2008-2009
Upper Division
Course Catalog

Courses List (PDF)

4-Year Organizer (PDF)

General Information
Complete Course Listing
Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

Departmental Course Descriptions

• Arts & Humanities
• Computer Science
• English
• Mathematics
• Physical Education
• Science
• Social Studies
• World Languages

Arts and Humanities Department Courses

Visual Art Electives

Introduction to Studio Art

Students will be introduced to the elements and principles of color, texture, variety, harmony, and unity. The course will help students think visually and translate those thoughts into drawing. The curriculum will stress perspective and value studies and serve as a basis for future courses in the visual arts.

Studio Art

The Studio Art course is designed to develop skills in a variety of techniques such as perspective, shading, use of line, and enlarging. Each of these elements and principles will be reviewed and implemented. Students' projects will demonstrate a variety of concepts, media, and approaches. Each student will be required to demonstrate a serious grounding in visual principles and material techniques.

Advanced Studio Art

The Advanced Studio Art course is open to 11th and 12th grade students who have taken Studio Art or Three-Dimensional Design. The course is designed to create a series of works organized around a compelling visual concept. Concentration in each work project will be displayed by an in-depth commitment to a particular artistic concern.

Computer Graphic Design

The Computer Graphic Design course is an introduction to the computer's creative, problem-solving potential. Students will learn to use Adobe Photoshop CS2 which is a powerful design tool for both fine art and commercial art. The course will allow students to perform independently at their own level of art or design experience.

Advanced Computer Graphic Design

The Advanced Computer Graphic Design course is open to 11th and 12th grade students. It is a portfolio-building course to prepare students for AP Studio Art. Students will learn design techniques through the use of digital imaging and produce a variety of products, such as, posters, book jackets, magazines, CD's, and logos.

Digital Film Imaging

The Digital Film Imaging course has no prerequisites and is open to students in grades 10 - 12. The course is an introduction to the fundamentals of editing through the use of computer controlled editing systems. The technical aspects of edit decision lists, automatic assembly, and basic video effects are introduced. Through assigned reading, the viewing of videos, and the completion of a series of video assignments, the students will be expected to acquire a thorough understanding of basic video production. The course is team-taught with a member of the Theatre/Screenwriting faculty. Selected videos will be entered into competitions as well as presented during assemblies throughout the year.

Photography

With no prerequisites, Photography is open to students in grades 10 - 12. The course emphasizes two major areas of photography: technique and visual awareness. The course begins with a review of basic art elements and design principles as they relate to photography. Technical considerations of how to control this process or, as Ansel Adams described, to understand the way that the lens "sees" and the film "sees," will follow. Through a series of long-term assignments, the expressive potential of the medium will then be explored. Creative black and white darkroom techniques will be used along with print finishing techniques. The work of a variety of photographers and a brief history of the process will also be introduced throughout the course.

Advanced Photography

This course is open to 11th and 12th grade students who have taken Photography. Students will continue to develop their understanding of the camera and photography process and to refine their knowledge of the tools and materials associated with photography. Each student will produce a series of portfolio-quality photographs and design/ composition projects. Students will engage in analysis of photographic images and participate in constructive critiques of one another's work.

Three Dimensional Design

Three Dimensional Design is a yearlong course with no prerequisites in which students learn about the tools and materials associated with a variety of media including ceramic sculpture, pottery, raku, papier mâché, printmaking, and found objects. Students are encouraged to explore the unique expressive and artistic potential of each medium introduced and to develop a body of work that reflects their individual style within the context of a given assignment. Students are introduced to the works of several artists. Formal analysis through the elements of art and principles of design will be emphasized in project criteria and critiques.

Advanced Three Dimensional Design

Advanced 3-D Design is a yearlong course open to students in grades 10 - 12 who have successfully completed 3-D Design. The focus of the class is a more self-directed exploration of the media introduced in 3-D Design, with an emphasis on the development of individual expression and style, leading to the development of a concentration and a portfolio quality body of work for those students interested in pursuing AP Studio Art.

AP Studio Art/Portfolio

The AP Studio Art course is open to students who have completed Advanced Studio Art, Advanced Photography, Advanced 3-D Design, or Advanced Computer Graphic Design. The course is designed to create works that excel in concept, composition, and execution. The students will create artwork that best exhibits a synthesis of form, technique, and content. Each student will be required to submit his or her art for evaluation. Students may receive advanced placement and/or college credit upon successfully completing this course.

Humanities Electives

Humanities

This course is open to students in grades 9 - 12 and has no prerequisites. Throughout the year, students will investigate great works and turning points in the arts and literature from ancient Greece to the present. To this end, a variety of hands-on projects and videos will be used in conjunction with slides to bring to life the text and the various time periods covered.

AP Art History

The AP Art History course is open to 10th - 12th grade students who have completed the Humanities course or who have the teacher's recommendation. It is designed to provide students with an understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within historical and cultural contexts. Students will learn to look at works of art critically, with knowledge and sensitivity, and to articulate what they see or experience. Students who achieve this goal may receive advanced placement and/or college credit at many colleges or universities upon passing the AP exam in the spring.

Music Electives

20th Century Pop Music

20th Century Pop Music will define what constitutes popular music, historically, and apply that definition to determine the various popular musical styles found in America since the turn of the twentieth century. Students will become aware of both the role that popular music has played in American society and, conversely, the effect that social circumstances in America have had upon popular music.

Computer Music

A full-year course open to students in grades 9 - 12, Computer Music teaches the fundamentals of composition using the computer as a tool. Students are taught basic sequencing and step editing in single voice and multi mode, how to transcribe sequences to MIDI files, and ultimately, how to turn MIDI files into readable music. Students unfamiliar with the rudiments of music will first be taught the concepts of rhythm and melody and how to prepare a sequence for MIDI files by quantizing, thinning data, and setting up tracks that will eventually become musical staves. Completed compositions are often presented at live performances during the school year. Prerequisites include one year of piano or the approval of the instructor.

