White Pine High School

White Pine High School

Course Catalog

2013-2014

This catalog of courses has been created to assist students and parents in making informed schedule choices.

Students’ schedules are created with the assistance of their faculty advisor, the guidance counselor, or administrator. Students should share a copy of their proposed schedule with their parents.

Once students’ schedules are determined, they are not permitted to make changes unless there is a valid, documented reason. Schedule changes are not allowed at all after the first week of the semester.

As you read this catalog and consider what courses you should take, please remember the following graduation requirements:

Millennium Diploma

English / 4 credits
Mathematics / 4 credits
Science / 3 credits
World History / 1 credit
US History / 1 credit
Government / 1 credit
Humanities / 1 credit
Computers / 0.5 credit
PE / 2 credits
Health / 0.5 credit
Electives (Senior Achievement is a Required Elective) / 8 credits
HSPE in Writing / 7 (Meets Standard)
HSPE in Reading / 300 (Meets Standard)
HSPE in Mathematics / 300 (Meets Standard)
HSPE in Science / 300 (Meets Standard

1. An Advanced Diploma can be obtained by meeting all above requirements as well as 4 credits of Science.

2. A Career and Technical Education endorsement can be obtained by completing the terminal course in any CTE program.

3. Students are eligible to participate in the TA/Intern/Work Study program for one credit per semester as juniors and for two credits per semester as seniors.

4. Students are eligible to enroll in dual credit college classes as juniors and seniors. Prior permission must be obtained from the principal. Dual credit courses count as high school credit at the rate of 3 college credits equal one half high school credit. Students wishing to replace required high school courses must take the full sequence of college courses. (For example, to replace British Literature, seniors must take English 101 and 102.) See the Course Catalog for a list of dual approved courses and other details. Students are encouraged to take advantage of dual credit college classes!

5. Students must attend seven periods per day through their junior year. Seniors who opt to take a fourth math may drop one other non-required class. Seniors who opt to take a fourth science may drop one other non-required class. Seniors taking both a fourth math and fourth science may drop two non-required classes. Juniors and seniors taking dual credit college courses may drop one high school class per college class (maximum of three).

6. College entrance requirements do not always match with high school graduation requirements. Students planning on attending a university directly out of high school should meet with the guidance counselor to determine entrance demands. In general, college bound students should take four credits of Math (including Common Core Math 3 and higher), four credits of Science (including Biology 2, Chemistry, and Physics/Anatomy and Physiology/Molecular Biology), Honors English courses (including Advanced Placement offerings), and two years of a foreign language. In addition, college bound students must take the ACT by the end of their junior year, if not sooner.

Freshman Requirements

English 9 or English 9H

PE

Freshman Achievement

Common Core Math 1 (CCM 2 is available based on recommendation and/or CRT score)

Science

2 electives

Sophomore Requirements

English 10 or 10H

World History

Health/Computers

PE

Common Core Math 2

Science (dependent upon freshman course)

1 elective

First chance at the HSPE in Math, Science, and Reading

Juniors Requirements

American Literature or AP Language and Composition

US History

Common Core Math 3

Science (Anatomy and Physiology/Molecular Biology/Physics/Biology 2)

Dual credit college courses upon approval (juniors can earn free periods by taking these)

Electives

Maximum of 1 TA/Work/Intern

On track students should pass HSPE in Math, Science, Reading, and Writing

ACT

Seniors Requirements

British Literature or AP Literature and Composition

Government

Senior Achievement and 10 hours of community service

4th Math and 4th Science for Advanced Diploma (seniors can earn free periods by taking extra math and science)

Dual credit college courses upon approval (seniors can earn free periods by taking these)

Electives

Maximum of 2 TA/Work/Intern

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH

Health (10-12) 1 credit

Multiple topics in human health are studied in this course. Human growth with an emphasis on adolescence is a major topic of study. Diseases and disease control, psychological health, and substance abuse are also important topics that will be studied.

