COURSE OFFERINGS & ELECTIVES 2011-12

1. COURSE OFFERINGS & ELECTIVES 2011-12 All of life is a journey; which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there. From A Little Book of Happiness

2. VCHS Science Program: The Core 4

3. VC Science Electives Program High School Electives Elements of Science Basic Physics Forensics- Pending BOE Approval College Electives Science Research AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics Speak to your science teacher/guidance counselor about ways for motivated students to take the Core 4 Science courses and access science electives!

4. VC Science Electives • Elements of Science • Alternative to Regents Chemistry • Basic concepts of chemistry and physics • No scheduled lab period (labs incorporated in class)  • Fulfills NYS mandated 3rd credit of science

5. VC Science Electives • Forensics- Pending BOE Approval • Major goal: gain an understanding of the • science of criminal investigation • Major areas of study: crime scene analysis, trace evidence (hair, blood, prints, DNA) , determining cause/time of death, witness reliability • No scheduled lab period (labs incorporated in class)  • Fulfills NYS mandated 3rd credit of science • Prerequisite: Successful completion of two (2) Regents science classes

6. VC Science Electives • Basics Physics • Alternative to Regents Physics • Basic concepts of physics • No scheduled lab period (labs incorporated in class)  • 4th credit of science • Prerequisite: Elements of Science or Regents Chemistry

7. VC Science Electives • Science Research I, II, III • 3-year SUNY Albany course starting in grade 10 • 12 college credits & 3 Regents elective credits • Motivated students looking to do research in any field • Design, conduct , report on an original experiment • Present at science competitions like Intel or Siemens • Attempt to have research paper published

8. Advanced Placement(AP)Science Courses Motivated students looking to go beyond the basics learned in Regents science classes (equivalent of a first year college science course) Extensive lab experiences with formal written lab reports Students take the AP exam at the end of the course and may be eligible for college credit Prerequisite: Mastery (minimum 85 or higher) of corresponding Regents science course or a science teacher recommendation

9. VC Science Electives • Advanced Placement Biology • Major areas of study: molecules and cells, genetics and evolution, organisms and populations • Prerequisite: Mastery of Regents Living Environment and successful completion of (or concurrent enrollment in ) Regents Chemistry

10. VC Science Electives • Advanced Placement Chemistry • Major goal: attain depth of understanding of chemical problems, with emphasis on the mathematical formulation of the principles of chemistry • Major areas of study: structure and states of matter, chemical reactions, descriptive chemistry and extensive lab experiences • Prerequisites: Mastery of Regents Chemistry & Math 11

11. VC Science Electives • Advanced Placement Physics (C) • Major goal: develop an understanding of principles of physics and the ability to apply them in the solution of problems. • Major areas of study: calculus-based Newtonian mechanics (2 dimensional motion, work and energy) • Prerequisites: Mastery of Regents Physics and Math 11

12. Welcome to the High School Science Department Biology Earth Science Chemistry Physics For more information stop by the Science Office: Mr. Fracalossi, Science Supervisor OR speak with your science teacher or guidance counselor

13. English choices 2011-2012

14. College Credit Options AP- English Language and Comp. AP- English Literature and Comp. • This course is a college-level course based on the careful reading and analysis of imaginative literature. • This course is a college-level course based on helping students to become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of contexts and to become skilled writers. All students in AP will be expected to sit for the AP Examination in May. Valley Central grade and credit will be awarded in June, however, students may be eligible for college credit depending on their AP Examination score in July -subject to the policy of their selected college or university.

15. College Credit Options College English 101/102- SUNY • This course is a college-level course that emphasizes student practice in expository writing and library skills. Reading and class discussion center on the formal and informal essay and the research paper. • Valley Central grade and credit will be awarded in January and June, however, students may be eligible for up to 6 college credits depending on the policy of their selected college or university. • FEE REQUIRED and textbooks must be purchased.

16. Elective Choices- Shakespeare-The Shakespeare elective is designed to provide extensive reading and analysis of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. The course is created to stimulate the student's enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare. Public Speaking-This course is offered to those students wishing to better participate in public speaking. It will provide the necessary training to enable the student to speak in public with positive self-adequacy. The course requires active participation and provides excellent preparation for successful adult-world communication.

17. Contemporary Issues in Literature-This is a course for students who want to read compelling literature and discuss how it relates to real life. Students will examine contemporary novels, short stories and poetry that express voices from various cultures and social backgrounds. Journalism-Journalism introduces students to the many styles and principles of responsible journalism. Students learn several types of news and are required to produce, edit and publish the school newspaper. The course provides hands-on experience with the world of communications and allows students to work under deadline conditions.