Applied Guitar

With no prerequisites, this course is open to students in grades 9 - 12. The course teaches the fundamentals of the guitar as well as basic music reading of notes in the first position, chord changes, strumming techniques, and the fundamentals of improvisation and performance. Students are encouraged to suggest popular songs that they wish to learn. Improvisation is taught as a team effort with one student playing a chord progression while another is encouraged to improvise a melody. This imbues cooperation and listening skills while teaching valuable musical concepts.

Music Theory

Music Theory is open to any student with experience in reading and performing music. The course is a study of the materials and processes used in the performance and composition of music of various styles including rock, jazz, and classical. Areas of study include rudiments of music, melodic composition, harmonization of melodies, and arranging existing works in various settings.

AP Music Theory

In order to take AP Music Theory, a student must have had three years of instrumental music or successfully completed the course in Music Theory. This course is an in-depth study of the basic materials and processes of music as found in compositions for keyboard, orchestra and/or voice. Areas of study include rudiments of music, analysis of music, melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, sight singing, composition, and four-part writing.

Concert Band

Concert Band is an instrumental performance class designed for students who have completed at least two years of study in a wind or percussion instrument. Through the performance of music of the highest quality, students develop a good characteristic sound, technical facility, rhythmic skills, and knowledge of scales and keys as well as the understanding of compositional techniques and styles of various historic periods. The Concert Band performs on many occasions throughout the year.

Jazz Band

The Shorecrest Jazz Band is a combo style group with a focus on improvisation in the blues, swing, fusion, and bebop styles. Performance pieces are derived from the standard jazz repertoire of the 20th century. Students will develop improvising skills through the study of scales and chord structure. Listening activities will involve hearing the outstanding performers of jazz history. Emphasis is will also be placed on the traditional jazz interpretation of articulation, rhythm and ensemble performance. Prerequisites include prior musical training and the approval of the instructor. The Jazz Band performs at many functions during the school year.

Drama/Musical Theatre/Dance Electives

Introduction to Theatre

Introduction to Theatre is designed to provide students with practical knowledge and working experience in living theatre. Students will hone their acting skills through improvisation, scene work, and performances before young audiences. Play writing skills will be introduced as well as musical theatre and dance. Students taking this course will be expected to perform at various functions throughout the year. This course may be taken as a one-semester course in the Fall or as a full-year course.

Drama/ Musical Theatre/Dance

Open to 10th -12th graders, this course is designed for those who wish to further their participation in Theatre. Students will continue to hone their acting skill through improvisation and scene work. The team-taught course will integrate acting techniques along with music and dance, thus enabling each student to gain experience in the world of drama and musical theatre.

Advanced Drama/Musical Theatre/Dance

This course is open to 11th and 12th grade students who have previously taken Drama/Musical Theatre/Dance. The team-taught course is designed with the experienced theatre student in mind. Students will further hone their acting techniques through improvisation, scene work, and play production. They will continue to gain additional experience in musical theatre and dance through participation in numerous performances throughout the year. The class will also be introduced to and participate in the theatrical world of film.

Writing for Stage, Screen and Television

With no prerequisites, Stage, Screen and Television Writing is open to all Upper Division students. This unique course introduces two distinctive techniques that give students the understanding and ability to use dramatic structure, scene structure, correct format, and other applications employed by professional stage and screen writers, in order to create viable, compelling, dramatic works. In addition, the course teaches students how to better observe and understand human behavior with its needs and motivations. It widens the student's knowledge and comprehension of both American and World Theatre. Upon the completion of the writing of "exercise" scenes using various learned techniques, students will create original one-act plays which will be entered into various national and local competitions. Similarly, during the screenwriting semester, original short screenplays will be created and some will be selected to be filmed and presented.

The History of American Film

This course will introduce 9th - 12th grade students to the most important films, filmmakers, technical advances and artistic advances in the American cinema from its conception in 1895 to the present. Students will view and discuss a wide variety of American films and learn how they relate to the time, place and sensibilities of the society that created them. Historical and personal biographies related to the film industry and its most famous artists will be viewed and discussed.

Computer Science Department Courses

Computer Science I

Computer Science I is a course covering many programming topics plus some computer basics such as the history and architecture of computers, machine language, and binary numbers. We will focus on programming logic and algorithms while learning two programming languages. The first language that we will learn, and the one that we will spend the majority of time studying, is Basic. In addition, we will begin learning the language of Java. This is the language chosen by the College Board for the AP Computer Science course.

AP Computer Science A

AP Computer Science is a study in object-oriented programming focusing on concepts such as logic, algorithms, classes, variable types, and specific classes and case studies needed for the Advanced Placement Exam. The language chosen by the College Board to educate students in these concepts is Java. However, computer science is much more than just syntax of language, and this class teaches more than the language of Java. Topics covered will be grounded in object-oriented programming and will include program and class construction, modularity, data structures, program design, program analysis, recursion, sorting and searching algorithms, and inheritance. This course will not be offered in the 2007-08 school year.

AP Computer Science AB

AP Computer Science AB extends the concepts of AP Computer Science A with an emphasis on algorithm design, data structures and efficient program creation. Students are expected to gain high proficiency in creating and implementing classes including creating new classes using inheritance and implementing interfaces. Topics studied in this course include one and two-dimensional arrays, advanced data structures (including trees, linked lists, sets and maps), algorithms, algorithm analysis and object oriented programming. This course will not be offered in the 2007-08 school year.

Web Page Design (1 semester or full year)

Primarily a hands-on course, Web Page Design begins with some lectures and reading assignments concerning computer basics and the nature of the Internet. As students begin to write HTML pages and use graphics, the instructor encourages small-group collaboration and works with students individually. Most students take the course for only one semester, but, through independent study, especially adept students may continue on to assist the instructor with such matters as forms design, CGI configuration, Javascript, and updates and troubleshooting of the Web servers.

