Other Courses/Programs

The VHS program is a collaborative of high schools from around the country that offer students courses ranging from advanced academic subjects to technical and specialized courses via the internet. Full credit is given for all courses successfully completed. The VHS course catalog can be found online at https://my.vhslearning.org/PublicStudentCourseList.aspx. Students interested in a VHS course should select VHS 2.5 for a semester course or VHS 5.0 for a full year course during the online course selection and then meet with the Assistant Principal to register for the course. Availability is limited for VHS courses so please have an alternate selection.

Prerequisite: By permission only; applications are available in the guidance office.

This one semester elective for sophomores, juniors and seniors involves helping to care for and interact with Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers.Helping children learn rules by following positive examples of appropriate behavior. Outside play, art projects, cleaning, organizing, preparing art projects and helping at mealtimes are some daily expectations. Tiger Tots is a high energy, challenging environment, yet very rewarding for the right students!

Prerequisite: approval of the Principal and a Guidance Counselor and Work Study Team

The Work Study Program is available to those students who may benefit from a school day that includes both academic classes and a paid work experience (minimum two hours per day) outside of the school. Parental consent and a Work-Based Learning Plan are required. Regular conferences with a member of the Guidance Department will be expected.

The BRIDGE Program is the senior year component of the IHS School-to-Work program. Through a full-time internship, seniors learn what skills are necessary and what it takes to succeed in a career while gaining “real world” experience. Senior internships start at the beginning of the fourth quarter and run until the end of senior classes. To qualify, seniors must be in good academic standing earning C- or better in every course during their senior year and must meet all graduation requirements. Parental consent and approval by the BRIDGE Review Board are required.

This class is designed to provide a mentoring program for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The course provides leadership opportunities for qualified students. Students should be able to demonstrate the qualities of enthusiasm, initiative, and patience while working with students who have disabilities. Peer Mentors will work closely with students who have disabilities in coordinated activities and lessons with teachers and teaching assistants. Peer Mentors must have a sense of responsibility and sensitivity toward others. 

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.

AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research course, students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000–5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Status; Meet Communications Proficiency Requirements of North Shore Community College

This first semester dual enrollment course is taught by a North Shore Community College professor in conjunction with a high school counselor.  It provides an introduction to higher education, including the different purposes, functions, and structures of postsecondary institutions. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of degree and career pathways available across institutional types as well as familiarity with the social and emotional factors that influence student persistence and completion across educational settings. A variety of contemporary issues in higher education will be explored, with particular emphasis on the ways in which student experiences intersect with these issues. Topics include but are not limited to: academic discourse, social-emotional learning, educational planning, financial planning, college placement options, prerequisites/corequisites, and teaching and learning modalities. While this course focuses on higher education specifically, course topics will have application to educational settings and successful learning more broadly.  The course counts for honors high school credit as well as college credit.