Fitness for Life (9-12) 1 credit

Fitness for life exposes students to low impact fitness routines that can be utilized no matter what a person’s age. Routines are demonstrated that allow for varying body types and fitness levels as well. Students learn Yoga, stretching, nutrition, walking, and other exercises designed to help introduce them to the fitness world.

Physical Education (9-12) 1 credit

This course gives students the opportunity to learn fundamental rules and techniques for a variety of different sports. Students also improve cardiovascular fitness as well as muscle tone through conditioning exercises. Stretching is also employed to minimize injury. Students will participate in circuit training and spinning. A uniform is required.

Weights (9-12) 1 credit

Weights is an advanced strength training and conditioning course. Students followed a structured strength training and conditioning program designed to increase stamina, performance, quickness, aligility, and strength. Participation in this class is demanding and students should be prepared to work every single day to their maximum capacity. Students will track their progress for the year. Athletes and other students interested in increasing their performance are encouraged to take this class. A uniform is required.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Students are required to take at least two literature classes to graduate. Students’ acceptance into honors classes is determined by recommendations from previous English teachers.

English 9 (9) 1 credit

The curriculum of this course has been closely aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The main focus is on developing the skills necessary for communicating effectively in writing. Additional goals of the course are proficiency in grammar, vocabulary, public speaking, and reading fluency and comprehension. Students read both informational and literary text. All ninth grade students are required to take this course.

English 9 Honors (9) 1 credit

Students begin to develop advanced critical thinking skills in English 9 Honors. They participate in critical study of informational and literary text. They refine the skills necessary for communicating effectively in writing. They polish and extend grammar, vocabulary, and public speaking skills. Significant outside-0f-class reading and writing requirements exist. Students considering college should take this course.

English 10 (10) 1 credit

The curriculum of this course has been closely aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The main focus is on developing the skills necessary for communicating effectively in writing. Additional goals of the course are proficiency in grammar, vocabulary, public speaking, and reading fluency and comprehension. Students read both informational and literary text. All tenth grade students are required to take this course, as it prepares students for the more rigorous requirements of American Literature and British Literature.

English 10 Honors (10) 1 credit

Students begin to develop advanced critical thinking skills in this class. Curriculum includes reading and responding to an extensive selection of literature. The main focus, however, is on refining the skills necessary for communicating effectively in writing. Additional goals of the course are polishing and extending grammar, vocabulary, and public speaking skills. Significant outside-of-class reading and writing requirements exist. Students considering college should take this course.

American Literature (11) 1 credit

The curriculum of this course has been closely aligned to the Common Core State Standards. This course is designed to survey a variety of American Literature and to prompt students’ critical writing about the pieces read. The purpose of the course is to help students prepare for writing in the post-secondary setting as well as communicating well thought out ideas. Additional goals of the course are developing a high level of proficiency in students’ grammar, vocabulary, and public speaking skills.

AP Language and Composition (11) 1 credit

This course will follow the curricular requirements as described in the AP English Language and Composition description. Daily assignments will include reading and writing, of which the students will not only assess one another’s work, but also self-assess much of their own work. Writing in class will be focused around a class workshop—the student’s writing will undergo prewriting, revising, and editing in three stages; the first draft, the second draft, and a final draft with feedback being given by instructor at all stages. The kinds of writing completed in this course will vary, but will go through the same workshop. The types of writings are, but not limited to, narrative, persuasive, and expository compositions (to include contrast/comparison and cause/effect). Students will also have daily informal writing in journals as well as timed in-class responses. For the aforementioned to function effectively the student will write often. Each completed piece will then be placed in a portfolio. Students will reflect and re-assess their pieces choosing one to be placed in their school portfolio. Students who take AP Language and Composition are required to participate in the AP exam and are responsible for the associated fee.

