High School Innovation Curriculum

In ENG100, students  explore the key concept of human identity and the human experience. They do so by analyzing a variety of texts through formal and personal essays, creative pieces and oral presentations. By the end of this course, they will have developed the tools essential to read, to understand, to think critically, and to write about different texts. Furthermore, they will have developed the analytical ability to interrogate our world, our lives, and our future. 

Essential questions include:

• How does the telling of stories affect both the teller and listener?
• How are identities formed, and what is identity anyway?
• Does being a member of society require a loss of individuality?
• How do social pressures impact agency?
• How do traumatic experiences affect identity formation and individual growth?  
• How do oppressive forces affect individuals?

Prerequisite: None

English 200 explores the issues and themes that shaped and continue to shape America and American culture, after the Civil War. How do we come to know a nation or a culture? We can study its history, its language(s), and its customs in order to know what makes a culture or national identity what it is. One of the best ways, however, to really understand what is important to any culture is through its literature. The values, the hopes, the dreams of a culture are all contained in its poetry, its stories, its songs, and all of its artistic output. Through the eyes of 20th century American writers, we will learn about the fears and the aspirations that have helped define America from the Great Depression to the Civil Rights movement, and we will connect these texts to current events and contemporary issues, art, and literature.

Prerequisite: ENG100 or one year of high school-level English

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments. 

English 300 explores human rights through literature. According to the Preamble to the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” The UDHR is one of the most recognizable statements on the subject of human rights in modern history, and it lays out a foundation for understanding what we mean when we talk about human rights in the modern context. But what are the challenges to human rights around the world, and why does freedom so frequently come under threat? This course uses literature, specifically novels, plays, and film to explore why history is rife with human rights violations. The authors will offer us their perspectives on the human tendency towards authoritarianism and the possibility for escaping it.

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments. 

This course invites senior students to explore the power and possibility of their own voices through the art of creative writing. Designed for writers of all experience levels, the class will guide students through a variety of forms and genres. 
Students will read exemplary texts from diverse voices to deepen their understanding of craft, engage in regular writing workshops for peer and teacher feedback, and participate in revision cycles that highlight writing as a process. Emphasis is placed on voice, imagery, structure, tone, and the ability to communicate truth through creative form. Over the semester, students will build a personal writing portfolio that showcases their growth, creativity, and risk-taking.

ENG 400 is a literature course that challenges Grade 12 students to engage deeply with literary texts that explore the legacies we inherit—and what we choose to do with them. Through close reading, critical analysis, and varied written and oral expression, students will examine how protagonists across novels, poetry, and drama confront, carry forward, or reject the cultural, historical, and personal inheritances that shape them.

The course centers on major works including There There, Things Fall Apart, Never Let Me Go, The Namesake, The Awakening, and selected poetry by Gwendolyn Brooks. Students will also study the classical moral dilemma in Antigone or the political ambition of Macbeth, with G12 Honors students expanding their lens through The Handmaid’s Tale. These texts—set across a range of historical, social, and cultural contexts—illuminate themes of race, gender, class, colonialism, and resistance.

Students will develop and refine analytical skills through written assignments such as the Critical Lens Essay, Comparative Essay, and Creative Writing, while also engaging in meaningful oral work through Socratic Seminars, presentations, and personal oral histories. Emphasis is placed on crafting nuanced thesis statements, identifying stylistic and rhetorical devices, and applying multiple critical perspectives to literature and non-literary texts alike.

Ultimately, ENG 400 positions the act of “becoming” as both a personal and collective process—one shaped by memory, history, and the ongoing negotiation of identity within systems of power and inheritance.

Prerequisite: English 300 or three years of high school-level English

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments. 

Literature and Composition is a college-level course designed to deepen students' understanding of literary texts across genres, time periods, and cultures. Through close reading, analytical writing, and thoughtful discussion, students explore how authors use language to create meaning, convey themes, and evoke emotional and intellectual responses. Students engage with poetry, drama, fiction, and literary nonfiction, developing skills in literary analysis, critical thinking, and argumentation. The course emphasizes crafting well-supported essays that interpret and evaluate literary works, preparing students for the AP exam and future academic writing. By the end of the course, students will be able to read literature with insight and write about it with clarity, confidence, and sophistication.

