Curriculum Guide 2008-2009 
and
Course Descriptions

Art Construction (Clay)
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Fine Arts or Elective
Prerequisites: None

Goals/Skills Developed: Students will learn to use varied materials to construct artwork. Clay sculpture, collage, stenciling, and other media will be used. Specific projects will be completed in each area.
Assignments: Students will create a term project incorporating these media.
Cost: $8.25 per semester

Advanced Art Construction ( Ceramics)
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Fine Arts or Elective
Prerequisites: Art Construction

Goals/Skills Developed: Students will be introduced to "hot glass" work and mold making, as well as advanced work with clay.
Assignments: Art students will complete a variety of projects.
Cost: $8.25 per semester.

Drawing and Painting
Open to Grades: 9,10,11,12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Fine Arts or Elective
No Prerequisite

This class explores several ways to create artwork through pencil, colored pencils, ink, oil pastels, acrylic paint and watercolor paint. Students will learn perspective, shading, principals of design and human figure drawing, among other concepts. Students will be asked to supply some of their art supplies for this class.

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Ninth Grade English
Open to Grades: 9
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: English
Prerequisites: None

Goals/Skills Developed: Ninth Grade English is a required course for all ninth graders. Students will acquire skills in the areas of: literary analysis, short stories, poetry, drama, novels, myth and legend, composition, vocabulary, studying, spelling, short story writing, thinking, nonfiction, reading, test-taking, writing research papers, letter writing, public speaking, and listening.
Assignments: Worksheets, quizzes, exams, composition, speeches, group projects.

Tenth Grade English
Open to Grades: 10
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirements: English
Prerequisite: Ninth English

Goals/Skills Developed: In Tenth Grade English, which is required of all sophomores, students will further refine the skills acquired in Ninth Grade English. In addition, students will expand their skills in critical thinking and further develop a variety of writing modes.
Assignments: Worksheets, quizzes, exams, compositions, speeches, questions, presentations, and projects.

The Novel and Short Story

Open to Grades: 11,12
Length of Course: One Semester
Graduation Requirements: English Elective
Prerequisite: Ninth & Tenth English

Goals/Skills Developed: Students will be reading, discussing, and writing about a variety of significant American and English novels and short stories. The assignments in this course emphasize a close reading of the text and analysis of the novel or short story, using literary concepts and participation in class discussion concerning the works. Authors will include Orwell, Golding, Kingsover, Cormier, Gaines and Knowles.
Assignments: This will take the form of quizzes, exams, papers, and projects.

Dramatic Literature
Open to Grades: 11&12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirements: English Elective
No Pre-Requisite Required
This one semester English elective focuses on exploring the elements of literature through reading and performing plays in an informal setting. Grades in this class are based highly on class participation in reading and acting out scenes in class. The class gives students an opportunity to connect with literature as active readers involved in the language of plays. Works from Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Neil Simon, Edmond Rostand, Jerome Williams, and Robert E. Lee are included

Film Study 1&2
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: English Elective
Prerequisites: Ninth and tenth English
Goals/Skills Developed: Students will broaden their appreciation of the American cinema through an in-depth study of its development from the late 19th century through the 1980s. Along the way, students will learn about the art of filmmaking and the major developments in the American cinema. Attendance is a key element in this course because of the nature of the work.
Assignments: Quizzes, reading guides, group presentations, exams, a notebook, creative projects.

Women's Studies
Open to Grades: 11,12
Length of Course: Year
Grad Requirement: Elective
Prerequisite: None
Women's studies is a class designed to look at the historical aspect of women's rights. It will also examine women's rights of today along with issues such as equal pay, glass ceiling, cycle of violence, as well as many other topics. This class is designed to enhance student's understanding of the world outside of what they know.

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
Open to Grades: 11,12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirements: English
Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
AP English Literature and Composition is a challenging course that will focus on close reading of Western literature and on writing. Students will read a good many novels, short stories, essays, and plays and they will study poetry extensively. In addition, students will respond to the writing assignments. Independent reading (including summer reading) is also a part of the class. It is expected that students enrolled in AP English Literature and Composition will take the AP exam in May of 2009. Students earning a 3 or higher on the AP exam may earn college credit, depending on the college they choose. The content of this course will alternate every other year so that students may complete two years of the course. Admission to this class is by application only.

C. P. Tenth English
Open to Grades: 10
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirement: English Elective
Prerequisites: B+ or better in 9th grade English, instructor's permission
Goals/Skills Developed: This course is strongly recommended for college bound students who wish to expand their knowledge of literature and further develop their communication skills through literary analysis, discussion, and presentation. Although the curriculum will be essentially the same as that used for all tenth grade English classes, the depth and breadth of accompanying assignments and projects will be more demanding. Students will be expected to read literary works independently and to complete a project related to each.
Assignments: Compositions, group and individual projects, oral reading, exams, presentations.

Journalism
Open to Grades: 11&12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirements:English Elective
Prerequisites: 9th &10th grade English.
Goals and skills Developed : This course combines a study of media and its effects on U.S. society as well as the skills needed to produce different types of media. The emphasis will be placed on writing, editing, and publishing a school newspaper or other school related project
Assignments: Reading and viewing a wide variety of media, notes, worksheets, writing assignments, quizzes, exams, group and individual projects.

