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Course Selection Information Evening

Welcome!

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"To access interpretation services, please click on the globe at the bottom of the screen and select 'Spanish' from the list. You will then hear all the audio in Spanish."

"Para acceder al servicio de interpretación en español, por favor haga click en el globo que aparece en el menú de abajo y seleccione español de la lista de idiomas. Al hacer esto, usted podrá escuchar el audio en español."

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Course Requests:

A Perspective

John Schafer

Schedule Conflicts

Parental Role

Rigor and Balance

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

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Graduation Requirements : Natalie Ford

English: 4 years (seniors must take english both semesters)

Creative Arts: 2 years (Current 9th grade A block course counts towards this requirement) Year and semester long courses available for all skill levels in all disciplines

World Language: 2 consecutive years of the same language, one of which must be INTERMEDIATE level (Spanish, French, Mandarin), or LATIN 3 (Latin)

History: 3 years and research paper in spring of junior year

Mathematics: 3 years (including Algebra 2)

Science: 3 years (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

Physical Education: Freshman rotation + 3 semesters

Community Service: Complete 10 credits each year

MTerm: Pass

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Scheduling Logistics: Natalie Ford

Class of 2024 (Juniors):

will meet with their College Counselor to request classes from March 7th-April 6th

students will receive an email from their CC with details about the meeting and how to schedule

Class of 2025 (Sophomores):

able to meet with a college counselor if they have any questions related to their courses during dedicated office hours for sophomores on March 3rd

will be requesting classes with their academic advisor from March 7th - April 6th

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CREATIVE ARTS

PERFORMING

Orchestra

Jazz Band

Vocal

Drama

Dance

VISUAL

Studio Art

Moviemaking

Photography

Digital Animation

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Year Long Courses

*courses in blue require a prerequisite or permission from teacher

Art 1: Foundations
Art 2: Advanced Art
Art 3: Topics in Fine Arts
AP Art, 2D, 3D, Drawing

Chamber Orchestra
Jazz Band
AP Music Theory

Vocal Exploration
Knight Singers

Dance I
Dance II
Choreography Workshop

Moviemaking 1
Moviemaking 2: Advanced Moviemaking

Animation 1
Animation 2, 3
Photo 1
Photo 2, 3

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Semester Long Courses

*courses in blue require a prerequisite or permission from teacher

Moviemaking 2: Advanced Moviemaking
Dance I
Dance II
Tap Dance
Push Play

Drama ON-Stage
Drama OFF-Stage
Musical Theatre
Photo 2, 3
Production: Page to Spieker Stage

Some of these classes can be taken fall AND spring to meet the year-long arts requirement.

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World Language:

Language Requirement for Graduation:

Two consecutive years of the same language,

and one of those two years must be at

level 3 of that language,.

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World Language: French, Spanish, Mandarin

Your child’s class THIS YEAR	Your child’s class NEXT YEAR	Language Class Progression
Level 1	Level 2 (required)	Advanced Topics Level 5 in Mandarin Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1(French, Spanish, Latin) Mandarin does NOT offer a Foundations 1 course *Honors option course
Level 2	Level 3 (required)
Level 3	*Level 4 (required)
Level 4	Level 5 in Mandarin Advanced Topics (required) (Placement in these classes is made by recommendation of current teacher)

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World Language: Latin

Your child’s class THIS YEAR	NEXT YEAR	Latin class progression
Latin 1	Latin 2 (required)	Advanced Topics Latin 4 Latin 3 Latin 2 Latin 1 Honors option course
Latin 2	*Latin 3
Latin 3	Latin 4
Latin 4	Advanced Topics in Latin (Honors)
Also possible to add a 2nd language as an Elective

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World Language: What is ‘Honors’ or ‘Honors Option’?

Applies only to the following levels: French, Mandarin, Spanish 4 Advanced Topics Latin 3 Advanced Topics	The decision to take to take one of these as an Honors class is a collaborative one, made between student and his/her new teacher in the first 6 weeks of the school year. Once a student is given the ‘honors’ designation, it cannot be changed. Students with ‘honors’ designation are expected: - to communicate in the target language at all times during class (modern languages) - to go beyond the minimum requirements on all assignments - to have better control and accuracy of learned grammatical structures, and to use them spontaneously. - to develop detailed understanding of the language, using evidence from class lectures, readings, and authentic resources (such as news articles, etc.) - to demonstrate strong organizational skills

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Science Electives

Course	Instructor	10th	11th	12th
AP Physics 2*	Deb Jensen	✓	✓	✓
Environmental Science	Chrissy Orangio	✓	✓	✓
Advanced Topics in Chemistry*	Eugenia McCauley		✓	✓
Anatomy & Physiology	Todd Hardie		✓	✓
Advanced Topics in Physics*	James Dann		✓	✓
Advanced Topics in Biology*	Tanya Buxton			✓

Required for graduation:

Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

*Indicates honors course.

Student perspectives: http://tinyurl.com/MenloScienceCourses

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Applied Science & Engineering

Course	Instructor(s)	10th	11th	12th
Intro to Mechanical and Electrical Engineering	Marc Allard James Formato	✓	✓	✓
Sustainable Earth Engineering	James Dann	✓	✓	✓
Neuroscience	Cristina Weaver	✓	✓	✓
Design & Architecture †	Marc Allard	✓	✓	✓
Experimental Archaeology (fall or spring)	David Spence	✓	✓	✓
Applied Entrepreneurship	Marc Allard		✓	✓
Applied Science Research*	James Dann		✓	✓
Biotechnology Research*, ††	Tanya Buxton			✓

Student perspectives http://tinyurl.com/MenloScienceCourses

*Indicates honors course. †Satisfies Yearlong Arts Requirement. †† Requires application, contact the instructor.

