CONY HIGH SCHOOL
2007-2008
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
The Program of Studies has been prepared to assist students in planning their academic programs. Although all efforts are made to provide the most current information, changes in policies and procedures in the upcoming year may not be reflected in this publication.
The selection of classes is perhaps the most important educational decision a student makes each year. Postsecondary educational and career opportunities following high school graduation are in large part determined by the course of studies completed during high school.
The Program of Studies contains graduation requirements, course of study recommendations, descriptions of individual classes, and a useful worksheet to help plan your four years at Cony High School. Each student’s academic history, along with the courses taken and their credit values, are recorded on a transcript, which is used to report a student’s high school history to employers, the military, or colleges.
It is the student’s responsibility to read this booklet and be aware of graduation requirements. The counselors will make every effort to see that all students are properly scheduled, but the ultimate responsibility for meeting all graduation requirements belongs to the student. Final program selection must be approved by the counselor or the principal.
In order to offer the greater personalization of a smaller school while preserving the academic and extracurricular advantages of a larger school, freshmen and sophomores are grouped into two multi-age houses. Juniors and seniors are assigned to an upper level house. Teachers are assigned to one of the three houses in order to foster professional collaboration and maximize inderdisciplinary curriculum possibilities.
The mission of the Advisor/Advisee system is to provide students with a secure environment and access to information that may enhance their educational experience. Advisors will advocate for and encourage students to achieve their highest potential and become responsible members of the school community.
Each year, advisors work on a variety of topics by grade:
Freshmen – Personal/Social/Academic Success Skills
Sophomore – Career exploration and Study Skills
Junior – Postsecondary exploration and Study Skills
Senior – Postsecondary finalization, graduation and community involvement i.e., “giving back to the school”
The Cony High School Guidance Department offers a variety of services that support Cony’s Mission Statement, including assistance in academic planning. Parents and students should look over the four year academic planning worksheets in this Program of Studies and contact their guidance counselor if they have questions. Counselors are assigned by House, and alphabetically, by students’ last names, as follows:
House 1 Freshmen and Sophomores
A – D Mr. Tom McNeil
E – L Mrs. Bonnie Dushin
House 2 Freshmen and Sophomores
M – Pl Ms. Helen Renko
Po – Z Mr. Gregory Henderson
Juniors and Seniors in House 3 are assigned to a counselor by the same alphabetical structure. Doing so allows students to stay with the same counselor throughout their high school career.
The Guidance department maintains a web site, which can be reached by accessing the Cony HS web page, and clicking on Guidance. www.augustaschools.org
Cony operates on an eight period schedule. Our current bell schedule calls for all eight periods on Mondays, and four eighty-minute classes Tuesday through Friday, on an alternating odd/even schedule. (Tuesday and Thursday are odd-numbered classes – RED DAY, and Wednesday and Friday are even-numbered classes – WHITE DAY.)
The following is the minimum course load required by grade, for each semester:
Grade 9 - seven classes
Grade 10 – seven classes
Grade 11 – six classes
Grade 12 – five classes
¶Only fifth year students, i.e., those students who have not earned a high school diploma in four years, whose class has graduated, may return to Cony as part-time students and enroll in the subjects necessary to earn their diploma. All other students must be enrolled full-time each semester according to the above distribution.
Students registering for classes must meet the requirements specified in the subject description outlined in the Program of Studies or receive permission from the subject teacher and appropriate department head.
To sign up for classes, students complete a registration sheet, and obtain the appropriate recommendations from their current teachers. The registration sheet should then be reviewed by the student along with his/her parent(s), signed by the parent(s), and then returned to their homeroom advisor by the requested deadline.
Registration Sheets returned past deadline, or without appropriate signatures, will be processed AFTER those returned on time. Please note that a late registration could cause a student to be closed out of a class.
After the initial registration process, schedule changes will only be made with the approval of parents and department heads, and the recommendations of teachers and guidance. Schedule change forms are available in the guidance office.