C. P. Ninth Grade English
Open to Grades: 9
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirements: English
Prerequisites: Entrance exam, Teacher recommendation.
Goals / Skills Developed: This course is strongly recommended for college-bound students who wish to expand their knowledge of literature and further develop their communication skills through literary analysis, discussion, and presentation. Although the curriculum will be essentially the same as that used for all ninth grade English classes, the depth and breadth of accompanying assignments and projects will be more independently and to complete a project related to each.
Assignments: Compositions, group and individual projects oral reading, exams, presentations.

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As America's relations with other nations of the world expand, and as the world becomes smaller through the development of modern methods of transportation and communication, it becomes increasingly important for the people of the world to be able to communicate with each other. To achieve this communication and understanding, we must be able to understand and speak the languages of other people and know how they think and live. To communicate in a foreign language, to participate in a different culture, and to read literature in another language is a broadening and lasting human experience, a form of personal fulfillment. Who must study a foreign language? Many colleges and universities require minimum of two years of foreign language for admission.

Spanish I
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: Students will learn to understand, speak, read, and write Spanish at an elementary level. Listening and speaking will be emphasized along with reading and written work. Students will be introduced to various aspects of the Hispanic cultures to increase their awareness of other viewpoints. Students will be able to conduct simple conversations.
Assignments: Daily assignments, quizzes, oral discussion, projects and exams.

Spanish II
Open to Grades: 10, 11,12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites: Spanish I
Goals/Skills Developed: Continuation and refinement of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills begun in first year Spanish.
Assignments: Daily oral discussion, written assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects.

Spanish III
Open to Grades: 10-12
Length of Course: Full year
Grad.Requirement: Foreign Language/fine art/elective.
Prerequisite: Needs to have completed Spanish I and Spanish II.

Goals/Skills Developed: Spanish III builds on the foundation of Spanish I and Spanish II. Speaking, listening, reading and writing skills will be improved. Students will become more sophisticated in their use of the language. We will base much of our instruction on what we encounter as we read a series of books similar in difficulty to the Goosebump series.
Some universities will waive their foreign language requirement for students who have successfully completed three or more years of high school foreign language.

American Sign Language
Open to Grades: 9 - 12
Length of course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Fine Art/Occupational
Prerequisite: None
Goals / Skills Developed: The Sign Language class is an introduction to American Sign Language, the form of communication used by deaf people in America. By the end of the one semester course you will learn a basic vocabulary and language structure that will allow you to have a basic conversation with a deaf person.

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United States History
Open to Grades:10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year Grad.
Requirement: Required Social Studies.
Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing
Goals/Skills Developed: US History investigates America’s colorful and rich past. Students will understand the fundamental principals of American politics and economics. This fundamental study will enable students to understand their role in American society. Students will have a greater appreciation and understanding of America’s past in order to become informed citizens. This history class will focus on 20th century United States history, with a concentration on World War II and Vietnam.

Advanced CWP/ AP US Government
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirements: Elective or CWP Requirement
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
In this course you will explore where the political theories of liberty, equality, and justice come from and the influence of these theories on our Constitution. If you don't want to be a "subject" to your government's will, then learn what it takes to be a citizen who actively participates in government!
*This course is designed as a Pre AP U. S. Government course. Although not required for AP Government, it will provide students with a solid base to be successful for the AP experience

CWP (Contemporary World Problems)
Open to Grades: 12
Length of Course: Year
Graduation Requirement: Required Social Studies
Prerequisites: Senior Standing
Goals/Skills Developed: The focus of this course will be divided into two areas. The first one will study domestic issues facing the United States. The second part will examine international issues affecting the U.S. and the global community. An emphasis will be placed on the skills of communication, analysis and evaluation.

Washington State History (Also can be taken on- line)
Open to Grades: 10, 11, and 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Global Studies & US History
Prerequisites: Global Studies & US History

Goals/Skills Developed: This class focuses on the geography, and the natural, cultural, and political history, and constitution, of Washington State. Students will analyze the role that Washington played in the 19th and 20th Century development of our country. Lastly, they will analyze some of the current issues facing the state, and evaluate their impact on the future.

Womens Studies
Open to Grades: 11 -12
Length of Course: Year
Grad.Requirements: English/US History/Elective
No Prerequisite

Goals/Skills Developed: Women’s studies is a class designed to look at the historical aspect of women’s rights. 1700 -Current. It will also examine women’s issues of today such as equal pay, glass ceiling, cycle of violence, as well as many other topics. This class is designed to enhance student’s understanding of the world outside of what they know.

Psychology
Peer Mediation
Open to Grades: 11 & 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirements: Elective
Prerequisites: Teacher approval
Goals/Skills developed: Psychology is a year long class that will explore a variety of broad psychological issues and theory. Peer mediation and conflict resolution training is a formal training to become a peer mediator. Facilitation is a broad study that will be centered on the newly built challenge course.

American Civics
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: U S History or elective
No prerequisite
Goals / Skills developed: To understand what it means to be an American, you need to understand our democratic ideals and constitutional principles. Learn why we value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. More importantly, learn your power as a citizen in American political system.

