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Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 – Honors

Course No: 4112
Subject: Spanish
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year
Course Type: AP/Honors
UC/CSU Subject Approval: E
Prerequisite: Heritage speaker of Spanish
Criteria for Enrollment: Placement by written or oral examination, plus recommendation from the Language Department Chair
Fulfillments: Elective which meets one year of language graduation requirement.

Important Language Department Information

Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 Honors will develop the language and literacy skills of heritage speakers. Students in this course come from Spanish-speaking family backgrounds. They speak and understand Spanish in the home, and they demonstrate some skills in reading and writing Spanish.

The course will build upon the deep knowledge that heritage speakers of Spanish bring to the language classroom. With a focus on the formal registers of Spanish, this course will advance a student’s proficiency in Spanish for multiple contexts–academic, professional, and personal. Special attention will be given to building vocabulary for specific contexts, using advanced grammar, strengthening formal composition skills, and deepening academic reading ability. In this course, students will increase their knowledge of a variety of topics including but not limited to topics such as identity, communities, world challenges, and literature from the Spanish-speaking world.
Taught exclusively in Spanish, this course is designed for heritage speakers only.

Upon successful completion of this course and the course final exam, students are recommended to enroll in further Spanish courses, such as Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2 – Honors.
*Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations

Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2 – Honors

Course No: 4124
Subject: Spanish
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year
Course Type: AP/Honors
Prerequisite: Heritage speaker of Spanish; completion of Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 Honors or by Placement Exam
Criteria for Enrollment: A minimum semester grade of B in Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 Honors; or placement by written and oral examination plus recommendation by the Language Department Chair
Fulfillments: Meets one year of language graduation requirement

Important Language Department Information

This course will build upon the skills developed from Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 Honors. Students in this course come from Spanish-speaking family backgrounds. They speak and understand Spanish in the home, and they demonstrate some skills in reading and writing Spanish.

In Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2 Honors, students will continue to develop their formal composition skills, deepen their academic reading ability, and build their vocabulary for increased proficiency in multiple contexts–academic, professional, and personal.   Through culturally relevant units and authentic resources from the Spanish-speaking world – including videos, articles, art, music, and literature – students will increase their knowledge of the cultural practices, products, and perspectives of the Spanish-speaking world. 

Many of the unit assessments will begin to familiarize students with the Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture Exam tasks, which include comparing and contrasting, persuasive writing, analytical reading, and listening to authentic texts. 

Taught exclusively in Spanish, this course is designed for heritage speakers only.

Upon successful completion of this course and the course final exam, students are recommended to enroll in further Spanish courses, such as Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture or the Spanish electives. 

*Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations

 

Studio Art 1A

Course No: 6120
Subject: Fine Arts
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: F
Prerequisite: None
Criteria for Enrollment: None
Fulfillments: One semester of Fine Arts graduation requirement

Important Arts Department Information

This course is a “hands-on” class designed to develop skills in design and composition, a variety of drawing styles, and acrylic painting.  Students will receive instruction in a variety of media and will be required to use each of them in the creation of original work.  The study of historical examples will be a springboard for the student’s creative expression.  No previous drawing skills are required to take this class; just come with an open mind!

Studio Art 1B

Course No: 6125
Subject: Fine Arts
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: F
Prerequisite: Studio Art A
Criteria for Enrollment: None
Fulfillments: One semester of Fine Arts graduation requirement

Important Arts Department Information

As a follow-up course to Studio Art A, the Studio Art B class will place emphasis on the concept of connection and progression in developing and expanding a visual image.  A more refined sense of visual decision-making and creative initiative will be stressed and expected of the mature visual arts student.  Students will use a variety of materials, techniques, and styles to explore themselves in relationship to their personal history, community, and their God.  We will work in acrylic paint, water color paint, pencil, oil pastel, colored pencil, linoleum block prints, and a variety of mixed media materials.  A special project involving an in depth self-study through visual images will urge the student to see her/himself in various aspects; with a connection to a specific community, a realistic self-portrait and a non-objective symbol that strikes a familiar resounding chord.

Studio Art B/C: Sacred Symbols

Course No: 6130
Subject: Fine Arts, Religious Studies
Grade Level: 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: F
Prerequisite: Studio Art A or permission of instructor; Religious Studies 101, 201, 300
Criteria for Enrollment: None
Fulfillments: One semester of Fine Arts graduation requirement AND meets the requirement for one of seven semesters of Religious Studies

Important Arts Department Information

Instructor: Katie Wolf

An experiential class focused on the exploration of the human desire to remember and recognize the Creator.  Through our exploration of symbols used as visual expressions in art, architecture and religious imagery, we will study various faith traditions to gather an understanding of praise older than language and the written word; to “see God in all things.”  In this integrated approach to learning about culture, religion and the arts, each student will create 15 major art pieces that represent the faith traditions studied and their own original works that express an understanding of aesthetics.  Through research, studio work, field trips (Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, S.F., First Church of Christ Scientist, Berkeley, St. Mary’s Cathedral, S.F.), written papers, prayer, and reflection, each student will gain an ability to understand the role of the Creative spark in our lives.  An understanding of their own creative process will allow them to embrace the universal call of the Beloved to us, His instruments, and our response – an expression of praise.