Tentative class schedules for the upcoming academic year are distributed near the close of the school year. Each student should closely examine his/her course request to ensure that it is correct, and that he/she has at least the minimum number of classes scheduled for each semester. If there is a problem, students must make an appointment with their guidance counselor to resolve the problem. Schedule changes will only be made for the following reasons:
1. Strengthening of a program by adding a subject;
2. Failure of a preceding course in a sequence. For example, if a student fails English as a freshman and doesn’t make up the class in summer school, then freshman English must be repeated before a student may take sophomore English;
3. Recommendation by an IEP (Individual Education Plan) or a staffing;
4. Successful completion of a course during summer school;
5. Being assigned a teacher with whom the student has failed;
6. Teacher recommendation;
7. Student request, with approval of teacher, department head, guidance and parent.
Schedule change requests will NOT be considered for the following reasons:
1. Changing from one teacher to another in the same subject and program;
2. Changing a lunch period;
3. To free up either the afternoon or morning;
4. To be with friends.
At the start of each semester, there will be a designated Add/Drop period when students may change their course assignments without reflecting a grade. Changes are based upon availability, space and teacher approval. Second semester Add/Drop applies only to second semester half-credit classes.
In order to graduate from Cony High School, a student must have earned at least 24 credits in the following areas:
SUBJECT # of YEARS # of credits
English 4 years 4
Mathematics 3 years 3
Science 3 years 3
U.S. History 1 year 1
Global Insights 1 year 1
Civics* 1 semester ½
Econ. Found. 1 semester ½
Physical Ed. 2 semesters 1
Health 1 semester ½
Fine Arts** 1 year 1
Community Service 20 hours over 4 years
* A year of Government will satisfy the semester of Civics requirement.
**The Fine Arts requirement may be met by one year of Band or Chorale, one year of Art I, OR two one-semester classes of either Music Concepts, Jazz Improv., Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Drawing 1 or 2, Painting, Sculpture, Intro. to Theatre, Speech, or American Popular Music. For the Class of 2008, Speech is a required Fine Arts class, along with an additional ½ Fine Arts credit.
Please note that these are minimum graduation requirements. Depending upon their postsecondary plans, students should choose the optimum number of credits and academic courses to meet expectations of either four or two year colleges, or employers. The worksheet (Chart) provided on the last page will help students and parents make appropriate plans for their four years at Cony.
Four-year colleges – Most colleges require the following courses for admission:
aFour years of college preparatory or honors/AP
English.
A minimum of :
athree years of college preparatory or honors/AP mathematics (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2,);
athree years of college preparatory, advanced or honors lab science (usually Biology, Chemistry, Physics);
atwo or three years of college preparatory or Honors/AP social science (usually Global Insights, U.S. History, Government, and/or World History);
atwo to three years of a world/classical language in a single language.
Two-year community colleges – Carefully check the admission requirements for the program in which you are interested. It is also recommended that students take advantage of the Capital Area Technical Center (CATC) programs that relate to their interest area. Most two-year colleges require the following courses:
afour years of college preparatory or Technical English;
aminimum of three years of mathematics (usually
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2);
aSome community colleges may require a minimum of three years of science, particularly physics.
Employment – Students must complete all requirements for a Cony High School diploma. It is strongly recommended that students selecting this path attend the Capital Area Technical Center (CATC) during their junior and/or senior years. The CATC experience will help students to develop interests, aptitudes and skills that will enable them to more effectively compete in the workforce.
FOUR-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHEET
The worksheet at the end of this book will help you plan your four years at Cony High School. It shows the required number of credits needed in each subject area, along with a recommended time-line for taking those credits.
In the boxes for each subject, you may choose courses from the Program of Studies to meet your requirements, and write them in below the subject. This way, you can easily plan out your high school career, making sure to fit in requirements and electives. Classes that receive ½ credits are half-year classes.
Although World/Classical Languages are not a requirement for graduation, MOST four-year colleges, as well as the Augusta School Department, recommend two to three years of the same language.
