OUR GOAL FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Rigorous courses that encourage critical-thinking, analysis, and real world application so that students will be well-prepared for life.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
World History (9): (1 credit) Required World History builds upon previous courses by instructing students in events from the early days of God’s creation to the nation building of the 19th century. This course focuses on the study of numerous nation-states from Great Britain, France, and Germany to the civilizations of the Middle East, India, and China. Students use their knowledge to decipher, appreciate, and appraise the cultural differences of various civilizations.
US History (10): (1 credit) Required US History builds upon previous United States history courses in discussing people, events, and ideas that originate at the foundation of the United States. This class begins in colonial times and works through the Revolutionary War, the creation of the republic, and the course of the country through the Civil War. With God at its center, this course develops students’ abilities of applying, synthesizing, and evaluating information on people, places, and turning points in the history of the United States.
20-21st Century History (11): (1 credit) Required The study of this course focuses on the relevance of the last century moving into our current timeline. The focus is on United States history, but the class also covers many international events such as World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. The goal of this course is for students to develop a new and better appreciation for recent history of the United States in the world. It helps advance their abilities in describing, evaluating, and justifying recent events.
American Government (12): (.5 credit) Required Through this course, students will examine a Christian’s relationship to government, early governmental foundations and founders, the Constitution, political parties, the branches of government, and foreign policy.
Economics (12): (.5 credit) Required This class explores basic economic principles, current economic issues, and the concept of choice and consequence on both personal and global scales. Basic concepts such as utility, opportunity benefit and cost, subjective value, free-market capitalism and other economic models, as well as a biblical perspective of personal finance will be studied.
English 9: (1 credit) Required Students will build skills in grammar, writing, and literature. Emphasis will be placed on communicating effectively though writing, and successfully comprehending and analyzing literature. Students will read and write in multiple genres, commit poetry to memory, and continue to develop their vocabulary and grammatical skills.
English 10: (1 credit) Required This course includes a study of grammar focusing on parts of speech, sentences, and usage. It includes sentence analysis and development of writing skills through essay and research assignments. Development of vocabulary and memorization of poetry are included. Analysis of literature including short stories, poetry, prose, and a Shakespeare play is also developed in this course. Literary analysis will focus on character, theme, setting, and conflict. Interpretation and communication skills will be strengthened through application of critical evaluation and group interpretation.
Literature and Composition (11 and 12): Required (1 credit required for each year: Brit. Lit. and Comp. or Advanced Lit. and Comp.) This class is a chronological survey of the origins and development of English Literature as well as a course designed to help prepare students for college-level writing and research. The curriculum consists of analytical reading, critical writing skills, multiple essay genres, vocabulary enrichment, in-class writings, projects, and research papers. Throughout the course, students will be expected to read, analyze, and respond to a variety of texts.
Advanced Literature and Composition (11 and 12): Required (1 credit required for each year: Brit. Lit. and Comp. or Advanced Lit. and Comp.) This class is a chronological survey of the origins and development of English Literature as well as a course designed to help prepare students for college-level writing and research. The curriculum consists of analytical reading, critical writing skills, multiple essay genres, vocabulary enrichment, in-class writings, projects, and research papers. Greater emphasis is placed on Shakespearean texts as well as more independent analysis than the British Literature and Composition class. The class is conducted at a more rapid pace, and writing assignments are generally more demanding.
Speech: (.5 credit) Required Students in this class learn and practice developing the skills necessary for effective verbal and non-verbal communication. Students have many opportunities to improve their public speaking and presentation skills both in person and through the use of technology. Students develop an awareness of the basics of rhetoric and learn to analyze the rhetorical situation as well as to recognize common propaganda techniques. Students will work to develop excellent listening and communication skills that, ultimately, will help them be better equipped to share the Gospel of Christ.
Algebra I: (1 Credit) Required: Alg. 1 or Adv. Alg. 1, Prerequisite: 8th grade math During this course, students will write and solve multi-step equations, graph linear equations, write equations of parallel and perpendicular lines, write and solve various inequalities, solve systems of equations by graphing and substitution, solve equations with polynomial expressions, and graph quadratic functions. Heavy emphasis is placed on slope and graphing.