English Department Course Descriptions

Please note that all English courses require one or two works to be read over the summer. Students enrolling or re-enrolling late in the summer may be excused from the full summer reading requirement.

The following courses satisfy Shorecrest's requirement that its graduates have four credits in English.

Ninth Grade English/Honors English

English 9 is primarily a survey of various genres of literature, including short stories, poetry, drama and the novel (including longer works by Salinger, Homer, Dickens, and Shakespeare). There is a heavy emphasis on literary analysis using direct textual evidence in support of claims about theme and on increased student facility with research in literary and persuasive essays. Many smaller in-class essays will aid the students' mastery of this type of writing, and they will write several "larger" papers. The course also includes the study of grammar and vocabulary. All of these elements will increase students' confidence in understanding what they read and will help them become more skillful in expressing and supporting thoughtful opinions.

The curriculum in Honors is similar to that in English 9 but includes a deeper investigation of an author's purpose, special and longer projects, and a higher evaluation standard. Students are recommended for English Honors on the basis of the excellence of their performance in English 8. The larger aim of both courses is to discover more about ourselves and what it means to be human.

Tenth Grade English/Honors English

Tenth Grade English is a chronological survey of World literature from the writings of Sophocles, Chaucer, and Shakespeare through the Enlightenment and into the Twentieth Century. Writers included are Voltaire, Pope, Von Goethe, Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Pushkin, Dickinson, Flaubert, Chekhov, Camus, Akhmatova, Kafka, Wright, Lorca, Borges, Borowski, Mahfouz, and Marquez among others. The course includes a consideration of the historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds related to the development of the literary history of this span. Asian poetry is included as well as Dada-Surrealist and Zuni poetry units. The course is designed to acquaint students with a vivid and broad knowledge of representative works, to introduce them to various literary genres and terms, and to provide intense training in literary analysis and critical skills. The study of vocabulary continues as does the use of MLA guidelines for research documentation.

The Tenth Grade Honors core curriculum is quite similar to that of English 10, but the pace is faster and the analysis deeper. The honors sections are also responsible for additional readings in the literary anthology as well as supplemental handouts from the instructor. Students are recommended for English Honors on the basis of the excellence of their performance in English 9.

Eleventh Grade English/Honors English

English 11 is primarily a survey of American literature from the Colonial period to the present, including such titles as Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The primary emphasis is on making students familiar with the authors and works that represent the history of the American experience. Important in this process are the currents of thought and ideas that have shaped our nation's intellectual history. The aim is to have students better understand what it means to be an American. Frequent writing exercises, including quizzes, in-class essays, tests, and the Junior research paper, represent a crucial part of this class. The Junior paper (based on in-depth analysis of a novel read outside of class) is a critical component of the spring semester.

In addition to the above, English 11 Honors contains some changes that make the course more challenging. There are several supplementary texts that Junior English does not use, such as Melville's Moby Dick and O'Brien's The Things They Carried, the pacing is somewhat quicker, and the material is examined in somewhat more depth. Additionally, the course focuses heavily on the processes and techniques important to effective analytical prose writing. Students also study vocabulary and, when necessary, review lessons in grammar. Students are recommended for English Honors 11 on the basis of the excellence of their performance in English 10.

Senior Composition and Literature

Senior Composition and Literature attempts to duplicate the Freshman Composition courses taught at Florida's state universities, though there may be more emphasis in this class on reading and writing about literature, with a special emphasis on modern and postmodern fiction (Camus' The Stranger, Carver's Cathedral, DeLillo's White Noise, Lehane's Mystic River, and Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale). Otherwise, the class focuses on persuasive, argumentative and research writing. Most of our discussions involve current or recent First Amendment controversies, with a particular concentration on religious and free speech issues. In this, we analyze the variety of perspectives in the debates, attempting to create "conscientious citizens" who are aware of the diversity of our opinions. Students write and sometimes rewrite approximately four thousand words each semester, mostly in full-essay form.

History of Ideas

Open to Seniors, History of Ideas has two separate components. The first is a survey of Western philosophy, emphasizing the philosophers and major currents of thought that have shaped the Western mind, from the pre-Socratic Greeks to modern philosophers like Sartre and Whitehead. The course emphasizes writing very heavily; there is a writing assignment of some sort attached to virtually every unit of philosophers or ideas. The course is also a seminar on issues in philosophy, focusing on many of the timeless questions philosophers have pondered over the ages. Questions about the nature of beauty, the self, reality, the spirit, truth and God are all subject for inquiry. As a part of this process, and important in its own right, is the emphasis of careful analytical and argumentative writing.

AP English Language and Composition

The AP Language and Composition course is built around a detailed analysis of writing techniques and prose style, with the aim of helping students become more adept at reading and understanding complex, difficult prose. The primary practical aim is to prepare students to take and do well on the AP Language and Composition exam in May. To these ends, the course employs a variety of types of non-fiction prose, including environmental science, memoir, autobiography, nature writing, and political philosophy that illustrate varying degrees of intrinsic difficulty. Titles read include Abbey's Desert Solitaire, Sagan's The Dragons of Eden, Eiseley's The Star Thrower , and Thoreau's Walden as well as many short essays.

AP English Literature and Composition

AP English Literature and Composition is designed to enable students to read works of fiction and poetry more fully and more successfully. The larger purpose of the course is to help students be excellent readers of even complex and difficult fiction and poetry, while the primary practical objective is to help students do their best on the AP Literature and Composition exam in May. To both ends, a wide variety of fiction titles (twelve in all) are used in classroom discussions, as well as drama and poetry. The course also focuses very heavily on analytical essay writing. Works read include Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Bellow's Seize the Day, Gardner's Grendel, Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth, Camus' The Stranger, Dostoievsky's Crime and Punishment, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and others.

