8:&Coming&of&Age! This!course!embraces!students’!burgeoning!sense!of!independence!by!examining!questions!like:!

How!do!external!forces!shape!our!internal!worlds?!How!do!we!interpret!the!gray!area!between! black!and!white?!What!drives!individuals!to!rebel!from!the!norm?!What!does!it!mean!to!“come!of! age”!in!our!society?!Students!explore!these!big!ideas!through!a!variety!of!American!texts!that! involve!challenge!and!change,!including!A%Tree%Grows%in%Brooklyn,!A%Raisin%in%the%Sun,!To%Kill%a% Mockingbird,%The%Joy%Luck%Club,%and!an!assortment!of!short!stories!and!poetry.!Throughout!the! course,!there!is!a!strong!emphasis!on!writing!analytically!and!decoding!the!structures!behind! messages.!We!also!actively!wrestle!with!our!ideas!via!debates,!digital!projects,!literature!circles,! and!Socratic!Seminars.!Digital!tools!allow!students!to!collaborate,!connect!their!ideas,!and!extend! their!learning!beyond!the!classroom.!

Grade%Level:%8% ! %

HISTORY! History&6:&Time&Travelers!

Sixth!grade!historians!journey!from!prehistoric!times!into!the!ancient!civilizations!of!Mesopotamia,!

Africa,!China,!and!Greece!to!explore!what!makes!a!civilization!great!and!how!they!change!over! time.!During!their!time!travels,!students!consider!the!effect!of!bias!on!historical!“fact”!and!uncover! how!new!discoveries!change!interpretations!of!the!past.!Students!also!examine!the!impact!of! geography!on!the!development!of!civilizations!and!explore!how!maps!shape!and!reflect!our! understanding!of!the!world.!In!alignment!with!their!English!curriculum,!students!learn!to! distinguish!observation!from!inference,!analyze!sources!credibility,!and!build!stronger! communication!skills.!Highlights!of!the!year!include!tracking!a!hominid,!birthing!a!new!civilization,! learning!the!science!of!mummification,!trading!along!China’s!Silk!Road,!and!putting!Sophocles’!

Antigone!on!trial.!

Grade%Level:%6!

!

History&7:&World&Cultures!

In!World!Cultures,!students!explore!the!rich!traditions!of!the!Middle!East,!Asia,!Central!and!South!

America,!Africa,!and!Europe!to!analyze!the!influences!of!geography,!natural!resources,!religion,! and!politics!on!the!development!of!medieval!cultures.!CrossDcurricular!exploration!emphasizes! critical!thinking!and!encourages!students!to!interpret!the!past!from!a!variety!of!perspectives.!

Seventh!grade!historians!hone!their!skills!in!reading!comprehension!and!analytical!writing!as!they! learn!note!taking!techniques!and!basic!research!methods.!Current!events!are!emphasized!as!a! means!of!better!connecting!the!past!with!the!present.!

Grade%Level:%7!

!

History&8:&U.S.&History!

Eighth!grade!U.S.!History!examines!the!expanding!frontier!and!the!incredible!journey!that!was!the! formation!of!the!first!48!states.!The!class!considers!major!themes!of!gender,!ethnicity,!race,!and! class!in!seeking!to!understand!the!new!republic.!Our!exploration!follows!American!history!from! the!Age!of!Exploration!through!the!Reconstruction!of!the!South,!with!references!to!modern!

America!through!the!1960s.!Students!uncover!American!colonial!roots,!discerning!how!and!why! the!original!colonies!were!formed!and!investigating!the!tenets!of!the!Bill!of!Rights!and!the!

Constitution.!Finally,!students!study!in!detail!the!causes!of!the!American!Civil!War!and!the! reconstruction!of!the!Union!that!followed.!Students!utilize!reading!and!writing!skills!through!a! variety!of!historical!methodologies!in!preparation!for!Upper!School!and!more!advanced!courses! of!study.!

Grade%Level:%8% ! %

MATHEMATICS& Math&6&4&Grade%Level:%6!

Sixth!grade!mathematics!strengthens!and!expands!students’!basic!problemDsolving!skills!so!they! can!fearlessly!tackle!more!complex!mathematical!challenges.!Learning!is!active,!including!handsD on!manipulatives,!group!collaboration,!online!resources,!and!realDworld!problem!solving.!Students! learn!to!speak,!write,!and!think!like!mathematicians!through!exploring!number!sense,!ratios!and! rates,!measurement!and!twoDdimensional!geometry,!proportionality,!and!examining!linear! patterns!and!relationships.! !

Introduction&to&Integrated&Math&4&Grade%Level:%6%&%7!

This!course!introduces!the!integrated!exploration!of!major!topics!in!Algebra,!Geometry,!and!

Statistics.!The!core!learning!goals!for!this!course!include!working!with!expressions!and!linear! equations,!developing!an!understanding!of!and!applying!proportional!relationships,!using! operations!with!rational!numbers,!and!solving!problems!involving!geometric!constructions.!The! curriculum!is!structured!to!prepare!students!with!a!strong!foundation!in!problem!solving!for! higherDlevel!mathematics.!

Prerequisites:%Department%approval%for%6th%graders! !

Integrated&Math&I&&4&Grade%Level:%7%&%8!

In!this!first!level!of!the!integrated!math!series,!students!explore!the!connections!between! algebraicDnumerical!and!geometricDspatial!relationships!using!realDworld!applications!whenever! possible.!Students!learn!to:! ●! identify,!interpret!and!solve!mathematical!and!realDworld!situations!represented!by!linear! functions! ●! represent!and!analyze!linear!patterns!using!equations!and!inequalities! ●! investigate!polynomials!functions!and!expressions.! ●! employ!tables,!graphs,!and!symbols!to!identify!and!classify!exponential!and!quadratic! relationships! ●! analyze!relationships!and!representations!of!geometric!objects!through!the!use!of! coordinate!geometry,!algebraic!drawings,!charts,!models,!and!technology! ●! develop!and!apply!methods!of!proving!or!disproving!conjectures!about!lines,!angles!and! figures! ●! collect,!organize,!and!analyze!data!using!statistical!measures! ●! interpret!and!communicate!mathematical!results!through!a!variety!of!media! !

Integrated&Math&II&4&Grade%Level:%7%&%8!

This!course!advances!students’!understanding!of!functions,!translations,!structures,!and! statistical!models.!During!this!course!students!will:! ●! structure!and!solve!linear!systems!involving!multiDvariable!equations! ●! develop!and!apply!mathematical!methods!of!proof!to!problems!involving!congruence,! similarity!and!transformations! ●! justify!and!apply!measurement!formulas!for!twoDdimensional!geometric!figures! ! ●! explore!and!perform!operations!with!radical!expressions.!! ●! factor!and!solve!quadratic!equationsc!analyze!quadratic!models!of!real!life!events! ●! develop!understanding!of!trigonometric!ratios!through!exploration!of!right!triangle! trigonometry!and!apply!this!knowledge!to!realDworld!measurements! ●! analyze!data!to!solve!realDworld!probability!problems! ●! explore!experimental!and!theoretical!probability! ! !

SCIENCE! Science&6:&Earth&Science!

Students!in!Earth!Science!embark!on!a!voyage!from!the!clouds!to!the!center!of!the!Earth,!with! emphasis!on!environmental!stewardship.!They!begin!their!journey!by!exploring!the!unique! properties!of!water,!discovering!how!it!is!distributed!around!our!planet!and!investigating!the!water! cycle!to!understand!cloud!formation!and!heat!transfer!on!Earth.!Next,!students!complete!a!handsD on!exploration!of!our!world’s!oceans!and!its!environmental!threats.!They!close!the!semester!by! learning!how!to!map!the!Earth’s!surface!using!GPS.!The!second!semester!journeys!deeper!into! the!various!layers!of!our!planet!and!the!changing!nature!of!its!surface.!Students!study!plate! tectonics!and!the!formation!of!land!mass!through!volcanic!activity,!earthquakes,!fault!lines,!and! tsunamis.!The!year!ends!with!a!study!of!weather!and!its!economic!impact,!especially!on!food! production.!

Grade%Level:%6!

!

Science&7:&Life&Science!

This!course!examines!life!from!the!microscopic!level!(cells)!to!the!macroscopic!level!(the!human! body).!Students!begin!with!the!nature!of!scientific!inquiry:!they!develop,!test,!and!analyze!their! own!hypotheses!through!a!variety!of!laboratory!experiments.!Beginning!with!the!structure!of!cells,! they!continue!on!with!the!processes!that!occur!in!them,!until!ultimately!exploring!whole!body! systems.!The!course!culminates!with!a!study!of!genetics!and!reproduction.!In!all!aspects!of!the! curriculum,!students!are!asked!to!critically!evaluate!common!theories!of!science,!articulate! arguments!in!agreement!or!opposition!to!these!scientific!principles,!perform!laboratory! experiments!to!test!commonly!held!biological!theories,!and!develop!a!logical!approach!to!problem! solving.!

Grade%Level:%7!

!

Science&8:&Physical&Science!

This!course!introduces!physical!and!chemical!processes!through!scientific!investigation!and! inquiry.!Students!explore!atomic!theory!and!structure,!decode!the!periodic!table,!and!investigate! chemical!interactions.!During!the!second!semester,!students!investigate!motion!through!an!inD depth!exploration!of!the!relationship!between!distance,!velocity,!acceleration,!forces,!and!

Newton’s!laws!of!motion.!Throughout!the!year,!emphasis!is!placed!on!learning!how!to!design! experiments,!collect!and!organize!data,!analyze!and!evaluate!information,!and!draw!formal! conclusions!from!experimental!results.!

Grade%Level:%8!!

!

!

ARTS! Arts&6:&Introduction&to&the&Arts&!

Sixth!graders!explore!studio!art,!strings,!vocal!music,!and!theater!in!quarter!rotations.!This!gives! students!a!chance!to!engage!in!a!variety!of!creative!challenges.!In!studio!art,!students!apply!their! imagination!to!drawing,!painting,!collage,!weaving,!and!bookmaking.!In!music,!students!play! string!instruments!and!sing!in!choir!as!an!introduction!to!music!theory,!pitch!recognition,! intonation,!rhythmic!reading!and!notation.!In!theater,!students!develop!performance!skills!through! improvisation!and!organized!play.!Art!activities!are!structured!to!build!selfDconfidence,!foster! collaboration,!and!improve!performance!skills.!

!

Arts&7:&Art,&Music,&and&Performance&!

Seventh!graders!choose!two!semesterDlong!courses:! ●! Visual&Arts:!explore!a!variety!of!media!and!techniques!including!drawing,!painting,! collage,!printmaking!and!digital!art.! ●! Musical&Theater:&develop!voice!as!an!instrument!with!an!emphasis!on!musical!theater! performance,!explore!the!history!of!musical!theater,!and!learn!fully!choreographed! routines!to!musical!numbers!from!popular!shows.! ●! Dance:!create,!perform,!and!appreciate!dance!as!an!art!form.!Students!learn!the! fundamentals!of!dance!technique,!performance!and!choreography!through!experiencing! ballet,!jazz,!modern,!hipDhop!and!contemporary!dance.! ●! Strings:&learn!to!play!an!instrument!and!make!music!together!in!this!handsDon,! collaborative!class.! ●! Integrated&Arts:!tackle!engineering!and!design!challenges!with!a!dash!of!computer! science!to!bring!creativity!into!the!21st!century.!Projects!include!designing!a!lightDup! sculpture,!creating!an!electronic!board!game,!and!inventing!a!new!kind!of!wearable! technology.! ●! Animation:!use!techniques!of!stopDmotion!animation!to!create!short!movies!using!clay,! handDdrawn!illustration,!iPad!technology,!and!cutouts.!Learn!basic!drawing,!sculpture,! photography!and!storytelling!techniques!to!bring!a!story!to!life.! & Arts&8:&Exploring&the&Arts&!

Eighth!graders!choose!two!semesterDlong!courses:! ●! Mixed&Media:!explore!a!wide!range!of!mediums!including!painting,!drawing,!printmaking,! photography,!digital!imaging,!and!collage.!Projects!foster!creative!experimentation!and! challenge!students!to!further!their!own!unique!vision!and!style.& ●! Ceramics&&&Sculpture:&create!a!variety!of!sculpture!projects!using!basic!hand!building! techniques,!such!as!slabs,!coiling!and!modeling.!Explore!positive!and!negative!space,! additive!and!subtractive!techniques,!and!narrative!and!abstract!sculpture.!Students!will! have!many!options,!including!stoneware!and!high!fire!glazes,!to!express!their!creative! vision.& ●! Film&&&TV:&learn!the!fundamental!skills!and!techniques!needed!to!create!and!produce! high!quality,!original!hiDdef!videos.!Learn!advanced!camera,!sound!editing,!lighting,!and! onDcamera!acting!techniques!that!apply!to!class!projects!including!music!videos,!news! clips,!experimental!movies,!and!short!films.& & & & &

●! Photography:!appreciate!the!difference!between!catching!a!photographic!moment!and! creating!one!through!planning,!staging!and!digital!enhancement.!Complete!assignments! designed!to!improve!each!student’s!photographic!eye!and!properly!present!images!for! exhibition.!Dark!room!experience!and!digital!tools!provide!a!strong!foundation!for! understanding!the!magic!of!capturing!images!on!film.& ●! Web&and&App&Design:!learn!computer!programming!and!design!to!create!websites!or! mobile!apps!that!address!realDworld!challenges.! ●! Show&Choir:&build!vocal!skills!in!pop!jazz!and!theater!styles,!learn!competitive! choreography,!understand!the!world!of!competitive!show!choir!including!staging,!show! design,!costume!design,!and!technical!aspects!of!performance.!Ultimately,!students!will! perform!in!local!showcases!with!other!schools.! ●! Middle&School&Dance&Performance&Company:&(year&long&course)&designed!for! students!with!previous!dance!training!who!desire!to!continue!improving!their!creative!and! technical!skills!in!ballet,!jazz!and!contemporary!dance.!As!a!dance!company,!students! choreograph,!perform,!and!produce!works!for!competitions,!assemblies,!and!special! events.!Visiting!choreographers!and!outside!professionals!will!polish!students’!skills!and! stretch!their!talents.&PreRrequisite:%Audition&

!

Middle&School&Choir&!

MS!Choir!is!a!group!of!young!performers!with!a!passion!for!music!and!singing.!Students!perform! popular!music!with!choreographed!dance!moves!to!musical!arrangements!at!school!events.!MS! Choir!meets!on!a!designated!day!after!school!for!rehearsals!and!during!x!block.!Rehearsals! culminate!in!performances!at!the!Winter!Concert,!the!Spring!Concert,!and!assemblies.!

Grade%Level:%6%R%8!

Prerequisite:%None!

!

Middle&School&Orchestra!

MS!Orchestra!musicians!explore!the!language!of!music!while!building!their!playing!technique!in! orchestral!arrangements!and!excerpts!from!symphonic!repertoires.!The!Middle!School!Orchestra! meets!on!a!designated!day!after!school!and!during!x!block.!Rehearsals!culminate!in! performances!at!the!Winter!Concert,!the!Spring!Concert,!and!assemblies.!

Grade%Level:%6%R%8!

Prerequisite:%by%Audition!

!

!

Modern&World&Languages!

Language&Foundations!

In!this!introductory!course,!sixth!grade!students!explore!3!modern!languages!(Spanish,!French,! and!Chinese)!and!learn!the!basics!of!coding,!the!21st!century!language!of!technology.!Students! rotate!through!each!language!with!the!aim!of!seeing!how!people!communicate!in!different! cultures!and!through!the!digital!realm.!They!culminate!their!exploration!by!choosing!a!language!to! study!in!depth!through!7th!and!8th!grade.!!

Grade%Level:%6! !

French&1A& French!A!focuses!on!speaking,!reading!and!writing!French!to!communicate!in!meaningful!realD world!situations.!Students!engage!in!the!language!and!culture!by!writing!situational!dialogues,! listening!to!popular!music,!and!reading!short!extracts!from!novels,!magazines,!and!newspapers.!

They!also!explore!French!and!Francophone!culture!through!songs,!roleDplays,!fairy!tales,!art!and! cuisine.!By!the!end!of!the!course,!students!can!communicate!about!themselves,!their!families!and! communities,!daily!routines,!and!preferred!activities.!!

Grade%Level:%7!

!

French&1B&!