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Two Great Options: SEE vs. EnvSci

Sustainable Earth Engineering	Environmental Science
Water Engineering Plastics and Climate Change Analysis of Energy Historical Solutions Future Innovations	History and Policy Environmental Activism Basic Science
An Engineering class Hands-on Tool training in Whitaker Prototyping solutions Project based	A Science Class Environmental Chem and Bio Labs Field work Classroom discussions. Content and Research based
Satisfies IP for: Global Scholars, Applied Science	General Science Elective

Student perspectives: http://tinyurl.com/MenloScienceCourses

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Read Student Perspectives:

Student perspectives: http://tinyurl.com/MenloScienceCourses

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English: Rachel A. Blumenthal

Junior Year:

AP Literature (fiction)
AP Language (non-fiction)
English 3: “Rebels” (fic/non-fic/film/+)
Additional Opportunity: juniors may take a senior seminar in addition to their yearlong course if it is not at capacity. Sign-ups in the fall.

Senior Year:

Senior Seminars (honors and non-honors option)
or an opportunity to take an AP if your student took English 3 in 11th grade

Additional Opportunities:

English TA Indep. Study
Writing Center: Peer Tutoring
LitMag
Menlo Roundtable
And more! We are eager to collaborate with your students.

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Senior English Seminars: Must take at least 1 each semester

Fall

Dystopian Fiction & Film
Shakespeare Now (H)
The Gothic South (H)
Modernist Poetry Workshop (H)
Café Society: Paris in the ‘20s-’30s
Medicine and Narrative
East Asian Pop Culture: Anime, Kung Fu, and K-Pop
On Being
Odysseys

Spring

Lyric & Lifeline
Global Mythologies: the Journey Inward
Fairy Tales: Reinventing the Spinning Wheel
The Art of the Essay
Poetry Workshop
Delight: Celebrating the Small Wonders of Life
Science Fiction and the Classics
Investigations
Literature and Science

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History: Carmen Borbón

Juniors: MUST take a fall AND spring History elective. All electives offer an honors option for motivated students. (No prerequisites)

U.S. Electives

American Issues
Ethnic Studies I & II
U.S. Economic History
U.S. Foreign Policy
Current Affairs

Global Electives

Global Issues
Modern Middle East
Navigating Decolonization
Refugees & Forced Migration
Caliphs to Coffee

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History: Carmen Borbón

Humanities/Social Sciences

Humanities I & II
Philosophy I & II
Modern Political Rhetoric
Gender & Queer Studies
Pursuit of Happiness
Economics
Environmental Economics

Yearlong AP Electives

European History
U.S. Government
Prerequisites apply

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Menlo Upper School Math Offerings

Integrated Geometry & Algebra (IGA)

Analytic Geometry & Algebra (AGA)

Analytic Geometry & Algebra (H) (AGAH)

Algebra 2

Algebra 2 with Trigonometry

Algebra 2 with Trigonometry (H)

Precalculus

Introductory Calculus

Introductory Calculus (H)

Calculus

AP AB �Calculus

AP BC �Calculus

AP Statistics

Advanced Topics in Math

Statistics

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Next Math Course:

10^th graders recommended for the next appropriate level for 11^th grade. If students are unaware of their next math course, they should talk with their teacher.
11^th graders: Precalculus → Calculus

Introductory Calculus → AP Calculus AB

Introductory Calculus Honors → AP Calculus BC

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Statistics Options:

After taking Honors Algebra 2 or any of the Junior level classes, students may enroll in Statistics.

Students who have completed Algebra 2 Honors, Introductory Calculus, or Introductory Calculus Honors can enroll in AP Statistics. Students who have completed Precalculus with an A year end grade also can enroll with permission of the precalculus instructor and the Mathematics Department Chair.

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Other Math Options:

Advanced Topics in Mathematics is a course for students who have completed Introductory Calculus Honors or AP Calculus BC. Students may enroll in this course more than once, as topics alternate each year. Students engage in a study of topics from multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, discrete math, and number theory.

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Computer Science @ Menlo

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CS1: Introduction to Computer Science�Assuming no previous CS experience, CS1 introduces you to the study of CS and the art of programming. Problem sets integrate the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

App Design & Development: Learn how to build apps that solve real problems for real people! The course focuses on iOS app programming. Prereq: CS1

CS2: AP Computer Science A�CS2 dives deeper into the field of computer science. Students create various projects throughout the course, including video games with keyboard and mouse input. Prereq: CS1

Adv. Topics in CS: Tackle applications of computer science such as AI, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, and more! Prereq: CS2. Can be taken twice.

Questions?

Ask Zach Blickensderfer:

zblickensderfer@menloschool.org

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But wait, there’s more

Other electives:

Yearbook 1: Publication Design

Yearbook 2: Advanced Publication Design

Yearbook 3: Publication Design Leadership

Introduction to Journalism

Advanced Journalism

Journalism Leadership (w/Honors option)

IP Capstone (H)

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Menlo IP

Interdisciplinary and Personalized Scholars Program

The Menlo IP program is a new way for students to engage in a distinguished plan of studies during their junior and senior years.

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Global Online Academy

Online courses; will appear on transcript; grade included in Menlo GPA

www.globalonlineacademy.org

Courses Include:

Entrepreneurial Leadership
Graphic Design
Global Health
Positive Psychology
Game Theory
Arabic
9/11 in a Global Context
Applying Philosophy to Modern Global Issues

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Questions?