2012-2013LJCDS

Remember:• This is your education, no one else’s!• Seek advice and ask questions• Participate actively in the process• Take ownership of your academic life• Pay attention to your own

recommendations and choices, not your neighbor’s!

Questions to Consider:Which courses would I like to take? How do I

get there?Which courses interest me most?What does the “big picture” look like? Is my

plan sustainable?When should I consider AP/Honors courses?

What are the pros and cons of taking them?What new things would I like to try?

EnglishFour years are requiredHonors is available to 11th

graders (by application)AP is available to 12th

graders (by application); you do not need to be in Honors to gain approval for AP

Speech is required for the class of 2013 (seniors) – optional for everyone else

English English I (9) English II (10) English III (11) American Studies: English

(11) English III Honors (11) English IV (12) AP English IV (12)

Semester Electives: Speech (9-12) Creative Writing (9-12) Honors Creative Writing

(9-12) Shakespeare (10-12)

English SequencingEnglish I

English II

English III OR Am. Studies OR English III Honors

English IV OR AP English IV

Semester ElectivesCreative Writing Shakespeare (10-12)Creative Writing Honors Speech

Reminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

MathThree years (including

through Algebra II) are required

Honors courses are available beginning in 9th grade

Difficult to jump to honors “track” if not already on it

AP Statistics can be taken as a second math class in 11th or 12th grade—discuss with your current teacher

Math Algebra I Algebra IB Geometry Geometry Honors Algebra IIA Algebra IIB Algebra II w/ Trig Algebra II Honors Precalculus Precalculus Honors Math Topics (12) Calculus (1 semester) Statistics (1 semester) AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Honors Linear Algebra

Math SequencingReminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

Algebra I

Geometry Honors Geometry

Algebra IIA Algebra II w/ Trig Honors Algebra II

Algebra IIB Precalculus Honors Precalculus

Math TopicsAP Calculus AB/BC

Calculus/Statistics AP Statistics

Linear Algebra

World LanguagesTwo consecutive years of

the same language and through Level III are required

Entry point for honors/AP is level III; it is rare to move to honors/AP at any other time

Acceleration through summer work is possible

With careful planning, you can take two languages—if you’re interested, ask!

World Languages Spanish I, II, III, IV, V Spanish III Honors AP Spanish IV AP Spanish V French I, II, III, IV, V French III Honors AP French IV French V Honors Arabic I, II, III, IV, V Arabic III H, IV H, V H Mandarin I, II, III, IV, V Mandarin III Honors AP Mandarin IV Mandarin V Honors

World Languages SequencingReminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

(using French as an example)French I

French II

French III French III Honors

French IV AP French IV

French V Honors French V

ScienceThree years are requiredThe sequence is: Physics

Chemistry Biology Each of the above lab

courses is required In some cases, a student

may benefit from delaying science for one year (taking it from 10th-12th grades instead of from 9th-11th)

AP courses become available in 11th grade

Science Physics Accelerated Physics AP Physics Chemistry Accelerated Chemistry AP Chemistry Biology AP BiologySemester Electives: Astronomy (prerequisite:

Physics) Science & Society (12) Biotechnology (12)

(prerequisite: Biology) Marine Biology (12)

(prerequisite: Biology) Neuroscience (H)(12)

(prerequisite: AP Bio)

Science SequencingReminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

Physics OR Accelerated Physics

Chemistry OR Accelerated Chemistry

Biology OR AP Biology OR AP Chemistry*

12th Grade Electives (all have prerequisites)Neuroscience (H) AP Physics Astronomy (10-12)Marine Biology Biotechnology Science &

Society

* Students who take AP Chemistry in 11th grade must take Biology or AP Biology in 12th grade

Social Sciences (History)Three years including US

History are requiredAll 9th graders take WCCP I AP courses become available

in 10th gradeYou do not need to be in AP

as a 10th grader in order to take it as an 11th or 12th grader

All students must take US, AP US or American Studies, usually during 11th grade

Semester electives do not count towards the three year requirement

Social ScienceWorld Cultures & Contemporary Problems IWorld Cultures & Contemporary Problems IIAP World HistoryAP European HistoryUS HistoryAmerican Studies: HistoryAP US HistoryElectives:US GovernmentAP US Government AP Psychology (12)Theory of Knowledge (12)Case Study in History: Persia (11-12)(1 semester)Economics (11-12)(1 semester)Psychology (11-12)(1 semester)

Social Sciences SequencingReminder: All Honors/AP courses have performance-related prerequisites

WCCP I

WCCP II OR AP Euro OR AP World

US History OR American Studies OR AP US History

12th Grade ElectivesGovernment Psychology EconomicsAP Government AP Psychology Theory of

KnowledgeCase Study in History: Persia AP Euro or AP World

ArtsOne consecutive year

required (two different semesters are not acceptable)

Studio I and Graphic Design are avenues to Studio II

AP and advanced courses require approval from the teacher

Some courses may be taken for one semester

More arts courses are on the next slide!

ArtsVisual Arts Studio Art I Studio Art II Studio Art III AP Studio Art Graphic Design Digital Photography AP Art History Filmmaking Ceramics (10-12) Drafting/Architecture

Arts continuedChoir is highly

recommended before trying out for Madrigals

Performing Arts Music Appreciation &

Songwriting Concert Choir Madrigals Honors (10-12)

(by audition) Band Chamber Orchestra Honors Orchestra (by

audition) AP Music Theory Intro to Acting Advanced Acting (1

semester) Playwriting (1 semester) Advanced Directing (1

semester) Technical Theater Dance I Dance II

Additional CoursesComputer Science (9-12) (does not count

towards departmental graduation requirements) (can be taken for a semester or year)

Journalism (9-12) (does not count towards departmental graduation requirements) (can be taken for a semester or year)

Free Period(s)All 9th graders have a study hall during

their free “lab” periodAll US students have at least one free

block; you can choose to have two free blocks if you take 5 classes instead of 6

Choose wisely whether or not to have an extra free periodWhat are your reasons? Will it get you where you want in the end? How will you use your free period? Do you really have enough time to NOT have a

free period?

Athletics—Fall Men

Cross CountryFootballWater PoloUltimate Frisbee*

*Club sport, non-CIF=pay to play. See athletic handbook for more information.

**Independent PE—see Athletic Office

***PE (Strength & Conditioning) is available during free periods—arrange with Athletic Office

WomenCross CountryCheerleadingGolfTennisVolleyballUltimate Frisbee*

Requirement is one season per year

Athletics—Winter Men

BasketballRoller HockeySoccerFencing*

WomenBasketballCheerleadingSoccerWater PoloFencing*

Athletics—Spring Men

BaseballGolfLacrosseSwimmingTennisTrack & Field

WomenLacrosseSoftballSwimmingTrack & Field

After TodayDiscuss with your familyDiscuss with your homeroom teacher/advisorDiscuss with your teachersQuestions? Start with your advisor; then go to

scheduling coordinator and/or academic dean (Ms. M)

Return form (with signatures) to your homeroom teacher/advisor by Friday, April 13

Keep working hard if you are trying for an approval/want to maintain a course recommendation

Remember that borderline recommendations will not be finalized until the school year ends