French!B!students!continue!their!study!of!the!language!through!oral!communication,!listening! comprehension,!and!the!acquisition!of!vocabulary.!In!class,!students!speak,!listen,!read,!and! write!in!the!target!language.!They!are!further!able!to!narrate!in!the!past!and!future!using!simple! and!compound!tenses.!Students!engage!with!the!language!and!culture!by!writing!situational! dialogues,!listening!to!popular!music,!and!reading!short!excerpts!from!novels,!magazines,!and! newspapers.!By!the!end!of!the!course,!students!are!able!to!effectively!communicate!about!basic! activities!and!daily!life!with!confidence!and!skill.!

Grade%Level:%8%!

Prerequisite:%French%1A%!

!

Spanish&1A& Spanish!A!students!build!the!skills!to!communicate!in!various!realDlife!situations.!Students!can! also!effectively!ask!and!answer!questions,!engage!in!conversations!and!present!prepared!skits.!

Students!contextualize!language!by!writing!situational!dialogues!and!reading!advertisements!and! media.!The!class!explores!Spanish!and!Latin!American!cultures!through!festivals,!media,!roleD plays!and!storytelling.!By!the!end!of!the!course,!students!will!be!able!to!convey!detailed!personal! information!including!physical!descriptions,!daily!routines,!likes!and!dislikes,!school,!family,!and! extracurricular!activities.!

Grade%Level:%7%!

!

Spanish&1B&& In!this!secondDlevel!course,!students!expand!their!ability!to!communicate!effectively!and! confidently!in!Spanish.!They!continue!to!cultivate!their!appreciation!for!and!understanding!of!

Hispanic!cultures!while!developing!their!linguistic!skills:!reading,!writing,!listening!and!speaking.!

Students!synthesize!and!apply!new!grammar,!vocabulary!and!cultural!knowledge!in!oral! presentations,!roleDplays,!compositions!and!a!variety!of!projects.!By!the!end!of!the!course,!! ! !

students!are!further!able!to!narrate!in!the!past!and!future!using!multiple!tenses.!Highlights!include! the!DĂ­a!de!los!Muertos!unit!and!altar!project!and!the!endDofDyear!Fairytale!Festival.!!

Grade%Level:%8%!

Prerequisite:%Spanish%1A% % Chinese&1A& Mandarin!Chinese!A!introduces!students!to!the!Pinyin!system!and!to!the!pronunciation!of!tones.!

Students!will!also!learn!to!read!and!write!commonly!used!radicals!and!simplified!Chinese! characters.!The!class!explores!Chinese!culture!through!music,!field!trips,!stories,!and!current! events.!Students!engage!in!the!language!through!songs,!videos,!and!cultural!projects.!By!the!end! of!the!course,!students!will!be!able!to!introduce!themselves!and!carry!on!a!basic!conversation! about!their!family,!daily!lives,!and!hobbies.!

Grade%Level:%7! !

Chinese&1B&& In!this!secondDlevel!course,!students!expand!their!ability!to!communicate!effectively!and! confidently!in!Chinese.!Students!continue!to!cultivate!their!appreciation!for!and!understanding!of!

Chinese!culture!while!developing!their!linguistic!skills:!reading,!writing,!listening!and!speaking.!

Students!synthesize!and!apply!new!grammar,!vocabulary!and!cultural!knowledge!in!oral! presentations,!roleDplays,!compositions,!and!a!variety!of!projects.!At!the!end!of!Chinese!B,! students!are!able!to!communicate!about!food,!clothing,!sports!and!pets,!among!other!topics.!& Grade%Level:%8,%9%!

Prerequisite:%Chinese%1A% ! %

FITNESS&&&WELLNESS! Fitness&and&Wellness&6!

In!sixth!grade!fitness,!students!participate!in!team!sports!such!as!volleyball,!basketball,!softball,! soccer,!and!track!and!field.!!Students!also!play!nonDtraditional!sports!including!ultimate!Frisbee,! lacrosse,!flag!football,!and!floor!hockey.!Sportsmanship,!teamwork,!and!leadership!are!key! elements!of!the!class.!Throughout!the!course!students!also!gain!an!understanding!of! cardiovascular!health,!and!muscular!strength,!and!physical!endurance.!!!

Grade%Level:%6!

!

Human&Development&6!

Sixth!grade!Human!Development!provides!space!for!students!to!explore!their! relationships!with!self!and!others,!examine!developmental!changes,!and!build!healthy! habits!of!mind!and!body.!Class!activities!include!group!discussions,!council,!games,! journal!writing,!and!mindfulness!practices.!!

Grade%Level:%6!

!

Fitness&and&Wellness&7&&&8!

The!seventh!and!eighth!grade!fitness!classes!focus!primarily!on!team!sports!with!an!emphasis!on! skill!development.!Students!participate!in!team!sports!such!as!volleyball,!basketball,!softball,!and! soccer,!which!are!aligned!with!the!after!school!athletic!program.!Students!also!enjoy!nonD traditional!activities!including!ultimate!Frisbee,!lacrosse,!flag!football,!and!floor!hockey.!!

Sportsmanship,!teamwork,!and!leadership!are!key!elements!of!the!class.!A!portion!of!each!fitness! class!is!designated!to!help!students!improve!their!cardiovascular!levels!and!core!strength.!

Students!also!learn!to!evaluate!the!elements!of!an!efficient!and!effective!workout.!

Grade%Level:%7%&%8!

!

Human&Development&7!

Seventh!grade!is!a!year!of!dynamic!physical,!emotional,!social,!and!intellectual!change.!

The!HD!curriculum!explores!some!of!the!challenges!of!this!developmental!stage.!

Discussions,!council,!and!role!play!encourage!students!to!examine!their!patterns!of! behavior!and!values!as!they!pertain!to!peers,!family!and!self.!Additional!topics!of! discussion!include!reproduction,!body!image,!puberty,!boundary!setting,!social!pressures,! selfDdefense,!and!cyber!safety.!

Grade%Level:%7!

!

Human&Development&8!

Eighth!grade!is!a!year!of!increasing!autonomy,!leadership,!and!rites!of!passage.!The!HD! curriculum!continues!to!examine!physical,!emotional,!social!and!intellectual!growth! through!the!lens!of!students’!burgeoning!independence.!Students!learn!about!nutrition,! environmental!responsibility,!financial!literacy,!conflict!resolution,!boundary!setting,!cyber! safety,!and!the!dangers!of!drugs!and!alcohol.!Class!activities!build!skills!necessary!for! healthy!decisionDmaking.!

Grade%Level:%8!!

!

!

GRADUATION&REQUIREMENTS& & To!graduate,!all!students!in!grades!9D12!must&satisfactorily&complete&at&least&the&minimum& number&of&courses&indicated&below.!While!in!the!Upper!School,!each!student!is!strongly! encouraged!to!take!full!advantage!of!the!curriculum!and!challenge!herself!academically!by!going! beyond!the!stated!minimums.!All!students!must!be!enrolled!in!a!minimum!of!five!courses!each! semester.!! !

•! English!D!4!years!!

•! History!/!Social!Sciences!D!3!years,!including!US!History!or!AP!US!History!

•! Language!D!3!years!!

•! Mathematics!D!3!years!!

•! Science!D!3!years,!Physics,!Chemistry,!and!Biology!

•! Elective!Courses!D!4!yearDlong!courses!including!one!yearDlong!arts!course!!

•! Fitness!D!2!years!!

•! Human!Development!–!4!years!

•! Community!Service!D!4!years:!75!total!credits!(9th!Grade:!15!credits,!10th!Grade:!20! credits,!11th!Grade:!20!credits,!12th!Grade:!20!credits)! ! !

2015416&UPPER&SCHOOL&COURSE&OF&STUDY&!

Subjects&and&& Years&Required!

9th&Grade!

10th&Grade!

11th&Grade!

ENGLISH& 4&years!

English!9!

English!10! !

Literature!of!the!

American!Self! !

English!10!Honors!

AP!English!

Language!&!

Composition!

12th&Grade!

Senior!English!Seminars! (&!Honors):!

Literature!of!Fantasy! and!Fairy!Tale! !

Novels!to!Film! !

Postmodern! !!!American! !!!Literature! !!

AP!English!Literature!

HISTORY&&&SOCIAL& SCIENCE& 3&years!

History!9!

History!10!

!

U.S.!History!

AP!U.S.!History! !

Topics!in!History!

Semester!Seminars! (&!Honors):! !!!The!Voice!of!

Democracy!! !! !Economics! ! !!!!Ethics! ! !!!Gender!Studies! ! ! !!AP!Art!History! !

!

Topics!in!History!

Semester!Seminars!(&!

Honors):! !!!The!Voice!of!

Democracy! !! !!!Ethics! !!!Economics! !!!Gender!Studies!

AP!Art!History!

AP!Human!Geography!

Fitness&&&Wellness&

MATH& 3&years& (typical&grade&level& shown,&although&all& are&available&9412&if& prerequisite&met)!

SCIENCE& 3&years!

Fitness!&!

Wellness!9!

Integrated!Math!II! (&!Honors)!

Integrated!Math!

III!(&!Honors)!

!

Conceptual!

Physics! !

Physics!Honors!

Fitness!&!Wellness!

10!

!

Integrated!Math!III! (&!Honors)! !

PreDCalculus!(&!

Honors)!! !

!

Chemistry! !

Chemistry!Honors!

!

!

!

PreDCalculus!(&!

Honors)! !

Calculus!! !

AP!Calculus!AB!! !

Finite!Mathmatics! !

Statistics! ! !

Biology! !

Biology!Honors! !

Systems!Biology!and!

Disease!

Environmental!

Science!

Research!in!Science!

Honors!I! Computational!

Physics!

!

Calculus! !

AP!Calculus!AB! !

AP!Calculus!BC! !

Finite!Mathmatics! !

Statistics!

Systems!Biology!and!

Disease!

Environmental!Science!

Computational!Physics!

Computational!Chemistry!

Research!in!Science!

Honors!I! Research!in!Science!

Honors!II!

Computational!

Chemistry! !

THE&WORLD& LANGUAGE& DEPARTMENT& 3&years& (typical&grade&level& shown,&although&all& are&available&9&412&if& prerequisite&met)!

HUMAN& DEVELOPMENT&

!!! !!Spanish!1! ! !!Spanish!2!(&!! !!Honors)! !!! !!French!1! ! !!French!2! ! !!Chinese!1B! ! !!Chinese!1! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

!

Spanish!2!(&!

Honors)! !

Spanish!3!(&!

Honors)! !

French!2! !

French!3!(&!Honors)! !

Chinese!2!

Human!

Development!9!

Human!Development!

10!

4&years&

& ELECTIVE&COURSES& !

!

Spanish!3!(&!

Honors)! !

Spanish!4(&!

Honors)! !

French!4!(&!Honors)! ! ! !

Human!

Development!11f!

!

Spanish!4!(&!Honors)! !

AP!Spanish!Language! !

Senior!Seminar!in!

Spanish:!Culture! (spring)! !

Senior!Seminar!in!

Spanish:!Conversation! (fall)! !

French!4!(&!Honors)! !

AP!French!Language! !

Senior!Seminar!in!

French! !

Senior!Seminar!in!

Chinese!

Human!Development!

12! !

Subjects!

9! !

ENGLISH!

SCIENCE!

10! (if!prerequisite!met)!

VISUAL!AND! MEDIA!ARTS!

12! (if!prerequisite!met)!

!

Creative!Writing!! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist!

! !!Creative!Writing! !

Creative!Writing:!

Advanced! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist:!!

Advanced!

!! !!Creative!Writing! !

Creative!Writing:!

Advanced! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist:!!

Advanced!

!

Creative!Writing! !

Creative!Writing:!

Advanced! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist! !

The!21st!Century!

Journalist:!!

Advanced!

Engineering!and!

Design!

Engineering!and!

Design!

Engineering!and!

Design!

Engineering!and!

Design!

Introduction!to!

Computer!Science! (meets!5!periods! per!rotation)!

Invention!and!

Product!

Development!

Invention!and!

Product!

Development!

Invention!and!

Product!

Development!

Introduction!to!

Computer!Science! (meets!5!periods! per!rotation)!

Introduction!to!

Computer!Science! (meets!5!periods! per!rotation)!

Introduction!to!

Computer!Science! (meets!5!periods! per!rotation)!

!

!

!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!I!*!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!I!*!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!I!*!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!II*!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!II*!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!II*!

Theatre!Arts:!

Introduction!

Theatre!Arts:!

Introduction!

Theatre!Arts:!

Introduction!

Theatre!Arts:!

Advanced!

Theatre!Arts:!

Advanced!!

Theatre!Arts:!

Advanced!!

Songwriting!and!

Commercial!Music!

Songwriting!and!

Commercial!Music!

Songwriting!and!

Commercial!Music!

!

PERFORMING! ARTS!

& 11& (if!prerequisite!met)&

!

Dance!

Performance!

Company!I*! !

Theatre!Arts:!

Introduction! !

Songwriting!and!

Commercial!Music!

Ceramics:!

Introduction! !

Photography:!

Introduction! !

Studio!Art:!

Introduction! !

Gallery!

Management!and!

Design! !

Filmmaking:!

Introduction! !

!

!

Advanced!Study!in!

Advanced!Study!in!

Dance!

Dance! ! !!Advanced!Study!in!!!!!!!!!!!!! Advanced!Study!in!!!

Performing!Arts! !!Performing!Arts!

Ceramics:!

Introduction! !

Ceramics:!

Advanced! !

Photography:!

Introduction! !

Photography:!

Intermediate! ! !

Photography:!

Advanced!

!Ceramics:!

Introduction!!! !!! !!Ceramics:! !!Advanced!! !!!

Photography:!

Introduction! !

Photography:!

Intermediate! ! !

Photography:!

Advanced! !

Ceramics:!

Introduction!!! !!! !!Ceramics:! !!Advanced!! !!!

Photography:!

Introduction! !

Photography:!

Intermediate! ! !

Photography:!

Advanced! !

!!!Media!Tech:!!!!!! !!!Yearbook! !

Graphic!Design:!

Introduction!

Studio!Art:!

Introduction! !

Studio!Art:!

Intermediate!! !

Portfolio:!!!!

Advanced!Art! !

AP!Studio!Art! !!!!*2DD!Design! !!!!*3DD!Design! !!!!*Drawing! !

Gallery!

Management!and!

Design! !

Filmmaking:!

Introduction! !

Filmmaking:!

Advanced! !

Media!Tech:!

Yearbook! !

Advanced!Media!

Tech:!!Yearbook!

Editing! !

Graphic!Design:!

Introduction! !

Graphic!Design:!

Advanced!

INDEPENDENT! STUDY!

!!

!

Studio!Art:!

Introduction! !

Studio!Art:!

Intermediate!! !

Portfolio:!!!!

Advanced!Art! !

AP!Studio!Art! !!!!!!!*2DD!Design! !!!!*3DD!Design! !!!!*Drawing! !

Gallery!

Management!and!

Design! !

Filmmaking:!

Introduction! !

Filmmaking:!

Advanced! !

Advanced!Study!in!

Visual/Media!Arts! !

Media!Tech:!

Yearbook! !

Advanced!Media!

Tech:!!Yearbook!

Editing! !

Graphic!Design:!

Introduction! !

Graphic!Design:!

Advanced!

Independent!Study!

! ! *!An!Upper!School!Dance!Company!Class!satisfies!the!requirement!for!one!Fitness!class.! ! ! !

Studio!Art:!

Introduction! !

Studio!Art:!

Intermediate!! !

Portfolio:!!!!

Advanced!Art! ! !AP!Studio!Art! !!!!!!!*2DD!Design! !!!!*3DD!Design! !!!!*Drawing! !

Gallery!

Management!and!

Design! !

Filmmaking:!

Introduction! !

Filmmaking:!

Advanced! !

Advanced!Study!in!

Visual/Media!Arts! ! !!Media!Tech:!

Yearbook! !

Advanced!Media!

Tech:!!Yearbook!

Editing! !!!! !!Graphic!Design:!!!! !!Introduction! ! !!Graphic!Design:!! !!Advanced! ! !!Women!in!Art! !!(semester)!

Independent!Study!!

Online&School&for&Girls& Course&Information&and&Tuition&Policy& !

Archer!is!proud!of!its!recent!affiliation!with!the!Online!School!for!Girls!(OSG),!a!consortium!of!outstanding! girls’!schools!that!have!joined!together!to!offer!exemplary!online!courses.!Using!the!research!on!how!girls! learn!best,!OSG!offers!small!classes!that!allow!their!students!an!opportunity!to!connect!and!collaborate!in! order!to!solve!problems!creatively.!The!partnership!with!OSG!will!allow!Archer!students!to!have!access!to! an!expansive!curriculum,!exposure!to!blended!learning,!and!the!chance!to!connect!with!students!from! around!the!country.!!! !