Advanced Algebra 1: (1 Credit) Required: Alg. 1 or Adv. Alg. 1, Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation The study of Algebra 1 is foundational to all higher math. This course proceeds at a more rapid pace than Algebra 1, thus covering some special topics at the end, such as graphing radical and exponential functions. Students will learn to evaluate numerical and algebraic expressions including radicals. Graphs of lines and developing equations of lines algebraically will be studied in detail. Polynomials and factoring will be studied extensively, and parabolas will be introduced with other nonlinear graphs. The course concludes with statistics and probability, time permitting.
Geometry: (1 Credit) Required: Geo. or Adv. Geo., Prerequisite: Algebra 1 During this course students will learn relationships between angles. Proofs are introduced, including inductive reasoning and conjecture. Graphing lines and distance between points will be reviewed. Triangle and quadrilateral classification and application of theorems are studied in detail including the use of algebraic expressions. (The use of algebra will continue throughout.) Students will understand ratios and proportions, as well as some trigonometry late in the course. Coordinate geometry will be used in the sections.
Advanced Geometry: (1 Credit) Required: Geo. or Adv. Geo., Prerequisite: Adv. Algebra 1-C or better or teacher recommendation. Euclidian Geometry is taught with heavy emphasis on coordinate Geometry. The course is taught at a faster pace than Geometry, enabling students to become better prepared for advanced courses like Trigonometry or Pre-calculus. Formal proof is introduced early and continues throughout. Relationships in triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons and circles are studies as well as right triangle trigonometry. The course concludes with a thorough study of area, surface area, and volume.
*Students choose which math classes to take their junior and senior year from the following classes.
Algebra II/Trigonometry (11-12): (1 Credit) Elective. Prerequisites: Algebra 1, Geometry Algebra 2 continues the study of Algebra I. Linear equations and inequalities including use of matrices will be studied. All types of functions and their graphs will be considered including transformations. Radicals, logarithms, and complex numbers are included. Students learn to use graphing calculators. Students extend the domain of trigonometric functions using the unit circle. Proving and applying the trigonometric identities will be studied.
Statistics (11-12): (1 Credit) Elective. Prerequisites: Algebra 1, Geometry The study of Statistics begins with probability and various types of data descriptions. Binomial distributions will be covered, and the normal distribution will be studied extensively. Confidence intervals will be considered, followed by hypothesis testing. The course concludes with correlation regression, and, time permitting, ANOVA testing and chi square tests.
Pre-calculus/Calculus (11-12): (1 Semester Credit per Course) Prerequisites: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 – C or better The study of precalculus begins with an in-depth study of functions including linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic. The conics are reviewed. Systems of equations are studied, including use of matrices. Emphasis is placed on solving all types of equations including use of a graphing calculator. Limits and derivatives are introduced.
Consumer Math I, II, III, & IV (9-12): (1 Credit) In Consumer Math, students study and review arithmetic skills they can apply in their personal lives and in their future careers. The course begins with a focus on occupational topics; it includes details on jobs, wages, deductions, taxes, insurance, recreation and spending, and transportation. Students also learn about personal finances, checking and savings accounts, loans and buying on credit, automobile expenses, and housing expenses. It also includes instruction about filling out tax forms. Every lesson will help develop critical thinking skills and will emphasize biblical stewardship.
Physical Science 9: (1 credit) Required, Prerequisite: Pre-Algebra This is a basic, but in-depth, science class that covers principles in chemistry and physics. Foundational concepts will be taught that can be used in later science classes. Chemistry concepts covered include building of the Periodic Table, structure of the atom, and bonding. Physics concepts include a history of science and application of it to the Creation Mandate, classifications and changes in matter, dimensional analysis, kinematics, dynamics, energy, work, simple machines, and electricity. This is a lab-based class with hands-on activities presented for each unit of study.
Biology 10: (1 credit) Required This course is a study of the cell, genetics, and the plant and animal kingdom. It includes an overview of the systems of the human body. There are numerous science labs during the year including dissection of an eyeball and a microscope lab.
