Electives
ART
In grades 9-12, visual arts students use art to explore how they see, hear, and feel in the world around them. Art is the primary signature of a culture carrying individual and collective images and ideas from one generation to another. Throughout the coursework, students appreciate various art movements. They begin to explore career paths and learn about the industries that require art and design experience. In High School, project-based work encompasses real-world applications and strategy building upon foundations learned in middle school.
Elective classes are offered for the 11th and 12th grades in either (or both) Advanced Art and Graphic Design (using professional-grade software).
Electives for Grades 11 and 12
Students of the 11th and 12th grades are offered several Elective Options. Electives are full-credit subjects, which allow students to choose subjects that they have a particular interest in and will advance their journey to higher education.
Principles of Engineering (STEM) Elective
Students who opt to take STEM may take it as a one or two-year course. The students learn to observe the world around them through the lens of seeking problems in need of solutions. They study scientific principles related to electricity and mechanics, computer science topics, and coding. Students learn that a system comprises inputs, processing, and outputs and study the Arduino microcontroller as an example of a system whose inputs, processes, and outputs they can define and control. In the second half of the course, students choose a problem to address and apply their learning to design and build their solutions. Throughout the course, our students work in collaborative groups where they learn to communicate effectively, conduct research, provide feedback, and hold productive discussions leading to effective decision-making.
Students create innovative, original projects and participate in the annual CIJE STEM fair in South Florida. Past projects included a sensor that alerts the parents when their child has been left in a vehicle, an ID lock for a purse, a hot water shut-off valve, and the like. Future projects are limited only by the student’s imagination.
Test Prep
The course is designed to help students increase their performance on the high-stakes SAT and ACTs through practice, practice, and more practice. Students learn the techniques of test taking and the actual knowledge being assessed.
Advanced Art/Art History
The topics included in this course are Recognition of art through the ages, drawing with a focus on linear quality, shading, and values, drawing with a focus on gesture, line quality, shading, color, value, portraiture, composition, perspective, painting, collage, and personal expression. Students also master the techniques of classical drawing, 3-dimensional object definition, foreground/background, line shading, and color.
AP Psychology
A college-level course, AP Psychology introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.
Criminology
Criminology, with a focus on sociology, delves into the study of criminal behavior, its causes, and the societal impact of crime. Students explore the interplay between individual actions and broader social structures, examining how factors such as poverty, inequality, and social disorganization can influence criminality. The curriculum emphasizes the application of sociological theories, including strain theory, social control theory, and labeling theory, to understand the complexities of deviance and crime. Furthermore, students are encouraged to critically analyze the role of institutions, such as the family, education, and the criminal justice system, in shaping and responding to criminal behavior within diverse communities. Practical case studies and research methodologies are integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted relationship between criminology and sociology.
Life Skills Seminar
This newly designed course for seniors will prepare them for life after high school. Topics include financial management, relationship building, business building, and maintaining health and happiness. The students will also take special trips to our local resources to learn about life in our South Florida community. In the spring, the students can participate in internships they are interested in.
FLVS (Florida Virtual School)
Students may opt to take advanced classes through the Florida Virtual School and receive high school credit towards graduation.
Senior Project
In addition to their coursework in 12th grade, every senior is working on a yearlong independent study on a topic in which they are interested. At the end of the school year, the students will have to present a written journal of their project, as well as demonstrate what skills and knowledge they have gained by doing this particular project.