Before!registering!for!an!OSG!course,!you!should!be!aware!of!the!following!information:! !! OSG!courses!have!twenty!or!fewer!students!in!them,!and!thus!have!space!limitations.!! !! Students!are!not!assigned!a!class!period!in!their!schedule!when!they!register!for!an!OSG!class.!!

Instead,!students!will!have!to!independently!schedule!and!manage!their!coursework.! !! OSG!courses!follow!a!slightly!different!calendar!than!Archer!courses.!The!fall!term!begins!after!

Labor!Day!and!ends!before!winter!break.!The!spring!term!begins!midDJanuary!and!is!completed! before!the!AP!exams!begin!in!May.! !! Some!assessments!during!the!semester!must!be!proctored!by!Archer’s!OSG!Coordinator.!These! scheduled!assessments!take!priority!over!other!meetings.! !! These!courses!are!best!suited!for!students!who!are!good!selfDmotivators,!selfDadvocates,!and!work! well!independently.!Any!student!interested!in!taking!an!OSG!course!must!complete!an!applicationc! current!teachers!will!be!asked!to!comment!on!a!student’s!initiative,!motivation,!and!work!habits.! !! Admittance!to!OSG!courses!will!be!determined!by!the!US!Director!based!upon!the!student’s! application,!work!habits,!and!feedback!from!current!faculty.! !! !

Archer!students!may!take!OSG!courses!in!one!of!two!ways:!

1.! With!Archer!approval!–!tuition!covered!

•! Seniors!who!apply!to!take!an!OSG!class!as!part!of!their!standard!five!core!classes!and!are! accepted!will!be!able!to!take!the!course!covered!through!their!Archer!tuition.!!

•! Seniors!who!are!unable!to!take!a!required!course!due!to!scheduling!conflicts!will!be!able!to! take!the!course!covered!through!their!Archer!tuition.!

•! In!both!cases!the!grade!will!be!marked!on!the!student’s!transcript!as!an!OSG!course.!

2.! With!Archer!approval!–!tuition!not!covered! th th •! 10 ,!and!11 !grade!students!who!apply!to!take!an!OSG!class!and!are!accepted!may!take!the! course!and!have!the!grade!marked!on!Archer’s!transcript!as!an!OSG!course.! th •! 12 !grade!students!who!apply!to!take!an!OSG!course!as!a!sixth!core!class!and!are!approved! may!take!the!course!and!have!the!grade!marked!on!the!student’s!transcript!as!an!OSG! course.!

Withdrawal&Policy& 1.! Any!student!may!withdraw!from!an!OSG!course!before!the!course!begins!without!approval!from!the!

Upper!School!Director.!

2.! After!the!course!begins,!students!wishing!to!withdraw!from!the!course!must!have!approval!from!the!

Upper!School!Director.!

3.! If!a!student!is!approved!to!withdraw!after!the!course!start!date!and!Archer!has!covered!the!tuition,! the!family!will!be!charged!the!tuition!according!to!OSG’s!tuition!refund!policy.! !

A!separate!course!enrollment!sheet!should!be!submitted!with!a!student’s!course!of!study!in!order!to!enroll!in! an!OSG!course.!This!is!available!both!online!and!in!the!Upper!School!Office.!

A!full!listing!of!all!classes!available!through!OSG!can!be!found!on!the!following!website:! http://www.onlineschoolforgirls.org/! !

!

ENGLISH& English&9&4&Literature&in&a&Changing&World&!

How!do!budding!literary!scholars!cultivate!understandings,!identities,!and!affiliations!that!foster!active! participation!in!contemporary!global!society?!Closely!aligned!with!“Understanding!the!Contemporary!World,”! this!course!asks!students!to!contextualize!various!works!and!explore!how!historical!and!cultural!transitions,! ideologies,!and!modes!of!thought!shape!an!author’s!portrayal!of!his!or!her!world.!The!syllabus!is!expansive,! ranging!from!Shakespeare!to!popular!television!shows,!promoting!the!understanding!of!classical!archetypes! and!themes!and!how!they!have!progressed!over!time.!SocraticDbased!discussions!and!group!projects! reinforce!skills!necessary!for!successful!communication,!and!students!are!encouraged!to!voice!and!develop! strong!opinions,!take!risks,!offer!insightful!commentary,!and!construct!thoughtDprovoking!analyses.!Daily! class!work!incorporates!close!reading!and!writing!into!discussions!that!build!understanding!of!literary! technique.!Vocabulary!gleaned!from!the!reading!is!used!in!class!conversation!and!in!context!so!that! students'!understanding!goes!beyond!memorizing!the!definitions.!In!addition,!students!receive!intensive! writing!instruction,!practice!revision,!conference!individually!with!the!instructor,!and!review!grammar!and! mechanics!to!hone!their!writing.!Primarily,!though,!“Literature!in!a!Changing!World”!is!intended!to!cultivate!! global!perspectives!to!help!students!become!more!empathetic!citizens!of!the!world.!

Grade%Level:%%9% % % English&10:&Exploring&Western&Identity!

How!does!our!understanding!of!class,!race,!and!gender!enhance!our!critical!evaluation!of!literature?!Paired! with!the!tenth!grade!History!course!“Questioning!the!West,”!we!will!see!how!Western!thinking!resonates! within!literary!texts,!and!then!flip!that!figurative!coin!to!also!examine!the!effects!of!Western!ideologies! themselves,!both!on!members!of!Western!cultures!and!on!those!considered!“other,”!or!“foreign,”!to!a!

Western!perspective.!These!explorations!will!lead!to!thoughtDprovoking!questions:!How!do!systems!beyond! our!control!determine!our!actions?!How!does!the!potential!reality!of!socially!constructed!identity!affect!our! ethical!beliefs?!How!do!various!cultures!reply!to!the!terms!and!expectations!of!Western!social!structures?!

Such!questions!will!shed!light!on!our!own!individual!identities!and!how!they!are!shaped!by!class,!race,!and! gender.!To!assist!with!such!complex,!critical!thinking,!students!will!undertake!various!writing!assignments! that!will!require!them!to!explicate!plays,!poetry,!and!novels!with!close!attention!to!diction,!syntax,!and! thematic!patterns.!The!course!also!challenges!students!to!implement!their!critical!understanding!of! technological!resources,!including!how!to!locate!effective!online!source!material,!how!to!use!creative! platforms!to!express!their!analytical!perspectives,!and!how!to!collaborate!well!through!a!variety!of!digital! tools.!Potential!texts!include!Things%Fall%Apart,!The%Odyssey,%and!The%Stranger,!among!others.!

Grade%Level:%10%%% ! !

English&10&Honors:&Exploring&Western&Identity!

The!Honors!level!comparative!literature!course!parallels!the!English!10!curriculum,!but!asks!students!to!read! more!widely!and!at!an!accelerated!pace,!taking!on!an!additional!major!text!and!accompanying!project!per!! term.!Added!texts!have!included!Voltaire’s!Candide,%Woolf's%Between%the%Acts%and!a!film!and!media!studies! unit.!Honors!students!also!complement!their!study!of!core!texts!with!supplemental!readings!of!concurrent! philosophy,!poetry,!criticism,!sociology,!and!political!science.!Analytical!writing!remains!the!focus!of!the! course,!and!students!are!challenged!to!develop!original!and!arguable!analyses!that!synthesize!disparate! materials,!thus!deliberately!exercising!rhetorical!skills!that!prepare!them!for!the!AP!Language!course!during! the!following!year.!

Grade%Level:%10% Prerequisite:%Placement%Test,%Writing%Sample,%and%Department%Approval%%! % Literature&of&the&American&Self!

Walt!Whitman’s!1860!joyful!poem!celebrates!the!hardworking!voices!of!the!young!country,!saying,!“I!hear!

America!singing.”!But!whose!songs!are!truly!heard?!In!1925,!Langston!Hughes!replied,!“I,!too,!sing!America.! //!I!am!the!darker!brother.”!This!English!seminar!introduces!students!to!key!authors,!poets,!and!playwrights! whose!works!capture!the!American!experience.!Texts!reflect!distinct!eras!and!genres!that!overlap!with!the! cultural!studies!of!the!U.S.!History!course!and!explore!the!American!mythos—what!it!means!to!be!

“American”!and!how!that!definition!has!changed!over!time.!Students!build!on!their!reading!and!writing!skills! to!develop!confident!and!insightful!voices.!Besides!analytical!writing!and!continued!vocabulary!building,! major!projects!may!include!crafting!a!poem!in!the!style!of!a!great!American!poet,!visualizing!concepts!of! beauty!and!racial!identity!in!a!digital!Bluest%Eye!project,!and!writing!a!personal!essay!about!the!“Things!I! Carry”!in!the!style!of!Tim!O’Brien.!The!course!challenges!students!to!construct!their!own!understandings!of!

American!perspectives!in!consideration!of!social!and!historical!contexts.!Texts!may!include!The%Awakening,%

The%Great%Gatsby,!The%Bluest%Eye,!The%Adventures%of%Huckleberry%Finn,!A%Streetcar%Named%Desire,!and! short!story,!poetry,!and!nonfiction!essay!selections.!!

Grade%Level:%11%%% ! !

AP&English&Language&and&Composition!!

While!preparing!students!to!take!the!AP!test!in!English!Language!and!Composition,!this!course,!centered!on! the!American!literary!tradition,!offers!training!in!prose!analysis!as!well!as!creative!and!argumentative!writing.!

The!crux!of!the!course!is!an!exploration!of!the!relationship!between!the!writer!and!the!reader,!considering! those!basic!human!desires!to!express,!connect,!and!persuade.!To!do!so,!students!look!closely!at!varied! writing!styles!and!rhetorical!choices.!Central!questions!for!exploration!include:!how!do!we!ask!dynamic! questions!and!follow!original!paths!of!inquiry?!What!choices!do!writers!make!as!they!seek!to!construct! meaning!and!influence!audience?!And,!how!can!we!hone!our!personal!voice!and!adjust!our!prose!for!varied! purposes?!Central!thematic!questions!include:!what!tensions!arise!between!the!personal!and!the! communal?!How!do!power!dynamics!play!out!in!society?!Why!do!we!perform?!What!do!we!perform?!Who! are!we!performing!for?!Some!of!the!writers!covered!include!Mark!Twain,!Walt!Whitman,!F.!Scott!Fitzgerald,!

Ralph!Ellison,!Tennessee!Williams,!Margaret!Atwood,!W.E.B.!Du!Bois,!Mary!Oliver,!Susan!Sontag,!Meena!

Alexander,!Toni!Morrison!and!Jonathan!Safran!Foer.!Reading!assignments!are!substantial,!as!are!written! assignments,!and!lively!student!discussions!further!understanding!and!creative!interpretation.!Students! enrolled!in!the!class!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!!

Grade%Level:%11%% Prerequisite:%Placement%Test,%Writing%Sample,%and%Department%Approval%% ! !

AP&English&Literature:&Great&Books&!

What!makes!a!book!“great”?!The!Great!Books!course!is!an!advanced!class!in!literary!analysis!that!explores! the!Western!Canon.!The!focus!is!on!literary!touchstones!that!resonate!through!each!otherc!texts!include!

Hamlet,!Pride%and%Prejudice,!Their%Eyes%Were%Watching%God,!1984,!Wide%Sargasso%Sea,!Bless%Me,%Ultima! and!a!heavy!dose!of!American!and!British!poetry.!The!class!is!discussionDbased!and!centers!on!themes! such!as!the!fall!from!innocence,!comingDofDage,!guilt,!forgiveness,!and!otherness.!Through!close!readings!of! writers’!usage!of!diction,!syntax,!tone,!figurative!language!and!literary!devices,!the!class!also!examines!how! meaning!is!crafted!on!a!small!scale.!Throughout!the!year,!students!are!given!opportunities!to!respond! creatively!to!literature,!all!the!while!developing!their!own!voices!and!styles.!In!short,!we!will!read!Great!

Books,!explore!their!place!in!the!Western!Canon,!and!write,!write,!write.!As!reading!and!writing!assignments! are!longer!and!denser,!students!are!expected!to!take!an!independent!approach!to!their!studies.!Students! enrolled!in!the!class!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%Placement%Test,%Writing%Sample,%and%Department%Approval%%% & !

SENIOR&ENGLISH&SEMINAR&–&HONORS&DESCRIPTION! LITERARY&RESEARCH! Students!taking!one!of!the!senior!English!seminars!have!the!option!to!receive!Honors!credit!for!the!course! through!participation!in!a!selfDdirected!independent!study!project!(one!per!semester)!expanding!on!the! seminar’s!texts!and!themes,!which!will!be!approved,!monitored,!and!assessed!by!the!teacher.!This!program! involves!extensive!independent!research,!reading,!writing,!and!presentation!outside!of!regular!course! expectationsc!it!allows!students!with!a!passion!for!literature!to!challenge!themselves!and!explore!their! literary!interests!as!English!academics.!

Grade!Level:!12!!

Prerequisite:!Reflective!Letter/Proposal,!Writing!Sample,!and!Department!Approval!!! ! !

Literature&of&Fantasy&and&Fairy&Tale!

Fairies,&Dragons&and&Looking4Glass&Worlds!

What!happens!to!children!when!they!read!and!immerse!themselves!in!other!worlds?!How!do!fairy! tales!and!the!literature!of!fantasy!convey!truths!about!being!human?!This!course!will!offer!a!rich! environment!to!explore!questions!about!adult!and!child!psychology,!the!uses!of!story,!and!aspects! of!artistic!and!literary!styles!and!traditions.!An!early!focus!will!be!on!classic!western!folklore!and! fairy!tales,!as!well!as!Victorian!England!and!Victorian!fairy!tales.!Other!potential!readings!include!

Alice’%Adventures%in%Wonderland,!analyses!by!Bruno!Bettelheim!and!Jack!Zipes,!The%Golden% Compass%paired%with%Paradise%Lost,!writings!by!Ursula!Le!Guin,!J.M.Barrie,!Salman!Rushdie,!Neil!

Gaiman,!George!MacDonald,!the!Arabian!Nights,!and!African!American!folklore.!Some!lenses!

through!which!we!will!examine!the!texts!include:!psychoanalytical,!feminist,!stylistic,!historical,!and! cultural.!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%English%11%% ! !

Novels&to&Film!

How!might!we!learn!to!“read”!a!film!as!though!a!novel?!!How!does!either!medium!add!to!our! understanding!of!the!other?!In!“Novels!to!Film,”!students!will!examine!and!interpret!literature!that! has!been!adapted!to!the!screen!to!evaluate!and!study!the!process!of!transformation!and! reinterpretation!between!mediums.!Using!Giannetti’s!Understanding%Movies!as!a!key!reference! source,!students!will!gain!an!understanding!of!how!to!read!a!film!via!its!methodological!constructs.!

And,!in!consequence,!students!will!learn!how!to!translate!their!understandings!of!film!criticism!to! the!printed!page!and!back!again!via!comparative!analyses.!A!central!premise!of!the!course!will! involve!students!driving!a!portion!of!the!curriculum,!selecting!their!own!subject!matter!for!their! major!projects!from!hundreds!of!comparative!possibilities,!and!ultimately!devising!their!own!screen! adaptation!from!a!portion!of!one!of!the!major!works!undertaken!for!the!course.!Required!readings! include,!Rear%Window,!Hamlet,!Heart%of%Darkness,!The%Virgin%Suicides,!and!Oliver%Twist,%among! others.%% Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%English%11%%% ! !

Postmodern&American&Literature!

(Post)Modern&Los&Angeles!

How!might!we!understand!Los!Angeles!as!a!concept!of!a!city?!A!postmodern!realm?!Students!will! assess!literature,!film,!criticism,!media,!architecture,!and!literary!theory!to!examine!the!ways!in! which!fictional!and!social!conceptions!of!Los!Angeles!have!changed!and!are!changing!during!the! late!20th!and!early!21st!centuries.!The!class!will!consider!how!the!idea!of!L.A.!was!created!and! then!recreated!several!times!within!the!mythic!context!of!the!American!Dream,!and!how!the! realistic!consequences!of!that!dream!have!been!depicted!by!artists.!We’ll!explore!current,!complex,! and!controversial!questions!immediately!applicable!to!students!as!residents!of!the!city:!What! similarities!and!tensions!arise!from!different!perspectives!of!the!city?!What!portions!of!the!dream! apply!to!various!contingencies!of!the!city’s!population?!What!is!a!postDmodern!landscape?!How! has!the!city!itself!affected!the!form,!function!and!style!of!artistic!subject!matter,!including!spatial! relations,!urban!decay,!postDindustrialism,!pastiche,!and!tensions!both!psychic!and!physical?!!Does!