Chemistry 11: (1 credit) Required: Chemistry or Intro to Physics and Chemistry, Prerequisite: Algebra I The Chemistry course begins with the scientific method and a discussion of the history of chemistry. The classification and states of matter and the elements are discussed in detail. Atomic structure, chemical bonding, and nomenclature are covered extensively. Chemical reactions, acids/bases and redox reactions, and stoichiometry are studied and applied in hands-on labs.
Introduction of Physical and Chemistry 11: (1 credit) Required: Chemistry or Intro to Physics and Chemistry This class is an elective science class that investigates weather, atmosphere, water, physics of motion, Newton’s laws, the hydrosphere, and the forces on the earth. This is a hands on class with many experiments.
Physics (11-12): (1 credit) Elective, Prerequisite: Algebra 2 Velocity, speed, and acceleration will be worked with extensively, along with Newton’s Laws, force, motion momentum and the concepts of work, energy and gravitation. Wave theory will be introduced that includes key concepts of sound. Light & optics are discussed. Magnetism and electricity are also studied. This is a lab-based class with hands-on activities presented for each unit of study.
Anatomy (11-12): (.5 credit) Elective, Prerequisite: Biology – B or better Students will investigate the systems of the human body in depth. Special dissection of the animal specimens are included as well as a study of the Drosophila fly and genetics.
Spanish I: (1 credit) Required The goal of Spanish I is to introduce the student to the Spanish language and culture through development of basic grammar and vocabulary skills, utilizing projects, dialogue, and exercises.
Students will express themselves through written and spoken language to demonstrate a knowledge of sentence structure, vocabulary correctly used in cultural context, and memorization of scripture. Speaking the Spanish language in class is encouraged, and writing in the language is required to increase ability in use and comprehension of both the written and spoken word.
Spanish II: (1 credit) Required, Prerequisite: Spanish I This class builds on the foundation laid in Spanish I in order to further develop language use and cultural understanding. Basic verb tense and use, along with vocabulary and sentence structure will be expanded by addition of more advanced grammar and vocabulary skills. Utilizing skits, projects, and videos, students will develop a deeper understanding of Spanish language and culture. Speaking the Spanish language in class is encouraged and writing is Spanish is required to increase ability in use and comprehension of both the written and spoken word.
Computer Applications 1 (9): This course is designed for students to work with Microsoft Office Suite using their MS Office 365 accounts. Students will use online resources and tutorials to navigate through OneNote, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. Other topics being covered during this course are internet safety and plagiarism. Students will be introduced to MLA and APA formatting for research papers.
Computer Applications 2 (10): This course is designed for students to use Microsoft Office Suites using their MS Office 365 accounts and build on the skills learned in Computer Applications 1. Students will use online resources and tutorials to navigate through OneNote, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint to produce more challenging advanced documents. Assignments will include the integration of data between the various office applications. Other topics being covered during this course are internet safety and plagiarism. Students will also cover proper formatting of research papers using MLA and APA.
Health (12): (1 credit) Required The Senior Health class will provide guidance and emphasis on caring for God’s temple, our body. The students will be given hands-on activities, projects, field trips, and guest speakers to encourage a healthier lifestyle. Throughout the school year, topics will include: body basics system, mental and emotional health, nutrition, exercise, safety, and CPR training, as well as the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
College Prep (11): (.5 credit) Required The College Preparatory Class is to guide and encourage the students to consider the different pathways available after high school. The students will be given the practice ACT & SAT tests with guidance on college and technical school entrance exams. Financial Literacy for banking, savings, payment types, credit cards, credit scores, financing higher leaning, and taxes with assessments after each topic will be covered. Seminars on communication skills, resume formatting, and the interview process will also be covered. A variety of guest speakers will be giving seminars on the following topics: colleges, careers, internet safety, and armed forces and the military. The students will travel to the local colleges for campus tours.
Physical Education (9-10): (1 credit) Required In this course the student will learn mental, social and physical well-being. The student will also be introduced to principles of exercise, fitness, and movement skills. This will be accomplished through team and individual games and fitness training to promote mental, social, and physical well-being.
(Note: Not all courses are offered every year.)
Advanced Art: (.5 credit) Pre-requisite: General Art. Students will discover the connections between drawing, other art disciplines, studying past and current events, God, and His creation for inspiration to create art. Students will gain knowledge in the visual arts, theory, and practice through experiences in different visual arts media areas.
