Selecting Your Courses Course of
Study
A student must carry a full schedule each semester they are enrolled at Roeper. Students may fill their days with a myriad of courses, but they are expected to be actively engaged in our program of learning. Any extenuating circumstances must be documented with Dean/Director approval.
The Middle and Upper School operate on a six-day schedule For both divisions, a year-long course that meets 4/6 days is equivalent to “1” and a year-long class that meets 2/6 days is equivalent to “.5” Advanced courses that meet 6 blocks over the span of a 6-day cycle are equivalent to 1.5.
• Middle School: A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 8 courses each quarter
• Upper School: A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 7 courses each semester
• Only coursework taken at The Roeper School or via the Malone School Online Network appear on a student’s Roeper transcript and count toward a student’s full schedule. (MSON classes count as “1” toward the student’s course total.) Senior projects and independent studies, as approved by the school (see IDS Application form for further details), are considered part of a student’s full schedule but should contribute no more than “1” toward a student’s course total.
Required/Recommended Courses
Roeper’s academic program endeavors to provide students with a wide range of opportunities and coursework to help them grow in their capacity to “think as individuals and engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world.” As we encourage students to be active participants in their own education, no two Roeper journeys will be identical at the same time, we value shared experiences and the importance of scaffolding skills and information for our students as they grow.
In middle school, students take grade-level classes in English, social studies, and science. Math and foreign language placements are determined by learning level, and students will likely be in multigrade groupings in these subjects. We expect all middle-school students to take these subjects during their 6th, 7th, and 8th grade years exceptions will be made at the discretion of the divisional dean and campus director. Middle school students will also select from a range of electives both those that match their interests and those that may provide new or challenging experiences to complete their schedules.
In the 9th and 10th grades, students continue to participate in grade-level English and social studies classes. Most students pursue a balanced courseload that will meet the entrance expectations of most colleges and universities. We encourage students to pursue their individual interests while maintaining a holistic and well-rounded approach to their education.
Students must complete Health and Government either at Roeper or through another accredited institution and maintain a full schedule for the duration of their time at Roeper in order to graduate.
In circumstances where a student must withdraw from classes due to medical or other extenuating circumstances that would put a student’s eligibility in jeopardy, exemptions or modifications to this eligibility will be reviewed by the upper school dean and campus director, with ultimate approval lying with the head of school.
Acceleration of classes: if a student wishes to skip levels of classes in math, science, or foreign language, they will need to take the department’s placement test to proceed to the next level of study. In the case of math classes, proof of taking an accredited course must be presented to the department coordinator before the student can take the placement test. Any exceptions are at the sole discretion of the department coordinator. Classes that are skipped will not be noted on the Roeper transcript.
Dual Enrollment
Roeper students entering 9th through 12th grades may choose to pursue coursework outside of Roeper at area colleges and universities while they are enrolled at Roeper. For a course to be considered eligible for dual enrollment, the course must:
• Be a non-essential elective
• Not be available at Roeper
• Not be a hobby, craft, or recreation course, or in the subject areas of physical education, theology, divinity, or religious education.
The Michigan Department of Education will pay an amount equal to the prorated percentage of the statewide pupil‐weighted average foundation allowance, based on the proportion of the school year that the eligible student attends the eligible postsecondary institution. This may not cover the full cost of the post-secondary course. Eligible charges include tuition and mandatory course fees, material fees, and registration fees required by an eligible institution for enrollment in the course. Eligible charges do not include transportation or parking costs or activity fees. Roeper tuition will not be reduced for students who choose to take courses at a college or university while enrolled at Roeper.
It is the responsibility of the student and the student’s family to select courses that do not conflict with a student’s academic or extracurricular commitments. A student will not be granted exemptions or extensions from Roeper coursework due to classes taken under dual enrollment, nor is Roeper able to help students with coursework they are pursuing elsewhere.
During the registration process, a student should select a full Roeper courseload and communicate the intent to dual-enroll to the college counselor no later than April 30 for classes to be taken during the coming academic year.
Middle School Program
Registration Requirements
A middle school student must register for a total of 8 courses for 2025–2026. Classes that meet 4/6 days in the schedule’s three-day cycle count as (1), classes that meet 2/6 days count as (.5)
1 English (grade level core)
1 Social Studies (grade level core)
1 Science (grade level core)
1 Math (individual sequence)
1 Foreign Language (individual sequence, several entry points available for new language learners)
A total of 3 courses can be chosen from elective offerings. Within these offerings, students must fulfill the following requirements:
• 1 Creative Endeavor: a course focusing on producing original work or participating in an artistic performance.
• 1 Physical Endeavor: a course focusing on physical activity or exercise. MS team sports fulfill this requirement, but do not count toward a student’s full schedule.
• 1 Collaborative Endeavor: a course designed for students to collaborate toward a final outcome, whether in competition (e.g., sports, robotics), performance (e.g., band, choir, theater), or production (e.g., yearbook). Individual creative or physical efforts may also qualify as collaborative endeavors.
A student is expected to have a creative, physical, and collaborative endeavor on their schedule at all points during the year, unless a team sport is counting toward their physical endeavor.
Dance is considered both a creative and physical endeavor but may only count as one requirement for a student (i.e., a student may take dance and play soccer or take dance and a visual art).
Middle School Courses
For further information about any of the courses listed below, students and parents should contact the relevant Department Coordinator or faculty contact.
Department: Health & Physical Education
Department Coordinator: Todd Dunfield
MS Archery
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Welcome to International Style Archery, the second safest sport in Physical Education. (Ping Pong was #1.) Students will identify their dominant shooting eye, learn the 11 steps for a safe archer, and shoot with competence and confidence from 10 and 15 meters. The NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) and Roeper use the Genesis Compound Bow, an adjustable bow for all children between third and twelfth grade, regardless of their size or strength. In addition to mastering the use of the compound bow, students will participate in several different games and contests with the opportunity to compete against other schools, if they desire.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Physical Education
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In Physical Education, students will participate in a variety of sports and activities in order to maintain fitness levels and improve fundamental skills. Students will also learn important social lessons and sportsmanship values while interacting with classmates. The class participates in a variety of sports that meet student interest, including football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, baseball, golf, track and field activities, and general fitness.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Introduction to Weights
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This introduction to proper and safe weight training will focus on the fundamentals needed to participate in a structured weightlifting program. Strength gains are secondary as safety and proper technique will be the focal point of the class. Low weight/high repetitions utilizing safe spotting and lifting form will be emphasized. Free weights, weight machines, isometrics, and aerobic activities will drive this fitness routine in a fun, safe, and healthy manner.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Health 6
Grades Eligible: 6
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class serves as an introduction to personal health and basic elements of safety Students will explore the signs in recognizing emergencies, the dangers of tobacco use and addiction, internet safety, social skills, and building confidence and self-esteem.
Prerequisites: None
MS Health 7
Grades Eligible: 7
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class focuses on sexual health. Topics include communication, self-esteem, values, gender, sexual harassment, consent, sex and the law, puberty, anatomy of reproductive system, conception, pregnancy, birth, relationships, dating, birth control, and sexually transmitted diseases. We use the curriculum from Beyond the Basics
Prerequisites: None
MS Health 8
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class focuses on individual mental health and includes exercises on relationshipbuilding, self-reflection, self-esteem, sleep, depression, addiction, substance use and vaping.
Prerequisites: None
MU Girls PE
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to provide girls with an engaging and supportive environment to explore physical fitness, teamwork, and personal wellness. Students will participate in a variety of activities, including team sports, individual fitness challenges, and cooperative games, while developing skills in coordination, strength, endurance, and flexibility. Emphasis will be placed on building confidence, fostering positive attitudes toward physical activity, and promoting lifelong healthy habits. Lessons will also cover topics such as nutrition, mental health, and goal setting to encourage overall well-being.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
Department: SOCIAL STUDIES
Department Coordinator: Matt Vallus
MS Social Studies 6: Studying Human Communities Across Time and Space
Grades Eligible: 6
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, sixth grade students learn how curious and critical thinkers use evidence to answer complex questions about human communities. We will explore selected themes from a variety of fields of study, including history, geography, anthropology, art, psychology, literature, economics, and even math! We also will develop our skills as readers, writers, and capable participants in friendly and thoughtful discussions. Throughout the year, we will also consider how we can use what we learn to build our own societies to be more just, inclusive, understanding, and compassionate.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS Social Studies 7: United States History through the 1800s
Grades Eligible: 7
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course will cover early U.S. history from its indigenous roots through Reconstruction. Students will explore how historical events are documented and the crucial role of diverse
perspectives in shaping our understanding of the past. Students will learn about key events in U.S. history while critically evaluating historical sources and engaging in discussions and activities that encourage the exploration of alternative viewpoints. By examining history through multiple lenses, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the past. Throughout the year, students will focus on honing their note-taking skills. In the second semester, students will undertake a research paper where they will develop research skills to locate, assess, and utilize diverse sources of historical information.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS Social Studies 8: World History
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Global awareness and diversity are two key elements of Roeper Philosophy. Throughout the past three centuries, there has been increased interdependence between societies in all parts of the world. The text is aptly entitled: Worlds Together, Worlds Apart. The class addresses themes of global exploration, greater use of resources, Old World and New World interaction, the impact of the newly industrialized world on traditional societies in the 19th Century, as well as regional and global tensions and conflict. The class considers the similarities and differences between Europe and North America (the West), with Latin America, Mideast, South Asia, East Asia, and Africa. The first semester considers growing encounters and tensions between various world regions. Second semester has greater focus on late nineteenth and twentieth century interactions between social classes, economic systems, ideologies, and nations. This course will enable students to understand how world change has occurred in the past several centuries; how the present-day world has been shaped by various forces; shows challenges to social and economic well-being; views historical change in a variety of areas; and examines the world nationally, regionally, and globally.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS Community Service
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, students will engage in community service activities on Roeper’s Birmingham campus. Students will have an active role in selecting the activities we undertake as a class. These activities may include: outdoor clean-up; organizing composting and collecting compostable materials on-campus; flower- and bulb-planting and other gardening activities; raking leaves; indoor cleaning (trash pickup and recycling); organizing snacks and clean-up for all-school
and campus-wide special activities; meeting with Roeper administrators to organize campus-wide hygiene-supply/food/clothing drive events; proposal writing for any activities we undertake; as well as other community services. Class meetings will also feature occasional presentations about how past and present societies conduct community service and promote the values that enable it. This class is meant to provide Roeper students with experience, skills, motivation, and the sense of empowerment necessary to undertake community service projects on their own in the future.
Prerequisites: None
MS Society and History Through Maps
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course each student investigates a social studies topic* of their choice and creates a map to showcase what they learn. Class time is split between four types of activities: (1) exploring case studies that can help us learn how to interpret and produce a map; (2) learning skills needed to undertake a research project from start to finish; (3) conducting independent research on their selected topic; and (4) creating a final project: your map. *The definition of a social studies topic includes anything having to do with society, culture, history, and social change.
Prerequisites: None
MS Society and History Through Graphs
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, each student investigates a social studies topic* of their choice and creates a graph to showcase what they learn. Class time is split between four types of activities: (1) exploring case studies about the many ways that curious and critical thinkers like social scientists, historians, and archaeologists use graphs to better understand and share knowledge about human societies. We will also (2) learn skills needed to undertake a research project from start to finish; (3) conduct independent research; and (4) create a final project: your graph. *The definition of a social studies topic includes anything having to do with society, culture, history, and social change.
Prerequisites: None
MS Society and History Through Models and Dioramas
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course each student investigates a social studies topic* of their choice and creates a model or a diorama to showcase what they learn. Models and dioramas offer so many ways to learn and to teach about human societies. Together, our class will explore case studies that show some of the unique ways of learning that models and dioramas allow. We will also spend class time learning skills needed to undertake a research project from start to finish, conducting independent research, and creating a final project: your model or diorama. *The definition of a social studies topic includes anything having to do with society, culture, history, and social change.
Prerequisites: None
MS Society and History Through Food
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, each student investigates a social studies topic* of their choice and creates a presentation or an actual meal to showcase what they learn. In this class, your topic must relate in some way to food! Topics to explore in Society and History Through Food might include: Foods people eat in a past or present human society, How we get our food and who produces it, Its impacts on the environment, on the workers who produce and transport it, or on the people who eat it, How a food has changed over time, The role of food in cultural identity and in creating community. Class time is split between four types of activities: (1) exploring case studies about food in society: what we can learn from studying food and how we can learn this information (through hands-on activities, where possible). We will also (2) learn skills needed to undertake a research project from start to finish; (3) conduct independent research; and (4) create a final project: your presentation or meal.
