Dublin High School Growth Brings 19 New Classes for 2015-16 School Year

As Dublin High School students make course selections for the 2015-16 school year, they’ll have 19 more courses to choose from. Dublin High’s Advanced Placement program is expanding along with visual and performing arts, language programs, athletics, applied arts, life sciences and social studies. The current Dublin High School course catalog is available here. [UPDATED: 2-3-2015 Three additional classes including AP Computer Science A and two additional ROP classes were added since this article was originally published bringing the total to 19 news classes.]

A summary of the new 2015-16 courses are available below:

AP STUDIO ART- INDEPENDENT STUDY

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in Intermediate Drawing and Painting or teacher approval
• Graduation: Elective credit

This class does not follow a single model curriculum which is in keeping with an introductory-level studio art class.  Instead students will produce work for a portfolio to be submitted for the AP test.  The portfolio requirements are structured so that students not only retain freedom to pursue individual art making concerns in a concentration of work, but also high-quality work that addresses a breadth of approaches.  Students will produce work both at home and in class, and that work will be critiques by faculty and their peers.

ADVANCED VIDEO PRODUCTION

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Length: 1 Year
• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Video Production or a student who has published work that can be viewed by instructor
• Graduation: Fulfills Fine/Applied Arts requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC Visual or Performing Arts requirement (pending)

This advanced class is designed for students to achieve the next level type of editing in video production.  This includes working with after effects as a video editing tool.  Students will also be able to work in independent film making and the process of film making as well as public service announcements.

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT I

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Completed Video Production or have experience working in drama and/or set design
• Graduation: Fulfills Applied/Fine Arts requirement

Students will be able to learn the studio production side of television, and understand the production that goes in to creating a broadcast, movie or studio show. They will learn how to develop studio and set design and create graphics and scripts using  both the character generator as well as the text generator.  Production Management will also allow students to work hands-on in our Control Room which includes audio and video boards as well as our digital playback systems

FASHION & INTERIORS

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: none
• Graduation: Fulfills Applied Arts requirement

Students will learn design concepts involving interior design, home construction & household furnishings and apparel. Students will study the history of design in fashion and interiors and architectural styles. Students will understand how elements and principles of design are used to create aesthetically pleasing living environments and garments. Students will design rooms & homes through design boards and construct garments and home furnishing accessories. There will be an emphasis on building skills and confidence in reading and following directions, as well as clothing construction techniques. Careers in housing, interior design, and fashion design will also be investigated.

SPEED AND STRENGTH TRAINING

• Grade level: 10-12
• Prerequisite: Coach or Lead Teacher Recommendation
• Graduation: Fulfills one semester PE requirement

This class is designed to provide an opportunity for Dublin High School Athletes to participate in Off Season strength and conditioning. This class is geared toward students who show above average interest and ability in physical education through participation on an athletic team. This class will prepare Athletes who are out of season for the fitness, strength, agility, proprioception, and speed that they will need to be a successful Dublin High School athlete. Course will specifically work on sport specific fitness drills to better prepare our Dublin High School athletes to compete at the highest level.

ATHLETICS

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Prerequisite: Coach or Lead Teacher Recommendation
• Graduation: Fulfills one semester PE requirement

Dublin High School athletes have the opportunity to build athletic time in to their day by signing up for Athletics during period six of the semester that their sport is in season. Listed below are the sports offered each season. Athletes are strongly encouraged to sign up for Athletics if their sport travel necessitates that they miss significant class time. Those sports are designed with an asterisk *. We encourage all athletes to consider this course if their academic load allows it. Please check with coach to see how that time period will be utilized.