Anatomy: (.5 credit) Students will investigate the systems of the human body in depth. Anatomy is the study of the body structures and physiology is how those structures work together. During this class, students will gain a mastery of the body systems individually as well as how God designed them all to work in unison. This class uses case studies and a 3B Smart Anatomy human torso that allows students to utilize resources, including technology, to find, analyze and evaluate information. Anatomy class pursues a more in-depth study of several of the body systems. Included in the year’s study are dissections of the heart and eyeball, experiments with fruit flies and a major field trip. Costs would be the admission for the selected field trip. Pre-requisite: Chemistry/Biology
Assistants: (.5 credit) Students can serve as teacher, office or maintenance assistants. An application process is required.
Beginning Strings: (.5 credit) This class is designed for students with no prior knowledge of stringed instruments. The goal of this class would be to learn one specific instrument of choice and to be able to participate in a strings ensemble. The music students will be learning for the ensemble will likely be sacred and/or classical selections. The instruments they would be learning will include Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (the 4 chamber instruments), as well as the harp, including a 10-string Davidic lyre (Kinnor Harp). Each student will pick one instrument to specialize in and will need to provide their own instrument for practice and personal use. Instruments may be rented or purchased. The school does have a limited supply of some of these instruments. If you are interested, they will be available on a first-come basis.
Band: (.5 credit) This is a performance-based class. Students must have played their instrument for at least one year and complete an audition. Students will learn a variety of music styles through the year. The band will participate in the WVCEA Fine Arts competition in the spring as well as other performance opportunities such as the Christmas program and chapel.
Bible Quizzing: (.5 credit) This class studies a specific New Testament portion of scripture on a 9-year rotating cycle. For each school year concentration is placed on a specific text to learn and know thoroughly through drills and memorization. Bible Quizzing is a “jump-quizzing” double-elimination competition measuring Bible knowledge and speed of recall. WCCS participates in competitions in various states to improve in these areas. For school year 2018-2019 we will be studying the 5 T’s (1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus) with only 378 verses to know (the shortest amount in the 9 – year cycle).
Choir: (.5 credit) This course is a performance-based class. Students spend much of their time preparing for performances. Students will perform throughout the school year. (Christmas program, Graduation, Fine Arts, and more). Students will sing many various styles of music while working to improve their vocal techniques (diction, range of voice, breathing, etc.)
Christianity and the Humanities: (.5 credit – juniors & seniors only) Students will be involved in a discussion-based class that explores the overall concepts of the humanities, as well as how Christians have impacted the world in a variety of fields, including art, science, literature, and music.
Current Events: (.5 credit) Engaging with the world requires knowledge of modern-day times and occurrences. Current events explores local, national, and international happenings. Understanding how to world functions is a large part of being an informed citizen and an educated Christian.
Film Studies: (.5 credit) The film studies elective is designed to teach students the fundamentals of film theory. Students will learn the basics of several cinematic concepts to analyze film as a visual art form and a culturally significant mode of communication. In addition to class lectures and discussion, students will watch a variety of films and film clips in class. The class will focus on one specific topic every four year. The topics include film history, film genres, world cinema, and Judeo-Christian concepts in film.
General Art: (.5 credit) This class will provide a variety of art skills by using a variety of art mediums and methods. From clay to canvas, students will have hands-on opportunities to express their creativity. (for grades 9 & 10)
Graphic Design: (.5 credit) In Graphic Design 1 students will learn to apply the elements and principles of art and design through their own works. Students will also explore the graphic design process while working on projects. Computers are used as a tool for creating work. Some projects will be created on the computer; others will be created by hand.
History Through Film: (.5 credit) Through the use of modern cinematic productions, students will critically assess historical events, policies, and legislations. Students will not only evaluate historical truth but will learn to turn a critical eye to media propaganda, interpretive history, and hidden bias in the visual world. Focus will not only be on major historical events but unknown individual encounters with human rights and personal sovereignty. The majority of course work will surround in class interpretive viewing. The course will move chronologically from ancient society to modern dilemmas in today’s global world.