Prerequisites: None
MS Model United Nations
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This dynamic class is designed to cultivate a deep understanding of international relations and help students develop essential skills crucial for effective diplomacy. Students will engage in in-depth research, develop, and refine their persuasive communication skills, and participate in collaborative problem-solving in a simulated United Nations environment. This immersive experience will also provide a platform for exploring and analyzing pressing global issues
and events.
Prerequisites: None
MS Game Theory
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: What’s the best way to make a decision when everyone’s choices affect each other? That’s what game theory is all about! In this class, you will learn how to analyze decision-making in games and real-life situations. We will explore cool strategies through fun activities, like solving the Prisoners Dilemma, making group decisions, and competing in teamwork challenges. If you enjoy puzzles, planning your next move, and understanding how people make choices, this class is the perfect fit for you!
Prerequisites: None
MS Free Speech
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In Q1, this class will provide students with a foundational understanding of the rights and freedoms of speech and the press protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and engaging activities, students will explore the vital roles of freedoms of speech and press in shaping American democracy.
Prerequisites: None
MS History of the Olympics
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This elective explores the fascinating journey of the Olympic Games from their origins in ancient Greece to the modern global spectacle they have become. Students will analyze the evolution of Olympic traditions, examine how events are chosen or retired, and evaluate the cultural and political influences shaping the games. The class will also delve into the process of selecting host cities, exploring the criteria, challenges, and impacts of hosting the Olympics. Additionally, students will gain real-time insights into the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, tracking events, athletes,
and stories as they unfold.
Prerequisites: None
MS Current Events
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to engage students in critical thinking, global awareness, and effective communication through the exploration of current events shaping our world. The course aims to foster an understanding of the interconnectedness of global issues, encourage informed civic participation, and develop the media literacy skills necessary for responsible and respectful discourse. The emphasis will be on the development of critical thinking, media literacy, and communication skills. Active participation in class activities and respectful engagement with diverse perspectives will also be key components of the assessment.
Prerequisites: None
MS Exploring Major World Religions
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course provides students with a comprehensive and respectful introduction to the diverse beliefs, practices, and cultural contexts of the world's major religions. Through a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, students will gain a deeper understanding of the historical, philosophical, and social dimensions of many major world religions. The course aims to promote religious literacy, cultural awareness, and respect for diverse perspectives.
Prerequisites: None
Department: ENGLISH
Department Coordinators: Roz Larson and Ben Fisher
MS 6th Grade English: An Investigation of Self and Community
Grades Eligible: 6
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class focuses on introducing students to a variety of writing and contemporary texts that help them have a working understanding of who they are in relation to their communities. Throughout the year, students closely read and discuss a variety of texts, from canonical novels to screenplays to poetry to deepen their analytical and critical thinking skills. There is a strong emphasis on analytical writing; students will work to write evidence-based paragraphs and essays. Further, students will exercise their creativity: they will write their own fiction pieces and create digital projects. Our course is a grab-bag of experiences that prepare students to succeed in middle-school English classes while building their own agency as leaders in school and their local communities.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS 7th
Grade English: An Investigation as a Member of Community
Grades Eligible: 7
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class revolves around the overarching concept of community. The course focuses on themes such as systems & agency and ideals vs reality while analyzing literary devices such as mood/tone, conflict, and point of view. The writing component of the course emphasizes analytical structure and evidence-based responses. Vocabulary study starts with a foundation of roots, prefixes, suffixes, then is assessed on comprehension and proper usage. Finally, grammar concentrates on certain mechanics, including dependent and independent clauses, comma usage, and subject-verb agreement.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS 8th
Grade English: An Investigation as a Member of the Global Community
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class takes a deep dive into multiple forms of texts from varying time periods and a diverse pool of authors. Students learn to see themselves as part of the global community. The course focuses on themes of independence, rebellion, and argument while analyzing literary devices such as theme, symbolism, irony, and perspective. The writing components of the course are comprised of a creative memoir and an argumentative essay. Vocabulary study ties in with the accompanying novel and will be assessed on comprehension and proper usage. Finally, there are several mechanics being explicitly addressed, but the general approach is a review of the rules and how they can be broken.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS History of Horror
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Hold on tight! In this course, you’re going to explore a sector of film and history that most people run from: horror. Throughout this humanities course, you will dive deep into the history of horror literature, from gothic horror literature of the 18th-20th centuries to the evolution of iconic horror films in the 20th and 21st centuries. This course focuses on prose and screenwriting. You will learn the art of the scare through analysis and writing prompts. Throughout the course, you will write a plethora of analytical papers. At the end of the course, you will pitch their own horror film and write a scene from a movie.
Prerequisites: None
MS Master the Podium
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This dissects the ways human beings communicate with one another face-to-face and through digital mediums. The course model includes studying theory, analyzing, and critiquing diverse and dynamic speeches, analyzing cultural dialects, social media behaviors, and public relations campaigns. The course is very hands-on: it will require students to write and perform their own speeches, design PR campaigns for their own businesses, and push themselves to be analytical of every aspect of the ways humans interpret messages. This course helps students to become better communicators in social media spaces, face-to-face with their friends, and on a stage in front of an audience.
Prerequisites: None
MS Banned Books Club
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Take some time out of your busy day to pause and read books that have been banned for multiple reasons over the years. Texts will be chosen based on student interest and there will be rich discussion surrounding the themes, societal context, and reasons for controversy.
Prerequisites: None
MS Script Writing
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: If you want to be on the screen, learning how to write and read a script is a great place to start. As we continue to grow in a digitized world, we are consuming lots of visual media: movies, television, commercials, and social media advertisements. In this course, students will learn the art of storytelling, and more specifically, the screenplay. Students will learn the specific formatting rules and various plot structures. By the end of the course, students will write a short film and host a table read.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Advanced Topics: Black Studies and Literature
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Prepare to engage discussions on interdisciplinary readings and theories that uncover the nuances of the Black experience past, present, and future. Students will read, unpack, and discuss the untold and under-told stories of progressive Black social movements and activists. Students will also read and analyze classical and contemporary poetry and literature that highlight the current experiences of diverse Black experiences. Through a combination of readings, discussions, lectures, exercises, film screenings, media and textual analysis, the course will examine the evolution of the Black experiences in the United States and its global impact.
Prerequisites: None
MS Creative Writing
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This elective course explores and hones creative writing techniques. Using multiple writing prompts, students practice writing unique stories, share their work, and receive peer feedback. It is an interactive course that encourages students to glean inspiration and fan the creativity spark.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Comedic Studies
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This elective course studies various forms of comedy, the consequences of its just a joke, and the ultimate question, what makes something funny? Through the study of comedic writing, watching sketch comedy, and various improv games, students learn more about what makes people laugh. The culminating project tasks students to write and film their own comedy sketches.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Lyrics and Songwriting
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this elective course, students learn about song/poem structure, style, and literary elements common to the art. Students create parodies of songs, study the work of favorite artists/poets, and ultimately write their own final masterpiece.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Children's Literature
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Green Eggs and Ham, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Book with No Pictures. What makes children’s literature great? In this elective, students will study the nuances of children’s literature, illustrations, and purpose. After dissecting the genre, students will create their own children’s book and read them to lower school students.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS
Journalism
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Journalism students select article topics based on personal interests inside and outside of school as well as trends and areas of reader interest. To bring articles to completion, students research, devise a survey, or canvas students and teachers directly. In addition to working on compelling, thought-provoking, even-handed, and balanced writing, students are expected to help their classmates brainstorm ideas, edit each other’s work, and make suggestions about content. Students also complete other assignments and exercises intended to grow their journalistic writing skills. Students may enroll for the entire year or a single semester (quarter for MS)
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
Department: COMMUNICATIONS
Faculty Contacts: Dan Jacobs and Michelle Stamler
MS Forensics & Public Speaking
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Learn the theories and practices of oral interpretation and public speaking through competitive speech activities. Tournament participation is an important part of forensics; students attend two tournaments, one in winter (usually January) and one in spring (April or May) under the direction of the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association. In addition, students are encouraged to perform their pieces in non-competitive venues such as at the Lower School, the Stone Circle and Forensics Night.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Future Problem Solvers
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The first step in being the change you hope to see in the world is to envision a more compassionate, healthy world. Future Problem Solving (FPS) uses non-competitive and competitive activities to help us imagine and work toward a better world. Activities encourage building and using critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making skills to come up with and solve potential problems of the future. Examples of past topics and scenarios include the impact of humans on the environment, poverty, water use, food waste, and more. The class is based around students learning about two different categories of the Future Problem-Solving Program International. The two categories that this class focuses on are Global Issues Problem Solving and Scenario Writing, which are part of a larger range of categories where students have opportunities to interact with others on local, state, and
international levels. More information about the program can be found at FPSPI.org.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Yearbook
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 3 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Staff members work in the areas of copy writing, layout, photography, and artistic design, and produce, as a team, the annual yearbook. All staff members are expected to solicit advertising to balance the yearbook budget.
Requirement Fulfilled: Collaborative Endeavor, Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Advanced Yearbook Planning
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: A class designed for students intending to take a leadership role in future Yearbook classes. Held after the submission of the annual yearbook, students review the completed book, compare it to past books, and evaluate what worked and what did not, and what might be included in future editions. The students will create mock covers, mock division pages. They will redesign certain pages to deepen their understanding of layout, fonts, and graphic design.
Prerequisites: only for students who have previously completed MS Yearbook
Department: Fine and Performing Arts
Department Coordinator: Michelle Stamler
VISUAL ARTS
MS Digital Photography
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will explore a type of photographic process different from existing wet lab photography, taking them out of the darkroom and into a place where they incorporate technology with
image making. The emphasis is on the quality of the final image, as well as developing computer skills using Adobe Photoshop CS6. Essential to the integrity of this process is the ability to understand and utilize the vernacular of the medium.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Drawing
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to encourage and direct students to imaginatively and purposefully create artwork using observation, imagination, and various drawing tools. These tools may include pencil, ink pen, pastels, and charcoal. Do you believe that the most ordinary objects can be the most extraordinary subjects for drawings? How does the interaction of shapes, tones, and texture work together in successful drawings? Students will discuss these and other questions while developing new skills in various drawing techniques.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Painting
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course will introduce students to various painting approaches used by classical, modern, and contemporary painters. Demonstrations will be planned to help students learn different painting processes. Through various assignments, students are encouraged to discover meaningful and personal ways to record their ideas and experiences.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Fashion Illustration
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, students will learn how to sketch and draw with greater confidence. This includes learning to draw the human body and specific garments and clothes. We will study different fashion illustration styles, and work with a range of media including markers, watercolors, pastels, and
mixed media. Students will use their creativity to create original fashion designs. Our final project will include creating a fashion collection based on an original concept or theme.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Graphic Novel Workshop
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, students will put their ideas into graphic novel form. We will study excerpts of graphic novels, and study various page layouts and panel designs. We will cover the components of producing an original graphic novel, including: creating memorable characters, compelling plots, subplots, and dialogue. Drawing tips will be shared. We will share our work with each other and workshop our ideas on a regular basis.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Ceramics
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The aim of this course is for Middle School students to experience and develop curiosity, interest, and enjoyment of their own creativity and that of others while working with clay. Students will work creatively within the framework of different projects to learn and develop skills in various handbuilding techniques.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Art as Activism
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class, students will explore the power that art has to shape and change the world. Students will examine the historical use of art in social justice movements and make their art to help bring about the change they want to see. Art media explored may include printmaking, street art, spectacle puppetry, guerilla art, stenciling, zines, and more.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Fibers
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class students will learn to manipulate yarn, string, rope, wool, felt, fabric, felt and other materials to create both sculptures and functional objects using traditional and non-traditional techniques like weaving, knitting, crochet, macramé, embroidery, latch hooking, needle felting, sewing, and knot-tying.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Printmaking
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will explore various techniques of printmaking, including relief printing, monotype, intaglio, collagraph and/or collage. The goal is for students to gain the skills and confidence to produce multiple images by hand printing while exploring personal visual expression.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Classical Animation
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class explores historic forms of animation including zoetropes and flip books. Students will gain experience in crafting these media as well as understanding how they impact modern animation.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MUSIC
MS 6th Grade Concert Band
Grades Eligible: 6
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This program is built around the instrumentation of the performers. Music is selected based on individual strengths within the total ensemble, with an emphasis on achieving the best musical balance possible. Students will be provided opportunities to explore the elements of music and develop expressiveness to the music they hear, perform, and create. Students will gain personal musical values and awareness to respond with sensitivity to many types of music. This is a performance-oriented ensemble that will participate in scheduled concerts and solo/ensemble workshops and festivals.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS 7th/8th Grade Concert Band (All)
Grades Eligible: 7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This program is built around the instrumentation of the performers. Music is selected based on individual strengths within the total ensemble, with an emphasis on achieving the best musical balance possible. Students will be provided opportunities to explore the elements of music and develop expressiveness to the music they hear, perform, and create. Students will gain personal musical values and awareness to respond with sensitivity to many types of music. This is a performance-oriented ensemble that will participate in scheduled concerts and solo/ensemble workshops and festivals. Of the four meetings per cycle, two will be with the entire concert band. The student’s second concert band block will be specific to either wind instruments or percussion, where more specific instruction will allow students to develop technique and musicianship
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Jazz Band
Grades Eligible: 7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In the jazz environment, students have chosen to take their knowledge and enjoyment of music to a new level by studying, performing, creating, and listening to repertoire in various jazz styles. Through the learning of repertoire, scales and chords, students will gain confidence in improvisation techniques. The jazz ensemble is built around the instrumentation of the performers. Repertoire is chosen based on individual strengths within the ensemble. Classes act as rehearsals for performances, as well as instructional time for learning blues scales and chord symbol reading and
comprehension.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Strings
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: String Orchestras contain Violin, Viola, Cello, and String Bass. This program is built around the instrumentation of the performers. Music is selected based on individual strengths within the total ensemble, with an emphasis on achieving the best musical balance possible. Students will be provided opportunities to explore the elements of music and develop expressiveness to the music they hear, perform, and create. Students will gain personal musical values and awareness to respond with sensitivity to many types of music. This is a performance-oriented ensemble that will participate at scheduled concerts and students may also opt into festivals such as Solo & Ensemble.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MU Advanced Strings
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is for a small ensemble of advanced string players to work on developing technique, tone, and musicianship through chamber work. This class will attempt to provide more challenging literature than what the larger ensemble work of the strings course offers.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MU Beginning Band
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is for anyone in grades 6-12 who would like to learn a band instrument. (See end of description for instrument choices) Students will choose, or be fitted for, an instrument and learn the basics of tone production and music theory to prepare them to potentially move on in the Roeper Band program. This course is also a great fit for any students who may have started learning
an instrument in the Lower School, or at a previous school, and for whatever reason decided to stop, but now would like to start playing again. Instrument choices for this course include: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Percussion (not drum-set).