Los!Angeles!remain!an!idea?!Is!it!online?!Following!an!array!of!both!writing!and!projectDbased! analyses,!the!class!will!involve!students!creating!their!own!reactions!to!the!city!in!a!variety!of! experimental!written!forms.!Texts!include!Farewell,%The%Big%Sleep,!The%Crying%of%Lot%49,!Day%of%the% Locust,!Fahrenheit%451,!Play%It%As%It%Lays,!The%Revolt%of%the%Cockroach%People,!Brothers%and% Sisters,!Tropic%of%Orange,!and!numerous!criticisms!and!abstracts!of!literary!theory.!!!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%English%11%%% % ELECTIVES& & The&21st&Century&Journalist!

This!fullDyear!elective!is!for!students!who!love!to!explore!the!world!around!them,!in!school!and!in!the!larger! global!community.!We!will!explore!the!history!of!journalism!in!America!and!discuss!the!evolution!of! journalism!during!the!20th!and!21st!centuries,!including!exploring!questions!about!journalistic!ethics!and!the! role!of!social!media!in!an!increasingly!digital!world.!Students!will!write!articles,!conduct!interviews,!take! pictures,!and!chase!down!those!elusive!leads!as!they!maintain!Archer’s!digital!news!site,!The%Oracle.!They! will!hone!their!interviewing!skills,!learn!how!to!write!from!an!objective,!unbiased!perspective,!and!ultimately! synthesize!complicated!subject!matter!into!an!easyDtoDread!format.!A!variety!of!guest!speakers!and!experts! will!work!with!us!throughout!the!year,!and!students!will!have!opportunities!for!video!and!photojournalism,! working!in!conjunction!with!the!film!and!photography!classes.!Students!are!challenged!at!their!own!levelc!as! a!result,!those!who!have!mastered!basic!skills!have!the!opportunity!to!take!on!leadership!editorial!roles!and! increase!their!writing,!photography,!and!editing.!

Grade%Level:%9R12% % % !

The&21st&Century&Journalist:&Advanced&!

This!advanced!class!is!open!to!students!who!have!taken!the!initial!journalism!course!and!are!ready!for!more! challenges!and!responsibilities!as!class!leaders!and!editors!of!the!online!news!site,!the!Oracle.!Students!will! build!on!previous!skills!and!knowledge!to!demonstrate!mastery!of!a!variety!of!journalist!modes!(news,! features,!opinion,!sports,!and!entertainment!writing,!and!basic!photojournalism)!and!potentially!attend!an!offD campus!conference.!As!editors,!students!work!with!the!instructor!to!lead!activities,!model!journalistic!writing,! edit!peers’!work,!and!take!a!leadership!role!on!the!paper.!

Grade!Level:!10D12!!

Prerequisite:!The!21st!Century!Journalist!! & Creative&Writing&!

The!creative!writing!class!focuses!on!poetry,!fiction,!personal!narrative,!and!screenwriting,!with!emphases! on!developing!a!personal!process!and!voice.!Students!in!this!course!will!embrace!storytelling!and!play!with! language.!Close!readings!of!seminal!works!will!be!featured,!and!students!will!have!an!opportunity!to! apprentice!their!skills!through!imitation!of!masters.!Students!will!workshop!and!become!"editors"!who! sharpen!their!understandings!of!what!constitutes!good!writing.!Revisions!follow,!and!at!the!end!of!each!unit! students!gather!their!best!work!for!a!digital!portfolio.!Twice!a!year,!students!also!solicit!and!edit!work!by!their! peers!for!submission!to!Pillars%of%Salt,!the!Upper!School!digital!and!print!literary!magazine.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%%% !

Creative&Writing:&Advanced&!

This!class!is!open!to!students!who!have!taken!the!beginning!Creative!Writing!class!and!are!ready!for!more! challenges!and!responsibilities!as!class!leaders!and!editors!of!the!literary!magazine,!Pillars%of%Salt.!Students! will!complete!additional!readings!and!assignments!as!well!as!attend!some!off!campus!events!and! performances.!As!editors,!students!work!with!the!instructor!to!lead!activities,!discussions,!and!workshops.!

Other!duties!include!laying!out!and!preparing!the!literary!magazine.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12% Prerequisite:%Creative%Writing%%% % %

HISTORY&&&SOCIAL&SCIENCE& History&9:&Understanding&the&Contemporary&World!

How!do!budding!scholars!and!citizens!cultivate!understandings,!identities!and!affiliations!that!foster!active! participation!in!contemporary!global!society?!The!9th!grade!“Understanding!the!Contemporary!World”! course!trains!students!with!the!tools!of!the!social!sciences!to!answer!questions!facing!the!planet!and!its! people!today.!Through!political,!social,!economic!and!geographic!analysis!of!contemporary!problems,! students!develop!the!ability!to!contextualize,!analyze!and!empathize.!Emphasizing!alignment!with!texts!and! themes!studied!in!9th!grade!English,!students!explore!political!philosophies,!culture,!religion,!the! environment,!gender,!media!and!globalization!across!countries!and!cultures.!Students!continue!to!hone! reading!comprehension,!analytical,!note!taking,!source!evaluation!and!critical!media!literacy!skills.!Special! attention!is!given!to!cartographic!skills!at!the!beginning!of!each!unit.!The!course!marks!students’!transition! into!the!upper!school!by!focusing!on!the!skills!and!knowledge!of!the!social!sciences!necessary!to!participate! actively!as!scholars!and!citizens.!

Grade%Level:%9% & History&10:&Questioning&the&West!

What!are!Western!values,!practices!and!identities!and!how!did!they!take!root?!How!are!these!challenged! and!modified!across!time!and!space?!The!10th!grade!History!course,!“Questioning!the!West,”!is!a! chronological!survey!of!modern!world!history!that!focuses!on!the!development!of!the!West!and!its!interaction! with!other!actors,!histories!and!ideologies.!Beginning!with!Humanism!and!the!Renaissance!in!Europe!and! continuing!through!the!Protestant!Reformation,!Scientific!Revolution,!Enlightenment,!national!and!industrial! revolutions,!World!and!Cold!Wars,!students!explore!religious,!cultural,!social!and!political!systems!that! shaped!the!West.!They!dissect!internal!challenges!to!a!unifying!Western!ideal!as!well!as!external!influences! such!as!conquest!of!the!Americas,!the!transDAtlantic!slave!trade,!African!colonization!and!contemporary! trade!with!China.!Students!use!primary!and!secondary!sources!to!conduct!and!present!research!and!they! participate!in!debates,!handsDon!activities!and!reenactments!to!help!them!understand!varied!perspectives.!

Research!and!writing!skills!receive!special!emphasis,!as!do!reading!comprehension,!noteDtaking,!and!critical! thinking!skills.!

Grade%Level:%10% !

U.S.&History!

Who!are!Americans?!What!do!we!believe!and!value?!How!do!we!govern!ourselves?!How!do!we!sustain! ourselves?!How!do!we!interact!with!the!world?!These!five!questions!anchor!11th!graders’!investigation!of! the!roots,!development,!dynamic!changes,!and!contemporary!challenges!of!American!society,!with!a!focus! on!the!diversity!of!American!voices!and!experiences.!Students!begin!the!year!with!a!study!of!the! development!of!U.S.!political!foundations!and!national!culture,!and!the!divergence!of!these!into!the! economic!and!cultural!systems!of!the!North!and!South.!The!class!then!turns!to!the!shaping!of!modern!

America!and!the!social!impact!of!industrialization,!immigration,!and!urbanization.!Finally!the!emphasis!shifts! to!the!contemporary!United!States,!a!world!power!struggling!with!issues!such!as!civil!rights,!the!role!of! government,!and!the!responsibilities!of!global!leadership.!The!course!emphasizes!critical!reading!of!both! primary!and!secondary!sources!and!encourages!discussion,!debate,!roleDplaying,!and!the!development!of! students’!own!evidenceDbased!interpretations!of!history.!Students!undertake!one!extensive!research!paper! on!a!topic!in!20th!century!U.S.!history.!

Grade%Level:%11% & AP&U.S.&History!

This!course!examines!the!span!of!U.S.!History!from!colonization!to!the!present,!with!an!emphasis!on! preparing!for!the!Advanced!Placement!examination.!Five!key!questions!anchor!the!course!DD!Who!are!

Americans?!What!do!we!believe!and!value?!How!do!we!govern!ourselves?!How!do!we!sustain!ourselves?!

How!do!we!interact!with!the!world?!DD!and!students!relate!the!considerable!content!they!learn!in!the!course! to!these!major!themes.!Assessments!simulate!the!AP!testing!format!of!timed,!multipleDchoice!questions!and!! ! !

inDclass!essays.!After!taking!the!AP!examination,!students!end!the!year!with!an!inDdepth!research!project.!

Students!enrolled!in!the!class!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!

Grade%Level:%11% Prerequisite:%Placement%Test,%Department%Approval,%and%Student%Statement%of%Interest% & & HISTORY&SENIOR&SEMINARS! These!focused!classes!are!intended!to!serve!as!additions!to!our!core!History!requirements!or!as!a! culmination!of!a!students’!broader!study!of!the!discipline.!Student!interest!often!determines!particular!units! of!study!within!these!courses.!Assessments!include!handsDon!projects,!traditional!assessments,!researchD! and!writingDbased!assignments,!and!nonDtraditional!assignments!to!suit!varied!learning!styles.!Assignments! also!promote!research,!critical!thinking,!and!writing!skills!that!will!prepare!students!to!meet!college! expectations.!

Grade%Level:%11R12% These%classes%will%generally%be%open%to%both%juniors%and%seniors,%but%priority%will%be%given%to%seniors.%Honors% credit%will%be%available%for%qualified%seniors%on%the%basis%of%a%student%statement%of%interest,%placement%test,% and%Department%approval.! ! !

Gender&Studies&(Fall)!

This!course!will!look!at!the!broad!concept!of!gender!through!varying!disciplines!including! psychology,!biology,!politics,!philosophy,!history,!and!literature.!Topics!include!the!historically! changing!representations!of!womenc!the!history!of!the!women’s!movement!in!the!United!Statesc!the! gender!division!of!laborc!globalizationc!contemporary!feminism,!sexualities,!and!the!intersection!of! gender,!race!and!class.!A!goal!of!the!course!is!for!each!student!to!develop!a!critical!perspective!on! the!meaning!and!role!of!gender!in!our!society.! ! &&&&&&!

Economics&(Fall)!

This!one!semester!course!will!cover!basic!principles!of!economics!while!exploring!the!historic!and! contemporary!role!of!women!in!the!domestic!and!global!economy!and!advocating!for!the! advancement!of!women!to!positions!of!economic!power.!Students!will!begin!by!learning!about!the! social!science!of!economics!and!consider!how!gender!studies!and!economics!may!be!studied!in! tandem.!They!will!then!study!the!principles!of!microD!and!macroeconomics!in!order!to!better! understand!the!structure!(and!chaos)!of!the!national!and!global!economy.!Students!will!examine!a! variety!of!texts!and!hold!discussions!around!issues!affecting!women!in!the!economy.!They!will!be! challenged!to!answer!fundamental!questions!about!gender!and!economics,!such!as:!Does!gender! determine!one’s!financial!standing?!How!does!gender!affect!one’s!role!in!our!economic!system,! especially!one’s!access!to!economic!prosperity?!Why!are!there!so!few!women!in!positions!of! economic!power!and!what!can!be!done!to!change!this?! !

The&Voice&of&Democracy:&Elections&in&the&U.S.&(Spring)!

Does!our!electoral!process!represent!the!will!of!the!people!or!the!needs!of!special!interests?!Why! hasn’t!a!multiDparty!system!arisen!in!the!U.S.,!and!could!one!work?!Is!the!Electoral!College! outdated,!or!is!its!protection!of!the!voice!of!smaller!states!still!important!today?!Who!are!the!people! behind!the!nominees!of!the!two!major!parties!and!how!much!influence!do!they!have!on!the! candidates?!What!issues!dominate!elections,!and!who!decides!which!issues!receive!the!most! attention?!How!do!polling,!free!and!paid!media,!and!social!media!influence!the!political!process?!In! this!fall!semester!course,!students!will!analyze!the!process,!politics!and!outcomes!of!recent! presidential!election!cycles.!Students!will!review!the!U.S.!Constitution!and!pivotal!elections!in!our! nation’s!history!to!establish!an!historical!framework!for!analysis.!They!will!then!investigate!the! impact!of!debates,!campaign!rallies,!endorsements,!money,!and!other!factors!as!they!dissect!both! historical!and!contemporary!elections.!Students!will!also!analyze!efforts!at,!and!obstacles!to,! electoral!reform,!and!will!propose!their!own!researchDbased!reform!programs!that!reflect!students’! beliefs!about!the!strengths,!weaknesses,!and!potential!of!our!system!of!democracy.!Course! materials!will!include!readings!from!history!and!political!science,!and!students!will!also!be!expected!

to!read!the!newspaper!and!stay!current!with!newspapers,!blogs!and!social!media!sites.!

Assessments!will!take!the!form!of!traditional!tests,!quizzes!and!essays!as!well!as!presentations,! formal!debates,!and!researchDbased!projects.! & Ethics:&Historical&Traditions&and&Contemporary&Challenges&(Spring)!

This!spring!semester!course!will!provide!an!historical!framework!for!approaching!the!complex! ethical!issues!of!today.!Drawing!upon!the!works!of!Aristotle,!Bentham!Mill,!Kant,!Nozick,!Rawls!and! others,!students!will!examine!writings!that!have!consciously!and!unconsciously!shaped!our!beliefs! on!contemporary!issues.!They!will!analyze!core!texts!to!develop!lenses!through!which!to!explore! competing!systems!and!models!of!justice.!Issues!discussed!will!range!from!gun!control,!abortion,! surrogacy,!seat!belt!laws,!capital!punishment,!stem!cell!research,!legalization!of!marijuana,! st reparations,!assisted!suicide!and!many!more.!We!hold!that!the!complex!issues!of!the!21 !century! require!a!nuanced!and!open!discourse!reflective!of!the!global!and!collaborative!paradigm!of!our! age.!To!foster!critical!thinking!skills,!students!will!learn!how!to!analyze!arguments!in!order!to! recognize!underlying!assumptions!and!logical!fallacies.!Student!work!will!include,!traditional! assessments,!essays,!roundtable!discussions,!debates!and!presentations.! ! & AP&Art&History!

Advanced!Placement!Art!History!is!an!intensive,!yearlong!course!that!prepares!students!for!the!AP! examination.!This!is!a!fastDpaced!survey!that!begins!with!the!art!of!the!prehistoric!era!and!concludes!with! the!works!of!PostDModernism.!Students!learn!to!distinguish!the!stylistic!characteristics!and!analyze!the! unique!historical!factors!that!identify!and!differentiate!the!art!and!architecture!of!various!periods.!

Assessments!include!multipleDchoice!questions!and!essay!tests,!a!format!geared!to!AP!testing.!Students! enrolled!in!the!class!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!

Grade%Level:%11R12% Prerequisite:%Placement%Test,%Department%Approval,%and%Student%Statement%of%Interest% ! & AP&Human&Geography!

Offering!a!broad!inquiry!into!the!global!condition,!Advanced!Placement!Human!Geography!seeks!to!broaden! students’!worldDview!and!help!them!understand!the!diverse!array!of!cultural,!economic,!and!political!spaces! that!comprise!the!contemporary!world.!Because!the!geographic!perspective!intersects!a!range!of!disciplines,! the!course!includes!elements!of!history,!economics,!politics,!anthropology,!demographics,!public!policy,! urban!planning,!environmental!studies,!and!architecture.!As!an!introduction!to!the!social!sciences,!human! geography!relies!not!only!on!broad!empirical!knowledge!but!also!on!theories!and!abstract!concepts!through! which!students!analyze!the!world’s!peoples,!states,!and!cultures.!As!a!culminating!history!course,!human! geography!focuses!on!current!events!and!also!explores!the!trends!and!patterns!that!may!shape!the!world!of! the!future.!Students!enrolled!in!the!class!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!

Grade%Level:%12% Prerequisite:%Placement%Test,%Department%Approval,%and%Student%Statement%of%Interest % % %

MATHEMATICS& Honors&Course&of&Study& Honors! mathematics! courses! are! intended! to! provide! students! with! a! more! challenging! curriculum! that! advances! at! a! faster! pace! than! the! standard! course.! ! While! students! are! expected! to! take! greater! responsibility!for!their!learning,!they!should!also!express!an!advanced!level!of!interest!in!the!subject!matter.!!

