School Profile

 Bible 12: Understanding the Culture

In this course students learn how to be intelligent, thoughtful Christians living in today’s world. They will explore some of the most difficult issues of our day and apply to them an understanding of God, His revelation, and insights into other worldviews. 

This course explores themes in European literature, focusing on major works like Hamlet, Frankenstein, and 1984. After opening units focusing on independent reading and poetry analysis, students spend the rest of the year engaging with these complex works of literature. This course invites students to discern and analyze the arguments and themes of these texts, and to explore these ideas through regular writing assignments. Vocabulary practice and class conversations help students continue to grow as communicators.   

This course presents the concepts of limits, differentiation and integration; these are presented graphically, numerically, analytically and verbally. The course focuses on the basic concrete and abstract aspects of the mathematical processes used in a first level college calculus class. Derivatives and integrals are applied to real life settings such as science and economics. All students are required to take a practice AP® exam in March or April and take the College Board AP® Calculus AB exam in May 

 An intensive course equivalent to an introductory college biology course, AP® Biology offers students an in-depth examination into main biological concepts that build upon those learned in Introductory Biology. A minimum of 12 laboratory investigations must be completed in preparation for the AP® exam in May. Students taking AP® Biology must be prepared for outside reading and laboratory work that requires time outside of class (mornings, afternoon, or possibly weekends). Students must have a good work ethic. 

The course will give the students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. The course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. Students become acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. Topics covered include constitutional underpinnings of the U.S. government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups and mass media, institutions of national government, public policy, and civil liberties and civil rights. The acquisition of a thorough and systematic comprehension of U.S. government and politics requires that students learn facts and concepts and understand typical political processes. Students are also required to interpret basic data relevant to government and politics in sustained written arguments. 

This full-year, half-credit course is required for all seniors and is taught by their senior mentor. Students are asked to select a problem affecting our society, to research and write a paper on the root causes of that problem, and then to propose solutions. Following the completion of their paper, students must engage in a relevant project that in some way addresses their chosen problem, and at the end of the year must give an oral presentation of what they have learned before a review board. 

This is an introductory class for the study of photographic processes. Use of the digital camera and the manipulation of student-generated images on the computer will serve as a basis for exploring various media. Students will be challenged to solve art problems by studying the work of master photographers and digital artists. A sketchbook will serve as a resource for technical information, processes, idea generation and written commentary. The goal is to have students develop and demonstrate knowledge of vocabulary and themes of photographic media.