Courses

6TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS is designed to develop written and oral communication skills, including grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Foundational components of the writing process will be reviewed and expanded within the framework of the 6th grade history curriculum. A variety of writing modes will be introduced and practiced, such as journaling, biographical, research, persuasive, and creative writing. Listening and speaking skills will be emphasized in the presentation of written assignments and other classroom activities. The reading selections promote a growing appreciation of literature and provide practice of critical thinking and literary analysis skills.

7TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS is designed to review and supplement the language activities of the first six grades.  The literature component provides the student with a variety of experiences in reading. Comprehension skills and vocabulary will be improved by reading short stories and novels by well-known authors. The language component is composed of units on grammar usage, spelling, vocabulary, writing, listening and speaking. 

8TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS is designed in which students will continue their journey of becoming independent thinkers and writers for their advancement to high school. The course emphasizes process-based writing rather than product-based writing by seeking to help students develop and harness skills in creating and developing topics, creating a thesis, organizing the content, and revising the essay. Learning to research and correctly cite is a key component of this course. In addition, students will also focus on mastering the key concepts of English grammar and mechanics. Students will read fiction and non-fiction of various lengths in order to improve their reading ability and to develop critical reading skills. 

6TH GRADE MATH is designed to increase and develop students' understanding of mathematics.  The course of study focuses on learning problem solving strategies, solving a balance of problems that are multi-step, non-routine, and real-world. The teaching strategies utilized in the course will provide every student with the opportunity to be successful and proficient in mathematics.

7th GRADE MATH is designed to help students learn the concepts, skills, and reasoning strategies of mathematics.  The course of study focuses on developing sufficient computational, procedural, and problem solving skills to provide a solid foundation for further study in mathematics. 

ALGEBRA I course combines algebra with real world applications. Students will have the opportunity to review and use arithmetic and geometry concepts as they study algebra. Algebra covers the concepts needed to prepare students for the proficiency test for graduation, the SAT, and/or the ACT. Students will see the practical value of algebra and will understand its use in their everyday lives.

6th GRADE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS is designed to develop a student's understanding of history by studying people and events during the early Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Everyday lives, problems and accomplishments of people, and the roles they play in developing political, social, and economic structures and the spread of ideas that changed the world are studied. Students will analyze the rise and fall of civilizations and how geography has linked people's lives.

7th GRADE MEDIEVAL HISTORY is designed to develop a student's understanding of the social, cultural and technological changes that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia from 500AD to 1789. This includes the study of the history and geography of great civilizations that developed concurrently during the medieval and early modern times. Students will learn about the exchanges of ideas, beliefs, commodities, and technology that took place during this time. Students will develop an understanding of the Enlightenment philosophy and the rise of democracy and its continuing impact today.

8TH GRADE U.S. HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY focuses on the ideas, issues, and events from the framing of the Constitution up to World War I. Students study America's democratic institutions founded on the Judeo-Christian heritage and English parliamentary traditions, shaping of the Constitution, and the development of American politics, society, culture, and economy. Major regional differences are emphasized as they study about the challenges facing the new nation from the writing of the Constitution to the causes, and consequences of the Civil War and the rise of industrializations impact on our economy and society.

6TH GRADE FOCUS ON EARTH SCIENCE is designed to introduce the student to Earth Science. Earth's changing surface will be studied such as rocks, minerals, forces shaping the Earth such as weathering and erosion, the atmosphere and the oceans. In addition, the student will learn about life and the environment in the form of ecology and preserving Earth's resources.

7TH GRADE FOCUS ON LIFE SCIENCE is designed to introduce the student to Life Science. The basis for the structure and classification of life, the basic unit of life the cell, and its processes and reproduction along with heredity, genetics and how organisms adapt over time will be studied. The human body systems covered includes the circulatory immunity, digestive, respiratory, excretory, skeletal, muscular, nervous and regulatory and reproductive systems. 