U.S. Government: Constitutional Law

Course No: 5452
Subject: Social Science
Grade Level: 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: A
Prerequisite: Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Modern World History and US Histories & Cultures
Criteria for Enrollment: None
Fulfillments: US Government requirement

Important Social Science Department Information

Constitutional Law challenges students to become experts on the United States Constitution. With just 4,543 words on four pages of parchment paper, the original Constitution established a framework with competing values that endures to this day. More specifically, this course will focus on the policymaking institutions established in the first three Articles of the Constitution: Congress, the Presidency, and the Federal Judiciary. Furthermore, this course will examine how the media, interest groups, political parties, and elections serve as linkage institutions between the American people and the federal government.

Students will examine case studies involving domestic policy (e.g. the federal budget) and foreign policy (e.g. wars and armed conflicts).

U.S. Government: Constitutional Law Honors

Course No: 5462
Subject: Social Science
Grade Level: 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: AP/Honors, Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: A
Prerequisite: Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Modern World History and US Histories & Cultures
Criteria for Enrollment: Student must apply to enroll. To be accepted, students must have demonstrated a history of academic achievement.
Fulfillments: US Government requirement

Important Social Science Department Information

Constitutional Law challenges students to become experts on the United States Constitution. With just 4,543 words on four pages of parchment paper, the original Constitution established a framework with competing values that endures to this day. More specifically, this course will focus on the policymaking institutions established in the first three Articles of the Constitution: Congress, the Presidency, and the Federal Judiciary. Furthermore, this course will examine how the media, interest groups, political parties, and elections serve as linkage institutions between the American people and the federal government.

Students will examine case studies involving domestic policy (e.g. the federal budget) and foreign policy (e.g. wars and armed conflicts).

The honors curriculum for this course will include additional assignments (e.g. college-level research papers) and participating in outside experiences (e.g. city council meetings).

*Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU calculations

U.S. Government: Crime, Law and the Constitution

Course No: 5453
Subject: Social Science
Grade Level: 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: A
Prerequisite: Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Modern World History, and US Histories & Cultures
Criteria for Enrollment: None
Fulfillments: US Government requirement

Important Social Science Department Information

U.S. Govt: Crime, Law and the Constitution evaluates the origin and application of due process rooted in British law and found in the United States Constitution. The course will analyze issues related to the federal and state criminal justice systems including: policing, arrest, arraignment, trial, sentencing, and incarceration/alternative rehabilitation. At the federal level, students will evaluate the impact of federal laws such as the 1994 Crime Bill and precedents set by Supreme Court cases. At the state level, students will examine key California laws such as the Three Strikes Law.  Case studies will include recent trials, and the coursework will include field trips and guest experts from the Bay Area. Students will participate in a mock trial and produce a research based podcast or documentary related to criminal justice.

U.S. Government: Crime, Law and the Constitution Honors

Course No: 5463
Subject: Social Science
Grade Level: 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: AP/Honors, Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: A
Prerequisite: Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Modern World History, and US Cultures & Histories
Criteria for Enrollment: Student must apply to enroll. To be accepted, students must have demonstrated a history of academic achievement.
Fulfillments: US Government requirement

Important Social Science Department Information

U.S. Govt: Crime, Law and the Constitution evaluates the origin and application of due process rooted in British law and found in the United States Constitution. The course will analyze issues related to the federal and state criminal justice systems including: policing, arrest, arraignment, trial, sentencing, and incarceration/alternative rehabilitation. At the federal level, students will evaluate the impact of federal laws such as the 1994 Crime Bill and precedents set by Supreme Court cases.  At the  state  level, students will examine key California laws such as the Three Strikes Law.  Case studies will include recent trials, and the coursework will include field trips and guest experts from the Bay Area. Students will participate in a mock trial and produce a research based podcast or documentary related to criminal justice.

The honors curriculum for this course will include more rigorous assessments, as well as more in-depth research for the semester research project.

Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations.

U.S. Government: Race, Gender and Power

Course No: 5457
Subject: Social Science
Grade Level: 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: A
Prerequisite: Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Modern World History, and US Histories & Cultures
Criteria for Enrollment: None
Fulfillments: US Government requirement

Important Social Science Department Information

U.S. Govt: Race, Gender and Power is a course that explores personhood and its construction in the American political system. Since the drafting of the Constitution, the US political system has restricted access to legal rights and protections of personhood; in particular for women and People of Color. In turn, this creates unique political realities for the Black, Chicanx/Latinx, Asian American, Native American, Feminist and LGBTQ experiences within the US political system. This course will examine the Constitution and the federal and state governments it creates from the perspectives of these communities, as well as how the Constitution, judicial system, media, and political parties have been used by the People to achieve greater access to freedom and equality. In short, this course will examine who exactly has historically been included in the American collective of “We the People”, how this has changed over time, and what this means for our society today.