La Center High School

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
Open to Grades: 11 and 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 2007. 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.

Advanced Placement Calculus
Open to Grades: Pass IMP 4
Length of Course: Full Year
Grad. Requirement: Math
Pre-Requisites: IMP Math 4
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-derivatives 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 Calculate AB exam is expected of all students in this course. More information can be found at: http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/students/calculus/

Advanced Placement CWP/US Government and Politics
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: Full year
Grad. Requirement: Elective or CWP requirement
Prerequisites: Instructor permission.
This course is designed as a "Bam kick it up a notch" alternative to traditional C.W.P. A real plus on a high school transcript but requires work. Be prepared for an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government, the processes of the American political system, and emphasis on policy-making and implementation. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP exam. Those who pass may earn college credit. Topics covered include: Foundations of Government, Congress, Presidency, Supreme Court, Bureaucracy, The Federal Budget,Civil Liberties and Civil rights, Domestic and Foreign Policies, Economic Policies, Military Policies, Public Opinion and Mass Media, Political Parties and Campaign and Elections.

Advanced Placement CWP/Comparative Government
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: Full year
Grad. Requirement: Elective/CWP requirement
Prerequisties: Instructor permission
This is an accelerated CWP course. (A real plus on a high school transcript, but requires work.) The focus of the CWP 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 US and the global community. An emphasis will be place on the skills of communication, analysis and evaluation. The course aims to illustrate the rich diversity of international political life, to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes, and to communicate to students the importance of global political and economic changes. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP exam. Those who pass may earn college credit.

Advanced Art Construction (Ceramics)
Open to Grades: 10, 11 and 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 and 12
Length of Course: Semester
Grad. Requirement: Fine Arts or Elective
No Prerequisite
Description: 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.

College Prep American Literature
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: English Elective
Prerequisites: Ninth and Tenth English and instructor's permission
Goals/Skills Developed: Not surprisingly, our focus of study in this course will be American literature, from the mid-18th century through the present. We’ll be reading poetry, essays, short stories, a play (Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller), and novels (The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison , Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Natural by Bernard Malamud). In addition, students will respond to the literature both verbally and in writing.
Assignments: Quizzes (I love quizzes), exams, worksheets, reading guides, composition, group projects, oral readings, creative projects.

College Prep World Literature
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: English Elective
Prerequisites: Ninth and Tenth English and instructor's permission
Goals/Skills Developed: In World Literature, you'll be reading works by authors who, for the most part, are neither American nor English. Lengthy works read include: The Odyssey, Crime and Punishment, Shoeless Joe, Cry, The Beloved Country, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Natural.
Assignments: Quizzes (I love quizzes), exams, worksheets, reading guides, composition, group projects, oral readings, creative projects.

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
Open to Grades: 11 and 12
Length of Course: Full Year
Graduation Requirements: English
Prerequisites: Instructor Permission.
Description: 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 2006. Students earning a 3 or higher on the AP exam may earn college credit depending on the college they choose.

Jazz Choir
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11 and 12

Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Fine Arts or Elective
Prerequisites: By audition only.
Goals/Skills Developed: The Jazz Choir performs various music including swing, blues, Latin, and rock. Improvisation and solos are a major element in this group. All members must audition each year to assure a proper blend of voices and instrumentation. The group is limited to 16 voices, and the rhythm section includes piano, bass and percussion. Concerts, festivals, tours, and community events will provide many opportunities. A real desire to sing and learn is important characteristics.
Assignments: Performance both at school and outside of the regular school day includes concerts, assemblies, community events, and festivals. Excellent attendance, participation in class, and playing tests are required.

Jazz Band
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, and 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.

Music Productions and Multimedia
Open to Grades: 10, 11 and 12
Length of Course: Full year
Graduation Requirement: Voc ED / Fine arts / Elective
Prerequisites: Previous music experience.
Description: This course is designed for artistic individuals who wish to learn more about the entertainment industry as it relates to music, film, and multimedia marketing. Students will learn the basics of composing, performing, and recording their own original rock songs using various mediums. These recordings will then be used as the basis for original rock video productions and short video/films. All students will be exposed to live, electronic, and digital music creation, image capture and manipulation, audio/video production concepts and lots of hands on creative activities.

Human Anatomy
Open to Grades: 11and 12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Science Elective
Prerequisites: "C" or better in Biology & instructor permission
Goals/Skills Developed: This is a study of human anatomy and physiology and of the diseases that attack these systems. It will also include a study of outbreak diseases worldwide.
Assignments: This class will require 30-45 minutes of homework and reading per night.

Genetics & Disease
Open to Grades: 11,12
Length of Course: Semester
Graduation Requirement: Science Elective
Prerequisites: "C" or better in Biology & instructor permission
Goals/Skills Developed: This is a study of the science of heredity. The content of this course will cover how physical traits are coded, inherited, and the resulting impact on biological diversity.
Assignments: This class will require 30-45 minutes of homework and reading per night.

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.

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 independent. Each student must complete a project.
Assignments: Compositions, group and individual projects oral reading, exams, presentations.

Drama
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, and 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 stagecraft assignments, plus performances.

Yearbook
Open to Grades: 10, 11 and 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. 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