8TH GRADE FOCUS ON PHYSICAL SCIENCE is designed to introduce the student to Physical Science. The student will study the chemistry of matter with a look at the inside of an atom, the principles of the Periodic Table and finally the relationship of chemical bonds and chemical reactions. Motion and momentum will be studied as well as the principles of forces of Newton's Laws. The dynamics of work and energy will be explained and demonstrated with the principles and uses of simple machines. In addition, the physical interactions of electricity, magnetism, waves, sound and light will be studied.

ENGLISH I (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "b" Credit

ENGLISH I concentrates on reaching the standards for development and refinement of basic skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Units in literature will cover plot, conflict, characterization, point of view, setting and theme. Units in writing will cover narrative, expository, and persuasive composition, with emphasis on mastering steps in the writing process. Language study will cover punctuation, spelling, vocabulary and usage. Units of study include research projects, study skills, poetry, and drama. In addition to the textbook readings, two novels will be read, one each semester.

ENGLISH II (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "b" Credit

ENGLISH II, World Literature and Composition, combines a study of world literature with a continued emphasis on writing. Students will read a variety of authors and genres and respond to the literature making connections to their personal experiences. Students will develop critical thinking skills through active reading and ongoing writing. Emphasis in the writing process will be placed on the thesis statement, purpose, writing a coherent paragraph, and developing vocabulary and grammar. Students will examine and clarify their values by exploring, essays, plays, short stories, and poetry. Emphasis in the writing process will be placed on the thesis statement, purpose, writing a coherent paragraph, and developing vocabulary and grammar. 

ENGLISH III (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "b" Credit

ENGLISH III, American Literature, is a general studies program in literature and composition, organized as a survey of American literature. American Literature expands upon and deepens understanding of literary and communication skills covered in English I and II including reading, writing, language appreciation and aesthetics, listening and speaking, viewing and representing, and research. Within these general topic areas, special emphasis is placed on: writing expository, research, and creative compositions; honing critical and analytical skills through close readings of literary, historical, expository, and functional documents; using context strategies and an understanding of etymology to build vocabulary.

ENGLISH IV (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "b" Credit

ENGLISH IV is designed to further develop critical and analytical thinking through language for college-bound seniors. The goal of the course is to prepare students for the independence and work habits needed to achieve success in the collegiate setting. A variety of literary movements will be covered including, but not limited to, the Medieval, Elizabethan, Romantic, Victorian, Age of Reason, Contemporary, and Modern areas of British literature.  Students will incorporate all language arts skills mastered throughout high school and will continue to further develop those skills throughout this course.  In addition, all seniors will complete a Senior Project, which consists of a product or performance, a research paper, a portfolio, and an oral presentation. This project is ongoing throughout the year with direct instruction for each of the components culminating with the Senior Defense and Boards.

CAHSEE PREP – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (5 credits per semester) On-site course

CAHSEE PREP – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS is designed to develop students' mastery skills needed to pass the state mandated test in order to graduate from high school with a high school diploma. All students need reading and writing skills to be successful in life. California educators have created California content standards for English Language Arts and have set standards for reading and writing that must be met at each grade level. California content standards emphasize higher-level thinking skills. Students must learn to think on a higher level to consider, analyze, interpret, and evaluate rather than simply recall facts.

ALGEBRA I (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "c" Credit

(On-site course also available)

ALGEBRA I combines algebra with real world applications. Students will have the opportunity to review and use arithmetic and geometry concepts as they study algebra. Algebra covers the concepts needed to prepare students for the proficiency test for graduation, the SAT, and/or the ACT. Students will see the practical value of algebra and will grow to appreciate how algebra is used in their everyday lives.

ALGEBRA II (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "c" Credit

ALGEBRA II combines algebra and geometry in order to solve more complex questions. Emphasis is directed on abstract thinking skills, the function concept, and the algebraic solutions. Students will examine functions through multiple representations, such as graphs, tables, and matrices. Students will investigate how functions are all interconnected. Students will explore the importance of Algebra in the real world and thus make the connections to their everyday lives. Algebra II will prepare the students for more advance courses in mathematics by developing an extensive knowledge of functions.