Placement!into!honors!classes!will!be!based!upon!student!achievement,!interest,!and!work!habits,!and!will! be!determined!by!the!math!department.!! !

Request&to&move&from&Standard&to&Honors& Any!student!previously!in!a!Standard!math!course!looking!to!take!an!Honors!math!course!for!next!year!must! meet!the!following!requirements:!! !

1)! Final!Grade!of!at!least!AD!for!both!semesters!of!prerequisite!course!work.!

2)! Strong!recommendation!from!previous!math!teacher!stating!that!the!student!would!benefit!from!a! faster!paced,!and!more!academically!demanding!course.!!

3)! Student!will!be!required!to!complete!supplemental!summer!work!prior!to!the!start!of!the!next!school! year!in!the!Honors!class.!! & Expectations&to&continue&in&Honors& Any!student!earning!a!B–!or!below!for!the!fall!semester!grade!will!be!placed!on!probationary!status!in!the! course.!The!student!must!earn!a!grade!of!B+!or!higher!at!the!end!of!the!second!semester!in!order!to!stay!in!

Honors!the!following!school!year.!! !

Any!student!who!earns!a!B–!or!below!for!spring!semester!and!has!a!satisfactory!grade!of!B!or!above!for!the! first!semester!may!not!be!recommended!for!Honors!math!the!following!year.!!In!addition,!the!student!may!be! required!to!complete!summer!course!work!prior!to!the!start!of!the!school!year!if!they!are!recommended!for!

Honors.!!!& & Integrated&Math&II:&&Standard&and&Honors& Integrated!Math!II!further!advances!student!understanding!of!functions,!translations,!structures!and! statistical!models.!Students!will!solve!linear!systems!involving!multiDvariable!equations!and!develop! mathematical!methods!of!proof.!Students!will!apply!algebra!and!trigonometry!to!solve!real!world!problems.!!

In!order!to!investigate!current!trends!and!predict!future!events,!students!will!analyze!scatter!plots!and! compute!probabilities.!

Prerequisite:%%Integrated%Math%I% !!

Integrated&Math&III:&&Standard&and&Honors& Students!will!explore!the!behavior,!connection!and!application!of!nonDlinear!functions.!With!an!emphasis!on! exploration!and!problemDsolving,!students!will!extend!their!understanding!of!polynomial!functions!and! quadratic!equations.!!Students!will!investigate!realDworld!situations!as!they!develop!exponential!and! nonlinear!functions!to!represent!realDworld!scenarios.!!Students!will!apply!geometric!concepts!and! trigonometric!ratios!to!analyze!problems,!and!they!will!continue!to!explore!and!expand!upon!statistics!and! probability.!Students!will!use!a!graphing!calculator!as!a!tool!to!cultivate!their!understanding!of!mathematical! functions,!probability!and!statistics.!!

Prerequisite:%%Integrated%Math%II% & Pre4Calculus:&&Standard&and&Honors& PreDCalculus!is!the!bridge!between!the!study!of!algebra,!geometry,!and!trigonometry!to!calculus.!Students! explore!topics!such!as!higher!order!polynomial,!trigonometric,!exponential!and!logarithmic!functions.!

Students!learn!to!use!the!unit!circle!to!see!physical!relationships!in!trigonometric!functions.!The!graphing! calculator!is!used!regularly!to!investigate!the!graphical!representation!of!functions.!RealDlife!applications!are! incorporated!to!encourage!students!as!lifeDlong!learners!of!mathematics.!!In!the!honors!course,!students!are! introduced!to!calculus!concepts!including!limits,!continuity,!and!derivatives.!

Prerequisite:%%Integrated%Math%III% & Calculus& This!course!exposes!students!to!the!concepts!and!themes!covered!in!a!college!calculus!class.!It!covers! many!of!the!same!material!as!the!AP!course!at!lessDintensive!pace.!Calculus!concepts!are!approached!from! a!graphing,!numerical!and!algebraic!perspective!to!allow!students!to!interpret!and!verify!conclusions.!Topics! include!a!review!of!limits,!continuity,!derivatives,!related!rates,!optimization,!antiDderivatives!and!volumes!of! solids.!Students!develop!the!ability!to!create!clear,!succinct!mathematical!conclusions!and!to!communicate!! !

their!thinking.!!A!main!focus!of!the!course!is!to!expose!students!to!realDworld!applications!of!calculus!and!its! connections!to!other!disciplines& Prerequisite:%PreRCalculus% & AP&Calculus&AB& This!is!a!rigorous!collegeDlevel!course!designed!to!prepare!students!for!the!AP!Calculus!AB!Exam.!The! course!emphasizes!a!multidimensional!method!of!study!with!concepts!expressed!graphically,!numerically,! analytically!and!verbally.!Topics!include!limits!of!functions,!continuity!as!a!property!of!functions,!derivatives,! techniques!and!application!of!antiDdifferentiation!and!integrals.!Throughout!the!year!students!are!exposed!to! a!variety!of!real!world!applications!and!explore!new!concepts!within!that!framework.!!

Students!enrolled!in!the!class!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!

Prerequisite:%PreRCalculus%Honors%or%Calculus,%Qualifying%Grades%and%Department%Approval% % AP&Calculus&BC% This!course!reviews!and!extends!the!topics!that!students!first!encountered!in!Calculus!AB.!Students!learn! advanced!techniques!and!begin!working!with!parametric,!polar!and!vector!functions.!Applications!of! integrals!are!studied!and!used!to!model!physical,!biological,!and!economic!real!world!scenarios.!A! significant!portion!of!the!course!will!consist!of!the!study!of!sequences!and!series.!As!time!allows,!students! may!also!be!introduced!to!more!advanced!topics!in!3DD!geometry!and!multivariable!calculus.!Students! enrolled!in!the!class!are!expected!to!take!the!BC!Calculus!exam.!!

Prerequisite:%AP%Calculus%AB%and%Department%Approval! !

Finite&Mathematics Calculus! has! long! been! the! final! objective! of! Upper! School! mathematics,! and! as! such,! your! earlier! math! courses! have! focused! on! the! topics! that! are! essential! to! success! in! Calculus.! And! while! Calculus! is! undoubtedly!elegant,!beautiful!mathematics,!the!focus!on!Calculus!does!mean!that!many!other!fascinating! mathematical! topics! are! not! covered! in! Upper! School! math! courses.! As! such,! this! new! yearDlong! elective! attempts!to!expose!you!to!a!whole!new!way!of!thinking!about!mathematics.!You!will!learn!about!algorithms! by!solving!the!Rubik's!cube.!You!will!learn!about!geometric!reasoning!through!origami!and!Zome!tools.!You! will! learn! about! cryptography! by! writing! and! decoding! secret! messages.! You! will! how! to! invest! in! your! twenties! so! that! you! can! achieve! financial! independence! by! your! forties.! And! these! are! only! a! few! of! the! ideas!that!we!will!cover!in!this!course.!In!other!words,!you!will!learn!rigorous!mathematics!while!having!fun!!

There! will! not! be! traditional! quizzes! and! tests.! Rather,! you! will! be! working! together! in! groups,! and! group! presentations!will!be!a!part!of!the!course.!In!addition,!there!will!be!independent!takeDhome!assignments,!and! these!assignments!will!include!a!substantial!amount!of!writing.!You!should!also!be!prepared!for!substantial! reading!outside!of!class.!No!Textbook,!but!you!will!need!a!Rubik's!cube,!origami!supplies,!and!a!set!of!Zome! tools!(which!will!cost!about!as!much!as!a!textbook) Prerequisite:%PreRCalculus% CoRrequisite:%any%Calculus%course%(this%course%will%not%serve%as%a%substitute%for%taking%Calculus) !

Statistics The!statistics!course!will!introduce!students!to!the!study!of!data.!We!will!look!at!several!ways!to!represent! data,!cover!sampling!and!experimentation,!explore!data!patterns,!inference,!and!probability!of!events.!The! course!will!analyze!statistics!as!represented!in!the!media,!and!talk!about!the!validity!of!conclusions!drawn! from!that!data.!This!course!is!ideal!for!those!students!who!are!interested!in!pursuing!a!career!in!the!social! sciences,! and! students! who! are! looking! for! a! math! class! that! has! direct! applications! to! real! life.! Students! interested!in!pursuing!engineering!or!business!are!advised!to!continue!their!studies!of!calculus!instead.!

PreRRequisite:%PreRCalculus % % %

SCIENCE& Conceptual&Physics& Conceptual!physics!focuses!on!physics!without!the!higherDlevel!math!required!of!an!advanced!course.!In! their!study!of!mechanics!and!energy,!students!explore!how!and!why!objects!move!through!lab!investigations,! simulations,!and!mathematical!problem!solving.!In!the!second!semester,!students!explore!electricity!and! magnetism!as!they!investigate!the!attractive!and!repulsive!forces!between!charged!objects,!construct!simple! circuits,!and!discover!the!relationship!between!electric!current!and!magnetic!fields.!The!year!ends!with!an! introduction!to!electromagnetic!waves.!Throughout!the!course,!students!learn!and!apply!mathematical! formulas!to!better!understand!the!physical!environment.!!

Grade%Level:%9% !

Physics&Honors& Physics!Honors!is!an!introductory!course!designed!for!students!who!have!demonstrated!a!strong! background!in!science!and!mathematics.!Similar!to!Conceptual!Physics,!students!study!motion,!energy,! electricity,!magnetism,!waves,!and!optics.!The!course!employs!advanced!mathematics!in!addition!to!handsD on!activities,!laboratory!exercises,!and!projects!to!balance!the!conceptual!understanding!of!common!physics! principles!with!a!more!rigorous!analysis!of!the!concepts.!As!an!honors!course,!material!will!be!covered!at!a! faster!pace!and!in!greater!depth!than!in!Conceptual!Physics.!

Grade%Level:%9%% Prerequisite:%Algebra%1%or%Integrated%Math%I,%Placement%Test,%and%Department%Approval%% !

Chemistry& Chemistry!is!a!fullDyear,!laboratoryDbased!course!in!which!students!study!the!properties!of!matter!using!their! prior!knowledge!of!physics!as!a!basis.!Students!also!learn!about!the!nature!of!the!atom!and!how!elements! react!and!bond.!Topics!include!atomic!and!molecular!structure,!conservation!of!matter,!moles,!stoichiometry,! chemical!reactions,!gas!laws,!solutions,!organic!chemistry,!and!an!introduction!to!biochemistry.!Material! covered!in!class!is!complemented!with!weekly!laboratory!experiments!and!lab!reports!that!require!analysis! and!critical!thinking.!Students!also!explore!realDlife!applications!of!chemistry!through!various!interdisciplinary! projects.!!

Grade%Level:%10% Prerequisite:%Physics%% !

Chemistry&Honors& Honors!Chemistry!Honors!is!an!inDdepth,!laboratoryDbased!course!in!which!students!integrate!their!prior! knowledge!of!physics!in!learning!about!atomic!and!molecular!structure,!chemical!bonding,!conservation!of! matter,!moles,!gases!and!their!properties,!acids!and!bases,!solutions,!and!organic!chemistry.!The!course! focuses!on!developing!problemDsolving!skills!from!both!a!quantitative!and!a!qualitative!perspective.!Students! complete!weekly!lab!activities!and!learn!to!critically!analyze!data!and!communicate!results!in!formal!lab! reports.!This!course!moves!at!a!faster!pace,!uses!mathematics!more!extensively,!and!delves!more!deeply! into!each!topic!than!regular!Chemistry.!!

Grade%Level:%10%% Prerequisite:%Physics,%Placement%Test,%and%Department%Approval% !

Biology& Biology!is!a!laboratoryDbased!science!course!that!builds!upon!the!foundation!laid!in!chemistry!and!extends! that!understanding!to!the!unique!properties!of!all!living!organisms.!Students!learn!about!the!cell!and! biochemical!reactions!occurring!within!it.!Other!topics!include!genetics!and!the!processes!leading!to!new!life,! the!diversity!of!life!and!the!processes!that!have!caused!all!life!forms!to!evolve!over!time.!Human!organ! systems!are!also!a!feature!of!discussion.!During!laboratories,!students!are!asked!to!solve!problems!utilizing! technology,!experimental!design!and!critical!thinking!skills.!Emphasis!is!placed!on!the!students’!ability!to! develop!their!own!methods!for!data!collection!and!analysis!in!the!process!of!scientific!investigation.!!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12%% Prerequisite:%Chemistry%or%Chemistry%Honors%

Biology&Honors& Biology!Honors!is!an!inDdepth,!systematic!approach!to!the!study!of!living!organisms!that!applies!students’! grasp!of!chemistry!to!this!rapidly!expanding!field.!As!an!honors!level!course,!study!is!accelerated!to!address! textual!content!along!with!current!research!and!development.!The!major!topics!covered!are!biochemistry,! dynamics!of!the!cell,!continuity!of!life!(genetics!and!hereditary!patterns),!the!history!and!biodiversity!of!life,! classification,!human!biology,!and!ecology.!In!all!areas!of!the!course!the!students!are!challenged!to!question! many!of!the!theoretical!aspects!of!biology!and!to!critically!argue!their!perspective!with!regard!to!topics!such! as!stem!cell!research,!eugenics,!and!other!issues!that!bring!science!into!the!cultural!and!political!arena.!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12% Prerequisites:%Chemistry%or%Chemistry%Honors,%Placement%Test%and%Department%Approval% !

Systems&Biology&and&Disease& th This!is!a!yearlong!course!for!12 !graders!that!takes!a!systemsDbased!approach!to!the!study!of!human! anatomy!and!physiology.!We!will!begin!at!the!microscopic!level!with!cells!and!make!our!way!to!tissues,! organs,!and!finally!organ!systems!in!order!to!fully!understand!the!human!body.!This!course!will!include! animal!dissection!as!a!means!to!learn!body!structure!and!function.!Disease!states!and!homeostatic! imbalances!will!be!investigated!through!laboratory!activities,!dissections,!clinical!case!studies!and! independent!research!projects!as!a!means!to!learn!body!structure!and!function!in!health!and!disease.!!!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12%% Prerequisite:%Chemistry%and%Biology% !

Environmental&Science& This!projectDbased!course!integrates!concepts!from!chemistry,!biology,!geology,!sociology,!political!science,! and!geography!to!explore!natural!relationships!and!analyze!environmental!problems.!Topics!include! environmental!ethics!and!policy,!human!population!dynamics,!environmental!systems!and!ecology,! environmental!quality,!global!changes!and!the!impact!on!the!environment.!Students!complete!inDdepth! projects!in!which!they!design!solutions!for!environmental!problems,!analyze!their!effectiveness,!and!may! share!their!findings!at!the!schoolDsponsored!Student!STEM!Symposium!in!the!Spring.!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12%% Prerequisite:%Chemistry%and%Biology% !

Computational&Physics& This!is!a!course!designed!to!prepare!the!student!for!a!computational!science!program!in!college!

(Engineering,!Physics,!Chemistry).!The!course!covers!material!in!algebraic!based!problem!solving!for!most! of!the!traditional!physics!topics.!Topics!to!be!covered!may!include!kinematics!in!one!and!two!dimensions,! circular!motion,!universal!gravitation,!Kepler's!laws,!forces,!energy,!work,!power,!momentum,!impulse,! electrostatics,!circuits,!capacitors,!waves,!light,!optics,!sound,!electromagnetism,!thermodynamics,!gas!laws,! and!nuclear!physics.!This!is!a!rigorous,!mathDbased!course!with!a!strong!laboratory!component.!The!course! is!intended!for!students!who!have!demonstrated!a!willingness!to!commit!considerable!time!to!working! through!difficult!problems!and!studying!with!peers.!With!some!additional!work!outside!of!confines!of!the! class,!students!could!be!prepared!to!take!the!SAT!Physics!subject!area!test.!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12%% Prerequisite:%Physics,%Chemistry%and%Department%Approval% !

Computational&Chemistry& This!advanced!chemistry!course!is!designed!to!prepare!students!for!the!rigors!of!an!introductoryDlevel! college!science!course.!The!course!covers!a!wide!range!of!topics!often!addressed!in!college!level!general! chemistry!which!may!include!atomic!structure,!stoichiometry,!chemical!reaction!types,!gas!laws,!chemical! bonding,!molecular!geometry,!properties!of!solutions,!nuclear!chemistry,!kinetics,!equilibrium,! thermodynamics,!organic!chemistry,!and!electrochemistry.!Students!in!such!a!course!should!attain!a!depth! of!understanding!of!fundamentals!and!a!reasonable!competence!in!dealing!with!chemical!problems.!The! course!should!contribute!to!the!development!of!the!students’!abilities!to!think!clearly!and!to!express!their! ideas!orally!and!in!writing!with!clarity!and!logic.!It!is!the!hope!of!the!instructor!that!after!the!completion!of!this! course!the!student!will!have!the!tools!to!explain!and!interpret!chemical!phenomena!in!the!world!around!her.!