In order for a student to advance academically toward graduation in four years, it is recommended that the following numbers of credits be earned:
To be considered a Sophomore……….. ………..6 credits
To be considered a Junior ……… ……………..12 credits
To be considered a Senior………. ……………. 17 credits
Students who do not earn the required number of credits may not be able to progress with their class and may need a fifth year of high school in order to graduate.
Students must demonstrate that they have mastered the content standards of the Maine Learning Results (MLR) in order to receive a Cony High School diploma. Such mastery will be assessed through Augusta’s Comprehensive Local Assessment System (LAS), which will include a mix of classroom, district-wide and standardized assessments. Certified teachers will administer the LAS, and their judgments regarding student mastery of the content standards of the MLR will be final.
Students who are interested in exploring an early graduation option should meet with their guidance counselor along with their parents by the end of their sophomore year. Approval for Early Graduation must come from the principal.
Please be aware that Early Graduates cannot participate in Honors parts or be considered for Cony scholarships.
Students who receive an incomplete grade at the end of a quarter will have no more than two (2) weeks to complete work assigned. After that two week period, the quarter grade will be changed to a grade of 50. Students with incomplete grades will not be included in the Honor Roll.
Students who withdraw from a class after the add/drop period will receive a grade of Withdrawal/Passing (WP) if their cumulative grade is passing, and a grade of Withdrawal/Failing (WF) if their cumulative grade is failing, as determined by the teacher.
Summer school is an appropriate time for students to earn credits for failed classes. Students who fail a course must have earned a final grade of at least 50 to be eligible for course make-up in summer school. Half-credit classes, if offered, are the only classes that may be taken during the summer without a prior failure.
Summer course offerings will be based upon enrollment and will have maximum class size limits. Students and/or parents are responsible for tuition costs for summer school.
No more than four (4) credits earned outside the regular Cony High School program may be applied to graduation requirements. This four-credit rule does not apply to transfer or home schooled students. The principal reserves the right to authorize exceptions on a case-by-case basis. All outside programs for credit must be arranged through Guidance and
¶have principal approval. Please note that Augusta Adult Education classes are considered to be outside the regular Cony program.
Outside credit may also be earned through a post-secondary institution such as the University of Maine at Augusta or Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) if the following conditions are met:
a. Students cannot enroll in a course which is offered at Cony without prior approval of the principal.
b. Students are responsible for the cost of the class.
Students may be eligible for tuition reduction or waiver at some institutions. Check with your guidance counselor for information on early college awareness programs.
If a student fails a class, he/she should first attempt to make up the failed course during summer school at Cony High School, if he/she meets the minimum grade requirement. Summer school courses are considered to be part of the regular Cony High School program.
Cony students who attend the Capital Area Technical Center, may take academic classes through the Learning Center at CATC, ONLY if they are unable to schedule those classes at Cony. Please see your guidance counselor for more information. Learning Center courses are considered to be part of the regular Cony program.
AUGUSTA ADULT & COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Please note that Augusta Adult Education classes are considered to be outside the regular Cony program.
Students who are either Juniors or Seniors, and have permission from parent(s) and high school principal, may be able to make up a failed class through Augusta Adult Education (Adult Ed.) if they have not retaken the class through summer school. No more than four (4) classes may be earned through Adult Ed. may be applied toward the credits needed for graduation.
Seniors who fail the first semester of a full year course and who wish to attend Adult Ed. to make up that failed semester must also continue with the course at the high school and successfully complete the second semester along with the Adult Ed. class in order to earn the full credit necessary for graduation.
Students who are at least 17 years old and who wish to transfer their entire educational program to Augusta Adult Education must arrange a meeting that includes their parent/guardian, principal, guidance counselor and Augusta Adult Education director. Adult Education students who complete their program will receive a Cony High School diploma through Augusta Adult Education and may participate in the Augusta Adult Education graduation ceremony.