English Electives

Journalistic Writing

Journalism is designed to acquaint students with a hands-on knowledge of scholastic newspaper publishing fundamentals. It includes a consideration of all aspects of journalism--understanding, gathering, and writing news; editing articles; and production using advanced computer-based technologies. Journalism students are required to assist in all aspects of the publishing process of The Chronicle, Shorecrest's campus newspaper.

Advanced Journalistic Writing/Editing

Advanced Journalism provides returning students to journalism with continuing opportunities to practice the skills introduced in the Journalism class. Students in the Advanced Journalism section are required to serve as the editors of The Chronicle and are responsible for all content--from the editorial opinions to copy editing.

Crestviews

Students in Crestviews plan, design and publish the school annual and must complete a separate enrollment form in order to be considered for the course. Students are entirely responsible for the yearbook's copy, photos and layout. The yearbook is created using digital formats entirely and is distributed in late May of each school year.

Mathematics Department Courses

The study of mathematics fosters logical thinking, emphasizes precision in language and notation, improves pattern recognition, encourages multiple ways of looking at a particular problem, and increases one's ability to understand the world in which we live. From ancient Euclidean geometry to modern chaos theory, from paper-and-pencil computations to graphing calculators, mathematics helps us appreciate and make sense of our surroundings by appealing to our senses through beauty and reason.

The fundamental philosophy of the mathematics department at Shorecrest takes into consideration the sequential nature of math courses. The curriculum includes traditionally required courses as Pre-Algebra through Pre-Calculus. Upon completion of the required course sequence, a student may elect Honors Calculus, AP Calculus (AB or BC), Statistics and Probabilities. Each course attempts to present relevant factual material in a manner that increases the student's ability to reason mathematically.

Graphing calculator technology is emphasized at the Algebra II level and all subsequent courses of the students' required sequence. Homework is an integral part of the curriculum and is assigned each evening. The student can expect to have quizzes, projects, numerous homework checks and three to six major test during a grading period. Comprehensive semester and final examinations are given in all courses.

Algebra I

Algebra is the language through which most of mathematics is communicated. It is the most critical course in that it lays the foundation for all subsequent math courses. Success in Algebra I requires mastery of fundamental concepts such as solving equations, inequalities, quadratics and rational expressions, solving word problems and graphing. This is a very demanding course requiring a great deal of time spent practicing methods and strategies covered in class. Organization, study skills, time management and preparedness are just as important as mastery of the skills taught.

Geometry/Honors Geometry

This course offers students an opportunity to explore their world through logic. Taught by guided discovery, students expand their knowledge through pattern recognition, inductive and deductive reasoning, and fundamental geometric concepts providing the foundation for subsequent science and math courses. Formal proofs and an introduction to trigonometry are included to challenge the student analytically while projects such as tessellations and tetrahedron kites are included to expand their appreciation of geometry in nature. A scientific calculator is required for trigonometric functions.

Honors Geometry is an advanced geometry course for students who are mathematically talented and motivated. Students cover all the material covered in the plane geometry course along with more in-depth discussions, more challenging problems, more independent work, and discovery of additional geometrical concepts. The course is designed to develop logical and analytical thinking skills, inductive and deductive reasoning, and provide a solid base of geometrical concepts needed for subsequent higher-level math and science courses.

Intermediate Algebra II

Intermediate Algebra II is a course designed for students who have completed Algebra I and Geometry. It is the first part of a two-year course for students who need to move more slowly than in the traditional Algebra II course. Topics include real numbers, solving equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, polynomials, rational expressions, irrational and complex numbers, and quadratic functions.

Algebra II

This course reviews and extends several topics first presented in Algebra I such as inequalities, linear equations, functions, polynomials and rational expressions. Students revisit these topics with the aid of a TI-83 graphing calculator. Other topics such as matrices, complex numbers, conic sections, logarithms, sequences, series, probability and statistics will be presented for the first time. The technology provided by the graphing calculator is used throughout the course to enhance the depth of understanding of each topic.

Algebra II Honors

Algebra II Honors is an accelerated course covering all Algebra II concepts in addition to covering Trigonometry. Students are expected to have mastered all Algebra I and Geometry concepts before entering in this course. The pace of the course is demanding of the mathematically talented and motivated student. This course lays the foundation for success in Honors Pre-Calculus.

Algebra III

Algebra III is the second year of the Intermediate Algebra II course. Previously learned algebraic concepts are practiced to reinforce student knowledge and understand. Topics include algebraic, radical, exponential and rational expressions, conic sections, sequences, series, probability, statistics and an introduction to trigonometry. The TI-83 graphing calculator is used to enhance understanding of these topics.

Pre-Calculus

The focus of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in a first year college algebra course and/or first year calculus course. Students learn a variety of functions including algebraic functions, graphing techniques, inverses, exponential functions, logarithms, as well as trigonometric functions. Other topics covered as time allows include vectors and parametric equations, polar coordinates and complex numbers, conics, sequences and series.

Honors Pre-Calculus

Honors Pre-Calculus is an accelerated Pre-Calculus course designed to prepare students for AP Calculus or Honors Calculus. Topics covered in this course include relations, functions and their graphs, trigonometry, advanced functions and graphing, discrete mathematics, and an introduction to Calculus.

Statistics and Probabilities

This is a traditional course in probability and elementary statistics generally offered as an entry-level course in college. Topics covered include sampling distributions, probability theory and binomial probability distribution, estimation, hypothesis testing, and, if time permits, correlation and regression. Class labs are held weekly to emphasize real world applications. The TI-83 calculator, Statdisk and AcivStats software are used in lab work.

Honors Calculus

This course is designed for students who have completed Pre-Calculus and are not candidates for AP Calculus AB. The purpose is to provide these students with a basic foundation of the first semester of a college calculus course while moving at an appropriate pace determined by the ability of the class. The course consists of a combination of student discovery, group activities, teacher-led discovery, teacher lecture, and class participation with the majority of the learning process focused on the students' involvement and participation.

