Orchestra C

This is the symphonic orchestra for which an audition is required to participate.  Auditions are held at the beginning of Fall Semester, and again in December for the following Spring Semester.  Students develop technical mastery in all aspects of ensemble playing, including tone production, intonation, rhythmic execution and musicianship.  Orchestra performs works from the baroque, classical, romantic and 20th century repertoire from MENC grades 4-5, and will perform at the CMEA festival in the spring.

 

This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 1 evening per week, plus performances. (Fall: Mondays 2:45-5:00-pm/Spring: Mondays 6:00-8:30pm)

 

First Semester Taken:  Orchestra A (6521)

Second Semester Taken:  Orchestra B (6522)

Subsequent Semesters Taken:  Orchestra C (9803)

Pep Band 1A

This course is open to all wind, brass, and percussion students.  It will include a variety of styles and difficulties of concert band and pep band music.  A cornerstone of this ensemble will be developing technical proficiency on each student’s instrument, as well as establishing a strong level of ensemble cohesion.  Music of all historical periods (including 20th century and popular music), various cultures, and multiple geographic areas will be studied for performance.  Students will participate in a two-week band camp during August (mandatory) to prepare for football season performances.  In rehearsal, students will be graded daily on their preparedness and involvement.  Additionally, periodic playing tests will be given to assess progress and these are also graded with a rubric that reflects the core concepts of intonation, proper fingerings/positions/sticking, correct rhythms, and overall musicianship.

This course is offered during 0 period. (8:00-8:45 am, Tue, Thu during fall semester ONLY) Meets 2 mornings per week, plus:

    • 8 home football & volleyball games (and playoffs, if applicable) for the FALL semester

First Semester Taken:  Pep Band A (6538)

Second Semester Taken:  Pep Band B (6539)

Subsequent Semesters Taken:  Pep Band C (9818)

Advanced Placement Science Lab – Biology

AP Science courses require an intensive laboratory component extending beyond the regular class meetings.  Once per week for 50 minutes, the Laboratory course will meet outside of the regular bell schedule.  Meetings will occur before or after school.  Students who anticipate a scheduling conflict in the time period before school are asked to contact the Science Department chair.

*This course receives a half-credit – graded pass/fail

Pep Band C

This course is open to all wind, brass, and percussion students.  It will include a variety of styles and difficulties of concert band and pep band music.  A cornerstone of this ensemble will be developing technical proficiency on each student’s instrument, as well as establishing a strong level of ensemble cohesion.  Music of all historical periods (including 20th century and popular music), various cultures, and multiple geographic areas will be studied for performance.  Students will participate in a two-week band camp during August (mandatory) to prepare for football season performances.  In rehearsal, students will be graded daily on their preparedness and involvement.  Additionally, periodic playing tests will be given to assess progress and these are also graded with a rubric that reflects the core concepts of intonation, proper fingerings/positions/sticking, correct rhythms, and overall musicianship.

This course is offered during 0 period. (8:00-8:45 am, Tue, Thu during fall semester ONLY) Meets 2 mornings per week, plus:

    • 8 home football & volleyball games (and playoffs, if applicable) for the FALL semester

First Semester Taken:  Pep Band A (6538)

Second Semester Taken:  Pep Band B (6539)

Subsequent Semesters Taken:  Pep Band C (9818)

Pep Band 1B

This course is open to all wind, brass, and percussion students.  It will include a variety of styles and difficulties of concert band and pep band music.  A cornerstone of this ensemble will be developing technical proficiency on each student’s instrument, as well as establishing a strong level of ensemble cohesion.  Music of all historical periods (including 20th century and popular music), various cultures, and multiple geographic areas will be studied for performance.  Students will participate in a two-week band camp during August (mandatory) to prepare for football season performances.  In rehearsal, students will be graded daily on their preparedness and involvement.  Additionally, periodic playing tests will be given to assess progress and these are also graded with a rubric that reflects the core concepts of intonation, proper fingerings/positions/sticking, correct rhythms, and overall musicianship.

This course is offered during 0 period. (8:00-8:45 am, Tue, Thu during fall semester ONLY) Meets 2 mornings per week, plus:

    • 8 home football & volleyball games (and playoffs, if applicable) for the FALL semester

First Semester Taken:  Pep Band A (6538)

Second Semester Taken:  Pep Band B (6539)

Subsequent Semesters Taken:  Pep Band C (9818)

Advanced Placement Science Lab – Chemistry

AP Science courses require an intensive laboratory component extending beyond the regular class meetings.  Once per week for 50 minutes, the Laboratory course will meet outside of the regular bell schedule.  Meetings will occur before or after school.  Students who anticipate a scheduling conflict in the time period before school are asked to contact the Science Department chair.

*This course receives a half-credit – graded pass/fail

Advanced Placement Science Lab – Physics

AP Science courses require an intensive laboratory component extending beyond the regular class meetings.  Once per week for 50 minutes, the Laboratory course will meet outside of the regular bell schedule.  Meetings will occur before or after school.  Students who anticipate a scheduling conflict in the time period before school are asked to contact the Science Department chair.

*This course receives a half-credit – graded pass/fail

Photography 1A

The Photography 1A class provides a comprehensive study of photography as an art form.   The course will expose the student to fundamental issues unique to the medium through the study of the history of photography.  The students will experience a variety of approaches to the medium of black and white photography beginning with photograms and also including pinhole photography and 35mm cameras.  Students will create their own photograms, use pinhole cameras to get negatives and make positive images, learn how to process black and white film and enlarge.  Portrait photography is a major aspect of the Photography 1A program and the work of portrait photographers such as Arnold Newman, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Yousuf Karsh will be presented in class.  At the end of the semester, students will work on a final project on a portrait or self-portrait.

Social Movements and Social Justice

This course is an introduction to the social movements of the “Long Sixties” (1945 – 1975), with emphasis on how the Freedom Movements of Black Americans, Chicano & Latinx/Lantiné communities, Asian-Americans, American Indians, Feminists, LGBTQ communities and other racial, ethnic or cultural communities worked toward freedom and equality. Students will identify and evaluate the core tenets of specific social movements including leadership, organization, strategies, accomplishments, and limits. Familiarity with US History is presumed. Students will also assess contemporary movements to ultimately define “freedom” for themselves. Course methodology includes: lectures, class discussion, films, group work, unit response papers land a final paper comparing and contrasting different social movements.

United States Histories and Cultures

United States Histories and Cultures examines the social, cultural, political, economic, religious and ideological movements and moments that constitute the American history.  We will focus explicitly on the diversity of the American experience and the development, change, and perpetuation of structures of inequality in the U.S over time. Empowered with this knowledge, students will then analyze what unites us as Americans through our shared historical experiences, events.  Students will examine, critique, and analyze historical narratives, focusing explicitly on tensions between historical events and the stories that have been written about them. This course focuses on building an understanding of knowledge production, critical research and writing skills, and college-level reading and analysis.  Students will leave this course prepared to heed our school’s mission to respond to the challenges of our time by becoming active participants in their civic communities.