In this course, students build fundamental algebra skills, including writing equations, evaluating expressions and graphing on the coordinate plane. Equations remain linear, with the exception of the final polynomials unit. Geometry topics that further enhance basic algebra skills are intertwined.

Prerequisite: Pre-Algebra or equivalent

Students progress from linear functions to more complex functions that incorporate exponents, rational numbers, and radicals. Students apply algebra theorems to 2-Dimensional geometry concepts. (Offered at Honors and Standard levels)

Prerequisite: MATH100, Algebra I or equivalent

In this course, students move beyond the linear functions and systems introduced in Math 100 to explore more complex functions involving exponents, rational expressions, and radicals. They further enhance their graphing skills and apply transformation rules to various function families, polynomial functions, and geometric figures. Two-dimensional geometry concepts are integrated throughout the curriculum, as well as the study of Euclidean theorems requiring formal proofs. The course culminates with an introduction to trigonometry, focusing on the right triangle and the fundamental ratios of sine, cosine, and tangent.

MATH300 examines mathematical functions in greater detail, focusing on various representations. Additionally, students continue to work on Geometry as the focus shifts to the 3-dimensional space. The honors section of this course prepares students with the most fundamental theorems of algebra and trigonometry to succeed in a calculus course, while the standard section of the course prepares students for Pre-Calculus. (Offered at Honors and Standard levels)

Prerequisites: MATH100 and MATH200 or equivalent

The honors section of this course prepares students with the most fundamental theorems of algebra and trigonometry to succeed in a calculus course, while the standard section of the course prepares students for Precalculus.

In this course, students will build a strong foundation in algebra, functions, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and probability to prepare for college-level mathematics. They will begin by strengthening their number sense and algebraic reasoning through topics such as exponents, logarithms, sequences, and financial mathematics. These skills will support their work with a wide range of function types, including linear, exponential, quadratic, and rational functions. Students will learn to interpret and model real-world situations using functions, explore transformations, and apply graphing technology to analyze behavior and validate models.

As the course progresses, students will deepen their spatial reasoning through geometry and trigonometry, applying concepts like area, volume, trigonometric ratios, and vectors to solve practical problems. In the final unit, students will focus on statistics and probability, where they will collect, represent, and interpret data; calculate measures of central tendency and variability; and work with probability distributions, including normal and binomial. Throughout the year, student learning will be assessed through quizzes, exams, and applied projects, ensuring they develop both procedural fluency and the ability to apply mathematics in meaningful, real-world contexts.

This course covers the syllabus of the AB Advanced Placement examination. Students start by focusing primarily on differential calculus: limits, continuity, derivatives, and applications of derivatives. Graphical, numerical, and analytic methods will be used throughout the course. After completing introductory topics, students work on optimization, integration, applications of integration, slope fields, and separable differential equations.

The final portion of the course goes beyond the AB curriculum, covering topics including techniques of integration, arc length, improper integrals, parametric equations, and vectors. There will be time devoted to a comprehensive review of the AB Advanced Placement topics before the AP exam in May.

Prerequisite: MATH400 or MATH350 

The Advanced Statistics course introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. There are four themes evident in the content, skills, and assessment in the AP Statistics course: exploring data, sampling and experimentation, probability and simulation, and statistical inference. Students use technology, investigations, problem solving, and writing as they build conceptual understanding.

Students are introduced to anchoring phenomena which they explain or solve through their engagement with interdisciplinary core ideas, scientific practices, and crosscutting concepts. The anchoring phenomena chosen for Integrated Biology are interdisciplinary, which requires the curriculum to cover core ideas from biology, chemistry, and earth science. 

SCI100 aims to lay the foundation that scientific phenomena are interdisciplinary, and requires an understanding of the interconnected relationship between the disciplines. By the end of this first year, students will be able to explain the interconnected relationship between biology, chemistry, and earth science core ideas. This understanding will prepare students for 200-level, 300-level and 400-level courses, where they will continue to build on their understanding of the interconnectedness between science disciplines.