Global Studies (World Geography/World History)
Open to Grades: 9
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirement: Required Social Studies
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: The Global Studies class will emphasize the important eras of the past. Pre-history, ancient civilizations, eastern invasions, and growth of empires are all integral to this class. In addition, the themes, elements and standards of geography will be applied to the path of mankind’s journey through history. Global Studies will stress the progress of man from ancient Africa to the New World and will analyze the “characteristics, distribution, and migration of human population” (Geography standards).

World Geography (Freshmen requirement)
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Global Studies (Graduation Requirement)
No prerequisite
Goals/Skills Developed:This class is a graduation requirement. This course will cover the following topics: The World in Spatial Terms, Places and Regions, Physical Systems, Human Systems, Environment and Society and The Uses of Geography.

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WASL Math
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: 1 year
Grad. Requirement: Math Credit
Prerequisites: Must not have successfully passed the math WASL.

Goals / Skills Developed: This course is designed to help students pass the 10th Grade Math WASL. Various branches of mathematics will be touched upon throughout the year including, but not limited to, algebra, geometry, probability, problem solving, reasoning, number sense, and measurement. Students will be expected to be self-motivated and work independently as well as in a group setting

Basic Math
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Substitute for requirement
Prerequisites: Recommendation of the M.D. Team.
Goals/Skills Developed: The math areas that are covered in Special Education include such topics as: general math, consumer math, similar to the courses in the regular classroom except the work is adapted to individual student needs.

Interactive Math Program
(IMP Math 1)
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Math / Elective
Pre Requisite: Essential Math or higher.
IMP is an integrated; problem based curriculum that teaches challenging content and emphasizes mathematical reasoning in a cooperative learning environment.
Level 1 is broken up into five units:
Patterns: This is an introductory algebra and geometry unit where students are looking for patterns in numbers and finding ways to express these patterns with meaningful statements.
The Game of Pig: This is a probability unit where students explore a game and determine what the best strategy is in the long run. Percentages and area are emphasized.
Overland Trail: This is an algebra unit whose questions are based on the settlers traveling the Overland Trail in the 1800's. Special emphasis is on the use of variables, graphing, and interpreting graphs.
The Pit and the Pendulum: Based on the Edgar Allen Poe story students study the use of standard deviation and curve fitting to make a prediction of the period of a pendulum. This unit consists of several data collection experiments.

IMP Math 2
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirements: Math/Elective
Pre-Requisites: Successful completion of IMP Math Level 1 or teacher recommendation.
IMP Level 2 math is an integrated problem based curriculum that teaches challenging content and emphasizes mathematical reasoning in a cooperative learning environment.
Level 2 is broken up into five units:
Is There Really a Difference: This is a statistics and probability unit where students revisit normal distributions and standard deviation. They will then learn to use "chi-squared" to make comparisons.
Do Bees Build It Best: This is a geometry unit where students will be studying area, volume, and tessellations. Students will also use right triangle trigonometry.
Cookies: This is an algebra unit that emphasizes the use of the coordinate plane. Students will learn to work with linear inequalities and develop the concepts used in linear programming, a decision-making tool.
All About Alice: This is an algebra unit where students will learn to work with exponential and logarithmic functions.

IMP Math 3
Open to grades: 10-12
Length of course: Full Year
Grad Requirements: Math or Elective
Prerequisite: Successful completion of IMP Level 2 or teacher recommendation.
IMP Level 3 is an integrated, problem based curriculum that teaches challenging content and emphasizes mathematical reasoning in a cooperative learning environment.
Level 3 is broken up into five units:
Fireworks: This is an algebra unit where students will be studying quadratic functions, quadratic equation. There will be a significant emphasis on the graphs of quadratic functions.
Orchard Hideout: This is a geometry unit where students will study congruence, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, distance formula, and circles. Students will be using coordinate geometry to make connections between algebra and geometry.
Meadows or Malls? This is an algebra unit that studies the use of linear programming. As in Level 2, Cookies, Students will be using 2-variable situations, but will then look at situations that involve 3-variables through the us of matrices.
Small World Isn't It? This is a unit that develops the concepts of the slope of a curve and its relationship to the rate of change and the derivative of the function. A variety of growth models will place emphasis on linear functions and exponential functions. There is also an introduction to the natural logarithmic function.
Pennant Fever: This is a probability unit where students utilize tree diagrams, permutations, combinations, and the binomial theorem to make well informed decisions.

IMP Math 4
Open to Grades: 11,12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad Requirements: Math / Elective
Prerequisite: Successful completion of IMP Level 3 or teacher recommendation.
IMP level 4 is an integrated, problem based curriculum that teaches challenging content and emphasizes mathematical reasoning in a cooperative learning environment. Level 4 is broken up into five units:
High Drive: This is a trigonometry unit that is an extension of the right triangle trigonometry to which they have already learned to circular functions. Using the study of falling objects students will develop the concepts of polar coordinates, inverse trigonometric functions, and the Pythagorean identity.
As The Cube Turns: This is a geometry unit where students will study fundamental geometric transformation-translation, rotations, and reflections-in both two and three space. Matrices will provide a setting for which students will be able to write a program on the graphing calculator to depict the rotation of a cube in three dimensions.
Know How: This unit is designed to prepare students to find out independently about mathematical content they either have not learned or have forgotten. Most will need this skill later in their adult lives and future education. Topics to be explored will include radian measure, ellipses, proof of he quadratic formula, laws of sines and cosines, and complex numbers.
The World of Functions: this unit builds on students extensive work with functions. Students will explore basic families of functions in terms of the various representations, tables, graphs, algebraic expressions, and as models for real-world situation. In the latter parts of the unit students will explore how to combine functions and transform functions.
The Pollster's Dilemma: The central limit theorem is the cornerstone of this unit in which students look at the process of sampling with a special focus on how the size of the sample affects variation in poll results. Students will use earlier work to learn how to use normal distribution and standard deviations to find confidence intervals and see how concepts such as margin of error are used in reporting polling results.