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS 6th Grade Choir: TrebleMakers
Grades Eligible: 6
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Everyone has a voice! TrebleMakers, open to ALL 6th-Graders, ALL genders, gives a solid foundation of music and singing to brand-new singers and those who are more experienced. Come sing a variety of fun and exciting music and learn how to join your voice with others to make a powerful sound in rehearsal and performances.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor, | Prerequisites: None
MS 7th/8th Grade Choir: Accompanied Minors
Grades Eligible: 7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Accompanied Minors is open to ALL 7th and 8th graders of ALL genders. Come make your own voice stronger so you can add it to the sound of the group. Through energetic rehearsal and performance of a wide variety of music, you will experience the thrill of singing in a choir.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Vocal Techniques
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: MS Vocal Techniques is designed for a young singer who wants to grow and strengthen their singing voice. Through fun and challenging songs, the singer learns skills and technique to sing more fully and with confidence, so they are a better vocalist and performer. This class is perfect for soloists and beginners.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
DANCE
MS Dance
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is recommended for students with any level of dance experience. We will explore movement through technique, improvisation, choreography, and performance. Time will be spent on contemporary and postmodern techniques through warmup and extended movement patterns. Dancers will spend significant time becoming familiar with their own creative process, honing their artistic voice. The class culminates with a formal performance that brings together technique, improvisation, and student choreography in the Acheson Theater
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Physical Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor, | Prerequisites: None
MU Dance Technique
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is recommended for students with some dance experience. Students will learn a variety of dance technique; ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, hip hop, Congolese, and musical theater in separate units. Dancers should plan to come into the studio ready to move and gain skills in different dance styles and techniques. There will be no performative component to this class.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Physical Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor, | Prerequisites: None
MU Studio to Stage
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is recommended for students with some dance experience. We will explore movement through technique, improvisation, choreography, and performance. Time will be spent on contemporary and postmodern techniques through warmup and extended movement patterns. Dancers will spend significant time becoming familiar with their own creative process, honing their artistic voice. The class culminates with a formal performance that brings together technique,
improvisation, and student choreography in the Acheson Theater.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Physical Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor, | Prerequisites: None
MU Dance Ensemble
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Dance Ensemble is recommended for intermediate to advanced level dancers. This course will rigorously explore movement through technique, improvisation, choreography, and performance. Throughout the year, dancers will participate in Spotlight Performances, site-specific showings, mentorship with LS students, and workshops with guest artists. The class culminates with a formal performance that brings together technique, improvisation, and student choreography in the Acheson Theater
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Physical Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor, | Prerequisites: Instructor approval
DRAMA
MS Musical Theater Workshop
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is a non-audition class where singers learn the basics of vocal tone production and how these concepts can be applied to any solo style of music performance. There is emphasis on the individual skill-building that is akin to a masterclass or private voice studio experience. Students are expected to research their pieces and perform for the class. Some singers may be featured in concerts throughout the year.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MS Company Class
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Members of this class will select a play based on the size of the ensemble and will each perform a role in the production.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
Department: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Department Coordinator: Andrew Blechman
MS Science 6
Grades Eligible: 6
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students develop foundational scientific skills in laboratory safety and inquiry through units covering ecology and the environment, Earth and human activity, energy and energy transfer, and forces and fields.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE |Prerequisites: None
MS Science 7
Grades Eligible: 7
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is a process-oriented course: the emphasis is on skills and knowledge equally. The course will cover general science, physics of sound and light waves, geology, and astronomy.
Requirements Fulfilled: CORE |Prerequisites: None
MS Science 8
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Eighth-grade science builds foundational biology, chemistry, and physics knowledge by developing strategies for researching scientific concepts, furthering understanding of the scientific method and experimental design, and applying conceptual knowledge for problem-solving and scientific explanation of events.
Requirements Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS Biology Explorations
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will explore different biological topics based on class interest, including DNA, genetics, ecology, and organ systems.
Prerequisites: None
MS Physics Explorations
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will explore the physics behind natural phenomena, such as lightning, tornadoes, aurora borealis, and more.
Prerequisites: None
MS Engineering Design
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The engineering process is a well-accepted process of achieving desirable solutions to solve real world problems. The aim of this course is to understand the various steps of the engineering design process with a focus on teamwork and design, open-ended problem solving, and recognizing failures as lessons learned and tools necessary to develop the best solutions. The coursework involves hands on design challenges to introduce, practice, and reinforce the engineering design process.
Prerequisites: None
MS Makerspace
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is an introduction to Maker Space tools and projects. Students will learn how to use Maker Space tools and design and complete a project utilizing the tools.
Prerequisites: None
MS Robotics
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students in this class will have the opportunity to explore VEX IQ robotics programming, driving, building, and designing to solve a variety of virtual and real challenges. They will work collaboratively in small groups to trouble shoot and investigate the limits of the robots using different graphical programming sequences, sensors, building designs, and environments.
Prerequisites: None
MS Arduino
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class we will explore the ELEGOO UNO Project Super Starter Kit with Tutorial and UNO R3 Compatible with Arduino IDE. We will explore the different components of the kit, programming, and different parts of the tutorials. Each student will move at their own pace and work toward a final design of their own using a variety of the components provided.
Prerequisites: None
MS 3D Printing
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class we will start with 3D Design in Tinkercad or 3D Builder, learn about 3D printing applications, print our designs, and spend some time programming in the 3D world of CoSpaces.
Prerequisites: None
Department: MATHEMATICS
Department Coordinator: Susan Knight
MS Mathematics A
Grades Eligible: 6/7
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 6 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will engage with numbers by focusing on computational and procedural skills, conceptual understanding, and problem solving. Topics covered include the study of rational numbers, proportional reasoning, statistics and data analysis, probability, 2D and 3D shapes, and algebraic thinking, and their many applications. This class meets each day in order to solidify foundational skills and build stamina in mathematical work.
Prerequisites: Lower school recommendation/placement test
MS Mathematics B
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Having demonstrated a strong grasp of computational and procedural skills, students will further hone their problem-solving skills through more advanced applications of rational numbers, proportional relationships, statistics & probability, 2-d and 3-d shapes, and algebraic thinking in order to tackle the material in Pre-Algebra.
Prerequisites: Lower school recommendation/placement test or successful completion of MS Math A
Pre-Algebra
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In Pre-Algebra we will connect the rules and properties that worked with computation to how they work with algebra. We will review properties of math, integers, and fractions so we can apply them in different contexts. The three main ideas of Pre-Algebra are equations, functions, and geometry.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Middle School Math B or placement test
Algebra 1
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Algebra 1 integrates and makes connections to other disciplines. Students will see how each mathematical idea fits into a larger context. They will learn to read and understand mathematics on their own and express this understanding orally and in writing. Students learn to solve linear equations and inequalities, write equations of lines, solve systems of equations, and solve quadratic equations by several methods. They get an introduction to radical and rational expressions. Graphing is emphasized throughout the course, and the use of graphing calculators is integrated throughout.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Pre-Algebra or department approval
Geometry
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course in Euclidean Geometry allows the students to develop logical deductive thinking skills, to understand how a mathematical system is developed, and to become familiar with geometric concepts and spatial relationships in both two and three dimensions. Inductive and deductive reasoning skills are developed over time. Investigative methods are used with increasing emphasis on proof over the course of the school year. Students study geometric construction, triangles, polygons, circles, area, volume, Pythagorean Theorem, similarity and basic trigonometry. The software package, The Geometers Sketchpad, is currently being used to complement the text.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra 1 or department approval.
Algebra 2
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In Algebra 2, functions are the fundamental object of study. Students will examine the notion of functions in general and then study other topics through the prism of this idea. This will allow polynomial functions, radical functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, and other functions to be seen as interrelated concepts. This course will address these major ideas algebraically as well. Students will also see how to solve various groups or systems of equations. Graphing calculators will show students how to deal with mathematical concepts from analytical, numerical, and
graphical points of view.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra 1 or department approval. Students generally complete Geometry before Algebra 2 but may take the classes simultaneously with department approval.
MS Math Counts
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Math Counts is a challenging elective class designed to encourage an interest in problem solving. It stretches the math you already know and gives you an opportunity to work together, discuss math ideas, and present the solutions to the class. A few of the problems are simple computation. Others involve several steps, higher levels of math or some kind of short cut. We learn how to solve hard problems!
Prerequisites: None
Department: WORLD LANGUAGES
Department Coordinator: Michal McConville
MS Spanish 1
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will be introduced to the Spanish-speaking world by learning vocabulary, basic grammatical structures, and essential conversation, as well as being introduced to the geography and culture of many Spanish-speaking countries. They experience the target language in all skills listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: Lower school placement or some previous experience with Spanish.
MS Spanish 2
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Continuing the track of middle-school Spanish study, this course focuses on diverse aspects of communication in the target language and strategies used by native speakers. Students advance their knowledge of grammar and communicative skills, while exploring themes of interest within Spanish culture.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: Successful completion of MS Spanish 1 or placement test
MS Spanish 3
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Continuing the track of middle-school Spanish study, this course focuses on diverse aspects of communication in the target language and strategies used by native speakers, particularly increasing a student’s own comfort and capacity in speaking, writing, and listening, both individually and collaboratively. The class employs authentic materials and strives to incorporate content from other disciplines.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: Successful completion of MS Spanish 2 or placement test
MS Intro French
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is an introduction to French language, phonetics, and francophone cultures. Participants explore the geography of the French-speaking world, encounter its diverse population through audiovisual and authentic interactions and are assessed in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. This course is best suited for learners with little or no prior French experience.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
MS French A
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course participants solidify their understanding of French basics through an exploration of core academic topics in the target language including math, language (spelling),
science and social studies. This immersive experience is best suited to learners with prior French experience.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: Some experience with French. Lower school recommendation or placement test.
