COMPUTER LITERACY - Grade 9
Computer Literacy is a semester course required of all students in the freshman year. The students will learn Basic Keyboarding Skills and this will take into account students that arrive with these skills from sending schools. Correct typing technique will be taught. The goal will be to have a minimum of 15 words per minute and 2 errors. The students will also be introduced to Microsoft Office 2000. These lessons will introduce word processing, spreadsheets, and telecommunications. The students will learn to create, edit, save, retrieve, and print documents using word processing software.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - Grade 9
Skills Development is a semester course required of all students in the freshman year. During the ten-week course, various basic skills are covered. They include improving your memory, outlining, and note taking, test taking, report writing and essay writing. This course is designed to better prepare our students for the MCAS tests.
ARCHITECTURAL PRINT READING - Grade 10
The Architectural Print Reading course is designed to introduce vocational students to residential and commercial print reading. The variety of prints range from Plot Plans used in Landscaping, HVAC Prints necessary for heating and air conditioning, Foundation and Framing Print layouts for carpentry work and Electrical Diagram Prints.
Each student will prepare free hand sketches, practice Orthographic drawings and use the Draft Choice (CAD) software to interpret prints. This course is required for students in Carpentry, Electrical, Landscaping/Horticulture and Plumbing.
MECHANICAL PRINT READING - Grade 10
The Mechanical Print Reading course is required for all students in the Machine Technology and Welding/Metal Fabrication Programs. Each student will develop visualization skills to assist in the ability to "see" or envision objects from the prints in various views. A study of drafting principles and layouts will allow each student to prepare freehand sketches and basic CAD prints using the Draft Choice Drawing Program. Students will interpret lines, symbols, dimensions and notes specific to the trade working with actual prints from industry and projects from shop instructors.
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS - Grade 10
A review of keyboarding skills will be taught at the beginning of the course as a refresher course with the minimum words typed per minute, 15 words and 2 mistakes, using correct typing technique. The 10-Key Pad will also be practiced to increase calculator skills. Students will learn and demonstrate formatting styles of business letters used to communicate in business. Using Microsoft Office 2000, a computer, and Typing 21 textbook, students will demonstrate a block letter, a block letter with special features, an AMS simplified, a cover letter, and a resume using Word Wizard. The formatting of a research paper using Microsoft Office 2000 Book will be taught. The computer applications course is required of all grade 10 students in the Community Services program.
ACCOUNTING I-A and I-B - Grades 10, 11
Accounting I-A and I-B give a background in the basic accounting procedures used to operate a business. The accounting procedures presented will serve as a background for employment in office jobs and preparation for further study of business courses. The complete accounting cycle is covered showing how each employee's job fits into the cycle for a business, an important qualification to employers.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT - Grade 10
The course will give students a solid grasp of how to prepare for work and life through career planning, money management, and independent living techniques.
Some of the topics to be studied are:
ECONOMICS AND PERSONAL FINANCE - Grade 11
The course will cover the individual's roles and financial responsibilities as student, citizen, family member, consumer, and employee.
Some topics to be studied are:
BUSINESS COMPUTERS APPLICATIONS/INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN - Grade 11
Business Computers Applications is an integral part of the business environment. This one semester computer applications course is intended to expand keyboarding skills to minimum 30 wpm with 1 error. Proficient use of both alpha/numeric and 10 keypads will also be emphasized. Software applications will include Microsoft Office 2000 Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet. Formatting Block Letters, AMS Letters, Memos, and a Research Paper is taught using MS Word.
Computer Aided Design is a semester course that is aimed at introducing and exploring AutoCAD Release 14. In this course, students are introduced to the AutoCAD environment including the most common commands used. Upon successful completion, students will be able to create new drawings, modify existing drawings, and plot (print) their drawings. Students will explore isometric (3D) drawings, and dimensioning. This course utilizes a "hands-on" lab approach where students spend a majority of the class time using computers.
These two, one semester courses are required for all grade 11 students in the Carpentry, Electrical, Landscaping/Horticulture, Machine Technology, Plumbing and Welding/Metal Fabrication programs.
BUSINESS COMPUTERS APPLICATIONS/INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN - Grade 11 (continued)
These two, one-semester courses are required for all 11th grade students in the Carpentry, Electrical, Landscaping/Horticulture, Machine Technology, Plumbing, and Welding/Metal Fabrication programs.
HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - Grade 11
This course, required of all grade 11 students in the Community Services Program, is a comprehensive study focusing on the principles of human growth and development through the life stages. It examines the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
Students in Grade 12 are free to choose one from the following required courses, regardless of their vocational program:
LIFE SKILLS - Grade 12
Life Skills is a year long exploration into the three following areas:
In this course, students will explore all of the components of starting and running a small business. It will cover development of business plans, personnel, payroll, taxes, inventory control, advertising, and the myriad activities necessary to the successful running of a small business.