AP Calculus
Open to Grades: Pass IMP 4
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirement: Math
Pre-requisite: This is a college level course in differential and integral calculus, equivalent to one semester of calculus at most universities. Topics include a review of functions, an introduction to limits and continuity, derivatives and their applications, integrals and their applications, anti-dirivatives and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and an introduction to differential equations using slope fields. there is an emphasis on conceptual understanding and working with functions represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. The TI-83 graphing calculator is used extensively. the Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam is expected of all students in this course. More information can be found at: http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/students/calculus/

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Library Assistant
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites: Approval of Librarian
Goals/Skills Developed:Media center organization and procedures are learned through circulation and shelving books and magazines, and inputting cataloging data onto computer.

Office Experience
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites:Office approval and ability to communicate with people.
Goals/Skills Developed: Basic office skills such as filing, using the telephone, mail procedures, etc., are developed. Learning to work with others is also stressed. Good attendance is important.

Teacher Assistant
Open to Grades; 11, 12
Length of Course: Year
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation and approval of an administrator.
Goals/Skills Developed: Students may receive credit for working with a teacher in grading student papers, duplicating course materials, leading physical education exercises and sometimes class discussions, setting up science equipment and helping other students with their assignments.

Yearbook
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites: Instructor's permission
Goals/Skills Developed: Students will learn and participate in all aspects of the production of a yearbook. The class will be small, and each student will have a specific job (editor, photographer, section editor, etc.). In addition to his/her job, each staff member must sell a set amount of ads to help pay for the book and participate in any other fund-raising activities. Each semester of yearbook is a prerequisite for the next. Students must have access to transportation in order to sell ads. Students enrolling in Yearbook are expected to complete two semesters.
Assignments: Taking, developing, and printing photographs, writing stories, planning and drawing layouts, selling ads, taking quizzes.
Cost: Transportation

Math Tutor
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation, outgoing personality, and completion of two course levels beyond with an "A" or "B".
Goals/Skills Developed: Students will assist the teacher in individual assistance in the classroom. They will need to be able to work independently, keep records of assistance, and submit a paper upon completion of the course concerning their discoveries and accomplishments.

Drama
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11,12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirement: Fine Arts Elective
Prerequisites: Audition
Goals/Skills Developed: Drama is a progressive course that will last two semesters. Instruction and experience will be provided in the areas of acting, makeup, costuming, stage design, publicity, stagecraft, and direction, leading to public performance. After school involvement will be required at times.
Assignments: Students will have a variety of acting and stage craft assignments, plus performances.

Peer Mediation

Open to grades: 11,12
Length of course: Full year
Grad requirements: Elective
Prerequisites: Teacher Approval
Goals/Skills Developed: Peer mediation and conflict resolution is a diverse class trained in peer mediation and conflict resolution skills. This specially trained group is small and is representative of the students of the student body. Peer mediators are trained to assist people who wish to solve conflicts with-out adult intervention or disciplinary actions. A mediator's job is to empower disputing students to generate their own resolution to resolve the conflict solution.

ASB/Leadership
Open to Grades: 10-12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirements: Elective
Prerequisites: None

This course is strongly recommended for student's who want to improve their verbal communication, teamwork skills, time management skills and organizational skills. It is a year long course in which all members of ASB must attend. Leadership is open for any student wishing to improve the environment of LCHS through activites, school spirit, and school participation. Students must also be willing to challenge themselves and other mentally and be willing to assume leadership positions.

Navigation 101(Required for graduation)
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Full Year (once per month for 4 years)
No prerequisites.

Goals/Skills Developed: Navigation 101 is a course developed in order to help students increase their connections to school, gain skills for school and life and assist students meet state graduation requirements. Navigation 101 is a support system that empowers students to demonstrate their success through an individual (digital) portfolio and a student-led conference.

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Choral Ensemble
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Fine Arts or Elective
Prerequisites: By audition only.
Goals/Skills Developed: A selected mixed choir open to all grades. Students will study and perform various choral styles including both SATB classic and vocal jazz. Enrolled students will be expected to perform at concerts, community events and competitions. Choral members will be selected by private audition only. This simple audition will include demonstrating pitch abilities as well as musical reading skills. Music reading skill is not required, but the student must demonstrate an ability to learn music techniques.

Concert Band
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Fine Arts or elective
Prerequisite: Student must demonstrate an entrance proficiency skill of Level III. Maximum enrollment may be limited to 70 members.
Goals/Skills Developed: Concert Band members participate in a wide variety of activities including evening concerts, entertainment at athletic events, and large group festivals and more. All members are automatically members of the pep band. Basic music skills developed (e.g. sight-reading, intonation, rhythm, listening, etc.) will be refined and perfected.
Assignments: Performances both at school and outside of the regular school day including concerts, assemblies, community events, and festivals are required Excellent attendance, preparation, sectionals, participation in class and play tests are required.
Cost: The fee for maintenance and cleaning of uniforms is $10.00.