Additionally,!with!some!additional!work!outside!of!confines!of!the!class,!students!could!be!prepared!to!take! the!SAT!Chemistry!subject!area!test.!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12%% Prerequisite:%Physics,%Chemistry%and%Department%Approval% !

Research&in&Science&Honors&I& Students!in!this!projectDbased!course!will!have!the!opportunity!to!utilize!cutting!edge!technology!to!design! and!implement!an!original!scientific!study!with!a!focus!on!molecular!biology,!chemistry,!biochemistry,!or! engineering.!During!the!first!semester,!instruction!will!provide!the!background!necessary!to!prepare!students! for!their!lab!experiencesc!lab!activities!will!teach!students!how!to!implement!the!technologyc!guest!lectures! from!science!professionals!will!give!students!perspectives!on!how!and!where!the!techniques!and! technologies!can!be!applied!in!the!field!of!sciencec!and,!students!will!learn!to!read!scientific!articles!and! conduct!literature!reviews.!By!the!end!of!the!first!semester,!students!will!formulate!an!original!research! proposal.!During!the!second!semester,!students!will!utilize!the!learned!skills!to!design!and!implement!their! original!study,!write!a!research!paper!describing!their!study,!and!present!their!findings!to!the!community!at! the!schoolDsponsored!Student!STEM!Symposium.!

Grade%Level:%11%&%12%% Prerequisite:%Chemistry,%Biology,%Placement%Test,%and%Department%Approval% !

Research&in&Science&Honors&II& This!course!is!a!continuation!of!Honors!Research!in!Science!I!and!is!designed!for!students!who!wish!to! continue!work!on!their!previous!research!project!or!design!a!new!project!for!individual!labDbased!study!in!the! areas!of!chemistry,!biology,!biochemistry,!or!engineering.!Students!will!begin!the!year!by!creating!a!refined! original!research!proposal.!They!will!spend!the!remainder!of!the!year!working!in!the!lab,!collaborating!with! teachers!and!professional!mentors,!and!presenting!their!work!to!a!variety!of!audiences.!Students!will!further! develop!their!ability!to!analyze!and!critique!scientific!literature!during!periodic!studentDled!literature! discussions!and!showcase!their!findings!to!the!community!at!the!school!sponsored!Student!STEM! Symposium.!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%Chemistry,%Biology,%Placement%Test,%and%Department%Approval% ! & Engineering&and&Design& In!this!elective!course!students!will!explore!the!basic!principles!of!engineering,!design,!and!computer! programming!through!a!series!of!individual!challenges!and!group!projects.!All!students!will!learn!general! engineering!methods!including!problem!solving,!design!thinking,!project!management!and!design! communication.!Students!will!also!learn!prototyping!techniques!using!machine!tools,!electronic!circuits!and! physical!computing.!HandsDon!projects!may!include!wearable!technology,!interactive!artwork,!robots,! computer!applications,!sustainability!&!efficiency!and!other!challenges!in!the!fields!of!engineering,!design! and!technology.!Students!may!have!the!opportunity!to!present!and!showcase!their!projects!at!the!Student!

STEM!Symposium!in!the!Spring.!

Grade%Level:%9,%10,%11,%and%12%% Prerequisite:%IM2,%curiosity,%perseverance% !

Invention&and&Product&Development& Invention!is!a!team!effort!that!requires!many!people!with!a!variety!of!skills.!“The!LemelsonDMIT!InvenTeam! initiative!offers!an!unparalleled!opportunity!for!high!school!students!to!cultivate!their!creativity!and! experience!invention.�!In!this!yearlong!course,!students!will!invent!and!prototype!a!solution!to!a!realDworld! problem.!Students!will!manage!all!phases!of!the!research!and!development!cycle!including!community! outreach,!fundraising!and!communications,!field!research,!user!testing,!computerDaided!design,!prototype! building,!data!collection!and!analysis,!and!financial!management.!Students!will!collectively!develop!the!! ! !

ability!to!manage!invention!and!product!development.!The!team!may!have!the!opportunity!to!present!to! venture!capital!and!at!MIT’s!EurekaFest!invention!celebration!in!June!of!2016.!!

Grade%Level:%10,%11,%and%12%% Prerequisite:%IM1,%Department%Approval.% !

Introduction&to&Computer&Science& In!this!course!students!will!explore!the!foundations!of!computer!science!and!programming!through!formal! instruction!and!a!series!of!coding!challenges!culminating!in!a!selfDselected!final!project!for!a!web!site!or! handheld!application.!The!first!semester!will!focus!on!programming!fundamentals,!problem!decomposition! and!understanding!computer!languages.!The!second!semester!will!cover!basic!objectDoriented!concepts!and! practical!applications.!Students!will!deepen!and!demonstrate!their!skills!through!their!final!projects,!which! they!may!choose!to!share!with!the!community!as!web!sites!or!downloadable!applications.!

Grade%Level:%9,%10,%11,%and%12%% Prerequisite:%IM2% % %

WORLD&LANGUAGES&& & CHINESE& Chinese&1B&& In!this!secondDlevel!course,!students!expand!their!ability!to!communicate!effectively!and!confidently!in!

Chinese.!Students!continue!to!cultivate!their!appreciation!for!and!understanding!of!Chinese!culture!while! developing!their!linguistic!skills:!reading,!writing,!listening!and!speaking.!Students!synthesize!and!apply!new! grammar,!vocabulary!and!cultural!knowledge!in!oral!presentations,!roleDplays,!compositions,!and!a!variety!of! projects.!At!the!end!of!Chinese!B,!students!are!able!to!communicate!about!food,!clothing,!sports!and!pets,! among!other!topics.!& Grade%Level:%9!

Prerequisite:%Chinese%1A%or%Recommendation%of%Department% !

Chinese&1!

Mandarin!Chinese!I!is!designed!for!students!with!no!or!little!experience!in!Chinese!language.!The!class!will! engage!students!with!songs,!videos,!and!cultural!projects.!It!will!provide!a!level!of!comfort!in!speaking,! listening,!reading!and!writing!basic!Chinese.!Student!will!learn!the!basic!communication!skills!necessary!for! everyday!life!in!China.!This!course!covers!many!topics!including:!selfDintroduction,!family,!sports,!food!and!

Chinese!culture.!Chinese!I!students!will!learn!more!than!300!characters!along!with!basic!vocabulary!and! essential!grammar!to!help!them!to!advance!their!reading!and!writing!skills.!

Grade!Level:!9D12!

Prerequisite:%None% !

Chinese&2!

Students!in!this!course!are!challenged!to!move!beyond!the!basics!of!the!language!and!realize!their!potential! for!advanced!expression!in!Mandarin!Chinese.!Students!describe,!explain,!narrate,!and!discuss!topics! related!to!their!life!experience.!They!are!able!to!express!their!opinions!and!write!lengthier!descriptions.!

Students!learn!to!interpret!compound!words!and!discover!the!use!of!dictionaries!to!enhance!their!writing! skills!and!reading!comprehension.!At!the!end!of!Chinese!2,!students!are!able!to!communicate!about! shopping,!weather,!directions!and!extraDcurricular!activities,!among!other!topics.!Authentic!cultural!texts!and! projectDbased!assessments!complement!the!curriculum.!Highlights!include!the!Taiwanese!soap!opera!“The! Way!We!Were”!and!communication!with!Chinese!pen!pals.!This!course!is!taught!almost!entirely!in!Chinese.!

Grade'Level:'10!

Prerequisite:'Chinese'1A'&'1B,'Chinese'1'or%Recommendation%of%Department! & Senior&Seminar:&Chinese&Language&and&Culture!

This!course!is!designed!as!the!capstone!course!in!a!student’s!linguistic!and!cultural!training!in!Chinese.!It!is! comprised!of!components!that!seek!to!maximize!a!student’s!exposure!to!advanced!linguistic!elements!and! transmit!an!even!deeper!understanding!of!Chinese!culture.!!Like!the!language!training!classes!that!students! have!taken!previous!to!the!senior!seminar,!students!will!continue!their!effort!to!acquire!knowledge!and!skill! in!the!4!major!areas!of!language!learning:!listening!comprehension,!speaking,!reading,!and!writing.!

However,!in!addition!to!demanding!students!to!develop!an!advanced!ability!in!spoken!Mandarin,!this!course! will!also!teach!many!of!the!fundamental!issues!associated!with!written!Chinese!expression.!!The!course!will! require!students!to!acquire!a!high!level!of!sophistication!in!written!communication!and!fluency!of!reading! comprehension.!To!this!end,!students!will!be!exposed!to!reading!essays!and!composing!their!own!works,! delving!into!current!events!through!newspaper!articles,!and!becoming!familiar!with!major!works!of!literature! through!short!stories!and!other!works,!including!poetry.!!In!addition!to!the!rigorous!training!that!students!will! receive!through!their!reading!of!literary!works,!students!will!also!experience!the!rich!cultural!heritage!of! traditional!and!modern!Chinese!culture!supplied!through!theses!texts.!!

Grade%Level:%12% Prerequisite:%Chinese%4%! & FRENCH&% French&1& Students!are!introduced!to!the!fundamentals!of!the!French!language!by!speaking,!listening,!reading,!and! writing!within!the!context!of!meaningful!realDlife!situations.!By!the!end!of!the!course,!students!are!able!to! communicate!about!themselves,!their!families!and!communities,!and!preferred!activities.!Students!can! effectively!pose!and!answer!questions,!tell!time,!talk!about!the!weather,!and!engage!in!daily!activities!such! as!dining!out,!cooking,!or!completing!a!commercial!transaction.!They!are!further!able!to!narrate!in!the!past! and!near!future!using!simple!and!compound!tenses.!Students!also!write!and!perform!in!skits,!listen!to!

popular!music,!learn!about!French!cuisine,!and!read!short!texts!from!contemporary!Francophone!cultures.!

Through!these!activities,!students!develop!problemDsolving!skills!in!order!to!make!linguistic!and!cultural! comparisons,!and!there!are!encouraged!to!make!connections!between!French!and!other!disciplines.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%None% % & French&2& Students!in!this!course!are!challenged!to!move!beyond!the!basics!of!the!language!and!realize!their!potential! for!greater!expression!in!French.!!Written!and!oral!skills!are!significantly!boosted!this!year.!After!a!thorough! review!of!basic!language!tools,!the!class!introduces!students!to!grammar!required!of!the!intermediate!level! of!study&including!nuances!of!the!past!tense,!inDdepth!study!of!object!pronouns!and!richer!description!of! concrete!and!abstract!ideas.!Authentic!cultural!texts!(poetry,!music,!film)!and!projectDbased!assessments! complement!the!curriculum.& Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%French%1A%&%1B,%French%1%or%Recommendation%of%Department!! !

French&3:&Standard&and&Honors&!

At!this!level,!students!continue!to!improve!their!oral!and!written!skills!and!to!deepen!their!knowledge!of!the!

French!and!francophone!culture.!Great!emphasis!is!placed!on!building!reading!skills!and!expanding! vocabulary!by!introducing!a!variety!of!linguistically!appropriate!pieces.!In!addition,!the!class!focuses!on! developing!longer,!more!complex!conversational!exchanges!in!French.!Throughout!the!course,!students!are! given!the!opportunity!to!significantly!expand!their!grammatical!knowledge,!particularly!in!the!areas!of!past,! future,!and!hypothetical!narration.!Authentic!cultural!texts!(readings,!music,!film)!and!projectDbased! assessments!complement!the!curriculum.!!In!the!honors!course,!students!will!learn!the!material!at!an! accelerated!pace!and!in!greater!depth!of!study,!including!reading!the!classic!novel,!Le%Petit%Prince.!

Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%French%2%and%Recommendation%of%Department%for%Honors ! !

French&4:&&Standard&and&Honors!

Students!deepen!their!linguistic!competence!by!speaking!and!writing!in!multiple!tenses!and!moods!while! exploring!the!diversity!of!the!FrenchDspeaking!world.!In!addition!to!further!expanding!their!vocabulary!and! facility!with!complex!grammatical!structures,!student!work!to!hone!their!intonation,!phrasing!and!diction.!

Students!continue!to!improve!their!understanding!of!authentic!contemporary!texts!and!spoken!language! drawn!from!a!variety!of!authentic!sources,!such!as!magazines,!newspapers,!film!shorts,!and!novels.!In! addition,!weekly!research!assignments!allow!students!to!gather!information!about!current!events!in!the!

Francophone!world,!analyze!and!discuss!with!the!class.!Students!are!evaluated!on!their!ability!to!synthesize! their!listening,!speaking,!reading!and!writing!skills.!

Grade%Level:%11R12%% Prerequisite:%French%3%and%Recommendation%of%Department%for%Honors! & & AP&French&Language&!

Mediated!exclusively!through!authentic!resources!destined!for!native!French!speakers,!this!course!covers! the!equivalent!of!a!thirdDyear!college!course!in!Advanced!French.!!Organized!around!six!major!themes!of! contemporary!society,!including!Global!Challenges,!Art!and!Aesthetics,!and!Family!&!Community,!the! course!emphasizes!the!use!of!French!for!active!communication!by!synthesizing!authentic!sources!of! different!media.!!In!so!doing,!students!refine!their!comprehension!when!listening!and!reading,!and!practice! writing!and!speaking!in!both!formal!and!informal!modes.!!Throughout!the!year,!students!are!trained!to! engage!in!complex!expression!using!a!range!of!vocabulary,!sophisticated!language!structures!and!multiple! time!references,!and!ultimately!appreciate!the!nuances!of!French!expression.!Upon!completion!of!this! course,!students!are!able!to!comprehend!formal!and!informal!spoken!French,!read!French!newspapers,! magazines!and!modern!literature!with!ease,!compose!coherently!and!accurately!on!a!wide!range!of!factual! and!imaginative!topics!and!clearly!and!fluently!express!ideas.!Students!enrolled!in!this!course!are!expected! to!participate!entirely!in!French!and!are!required!to!take!the!AP!exam.!!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%French%4%and%Recommendation%of%Department%% !

Senior&Seminar&in&French&!

Designed!as!the!culminating!linguistic!and!cultural!course!in!the!French!sequence,!each!semester!the!

Senior!Seminar!in!French!will!delve!into!a!particular!theme!to!be!decided!upon!by!the!instructor!in!

consultation!with!the!students.!Resources!will!include!film!and!literature,!while!opportunities!for!extended! conversation!and!research!will!be!complemented!by!targeted!review!of!grammar.!Themes!may!range!from!

French!cinema!to!the!impact!of!French!colonialism!to!the!subversive!power!of!works!by!francophone!women! writers.!!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%French%4%and%Recommendation%of%Department%% % & SPANISH&!

Spanish&1& Spanish!1!students!build!the!skills!to!communicate!in!various!real!life!situations.!By!the!end!of!the!course,! students!will!be!able!to!convey!detailed!personal!information!regarding!physical!and!personality! descriptions,!daily!routines,!likes!and!dislikes,!family,!home,!sports,!the!doctor's!office,!shopping!and! vacation.!Students!can!also!effectively!ask!and!answer!questions,!engage!in!conversations!and!perform! prepared!presentations.!Students!contextualize!language!by!writing!situational!dialogues!and!by!reading! advertisements,!articles!and!other!realia.!The!class!explores!Spanish!and!Latin!American!cultures!through! festivals,!skits,!mixed!media,!roleDplays!and!storytelling.!

Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%None%% !

Spanish&2:&&Standard&and&Honors!

Students!in!this!course!are!challenged!to!move!beyond!the!basics!of!the!language!and!realize!their!potential! for!greater!expression!in!a!foreign!language.!Their!written!and!oral!skills!are!significantly!boosted!this!year.!

After!a!thorough!review!of!basic!language!tools,!the!class!introduces!students!to!grammar!required!of!the! intermediate!level!of!study,!including!reflexive!verbs,!object!pronouns!as!well!as!the!preterite!and!imperfect! tenses.!Authentic!materials,!novellas!and!projectDbased!assessments!complement!the!curriculum.!

Grade%Level:%9R12% Prerequisite:%Spanish%1A%&%1B%or%Spanish%1%and%Recommendation%of%Department%for%Honors! & Spanish&3:&&Standard&and&Honors&!