MS French B
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course aims to prepare students for advanced studies in French at the high school level through the development of conversation and presentation skills and by a closer examination of French grammar
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: MS French A or placement test
MS Exploratory Chinese
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This Chinese Exploratory course is designed to introduce students to the Chinese language and culture. The course will explore Chinese culture, such as geography, festivals, traditions, food, etc. Additionally, the course will introduce some basics of both spoken and written Chinese along with the study of Chinese culture. The goal is to provide a foundation for formal Chinese language study and to foster initial interest and brief understanding of Chinese culture.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE (must be coupled with MS Exploratory Latin or another language enrollment) Prerequisites: None
Beginning Chinese 1
Grades Eligible: 7/8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Beginning Chinese 1 is an introductory course to Mandarin Chinese. Its aim is to develop basic Chinese language skills for communicative competence in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. First, Pinyin (the most widely used Chinese phonetic system) will be taught as a tool to learn the spoken language. Students will then learn basic vocabulary and sentence structures for use in essential everyday situations through various forms of oral practice. Students will
also learn to read and write approximately 200 Chinese characters related to the oral task. Rules for stroke orders will be introduced and will be practiced continuously throughout the year. While linguistic aspects of the Chinese language are the primary focus, introduction to the social and cultural background of the language will also form an important part of the course, helping students not only develop a desire for further exploring the Chinese language, but also an appreciative acquaintance with Chinese culture.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
Beginning Chinese 2
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Beginning Chinese 2 is designed for students who have finished Beginning Chinese 1 or its equivalent. The curriculum will continue to build on students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, but at an accelerated pace. Building upon previously learned vocabulary and sentence structures, students will study more useful expressions and advanced sentence structures necessary for use in everyday life. Students will be exposed to longer and more complex conversations related to everyday situations as well. While emphasis will still be laid on the communicative skills of listening and speaking, students will also continue studying more Chinese characters for reading and writing and keep practicing writing short essays in Chinese characters. To facilitate the study of the language, different aspects of Chinese culture and society will also be continuously introduced through activities such as Chinese videos, cooking, field trips, and guest speakers.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: Beginning Chinese 1
MS Exploratory Latin
Grades Eligible: 7/8
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Exploratory Latin is for Middle Schoolers who are interested in learning about ancient languages and gaining exposure to the study of Latin. This course will introduce Middle Schoolers to the most basic Latin (and English!) grammar while also exposing them to some practices of the ancient Roman world. From geography to gods, this semester course gives students insight into the Roman Empire and its equally exacting language.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE (must be coupled with MS Exploratory Chinese or another language enrollment) | Prerequisites: None
Latin I
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Do you enjoy a good challenge? Are you really clever at solving puzzles? Are you interested in the ways that different languages can connect with each other? If so, Latin 1 might be the foreign language class for you to try. Latin is a complex and quite elegant language, and during the first year of study, students are introduced to the language by developing their knowledge and skills in three major areas: vocabulary acquisition, grammar, and translation. Additionally, students are exposed to various elements of Roman culture and classical mythology to put this so-called dead language in a living context. Even just one year of Latin study pays large dividends: your understanding of English will improve dramatically, your puzzle-solving skills will become sharper, and you will find out about some of the curiosities of the Roman world along the way.
Prerequisites: None
US Intro Spanish
Grades Eligible: 8
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class emphasizes an introduction to language study using an integrative, communicative approach. It is possible for students to use the language creatively from the outset, and free expression is encouraged. Situations are taken from everyday experiences, and vocabulary emphasizes elements of the native speaker’s idiom. Grammar is not presented for its own sake but as a means of transmitting a spoken or written message as accurately as possible. In this proficiencyoriented approach, culture and the four skills of language learning listening, speaking, reading, and writing reinforce one another in an ever-widening spiral. By the end of Spanish I, students are able to function as accurately as possible in a variety of situations. Examples of this are: discussing likes and dislikes; functioning in a cafe; asking for and giving directions; describing people and activities in the present, past, and future; and making plans for a trip. Culturally, this level stresses an awareness of the scope of the Hispanic world and elements specific to Hispanic culture (family and traditions). This program is congruent with the National Standards as established by ACTFL.
Prerequisites: None
Department: Learning Support
Coordinator: Marie Halpin
MS Directed Study (formerly Resource Room)
Grades Eligible: 6/7/8
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Directed Study is a class that will give students the opportunity to focus on direct work completion with a teacher's support. The teacher will work with each student to make sure that they are current with academic expectations (using MyRoeper), students will engage with current assignments, past assignments, projects, and/or prepare for upcoming tests. This is also a time that can be used to meet with available teachers and take tests. Directed study is prioritized for students with formal accommodation plans or SSAPs (Student Specific Learning Plans). However, it is not limited to only students with SSAPS. Directed study can also be an intervention or recommendation for struggling students and/or students new to Roeper. Students without an SSAP will need approval prior to registering for the class. It is NOT a place for students to fill a free block.
Prerequisites: SSAP on file with Student Support Services or advisor approval
Upper School Program
Courseload Recommendations
Graduation from Roeper’s Upper School indicates successful completion of four years of studentcentered engagement in the learning process. Roeper expects students to be engaged in a full-time program that draws upon the breadth and depth of the resources and interest of both the student and the school.
While only two specific courses are required for students to earn a Roeper diploma (Health and American Government), all students must take the equivalent of seven full courses each semester.
The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), homeroom advisor, and upper school director must approve any exceptions. These same individuals are expected to work closely with the student in developing a schedule that reflects the student’s interest and needs and meets Roeper’s graduation requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the most challenging courses they can reasonably manage every semester.
The following program is strongly recommended.
AREA OF STUDY
ENGLISH
FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
WORLD LANGUAGE
HEALTH
MATHEMATICS
SCIENCE
PHYSICAL EDUCATION/ATHLETICS
SOCIAL STUDIES
COMMUNICATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
Four years including 9th Grade English, C10th Grade English, and English electives covering literature, composition, standard language usage, essay/theme writing, and presentation of a research paper.
Two to four years strongly recommended in Performing and/or Fine Arts.
Proficiency through third year of a language.
One semester required (in 10th or 11th grade)
Proficiency through Algebra 2 with one year of further study strongly recommended.
Two years (one Biology, one Chemistry, or Physics) with a third strongly recommended.
One or two years strongly recommended in course work or team sports.
Three years including American Government (required), United States History, and 20th Century History.
One or two years recommended.
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE
COMMUNITY SERVICE
SENIOR PROJECT
INDEPENDENT STUDY
In keeping with the vision of George and Annemarie Roeper to develop students who are “citizens of the world,” every Roeper student is encouraged to participate in community service work that averages one to two hours per week, or 40–80 hours per year. This participation would be above and beyond the community service outreach activities students engage in through Community Day or other schoolstructured activities.
All Roeper seniors are encouraged to participate in this capstone course, which blends the Roeper ideals of individual academic research, personalization of Roeper’s curriculum, and involvement in the greater community.
The planning, creation, and implementation of a thoughtful, research-based independent study truly places the onus of learning on the student and requires as much study time and focus as a regular course, if not more. A well-implemented Independent Study personalizes the Roeper learning experience. (Departments may have varying requirements for Independent Study options.)
Further considerations for application to selective universities
These guidelines include the minimum expectations of most selective and highly selective out-of-state colleges.
AREA OF STUDY
MATH
SCIENCE
WORLD LANGUAGE
RECOMMENDATION
Proficiency through Pre-Calculus, Statistics, or Calculus for students completing Pre-Calculus is strongly recommended. Calculus is strongly recommended for students interested in Math, Science, or Business.
Three years of laboratory sciences: Biology Chemistry, and Physics as a minimum with a fourth year of laboratory science or non-lab electives strongly recommended.
Three years of study in the same language during grades 9–12.
Upper School Courses
For further information about any of the courses listed below, students and parents should contact the relevant Department Coordinator or faculty contact.
Department: Health & Physical Education
Department Coordinator: Todd Dunfield
US Health
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12. Strongly recommended that students take the course during their 10thgrade year.
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Upper School Health students will engage in daily discussions and activities covering all aspects of one’s physical, social, and emotional health. A wide variety of topics will be discussed in the classroom including physical fitness, the basics of CPR and emergency response, nutrition, mental health, social awareness and responsibility, alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse (a continuation of what was covered in middle school), and sexually transmitted diseases and intimate relationships.
Graduation Requirement | Prerequisites: None
US Archery
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Welcome to International Style Archery, the second safest sport in Physical Education. (Ping Pong was #1.) Students will identify their dominant shooting eye, learn the 11 steps for a safe archer, and shoot with competence and confidence from 10 and 15 meters. The NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) and Roeper use the Genesis Compound Bow, an adjustable bow for all children between third and twelfth grade, regardless of their size or strength. In addition to mastering the use of the compound bow, students will participate in several different games and contests with the opportunity to compete against other schools, if they desire.
Prerequisites: None
US Bigger, Faster, Stronger
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Bigger, Faster, Stronger will allow students to experience a weightlifting program that will increase their strength and teach them the proper lifting and spotting techniques. Students that enroll in the class will complement their lifting with speed, agility, and a plyometric workout.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
US Physical Education
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Upper School Physical Education will provide instruction on a variety of team and individual games/sports. Students will be taught and tested on basic rules and fundamentals in the more popular team sports. The Presidents' Physical Fitness Challenge will be explored as well as allowing for a portion of the semester to be student driven.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
MU
Girls PE
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to provide girls with an engaging and supportive environment to explore physical fitness, teamwork, and personal wellness. Students will participate in a variety of activities, including team sports, individual fitness challenges, and cooperative games, while developing skills in coordination, strength, endurance, and flexibility. Emphasis will be placed on building confidence, fostering positive attitudes toward physical activity, and promoting lifelong healthy habits. Lessons will also cover topics such as nutrition, mental health, and goal setting to encourage overall well-being.
Requirement Fulfilled: Physical Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
Department: SOCIAL STUDIES
Department Coordinator: Matt Vallus
US Social Studies 9: United States History since 1877
Grades Eligible: 9 or instructor approval
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to provide you with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with United States History and prepare you for more advanced topics in social studies. We will survey the past both chronologically and thematically from the time of Reconstruction (1860) to the present day. Open inquiry is a core principle of this class, and this will be a safe environment where your questions, thoughts, concerns, about the past and present can be discussed. The study of American history provides us with a look into the past but also offers a window into understanding how history is created and remembered. Therefore, this class has two overlapping goals. The first is to examine the origins of this nation, its people, its political structure, and its values. We will pay close attention to the interactions of diverse peoples and values that characterize national life (many of which are sources of conflict). The second goal is to introduce you to the work of the modern historian. Central to the role of every historian is a vast documentary record that helps paint the picture of the past. You will get practical experience in the analysis of such primary and secondary sources. You will act as historians and be able to synthesize such voices into a comprehensive and deeper understanding of this nation’s past. Ultimately, by analyzing how we remember our past, pathways for present and future positive change (both personal and societal) will be clearer. Such pathways include making human rights a priority for all, a commitment to justice rather than power, and preparing you to deal with the unknown through formulating a real grasp of the human condition.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
US Social Studies 10: Remembering the 20th Century
Grades Eligible: 10
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Remembering the 20th Century dives deep into the histories that help us understand how our contemporary world was forged. Students will tackle the emergence of modern political ideologies, genocide, global freedom struggles, the Cold War, and environmentalism. As we explore the topics of this course, students will examine these histories from diverse perspectives and sources. From studying primary sources to reading philosophy and analyzing film, students will continue to develop the fundamental critical thinking, writing, and seminar skills that are essential to the art and craft of history.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
US American Government
Grades Eligible: 11/12 (11th grade is recommended but 12th graders will be accommodated)
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Informed and critical participation in a democratic system is both necessary for its members to exercise their rights and to maintain our system of government. We will study the foundations of our government and highlight the role each citizen plays in our political system. We will have fun as a group by exploring the big and sometimes controversial ideas of American government and political science. The class also discusses current events, usually national politics, but also related social issues, local politics, and some international affairs. In addition to various class activities and unit tests, students are required to complete a practical assignment related to American Government to provide a hands-on experience of the political process.
Graduation Requirement | Prerequisites: None
US Magic, Witchcraft, and the Supernatural Across Cultures
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course presents a cross-cultural study of supernatural beliefs in human societies. We examine questions about the origins and functions of these beliefs, searching for common elements that all share. Other topics we address include: the role that ritual plays in human groups; different understandings of personhood and agency across cultures; and whether the concept of religion is an effect of western imperialism. Critically, we will learn to approach beliefs about witchcraft, magic, and the supernatural in all cultural contexts (including our own) in a manner that seeks to understand them on their own terms by reflecting critically on our own biases and preconceptions. This course reflects Roeper’s values by highlighting the universal need for community, ritual, and understanding among humans, and showcasing their varied expression in our societies. It also presents cases in which supernatural beliefs have justified exclusion, stigma, and unjust power dynamics, and calls upon students to develop nuanced understandings of their own cultural surroundings and beliefs so that they can be more compassionate human beings.
