Each student enrolled in the Service Learning Pathway is required to take at least one service-related elective course. Currently, Community Based Creative Design 1, Community Based Creative Design 2, Introduction to Service Learning, and AP Spanish (which requires a WeService component) all fulfill the requirement.
AP Seminar: This foundational course, open to sophomores and juniors, provides students with opportunities to think critically and creatively, research, explore, pose solutions, develop arguments, collaborate, and communicate using various media. Rooted in student-designed questions, participants explore real-world issues through a variety of lenses and consider multiple points of view to develop a deep understanding of complex issues. They make connections between these issues and their own lives, their interests, and other classes they are taking. Students read articles, research studies, and foundational and philosophical texts; listen to and view speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experience artistic and literary works to gain a rich appreciation and understanding of issues. Students are assessed with two performance tasks completed in class, one of which is a team project and presentation. Students will also take a more traditional end-of-course exam. The AP Seminar score is based on all three assessments and is reported on the standard 1– 5 AP scoring scale. Prerequisite: Successful completion of AP World with a B-, Honors World with an B- or College Prep World with an A- OR Successful completion of AP US1 with a B-, Honors US1 with an B-, or College Prep US1 with an A-. This is an elective course not in place of a required Social Studies class.
AP Spanish: Advanced Placement Spanish enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both, while at the high school level. Taught exclusively in Spanish, AP Spanish students will understand, transfer, analyze, and evaluate interrelated and complex themes, knowledge, and skills that develop fluency and accuracy in the target language. Course resources include authentic materials meant for native speakers, which allow students to develop presentational, interpersonal, and interpretive communication skills. Students in AP Spanish will build comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary, language control, communicative strategies and cultural awareness that not only equip them with exam readiness, but usable 21st century skills and a long-term enthusiasm to the learning of language and culture. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of B- in Spanish 5 Honors, or minimum average of A- in Spanish 5; students should see AP Spanish teacher about material missed in regular program.
Community Based Creative Design 1: Community Based Creative Design is a project-based course with direct ties to service learning. Students will complete a series of creative projects, including jewelry making, card and coloring book creation, and functional school/community art to benefit and support local non-profit organizations. A modified version of the course will be offered to our Academic Essentials students in conjunction with their Structured Learning Experience.
Community Based Creative Design 2: Community-Based Creative Design 2 will further develop techniques and methods introduced in Community-Based Creative Design 1. It will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of community-based crafts that willsupport local non-profit organizations and charities. Students will expand on prior knowledge to create more complex projects with a focus on the exploration of media. Projects will be more advanced with an emphasis on higher-level creative problem-solving skills. Prerequisite: Community-Based Creative Design 1
Environmental Science: The Environmental Science course is designed to engage students with the scientific principles and concepts required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The students will be taught how to identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental Science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, chemistry and environmental studies. In addition, the course will require that students complete 15 hours of community service with a local environmental organization or school club. Prerequisites: At least a B average in Biology and Chemistry, or a C average in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Unified Wellness