AP Calculus (AB)

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Pre-Calculus and are recommended for AP level instruction. The objectives of Advanced Placement Calculus are to present a first year college level course for those students mathematically capable and motivated, to help students obtain advanced placement and college credit in mathematics, and to challenge the mathematically gifted student to a deeper more intimate understanding of higher level mathematics. Topics covered include limits, derivatives, integrations and applications. This course consists of a combination of student discovery, group activities, teacher lead discovery, teacher lecture, and class participation with the majority of the learning process focused on the students' involvement and participation.

AP Calculus (BC)

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Honors Pre-Calculus, and its objectives are the same as that course. Students will review topics covered in AB calculus and will fine-tune skills developed in that course. Additional topics which will be covered in the BC course include anti-differentiation of improper integrals; simple partial fractions; parametric, polar, and vector functions; slope fields; and sequences and series including the Taylor series and the Maclaurin series. This course consists of a combination of student discovery, teacher-led discovery, teacher lecture, and class participation with the majority of the learning process focused on the student's involvement and participation.

Physical Education Department Courses

Health and Personal Fitness

This course is required for all ninth grade students. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics including areas of mental, physical, and social health. The goal of the course is to empower students to utilize knowledge gained in making wise and healthy lifestyle choices. Each instructor strives to provide a non-threatening environment where students may discuss sensitive issues pertinent to teenagers today. Resources in the community are also utilized to enhance the learning experience.

Strength and Conditioning (1 semester)

This is a physical education elective course offered to high school students.

The course begins with an evaluation of each student's fitness level. Utilizing information from the fitness evaluations individual exercise programs are designed to enhance cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. Fitness training takes place in the weight room and in the aerobics center. Other fitness related class activities include circuit training, race walking, Tae Bo, and some recreational games. The students reevaluate themselves periodically and adjust their training accordingly. The goal of the course is that through regular, vigorous exercise, students will see fitness gains which will encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles permanently .

Lifetime Sports I and II (1 semester each)

This is a physical education elective course offered to high school students. The goal of this course is to expose students to a variety of activities they can participate in now and as adults to enhance their leisure time. The course includes a general introduction of rules, safety considerations, etiquette, and skill techniques followed by a three-to-four week hands-on experience. The course offers involvement in a variety of activities which require physical effort but are also fun and socially rewarding. Leisure opportunities may include basketball, bowling, biking, fishing, golf, racquetball, volleyball, step aerobics, kick boxing, Yoga, T'ai Chi, and ultimate frisbee.

Science Courses

Astronomy

During Fall Semester the course focuses on the Solar System, our place in the universe. It includes a discussion of the scale of the universe and the motions we can see in the sky. It also addresses navigating in space: how we keep time, relative position, finding directions, and travel to other celestial bodies. It also deals with the formation of the Solar System: the geology of the planets, moons, asteroids and comets. During Spring Semester, we will concentrate on The Universe, the building blocks of the universe including space, time, and gravity. It specifically addresses our Sun: stellar evolution, and the source of all the elements; our Galaxy: how galaxies evolve, dark matter and dark energy, and the beginning of time; and interstellar travel possibilities and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Please note that students taking Astronomy will be expected to return to school for two nights of stargazing each semester. Two trips to the St. Petersburg Planetarium will be arranged for each semester. Daytime solar observations will take place here on campus.

Conceptual Physics/Honors Conceptual Physics

This course investigates the major concepts in the field of physics from a largely conceptual perspective and is generally taken by 9th graders. Since math is such an integral part of science in general and physics in particular, some algebra and geometry are utilized in furthering student understanding of selected topics. Demonstrations and labs are used to supplement classroom lecture and discussion. Topics covered include mechanics and the laws of motion, heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism and nuclear energy as well as the atomic nature of matter. Honors Conceptual Physics is available for students who have been recommended on the basis of a demonstrated interest and ability in science.

Chemistry/Honors Chemistry

The Chemistry class, usually taken in the 10th grade, is designed to build on the material taught in conceptual physics. During the year students study the organization of matter, the language of chemistry, phases of matter, solutions and their behavior, and chemical reactions. All these topics include laboratory work which further develop the students' understanding of the material being covered.

The Honors Chemistry class is designed for students who excelled in conceptual physics. The class requires strong mathematics and the ability to make abstract connections. During the year students study the same topics covered in other chemistry classes. However, they also learn to see the relationships that exist between the different fields of study. All these topics include laboratory work which will further develop the students understanding of the material being covered.

Biology/Biology Honors

This course, generally taken by Juniors, provides a comprehensive coverage of all the major concepts involving living organisms. The first half of the year deals with molecular and cellular biology and all the processes of life including cell division and reproduction, photosynthesis and respiration, cellular homeostasis, and both classical and molecular genetics. Using an evolutionary approach, the second semester includes a survey of the immense diversity of living organisms, starting with viruses and bacteria and working all the way up to human biology. Labs, movies, and videodiscs are among the various methods used to supplement textbook material. Honors Biology is designed for students who have been recommended on the basis of the excellence of their performance in Chemistry. The pace of the course is faster, and the analysis is deeper.

Physics/Physics Honors

Students from a wide range of backgrounds, through this course, will experience High School Physics, exposing them to the different major divisions of Physics, the skills to discover and solve the problems associated with these divisions, and the laboratory skills to investigate these problems through the scientific method. The major divisions of Physics covered will be Mechanics, Waves and Light, States of Matter, Electricity, and Modern Physics. Honors Physics is designed for students who have been recommended for the course based on the overall excellence of their work in the sciences.

AP Biology

Advanced Placement biology is a college level course that provides a rigorous and thorough treatment of all the major topics covered in two semesters of a first year biology course. The course content follows the suggested outline in the "acorn" manual published by the College Board. All twelve labs found in the AP Biology lab manual are carried out during the course of the year. All students taking this course must have a teacher recommendation and are required to take the AP Biology exam at the end of the year.