History Through Film 2: (.5 credit)Through the use of modern cinematic productions, students will critically assess historical events, policies, and legislations from the discovering of America to present day. Students will not only evaluate historical truth but will learn to turn a critical eye to media propaganda, interpretive history, and hidden bias in the visual world. The focus will not only be on major historical events, but on unknown individual encounters with human rights and personal sovereignty. Most of the course work will surround in class interpretive viewing. The course will move chronologically with the discovering of America to modern dilemmas in today’s global world.
Home Arts: (.5 credit) Students will learn basic life skills such as: cooking, sewing, home maintenance and basic repairs, meal planning and budgeting, car maintenance, childcare, etc. Evaluation will be through projects, written assignments, and class discussion. This class will teach students to be committed to lifelong learning and personal excellence, to have a positive work ethic, and to give their best to glorify God.
Intro to Computer Programming: (.5 credit) Students learn the fundamental concepts of Python programming that can be applied to the study of any programming language. Learn decision making, program decomposition and debugging, text, strings, data control, formatting, lists, grids, object-oriented programming.
Journalism: (.5 credit) The class is designed to help students who enjoy writing and media. Students will write articles, conduct interviews, and tell stories in a way that lets them pursue their creativity while also bringing awareness to things that are happening in our school.
Media Productions: (.5 credit) Students will gain knowledge of and experience in using a variety of presentation software and video suite software to produce graphics for programs, chapels, advertising, and social media for WCCS. These experiences will give students opportunity to build skills for future resumes, as well as allow them opportunity to develop talents while enhancing the school culture and experience.
Opening Minds Through Art: (.5 credit) Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia. It was developed at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University, in 2007. People living with dementia (artists) are paired with WCCS students who are trained to rely on imagination instead of memory and focus on remaining strengths instead of lost skills. OMA enables people living with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers and leave a legacy of beautiful artwork. Students will travel to a local nursing home to work with residents. (juniors & seniors only)
Physics: (.5 credit) Velocity, speed, and acceleration will be worked with extensively, along with Newton’s Laws, force, motion momentum and the concepts of work, energy, and gravitation. Wave theory will be introduced that includes key concepts of sound. Light & optics are discussed. Magnetism and electricity are also studied. This is a lab-based class with hands-on activities presented for each unit of study. Pre-requisite: Chemistry
Robotics: (.5 credit) Students utilize VEX Robotics kits and a combination of Block based and C++ software to design and program. Students are introduced to basic programming as well as problem solving strategies. Students work in teams to design, build, program, test and document their progress. Topics include motor control, gear ratios, torque, friction, sensors, timing, program loops, logic gates, decision-making, timing sequences and propulsion systems.
STEM: (.5 credit) The Engineering Design Process and Scientific Method are reviewed. Lessons focus on problem solving and teamwork. Students are introduced to a variety of STEM careers. Students will learn to work with Tinkercad or Onshape to design 3-D objects. They will then learn to print the objects on a 3-D printer. They will learn electronics using Arduino IDE. They will use Code.org to create apps with Circuit Playground, Develop Websites, and Interactive Animations and Games. Other topics that may be explored include space, astronomy, boats, bridges, earthquakes, drones, airplanes, forces and motion, and rockets.
Sound Crew: (.5 credit) Sound crew will guide students how to set up and manage events in many different capacities. Students will learn the different types of equipment, how they are used, and how they are to be properly maintained and stored. The crew will also learn to work as a team and solve problems together quickly and correctly. Students will be required to be present at chapel services and other events to ensure a quality sound experience for the event.
Technology Assistant: (.5 credit) Students will work on school technology equipment to troubleshoot problems and resolve issues reported. These experiences will give students experience in networking, equipment repair, software, and internet issues.
Worship Leadership: (.5 credit) Through participation in Worship Team students will be challenged to develop spiritually, vocally, and/or instrumentally and to use their gifts to lead and encourage worship in the school and community. In addition to leading weekly chapel worship, students may be asked to lead music for a variety of school and community events.
Yearbook: (.5 credit) Learn skills in writing, photography, and design while preparing the school’s yearbook. Take on leadership roles to improve organizational skills, teamwork, editing, and meeting deadlines.