Prerequisite: None
 

Throughout SCI200 students are introduced to anchoring phenomena which they explain or solve through their engagement with interdisciplinary core ideas, scientific practices, and crosscutting concepts. Students will build on what they learned in SCI100 (i.e., the interconnected relationship between life and earth science core ideas) to deepen their understanding of the role that chemistry plays in biological and earth systems. 

By the end of Integrated Chemistry, students will be able to explain the interconnected relationship between life, physical, and earth science core ideas. This understanding will prepare students for 300-level and 400-level courses, where they will continue to build on their understanding of the interconnectedness between science disciplines.

Prerequisite: SCI100

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

In SCI300 students are introduced to anchoring phenomena which they explain or solve through their engagement with interdisciplinary core ideas, scientific practices, and crosscutting concepts. Students will build on what they learned in SCI100 and SCI200 (i.e., the interconnected relationship between life, physical, and earth science core ideas) to deepen their understanding of the role that physics plays in earth systems.
 
By the end of Integrated Physics, students will be able to explain the interconnected relationship between life, physical, and earth science core ideas. This understanding will prepare students for year 12 science courses and to engage with science in spaces beyond Franklin’s science classrooms. 

Prerequisite: SCI200
 

Advanced Physics is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics by developing models of physical phenomena through inquiry-based investigations. Students build their understanding of physical models as they explore and solve problems in these content areas: 

• Kinematics 
• Forces and Translational Dynamics 
• Work, Energy, and Power 
• Linear Momentum 
• Torque and Rotational Dynamics 
• Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems 
• Oscillations 
• Fluids

The Environmental Science course is designed to engage students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.

The Environmental Science course is designed to engage students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.

There are countless countries in the world and countless histories, so how do we decide what to study? At Franklin we embrace this conundrum instead of ignoring it by reading purposefully and vigorously and engaging in lively class discussions, and we confront what are taken to be historical “truths” and hold them up to scrutiny both in print and in our commemorative, representational landscapes. We center our course on the five themes of freedom, resistance, identity, power, and expansion.

Prerequisite: HIST 100 or one year of high school-level social studies

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments. 

HIST100 will follow a chronological path through World History, starting around 1200 CE, all the way through modern day globalization. Introduction to World History explores global history by focusing on the concepts of identity and change. This course is built around three themes: reformations, revolutions, and colonialism/resistance. During the course, students will engage with primary and secondary sources, practice the skills of historical thinking, and learn the art of historical argumentation and analysis. We will take a lot of time defining our themes, and then we will apply them to our readings, class discussions, and work all year. Themes will form all of our endeavors, and, in particular, we will closely examine many case studies using our themes as a class, in groups, and individually. 

Prerequisite: None

In this course, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change. Students explore eight themes throughout the course to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures. 

Prerequisite: HIST 200 or two years of high school-level social studies

Microeconomics is an introduction to economic principles that helps students to understand the decision making process in the real world of money. Students will learn about concepts such as demand and supply, elasticities, opportunity costs, different market structures and profit maximizing input and output decisions. The course equips students to understand and explain the economic outcomes of decisions made by individual and business players.

This course is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to think critically about power, rights, justice, and development in the world today. Over the year, students will focus especially on these key questions:

a. Who holds power in politics — locally, nationally, and globally — and how is it exercised, legitimized, and challenged?
b. How do governments and institutions at different levels respond to citizens’ needs and to global challenges?
c. What do we mean by rights and justice, and who decides how they are protected or violated?
d. What does it mean to be “developed” or “sustainable,” and how do competing perspectives shape global inequalities and opportunities?
e. How do individuals and groups — whether citizens, activists, or international organizations — make their voices heard and influence change?

In Advanced Comparative Government and Politics students will study and practice the skills and concepts that political scientists use in their work and apply them as they analyze data related to; The United States, Mexico, Iran, United Kingdom, Russia, Nigeria and China. Topics may include: How political scientists collect and use data and information. Types of political systems: regimes, states, nations, and governments.

This course is an introductory college-level macroeconomics course. Students cultivate their interest in understanding of the principles and theories that apply to an economic system as a whole. By using principles and models to describe economic situations, students get to predict and explain outcomes with graphs, charts, and data as they explore macroeconomic concepts.