AP Chemistry

The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of a first year college chemistry course. During the year students study the structure of matter, states of matter, reactions, and descriptive chemistry in more depth while looking at the qualitative data which support the different theories. These topics are enhanced by participation in laboratory activities. Upon completion, the student takes a national exam which may be used to accumulate college credits. This course is taken after successfully completing one year of high school chemistry and requires a teacher recommendation as well as a strong mathematics background.

AP Physics

The AP Physics course is a first year course in college physics. The aim of the course is to prepare the student for the AP Physics Exam (B) given by the College Board. This will enable the student to earn college credit in Physics. The course includes lecture, problem solving techniques, and a laboratory analysis on the college level. The major divisions of Physics covered will be Mechanics, Waves and Light, States of Matter, Electricity, and Modern Physics. This course requires a teacher recommendation.

Marine Biology (1 semester)

Second Semester: Marine Biology is the scientific study of the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the ocean and their interactions. Students will first learn about the seafloor and seawater. Then, they will use a taxonomic approach to study the living organisms of the sea. All this information will be utilized to learn about the structure and function of marine ecosystems. A variety of laboratory exercises will be performed including dissections to support the content. In addition, numerous field trips will be taken to Weedon Island and the Florida Aquarium to study marine organisms in their natural habitat.

Honors Anatomy and Physiology (1 semester)

First Semester: Honors Anatomy and Physiology course provides an overview of the structure and function of the human body. The course will examine the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, urogenital, nervous, and endocrine systems. Laboratory emphasis will be placed on the dissection of a cat and relating its body systems to those of the human body. Students must have a teacher recommendation to take this course.

Social Studies Department Courses

Grade 9 - Western Civilization

The course focuses on the Mediterranean-European world from Classical Greece through World War II. Major emphasis is placed on the evolution of modern Western outlooks and institutions. Students also work to understand history through geography, literature, and primary resources. As the introduction to Upper Division Social Studies, the course also emphasizes note taking; analysis of historical point of view; researching, writing, and properly documenting historical papers

Grade 10 - World Civilizations

This World History course complements the Freshman Western Civilization course by emphasizing the non-western stream of history. By taking a thematic approach, we incorporate research techniques to unravel the events that placed us where we are today. Students can expect to research topics on such themes as turning points, great comparisons, the impact of art on history, the evolution of governments, and the common characteristics of revolutions. The results of this research may be presented in either written or verbal form. During this class, students will hone their presentation, research, and note-taking skills.

Grade 11 - U.S. History

This is a comprehensive survey of American history; its rapid pace and thematic approach anticipate the expectations of collegiate coursework. The course focuses on the past 300 years of the American experience. The course emphasizes note-taking, critical reading skills, independent student initiative, research, and introduces Turabian's documentation style, as students are expected to have mastered the MLA's style by this point in their education.

Social Studies Electives

Social Studies electives are open to interested and qualified tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students; participation in Honors and AP courses is contingent on faculty recommendation.

AP U.S. History -  Grade 11

This is a comprehensive survey of American history; its rapid pace and thematic approach anticipate the expectations of collegiate coursework. The course focuses on the past 300 years of the American experience. The course emphasizes note-taking, critical reading skills, independent student initiative, research, and introduces Turabian's documentation style, as students are expected to have mastered the MLA's style by this point in their education. In addition to the regular text by Boorstin and Kelley the course uses college level resources including After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection by Davidson and Lytle and relevant chapters in The Growth of the American Republic by Morison, Commager, and Leuchtenburg.

AP Psychology - Grade 12

Advanced Placement Psychology provides an introduction to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and animals. Students survey the major psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated within the major sub fields of psychology: history and approaches, research methods, biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, cognition, motivation and emotion, developmental, personality, testing and individual differences, abnormal, treatment of psychological disorders, and social psychology. Emphasis is placed on critical reading, writing, thinking and research skills.

AP European History - Grades 11 and 12

Per College Board guidelines, this course surveys the political, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic evolution of Europe from the era of the Renaissance through the late 20th century. The course moves very rapidly at first, concentrating primarily on developments in Atlantic Europe. As the year progresses, the geographic scope widens, the pace slows somewhat, and the depth of analysis increases. First quarter usually ends in the early 18th century, second quarter in the early 19th century, third in the 1920s, and fourth quarter comes into the present.

AP Micro- and Macro-economics - Grade 12 (1 semester each)

This course includes both microeconomics and macroeconomics, and the expectation is that students will take both of these AP exams. Key microeconomic concepts include scarcity, supply and demand, models of consumer choice based in utility analysis, the theory of the firm and cost analysis, factor markets, and the role of government in microeconomic issues. This latter unit makes the transition to macroeconomic topics including measurement of economic performance, national income and price determination, aggregate demand, money and banking, fiscal and monetary policy, and international trade and balance of payments.

AP World History - Grades 10-12

This course is intended to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts interacting with different types of human societies over time. The course highlights the nature of changes in regional and national frameworks and their causes and consequences; it also considers comparisons among major societies. The course moves chronologically through five time periods from Foundations (8000 BCE-600 CE) to the present (1914-2009). Specific themes provide further guidelines to organizing and making sense of the course's considerable content. Consistent attention is paid to contacts among societies which form the core of world history as a field of study. Students taking the course are expected to take the nationally-administered AP exam in mid-May.

AP Human Geography

Human Geography studies how human beings interact with their world. This course will explore patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences.  Geography is presented and considered as it relates to population, migration, culture, language, agriculture, industry, and urban patterns.  This course will meet 3 days per week in person and 2 days online. Students in this course will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and microphone.