Prerequisites: None
US Archaeology
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course explores how curious, creative, and critical thinkers learn about human communities by studying the physical remains we leave behind. We frame archaeology as a set of broad theories, methods, and questions and then present their real-world application through case studies that highlight current understandings of our humanity’s shared past. Among other key topics, we focus on the timing and causes of the emergence of large, complex, hierarchical societies. We also explore how archaeological claims about the ancient past impact issues far more important than what we know about the past. Throughout the course, we will review case studies in which archaeological research has been used to advance political and social agendas, bringing people together or justifying discrimination, inequality, and oppression. Students should expect to reflect on how they as critical consumers of information and as compassionate citizens of the world, to quote George Roeper “can use what they learn to better identify and challenge unjust uses of the past today and in the future.”
Prerequisites: None
US Criminal Law & Procedure
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course examines the constitutional protections afforded to criminal defendants, focusing on key principles of due process, search and seizure, self-incrimination, and fair trial rights. Students will explore case law through reading and discussion, analyze judicial decisions to apply legal principles to real-life scenarios, and track ongoing cases in state and local courts to connect theoretical knowledge with current events. Students will analyze case law to understand the elements of various crimes and their defenses, develop skills in drafting legal arguments, and participate in mock trials to simulate courtroom advocacy. By engaging with real and hypothetical cases, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how criminal laws are interpreted and applied in practice The course will also delve into issues of access to the justice system, the roles of criminal prosecutors and defense attorneys, and the preparation of legal motions and court filings. By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of how constitutional law shapes the criminal justice system, safeguards individual rights, and operates in practice.
Prerequisites: None
US Model United Nations
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This dynamic class is designed to cultivate a deep understanding of international relations and help students develop essential skills crucial for effective diplomacy. Students will engage in in-depth research, develop and refine their persuasive communication skills, and participate in collaborative problem-solving in a simulated United Nations environment. This immersive experience will also provide a platform for exploring and analyzing pressing global issues and events.
Prerequisites: None
US Queer History
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this course, we will explore the rich, varied, and often overlooked history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual individuals in the United States and beyond. We will analyze the cultural, social, and political factors that shape these identities with a focus on intersectionality, as well as explore the role specific LGBTQIA+ people, communities, and movements had in shaping the country and world we live in today.
Prerequisites: None
US European History (Advanced)
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: European History considers a variety of major themes: intellectual and cultural history, political and diplomatic history, and social and economic history in Western History from the Renaissance to the post-Cold War era. The fall semester covers Europe from the Fourteenth Century to the French Revolution. The spring semester covers material from the early Nineteenth Century to the present. Several units will be self-directed to allow greater depth of study in other units. For each chapter, the course has an in-class test and a document or thematic essay. In addition, there is a research diary first semester and a second semester final research paper.
Prerequisites: None
US Into the Millennium: America from Ronald Reagan to the Age of Globalization
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This elective will take a detailed look at the events that shape America leading up to the 21st century. We will closely examine the decades of the 80s and 90s. Topics covered during the 1980s will include the rising tide of conservatism under Ronald Reagan, the Iran-Contra affair, the AIDS epidemic, the War on Drugs and Just Say No campaign, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Our study of the 1990s will focus on inequality and social crises in American cities, the Persian Gulf War, the Balkan Crisis, globalization under Bill Clinton, and the growing threats from terrorism.
Prerequisites: None
US Age of Conspiracy, Conformity, and Civil Rights: America from the 1950s to 1980
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This elective will engage in an in-depth analysis of America from the 1950s to 1980. We will examine aspects of popular culture and mass society, forces of conformity, threats to individuality, anxieties over group think, foreign ideologies, and Americas reaction to such threats. We will also examine wide-ranging civil rights movements, and how this fight occurred in the courts, at the ballot boxes, and on the streets. In doing so, we will utilize a variety of speeches, songs, and films to dig deeper into the themes of this era. A key tenet of the Roeper philosophy is to encourage students to question authority. A guiding theme of this class will be to use the political, social, and intellectual atmosphere of this era to show students the value of such stances. Some topics/events covered include: The Red Menace/McCarthyism, the threat atomic annihilation, desegregation, the Civil Rights Act(s), the Beat Generation, the Freedom Riders, Johnsons Great Society, Kennedys New Frontier, the Counterculture, the Stonewall riots, the American Indian Movement, the Korean War, conflict in Southeast Asia, the Space Race, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Prerequisites: None
US This Sceptered Isle: The History of British Monarchy
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: “For God’s sake let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings.”Richard II (Richard II, Act 3 Scene 2) This course explores a thousand years of dramatic, surprising, bloody, and scandalous histories of those that have worn the hollow crown of England and Great Britain. From these warriors, schemers, diplomats, saints, and sinners we will learn what it takes to
rule the most consequential monarchy in world history. Throughout the semester, we will engage in works of history and art from Shakespeare to modern musicals. We will tackle themes that go beyond war and politics and consider what English history tells us about gender, empire, religion, and culture. Coursework will include group seminars, primary and secondary source analysis, and creative student-led research projects.
Prerequisites: None
US The Three Kingdoms
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: As the saying goes, “The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide.” In the Three Kingdoms course students will meet mighty warriors and crafty villains through some of the many film, television, and video game adaptations of the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. By blending art, history, and literature we will learn about one of the most influential stories in world history. No experience with Chinese language required. Coursework will include group seminars, primary and secondary source analysis, and creative student-led research projects.
Prerequisites: None
US Western Political Thought
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Join us as we examine important texts of political philosophy from the ancient world to the present. From Plato to Habermas, we will explore major ideas and themes of Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Americas. This course will familiarize students with influential texts and thinkers whose work is fundamental to our modern history of ideas. Coursework will include lectures, group seminars, and creative student-led projects.
Prerequisites: None
US Star Trek and Social Justice
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: For over half a century Star Trek has captured the imaginations of people across the globe who cast their eyes to space and dream of a better tomorrow. This elective will explore how the various Star Trek shows over the years have critiqued the inequalities and prejudices of our contemporary world. Together we will explore how the series has spoken out on issues of racism, imperialism, gender discrimination, genocide, queer life, and many others. As we examine key characters and episodes, we will endeavor to understand how science fiction can be a powerful force for speaking truth to power and exploring the human condition. This class is designed for students with or without prior experience of the Star Trek universe. Coursework will include group seminars, primary and secondary source analysis, and creative student-led projects.
Prerequisites: None
Department: ENGLISH
Department Coordinators: Roz Larson and Ben Fisher
US 9th Grade English
Grades Eligible: 9
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The course is designed to serve as an introduction to English studies at the Upper School level. In this effort, we focus on mastery of textual content through deep reading and analysis of themes, symbols, motifs, plot devices, narration, character development, and formal techniques while engaging with texts from a range of genres, periods, cultures, and mediums. We dedicate ample time to essay construction, seeking to firm up skills in the areas of argumentation, persuasion, organization, style and mechanics, and effectively using sources. There are multiple methods used in the class as markers for student growth, including group projects, presentations, and creative assignments. Overall, the class is designed to enrich student development while inspiring students to begin to take steps toward becoming independent scholars. It is designed to prepare them for the next step, the intermediate phase of our program, 10th Grade English.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
US 10th Grade English
Grades Eligible: 10
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Tenth (10th) Grade English is a literature survey course of some great and influential works of literature that have had – and continue to have – a profound impact on Western civilization and thought. Core
texts include Genesis, The Odyssey, Frankenstein, and Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar. We work to explore the themes, artistry, impacts, cultures, and historical contexts of these texts. Themes of monstrosity, individuality, and cultural meaning-making inform our daily in-class discussions and provide points of intersection for various texts. In addition to gaining a thorough acquaintance with these works, students continue to develop their capacity to ask meaningful questions about the world through text study, locate different types of answers that the texts may offer, and articulate complex arguments in support of those answers. Students wrestle with these works in a variety of ways: crafting several critical essays, conducting external textual research, and engaging in thoughtful discussion of the texts’ implications and criticisms in a modern context.
Requirement Fulfilled: CORE | Prerequisites: None
US Creative Writing Workshop
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to give students the space to explore and hone their skills for creative writing. The first quarter is dedicated to the exploration of multiple forms and genres that may include scriptwriting, lyrics/poetry, sketch comedy, horror, and more. During the second half, students choose one form/genre to focus on creating a longform piece and participate in a writer’s workshop. Here, students will spend their time writing independently, workshopping with their peers, and engaging in one-on-one conferencing.
Prerequisites: None
US Writing in Film Studies
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class provides a foundation in the study of film. We explore a range of canonical Hollywood, foreign, and independent films of various periods, cultures, genres, and styles. We begin our exploration with a scholarly grounding in film history, theory, culture, and aesthetics. Our aim is to build a vocabulary and acquire a range approaches and methods for interpreting, analyzing, discussing, and writing about film. Throughout our study we consider key film studies concepts, such as voyeurism, the gaze, and mise-en-scene as well as a range of technical aspects of filmmaking. Throughout the process, students gain experience with writing film reviews, reflections, and essays as well as the written and visual presentation of their own work. At the last third of the semester, we make the turn toward the final project. The final project is student created and directed and can take the form of film, visual art, performance, screenplay, technical or media production, critical essay, or
research paper. We devote significant class time to formulating ideas, crafting project proposals, and presenting work to the class for feedback. During this time, the class functions as a creative workshop in which students freely share their work and engage with peers. Students are encouraged to own their projects and become invested academically, socially, and personally. No prior knowledge of film studies is required. Students use their own interests as starting points for deeper critical inquiry and creative exploration of the art and medium of film.
Prerequisites: None
US Poetry
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class, students will discover and develop close knowledge of a range of influential poets and their work, gain the vocabulary, skills, and practice necessary to critically assess poetry, write about poetry in an analytical and exploratory way, and be able to investigate poets of their choosing. Specific poets studied will vary by instructor and student interest.
Prerequisites: None
US The Art of the Argument: Scholarly Writing
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is your chance to pursue those subjects that you have always wanted to learn more about! In this class, students have plenty of freedom to choose their own research and writing topics; they use their interests and passions as starting points in the process of in-depth argument construction. While the class is academic and rigorous, we take a creative approach to argument construction. Our approach is process over product, with extended time devoted to the research and analysis phase. We explore theory and methods of scholarly argumentation and academic writing, with a special consideration of the kinds of writing that students will do at college. In this pursuit, we consider specific characteristics of sound arguments, such as how mature writers weave quotes into their writing in fluid, conversational ways that represent deep knowledge and understanding of critical sources and the ability to be an active participant in dialogue with them. This is the point where students become critics themselves, able to analyze, assess, question, and build upon major critical ideas and the perspectives of others. Throughout our study, we develop our skill set to include: proposal writing, annotated bibliography construction, multi-stage drafting, and oral and written presentation. The over-arching aim is for students to build on the skills that they have acquired thus far and begin to professionalize their writing or take it to the next level. All the while, we consider the
question: What makes a successful scholarly argument?
Prerequisites: None
US Expository Writing
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course in essay writing focuses on establishing students’ familiarity with different styles of writing and rhetoric and guiding students in cultivating their own writing voices. Expository Writing is not intended as a technical or remedial writing class, but rather as an opportunity for students to learn to communicate any purpose to any audience in a compelling and thoughtful way. All the reading for this class is non-fiction, and learning methods include daily practice in spontaneous writing, at-home reading assignments, and formal essay writing and revisions. Students are taught that the secret to writing is rewriting, and tactics of revision are studied with equal diligence as basic composition principles. A cornerstone of Expository Writing is the peer review: each student submits an essay which is reviewed by all students, first in writing and then in class discussion. While students certainly grow by being forced to examine and respond to questions and criticisms posed by their peers, the main benefit of the peer review is that it compels students to recognize challenges and offer improvements to others' writing. Grades reflect not merely a student’s basic writing ability (in which case, a superior writer could enter the class, put forth little effort, and still be successful) but also their personal improvement and demonstrated understanding of the course principles.
Prerequisites: None
US Educational Philosophy, Social Practice, and Writing
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Roeper promises that students will participate in and shape their own educational journeys, but what should that look like? What should our school do to best fulfill its mission in educating and inspiring gifted students to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world? Where can engaged community members look for answers to tough questions of educational practice, social justice, and student empowerment? This course will explore The Roeper Philosophy and examine other ways of thinking about how schools can and should work. Texts include: the different iterations of The Roeper Philosophy, selections from influential works on educational philosophy and social justice, experiential components such as visits to/with other schools, and collaborative-facing projects that put our learning into practice.
