Academic Summer Programs

Students must have a B- or better in Biology Honors or A- or better in Principles of Biomedical Science.

Faculty: Mrs. Lisset Lopez

Laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures are an integral part of this course.

Laboratory investigations to develop a growing understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills to calibrate and troubleshoot equipment used to make observations. Learners should understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data.

Students must complete Algebra 1 with an A or better in grade 9, or a B- or better in grade 8, in order to be eligible to take this course. Approval will be made after the student's transcript has been reviewed.

Faculty: Mr. Joel Davis

The course will cover the following topics: reasoning and proofs, parallel and perpendicular lines, congruent triangles, quadrilaterals, right triangles, trigonometry and circles. The course structure will consist mainly of work done independently in MathXL, on an online learning environment. Students will work through each unit at their own pace while answering practice questions and completing quizzes to prepare for each unit test. All work is done in MathXL. 

Students must complete Algebra 2 Honors with an B+ or better.

Faculty: Mrs. Lisa Garrido

This rigorous course develops concepts and skills in advanced algebra, analytic geometry, and trigonometry in preparation for AP Pre-Calculus. The course is concept driven and examines concepts analytically, numerically, and graphically. Students will be required to attend on campus sessions twice a week.

Student must earn a final grade of B or better in English. Approval will be made after the student's transcript has been reviewed.

Faculty: Ms. Jasmin Taveras

 

Spanish 1 introduces students to the target language and its culture. The student will develop communicative skills in all 3 modes of communication and cross-cultural understanding. Emphasis is placed on proficient communication in the language. An introduction to reading and writing is also included as well as culture, connections, comparisons, and communities.

There is a criteria for taking this course in the summer and approval will be made after the student's transcript has been reviewed.

Faculty: Ms. Katie Pals

 

Spanish 2 reinforces the fundamental skills acquired by the students in Spanish 1. The course develops increased listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as cultural awareness. Specific content to be covered is a continuation of listening and oral skills acquired in Spanish 1. Reading and writing receive more emphasis, while oral communication remains the primary objective. The cultural survey of the target language-speaking people is continued.

Grades 9-12

In this course you will learn the basic Chinese language. After one semester, you will be able to engage in conversation in Chinese including greeting people, introducing yourself to others, and exchanging basic information with others. You will be able to count from 1 to 1,000 and make simple sentences in both spoken and written Chinese. You will also learn 160 "magical" Chinese characters and use them on a variety of topics. As you walk through the units with us step by step, you will get to know not only the language itself, but also the culture where the language takes place and keeps developing. At the very beginning, we will start by introducing you to a general knowledge of Pinyin, Mandarin Chinese, Chinese dialects, and Chinese characters. 

Grades 9-12

Chinese 2 enables students to further develop the communicative skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing of Mandarin Chinese at a more advanced level. Students are immersed in Chinese culture as virtual exchange students in China. Virtual excursions from one Chinese city to another expand their vocabulary helping them learn to interact with others and use appropriate terms to communicate in various everyday situations. 

Grades 9-12

In Chinese 3, the students will continue to expand their abilities in various aspects of Chinese Mandarin learning. They will continue to build up their knowledge in vocabulary, sentence patterns, and grammar points in communicative contexts. They will also enhance their Chinese Mandarin listening and speaking skills such as pronunciations and intonations. The students will learn more in-depth Chinese reading and writing strategies and skills. Their Chinese reading abilities and efficiency will be greatly improved and they will be able to write in Chinese in various formats such as journal, letter, invitation, and essay. The students’ knowledge and skills in writing simplified Chinese characters will also be enriched and fortified. In this course, the students will learn more about the essential Chinese culture knowledge including the origins, histories, anecdotes, and etiquettes for various cultural settings, events, or occasions. 

Grades 9-12

The course introduces the fundamentals of German grammar, vocabulary, and conversation. It also coordinates the study of language with culture through the use of video, audio, and mass-media production. Students who complete the course successfully will begin to develop a functional competency in the four primary language areas (speaking, reading, listening, and writing), while also establishing a solid grammatical base and a firm understanding of German culture. As with each of the semesters, guided translation exercises, based on various passages and versions of the German Bible, are included at the end of each module, helping students to solidify their understanding, develop translation skills, and explore the context and meaning of select biblical passages.