• First Semester –   Fall Sports: Cross Country *, Football, Girls Golf*, Volleyball*, Girls Tennis*
• Second Semester–   Winter: Boys/Girls Basketball, Boys/Girls Soccer, Wrestling
• Spring: Baseball *, Swimming *, Boys / Girls Lacrosse, Softball *, Track / Field*, Boys Tennis* Boys Golf*

HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS (PROJECT LEAD THE WAY)

• Grade level: 10-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology and have an interest in the medical field
• Graduation: Fulfills life science requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC “d” lab science requirement

Students will examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homoeostasis. Students will design experiments, investigate the structures and functions of the human body, and use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflexes, voluntary action and respiration. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a mannequin, work through interesting real world cases and often play the roles of biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries.

THE WILD WEST

• Grade Level: 11-12
• Length: 1 semester
• Prerequisite:  None
• Graduation: Fulfills elective requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC elective requirement  (pending)

This class will discuss the Settling of the American West.  All the Big Names including :Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickok, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Billy The Kid will be there.  All the Big Events including The Donner Party, The Alamo, The Plains Indians Wars, The Gold Rush, Custer’s Last Stand, Range Wars and The Gunfight at the OK Corral.  This class will have it all-Mountain Men, Trailblazers, Cowboys, Prospectors, Sodbusters, Native Americans, Sheriffs, Gunfighters and Outlaws.  This class will be everything American History should be and never is.

AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Length: One year
• Prerequisites: Completion with satisfactory grades of previous year’s history and English classes
• Graduation: Fulfills elective requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC college prep elective, weighted course

This is an introductory level college course in human geography that’s purpose is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students will learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice, like maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Successful completion of ASL I
• Graduation: Fulfills Foreign Language requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC Foreign Language requirement (pending)

Students will further develop the conversational and cultural behaviors necessary to hold a conversation with native ASL users. Along with in-class dialogue practice and homework, students will sign skits, children’s stories, and attend out-of-class functions.

CHINESE MANDARIN 2 FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Must be a native Mandarin speaker and/or fluent in Mandarin, assessment required
• Graduation: Fulfills Foreign Language requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC Foreign Language requirement (pending)

This accelerated course is designed for native speakers and will cover the same course material as regular Mandarin 2 and 3.  The equivalent of the level 2 curriculum will be covered first semester and the equivalent of the level 3 curriculum will be covered the second semester.  Students will also be exposed to a greater amount of literature than the regular levels.

DANCE

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: None
• Graduation: Fulfills Fine Arts requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC Visual or Performing Arts requirement (PENDING)

This course is designed as a two semester, introductory course that provides students with a foundation in dance.  Students will begin to develop technical strength through the basic skills of ballet, tap, jazz, folk-ethnic and creative (modern) movement. Elements of dance history, genre, terminology, critical analysis and performance will be covered.

BEGINNING VOCAL MUSIC

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Course Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: None
• Graduation: Fulfills Fine Arts Requirement
• College Prep: UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts credit pending

Beginning Vocal Music focuses on music and performance skills from a variety of historical periods and musical styles and genres. Students will develop a working knowledge of beginning singing techniques, music theory and music history, and be introduced to the ability to independently rehearse, evaluate and refine and perform their stage performance skills. Participation in Beginning Vocal Music includes required attendance at evening and weekend rehearsals, community performance, and competitions and festivals. Although there will be additional costs involved, fundraising opportunities will be available. This course may be repeated for credit.

INTERMEDIATE VOCAL MUSIC

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Course Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Beginning Vocal Music.
• Graduation: Fulfills Fine Arts Requirement
• College Prep: UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts credit pending

Intermediate Vocal Music is a continuation of Beginning Vocal Music, and is for the student not interested in, or not fully prepared for, the additional responsibilities of Advanced Vocal Music Honors. It focuses on music and performance skills from a variety of historical periods and musical styles and genres. Students will continue to develop a working knowledge of beginning singing techniques, music theory and music history, and the ability to independently rehearse, evaluate and refine and perform their stage performance skills. Participation in Intermediate Vocal Music includes required attendance at evening and weekend rehearsals, community performance, and competitions and festivals. Although there will be additional costs involved, fundraising opportunities will be available. This course may be repeated for elective credit.