Honors Political Science - Grade 12

Honors Political Science is designed to engage students directly in a study of the process of government in the community; therefore much of the research for the major project is primary, conducted off the campus. In addition, the class studies a broader range of political considerations that include the major political-economic systems of Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascism, and Libertarianism and the dynamics and significance of four major revolutions: English, American, French, and Russian.

Honors Contemporary Issues (1st semester)

First Semester: This course takes an in-depth look at a series of topics literally "ripped from today's headlines." The class will study the background, current status, and potential future consequences of a series of current events. Likely topics to be developed for 2008-09 include the Internet and politics, Election 2008, World Conflict, Web 2.0 and social networking. The class itself will identify additional topics for study based on consensus and breaking news events. This course will meet 3 days per week in person and 2 days online. Students in this course will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and microphone.

Honors Introduction to World Religions (2nd semester)

Second Semester: This course is designed as a survey of the origins, beliefs, and practices of the world's major religions. A significant portion of this course includes the study of how religions have developed historically, how cultural forces have shaped and been shaped by religious traditions, and how religion has impacted global interactions. Over the course of the semester, students read a number of essential sacred scriptures with the goal of fostering an understanding and appreciation of the world's diverse traditions. The course deals most specifically with Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  This course will meet 3 days per week in person and 2 days online. Students in this course will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and microphone.

World Languages Department Classes

Acknowledging diversity and multi-culturalism at home and abroad, our major goals are to provide communications skills to our students in a modern language and to offer the vocabulary strength and historical view of languages that come from studying Latin. Either of these paths is designed for subsequent success in the college environment and in a chosen profession.

Our students of modern world languages build skills in listening, writing, speaking and reading while developing a sensitivity and appreciation of the culture represented by the target language. Students have weekly access to a language lab and use proficiency-oriented texts. At present, the department also offers travel/study abroad opportunities in France, Spain, and Central America.

The Latin program approaches the language as historical, written language. While some elementary conversational skills are taught, greater emphasis is put on grammar, vocabulary and derivatives. This program insures an awareness of all the Romance languages and strengthens English skills as well.

Students are required to complete three levels of a single world language in the Upper Division. Additional study and enrollment in two languages is encouraged. Advanced levels are offered in all three languages and students are encouraged to participate in language clubs, to attend local and state level competitions, and to qualify for membership in the language honor societies. Eligible students may elect to take Advanced Placement courses and examinations for college credit. National exams are given in Spanish, French, and Latin enabling us to analyze our students' performance with state and national comparisons and to evaluate our program continuously.

French I

This class provides an introduction to the French language and to the French-speaking world. Using all four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, the student becomes comfortable in everyday situations. There is weekly access to a language lab which enhances the students' comfort with both oral and written evaluations. This is a prerequisite for French II.

French II

The prerequisite for this course is successful completion of French I or the French IA-B sequence in the Middle Division. As such, this class continues to build on the foundations already established in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students learn to express themselves both orally and in writing on a wider variety of topics and to discuss things that happened in the past and will happen in the future. Cultural, geographical and historical knowledge of francophone countries is also broadened.

French III

This course follows the successful completion of French II. The four skills of language: reading, writing, speaking and listening, will continue to be developed and polished. A special effort will be made to reinforce grammar and conversational patterns that will lead to proficiency in French. Language lab and other listening activities will continue to be important as students will become more comfortable communicating in non-scripted, meaningful situations. Supplements to the textbook will include on-line sources, literary selections and films. The class will be taught mostly in French and students will be encouraged to interact among themselves and with the teacher in French.

French III Honors

This course follows the completion of French II with an 85% or better and the teacher's recommendation. It continues to broaden and to reinforce the four skills of language: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Grammar skills will be expanded and polished through contextual use of the language. With the exception of new grammar explanations, the class will be taught in French and students will be expected to interact with each other in French. Students will read longer and more complex reading selections and discuss more abstract topics upon which they can give personal opinions, agree or disagree with others. Many topics for discussion will come from literary selections and from current events in the francophone world. Students will write longer, more sophisticated essay answers and compositions. The year will culminate in the reading of a French novel.

French IV Honors

Students finishing French III with an A or B and a teacher recommendation may take this course; it is final preparation for the AP French Language course. All French grammar is completely reviewed and highlights of French history and literature from Gallo-Roman times to the present are studied. Students are expected to discuss and write about individual literary works, historical facts, and general historical and literary themes in French. Students completing this course are encouraged to take the SAT II in French.

French IV/V: Contemporary French Language and Culture

In this class the emphasis  is on oral proficiency, reading for information and understanding spoken French. Activities include lots of role-playing and situational language that would be appropriate for tourists, social contacts, home stays, etc. in a French speaking country. Films, internet news, contemporary music and articles from a contemporary cultural reader and current periodicals will be used. Grammar and vocabulary will be taught as means to effective communication skills and cultural understanding.  Students will study  contemporary issues including basic politics, current events, contemporary films, music, etc. and will become familiar with some characters and themes. of collective French knowledge. Some history, as it relates to Franco-American traditions, will also be presented.

Prerequisites for this class: The student must have completed at least French III, but this class can also follow or accompany French 3H, IV, 4H or AP.  

French V

A minimum prerequisite for this course is successful completion of French IV. This course is proficiency-based and is intended as a practical guide to getting along in a French-speaking country or with French speakers. Oral proficiency, listening comprehension and reading for information are stressed as spelling and grammar play a lesser role. There are many oral and listening activities as well as cultural presentations (songs, films, newspapers, etc.) included in this course.

AP French Language

Teacher recommendation and successful completion of French IV Honors are required for admission to this course. The aim of the course is to help students enhance their ability to understand spoken French, to develop a French vocabulary suitable for reading various texts without the need for a dictionary, and to express themselves in both spoken and written French with reasonable fluency and accuracy. The entire syllabus is geared toward preparing the students to take and score at least a grade of 3 on the Advanced Placement French Language Exam that is administered in May.

