Election Selection Closes just after Midnight Saturday

2009-10 T3 Elective Blurbs

Diversity Day What makes me different from you? Is it our age? Our race? Could it be that your family is rich and mine isn’t? Or maybe it’s that my dad works in a lumberyard and yours works in a fancy office? Or maybe it’s that I live with my dad and you’ve never seen yours? Do you think my religion is weird? Why do so many people live in your house? If we’re such good friends, how come I never realized how different we are?
When people think about diversity, they usually just think about race. This class will explore diversity in all its forms – racial, religious, social, economic, political, and gender-related. We’ll look at examples of diversity in our community as well as the world-at-large. We’ll examine the ways in which we, our families, our friends, and our leaders respond to diversity, and we’ll struggle with the inherent positives and negatives that come with a diverse society.
Students will also help to organize this year's June 11 Diversity Day, including the Multicultural Breakfast, Diversity Day Assembly, World Cultures Festival & Carnivale.

John Grieco Schol Fund Learn about the power of the non-profit right on this campus. This trimester, the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund will be focusing on the June 11 World Cultures Festival & Carnivale, Blue Moon Community Night, and a car wash. Students will also work with the Gardening Club on landscaping the Dr. John Grieco Outdoor Classroom. In addition, students will promote, distribute and organize the review of this year's scholarship applications.

Painting I Students use watercolors to explore color theory and basic painting techniques. Topics include color mixing, line, texture and composition.

Drawing III Whether a beginner or more advanced artist, students are given the opportunity to express their creativity in a studio environment. The following concepts are studied through lecture and application: one point perspective, creating effective compositions, proportions, light and shadow, positive and negative space, and volume. Students draw freehand and use tools such as the triangle, t-square, template, and ruler. This course allows students to explore the dynamic ranges of media such as pencil, pen, and ink, charcoal, color pencil, and computer generated images. Students work from still life, photographs, art reproductions, and apporpriate models.

Prerequisite: Drawing II

Painting III Projects focus on specific styles through art history and students explore various techniques to apply paint. Students research an artist of their choice and emulate a painting by the artist they select. They also paint an original picture in the style of the artist they chose. Students participate in group critiques with a focus on using domain specific vocabulary to analyze and interpret art. Painting I and Painting II are required prerequisites along with knowledge of color theory and composition.

Prerequisite: Painting II

String Art Students create a variety of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional artworks using different kinds of string, yarn, twine and ribbon.

Draw in Ink I

Drawing I Whether beginners or more advanced artists, students have the opportunity to express their creativity in a studio environment. The following concepts are studied through lecture and applications: one point perspective, creating effective compositions, proportions, light and shadow, positive and negative space, and volume. Students draw freehand and use tools such as the triangle, t-square, template and ruler. This course allows students to explore the dynamic ranges of media such as pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, color pencil, and computer generated images. Students work from still life, photographs, art reproductions, and appropriate models.

Art Exploration The goal of this introductory art course is to develop the student’s understanding of color, drawing and idea development. Through lectures, visuals, music, theories and techniques, students demonstrate an ability to identify and critique elements within works of art and work in different media. Students create a portfolio of work exemplifying their understanding of specific skills and maintain sketchbooks and journals for idea building.

Print Making Students create a series of artworks while exploring a variety of printing techniques including mono print, linoleum cut, and foam board.

Drawing 2 Students focus on color theory and create drawings using colored pencils, chalk and oil pastels. Drawing I is a required prerequisite along with basic knowledge of line, value and composition.

Prerequisite: Drawing I

Painting II The goal of this course is to further develop the student’s understanding of painting. Through lectures, visuals and demonstrations, the student will be able to master color mixing and conversion as well as the use of various paints and tools. The students will be given a variety of exercises focusing on the different techniques demonstrated in class which will then be applied in long term projects.

Prerequisite: Painting I

Editorial Illustration Students create drawings that accompany a selection of written works. Focus is on brainstorming, sketching, capturing a big idea and making a visual connection with the reader.

Architecture II Design and build a detailed, three-dimensional scale model of your dream home. Participating students will research existing plans and learn good home design elements as they create their own private residence. Students will learn how to actually frame and landscape a typical private home as their project progresses. Inventor drawing skills helpful.

Prerequesite: Architecture I

Ancient Rome Ancient Rome focuses on the rise of Rome in Italy and its birth as a republic to its fall to the Goths in 476 AD. Major topics of examination are the consolidation of the Itailian peninsula. Rome as a Republic, Julius Caesar, the Pax Romana, the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Roman State.