HONORS ADVANCED VOCAL MUSIC

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Course Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Beginning Vocal Music, Intermediate Vocal Music or Show Choir, audition, and permission of instructor.
• Graduation: Fulfills Fine Arts Requirement
• College Prep: Weighted UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts credit pending

Advanced Vocal Music focuses on challenging music, quality literature and professional performance skills of Traditional/Classical music. Students will develop a working knowledge of advanced singing techniques, music theory and music history, and focus on the ability to independently rehearse, evaluate and refine and perform their stage performance skills. In addition, students will create update and maintain an electronic portfolio that will become their professional performance resume at the conclusion of the course. Included in this portfolio will be recordings of 4 pieces prepared for auditions: each quarter, students will select an appropriate solo to analyze, interpret, rehearse, evaluate and refine. A research paper that explains the pieces history and significance will accompany the recording. Participation in Advanced Vocal Music includes required attendance at evening and weekend rehearsals, community performance, and competitions and festivals. Although there will be additional costs involved, fundraising opportunities will be available. This course may be repeated for elective credit.

HONORS SHOW CHOIR

• Grade Level: 9-12
• Course Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Previous and/or concurrent enrollment in another music ensemble (Beginning Vocal Music, Intermediate Vocal Music, Advanced Vocal Music, Advanced Band or Orchestra), audition, and permission of instructor.
• Co-requisite: Preference will be given to those students concurrently enrolled in Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced Vocal Music.
• Graduation Requirements: Fulfills Fine Arts Requirement
• College Prep: Weighted UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts credit pending

Show Choir is a group of singer/dancers and instrumentalists performing Pop/Broadway style music. Students will develop a working knowledge of the fundamentals of Pop/Broadway style music, movement and theatrical performance, and focus on the ability to independently rehearse, evaluate and refine and perform their stage performance skills. In addition, students will create update and maintain an electronic portfolio that will become their professional stage performance resume at the conclusion of the course. Included in this portfolio will be recordings of 4 pieces prepared for auditions: each quarter, students will select an appropriate solo to analyze, interpret, rehearse, evaluate and refine. A research paper that explains the pieces history and significance will accompany the recording. Participation in Show Choir includes required attendance at evening and weekend rehearsals, community performance, and competitions held across the United States. Although there will be additional costs involved, fundraising opportunities will be available. This course may be repeated for elective credit.

ROP PERSONAL FINANCE

• Grade Level: 11-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: none
• Graduation: Elective credit

Personal Finance is a course designed to help students understand the impact of individual choices on occupational goals and future earnings potential. Real world topics covered will include income, money management, spending and credit, as well as saving and investing. Students will design personal and household budgets; simulate use of checking and savings accounts; demonstrate knowledge of finance, debt, and credit management; and evaluate and understand insurance and taxes. This course will provide a foundational understanding for making informed personal financial decisions.

ROP CONSTRUCTION MATH

• Grade Level: 11-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: None
• Graduation: Elective credit

This course follows guidelines from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). There are eight modules: Basic Safety, Construction Math, Introduction to Hand Tools, Blueprints, Basic Rigging, Basic Communication Skills, and Basic Employment skills. The modules will be completed by the end of the school year. A large portion of this course will be spent on the mathematical operations commonly used in construction. Students will learn how the metric system and geometry are used in the trade and apply these concepts through hands on learning experiences.

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A

• Grade Level: 10-12
• Length: 1 year
• Prerequisite: Concurrently enrolled in Geometry or higher, teacher recommendation
• Graduation: Fulfills elective requirement
• College Prep: Fulfills CSU/UC “g” elective credit, weighted grade

What makes this course interesting?  Learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society, including art, media, and engineering Learn to apply programming tools and solve complex problems through hands-on experiences and examples.  Computer Science A emphasizes object-oriented programming methodology with an emphasis on problem solving and algorithm development and is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester college course in computer science. It also includes the study of data structures and abstraction.  This course covers the following topics: Program implementation, program analysis, standard data structures, standard algorithms, and computing in context.