Jazz Band
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Fine Arts or elective
Prerequisites: By audition only.
Goals/Skills Developed: The jazz band plays various types of music including swing, blues, Latin and rock. Improvisation is an important form of soloing for this group and is one of the skills which will be taught. Typical instrumentation includes: 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, 1 baritone sax, 1 drummer, 1 bass, 1 guitar, and 1 piano.
Assignments: Performances both at school and outside of the regular school day including concerts, assemblies, community events, and festivals. Excellent attendance, written work, participation in class, and playing tests are required.

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Physical Education
Open to Grades: 9, 10
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: P. E.
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: Activities may include: Health and fitness evaluation, conditioning, aerobics, rhythms, weight training, individual sports, and team sports. Grading is by a point system with emphasis on participation, attendance and attitude. Students are required to dress daily to earn a passing grade.

Advanced P. E.
Open to Grades:10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: P. E.
Prerequisites: 1/2 year of P. E. Minimum "B" grade in previous semester.
Goals/Skills Developed:
1. Activities may include: health and fitness evaluation, conditioning, aerobics, rhythms, weight training, individual sports, and team sports.
2. Grading is by a point system, which includes attendance, participation and attitude. Students will be expected to build on previous P. E. experiences to upgrade skills in a number of activities. Possible costs for outside activities: $25/quarter. Possible sports and health research and/or writing
Assignments: Students are required to dress daily.

Weight Training
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirements: P. E.
Prerequisites: none
Goals/Skills Developed: In order to take this class, students must talk to Mr. Lambert regarding class expectations prior to signing up for the class. Weight training is an intense, aggressive program designed for athletes and serious weight lifters. Strength improvement is mandatory to receive a passing grade. The Bigger, Faster, Stronger Program (BFS) will be used for this class. Students lift 3 days a week and do agility, sprint, and speed drills the other 2 days. BFS is based on 4 core lifts: Squat, Bench, Dead lift, and Power Cleans. Proper technique and form are demanded for safety purposes. Hard work is mandatory; in other words, this is not an easy class.

Sports Development
Open to Grades: 9-12 Girls Only
Length of Course: Full year
Grad. Requirement: PE / Elective
No Prerequisite

Goals/Skills Developed: This course is designed for female athletes and girls interested in improving their overall fitness levels. The class will consist of 2-3 days of resistance training along with 2 days of conditioning and SAQ training. Some sessions will be in the classroom discussing topics that apply to today’s athletes. This is not your typical weight training class. Hard work and the desire to improve are key elements.

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Biology
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, & 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Science
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing required or by teacher approval Physical Science highly recommended.
Goals/Skills Developed: This course is a basic biology class that covers such topics as the cell, the human body, the environment, genetics. and one-celled to multi-celled living organisms. Students should develop proficiency in applying the scientific method and problem solving skills, building reading ability, and vocabulary. Various lab activities will be used to illustrate concepts.
Assignments: CLASS PARTICIPATION, a research project, oral presentations, lab reports, vocabulary, class notes, quizzes, and tests. Students must attend class regularly, and expect an average of one/two hours homework per week.

Chemistry
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Science Elective
Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry recommended
Goals/Skills Developed: This is a course in the structure of matter, structure of atoms, the periodic chart, chemical and physical change, of phase, chemical formulae, mole concept, and gas laws. This course uses labs as in integral part of the course.
Assignments: Classroom work, homework assignments, reports, laboratory activities, problem solving, daily quizzes, and tests. Students should expect an average of three to four hours of homework per week.

Lab Science
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Science Elective
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: The emphasis in this course is on working in the laboratory dealing with a variety of science courses (biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology, etc.) Some reports will be done as formal reports using graphing programs, spreadsheets, charts, and drawings. This is primarily a hands-on course.

Environmental Science
Open to Grades: 11&12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirements: Science Elective
Prerequisites: IMP Math 1, Biology, (Chemistry preferred)

Goals/ Skills Developed: If you are concerned about how human behaviors interact with natural habitat, this is the class for you. It explores the needs of wildlife and human life and seeks to find a compromise between the two with intelligent, creative solutions. This class is a college prep course for people interested in environmentalism of wildlife and forestry studies. Activities and hands-on science will be balanced with lab reports, new ideas, and occasional controversial discussions. Don't take this class if you're afraid of going outside in the rain or handling squishy stuff. This class is also responsible for the recycling program.

Basic Forensics
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Semester Need to be enrolled in a lab science also.
Graduation Requirements: Elective
Prerequisites: Students need to have two years of science.
Goals: Have you ever wanted to solve a crime? This course offers an elective credit in an laboratory setting. The class will include hands on approach to basic forensic techniques. Fingerprinting, scene control, chromatography, and DNA procedures will give you a start in the fascinating world of forensics investigations.

Physics
Open to Grades: 10,11,12
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirements: Science
Pre-requisites: Completion of IMP 3 or teacher recommendation.
Physics is the science of how things work. Major topics include motion in one and two dimensions, forces, energy, simple machines, light, sound, and electricity. Students will investigate physics through labs and simulations. Mathematics is the tool that is utilized to model and help explain the concepts of physics. a strong mathematical background is essential to student success.