Students!in!this!course!will!continue!to!expand!their!grammatical!knowledge!of!the!language!while!improving! their!oral!and!written!skills!through!regular!practice.!The!introduction!and!integration!of!the!subjunctive!mood! into!students’!grammatical!toolkit!will!enable!them!to!handle!increasingly!challenging!assignments.!

Emphasis!is!placed!on!students’!reading!skills!and!expanding!their!vocabulary!by!introducing!a!variety!of! linguistically!appropriate!pieces,!including!at!least!one!novella.!In!addition,!the!class!focuses!on!developing! longer,!more!complex!conversational!exchanges!in!Spanish.!Authentic!cultural!texts!(readings,!music,!film)! and!projectDbased!assessments!complement!the!curriculum.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%Spanish%2%and%Recommendation%of%Department%for%Honors% & Spanish&4:&&Standard&and&Honors!

Students!will!continue!to!use!language!in!a!variety!of!situations!with!everDincreasing!linguistic!accuracy.!A! thorough!review!of!grammatical!tenses!and!moods!ensures!that!students!are!competent!and!confident!while! expressing!themselves!at!an!advanced!level,!orally!and!in!writing.!Students!move!beyond!speaking!about! themselves!and!their!own!experiences!to!discussing!a!wide!variety!of!cultural,!socioDpolitical!and! environmental!themes.!Through!authentic!literary!texts,!music,!and!film,!students!develop!insights!into!their! own!language!and!culture!as!they!make!comparisons!with!SpanishDspeaking!people!and!their!cultures.!

Students!continue!to!develop!sensitivity!to!the!cultural!and!linguistic!heritage!of!other!groups,!as!they! understand!the!influence!of!these!groups!on!American!culture!and!prepare!themselves!to!participate!in!a! society!characterized!by!linguistic!and!cultural!diversity.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12%% Prerequisite:%Spanish%3%and%Recommendation%of%Department%for%Honors% !

AP&Spanish&Language&!

AP!Spanish!Language!students,!selected!for!their!achievement!in!the!prerequisite!courses,!work!intensively! on!mastering!the!language.!While!an!overall!review!of!verb!tenses!and!other!grammatical!nuances!is! interspersed!throughout!the!course,!entering!students!express!themselves!confidently!in!the!past,!present,! future,!and!hypothetical.!Literature!and!films!increase!exposure!to!colloquial!usage!and!idioms!to!raise!the! level!of!sophistication!of!expression.!Students!respond!to!a!variety!of!written!cues!in!a!range!of!formats! including!poetry,!short!original!fiction,!and!the!five!paragraph!expository!essay.!While!the!focus!of!the!class! is!personal!expression,!special!attention!is!paid!to!the!format!of!the!AP!exam,!including!inDclass!writing,! multiple!choice,!fill!in!the!blank,!and!voice!recordings.!Students!enrolled!in!this!course!are!required!to!take!

the!AP!exam.!!

Grade%Level:%12%% Prerequisite:%Spanish%4%and%Recommendation%of%Department%! !

SENIOR&SEMINARS&IN&SPANISH&–&SEMESTER&OFFERINGS! Designed!as!the!culminating!linguistic!and!cultural!course!in!the!Spanish!sequence,!each!semester!the!

Senior!Seminar!in!Spanish!will!delve!into!a!particular!theme!to!be!decided!upon!by!the!instructor.!! !

Senior&Seminar&in&Spanish:&Conversation&(Fall)& This!oneDsemester!conversation!course!will!provide!students!diverse!opportunities!to!improve!their!speaking! skills,!particularly!for!the!purposes!of!travel!and!informal,!everyday!interaction!with!peers!and!community! members.!Students!will!improve!their!fluency!and!add!colloquial!expression!to!their!vocabularies!as!they! practice!conversing!in!a!variety!of!contexts.!Spanish!and!Latin!American!literature!and!films!may!be! introduced!as!inspiration!for!conversation.!This!course!will!also!include!several!projects!and!opportunities!! for!broader!engagement!with!the!SpanishDspeaking!communities!of!Los!Angeles.!!The!course!will!be! conducted!in!Spanish.!

Grade%Level:%12% Prerequisite:%Spanish%4%and%Recommendation%of%Department%

!

Senior&Seminar&in&Spanish:&Culture&in&Context&(Spring)!

This!oneDsemester!course!will!examine!a!selection!of!cultural!topics!that!illuminate!Hispanic!and!Latino!life! throughout!the!SpanishDspeaking!world.!Through!in!depth!analysis!and!researchDbased!projects,!students! will!explore!and!discuss!representative!aspects!of!the!culture.!Students’!understanding!will!be!enhanced! through!a!variety!of!interactive!lessons!relating!to!cultural!traditions,!entertainment,!artistic!expression,!and! current!events.!The!course!will!be!conducted!in!Spanish.!

Grade%Level:%12% Prerequisite:%Spanish%4%and%Recommendation%of%Department% % % %

FITNESS&&&WELLNESS& The!Fitness!&!Wellness!curriculum!challenges!students!to!pursue!their!personal!fitness!goals!through! physical!activities!and!sports!experiences.!The!emphasis!in!the!Upper!School!program!moves!away!from! traditional!sports!and!toward!personal!fitness!for!lifelong!health!and!wellness.!! !

Students!may!be!exempt!from!Fitness!&!Wellness!class!during!their!season!of!play!on!an!Archer!Junior!

Varsity!or!Varsity!athletic!team.!Students!may!also!receive!fitness!credit!by!participating!in!the!Upper!School!

Archer!Dance!classes!(see!the!Dance!section!for!course!descriptions).! ! th th 9 &–&12 &Grade&Fitness&& Students!in!upper!school!Fitness!rotate!through!the!following!sections:!Fitness!Training,!Sports!&!Games,! self!defense!and!Strength!&!Stretch.!!! !

Fitness!Training:!The!students!spend!the!majority!of!class!time!in!the!fitness!room!and!are!introduced!to!the! basics!of!designing!individual!fitness!plans.!The!girls!will!learn!proper!techniques!and!forms!of!free!weight! training,!resistance!training,!and!cardio!machines!(Treadmills,!Elliptical!machines,!stationary!bikes!and!

Stairmasters).!The!skeletal!and!muscular!systems!are!discussed!as!they!relate!to!movement!and!exercise!in! both!weight!training!and!cardiovascular!activities.!In!this!course,!the!girls!will!also!spend!part!of!their!time! outside!participating!in!general!sports!games!as!well!as!yoga.! !

Sports!and!Games:!In!this!section!the!students!will!spend!the!majority!of!their!class!time!outside!playing! traditional!and!nonDtraditional!games!such!as!flag!football,!ultimate!Frisbee,!basketball,!soccer,!floor!hockey,! golf,!softball,!and!volleyball.!This!class!will!be!less!focused!on!skill!development!than!the!middle!school! sports!sections!and!more!focused!on!playing!actual!games.!During!this!section!girls!will!also!spend!a!portion! of!each!class!focusing!on!improving!cardiovascular!and!muscular!strength.!! !

Strength!&!Stretch:!This!section!combines!yoga,!Pilates,!and!TRX!suspension!training.!Students!will!learn! breathing!and!relaxation!techniques!as!well!as!body!weight!exercises!to!help!calm!and!focus!the!mind.!

Students!will!enjoy!a!centered,!strong,!healthy!body,!and!a!quiet!mind.! ! th Self!Defense:!Students!in!the!10 !grade!fitness!class!complete!a!unit!of!self!defense!taught!by!IMPACT! Personal!Safety!instructors.!The!emphasis!is!placed!on!how!to!defend,!not!how!to!fight.!The!unit!begins!by! students!learning!about!potentially!unsafe!situations!and!how!to!identify!and!avoid!them.!Safety!skills!using! observation!and!intuition!and!communication!are!the!initial!focus.!Only!after!learning!these!safety!skills!are! the!students!taught!multiple!ways!to!protect!themselves!from!physical!harm.! & Human&Development&9& Ninth!grade!is!a!year!of!transition,!emerging!autonomy,!and!understanding!of!self.!Students!face!challenges! academically,!socially,!physically!and!emotionally.!Students!learn!skills!to!help!manage!and!reduce!stress!by! learning!and!practicing!various!mindfulness!techniques.!Drug!education!is!also!a!major!focus!which!helps! girls!further!understand!the!issues!surrounding!legal!and!illegal!drugs,!their!affects!on!the!body,!and!how!to! make!informed!decisions.!Human!sexuality!and!sex!education!are!addressed!in!the!context!of!personal! hygiene,!sexually!transmitted!infections!and!different!forms!of!birth!control.!Discussions!focus!on!emotional! intimacy,!gender!identity,!body!image,!healthy!and!unhealthy!relationships,!and!informed!decision!making.!

Grade%Level:%9% % Human&Development&10& Tenth!grade!is!a!year!of!increased!autonomy!and!responsibility.!This!class!will!use!Council!as!the!primary! method!to!explore!topics!of!dealing!with!change!and!stressful!situations,!conflict!resolution,!friendship!and! love,!sexuality!and!body!image.!Students!will!participate!in!a!rape!prevention!workshop!as!well!as!a!drug! education!seminar!as!it!relates!to!strategies!of!care!for!self!and!for!others.!!

Grade%Level:%10% %

Human&Development&10&4&Peer&Leadership&!

This!class!will!include!training!in!mediation,!origins!of!conflict!and!peace,!peer!presentation!styles!as!well!as! a!modified!10th!grade!curriculum!focusing!on!healthy!relationships.!Learning!will!include!understanding! conflict!as!a!transformative!process!and!how!to!support!individuality!in!a!community!of!differences.!Students! enrolled!in!this!class!will!be!interviewed!in!a!selection!process!by!the!instructors,!and!must!be!willing!to!be! self!directed,!assertive!and!work!in!teams!as!well!as!individually.!

This!class!and!training!is!a!prerequisite!for!the!Peer!Leadership!Program!in!11th!and!12th!grade.!The!Peer!

Leadership!program!will!work!closely!with!class!deans!to!provide!peer!guidance!for!Middle!School.!Students! will!receive!community!service!credits!for!this!program.!

Grade%Level:%10% % Human&Development&11& Eleventh!grade!is!a!year!where!many!new!life!skills!are!put!to!the!test.!As!selfDreflection!is!key!to!effective! college!research!and!planning,!the!class!will!use!a!mix!of!interactive!exercises!and!council!meetings!to!learn! and!process!information!about!the!upcoming!college!process.!Topics!will!include!research!tools!in!the! college!process,!developing!a!personalized!standardized!testing!plan,!presenting!oneself!in!the!application,! and!writing!an!authentic!college!essay.!In!addition,!this!process!can!often!be!a!stressful!one,!topics!of!time! and!energy!management,!clear!communication!and!selfDcare!will!be!covered.!!!

Grade%Level:%11% & Human&Development&12!

Twelfth!grade!marks!the!transition!from!high!school!to!college,!increased!independence,!rites!of!passage! and!the!culmination!of!the!girls’!education!at!Archer.!In!earIy!Fall!students!will!have!workshop!time!in!order! to!complete!college!applications!ahead!of!schedule.!Students!will!reflect!back!on!the!community!in!which! they!have!evolved!and!grown!over!the!past!four!years.!They!will!revisit!topics!of!human!sexuality,!healthy! relationships!and!taking!care!of!themselves!physically!and!psychologically!as!they!move!into!the!college! culture.!Topics!will!include!campus!safety,!roommates,!stress!management,!money!management,! dating/party!safety!and!dealing!with!transitions.!Saying!goodDbye!is!an!important!rite!of!passage!in!the! transition!from!the!high!school!stage!to!the!college!years.!!

Grade%Level:%12%% % %

ARTS! PERFORMING&ARTS! Dance&Performance&Company&I&!

Dance!Performance!Company!I!is!designed!for!the!dedicated!dancer!who!is!interested!in!continuing!to! develop!performance!and!choreography!skills!in!different!dance!styles.!Visiting!expert!teachers!will!be! invited!to!teach!technique!classes!in!ballet,!contemporary!and!jazz.!In!class!journal!writing,!videos,!and! dance!articles!are!components!for!developing!creative!and!critical!thinking!skills!for!exploring!dance! aesthetics,!dance!history,!dance!criticism!and!dance!production.!!The!students!are!expected!to!perform!in! the!annual!Night!of!Dance!and!various!other!dance!presentations.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12% PreRrequisite:%By%permission%of%instructor%or%audition.!

Enrollment%limited%to%16!

!

Dance&Performance&Company&II&!

Only!advanced!dancers!who!are!serious,!motivated!and!committed!to!developing!technical,!performance! and!choreography!skills!are!encouraged!to!enroll.!!Students!are!required!to!perform!for!various!school! events!including!the!annual!Night!of!dance.!Faculty!and!guest!choreographers!will!be!invited!to!create! repertoire!for!the!company!to!perform!at!the!annual!Night!of!Dance.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12% Prerequisite:%By%permission%of%instructor%or%audition%!

Enrollment%limited%to%16!

!

Advanced&Study&in&Dance!

This!course!allows!a!student!to!continue!in!dance!company!and!expand!their!skill!and!performance!level.!

Grade%Level:%11R12% Prerequisite:%Dance%Performance%Company%1%and%2%and%permission%of%instructor! &!

Songwriting&and&Commercial&Music!

In!this!class,!students!will!delve!into!the!world!of!songwriting!and!explore!what!it!means!to!make!popular! music.!We!will!learn!music!theory!including!chord!progressions,!composition!of!melody!and!harmony,!voice! leading,!and!both!standard!music!notation!and!lead!sheets.!Students!will!work!individually!and! collaboratively!to!write!lyrics!and!music!in!their!own!styles!and!with!any!array!of!instruments.!In!addition!to! individual!and!group!writing,!students!will!learn!from!guest!artists!working!in!the!field!about!their!creative! processes!and!music!making.!Students!will!work!in!the!new!Media!Space,!recording!themselves,!each!other,! and!outside!artists!on!Archer’s!new,!cuttingDedge!technology.!All!aspects!of!making!records!will!be!covered,! from!preD!to!postDproduction!and!marketing.!Students!will!produce!an!album!of!their!original!works!at!the! culmination!of!the!class!as!well!as!perform!on!and!around!campus.!! th th Grade%Level:%9 %R12 %Grade!

Prerequisite:%None!

Enrollment%limit:%8! &!

Orchestra&(after&school)!

Musicians!in!the!Upper!School!Orchestra!gain!experience!in!ensemble!playing!and!performance.!Students! foster!their!musicianship!as!they!explore!a!variety!of!orchestral!repertoire.!By!working!with!other!students!in! an!ensemble!setting,!instrumentalists!develop!the!language!of!music,!work!to!build!their!playing!technique! (tone!production,!intonation,!style,!and!ensemble!blend),!while!sharing!the!same!rewarding!goal!of!preparing! a!performance.!Students!are!required!to!perform!in!the!annual!Winter!and!Spring!Concerts.!Other! performances!include!school!events,!including!an!open!house!performance,!and!the!new!family!induction.!

The!Upper!School!Orchestra!is!offered!after!school!once!a!week!and!one!x!block,!plus!extra!rehearsals! during!tech!weeks.!Orchestra!is!a!full!year!commitment.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%!

Prerequisite:%By%Audition%!

!

Choir&&(after&school)!

The!Upper!School!Choir!is!made!up!of!a!talented!group!of!singers.!Techniques!studied!include!breathing,! intonation,!ensemble!blend!as!well!as!vocal!health!and!strength.!Students!are!required!to!perform!in!the! annual!Winter!and!Spring!concerts,!as!well!as!various!school!events!and!assemblies.!!The!Upper!School!

Choir!is!offered!after!school!once!per!week,!plus!extra!rehearsals!during!tech!weeks.!Choir!is!a!fullDyear! commitment.!

Grade%Level:%9R12%!

Prerequisite:%None%%!

No%enrollment%cap!

!

Unaccompanied!Minors:!A!Cappella!Group!(after!school)!

This!auditionedDgroup!is!made!up!of!a!select!group!of!upper!school!singers.!The!group!performs!both!on! and!offDcampus!at!events!and!in!the!annual!Winter!and!Spring!concerts.!Students!will!sing!popular!music! and!learn!how!to!arrange!music,!beat!box,!and!perform!as!a!group.!The!focus!of!rehearsals!will!be!group! blend,!intonation,!performance!style,!and!ear!training.!The!group!rehearses!twice!per!weekc!once!at!lunch! and!once!during!X!block.!

Grade%Level:%9R12!

By%audition%only!

Enrollment%limited%to%16!