 

Grades 9-12

In this course, students build on the grammar and language skills that they acquired during their German 1 course. While reviewing basic grammar skills (e.g., present and past tenses), students learn and study stem-changing verb conjugation and explore cultural themes regarding current events, famous German people, music, and famous festivals. In the second semester of German 2, students increase their proficiency in communication by forming more complex German sentences in a variety of tenses and using all four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive). The variety of topics also increases, from exploring different careers to discussing relationships. Cultural themes are intertwined throughout this course, related to going shopping, going to the zoo, and traveling throughout the German speaking world. As with each of the previous semesters, guided translation exercises, based on various passages and versions of the German Bible, are included at the end of each module, helping students to solidify their understanding, develop translation skills, and explore the context and meaning of select biblical passages. 

Grades 9-12

With more than seven billion people in the world today, there is more need than ever to  research and tell the stories of the global community from God’s perspective. Researching and writing these stories will be your assignment as a new reporter for God’s News Network. In this course, all the stories are big stories. Human rights, the environment, global security, and international economic systems are all part of your beat. The stories also have real human interest because they deal with peoples' customs, cultures, and how they interact with each other and the truths of God’s word. Your job will be to research the facts and present them with clarity and context. Your job will also involve identifying real global problems and then, suggesting well-developed solutions. This is a course that makes you think. The stories are current and compelling. They need to be told, and the right person to tell them is you!

Grades 9-12

In this course, as students take their first steps on a lifelong journey of discovery; they find out for themselves how their faith confronts history and provides a pathway back to our proper relationship to God. Students improve their command of the English language by studying Latin. Students also gain a better understanding of today's laws and culture by getting into the Roman mind and are challenged to relate that understanding to their relationship to God. Latin 1 is the most comprehensive way to begin. The purpose of this course is to give students a foundation in Latin grammar and vocabulary. This course also acquaints students with classical mythology and with the everyday life of the typical Roman and points out how that worldview contrasts with the Christian worldview. The course sets the students' feet on a journey as big as their imaginations, with a passport to some of the world’s most exciting places. On that journey, as they grow in knowledge, they will deepen their Christian faith. 

Grades 9-12

In Latin 2, the plots and the characters that populated ancient Rome come alive as they are compared and contrasted with the themes of the Pater Noster. In this course, students build on their knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary. In the process, they sense the beauty of the language and the passion of those who spoke it. A clear, expressive, and flexible language in which students can communicate supports Roman engineering, art, commerce, and system of law. As the students explore the pursuit for power, riches, and national identity found in the Roman Classics, parallels and contrasts are drawn between the themes of the Lord's Prayer—surrendering to God's sovereignty as opposed to pursuing personal power; humility rather than greatness; surrender as a form of victory; and many others. This course gives students a solid grounding in the structure of the language. It also gives them a clear lens for looking into the heart and majesty of the Roman spirit. 

Grades 9-12

In Latin 3, students visit the library of great authors. The library card gives them access to the timeless words of the greatest Roman poets, storytellers, and orators. Students' skills with the Latin language give them direct access to the beauty and power of these great authors' thoughts. This will enable students to compare the imagery of the Bible with that of the Roman authors while realizing how studying an ancient language can illuminate many biblical truths. Students will read some of the best Latin prose and poetry ever written or spoken from Caesar, Cicero, Catullus, and others while exploring the responsibility God gives humans to alter circumstances and affect history. The purpose of this course is to strengthen students' Latin vocabulary as well as their appreciation for well-crafted writing. Students go directly to the source and recognize why Latin and those who spoke it are still relevant today. The course has been carefully aligned to National Standards for Classical Language Learning as set forth by ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). Please be sure to review the full course syllabus to be sure your student has covered all prerequisite material to be successful. If you have any questions about your student’s readiness to take this course, please enroll your student in the Latin 3 Pre-Test. This will provide you with accurate placement information so you can request the appropriate level of course for your student’s success. 

Grades 11-12

In this course, students will study the ideas and beliefs promoted in our culture today. They will explore how they are applied to many different areas of life. Students will first study the core beliefs of six worldviews. Then, they will apply those worldviews to ten disciplines that are basic to the decisions made throughout life. Not only is the Christian worldview studied extensively, but it is also held up as the standard by which to judge all other worldviews and disciplines. The students will be equipped to understand the people and ideas of their times. They will be able to engage and defend the Christian worldview in the public sphere.