Advanced Placement Courses (AP) are offered in Government, English, Biology, Physics, Calculus and United States History. Students in AP classes may expect to be given summer assignments.
To receive college credits, students must take the Advanced Placement examinations, which are given each year in May. These examinations are part of the College Board Service, and scores earned on these tests may help students earn credits for college, or admission to upper level courses. College credit received is determined by each college, and will vary from school to school. Although students in an AP class are not required to take the AP tests, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Fee waivers for AP exams are available to students who meet the required income qualifications as per the College Board Service.
Students who are enrolled in Advanced level courses, such as in science and world/classical languages, and who may also be interested in taking the AP tests should confer with their respective teachers and guidance counselors.
Cony High School also offers Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) English senior year. Those students who successfully complete KVCC senior English may receive college English credit through Kennebec Valley Community College. Students must take the Accuplacer Test to qualify for entrance into this class.
Additional opportunities for college credit may be available through the community college system, University of Maine at Augusta, or other area colleges. Please see your guidance counselor for more information.
The honor roll is published quarterly and is based on a minimum of full-time subjects as required for each grade. Students and parents must have submitted a Media Permission Form each year in order to have names released for publication of the Honor Roll. Students who receive Incomplete grades at the time the report cards are issued cannot be included on the Honor Roll.
High Honors All grades 93 or above
Honors All grades 85 or above
In order to qualify for an honors part at graduation, a student must have been in attendance at Cony High School for two full years and may not be exercising the early graduation option.
¶Calculation Of Grade Point Average The final average of every course issuing a numeric grade shall be used in calculating a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). Grades received in each course are multiplied by the credit for each course. The sum of the products is divided by the sum of the credits.
Example of a calculation:
Course Grade Credit Average
English 94 1 94
French 4 93 1 93
Fine Arts 96 ½ 48
Holocaust 98 ½ 49
Physics 97 1 97
Algebra 2 88 1 88
TOTAL 5 469/5=93.8 GPA
Only Honors, AP and advanced courses will be weighted for the sole purpose of determining Rank in Class, which will be computed at the end of the junior year for college applications, and at the end of the third quarter senior year to determine the top 10 students in the graduating class. Students that transfer into Cony High School will only be added to the ranks if/when they have completed two (2) years of schooling at Cony High School. Home schooled students will be ranked when they have completed two (2) years of full-time schooling at Cony High School.
In order for all students to have appropriate opportunities to demonstrate mastery of the Learning Results, Cony High School provides education in core subjects on several program levels. These programs are defined as:
Technical: The Technical program integrates the learning of ideas and concepts with an emphasis on applied principles. These courses prepare students for a two or four-year college degree program or employment. Technical electives may also be chosen that complement a student’s college or career choice.
College Preparatory: All core classes not otherwise designated are college preparatory classes and are heterogeneously mixed.
Honors/Advanced: The Honors/Advanced program promotes in-depth learning of abstract or theoretical concepts at an accelerated pace with an emphasis on critical thinking skills, analysis and synthesis. This rigorous program prepares students for a four-year college degree program.
The Advanced Placement (AP) program is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools, colleges and The College Board. Students in their high schools complete college level courses that prepare them for a national exam. Participating colleges will grant credit, appropriate placement, or both, to students who receive a qualifying score on the AP exam.
The expectations in Honors/Advanced and AP courses are high in terms of quality of work, time and participation. Some may also require summer work. It is recommended that a student take no more than four honors courses in any given year.
The Mission of Cony High School provides diverse opportunities that support success for all students. Students are not restricted to any one program. Students should plan appropriate placements with guidance from counselors, teachers and parents.
COURSE OFFERINGS FOR 2007-2008
All Art classes cover the Maine Learning Results areas of a) creative expression, b) cultural heritage, and c) criticism and aesthetics.