18. Creative Writing – This course is designed to motivate students who would like to write fearlessly and with confidence. Students will try their hands at poetry, short stories, playwriting and other genres to give each student a taste of the world of writing. Video Production-In this project-based course, students will learn the basics of concept development, scriptwriting, production planning, photographic composition, camera techniques, lighting design, sound design, and digital editing. Quality work from the class will be shown at VC’s annual film festival and on VC’s emerging television station.  

19. VCHS Math Department Why take Math? Which course is for me? December, 2010

20. 3 Math Credits • In order to graduate high school in New York State… • You MUST earn at least 3 credits in Math • Algebra • Geometry • Mathematics in Action • Algebra II and Trigonometry

21. College? • If you are planning to go to college… • DON’T go without math in your senior year! You will have to take a placement test when you get to college. If you don’t do well, you will have to take a remedial math class that you pay for but does not get you any credit.

22. Senior Math Electives • College Prep Math –for non-Math or Science majors • Pre Calculus • College Algebra – 3 OCCC credits & College Trigonometry – 3 OCCC credits • AP Calculus AB

23. Other Math Electives

24. Probability & Statistics • This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the persuasiveness of probability and statistics in today’s society and the means to use the concepts and formulas to problem solve. Topics included are data collection techniques, calculating probabilities, data distributions, hypothesis testing, regression and analysis, expected values, conditional probability, binomial and normal distribution, data analysis (random sampling and sampling distribution), and measures of association.

25. VCHS Social Studies Department ElectivesCollege Course Offerings & AP Courses

26. Social Studies Electives

27. Many of the questions that fascinate us are questions about people’s behavior in groups. Sociology is a one semester elective on the study of group life and provides a perspective on the world – a lens in which to examine the link between personal experience, families, friendships and society at large. This course provides an excellent foundation for Sociology classes in college. • What makes for a stable family? • What causes racism? • Why is itmore likely that one person will help another when there are less people around and less likely when there are more people around? How does gender influence your decisions?

28. Why do you make the choices you do? How does your brain influence your personality? Why do you dream? Why do you have reflexes? How can you tell when people are lying? Are criminals born or made? Psychology is a one semester electiveon the study of the human mind and behavior. Major topics include: the brain, abnormal psychology, psychological theories and experimentation, sleep and consciousness, perception, emotion, intelligence, memory, defense mechanisms, child psychology, stress and more. Psychology teaches us to help understand ourselves and others and provides an excellent foundation for the study of Psychology in college. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. -Abraham Maslow

29. American Law • What are your rights if you’re pulled over? • What happens at a crime scene? • American Law is a one semester elective. It is the study of criminal law, juvenile law and your rights and responsibilities as a citizen. Meet and discuss issues with police officers and other law enforcement personnel.

30. College Courses & AP Courses

31. The Holocaust in HistoryAlbany State University: 3 credits “…In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart” --Anne Frank The Holocaust stands out as perhaps the greatest example of evil, or of human inhumanity in history. The Holocaust is History is a one semester college course. Students explore the many aspects of the Holocaust. At the completion of this college course students will receive three (3) credits from Albany State University.

32. Medieval & Renaissance EuropeSUNY Orange: 3 credits Medieval & Renaissance Europe is a one semester college course that deals with the Medieval and Renaissance periods in European History. The course begins with the post-Roman world and ends with the Protestant Reformation. At the completion of this course students will receive three (3) college credits from SUNY Orange.

33. Modern Europe SUNY Orange: 3 credits Modern Europe is a one semester college course that emphasizes the social, economic, cultural and political development in Europe from the 19th century to current day. At the completion of this course students will receive three (3) college credits from SUNY Orange.

34. National Government SUNY Orange: 3 credits A survey of the U.S. political system at the national level the constitutional framework, examination of the presidency, congress, federal bureaucracy, judicial structure, political parties, interest groups, the media, and current public issues. At the completion of this one semester course students will receive three (3) college credits from SUNY Orange.

35. Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Gain the edge in college preparation. Stand out in the college admission process! You can gain as much as six (6) college credits to transfer into college. AP US History offers a course and exam in US History to qualified students who wish to complete studies in high school equivalent to an introductory college course in US History. AP US History is a full year course. You can gain as much as six (6) college credits to transfer into college.