Nondepartmental Courses

Year Course

Yearbook
The first semester of this course has as its goal the production of Postscript, the school yearbook. The second semester is spent working on the edition for the following year. Students take part in interviewing, writing copy, selecting and cropping pictures, and designing layouts. The photographers must be able to cover activities during the school day, in the evening, and on weekends. (Considerable work is required outside of class.) No previous experience is necessary. Graded on an Honors/Credit/No Credit basis.

Semester Courses

Newspaper
The primary purpose of the newspaper, The Banner, is to provide a means of communication concerning student interests, issues, and campus news. Staff reporters are encouraged to report on topics of personal interest or involvement. In addition to responsibilities as staff reporters, all editors are involved in design, layout, and editing of The Banner. No previous experience is necessary. Graded on an Honors/Credit/No Credit basis.

Vocabulary
This course has been designed to prepare students for the two verbal sections of the new SAT I, Reading Comprehension and Writing. Since a rich vocabulary is necessary for SAT mastery, students are required to learn the meanings and uses of advanced vocabulary words. Also, students learn SAT test-taking strategies as well as practice the various types of questions on the new SAT I. Reading comprehension, grammar, and writing skills are reviewed and practiced. In addition, students read and discuss the rubric used to evaluate the new SAT timed essay. Students then write timed essays which are evaluated by both the writer and the teacher according to the rubric. A letter grade is awarded upon completion of the course. (Open to grades 10 and 11.)

Problem Solving
This course emphasizes efficient and accurate approaches to solve problems in the areas of number systems, number operations, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics, probability, and data analysis. Selected concepts from the SAT I and SAT II will be covered. This course will be for Credit/No Credit. (Open to grades 10 and 11.)

Senior Project
During the second semester, seniors may elect to create a Senior Project as a sixth or seventh course. This elective is designed by the student and approved by the Director of Studies, Head of the Upper School, and the student's advisor. Seniors who wish to explore a possible career choice, who have a passion for a particular area outside of school, or who want to establish or continue a relationship with a local community service organization should consider developing a Senior Project. Seniors who choose this elective will be responsible for keeping track of their hours and their schedule; missing classes is not an option. Students will also need to work with an off-campus advisor/supervisor. A successful Senior Project will have a minimum of 60 hours of on-site work, a short research and reflection paper (not to exceed 5 pages), and an oral presentation at the conclusion of the project. Detailed information about the Senior Project will be available for students prior to course registration. This course will be Credit/No Credit. (Open to second-semester seniors.)

Quarter Elective

Information Literacy Skills for Ninth Graders
Freshmen will learn to access and evaluate the various resources (print and non-print) available to them from the Cannon Library and from libraries in the community. Students will review the research method and learn how to evaluate, organize, and present information using appropriate (print and digitized) formats. Technological issues of current interest will be explored as they relate to the legal and ethical use of information.