Newswriting Adv III The course focuses on the development and sophistication of journalistic technique. Students learn requirements and proper organization of writing news stories, feature articles, sports sections, and editorials through reporters' assignments. Students produce writing suitable for publication in the school newspaper and manage all duties necessary to publish an edition of the newspaper each trimester.

Must have taken Beginning Newswriting

Zoology The study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals through dissections and internet investigations.

SAT Geometry Important concepts and methods in Geometry are presented in this one-trimester course. The student learns basic coordinate geometry, rays and angles, triangle congruence, perpendicular and parallel lines, quadrilaterals, similar polygons, the Pythagorean Theorem, and special right triangles. The material taught in this course prepares the student for the mathematics portions of the SAT I and HSPA exams.

Prerequesite:Algebra I

Nautical Fiction:A Whale of a Tale People have been fascinated by the sea since ancient times. The sea was the great unknown, a source of wonder. Sea stories were the science fiction of an earlier day, and continue to be written right up to current time. We will be amazed by stories as old as Homer, and as new as the 20th century.

Intro to Psychology The word psychology means "the study of the mind or soul". Students discuss major psychological theories and experiments and the famous founder who defined them. These famous psychologists include Freud, Jung, Maslow, Skinner, Alder, Pavlov and others. Does the name Pavlov ring a bell??? There is extra credit for the student who can explain the relevance of that question!

Advanced Web Design Advanced Web Design focuses on the development of the student’s web design skills. This class will build upon what the students learn in their
freshmen Introduction to Technology class. Students will learn how to use more advanced features of Dreamweaver, Photoshop, HTML and JavaScript. Time will also be spent learning the stages of Web Development from conception to going live with the site.

Basic Nutrition Basic Nutrition – This course focuses on nutrition and how our eating habits affect our lifestyles. Nutrition is the study of nutrients in foods and the bodies handling of those nutrients. It is the science that investigates the relationship between physiological function and the essential elements of the foods we eat. Students will be introduced to the Food Guide Pyramid, the six classes of nutrients, food labels and how to read them as well as food journals.

Stress Management Essentials of Managing Stress teaches practical skills and techniques to handle the daily stresses in life. Providing a basic introduction to stress management, this course emphasizes that one must look at the mind, body, and spirit as equal parts of the whole person to deal with stress effectively.

Shakespeare-Taming of the Shrew This course is an in-depth study of William Shakespeare's play, The Taming of the Shrew. Students read the play, view several different film interpretations, analyze character, plot, and themes, and discover Shakespearean influences in modern culture.

Spanish Cuisine

Virology Virology is an in depth study of viruses in terms of structure, mechanish, and the diseases associated with them

Marine Biology We live surrounded by the last great unknown: the world underneath the ocean’s surface. Under the waves live the great pelagics of the deep like whales, tiger sharks, and Manta Rays. The ocean is where you can explore the diversity of a coral reef, and a walk along a beach may expose you to the great power of a wave, the lethality of a blue octopus, or the oddities of a horseshoe crab. Marine biology will teach you about the complexity and diversity of life found in the oceans and how humans impact that environment as well as how the oceans impact us.

Microbiology The course is designed to introduce students to the world of microbes. Attention is given to the great diversity of microorganisms, beneficial as well as pathogenic bacteria. Students explore how bacteria and viruses multiply causing disease in the process. Current issues in microbiology are also investigated such as emerging viruses, bio-terror, and the problems our healthcare system faces in light of these events.

Chinese Society III The Chinese language is one of the oldest languages on the planet, and it continues to be used by millions of people in China, Taiwan, and around the world. In this course, we will learn the basics of Mandarin Chinese using the pinyin Romanization system along with traditional Chinese characters. Basic vocabulary will be introduced as well as simple sentence structure and grammar. The course will focus on reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The culture of Chinese society will also be introduced through videos, songs, and food.

Prerequesite: Chinese Soc I

Holocaust In Holocaust and Genocide Studies students will consider one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century in order to better understand how it occurred and how it can be prevented in the future. The main focus of the course is the persecution and mass murder of European Jews and various other groups between the years 1933-45. Students will learn that the Holocaust was not an accident, but occurred when choices were made which allowed, legalized, and institutionalized hate, prejudice, and murder. Students will study the rise of Nazism and analyze its appeal, and evaluate the responses of perpetrators, victims, bystanders, and rescuers. Finally, students will compare and contrast the Holocaust with other genocides that have taken place in the past or are presently occurring

Introduction to U.S. Income Taxes This elective discusses the importance of taxes for personal financial planning. Effective tax planning involves finding out how current tax laws affect you. Calculating your adjusted gross income will enable you to compute your taxable income. Knowing the appropriate tax form to use and how to complete it correctly will enable you to file your taxes efficiently. Choosing appropriate tax strategies for your financial and personal situation can maximize your earnings and reduce your tax liability.