Prerequisites: None
US Writing in Visual Culture
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class explores visual culture, drawing from critical perspectives and utilizing a range of methods for reading, analyzing, and writing about images. We study a variety of visual mediums, including fine art, photography, performance art, architecture, film, television, advertising, graphic design, and digital culture. The various mediums find connection in common themes and concepts, including voyeurism, the gaze, surveillance, spectacle, commodity fetishism, and visual constructions of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Assignments are written and visual and often involve presentation, and there are ample opportunities for group projects and creative work. We are a collaborative group and often function as each other’s audience. Students should finish the semester with a vocabulary and set of strategies for approaching visual texts and articulating their views and ideas in academic and other meaningful social contexts. No prior knowledge of visual culture is required; however, students often come to class knowing more than they realize or already possessing a fair amount of familiarity with visual culture. We live in an image-saturated, visuallyinundated society. In this class, we seek to increase our visual literacy and hone our ability to interpret, analyze, and make informed decisions about what we see.
Prerequisites: None
US Ways of Knowing: Literary Theory
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class offers a deep dive into the big, relevant, messy, thorny issues of culture. But here’s the thing: it’s also super fun! We are based in theory and begin the class with a proposal: Theory changed my life, and it can change yours too. We structure our exploration around several key theoretical discourses, including psychoanalysis, Marxist theory, gender theory, and critical race theory. Key concepts of these discourses serve as guideposts as we delve unabashedly into areas of study based on student interests. In other words, you get to study whatever you want to! Throughout our study, we will build our skill set to include: proposal and precis writing, annotated bibliography construction, multi-stage drafting, and oral and written presentation. This skill set is designed to be portable and endlessly applicable as a tool kit for approaching any new text. The fact that students work on different texts is not a detriment but a big benefit, creating an engaging, dynamic workshop environment in the class through which we all get to learn. Research and writing are shared and discussed, and through this process, we make each other better writers and become active
participants in a vibrant, collegial learning community. Ultimately, we seek to discover what makes us think the way we think and come to know what we know.
Prerequisites: None
US Shadow and Light in Speculative Fiction
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course uses speculative fiction texts and films to explore timeless philosophical topics that include: the nature of reality; formation and transformation of identity; communal versus individual social systems; complex ethical questions; the double-edged nature of utopian visions; consciousness and self-awareness in non-human entities; the search for meaning; free will; social contract theory; materialism; and more. Content will be evenly split between films and texts.
Texts include The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin; excerpts from Plato’s Republic, No Woman Born by C.L. More, and others. Films include Dark City, Blade Runner, and V for Vendetta. Television shows include Star Trek: TOS, The Horta, and Westworld.
Prerequisites: None
US Journalistic Writing
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Journalism students select article topics based on personal interests inside and outside of school as well as trends and areas of reader interest. To bring articles to completion, students research, devise a survey, or canvas students and teachers directly. In addition to working on compelling, thought-provoking, even-handed, and balanced writing, students are expected to help their classmates brainstorm ideas, edit each other’s work, and make suggestions about content. Students also complete other assignments and exercises intended to grow their journalistic writing skills. Students may enroll for the entire year or a single semester
Prerequisites: None
US Defying Doomsday
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: A class designed to explore humanity and resiliency in the face of disaster. Students will explore this theme by deconstructing and responding to a range of readings, including: Defying Doomsday (Anthology); The Stars My Destination; Parable; Monk & Robot
Prerequisites: None
US Advanced English
Grades Eligible: 12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class should be taken by students who enjoy English and have pursued various electives beyond their core study. It is designed as a bridge class between high school and college English studies. We explore college and graduate level texts that are complex in terms of content and form. We engage in literary theory and consider various movements such as Romanticism, Victorianism, modernism, and postmodernism. The class spends time on preparation for the AP English exams in the spring, although it is not an AP prep course. More importantly for our purposes is the honing and polishing of already strong skills in the areas of textual analysis and writing. We concentrate on the changes that students can expect at college in terms of the ways in which texts are presented, discussed, and written about in particular, how texts work within and as integral parts of larger academic and social paradigms. We spend considerable time on developing research skills, which include assessing and using critical sources, crafting proposals, collecting sources in annotated bibliographies, and presenting one's work in a variety of settings. At every turn, our focus is on the transition between high school and college. Our aim is to become familiar with college-level academic discourse and protocols and to develop into fully independent scholars and participants in rigorous, productive, ethical academic communities at college and beyond.
Prerequisites: Instructor approval
Department: COMMUNICATIONS
Faculty Contacts: Dan Jacobs and Michelle Stamler
US Forensics & Public Speaking
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Forensics examines communication of thought through several vehicles. Students learn the theories and practices of oral interpretation and public speaking through competitive speech
activities. Saturday invitational tournament participation is an important part of Forensics. Students also compete in the State Elimination Tournament under the direction of the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association. All students meet individually with the teacher to determine an appropriate, meaningful tournament and class participation schedule for the semester.
Prerequisites: None
US Debate
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Learn the art of formal debate! Win arguments with your teachers and parents! Take on issues like capital punishment, abortion, assisted suicide, and civil disobedience, and then test your debate-ability in competitions against other high school students from around the state and–if you make it to Nationals–from around the country.
Prerequisites: None
US Yearbook
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Yearbook staff members work in the areas of layout, photography, artistic design, and caption writing. They produce, as a team, the annual yearbook for both campuses. All staff members are expected to seek advertising to defray some to the cost of the yearbook. The yearbook meets 4 blocks out of 6. Staff members may be asked to put in extra hours, frequently to photograph events. A background in photography and Photoshop is not needed but can be helpful. This is a yearlong class.
Prerequisites: None
Department: FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
Department Coordinator: Michelle Stamler
VISUAL ARTS
US Graphic Design
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students in the Graphic Design course use Adobe Illustrator CS6 software in conjunction with the Adobe Illustrator CS6 Classroom book to work on various lessons and creative projects. This program, the industry standard, allows students to create sophisticated artwork for virtually any medium. Students in this class learn how to convert photos and other images to editable and scalable vector paths using live trace. Students work at a rapid pace and utilize their newly acquired skills to create impressive and complicated graphic designs.
Prerequisites: None
US Photography
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is geared toward teaching the student the techniques of standard black-andwhite photography. Students are instructed in the fundamentals of camera operation, black-and-white film processing and black-and-white enlarging. A portion of the semester is devoted to alternative processes. Students are encouraged to develop their own personal vision within the medium. Class time involves lab work, group and individual critiques, demonstrations of new techniques and discussions of prominent issues in the medium.
Prerequisites: None
US Drawing
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Upper School Drawing is a semester course in which students will explore a broad range of approaches to art through sketching, formal drawing technique, and discussions about various drawing approaches and artists. Traditional and alternative (experimental) approaches to drawing will be presented. Students should be prepared to question and critique their own work and that of others in class. Group critiques will be held after assignments.
Prerequisites: None
US Painting
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Upper School Painting will introduce students to painting as a practice that encourages the discovery of meaningful and personal ways to record ideas and experiences. Assignments in class will emphasize making these personal connections, while helping students to explore the basic traditional concerns of painting (color, composition, volume, movement, etc.) Demonstrations and group and individual critiques will be planned to help further students understanding of the painting process.
Prerequisites: None
US Figure Drawing
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is designed to assist students who have a serious interest in exploring the use of the human figure in drawing and painting. Figure drawing practice will be emphasized, and studies will be used for 3 - 4 finished final works. During the semester, professional models will be scheduled to pose for 4-5 classes sessions. Figurative artists from the past and present will be shared to enhance awareness of the history and various purposes of figurative art.
Prerequisites: None
US Open Studio
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is designed for inspired and self-directed Upper School artists who have visual arts projects in mind that they would like to pursue. Students should be ready to prepare a project proposal at the beginning of the semester for a work (or series of works) in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, or mixed media.
Prerequisites: None
US Fibers
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class students will learn to manipulate yarn, string, rope, wool, felt, fabric, felt and other materials to create both sculptures and functional objects using traditional and non-traditional techniques like weaving, knitting, crochet, macramé, sewing and knot-tying.
Prerequisites: None
US Ceramics
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Finding each student’s original voice through clay as the medium is the main objective of this course. After completing the three major hand-building techniques, students will be supported while exploring their personal interests in clay, which may include functional, sculptural and/or wheel projects. Returning students will follow a similar process by expanding on their prior hand-building experience and take their ideas and skills to a more refined and unique level.
Prerequisites: None
US Art as Activism
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is a multi-media look at art made to change minds. We will explore protest signs, printmaking and protest, spectacle puppets as a means of protest, and the use of projection in protest. Students will look at the historical use of art in social justice movements, as well as make their own art to advance the causes they believe in.
Prerequisites: None
US Printmaking
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will get to explore various techniques of printmaking, including relief printing, monotype, intaglio, collagraph and/or collage. The goal is for students to gain the skills and confidence to produce multiple images by hand printing while exploring personal visual expression.
Prerequisites: None
US Stop Motion Animation
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will learn to bring their stories to life using stop motion animation. In this class, we will explore the basics of animation, as well as storyboarding, building some basic sets and puppets, and how to use the features of Stop Motion Studio to get the best results in our short films.
Prerequisites: None
MUSIC
MU Advanced Strings
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is for a small ensemble of advanced string players to work on developing technique, tone, and musicianship through chamber work. This course will attempt to provide more challenging literature than what the larger ensemble work of the strings course offers.
Prerequisites: None
MU Beginning Band
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is for anyone in grades 6-12 who would like to learn a band instrument. (See end of description for instrument choices) Students will choose, or be fitted for, an instrument and learn the basics of tone production and music theory to prepare them to potentially move on in the Roeper Band program. This course is also a great fit for any students who may have started learning
an instrument in the Lower School, or at a previous school, and for whatever reason decided to stop, but now would like to start playing again. Instrument choices for this course include: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Percussion (not drum-set).
Prerequisites: None
US Concert Band
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will be provided opportunities to explore the elements of music and develop expressiveness to the music they hear, perform, and create. Students will gain personal musical values and awareness to respond with sensitivity to many types of music. This is a performanceoriented ensemble that will participate in scheduled concerts and solo/ensemble workshops and festivals. This program is built around the instrumentation of the performers. Music is selected based on individual strengths with an emphasis on achieving the best musical sound and balance possible.
Prerequisites: None
US Jazz Band
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In the jazz environment, students have chosen to take their knowledge and enjoyment of music to a new level by studying, performing, creating, and listening to repertoire in various jazz styles. Through the learning of scales and chords, students will gain confidence in improvisation techniques. The jazz ensemble is built around the instrumentation of the performers. Repertoire is chosen based on individual strengths within the ensemble. Classes act as rehearsals for performances and instructional time for learning blues scales and chord symbol reading and comprehension. Appropriate guided listening and creating will occur on a regular basis.
Prerequisites: None
US Concert Choir
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is a performance class focusing on the fun of singing together with a variety of people. The choir will explore a wide variety of musical styles. Collaborative music making is encouraged and students of all levels of experience are welcome! There are a few concerts throughout the year.
Prerequisites: None
US Small Choir
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Upper School smaller ensemble will give strong singers of all genders and voice-types more autonomy to sing a cappella songs, some more modern tunes that they arrange themselves, and challenging music that requires a higher level of experience, dedication, and energy. By registering for Concert Choir and Small Choir, students will have a complete singing experience in the Upper School. There may be a separate audition expected if enrollment in Small Choir exceeds seven.
Prerequisites: None, though students must also be enrolled in Concert Choir
US Vocal Techniques
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is a non-audition class where singers learn the basics of vocal tone production and how these concepts can be applied to any solo style of music performance. There is emphasis on the individual skill-building that is akin to a masterclass or private voice studio experience. Students are expected to research their pieces and perform for the class. Some singers may be featured in concerts throughout the year.
Prerequisites: None
DANCE
MU Dance Technique
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is recommended for students with some dance experience. Students will learn a variety of dance technique; ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, hip hop, Congolese, and musical theater in separate units. Dancers should plan to come into the studio ready to move and gain skills in different dance styles and techniques. There will be no performative component to this class.
Prerequisites: None
MU Studio to Stage
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course is recommended for students with some dance experience. We will explore movement through technique, improvisation, choreography, and performance. Time will be spent on contemporary and postmodern techniques through warmup and extended movement patterns. Dancers will spend significant time becoming familiar with their own creative process, honing their artistic voice. The class culminates with a formal performance that brings together technique, improvisation, and student choreography in the Acheson Theater.
