Science Courses
Course Title: Astronomy
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-12
Cost: $400
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00 am- 9:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: We will be learning about the Sun, and observing the sun daily for Solar Activity Research. Sun spot, solar flare, sun surface and prominences. This will be a research base class. If the weather is not permitting we will do class activities. And I will also make a field trip to one of the most able Telescopes in the Northeast.
Course Title: Aviation
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-12
Cost: $400
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 11:00 am- 12:00 pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This course will cover basic principles of flying, mainly physics of Flying. We will cover basic FAA suggestions for a student who would like a Solo Flight experience. They will be ready to start taking flight lessons. Requirements to be a student pilot, physics of flying, Aeronautical Decision Making, Safe Flight, ATC communications, Air Spaces, Traffic Patterns, Pilotage are the main ideas to be covered.
Course Title: Chemistry (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 10-12
Cost: $713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd-Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00 am- 10:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: The course will cover the basics of a first-year chemistry course, including the nature of the atom and quantum mechanics, moles and stoichiometric calculations, and thermodynamics, including the behavior of states of matter, equilibrium and acids and bases. Students will be required to learn a small number of elements and polyatomic ions in order to have success in the course.
Course Title: Chemistry (Credit Bearing) Non-MLHS Students
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 10-12
Non-MLHS students: Consult home district regarding requirements for earning credit.
Cost: $1490
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: The course will cover the basics of a first-year chemistry course, including the nature of the atom and quantum mechanics, moles and stoichiometric calculations, and thermodynamics, including the behavior of states of matter, equilibrium and acids and bases. Students will be required to learn a small number of elements and polyatomic ions in order to have success in the course.
Course Title: Experimental Physics
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-12
Cost: $400
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 9:00 am- 10:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This summer class will span only experiments from Physics CP, AP Physics 1, and AP Physics C Mechanics and Electro-Magnetics. This activity-based course will be geared towards experimental design, and related fun activities. Open to all levels of students who have curiosity for science particularly physics.
Course Title: Physics (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 11-12
Cost:$713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd-Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This preview class will study the first portion of most high school textbooks. Including; Kinematics, Dynamics, Projectile Motion, Circular Motion, Work and Energy, Momentum, and Rotational Motion. Problem sets will be covered as well as several hands on laboratory experiments.
Course Title: Physics Intro to E & M (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 12
Cost: $713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd-Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 10:15 am - 12:15 pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: To get fully prepared for the AP Physics C exam, students are invited to take this intro to electricity and magnetism class. The class will cover basic E & M that used to be covered in AP Physics 1 but was recently dropped from their curriculum. Topics will include, electric fields, electric forces, Gauss's Law, Coulombs Law, magnetic fields, Ampere's Law, and circuits. Several hands-on laboratory experiments will be performed as well.
Course Title: Theoretical Physics
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-12
Cost: $400
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 10:00 am- 11:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This course is designed for students who want to push their limits to learn crazy theories in physics. Students who are AP Calculus AB or BC bound are strongly encouraged to take this course as are students who are competitive in AP Physics 1. This course will be rigorous towards advanced, and primitive strong mathematics in Physics. We will also push towards the boundaries of Quantum Mechanics. We will start with basic concepts of AP Physics 1, and then Finish with Electro-Magnetics in AP Physics C. Expect a fast pace and a lot of activity course flow.
Humanities
Course Title: Film Production
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 10-12
Cost: $400
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: Film Production is a three-week intensive course in the art of filmmaking. Students will adapt their own original short screenplay into a short feature film. It is advised that students take Screenwriting prior to Film Production, though it is not necessary. However, if one does not take Screenwriting, please come to class with a prepared script or idea for filming. The course will inform the students of all the major components involved in the realization of a film production—creating a shooting script, storyboarding, casting, location scouting, filming, scoring, and editing. This course focuses on the application of theory into practice. After a brief overview and introduction to the nature of a film production, the instructor will further facilitate the students’ understanding of film production by providing hands-on assistance as the students work, mostly independently to produce their films. The course will conclude with an open viewing of the films followed by an awards ceremony; wherein, all the short films will be evaluated and judged by a panel. Awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing will be presented.
Course Title: Screenwriting
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 10-12
Cost: $175
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 7th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: Screenwriting is a course that provides a step-by-step guide to writing a screenplay from concept to finished script. As a student familiarizes himself with the structural foundation and form of the screenplay, he/she studies and analyzes the three main elements required to shape a well-constructed story: unity, coherency, and plausibility. Students are taught that a screenplay in its barest form is simply the conveyance of a human experience. At the beginning of the class, a student chooses an experience that he wishes to communicate and uses that experience as the basis for his screenplay. Each student learns how to create a screenplay that communicates his /her specific experience, either realistically or formalistically. As a student works toward his final goal: the completion of a short screenplay, revision and editing are stressed. Original, produced screenplays will be read and analyzed in conjunction with related film sequences. This course will serve as a preface to Film Production (July 20 – August 7), in which the students’ screenplays will serve as the basis for the film they will direct, storyboard, shoot, and edit.
