General Electives

007YR - EXECUTIVE TEAM REPORTER: 4 Terms / 4 Credits, Grades 11-12 

The Executive Team Reporter student role is a "course" that allows the student(s) to work alongside Wayzata High School Administration to promote academic achievement, WHS events, and WHS students' success stories using a variety of social media tools, including but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The Executive Team Reporter ideally has a focus on increasing and showcasing student engagement within the Wayzata High School community. The Executive Team Reporter role takes up one block per day for the entire school year. An application is required and available at http://bit.ly/ETR-Application.

046 - MENTOR: ACADEMIC TUTOR: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12 [Consider becoming an Academic Mentor! video]

Prerequisites: 11th or 12th grade; 10th graders may be considered for a mentorship with WHS staff recommendation

The goal of the academic mentorship (tutoring) program is to provide academic support and enrichment to students. This course is an opportunity for students to be role models and acquire leadership experiences in an academic environment. Mentor students will learn how to work in study groups and build skills that will assist them later in college and the world of work. Students who sign up as Academic Mentors provide tutoring assistance to students in the ARC: Academic Resource Center, classrooms, and 1:1 or study group Zoom sessions. Mentors are expected to maintain a safe learning environment by upholding confidentiality and student privacy. All mentors are expected to complete a 1-week training at the beginning of each term.

Testimonial:

047 - MENTOR: ADVANCED MENTORSHIP: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12 [Consider becoming an Academic Mentor! video]

Prerequisites: 11th or 12th grade and Mentor: Academic Tutor

An Advanced Academic Mentorship is available for students who have previously worked as a classroom mentor and are looking for another opportunity to support their peers while growing as a leader.  Students in the course will continue to work as classroom mentors while also supporting the training and development of the incoming group of mentors.  


Returning mentors are also eligible to apply for a Mentor Manager Internship.  This position would provide the student the opportunity to learn about program management, help with development of advertising and marketing materials, lead social media promotion, and coordinate community outreach.  Once registered for an Advanced Academic Mentorship, please complete this form to apply.

048 - MENTOR: EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12

          HYBRID COURSE  [Infographic] [Consider becoming an Academic Mentor! video]

Prerequisite: Mentor: Academic Tutor or Intro to Education or Civic Engagement, or WHS staff recommendation

Academic Mentor: Educational Leadership is designed for student leaders who want an immersive and meaningful learning experience supporting student growth and development at the elementary level.  Students in this course will be educated on introductory educational philosophies and instructional strategies, then given an early release from WHS to be able to support the Extended Day Learning at various Wayzata elementary schools immediately after school. Students will develop and lead activities under the guidance of a supervising teacher. Activities will focus on social-emotional learning and small-group, individualized mathematical support and enrichment. In class, students in the course will complete Cultural Competency and Microaggressions training to gain perspective and understanding of various cultures and the daily experience of other students. 


This class will run during 4th block as a hybrid, one-term course; it can be taken multiple times within the same school year for qualified students. Students will meet at the high school from 1:50-2:30, Monday-Wednesday and will be expected to work at the extended day learning twice per week from 2:50-5:00 pm.  There is no class or extended day learning on Fridays.  The extended day schedule will be mutually agreed upon by student, teacher, and extended day learning staff.

049 - MENTOR: WRITING EXPLORATION CENTER (WEC) (Student Writing Tutor): 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 11-12

[Consider becoming an Academic Mentor! video]

Prerequisites: Mentor: Academic Tutor

The goal of WEC Academic Mentors is to provide writing support and writing enrichment to students. This course is an opportunity for students to be role models and acquire leadership experiences in an academic environment. Academic Mentors serving as writing tutors in the WEC will learn how to coach peers in the writing process: pre-writing strategies, organization, editing, revising, and publishing in 1:1 in-person and virtual (on-line essay submissions) settings. In addition, WEC mentors will flex their responsibilities to support all subject areas when requested at times by teachers for specific assignment support. WEC mentors will also collaborate with district and community experts to develop and sustain on-line WEC resources. Mentors are expected to maintain a safe learning environment by upholding confidentiality and student privacy. All mentors are expected to complete a 1 week training at the beginning of each term.

Mentors staffing the WEC before or after school will be eligible for late arrival/early dismissal in accordance with their schedule.

056 - HONORS MENTOR CONNECTION: 4 Terms / 4 Credits, Grades 11-12

Prerequisite:  Mentor: Application Process.  Selected students may enroll.

Honors Mentor Connection (HMC) is a highly selective, rigorous, academic course offered at WHS. HMC students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question, that will culminate in the submission of an academic research paper to the College Board and the MN Department of Education. Students must have an area of intense interest, a history of academic success in advanced coursework (especially in the area of interest), and a proven ability to work independently. Students are enrolled in the class through an interview and an application process. The process takes place in December/January of the year prior to enrollment. Students selected for this program must understand they are committing to earning 4 credits through their work in this off-campus, year-long program. The course may not be dropped once the school year has started. Students will submit their original research projects to the MN Department of Education’s Scholars of Distinction Program. In addition, students meeting the requirements of the College Board, may earn AP Research credit. 

057 - COLLEGE READY: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-11

Would you like to amp up your skills before taking a college-level or AP course? Students will work to increase their college readiness in the areas of Reading, English, and Writing. These skills will support success in any College level or AP course. 

059 - SCIMENT ONLINE PROGRAM: 4 Terms / 4 Credits, Grades 11-12

COURSE CURRENTLY NOT OFFERED 

Prerequisite: High academic achievement in science. Science Research A, B, C, and D are four 1-term offerings that must be taken in a sequence, but timing is flexible.

SciMent is an alternative to Honors Mentor Connection offered through District 287 and Northern Star Online. It is designed to provide talented students an opportunity for high academic achievement in science through independent research, mentoring, and competition in the Intel Science & Engineering Fair, the premiere science competition in the world. Students may not be concurrently enrolled in Honors Mentor Connection and SciMent. WHS students may enroll in SciMent and earn credits toward their 16 yearly credits OR they may enroll in SciMent in addition to 16 credits at WHS and complete the work outside the normal school day. If a student enrolls in SciMent in addition to a full course load at WHS, the student will be responsible for paying the tuition. Students enrolled in SciMent during the school day and not assigned to a WHS class must leave the campus during the block dedicated to SciMent. Students involved in extra-curricular activities may return at the end of the school day and participate. Visit the website for more information: https://www.district287.org/academic-services/gifted-programs/.

265 - TROJAN ACADEMY:  1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-12

Prerequisite:  Student Support Team Approval

Would you like to work on academic study skills and have time in the day to complete homework and study preparations for your other classes?  Trojan Academy class is designed to help you set goals and prioritize tasks each week as you work to become a better student, meet assignment and project due dates, and prepare for assessments.  Specific study skills will be taught and utilized throughout the course.

Student Testimonial:

581 - CHINESE CULTURE AND BEYOND: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-12 

COURSE CURRENTLY NOT OFFERED

This course is for any WHS student (with or without a language background) who is interested in learning about Chinese culture and history. Heritage speakers are encouraged to take this course before taking the Chinese Level 5 and/or AP Chinese course. Students earn a general elective credit for this course. In Chinese Culture and Beyond, students learn to:

901 - WORK EXPERIENCE: 1 Terms / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12 

This course is for students who wish to work at a job during the school day. Students will earn credit if they meet the set criteria. Students will learn the information and techniques necessary to navigate through the world of work. A few of the areas we will cover will be job resume, safety on the job, interviewing skills, workplace conflict resolution, as well as several more.