Spanish I
¡Bienvenidos a Español I! In this course, students dive into the exciting journey of language acquisition by taking part in a thriving immersive experience. Throughout the year, students work on the fundamental building blocks of the Spanish language, focusing on listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.

Spanish I is designed for language learners who enter at the novice level, and who will advance to the intermediate level, as all classroom discussions are conducted in Spanish. Students will be introduced to the rich cultural traditions of the various countries in the Spanish-speaking world. They will also dive into a range of materials, from text to video, and much more, which will bring their learning to life and set them on a path for success in future language learning.

Prerequisite: None

French I

In this course, students embark on the exciting journey of language acquisition by studying the fundamental building blocks of French, focusing on the four key areas of world language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Extensive use of authentic materials, including video, audio, images, and texts will provide students with a contextualized and interactive presentation of the vocabulary and linguistic structures, setting them up for success in future language learning. 

Students can expect to work collaboratively and independently as they formulate and test hypotheses about different aspects of the French language, all the while developing metacognitive strategies to process and negotiate the meaning of new vocabulary. Consistent and relevant francophonic references and materials will further immerse students as they start their foray into French language and culture. 

Prerequisites: None

Spanish II

In Spanish II, students strengthen their Spanish skills by continuing the exciting and immersive language-learning experience. The emphasis on listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing continues to be essential as students develop a more sophisticated grasp of the language. 

This course is designed for the emerging-intermediate language learner to improve their Spanish skills as they continue to explore the rich cultures of various Spanish-speaking countries, while exclusively communicating in Spanish. By taking a deeper dive into a more complex range of real-world materials such as podcasts, short stories, and more, students solidify their path for success in the language. 

Prerequisite: One year of high school-level Spanish language study

French II

Using the tools introduced in earlier work, this class will build on existing francophone concepts and provide students with fresh insights and understanding of French language and culture. Using many forms of francophone media, from music to film, news articles, and more, students will increase their access to various French concepts while exploring more sophisticated vocabulary, grammar, and structure concepts. 

With a goal of helping students to not just learn French, but also learn to love it, students will interact with each other and the culture in new ways, applying their content language through exciting projects such as recording podcasts, exchanging correspondence with francophone students, creating an itinerary for a trip, analyzing modern French movies, and more. By the end of the course students will demonstrate ability in discussing current events in French, conversing or debating with French speakers, and identifying the nuances of the language.

Prerequisite: French I or departmental permission required

Spanish III

In Spanish III, students work on building linguistic sophistication and refining their listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills through a rigorous and immersive language learning experience. 

In this course, students attain a high-intermediate level of language proficiency through their continued exploration of real-world materials such as poetry, songs, short stories, plays, newspaper opinion articles, podcasts, reports, cartoons, essays, and interviews. 

Prerequisites: Two years of high school-level Spanish language study

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

French III

Improving linguistic sophistication while also building students’ confidence in their French skills are the hallmarks of this year-long course. Students with an existing understanding of French, established in earlier introductory courses, can expect to continue communicating through the four competencies of language acquisition: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. A focus on French grammar, including the passé composé, passé simple, conditionnel, and plus-que-parfait tenses, as well as the subjunctive mood, will challenge students as they grow into the ability to discuss and debate French and francophone history, culture, and current events. 
 
Students will enjoy immersing themselves in French culture through film and readings that will anchor their projects, including an in-depth study of the classic (and beloved) Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. An honors section is available.
 
Prerequisite: French II or departmental permission required

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

Spanish IV

In Spanish 400, students continue to expand their proficiency in the language while developing a deeper understanding of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The course reviews and reinforces previously learned concepts while introducing more advanced grammar, vocabulary, and communication strategies. Students refine their ability to express needs, preferences, wishes, emotions, and uncertainty with greater precision and confidence. The curriculum integrates literature, art, music, and history to build both linguistic and cultural knowledge. Students engage with authentic texts, including short stories, poetry, and essays, as well as multimedia resources, to explore themes that connect language to lived experiences. This approach fosters critical thinking, intercultural awareness, and an appreciation for the diversity and richness of the Spanish-speaking world.