GEOMETRY (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "c" Credit

GEOMETRY allows students to develop the skill needed in reasoning. Students will become aware of relationships between angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, and three-dimensional shapes. Students will have the ability to recognize, classify, and apply properties to simple shapes and know and use congruence theorems.

BUSINESS MATHEMATICS (5 credits per semester)

BUSINESS MATH is a course designed to increase and develop students' knowledge and understanding of solving real life mathematical problems.  The course of study focuses on topics directly related to personal finance and business math. Teaching strategies utilized in the course will provide a community learning environment which portrays and reflects finance structures.

CAHSEE PREP – MATH (5 credits per semester) On-site course

CAHSEE PREP – MATH is a one year class designed as an intervention for students who have completed a regular series of math courses but remain at-risk of not passing the mathematics section of the California High School Exit Exam. This course is based upon the CAHSEE Blueprints and the California Academic Content Standards. This course offers a balanced approach of direct instruction and inquiry, contains units of instruction that are taught and reviewed in a systematic format, and provides a fresh look at previously taught concepts and skills.

CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "a" Credit

CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY is the study of physical elements of the earth and the impact of humans on the earth.  All individuals need to have an understanding of geography in order to comprehend the changes that have taken place in various environments and how man has influenced these changes on local to global levels. 

MODERN WORLD HISTORY (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "a" Credit

MODERN WORLD HISTORY is a course designed for students in tenth grade to study the major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of the two World Wars.  Students will trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations.  Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. 

UNITED STATES HISTORY (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "a" Credit

UNITED STATES HISTORY is a course designed to develop a student's understanding of the events and people which created turning points in American history.  The course reviews the history of our nation's birth, expansion, internal conflict and the impact of industrialization.  The primary study focuses on becoming a world power and resolving internal and external conflicts in the 20th and 21st centuries. 

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for .5 "a" Credit

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT is a course designed to develop a student's understanding of the institutions which make up the American government and to provide a foundation for future citizenship.  The course of study focuses on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, particularly the philosophies behind the documents; national, state and local government structures; and contemporary social and political issues. 

ECONOMICS (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for .5 "g" Credit

ECONOMICS is a course designed to make students aware of their wants in relation to the scarcity of the world's resources.  The goals of the course are to develop an understanding of economic concepts as they relate to everyday experiences, to create an awareness of how economic principles affect economic systems and how they interact on a global scale.  Students will examine local, state, national and global aspects of our economy.

HEALTH (5 credits per semester) 

HEALTH is designed to increase a student's Health literacy. Seven essential areas of knowledge and skills to improve health in the United States have been identified through the National Health Education Standards. The goal is to promote good health, to prevent health problems and address them when they do occur.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE (5 credits per semester)

PHYSICAL SCIENCE is a course designed to introduce the student to the states of basic matter with the study of atoms, elements and the periodic table. Chemistry in the form of chemical bonds, reactions, different types of substances, mixtures and solubility properties will be addressed. Motion, momentum and forces will be presented, thus Newton's Laws of motion and laws dealing with pressure and buoyant forces in liquids; Archimedes, Pascal's and Bernoulli's Principles. Energy sources and resources, including thermal, will be studied along with the concepts of work, power and how simple machines function and form more complex machines. Wave types and their properties, movements and behaviors will be studied along with light, mirrors and lenses. Finally, electricity and magnetism principles will be studied with a focus on electronics and computers.

EARTH SCIENCE (5 credits per semester)

EARTH SCIENCE is a course designed to show the relationship of biodiversity of organisms and how they impact the earth and its surroundings. Topics include Earth's materials, energy, matter, minerals and rocks and the changing forces of weathering and erosion. Earth's internal processes of plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes and how these processes of changed the Earth's surface over time will be addressed. The course will also touch upon Earth's air and water as related to the study of the atmosphere, weather, climate and ocean currents and finally the topics of the Earth's solar system, stars, galaxies and space exploration.