Prerequisites: None
MU Dance Ensemble
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Dance Ensemble is recommended for intermediate to advanced level dancers. This course will rigorously explore movement through technique, improvisation, choreography, and performance. Throughout the year, dancers will participate in Spotlight Performances, site-specific showings, mentorship with LS students, and workshops with guest artists. The class culminates with a formal performance that brings together technique, improvisation, and student choreography in the Acheson Theater
Prerequisites: Instructor approval
US Senior Dance Concert
Grades Eligible: 12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Seniors plan and execute a dance concert from inception to performance. The only requirements are that each dancer must choreograph and perform a solo and choreograph an ensemble work. This class is designed as a culminating class or senior thesis in performance.
Prerequisites: None
DRAMA
US Musical Theater Workshop
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Do you love to sing? Do you love musical theater? This may be the class for you! Students will get the chance to work on and perform scenes and songs from various musicals. Musical selections will range from classic, golden age to contemporary and even jukebox tunes. Classes will consist of music and acting rehearsals and there will be a small performance at the end of the term.
Requirement Fulfilled: Creative Endeavor, Collaborative Endeavor | Prerequisites: None
US Company Class
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This is a performance opportunity that does not require an after-school commitment. The class will culminate in a performance.
Prerequisites: None
Department: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Department Coordinator: Andrew Blechman
US Introduction to Biology
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Intro Biology is a survey course covering ecology, cell biology, Mendelian genetics, and molecular genetics during the first semester. The second semester covers evolution, a survey of the diversity of living organisms and human body systems. The class includes a large laboratory component which focuses on developing a student’s ability to generate hypothesis, design laboratories, and critically analyze data.
Prerequisites: None
US Introduction to Chemistry
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The study of matter its structure, interactions, and technology constitutes the body of material in this course designed to equip students to understand the chemical processes that make up the world around them. Scientific method and logical inductive reasoning are integral parts of the course; an inquiry approach is often incorporated into laboratory and hands-on exercises. Various written assignments and projects throughout the year broaden students’ horizons and allow them to tailor the course to their personal interests.
Prerequisites: None
US Introduction to Physics
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Introduction to Physics is a fast-paced course that should provide students with a good conceptual and mathematical understanding of the fundamental principles of physics. Topics covered include particle mechanics, energy and conservation laws, equilibrium, gravitation, waves, sound, and geometric optics. An emphasis will be placed on problem-solving methods. We will also use demonstrations and labs to more fully explore the concepts presented. This class is aimed at students who want to learn more about quantitative methods that are used in physics.
Prerequisites: Completion or concurrent enrollment in Precalculus
US Advanced Biology
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 6 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Advanced Biology is designed to build on the biological principles that students learned in Introductory Biology. Although we cover all the same topics, we go into greater depth and explore more current research. Though we spend a lot of time in lecture, there are many student presentations and activities to reinforce learning. There is also a significant laboratory component to the course, and we will conduct labs that require students to use their knowledge to analyze data. At the end of the course students should be well prepared to take the AP Biology exam if they wish. The last unit will be entirely directed by student interest.
Prerequisites: B+ or better in Intro Biology and completion of Intro Chemistry or instructor approval
US Anatomy and Physiology
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course delves into the intricate workings of the human body, exploring both its structure (anatomy) and function (physiology). Students will gain a deep understanding of the interconnected systems that maintain life, from the microscopic level of cells to the macroscopic level of organ systems.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Intro Biology
US Advanced Chemistry
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 6 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Advanced Chemistry is the equivalent of a first-year college course, and it takes the serious chemistry student deeper into the material and concepts studied in Intro to Chemistry. Much of the focus is on the mathematical and analytical components of the concepts. Students gain more facility in higher-level problem solving. Experimentation is designed for the student to develop independence and skill in the laboratory, and includes all labs required by the Advanced Placement Board for the AP Exam in Chemistry. A minimum of 6–8 hours per week of homework time is necessary for successful completion of this course. Evaluation is based on lab reports/results, in-class and take-home exams, and a final exam in the spring semester that is based on AP essay questions. Many students elect to take the AP Chemistry exam upon completion of the course.
Prerequisites: B+ or higher in Intro Biology and Intro Chemistry, or instructor approval
US Environmental Science A
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class explores ecosystems, Biodiversity, populations, earth systems and resources and Land and Water usage. Overarching themes of energy transfer, interactions between Earth systems, interactions between different species and environment as well as sustainability and viewing environmental science through the lenses of justice and social impact, trend throughout the course.
Prerequisites: Completion of Intro Biology and Intro Chemistry
US Environmental Science B
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class will cover topics including Energy Resources and Consumption, Atmospheric Pollution, Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution, and Global Change. Overarching themes of energy transfer, interactions between Earth systems, interactions between different species and environment as well as sustainability and viewing environmental science through the lenses of justice and social impact, trend throughout the course. This course is a complement to Environmental Science A, but the two semesters can also be taken separately.
Prerequisites: Completion of Intro Biology and Intro Chemistry
US Forensic Science
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Forensic Science is a one-semester course in which students learn to apply concepts learned in biology, chemistry, math, and physics to the area of crime scene investigation. This course has a strong emphasis on laboratory work, inquiry, problem solving and logic. Teamwork is vital to success in this course; each assessment requires thorough investigative work by a group, and each team member must contribute to the activity. The specific topics for the course are tailored to student interest, but they may include any of the following: crime scene procedures, fingerprinting, blood serology, DNA, toxicology, forgery, handwriting analysis, accident reconstruction, hair and Fiber analysis, entomology, and the legal structure for scientific evidence. The final exam is an analysis of a culminating crime scene where students apply the skills attained throughout the semester.
Prerequisites: Completion of Intro Biology
US Astronomy & Planetary Science
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is an introduction to some of the concepts and techniques of astronomy and planetary science. We will discuss the night sky and how astronomers map the heavens. Students will then learn about the science and math that is used to measure and understand objects in the universe. The course will also survey topics in planetary science, such as the nature of plate tectonics, volcanoes, and atmospheres. Time and interest permitting, we will also talk about the life cycle of stars, galaxies, and the universe The course will have a significant lab component.
Prerequisites: None
US Electrical Engineering
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In this class, we will learn how to design electronic circuits. We will discuss DC and AC circuits, and the principles behind electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and op-amps. If time permits, we will also dive a little into digital circuitry such as logic gates and memory. The course is primarily project-based, with videos watched for homework, and class time spent mostly doing experiments and design. Students will document all their work in a notebook that will be the primary component of their grade, along with occasional quizzes based on the videos.
Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra 2
US Advanced Physics
Grades Eligible: 10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 6 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Advanced Physics covers the material of college-level Physics I and II. This is a rigorous, challenging but rewarding course with emphasis on sophisticated multi-step problem solving techniques using algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Topics covered include: kinematics, dynamics, momentum, work-energy, rotational motion, gravitation, simple harmonic motion, statics, electric and
magnetic fields, current, circuits, and electromagnetism. Students will also learn advanced data analysis techniques for performing more sophisticated laboratory assignments. Students who take this class will be well prepared to take the AP Physics (C) Exam covering mechanics and electricity/magnetism at a calculus level.
Prerequisites: B+ or better in Intro Physics or instructor approval, completion, or concurrent enrollment in AB Calculus.
US Makerspace
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Using the tools in the makerspace, students can learn explore 3D printing laser cutting, Cricut cutter, CNC machine, programmable drones, sewing, Arduino, cooking, woodworking, and raspberry pi.
Prerequisites: None
US Robotics
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: US Robotics Club is a time to explore individual and team-based US Robotics opportunities, including Vex Competitions, OCCRA, Robofest, and any additional personal roboticsbased projects.
Prerequisites: None
US 3D Design: Fusion 360
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course will explore the use and application of Fusion 360 for CAD design. We will cover basic sketching, medication, construction, assembly, and automation. We will work together in class to build skills and comfort with the software. Students will work toward a final student chosen design.
Prerequisites: None
US Introduction to Computer Programming
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course will teach you how to program in Python. (Python is a popular commercial programming language that is easy to use and is free). Additionally, we will discuss how a computer works and its function in society. This course will teach you how to think with precision, solve problems that require this way of thinking and learn practical skills for writing computer programs. No prior computer programming is necessary.
Prerequisites: None
US Advanced Computer Programming
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class will introduce you to new programming languages and build on the knowledge you acquired in the Introductory class. You may explore building an iOS app using the Swift language. Alternatively, you may explore building a website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript languages. This class will be project-based and develop your programming knowledge to enable you to build innovative programs.
Prerequisites: Completion of Introduction to Computer Programming or instructor approval
Department: MATHEMATICS
Department Coordinator: Susan Knight
Geometry
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course in Euclidean Geometry allows the students to develop logical deductive thinking skills, to understand how a mathematical system is developed, and to become familiar with geometric concepts and spatial relationships in both two and three dimensions. Inductive and deductive reasoning skills are developed over time. Investigative methods are used with increasing
emphasis on proof over the course of the school year. Students study geometric construction, triangles, polygons, circles, area, volume, Pythagorean Theorem, similarity and basic trigonometry. The software package, The Geometers Sketchpad, is currently being used to complement the text.
Prerequisites: Algebra 1 or department approval
Algebra 2
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In Algebra 2, functions are the fundamental object of study. Students will examine the notion of functions in general and then study other topics through the prism of this idea. This will allow polynomial functions, radical functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, and other functions to be seen as interrelated concepts. This course will address these major ideas algebraically as well. Students will also see how to solve various groups or systems of equations. Graphing calculators will show students how to deal with mathematical concepts from analytical, numerical, and graphical points of view.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra 1 and Geometry or department approval.
College Algebra and Introduction to Statistics
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 6 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class is offered as an option for the student who has finished Algebra 2 but is not ready to move on to Precalculus. Algebra topics will be thoroughly reviewed and a strong foundation for Precalculus will be built. Some Precalculus topics will be introduced at a moderate pace. Introductory statistics topics will also be covered. Students who have successfully completed this course will be prepared to take Precalculus or Advanced Statistics the next year.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra 2
Precalculus
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Precalculus is a rigorous mathematics course that extends the concepts learned in Algebra 2 and adds new concepts, primarily trigonometry and discrete mathematics, with the intent of building a bridge to calculus courses. Students will cover topics that include trigonometric functions, polar coordinates, vectors, logarithms, sequences and series, probability, and as time permits proofs, fractals, and graph theory. The primary goal of precalculus is to learn analytical and problem-solving skills by using algebraic, graphical, and numerical techniques, thus developing the necessary foundation for success in calculus.
Prerequisites: Grade of B or higher in Algebra 2.
AP Calculus AB
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: AP Calculus AB helps students understand the concept of the derivative as instantaneous rate of change, the concept of the integral as accumulated area under a curve, and both the utility and the beauty of the connection between the two. Students will examine functions represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally, and should become comfortable with interpreting and expressing mathematical information in these four forms and understand the connections among them. Students will prepare for the Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam, though it is by no means a requirement.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Precalculus
AP Statistics
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Statistics deals with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data. The first semester covers basic information on organizing data, measures of center and spread, basic probability, and binomial and normal distributions. The second semester builds on this foundation and investigates more advanced statistical methods for evaluating data. Some of the broad topics covered are sampling distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression, and correlation. The use of graphing calculators and statistical software will be an integral part of the course. This class can be taken concurrently with Precalculus or Calculus. NOTE: Students are encouraged to take the AP Statistics Exam upon completion of this course
Prerequisites: Grade of B in Algebra 2 or instructor approval
AP Calculus BC
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 6 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The purpose of this course is to complete the study of single variable calculus and point the way to further exploration. The course will begin with a thorough and challenging review of differential calculus (Calculus A). This will be followed with a thorough exploration of integral Calculus. Series will be explored through a demonstration that every infinitely differentiable function can be expressed as an infinite polynomial function. Finally, the course will explore the calculus of polar, parametric and vector valued functions. Students will be prepared for the Advanced Placement Calculus (BC) Exam.
Prerequisites: A or better in Precalculus or B or better in AP Calculus AB
Calculus 3
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In Calculus 3, students will strengthen the foundational topics they learned in Calculus 1 and 2 (or their AP equivalents AB and BC). This course also introduces new topics in partial derivatives, vector calculus, and multiple integration.
Prerequisites: Completion of Calculus BC.