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

French IV

French 400 continues to build on the communicative approach of previous levels, with a deeper focus on both advanced language development and francophone culture. This course challenges students to refine their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through a range of authentic materials, including complex videos, articles, literature, and music from various francophone regions. Students will engage in meaningful conversations, debates, and projects that explore cultural and contemporary issues.This interactive and immersive course is designed to elevate students’ proficiency and deepen students’ connection to the global francophone community.

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

Offered in French and Spanish

The Advanced Language and Culture course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The Advanced Language and Culture course strives not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. To best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught almost exclusively in the language selected.
 

DES100 serves as an introduction to the design softwares, tools, and materials in our state-of-the-art makerspace. Using industry-standard software tools, students learn the basic principles of computer-aided design in two and three dimensions. They will develop a foundational understanding of digital fabrication through projects using 3D modeling, laser-cutting, 3D printing, and Computerized Numerical Control  technologies.

Inquiry, problem-solving, and self-expression are at the center of this design course, which is focused on providing students with authentic problems and creative design prompts that develop their skills in prototyping, testing, and invention. The class will include several skill-building projects and larger assignments, as well as a final project.

Prerequisite: None

DES125 is an exploration of the world of artificial intelligence and its potential for creative expression. Students are introduced to the core principles of AI and how these technologies can be harnessed in novel and innovative ways. The class focuses on the understanding and application of AI in various creative fields such as art, music, writing, and design. Students will use AI to create pieces that can range from generative artwork and music compositions, to complex narratives and design solutions. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and experimentation, the class is structured around various creative projects and design challenges.

In this class, students will explore how to use technology to interact with the physical world. They will start by learning the basics of programming microcontrollers, using sensors to gather information from their surroundings, and understanding circuits, and build up to larger user-centered projects. Throughout the course, students focus on problem-solving and teamwork as they create interactive projects. From building toys to developing solutions for real-world challenges, students will have the opportunity to apply your skills and unleash their creativity.

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

In ENG225, students discover the world of engineering technology by collaborating in teams on hands-on design and research projects. After an introduction to the various disciplines within engineering, students will work together to learn and apply project management skills to solve problems. Teams will set goals that drive their work in a structural engineering challenge as they co-create an experiment to measure success for their projects. In addition, students will learn the basics of human centered engineering as well as paper prototyping by creating a design for a mobile phone app that benefits their community.

Lastly, students will explore the unsolved problems in engineering that drive modern research and innovation while they conduct their own research in a project featuring nanotechnology. This course will involve a deep dive into topics from automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, and biomedical engineering to explore what it means to be an engineer. Projects are designed to challenge students’ problem solving skills and reasoning as they learn about the difficult decisions engineers make every day. 
 

DES226 offers a deep dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and its vast applications. The course aims to demystify AI by blending theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on projects. Students will start with the fundamentals of AI and machine learning, progressing to complex concepts such as neural networks, deep learning, and AI ethics. The curriculum is project-based, encouraging students to apply their knowledge through innovative projects—from AI-driven art to real-world solutions in healthcare and environmental conservation. A final project will culminate the course, where students will showcase their developed AI solutions, reflecting on their impact and the ethical dimensions of technology.

DES 300 expands the idea of computing beyond the limitations of the mouse, keyboard, and monitor interface of today's computers. The platform for the class is the Arduino microcontroller, a low-cost single-chip computer that can fit in your hand. The core technical concepts include working with sensors, actuators, digital, analog, and serial input and output. The class will include three major assignments: the end of each trimester is spent developing an idea for a final project and implementing it using the Arduino microcontroller.

Prerequisite: Design & Computational Media or one year of high school-level computer science

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

The Creative Learning Studio is an innovative elective designed to redefine the traditional classroom, turning it into a vibrant community of self-motivated learners. In the first trimester, this group of students and teachers will embark together on a transformative journey that begins with the Learning Creative Learning course offered by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT’s Media Lab. This online course champions the principles of learning through Projects, Passions, Peers, and Play. Through videos, readings, reflections, and projects, students will benefit from learning about and practicing the theories, components, and techniques of the creative learning process. During class meetings, we will discuss weekly videos, readings, and projects and share our approaches to self-directed learning. 