Banking/Financial Services Banking and Financial Services shows students how to manage their banking and credit finances now and in the future. This elective provides a fundamental background on the United States banking system, opening and using a checking account, writing and receiving checks, reconciling a checking account, and using debit and credit cards to make payments. This course provides insights into how students should manage their finances and why wise financial management is critical to personal success.

Start Your Own Business Starting Your Own Business is designed to introduce the student to the world of business ownership. The students work in teams to select a startup business to own and create a business plan. Students learn about business organization, sources of funding, marketing, and international trade.

West Political Phil This course focuses on political philosophers including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Adam Smith and the American Founding Fathers through J.S. Mill, Marx and 20th Century Political thought. This elective course follows a seminar format. Roundtable discussions, research/project presentations (both group and individual), together with tests, are the basis of assessment in the course. There will be significant reading of selected works of the above philosophers as a well as analysis of those works. Participation in discussions and debates is essential. Topics will include individual liberty, the role of government, natural rights, the role of the individual in society, the extent of government responsibility, political economy and the differences between social classes.

Greek Drama Greek Drama is an exploration of the development of theater as we in the 21st Century understand it. The course introduces students to Classical Greek culture and philosophy. Students will come to understand how the theater developed and who the major contributors were, both in Comedy and Tragedy. Students will dramatically read Greek classic plays, Antigone and Medea.

Juvenile Justice This course provides an overview of the juvenile justice system in the United States. Students will examine a number of issues, including the history of the juvenile justice system, juvenile crime, the differences between the juvenile and adult systems and current issues in juvenile justice including the increasing trend to treat juveniles as adults and racial disparities in the treatmnent of juveniles.

Digital Photography II Now that you are able to get the most out of your digital camera, take it to the next level!

Digital Photo 2, Using Picassa and PhotoShop, will show you how to squeeze a better picture out of your digital files. You will earn the basics of cropping, lighting, contrast, color balance and red eye removal in Picassa. Later, you will use the larger tool set found in Photoshop to take an ordinary snap shot and turn it into a extraordinary photo.

Digital Photography I. Must own a digital camera

Digital Photography I This elective provides what you need to do more than take snapshots with your camera. Using simple rules and ideas your pictures will improve. Students will learn about the history of photography, the features of their camera, rules about composition, rules about lighting and simple lighting techniques, and put this all together to make every picture a better picture. Course uses self guided technique and pictures are taken outside and at home. Requirements are that you have a digital camera. Cameras built into cellular phones do not count.

Digital Photography I. Must own a digital camera

Programming in C#

Video Production Students form working groups to write, plan, storybook, stage, take, and edit short "films" using a theme related to the Annual AE Diversity Day

Film and Lit I Film & Lit is an exploration of the process of turning a book into a movie or a movie into a book. The course will examine how characters impact a movie as well as how a script is created.

Trigonometry and Solid Geometry The Trigonometry and Solid Geometry Course would be an indepth discussion of how to solve problems using trigonometry as required in the Analysis I and II courses. It would also teach three dimensional geometry and therefore offer a continuance of the SAT Geometry course (!)

Prerequesite: Algebra I

Visual Basic You can find the Visual Basic programming language hidden in most computers and use it for free. This course teaches you the essentials of using Visual Basic to interface with your users as you create interesting and Amusing programs.

French Art

Converse Russian ll

Forensics This elective begins with training in deducitve reasoning of crime scene evidence. The types of evidence available at a crime scene can be biological or physical. Tissue and bone samples, bodily fluids, fingerprints, footprints, and DNA are examples of some biological samples. Other forms of physical anyalysis are fibers and hair, soil analysis, tool marks, ballistic data, and chemical content. The study of Forensic Anthropology uses science and math to determine the identity of a missing person. Students investigate famous crimes in history, and review the forensic evidence to determine, using 21st century techniques, whether or not the original jury findings were correct.

Running 101 Come get in shape and learn how to run for distance! This course teaches the student how to gradually increase their endurance in distance running as well as the proper techniques of running, stretching, and attire.