Mathematics
Course Title: Geometry (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 8-9
Cost: $713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00am - 10:00am
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: Geometry Preview strengthens the mathematical foundation required for success in Geometry. Students will build upon the skills mastered in the Geometry strand of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards during Grades 6, 7, and 8 and explore the essential concepts of geometric figures and space, inductive and deductive reasoning, and geometric proofs. Rising 8th graders who wish to take this course for the purpose of advancing to Geometry in 8th grade must have a final grade of 90% or above in Math 7. Additionally, students must earn a 90% or above in the Geometry Preview course to be approved for advancement into Geometry in 8th grade.
Course Title: Geometry (Credit Bearing)
MLHS Students: Application for Summer For-Credit (Due 4/30)
Non-MLHS students: Consult home district regarding requirements for earning credit.
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-10
Cost: $1490
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This course emphasizes topics inherent to the Euclidean plane and solid geometry. There is a focus on using deductive reasoning and proofs to develop a conceptual understanding of geometric properties. Topics include similarity and congruence, the transformation of such figures, angle relationships, perpendicular lines, parallel lines, properties of triangles, other polygons, and circles, as well as exercises with constructions and loci. Coordinate geometry will be developed and applied algebraically. Students will study applications in the area of 2-dimensional shapes, as well as the surface area and volume of 3-dimensional figures. Foundational trigonometry will also be explored. Throughout this course, emphasis will be placed on mathematical reasoning, mathematical modeling, and problem-solving in real-world settings. Students are responsible for obtaining a scientific calculator to be used throughout the course. The Mountain Lakes Summer Academy does not provide calculators.
Course Title: Algebra 1 (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 8-11
Cost: $713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 10:15am - 12:15pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: The Algebra I Preview course covers a range of algebraic topics grounded through four key ideas: 1.) Seeing structure in expressions, 2.) Arithmetic with polynomials and rational expressions, 3.) Creating equations, and 4.) Reasoning with equations and inequalities. The course challenges students to apply mathematical thinking to various authentic problem-solving tasks. Through this framework, students acquire and apply algebraic skills such as: Interpreting expressions, equations, and functions, applying properties of real numbers, solving linear equations, graphing linear equations and functions, writing linear equations, solving and graphing linear inequalities, and writing and solving systems of equations and inequalities.
Course Title: Algebra 1 (Credit Bearing)
MLHS Students: Application for Summer For-Credit (Due 4/30)
Non-MLHS students: Consult home district regarding requirements for earning credit.
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-10
Cost: $1490
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This course will prepare students with a solid algebraic foundation necessary for advanced mathematics courses. Students will explore properties of the real number system and rational numbers and their relationships. Topics include the arithmetic of polynomials, rewriting expressions, solving systems of equations, as well as solving and representing equations and inequalities graphically. Additionally, students will study linear and quadratic functions and engage in a foundational exploration of exponential functions. The foundations of statistics, such as interpreting categorical and quantitative data, and linear models, will also be investigated. Throughout this course, emphasis will be placed on mathematical reasoning and mathematical modeling, as well as problem-solving in real-world settings. Students are responsible for obtaining a TI-84+ graphing calculator (or similar model) to be used throughout the course. The Mountain Lakes Summer Academy does not provide calculators.
Course Title: Algebra 1 (Review)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 8-11
Cost: $186
Dates: Monday, June 26th - Friday, June 30th
Time: 8:00am - 10:00am
Location: Briarcliff
Course Description: Algebra 1 Review is a 1-week course that strengthens the mathematical foundation required for success in Algebra 2 and pairs well with our Algebra 2 Preview course. Students will review and master foundational algebraic skills such as rewriting numerical expressions using the properties of exponents and square roots, as well as interpreting, evaluating, and graphing linear, exponential, and quadratic functions with an emphasis on domain, range, and function notation. Students will review and master solving quadratic equations using square roots, the quadratic formula, factoring, and completing the square. Students are responsible for obtaining a TI-84+ graphing calculator to be used throughout the course. Summer Academy does not provide calculators.
Course Title: Algebra 2 (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-11
Cost: $713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 10:15am - 12:15pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: Algebra 2 Preview will introduce students to the study of polynomial, rational, radical, and trigonometric functions. The course will explore solving and graphing these types of functions as well as identifying appropriate models for given situations.
Course Title: AP Calculus (Preview)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 11-12
Cost: $713
Dates: Monday, July 3rd - Friday, July 28th (no class on July 4th)
Time: 10:15am - 12:15pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: This course is intended for students entering AP Calculus AB or BC. Students will be introduced to limits, derivatives, and integrals.
Performing Arts
Course Title: Music Technology and Production (Enrichment)
Applicable Grade Level(s): Grade 9-12
Cost: $372
Dates: Monday, July 10th - Friday, July 21st
Time: 10:15 am- 12:15 pm
Location: Mountain Lakes High School
Course Description: Students will record/program their own music using Soundtrap, Garage Band or another software platform. Prior musical experience is helpful but not necessary.