This 11th/12th grade elective introduces students to the emerging discipline of data science as a powerful tool for inquiry, analysis, and ethical storytelling. Blending mathematics, technology, critical thinking, and communication skills, the course equips students to navigate and interpret the increasingly data-saturated world around them.

Students will learn to collect, clean, visualize, and analyze data using tools such as spreadsheets, programming languages such as Python, and data visualization platforms. Emphasis is placed on asking compelling questions, identifying patterns, and drawing meaningful conclusions from real-world datasets. Topics may include social justice, environmental change, public health, sports, economics, and media, allowing students to explore how data intersects with urgent issues in society.

Alongside technical skills, students will develop fluency in the language of data—learning to critique bias, assess sources, and consider the ethics of data collection and representation. Through projects, case studies, and collaborative investigations, students will present findings in written, visual, and oral formats, emphasizing clarity, audience awareness, and narrative purpose.

Data Science challenges students not just to work with numbers, but to use them responsibly and creatively to tell the stories that shape our world—and to imagine better futures based on informed decisions.

ART 100 aims to excite students through a breadth of creative exploration, while building technical skills and a sense of self-as-artist. By examining the works of others, students learn to use tools of critical analysis to interpret artworks. This fuels the inspiration to independently apply a creative process to produce artworks that begin to explore and develop the unique visual voice of each student. Art-making activities include mixed-media works on paper, sculpture, and painting.

Prerequisite: None

Drawing is the backbone of visual language. In this micro course, students will build a strong foundation in drawing that will serve their visual art, design, and communication practices for a lifetime. Through in-class exercises and creative projects, students will acquire the skills to translate their observed and imagined worlds onto the page. Working in charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink, they will experiment with line, gesture, light and shadow, volume, texture, composition, and style. By the end of the course, each student will have produced a portfolio of drawings that demonstrate their technical skill and creativity.

In ART 200, students pursue an exploration of the visual arts with greater intensity and focus. In this space, students will continue to engage in multimedia exploration, with a heavy emphasis on drawing in a variety of media, both traditional and experimental. Students will deepen their understanding of how to render compositions that will not only draw in their viewer, but also make them engage with the piece at a different level. Additionally, students will be tasked to explore creative problem solving, discover what it means to create work for a specific audience, and culminate the year with a self generated project that showcases their understanding of the scaffolded making process discussed in both this course and its predecessor.

Prerequisite: ART 100

In this year-long studio elective, students will dive into the fascinating world of printmaking. This course introduces students to an array of printmaking techniques including relief, intaglio, monotype, and lithography. Students will learn to work with single-plate black/white and multi-plate color printing. Printmaking emphasizes understanding of the use of a matrix, the careful consideration of positive and negative space, and the process of color separation. This course aims to build on the skills acquired in Intro Studio Art with a focus on the reproducibility that characterizes printmaking. In addition to producing their artworks through printmaking processes, students will gain exposure to printmaking’s global history as a means of visual communication

This year-long course offers a foundational exploration of the technical, analytical, and conceptual skills essential to painting. Through hands-on experience with acrylic paint, students will gain a deep understanding of image construction and will focus on the interplay of color and mark-making techniques. While perceptual painting remains a core element, the curriculum also emphasizes personal expression, composition, and the critical evaluation of one’s artistic choices. Working across still life, portraiture, and abstraction, students will build a broad toolkit of painting techniques while sharpening their visual literacy and creative reasoning skills.

ART 325 is designed to help students in grades 11 and 12 develop a strong portfolio of artwork for college applications or personal enrichment. Through a series of projects and exercises, students will explore various mediums and techniques, develop their artistic voice, and build a cohesive body of work. Emphasis will be placed on creative thinking, technical skill development, and personal expression. Students will receive individualized feedback and guidance to help them reach their artistic goals. By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio that showcases their talents, demonstrates their growth and exhibits their ability to work independently. Instructor approval is required.

Students will investigate the visual structure of color in a series of paintings and collages. Students will employ varied materials and processes to achieve both a physical and conceptual mastery of color as it is applied in painting, illustration, and design disciplines. We will also look at the work of important painters and their handling of color and use of design.