Zoology
Open to Grades: 10-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirements: Science Elective
Prerequisites: Biology

Goals/Skills Developed: This course is designed as a higher division elective in the biological/ life sciences and targets the study of animal life.
Animal behavior, adaptation, anatomical and physiological variation, and taxonomy asre key topics to be addressed. Particular attention will be paid to animals indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. The class follows a rigorous investigation, discussion, and video format. This course will be especially useful to students wishing to pursue careers in animal science, veterinary medicine, work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or anyone that is interested in animals.

Health Careers
Open to Grades: 10,11,12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirements: Occupational or Science
Prerequisites: Students need to have passed one year of science.

This course will survey a wide variety of careers related to the Health Care field, many that are virtually unknown to most students. We will explore this rapidly growing field and numerous skills that these careers will require. This course may be taken for Science or Occupational credit.

PHYSICS
Open to Grades: 10,11,12
Length of Course: Full year
Grad. Requirements: Science
Prerequisites: Completion of IMP 3 or teacher recommendation.

Goals/Skills Developed: Physics is the science of how things work. Major topics include motion in one and two dimensions, forces, energy, simple machines, light, sound, and electricity. Students will investigate physics through labs and simulations. Mathematics is the tool that is utilized to model and help explain the concepts of physics. A strong mathematical background is essential to student success.

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Welding I
Open to Grades: 9 -12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation requirement: Occupational/Elective
Cost: $8.25 per semester

Goals/Skills developed: This class covers various welding skills such as blueprint reading, layout, welding mathematics, fabrication, equipment usage, maintenance, repair, code welding and design. Students will be exposed to many different types of equipment along with several areas of careers. Students will be required to pay for materials used on individual projects. Students will be required to pay for materials used on individual project. Students will develop proficiency in basic practices of welding, understanding proper handling and operation of oxyacetylene equipment, prepare and cut metal using a variety of methods and equipment, properly handle and use shielded metal electrodes and equipment, perform operation using gas metal arc welding processes, perform operation using gas tungsten arc welding processes.

Welding II
Open to Grades: 10 – 12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement:Occupational/Elective
Cost: $8.25 per semester
Prerequisite: Vocational Welding 1
Goals/Skills Developed: This course is a more in depth extension and continuation of Vocational Welding 1. Students wishing to enroll in Vocational Welding 2 must have first successfully completed Vocational Welding 1.

CADD Architectural Drafting
Open to Grades: 9 – 12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad Requirement:Occupational/Elective

Goals/Skills Developed: This class is designed to introduce the student to the fundamentals of computer aided architectural drafting and design. The areas of instruction will include fundamental CADD techniques as they relate to architecture, Students will learn the basics of floor plan design foundation

Wood Tech II
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Year
Graduation Requirement:Occupational
Cost: $8.25 per semester
Prerequisites: Wood Tech I
Goals/Skills developed:This class is designed to expand on the fundamental woodworking skills learned in Woodworking 1 by providing students with an opportunity to learn the woodworking competencies needed as a prerequisite to advanced woodworking courses and a career in woodworking. The areas of instruction include more in depth study of project planning, hand and power tools, clamping and fastening and finishing procedures, as well as study related to joinery. This course will emphasize instruction in mathematics and measurement which

Wood Tech I
Open to Grades: 9,10
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational or Elective
Cost: $8.25 per semester
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: This beginning class introduces students to woodworking. The areas of instruction include project planning, woodworking tools, clamping and fastening and finishing procedures. This course will emphasize instruction in mathematics and measurement which will be used in completing woodworking projects and assignments. All students will be required to keep a notebook. Successful completion of this course with a C or better is a prerequisite for enrolling in the Woodworking 11 or Introduction to Construction course.

Wood Art
Open to Grades: 9,10,11,12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad Requirement: Occupational, Elective or Fine Art
Pre-requisite: None
Cost: $8.25 per semester
Goals / Skills Developed: Wood Art is a course to develop student’s interest in wood, safety operations of machines, and the correct us of tools as it relates to art design. Students will learn art skill working with scroll saw projects, band saw projects, wood lathe projects and woodcarving skills related to art.

WOOD/LEATHER CARVING
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational/fine art/elective
No Prerequisite.
Cost: $8.25 per semester

Goals/Skills Developed: Wood and leather carving is a class that will be broken down into 9 weeks of woodcarving and 9 weeks of leather carving. Leather tooling includes shop tools, layout tools, pattern design, dyeing, tooling and stamping tools and lacing leather into a completed project. Students will be making projects like billfolds, cell phone cases, MP3 cases and more. The wood carving part of this class

Small Engine
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Year
Graduation Requirement: Occupational or Elective
Cost: $8.25 per semester
Prerequisites: Industrial Survey class or previous engine experience.
Goals/Skills Developed: If you like to work on engines, this is the class for you. Students will gain skills by studying and doing practical hands-on experiences. Small engine repair is a course that will introduce the many kinds of internal combustion engines. Students will develop skills and knowledge through being able to correctly identify, disassemble, inspect, repair and operate a two or four stroke engine. General maintenance and tune-up of the auto engine will also be covered as it relates to the operation of the internal combustion engine.