Linear Algebra
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class studies systems of linear equations and the properties of matrices.
Prerequisites: Completion of Calculus BC
Department: WORLD LANGUAGES
Department Coordinator: Michal McConville
Beginning Chinese 1
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Beginning Chinese 1 is an introductory course to Mandarin Chinese. Its aim is to develop basic Chinese language skills for communicative competence in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. First, Pinyin (the most widely used Chinese phonetic system) will be taught as a tool to learn the spoken language. Students will then learn basic vocabulary and sentence structures for use in essential everyday situations through various forms of oral practice. Students will also learn to read and write approximately 200 Chinese characters related to the oral task. Rules for stroke orders will be introduced and will be practiced continuously throughout the year. While linguistic aspects of the Chinese language are the primary focus, introduction to the social and cultural background of the language will also form an important part of the course, helping students not only develop a desire for further exploring the Chinese language, but also an appreciative acquaintance with Chinese culture.
Prerequisites: None
Beginning Chinese 2
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Beginning Chinese 2 is designed for students who have finished Beginning Chinese 1 or its equivalent. The curriculum will continue to build on students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, but at an accelerated pace. Building upon previously learned vocabulary and sentence structures, students will study more useful expressions and advanced sentence structures necessary for use in everyday life. Students will be exposed to longer and more complex conversations related to everyday situations as well. While emphasis will still be laid on the communicative skills of listening and speaking, students will also continue studying more Chinese characters for reading and writing and keep practicing writing short essays in Chinese characters. To facilitate the study of the language, different aspects of Chinese culture and society will also be continuously introduced through activities such as Chinese videos, cooking, field trips, and guest speakers.
Prerequisites: Beginning Chinese 1
Intermediate Chinese 1–2
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Intermediate Chinese 1–2 is designed for students who have finished Beginning Chinese 2 or its equivalent. Build upon what has been studied in the Beginning Chinese program, more sophisticated vocabulary and grammatical structures are gradually added this year to systematically build students’ abilities in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will be exposed to much and more complicated listening and speaking tasks that will help them to develop skills such as basic summary, description, report, discussion and debate. Topics for reading and writing are also expanded to more abstract and more societal phenomena, to help students better understand current Chinese society and be able to discuss, compare and analyze cultural differences. Activities related to the broad spectrum of Chinese culture will be organized to facilitate language learning with broader knowledge and deeper understanding of the cultural background of the language.
Prerequisites: Beginning Chinese 2
Advanced Chinese 1–2
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Advanced Chinese 1–2 is designed for students who have finished Intermediate Chinese 2 or its equivalent. Build upon what has been studied in previous Chinese program, students will continue to build their language skills from the study of more vocabulary and grammar points at an accelerated pace. They are also required to apply these skills in various practical communicative situations by using longer and more complex sentence structures. Meanwhile, students will be introduced to more formal and written expressions in Chinese to increase their “media literacy” through the reading of Chinese idiom stories, or articles written in the style of newspaper, magazines, or internet articles. Students will also be guided to write longer and more cohesive essays in Chinese. The introduction and discussion of both traditional Chinese culture and current societal changes in China will continuously be an important part of this year’s study in Chinese.
Prerequisites: Intermediate Chinese 2
Latin I
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Do you enjoy a good challenge? Are you really clever at solving puzzles? Are you interested in the ways that different languages can connect with each other? If so, Latin 1 might be
the foreign language class for you to try. Latin is a complex and quite elegant language, and during the first year of study students are introduced to the language by developing their knowledge and skills in three major areas: vocabulary acquisition, grammar, and translation. Also, students are exposed to various elements of Roman culture and classical mythology throughout the year to put this so-called dead language in a living context. Even just one year of Latin study pays large dividends: your understanding of English will improve dramatically, your puzzle-solving skills will become sharper, and you will find out about some of the curiosities of the Roman world along the way.
Prerequisites: None
Latin II
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: As you embarked upon your Latin studies last year, you may have thought you were setting sail on a lake of language: it was difficult at times to navigate, but you could see the shore on the far side. During this second year in Latin, you may soon feel as though you are in fact on an ocean of language with multiple ports of call. At these various stops, you will see all sorts of new word forms and constructions and there will be a lot of new information to remember. Even though the Latin language appears to become more complex, you will also find that your ability to cope with the translation process will come to incorporate new and more sophisticated strategies and tools. In other words, at the end of this year you will find yourself to be an exceptional navigator of languages in general and an excellent first-mate on a ship that sails the Latin waters.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Latin I or department approval
Latin III
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Latin 3 is the year during which you will obtain your captain's license in Latin. During the previous two years you came to learn the rules of navigation and you are now at a point when you can take on much more complex translations and really gain a sense of what it means to think like a Latin writer or speaker. Throughout the year, you will learn how to chart the increasingly more difficult waters of Latin, including some of the uses of the subjunctive mood, a hallmark of third year study. By the end of the year, you will be able to try your hand at translations of unadapted Latin and you will be able to do this solo.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Latin II or department approval
Latin IV
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: The Latin IV student will continue to hone their skills with the more advanced sentence structures including indirect statements, participles, and the subjunctive mood. Indirect commands, clauses or fearing, result clauses, and indirect questions will also be learned. Students will also learn about the emperors in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and why they were so dysfunctional!
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Latin III or instructor approval
US Greek Mythology
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This course offers an in-depth analysis into ancient Greek mythology and religion to understand the beliefs and culture of the ancient Greek civilization. The course will cover the origin of the cosmos and creation of the gods, the symbols and domains of major gods and goddesses, mythological stories of gods, as well as the major heroes and demigods of the ancient Greek world, how the myths identify the culture and society of the ancient Greeks, and how those myths/themes compare to our contemporary beliefs and customs. Please note that adult themes will be discussed. Comparisons to contemporary religious practices and beliefs will also be discussed in an academic nature. While offered as an elective in the World Languages department, Greek Mythology will not fulfill language requirements or expectations for universities.
Prerequisites: None
US Intro Spanish
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: This class emphasizes an introduction to Spanish language study using an integrative, communicative approach. It is possible for students to use the language creatively from the outset, and free expression is encouraged. Situations are taken from everyday experiences, and vocabulary emphasizes elements of the native speaker’s idiom. Grammar is not presented for its own sake but as
a means of transmitting a spoken or written message as accurately as possible. In this proficiencyoriented approach, culture and the four skills of language learning listening, speaking, reading, and writing reinforce one another in an ever-widening spiral. By the end of Spanish I, students are able to function as accurately as possible in a variety of situations. Examples of this are: discussing likes and dislikes; functioning in a cafe; asking for and giving directions; describing people and activities in the present, past, and future; and making plans for a trip. Culturally, this level stresses an awareness of the scope of the Hispanic world and elements specific to Hispanic culture (family and traditions). This program is congruent with the National Standards as established by ACTFL.
Prerequisites: None
US Spanish 2
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Spanish 2 is a continuation and extension of Spanish 1. The vocabulary of first level is extended, and the ability to communicate comfortably and effectively is expanded during the second year. Some themes of this level include: accurate description of people and places, talking about your residence, getting lodging in a hotel or hostel, interacting/questioning related to leisure-time and vacation activities and the ability to discuss health-related concerns. These situations are intended to give the student freedom to be creative and express ideas without fear or anxiety. Culture at this level stresses the traditions and history of Central America and South America countries. The student at level 2 will develop further their language skills for communicative competence in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. Grammar is not presented in isolated situations but rather as a means for effective communication. This program is congruent with the National Standards as established by ACTFL.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish 1 or department approval
US Spanish 3
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Spanish 3 is an extension of Spanish 2 with an emphasis on learning how to speak about health and use medical terms, technology, computers and cars, housing, house chores and nature and the environment, Culture continues exploring the popular art, music, and literature of various segments of the Spanish-speaking world. The student at level 3 will develop further their language skills for communicative competence in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes.
Grammar is presented as a means of effective communication. This program is congruent with the National Standards as established by ACTFL.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish 2 or department approval
US Spanish 4
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Spanish 4 is an extension of Spanish 3 with emphasis on learning City and city chores, banking, exercise and physical activity, professions and job interviews, the arts, and current events. Culture continues exploring the popular art, music, and literature of various segments of the Spanishspeaking world. The student at level 4 will develop further their language skills for communicative competence in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. This program is congruent with the National Standards as established by ACTFL.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish 3 or department approval
US Spanish 5
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Spanish V Continues to refine the listening, speaking, reading, and writing. At this level, the curriculum includes the study of culture, history and literature of the Spanish speaking countries and people. The literature includes short stories, drama, poetry, essays. The cultural emphasis examines the formation of the Hispanic personality and the social panorama of the Spanish-speaking world. Students write a variety of compositions and a research paper of their choice. Students are engaged in a systematic intensive review of grammar. During the second semester students will focus on related projects around Spain and Spanish Civil war. This class is not designed to teach to the AP Spanish Exam, although students may elect to take the exam at this level.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish 4 or instructor approval.
US French 2
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: In French 2, students explore new themes and expand and enrich their vocabulary while developing a more formal understanding of how the language is constructed. As their fluency and ability to function within the language increases, so does their grammatical accuracy. At this level, students are expected to use the verb tenses and grammatical structures they were only asked to be able to recognize during French 1. By the end of French 2 students are able to communicate in the conditional mood when needed. They develop more sophisticated structures of questioning. Students are asked to retrieve information for mini-research projects using authentic materials such as encyclopedias, magazines, French CD-ROMs, and the Internet. Active listening, mini-presentations and group work are part of their daily learning process. At the end of each theme, evaluation includes listening and reading comprehension, writing, and speaking. Students are evaluated on how well they can communicate their ideas and on the level of accuracy at which they are performing.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of MS French 3 or department approval
US French 3
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: French 3 continues with the experiential learning approach. Some of the themes are new, while others are revisited from previous years. Students will be required to write mini essays, and to make oral presentations (5 to 10 minutes) on research connected to the theme explored in the unit of study. They will become well acquainted with most verb conjugations, regular or irregular. They will experiment and use various linguistic and grammatical elements within real communication situations where language is considered a vehicle to express a message. At the end of each unit students will be evaluated on their progress in fluency as well as on their accuracy in delivering the message in speaking and in writing. Evaluation will also include their reading comprehension ability and grammar. Students will enjoy watching French movies and getting to experience French culture within its many aspects. This program is congruent with the National Standards as established by ACTFL.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of US French 2 or department approval
US Advanced French
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 4 | Frequency: 4 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Advanced French will focus on applying grammatical structures and vocabulary by using critical thinking and writing skills. Students will be engaged in studying a variety of French and Francophone texts including poems, essays, and novels. The students will also learn how to analyze French films, critique works of art, and write fictional creative pieces in the language. The students will
also work on a linguistics unit to understand the French phonetic system and perfect their accents and pronunciation. Evaluation will be based on class participation and preparation, presentations, and compositions. This course is taught as a two-year cycle, so students may take the class twice and still be progressing in their mastery of the French language. This course is not designed to prepare students for the AP exam, but they may elect to take the exam at this point.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of French 3 or instructor approval.
Department: DEIJ
Faculty Contacts: Carolyn Lett/Camellia Lewis
Student SEED
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 2 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Students will explore their own education in relation to fundamental social identifiers including but not limited to race, gender, socioeconomic/class status, religion, sexual identity, abilities, age, etc., and how these factors currently impact their school experience and interactions with classmates. Students will explore how they can use their knowledge of self to create a more equitable environment for all. Those who participate in SEED report they are better able to listen to all voices, including their own. They are also able to embrace the challenges and joys of the many kinds of diversity found in their own lives and in the lives of others with more confidence and competence.
Prerequisites: None
Department: Learning Support
Coordinator: Marie Halpin
US Directed Study (formerly Resource Room)
Grades Eligible: 9/10/11/12
Quarter Length: 1 | Frequency: 2 meetings per 6-day cycle
Description: Directed Study is a class that will give students the opportunity to focus on direct work completion with a teacher's support. The teacher will work with each student to make sure that they are current with academic expectations (using MyRoeper), students will engage with current assignments, past assignments, projects, and/or prepare for upcoming tests. This is also a time that can be used to meet with available teachers and take tests. Directed study is prioritized for students with formal accommodation plans or SSAPs (Student Specific Learning Plans). However, it is not
limited to only students with SSAPS. Directed study can also be an intervention or recommendation for struggling students and/or students new to Roeper. Students without an SSAP will need approval prior to registering for the class. It is NOT a place for students to fill a free block
Prerequisites: SSAP on file with Student Support Services or advisor approval