PHE 100 focuses on developing the foundational knowledge, conceptual understandings, and the life skills required to improve one's own personal health and develop lifelong positive health habits. Students participate in a diverse range of sports and physical movement challenges designed to develop an understanding of movement concepts and to enhance their knowledge of the beneficial physiological changes that come with a sustained health and fitness focus. The health component of the program focuses on developing the knowledge and skills integral for cultivating healthy and respectful relationships and to improve their own personal health. Students are introduced to the strategies and techniques needed to navigate challenges, remain safe, and increase their own level of personal health literacy.

Topics:

• Healthy on the inside, healthy on the outside
• The power of physical activity
• Cognitive health
• Healthy and respectful relationships

PHE 200 explores the interconnected parallel between physical activity, improved health literacy, and positive health outcomes. Students build on the foundation of knowledge and skills developed in grade 9 to enhance their ability to make healthy life choices and be knowledgeable advocates for their own health practices. They participate in a broad range of team and individual sports, and are introduced to new and challenging movement patterns and non-traditional games. Students will continue to develop a deeper understanding of the physiological adaptations and benefits associated with regular physical activity.

Topics:

• Risk-taking versus risky behavior
• Improving personal health and athletic performance
• Understanding health and wellness
• Leadership in athletics 

PSYCH 125 is designed to give each student a clear foundation of skills and knowledge to start their journey of understanding human behavior. It involves a strong introduction to the critical thinking skills needed to understand and evaluate research methods and ethical considerations. Building on these, each student will develop crucial essay writing skills through an exploration of human emotion and the extent to which it is biological. A cornerstone of any introduction to Psychology program must include a thorough understanding of the cognitive process of memory as well as a first hand exposure to psychological research. Students will gain this through a collaborative lab report based on an actual empirical study replication in class. To truly fulfill the objectives of this year, each student will have the opportunity to make practical applications of Social Psychological theories in a series of Kindness Challenges followed by an individual research topic exploring an area of individual curiosity.

In this course, students will explore humanity's attempts to answer the big question: 
What does it mean to be Human?
To understand this big, beautiful question we need to break this down further into:

1. What are we?
2. What do we ‘know’ and how do we come to know it?
3. How do we live together? 
4. Why are we here?

...and apply two of our most powerful disciplinary lenses to respond to these questions, Psychology and Philosophy.

Honors opportunities are presented throughout the year in every assessment given. Students will apply for Honors credentials in March by presenting a portfolio of work from these opportunities, demonstrating their ability to manage an increased workload and more complex and enriched assessments.

Ever wondered what makes you ‘You’? Or what it really means to be human? In this introduction to Philosophy we will dive into these big questions and explore what sets us apart from other species. In this exciting course, you'll get to grapple with ideas about identity, the self, and human nature—topics that philosophers have pondered for centuries. We’ll start by exploring what makes us unique. Are we defined by our thoughts, our emotions, or our actions? Next, we’ll tackle questions about our place in the world: What does it mean to be truly human, and where do we draw the line between ourselves and other living beings? Through engaging discussions, thought-provoking readings, and fun activities, you'll discover how different people have answered these questions throughout history. By the end of this course, you'll not only understand these philosophical concepts better but also develop your own ideas about what it means to be human. Whether you’re curious about the mind, the soul, or our place in the universe, this course will challenge you to think deeply and creatively about your own identity and the world around you.

Building on the foundations of PSYCH125 and PSYCH225 courses, students will cover the rigorous standards of both AP and IB Psychology curricula, and aim to delve deeper into the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This course encompasses a wide range of topics, including biological bases of behavior, cognitive processes, developmental psychology, social psychology, and abnormal psychology. Students will engage with advanced research methods, including experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of findings. The course emphasizes critical thinking and the application of psychological theories to diverse cultural and social contexts. Additionally, students will explore ethical considerations in psychological research and practice. Through in-depth studies and comprehensive assessments, such as research projects, systems mapping and critical essay writing, students will gain a profound understanding of psychological principles and their applications, preparing them for higher education and careers in psychology-related fields.

Prerequisite: At least one of PSYCH 125 or PSYCH 225  (it is recommended that students have studied both)