Other Academic Opportunities

IB THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

11 and 12

1.0 credit over two years

The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class is the capstone of the IB Diploma Programme. It is a class centered on epistemology – the study of knowledge and the validity of beliefs – which allows students to think critically about what we believe as individuals and societies. The central question of all TOK classes is, “What do we know and how do we know it?”, but each TOK class is different. This class will be designed to engage students to ask “What is truth?". Students will explore how certain eras and cultures defined knowledge and truth in the world, and how those definitions have affected and still affect our understanding of the world today. We will explore how some ideas have maintained “validity” and others have fallen to the wayside, often replaced by newer “truths.” This will be done by examining multiple areas of study (such as mathematics, the sciences, and the arts) as well as different ways of understanding the world (such as logic, faith, memory, emotion). This class is only available to IB Diploma Candidates.

CADET TEACHING

12

0.5 credit

Cadet Teaching is a senior elective class where students receive high school credit for working with East Grand Rapids Middle School and Elementary teachers.  Students will meet with the Cadet Teaching Advisor two days a week and spend the remainder of the week with their cooperating teacher.  Cadets will assist teachers with teaching, tutoring, grading papers, meeting with parents, and lesson preparation, among other things.

DUAL ENROLLMENT

9, 10, 11, 12

0.5 credit

Students who meet the qualifications for Dual Enrollment may enroll in college courses in addition to courses at the high school. Consultation with the student's counselor is necessary as the counselor's recommendation is required prior to registration at any of the local colleges.

MICHIGAN VIRTUAL ONLINE COURSES

9, 10, 11, 12

0.5 credit

Students must attend the mandatory Online Course meeting in March in order to register for an online class.  The class must meet the online course requirements and must be approved by the counselor and principal. https://michiganvirtual.org/courses/.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT CLASS 

9, 10, 11, 12

0.5 credit

Academic Support Class (ASC) is designed to provide students who receive special education services with specialized instruction specific to the student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Placement in ASC is an IEP team decision. Instruction is individualized to address each student’s IEP goals and to support student’s needs related to accommodations and learning strategies. Students receive individual and/or small-group instruction.

FUNCTIONAL LEARNING

9, 10, 11, 12

Non-credit course

In this class students will work on IEP goals, daily living skills, and functional math and English through specialized instruction that are connected to the Kent ISD Alternate Standards Curriculum.