British Literature (12) 1 credit

In this Senior English course, students read extensive literary and informational text. These texts are designed to help students transition to real life, but also to help them refine their reading skills. Students will continue in their study of vocabulary, grammar, and writing. Multiple writing and reading assignments will coordinate with Senior Achievement and Government.

AP Literature and Composition (12) 1 credit

This course is designed to teach beginning-college level reading, writing, and thinking, and follows the curricular requirements described in the AP English Course Description. Each day will afford students the opportunity to learn about some integral aspect of writing, including diction, style, and structure. Students will experiment with different kinds of writing, including critical essays, explications, evaluations, and so on, and will be required to use textual details to support and sustain their arguments and judgments. The format for these writings will include both timed, in-class responses, and more formal, extended analyses. In class, students will have the opportunity to conference with the teacher and their peers both before and after revision. These conferences will be focused on helping students to develop effective sentence structure, appropriate word choice, style, voice, logical organization, coherence, and mechanics. Students enrolling in AP Literature and Composition are required to take the AP exam and are responsible for the associated fee.

Composition 101 and 102 (12) 6 college credits: 1 credit

Students wishing to replace senior English and get an early start on college may take this series of courses. Students successfully completing these courses through Great Basin College receive dual high school and college credit. See the GBC catalog for a course description.

MATHEMATICS

Common Core Math 1 (9) 1 credit

Common Core Math 1 is an integrated mathematics course designed specifically according the the recommendations of Common Core. Although it contains many Algebra 1 concepts, it also includes Geometry and some Statistics. Learning topics include solving equations, descriptive statistics, linear functions, coordinate geometry, linear inequalities, and systems of equations.

Common Core Math 2 (9-10) 1 credit

Common Core Math 2 is an integrated mathematics course designed specifically according to the recommendations of the Common Core. It contains elements of Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, and Probability. Learning topics include model and apply exponential functions, solve exponential equations, model exponential growth and decay, model recursive formulas, analyze exponential functions and graphs, compare and contrast exponential and linear functions and graphs, quadratic expressions, radicals and complex numbers ,quadratic functions, rational functions, probability, circles: geometry and algebra.

Common Core Math 3 (10-11) 1 credit

Common Core Math 3 is an integrated mathematics course designed specifically according to the recommendations of the Common Core. It includes elements of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Pre-Calculus. Learning topics include statistical design, the normal curve, functions and their graphs, polynomials, trigonometry, exponents and logarithms, sequences and series.

College Prep Math (11-12) 1 credit

College Prep Math is divided into two main subjects: trigonometric functions and algebraic functions. Our work will be on the why of functions. Knowing the why of functions will give you the power to adapt functions to the problem at hand. A “cookbook” approach of learning shortcuts will limit your problem-solving skills to only problems that you have seen before. We will, of course, work on the mechanics of functions, and we will develop a toolbox having in it some shortcuts that will ease our way in modeling applications. However, we will always be able to explain how each shortcut works in terms of why. The college prep course will continue to follow the math department custom of representing mathematical structures in four ways.

·  Tabular form (when numbers are known)

·  Graphical form (when a graph only is known)

·  Algebraic form (when an equation is known)

·  Verbal/written form (applications and the written justifications needed)

This four-pronged approach satisfies the Common Core State Standards, as well as always answering the why of each thing that we learn. Implied in all of this is the use of technology in both the learning of functions and problem solving using functions.

Financial Algebra (11-12) 1 credit

Financial Algebra is a course developed utilizing traditional Algebra 2 level thinking skills around real life content. Students may take this course after they have completed Common Core 3 or in alternative to Common Core 3 with teacher permission. Learning topics include the stock market, how to model a business, banking services, consumer credit, automobile ownership, employment basics, income taxes, independent living, plan for retirement, and prepare a budget.

Math Success (11-12) 1 elective credit

This course is designed for students who need significant assistance in passing the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam in Math.

Math 116 (11-12) 3 college credits: 0.5 credit