Metal Working I
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational/Elective
No prerequisite
Cost: $8.25
Goals/Skills developed: In Metalworking 1, students will learn basic machining, how to operate the metal lathe, milling machine, drill press, band saw and do precision layout work with sheet and bench metal to complete a variety of projects including sculpture. Industry standards are stressed throughout the class as well as safety in the workplace. Students must pass a safety test with a C or better in order to work with tools and machinery. All students are required to keep a notebook. Successful completion of this course with a C or better is a prerequisite for enrolling in the Metalworking 2 course.

Metal Working II
Open to Grades: 10 – 12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational / Elective
Pre requisite: Metals I
Cost: $8.25
Goals/Skills developed: The class is designed to expand on the fundamental metal-working skills learned in Metalworking 1. The areas of instruction include more in-depth study of the lathe and milling machine procedures, surface grinding, drill press operation and sculpture. This course will emphasize instruction in mathematics and measurement which will be used in completing metal working projects and assignments. All students will be required to keep a notebook. This course is required for the Welding/Fabrication Technology magnet program. Appropriate dress is required in the lab along with leather jackets, safety goggles, etc. which will be provided by the school.

Metal art/ Welding Sculpture
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Semester or more with approval
Grad Requirements: Occupational/ Elective/ Fine Art
Cost: $8.25 per semester

Goals/ Skills Developed: Aesthetic expression using the contexts of applied design using metal. Design and technical skills will be equally emphasized. Fabrication and design of jewelry and other objects of metal. Students will study the history and the fabrication of metal objects in other cultures. Welding Sculpture students will study the language of form. Contemporary sculpture, and design problems relating the fabrication of welded sculpture will be covered.
Cost: $8.25 per semester

Sewing/Personal Choices
Open to Grades: 9,10,11,12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational or Elective
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $8.25

Goals/Skills Developed: Student will study the following topics: Media savvy, comparison shopping, nutrition, meal planning, kitchen basics, basic baking, personal goals, child care, and development, sewing and housing.

Cultural Foods
Open to Grades: 9 -12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Vocational/Elective
No prerequisites
Cost: $8.25

Goals / Skills Developed: Bugs for breakfast? We will explore why we eat what we eat, how we obtain the food, and how our choices affect the world. Learn what “culture” is and take a round the world trip while exploring food traditions. We will study and cook food from many cultures, possibly including Mexico, France, Germany, Japan, China, Spain, Italy, Greece and the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, we will learn how foods from these countries have influenced American Regional cuisine.

Food and Nutrition
Open to Grades: 9-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Vocational/ Elective
No Prerequisite

Goals/Skills Developed: How can I possibly eat 11 servings of bread per day? Is the Atkins Diet safe? Does skipping breakfast make me store fat? This course will answer these questions and more. We will cover nutrition and wellness, food safety, weight control and buying food while we practice food preparation, serving creative cooking, baking and microwave cooking.

Independent Living/
Interior Design
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Occupational or Elective
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: This course is designed for juniors and seniors. The topics covered will include: choosing a career, budgeting your money, spending money wisely, consumer problems, using financial services, consumer credit, borrowing money, insurance, buying a car, shopping for clothes, shopping for food, nutrition, renting an apartment, basic cooking and basic sewing.

Health/ Health Online
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Required
Prerequisites: None

Goals/Skills Developed: Health is designed to provide students with accurate information about how to stay healthy and/or improve their health. The topics will relate to physical, mental and social well-being.
Assignments: A workbook as well as the class text.
(Can be taken on-line or in the classroom).

Save Today…Wealthy Tomorrow
(Introduction to Business)

This class is about empowering teens to make sound financial decisions for life. Financial management can be confusing and overwhelming. In Introduction to Business, you will learn how to make money work for you. This is a class that your parents wished they would have had in high school. Topics include: saving, understanding investments, retirement, college planning, dumping debt, budgeting, cash management, understanding insurance, real estate, mortgages, and much more. Ultimately you have to ask yourself…who is looking out for you? Don’t be ignorant…if you want to know how to manage money, or anything that deals with these topics (economics, owning a business, marketing, credit, and insurance), you better take Introduction to Business. Financial Peace for the Next Generation ®, a set of DVD’s created by Dave Ramsey, will be used. In addition, an Introduction to Business textbook will be a resource for this class. Ignorance is bliss. You need to be able to protect yourself and your money now and in the future. Family, friends, teachers, and counselors will not always be able to look out for you. You need to look out for yourself and, someday, your family. Be sure to sign up for Mr. Lambert’s Introduction to Business class.
1 semester
Occupational or Elective
No prerequisites
Grades 9-12

Computer Application
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirement: Occupational or Elective
Prerequisites: None

Goals/Skills Developed: In today's technological world, keyboarding skills are as essential as reading and writing. Learn to "touch type" and reap the benefits of producing your written projects in half the time. Enter the World of Windows in the IBM lab and learn the most popular software suite used in business today, Microsoft Office Professional. This integrated software package includes Word for Windows, Excel, Power Point, and Access, all of which work together. You will also use multi-media to design your own World Wide Web Page.
Fee: $8.25

Marketing / Entrepreneurship
Open to Grades: 10-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational/Elective
No Prerequisite

Goals/Skills Developed: Entrepreneurship is the foundation of our economy. This class provides an opportunity for students to learn what it takes to own and operate a business. We will study past and present entrepreneurs and become familiar with the process of owning your own business. Students may choose to participate in a job shadow with a local business.