!

Theatre&Arts:&Introduction&4&Improvisation,&Acting&and&Performance!

This!course!will!explore!acting,!improv!comedy,!makeup!design,!and!stage!combat.!Students!learn! improvisation!skills!through!ensemble!theatre!games.!In!acting,!students!learn!basic!scene!and!monologue! technique.!The!course!will!explore!modern,!classical,!and!film!acting!through!scenes!and!camera!work.!They! will!apply!straight,!old!age,!and!special!effects!theatrical!makeup!and!create!their!own!makeup!design!for!a! character.!Students!choreograph!their!own!stage!combat!fights!with!a!professional!stage!combat!guest!artist.!!

Through!this!handsDon!course,!students!experience!and!develop!an!interest!in!theatre!arts!and!learn!to!work! as!a!creative!ensemble.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%None!

Enrollment%limited%to%16! !!

Theatre&Arts:&Advanced&4&Audition&and&Performance!

This!course!is!a!Student!driven!production!and!audition!technique!class.!Students!will!rehearse! performances!with!faculty!guidance.!Each!semester!will!culminate!in!a!performance!for!the!Archer! community.!In!Advanced!Acting,!students!explore!audition!technique!and!have!the!opportunity!to!work!on!a! series!of!mock!auditions!with!professional!casting!agents!and!directors.!The!ensemble!will!also!work!with! guest!artists!on!an!improv!comedy!workshop!that!focuses!on!building!characters!and!longform!improv.!

Students!will!apply!their!skills!to!an!improv!comedy!performance.!

Grade%level:%10R12%!

Prerequisite:%Previous%Theatre%class%or%by%special%permission%from%the%instructor%!

Enrollment%limited%to%16% % Advanced&Study&in&Performing&Arts& This!course!allows!a!student!to!continue!in!performing!arts/theatre!and!expand!their!skill!and!performance! level.!

Grade%Level:%11R12% Prerequisite:%Theatre%Arts:%Introduction,%Theatre%Arts:%Advanced%and%permission%of%instructor!

! ! !

!

VISUAL&AND&MEDIA&ARTS&!

Filmmaking:&Introduction!

This!course!is!designed!to!provide!an!overview!and!introduction!to!the!four!most!basic!phases!of!filmmaking:! development,!preDproduction,!production,!and!postDproduction.!Students!will!gain!an!introduction!to!film! theory,!editing!techniques!(Final!Cut!Pro),!shot!composition,!and!screenwriting.!!The!curriculum!is!designed! to!direct!the!! ! student!through!the!filmmaking!process!from!the!concept!of!the!story!line!to!exhibition!of!the!final!product.!!

Projects!include!short!films,!music!videos,!commercials,!public!service!announcements!and!broadcast! segments.!

Grade%Level:%9R12%!

Prerequisite:%None!

Enrollment%limited%to%16! %!

Filmmaking:&Advanced!

This!course!is!dedicated!to!developing!and!nurturing!the!voice!and!vision!of!the!budding!filmmaker.!!

Students!will!learn!advanced!animation!and!editing!techniques,!apply!critical!theory!to!film!analysis,!analyze! and!deconstruct!film!genres,!and!develop!and!produce!independent!film!projects.!!The!students!in!the! advanced!filmmaking!class!will!also!plan,!produce,!and!serve!as!the!executive!producers!of!the!Archer! student!film!festival.!!!! !

Grade%Level:%10R12%!

Prerequisite:%Filmmaking:%Introduction!

Enrollment%limited%to%16! %!

Ceramics:&Introduction!

This!class!introduces!students!to!the!art!of!clay.!It!includes!throwing!on!the!wheel,!handDbuilding!and! sculptural!projects.!Students!master!the!basic!cylinder!form!on!the!wheel!and!use!their!skills!to!create!cups,! vases,!bowls!and!other!functional!forms.!Sculptural!projects!are!pursued!with!handDbuilding!techniques!such! as!slabs!and!modeling!and!combining!them!with!wheel!thrown!forms.!High!fire!clay!and!glazes!allow!the! students!to!learn!a!variety!of!surface!decoration!techniques!and!glazing.!The!students!learn!to!create! personally!expressive!pieces!and!are!encouraged!to!develop!visual!narratives!both!in!the!forms!and! surfaces!of!their!projects.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%!

Prerequisite:%None!

Enrollment%limited%to%14!

!

Ceramics:&Advanced!

This!class!builds!on!the!throwing,!handDbuilding!and!glazing!skills!previously!introduced.!The!students!learn! advanced!and!compound!forms,!such!as!lidded!jars,!teapots!and!footed!bowls,!on!the!potter’s!wheel.!

Working!with!stoneware!clay!and!high!fire!glazes,!students!will!experiment!with!advanced!surface! decoration!and!explore!glazes!in!more!depth.!They!will!test!and!use!their!own!glaze!combinations.!They!will! be!challenged!with!visual!problem!solving!and!encouraged!to!develop!independent!projects!of!their!own! design,!beginning!with!sketches!and!carrying!them!to!completion!through!forming,!glazing!and!firing.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12%!

Prerequisite:%Ceramics:%Introduction%!

Enrollment%limited%to%14! &!

Studio&Art:!Introduction& Students!will!be!introduced!to!the!visual!arts!through!a!variety!of!projects!providing!an!overview!of!basic!fine! art!practices.!Drawing!(landscape!and!figurative),!sculpture,!mono!printing,!collage,!and!fashion!design!will!! !

be!incorporated!and!explored!during!this!course.!Students!will!keep!a!record!of!their!individual!ideas!by! keeping!a!sketchbook!recording!their!skills!and!creations.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12%% Prerequisite:%None!

Enrollment%limited%to%16%

!

Studio&Art:&Intermediate!

Students!will!work!in!a!multitude!of!mediums!including:!drawing,!painting,!printmaking,!3DD!design,! photography,!video,!collage,!sculpture,!and!digital!imaging!and!printing.!!Students!will!create!multimedia! projects!utilizing!multiple!skills.!The!class!will!work!on!observational!drawing!including,!still!life,!perspective,! and!from!a!live!model.!!The!class!will!study!both!historically!important!works!and!movements!as!well!as! contemporary!work!and!trends.!!Students!will!learn!the!basic!foundations!of!art!while!at!the!same!time! create!personal!work!based!on!their!lives.!

Grade%Level:%10R12!

Prerequisite:%Studio%Art:%Introduction%or%Departmental%Approval!

Maximum%number%of%students:%12! &!

Portfolio:&Advanced&Art&!

Portfolio!expands!upon!the!skills!addressed!in!Studio!Art.!Students!will!be!encouraged!to!investigate!areas! of!drawing,!painting,!mixed!media,!collage!and!sculpture.!For!the!student!who!would!like!to!begin!or! continue!developing!a!portfolio!to!be!used!as!part!of!their!college!application,!this!class!will!individualize! student!art!projects!to!match!college!requirements.!Emphasis!will!be!placed!on!individual!needs.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12!

Prerequisite%Studio%Art:%Intermediate%or%Department%Approval%Enrollment%limited%to%16! %% AP&Studio&Art& 24D&Design,&34D&Design,&or&Drawing& The!AP!Studio!Art!portfolios!are!designed!for!students!who!are!interested!in!the!practical!experience!of!art.!!

AP!studio!is!not!based!on!a!written!examc!instead,!students!submit!portfolios!for!evaluation!at!the!end!of!the! school!year.!!The!AP!studio!program!consists!of!3!portfolios!D!2DD!design,!3DD!design!and!drawing,! corresponding!to!the!most!common!college!foundation!courses.!!This!College!Board!program!provides!the! only!national!standard!for!performance!in!the!visual!arts!that!allows!students!to!earn!college!credit!and/or! advanced!placement!while!still!in!high!school.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12% Prerequisite:%%Permission%from%Instructor!

Enrollment%limited%to%16! &!

Gallery&Management&and&Design!

Students!will!learn!all!aspects!of!what!it!takes!to!run!an!art!gallery.!!Specific!topics!will!include:!choosing!the! artist,!documenting!the!process!of!each!show,!marketing,!staffing,!and!docent!training.!!Students!in!the!class! will!interact!with!and!learn!from!artists,!gallery!owners,!and!other!art!professionals.!!They!will!apply!their! learning!by!designing!and!managing!each!show!at!The!Eastern!Star!Gallery.!

Grade%Level:%9R12%!

Prerequisite:%Departmental%Approval!

Enrollment%limited%to%14! !!

Photography:&Introduction!!

This!course!is!the!start!of!exploration!into!the!world!of!image!production!using!black!and!white!film,!paper,! and!the!dark!room.!Students!are!instructed!in!how!to!use!a!35mm!single!lens!reflex!camera,!black!and!white! condenser!enlarger,!and!related!darkroom!equipment.!Through!a!series!of!assignments,!students!become! familiar!with!the!technical!aspects!of!photography!as!their!artistic!expression!and!sense!of!composition!are!! ! !

discovered.!As!their!confidence!grows,!students!discover!that!their!thoughts!and!ideas!can!be!expressed! with!the!medium!of!black!and!white!photography.!!

Grade%Level:%9R12% Prerequisite:%None!

Enrollment%limited%to%15!

!

Photography:&Intermediate!

This!course!is!for!students!who!have!already!taken!Introduction!to!photography.!More!advanced!topics!and! techniques!will!be!explored.!!There!will!an!emphasis!on!digital!photography!and!photoshop!as!it!applies!to! the!concept!of!the!photographic!image.!Students!will!learn!a!more!advanced!approach!to!lighting,!and! exposure.!As!a!class!we!will!explore!topics!of!interest!and!look!into!how!those!topics!can!be!incorporated! into!each!persons!photographs.!!

Grade%Level:%10R12!

Prerequisite:%Photography:%Introduction%or%Departmental%Approval!

Maximum%Number%of%students:%15! !Photography:&Advanced!

This!course!will!be!an!advanced!course!that!will!investigate!and!experiment!with!the!multitude!of!practices! employed!by!contemporary!photographers.!Students!will!question!how!photography!connects!to!sculpture,! painting,!writing,!film!and!new!media.!!We!will!be!studying!current!trends!in!contemporary!photography!and! incorporate!these!trends!into!projects!completed!in!class.!!Students!will!be!have!to!think!“outside!the!box�!for! this!courseD!pushing!the!limit!of!what!photography!is!capable!of.!

Grade%Level:%10R12!

Prerequisite:%Photography:%Intermediate%or%Departmental%Approval!

Maximum%Number%of%students:%15! !!

Graphic&Design:&Introduction!

The!skills!of!a!graphic!designer!are!a!highly!prized!asset!in!any!enterprise,!and!these!skills!are!readily! applicable!in!just!about!any!field.!!This!course!teaches!students!the!core!concepts!of!graphic!design!by! developing!their!fluency!in!the!language!of!design!and!their!familiarity!with!the!tools!used!in!the!latest!design! software!(specifically!Adobe!Photoshop,!Illustrator,!and!InDesign).!Fun,!challenging,!and!engaging!projects! (using!imaginative!prompts!to!design!movie!posters,!album!covers,!book!jackets,!magazine!layouts,!! infographics,!logos,!animations,!etc.)!will!reinforce!the!fundamental!ideas!of!design!while!fostering!a!new! passion!for!design!and!greater!confidence!in!the!students'!own!abilities!to!create!memorable!art.!

Grade%Level:%9R12!

Prerequisite:%None!

Maximum%number%of%students:%12! %!

Graphic&Design:&Advanced!

Where!Intro!to!Graphic!Design!focuses!on!exposing!students!to!basic!skills!and!principles!using!the!software! and!tools!of!graphic!designers,!Advanced!Graphic!Design!takes!a!more!inDdepth!approach,!focusing!on!the! origins!of!design!principles,!the!history!of!modern!design,!stylistic!movements!and!genres!of!design,!etc..!

Adv.!Graphic!Design!will!also!place!greater!emphasis!on!individual!projects,!giving!students!more!creative! freedom!and!autonomy!to!pursue!their!passion!through!design!while!building!on!those!basics!learned!in!

Intro!to!Graphic!Design.!

Grade%Level:%10R12!

Prerequisite:%Graphic%Design:%Introduction! %&!

Advanced&Study&in&Visual/Media&Arts!

This!course!allows!a!student!the!opportunity!to!pursue!advanced!work!in!Visual!art!or!film.!The!student!must! have!completed!all!the!available!options!already!offered!in!the!media!and!have!permission!of!the!instructor.!

Grade%Level:%11R12% Prerequisite:%Photography:%Advanced,%Filmmaking:%Advanced,%Ceramics:%Advanced,%or%AP%Studio%Art.! &!

Media&Tech:&Yearbook!

Curious,!creative!and!dedicated!students!who!are,!or!would!like!to!be,!intimately!involved!in!their!school! community!are!perfect!fits!for!this!fullDyear!elective.!Staff!members!take!and!edit!photographs,!write!text,! conduct!interviews,!and!design!page!layouts!to!document!student!life!in!the!annual!yearbook.!Two! publishing!programs:!In!Design!and!Photoshop!are!used!to!create!the!book,!and!Google!docs!are!utilized!to! track!pages,!assignments!and!tribute!contributions.!Students!will!work!both!individually!and!as!a!team!to! meet!deadlines!and!make!sure!that!as!much!of!the!school!culture!as!possible!in!depicted!in!the!final!product.!

Students!are!challenged!at!their!own!levelc!as!a!result,!those!who!have!mastered!basic!skills!have!the! opportunity!to!take!on!leadership!roles!and!increase!their!writing,!design!work,!and!editing.!

Grade%Level:%9R12% Prerequisite:%None!

Combined%enrollment%with%the%advanced%course%limited%to%16%students.!

!

Advanced&Media&Tech:&&Yearbook!

This!fullDyear!elective!is!for!committed,!experienced!Yearbook!members!The!primary!foci!of!this!course!are! implementing!the!Yearbook’s!theme,!creating!the!book’s!“ladder”,!scheduling!photo!shoots!and!interviews,! as!well!as!directing!and!honing!other!members’!input.!Working!closely!with!the!section!editors!and!faculty! advisors,!the!course!requires!editors!to!mentor!new!students,!teaching!them!page!design,!manipulation!of! digital!images,!use!of!color!and!fonts,!layouts,!writing!and!creating!and!selling!the!ever!important!tributes! section!of!the!book.!The!course!requires!some!Saturday!meetings!and!attendance!at!a!three!to!fourDday! summer!camp.!

Grade%Level:%10R12!

Prerequisite:%Media%Tech:%Yearbook%and%Department%approval.%Combined%enrollment%with%the%introductory% course%limited%to%16%students.!

!

Women&in&Art! Have!you!noticed!that!when!you!walk!through!a!museum,!most!of!the!artists!whose!work!you!are!viewing! are!men?!Yet!women!have!played!a!major!role!in!shaping!art!past!and!present,!both!as!artists,!patrons!and! models.!This!course!will!introduce!you!to!women!artists,!their!achievements,!and!impact.!It!will!also! introduce!you!to!the!social!and!cultural!reasons!for!the!neglect!of!women!in!the!visual!arts!and!how!that! neglect!is!being!remedied!today.!Los!Angeles!is!hot!on!the!topic!today.!We!will!invite!local!artists!to!come! give!their!perspective!and!what!they!have!done!to!make!change.!

Grade%Level:%12!

Prerequisite:%None!

Semester%Course!

! &

INDEPENDENT&STUDY&& Independent&Study&!

The!Independent!Study!Program!provides!motivated!students!in!grades!11!and!12!the!opportunity!to!pursue! a!course!of!study!in!addition!to!their!required!curricula!and!in!accordance!with!their!unique!interests.!Studies! may!involve!a!broad!range!of!subject!matter,!and!are!purposefully!open!to!a!wide!array!of!options.!Primarily,! interested!students!should!expect!to!assume!responsibility!for!organizing!and!completing!material! comparable!in!scope!and!depth!to!a!single,!yearlong,!core!class.!The!Independent!Study!as!an!added! requirement!to!a!student’s!schedulec!it!is!not!a!substitute!for!a!requirement,!and!students!must!plan!their! time!accordingly!throughout!the!year.!To!assist!them,!each!Independent!Study!must!involve!a!faculty!advisor! to!guide!the!student!in!reaching!her!goals!over!the!course!of!the!year.!All!Independent!Study!courses!must! also!involve!research!integrated!into!critical!writing,!though!the!length!and!scope!of!those!requirements!may! vary.!!

Grade%Level:%11R12%!

Prerequisite:%Application%and%Approval%from%Independent%Study%Coordinator%and%Upper%School%Director%! %