AP French Literature

Teacher recommendation and an AP French Language Exam score of at least 3 are required for admission to this course. The aim of the course is to help students acquire proficiency in French language so that they can read prose and verse of moderate difficulty, critically analyze and discuss such literature, and correctly express critical opinions in written French. The entire syllabus is geared toward preparing the students to take and score at least a "3" on the Advanced Placement French Literature Exam that is administered in May. This course will not be offered in the 2007-08 school year.

Latin I

In Latin I the student builds a Latin vocabulary and a derivative English vocabulary. Simple grammar is mastered by the student and the corresponding English grammar is also examined. During the course of our study in the main text, we follow the lives of an upper class Roman family and learn about Roman culture. There is a separate text for the study of mythology and a video series which analyzes the first one hundred years of the Roman Empire. Art in mythology and Greek antiquities are observed on museum field trips.

Latin II

Second Year Latin continues the story of the lives of the Roman upper class family, and the study of vocabulary and grammar. During the latter part of the year, greater emphasis is placed on the study of Roman military culture and Caesar. We also read original prose and poetry in The Romans Speak for Themselves. The selections in this book give the students various aspects of Roman life.

Latin III

In the third year of Latin study, students continue to expand their Latin and English vocabularies and to study more sophisticated grammatical situations. The corresponding grammar in English is also addressed. Additionally, the students learn figures of speech common to both poetry and prose. Students read the Letters of Pliny, the First Oration of Cicero, and selections from the Metamorphoses by Ovid.

Latin IV Honors

This is a translation course in which the students translate the books 1-6 of the Aeneid. In addition to a careful translation notebook which is used for test preparation, students review Latin grammar and culture.

AP Latin

In this course the students study the Metamorphoses and Amores of Ovid and the Odes of Catullus. These works are studied in detail as preparation for the Advanced Placement Latin Literature Exam, given in May of every school year. The goal for each student's class experience is scoring a "3" or better on the exam. Additionally, readings in Roman history and culture are assigned in the summer prior to enrollment in the AP Latin class. Enrollment in AP Latin Literature is by recommendation and successful completion of Latin 4H.

Spanish I

In this year-long course, students begin to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish. Grammar concepts, including present and preterite tenses are presented through a variety of teaching methods. Important material, such as grammar and vocabulary, are reinforced through technology (CD-ROMs, Internet sites, and videos). Students are expected to practice the language frequently in order to improve their abilities as well as to gain confidence. Such practice includes completing daily homework assignments, engaging in conversations, and participating in class. Culture is introduced through history, music, and art.

Spanish II

In this level two course, a flexible format allows students to continue to develop the four language skills begun in the Spanish I class. Grammar concepts include the imperfect, future, conditional and perfect tenses. The subjunctive mode is also introduced. The presentation of grammar runs concurrent with the various situational themes throughout the text and is presented through a variety of teaching methods. The language lab, use of interactive CD-ROMs, internet sites and videos reinforce the students' listening, speaking, and reading skills. Use of the textbook and workbooks for daily homework assignments reinforce the students' writing skills. An integrated approach to culture is used to develop an awareness of the differences and similarities between the Hispanic culture and our own. The cultural themes throughout the course reflect the varied cultures of Latin America, Spain and Hispanic communities in the U.S.

Spanish III

Spanish III offers continued opportunities to improve the four linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. The course reinforces and advances the grammatical structures, listening and speaking skills, and vocabulary of Spanish I and II through readings, audio tape dialogues, video tapes, handouts and in-class conversations, which are conducted in Spanish as much as possible. Culture is presented in order to encourage the students to compare or contrast what they learn about Spanish culture with their own cultural backgrounds.

Spanish III Honors

Reading and writing activities become more sophisticated and receive greater emphasis in this course. Students are encouraged, however, to engage in meaningful, interesting sessions of sharing information which make them want to speak and experiment with the language. This, in turn, improves and focuses their listening and speaking skills. Through a contextual presentation of grammar, student interest remains high because class and homework exercises relate to a communicative topic. Culture is presented with the idea that culture is a product of people: their attitudes, desires, preferences, differences, similarities, strengths and weaknesses. Students are encouraged to compare or contrast what they learn about Spanish culture with their own cultural backgrounds, thereby learning to think critically and progress towards a more mature vision of the world.

Spanish IV and Spanish V

These courses are proficiency-based courses with an emphasis on oral/aural communication. They are intended as practical guides to allow students to fare easily in Spanish-speaking countries or with Spanish speakers.

Spanish IV: Contemporary Spanish Language and Culture

Class activities are focused on exercising the listening, speaking, and reading skills with writing and grammar practices playing a lesser role. Films, the media, and class discussions initiate opportunities for the presentation of current events and culture.

Spanish V

This course is designed to bring the Spanish-speaking world into the classroom for those students who have already completed Spanish IV. Besides the study of Spain, students are introduced to the countries, geography, culture, and history of the many other countries which speak Spanish throughout the world, specifically in the Americas and the Caribbean. A substantial amount of the presentations is student generated, accompanied by research, mostly from the Internet and periodicals.

Spanish IV Honors

This course polishes the oral/aural, reading and writing skills in preparation for the Advanced Placement curriculum. Less material is presented in a formatted style as the course progresses, following AP style. All grammar necessary for advanced study is introduced and/or reviewed. The contemporary literature component prompts discussion, provides for a cultural forum, and is utilized to present/drill/master whole language communication. Students are encouraged to take the SAT II in Spanish after completing this course.

AP Spanish Language

This course follows the Spanish Language Advanced Placement syllabus published by the College Board. Its primary purpose is to develop proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and understanding Spanish. The course content includes extensive/advanced practice in the target skills since the AP exam addresses each of them. This course is geared toward successful completion by earning a score of 3 (out of 5) or better, on the actual Advanced Placement Exam given by the College Board in early May. To these ends, all material introduced and practiced during the second semester is formatted to follow AP styles.