BIOLOGY (5 credits per semester)

On-site lab requirement with this course – UC Approved for "d" Credit

BIOLOGY is a standards-based course which centers on the study of living things. This course explores the structure and function of cells, defines heredity, genetics and explores adaptations in living things over time. Bacteria, Protists, fungi, and plant, reproduction and processes will be examined as well as the complex diversity of the animal kingdom. Finally, the human body systems of structure, movement, digestion, circulation, respiration, excretion, control, coordination, regulation, reproduction, immunity and disease will be covered along with the principles of Ecology and conservation.

FINE ARTS (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "f" Credit

FINE ARTS focuses on a media approach to the elements and principles of art. It integrates lessons in perception, creative expression, historical and cultural heritage, and evaluation to form a comprehensive approach to art that helps every student - regardless of their learning style - think more creatively, make better decisions, even learn the art of self discipline.

PERFORMING ARTS (5 credits per semester)

PERFORMING ARTS is designed to assist the student to become knowledgeable in the essential vocabulary and process of writing and researching theatrical literature as well as acting and technical aspects of the theatre. Acting experiences involve the student exploring the concepts of self, body and voice work in coursework of a variety of different cultures and theatre-related media. This course develops spontaneity as well as creativity and encourages students to celebrate the theatre arts in the various strands of perceiving, thinking, comprehending, applying, integrating, communicating, analyzing critiquing as well as performing.

SPANISH I (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "e" Credit

SPANISH I is a level one language class where students will develop their abilities to communicate about themselves, their interests, families and daily routines. Students are expected to use with a degree of accuracy basic linguistic structures. This can be demonstrated in daily speaking, reading, writing and listening activities. At this beginning level of language learning, students will explore themes that will resonate throughout their language studies.

SPANISH II (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "e" Credit

SPANISH II reviews basic Spanish vocabulary and structures in order to strengthen self-expression and basic communication skills in functional contexts. Listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing are further developed through expanded application of vocabulary and linguistic structures. Spanish is the language of the classroom, with use of English being limited to explanation of grammar and clarification of instructions when needed.

SPANISH III (5 credits per semester) – UC Approved for "g" Credit

SPANISH III students continue to develop their proficiency in the three modes of communicative competence:  interacting with other speakers of Spanish, understanding oral and written messages in Spanish, and making oral and written presentations in Spanish. The main goal is to increase the student's ability to use Spanish for communication and to build ease and self-confidence in self-expression. The foundations established in Spanish I and II are consolidated and expanded to enable the student to achieve a higher level of fluency and proficiency, use more complex structures and a wider range of vocabulary to communicate on a variety of topics.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

(5 credits per semester-designed to be completed in 2 semesters)

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS is an elective course designed for students who wish to gain an overall understanding of the computer and software programs related to success in the "World of Work". The students are introduced to Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, hardware of a typical system and to relevant terminology. Students will create a variety of "real-world" projects in Word, Excel and Power Point as well as properly keyboarding a minimum of 25 WPM.

COMPUTER LITERACY

(5 credits per semester-semester course only)

COMPUTER LITERACY is an elective course designed for students who wish to gain an overall understanding of the computer and software programs related to success in the "World of Work". The students are introduced to Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, hardware of a typical system and to relevant terminology.

FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE

(5 credits per semester)

FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE is an elective course designed to assist the student to become an independent person, assisting in their personal growth in the areas of time and money management, decision and problem solving. Successful strategies to exploring job options and balancing multiple roles and jobs will be discussed. The interpersonal skills of teamwork, leadership, peer pressure, relationships, and conflict resolution will also be addressed. Parenting and care giving responsibilities of children will be discussed and consumer skills, nutrition and housing will also be addressed.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

(5 credits per semester-semester course only)

FINANCIAL LITERACY is an elective course designed to educate students about sound money management skills and the financial planning process as well as help students to develop positive behaviors that are necessary to attaining financial security in the future.

LEADERSHIP

(5 credits per semester)

LEADERSHIP is designed to actively engage students in further developing citizenship, attitude, initiative and organization for a variety of purposes. Students will create job descriptions for offices as well as organize a community service project. Student Organization publishes the school newspaper, plans student activities and participates in fundraisers.