ADVANCED COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN - Grade 12
This course continues exploring AutoCAD Release 14, building on the foundation laid in Intro to CAD. Students should have a good math background with a solid understanding of the basics of geometry, including Cartesian Coordinate System, Tangent, Radius, and Diameter. Students will expand their knowledge of isometric (3D) drawings, dimensioning, and advanced plotting. This course utilizes a "hands-on" lab approach where students spend a majority of the class time using computers.
ACCOUNTING II-A - Grade 12
Accounting II-A introduces more complex accounting concepts.
Entrepreneurship - Grade 12
This course will take students through the entire process of owning their own business. It will also include a section on personal taxes (both Federal and State) with materials supplied by the Internal Revenue Service.
Some topics to be discussed are:
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ART
Art is for everyone and all students will be expected to learn the principles of both 2 and 3 dimensional design. A variety of skills and media will be available acting as building blocks, helping to move the student toward individual self-expression. Confidence and self-esteem will be heightened by this process of decision making and problem solving.
COMPUTER ANIMATION
Using Lightwaves, 3D Studio MAX or Inspire 3D, students will plan an animation through a storyboard, develop a character and settings, and then complete their animation by exploring the parameters of these complex programs.
MUSIC
Music is an elective course offered to all students. The course is designed to foster an understanding and appreciation of music. Through participatory activities, students are offered opportunities to put theory into practice to develop technical musical skills on the instrument of their choice.
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Introduction to electronic music is an elective course offered to all students. This course is designed for those students who are interested in composing music on such instruments as the synthesizer, digital synthesizer, and midi computer. Also taught is the use of E.P.S. sampling, wave sampling, looping and multisampling, eventually graduating to the level of ability to record and mix music to videotape.
JOURNALISM
Successful senior students who wish to develop and produce a yearbook for their class graduation are encouraged to enroll in Journalism. The Journalism class will design the cover, do the dummy layouts, take pictures, write articles, and final layout for the yearbook production. Emphasis is also placed on the business aspect of the yearbook and students will write business letters, folding letters and present themselves to the business community to obtain advertisements for the yearbook. Finally they will participate in the selling of the yearbook to the students, staff and friends of the school.
The student will improve his/her reading to include increased mastery of word recognition, phonetic analysis, structural analysis, word mastery and vocabulary, oral fluency and comprehension and interpretation.
SPANISH I-A and I-B
The first year Spanish curriculum emphasizes listening and speaking skills with some light reading and writing. Spain's culture, geography, and some of the country's literature is integrated into the textbook curriculum. First year teaches students how to talk about and describe themselves in all types of areas, how to talk about school and their schedules, and tell what they like and do not like to do. They do this through book activities and class dialogues.
The second year Spanish curriculum is a review of the first year, and it extends the student's knowledge of reading and writing in Spanish. Oral and listening activities are more intense and complicated in this year. The student's vocabulary will expand by learning past and present very tense usage and through studying topics such as food, drink, family, clothing and vacations. The culture of Central and South America is the focus of the cultural study in class. Students will be able to identify the many differences among Spanish culture in Latin America compared with Spain.
INTRODUCTORY SCIENCE FICTION
In this elective Language Arts course the student will be exposed to the genre of science fiction through a thematic approach. We will strive to explore each of the following major themes: Anti-technology, Exploration/Colonization, Extraterrestrial Visitation, Time Travel, Totalitarian Future, Utopian Societies, and World Catastrophe. Activities tentatively scheduled include short story reading and writing, analysis of radio plays, television episodes, and feature-length films, creation of an original board game, and a critique of a major novel. Emphasis will be placed on understanding what makes good science fiction. Expectations include having reading done on time, participation in class discussions, excellent attendance, and appropriate attitude.
STOCK INVESTMENT
The course is designed to give the students the right tools to make present and future financial investment decisions. "Hands on" "virtual reality" stock investment both as individuals, groups, and as a class will be the vehicle to enhance the learning process. Throughout the course, financial fraud and ethics will be stressed.
PSYCHOLOGY
Students receive a practical orientation of human behavior as it relates to our diverse environment with focus upon critical social issues impacting their lives today. Emphasis is upon mental, emotional, and behavioral wellness. The course is designed to include the history, theory, and applications of psychology.
APPLIED ACADEMIC LEARNING - SPED COURSE
Applied Academic Learning is a course designed to help students experiencing difficulty in content courses and whose I.E.P. (Individualized Educational Plan) lists objectives such as organizational skills, test taking, increased independence and making good use of study time.