Focus-Digital Tools (Required for Graduation)
Open to Grades: 9
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirements: Required for Graduation
Prerequisites: None

Focus-Digital Tool is a semester long course intended to increase student’s technology skills, house the development of student digital portfolios and smooth the transition to high school for incoming freshmen. Students will demonstrate mastery in file management, keyboarding, excel, power point and word, as well as create their individual digital portfolio. The course will also cover various topics such as character education, leadership, study skills and school environment and its resources, all to ensure student success at La Center High School.

Career and Worksite Exploration
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Prerequisite: 16 years of and have a job

Goals /Skills developed: The purpose of this class is to enable students to make this transition from school simpler and to learn about occupational career choices through work-based learning experiences. The class is broken into two parts. One, as in-class component where each student develops the knowledge, skill and
abilities necessary to be successful in his or her career choice. Two, an out of class component where the student is placed in a work environment of their choosing to help assist them in developing the commitment and responsibility needed to be a success in this specific occupation. Students must have a job in order to take this class, and students will receive a .5 occupational credit for 180 hours of on the job training per semester.

Digital Photography
Open to Grades:10-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational /Elective/Fine art
No Prerequisite.
Cost: $8.25 per semester
Goals/Skills Developed: This is a class in exploring digital imaging concepts and applications. The course will cover basic camera operations, compositional elements, workflow, lighting, Photoshop Cs techniques, and assignments in various genres of photography. Students must own a digital camera capable of manual setting. Enrollment is by instructor approval.

Music Producing and Recording
Open to Grades: 10 - 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Occupational / Fine arts / Elective
Prerequisites: None
Goals/Skills Developed: This course explores the business of popular music by teaching students the basics of composition, training in basics of composition, training in basic rock instruments, techniques in computer generated music and modern recording studio skills. Students will work individually and in groups to crate original music. Open to students who have experience in reading music notation. Enrollment is by instructor approval.

Filmmaking
Open to Grades: 10-12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Occupational /Elective/Fine art
No prerequisite.
Goals/Skills Developed: A course designed to explore that are of cinematography using digital capture. Students will work in groups to write, direct, and edit short films through out the semester as well as collaborate on an original full length motion picture. Topics of study include composition, camera/edit basics, audio, lighting, screenplays, acting and special effects. Students must have instructor approval and access to a video camcorder.

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ENGLISH

WASL English
WASL English is designed to help students improve their reading and writing skills so that they may take and pass the WASL in the spring. Guidance and time will also be provided for students engaged in the collection of evidence. This course is open only to juniors and seniors who need to pass the reading and/or writing portions of the WASL.
Grade Levels: 11 & 12

SCIENCE

Marine Biology
Descriptions: This course is a laboratory course that explores the principles of marine science, life in the marine environment, structure and function of marine ecosystems and human impacts on the marine environment.
Grade Levels: 10-12
Prerequisities: C or better in Biology

Pre-AP Biology
The Pre-AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their Freshman year. The Pre-AP course will cover three general areas of biology:
Molecules and Cells
Heredity and Evolution
Organisms and Populations
This first year will follow the AP text; however, the students will not be taking the AP exam at the end of the year.
Prerequisites: C or better in Biology, Chemistry and IMP2

Pre AP Conceptual Physics I
This is a course in physics that takes a conceptual view rather than a rigorous mathematical view. This course uses an approach that engages students with analogies and imagery from real-world situations to build a strong conceptual understanding of physical principles ranging from classical mechanics to modern physics. With this strong conceptual foundation, students are better equipped to understand the equations and formulas of physics and to make connections between the concepts of physics and their everyday world.
Prerequisites: IMP 2

Advanced Physics II
Advanced Physics is an extension of Conceptual Physics. Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism are covered in detail. Fluids, Thermodynamics, Rotational Motion, Light and Optics, and Modern Physics are also covered. The emphasis is on building problem-solving skills. This includes the design of laboratory experiments, analysis of data, and assigned problems from the text and other sources.
Prequisites: IMP 3

FINE ARTS /VOCATIONAL

Fashion Design

This two semester course will give you a foundational knowledge of how to design and create clothes for both men and women. You will learn to do "couture" sewing as used in designer clothes and tailored suits from the major fashion houses such as DKNY, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and others. You will learn to alter a pattern to fit a specific person and to make your own designs, patterns and creations of a blouse or shirt, a pair of slacks, a short dress, an evening gown, a suit jacket and more.
This class is for those who are seeking a career in fashion design or who plan to do their own creative sewing for themselves. The class is open to both males and females, but you should only join this class is you are serious about the subject, because we will be working at a higher level of knowledge than is usually approached in this area in high school. This class will require a genuine interest and plenty of concentrated work. It is not necessary that you know how to sew to join the class, but you must be willing to work at an advanced level and to spend plenty of time working on your design collection.
We intend to have a fashion show of your work during the year. (You do not have to be your own model.) Before signing up for the class, please talk to the instructor, who can give you a better idea of how this class can meet your goals.
This class will also require that you invest in some inexpensive tools, and you will need to purchase fabric for each of your projects, so please anticipate these costs as part of your career planning.
Full year
No prerequisites
Grade level 10, 11 & 12
Occupational, Fine Arts or Elective

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Last updated on 9/6/2007