892 ART 1 BEGINNING STUDIO (1 year - 1 credit): This entry level course is the foundation for all advanced art classes. Students will create a variety of projects including drawing, printmaking, sculpture and painting. They will learn to look at and talk about art. Each element and principle of art will be explored through the various studio projects. A student’s individual ability is considered in the evaluation of progress.
897 FINE ARTS (1 semester - .5 credit): This entry level art class for upper level students uses an exploration of the bookmaking process to learn the language of art. The elements and principles will be integrated into each page of the book. Students will also have an opportunity to learn about some of the art from different cultures. Create a personal handmade book that reflects the artist in you. After taking this class, you may continue with other art classes.
895 DRAWING 1 – TWO DIMENSIONAL DESIGN (1 semester - .5 credit): This studio course concentrates on drawing and design skills. It is a strong foundation for further studio experiences. A variety of media and subjects will be explored. Students will learn the elements and principles of art. Improve your drawing abilities using pencils, charcoal, conte and pastels. PREREQUISITE: Art 1 or Fine Arts.
896 DRAWING 2 – TWO DIMENSIONAL DESIGN (1 semester - .5 credit): This class continues portfolio development for students. Drawing and design assignments will include figure, self-portrait, still- and life. Careers in the arts will be explored. An introduction to printmaking skills is part of this course. Verbal and written critiques will help students learn the language of art. Come and learn to
¶improve your drawing skills and try some interesting printing with our printing press. PREREQUISITE: Drawing 1.
891 PAINTING (1 semester - .5 credit): This class will focus on watercolor and acrylic painting techniques. Students will learn color theory and how to stretch their own canvases. Verbal and written critiques will help students learn the language of art. In addition, students will learn the differences between using watercolors and acrylics. In this class students will enjoy working with color to create personal expressions. PREREQUISITE: Art 1 and/or Fine Arts.
900 SCULPTURE (1 semester - .5 credit): This course will explore additive, subtractive and assemblage techniques using a variety of media such as paper, wire, plaster and clay. Learn to create projects such as carved pieces, mobiles, masks, or cast sculpture. Verbal and written critiques will help students learn the language of art. If you like working and creating with your hands, this is the class for you. PREREQUISITE: Art 1 or Fine Arts.
894 DIRECTED STUDIES (1 year - 1 credit): This course is designed for the serious, self-directed and committed senior student. Students will study the role of art and society, art and culture, and creativity in their lives. Each quarter the student will complete an independent study contract, and a biography and critique on their artist of focus. Students who take this class may have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Studio Art portfolio. This honors level course is for seniors only. PREREQUISITE: Art 1 and/or Fine Arts.
899 HONORS HUMANITIES (1 year – 1 credit): This honors level course surveys art history from prehistoric to modern times. Students will learn how art has been made in different cultures through visual art, architecture, philosophy and literature. Criticism, aesthetic interpretation, and creative independent projects will be included. Students who take this class have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Art History Exam. This course is designed for seniors, but is open to motivated, high achieving juniors. No prior art experience is required.
600 ACCOUNTING 1 (1 year – 1 credit): Are you thinking about a business major in college? All colleges require business majors require take Accounting I in college since all business professionals need to understand the accountant and his reports. If you’re considering a college major in Marketing, Management, International Business, Finance, etc., taking Accounting I now will make your college accounting course a breeze. Through an exposure to a variety of accounting transactions, ledgers, and financial statements, you will gain an understanding of accounting principles for a sole proprietorship and a partnership. Accounting principles will be taught in both manual and automated formats using industry standard Peachtree software.
601 ADVANCED ACCOUNTING (1 year – 1 credit): This course is designed for students who have an interest in continuing their study of accounting and possibly pursuing the accounting field beyond high school. This course focuses on partnership and corporate accounting. Both manual and automated accounting will be covered, using computerized Peachtree software. PREREQUISITE: Accounting 1.
605 PERSONAL LAW (1 semester - .5 credit): This course is a study of “your rights”. Topics to be covered include: Ethics, Criminal Law and Torts, Juvenile Law, Consumer Law (warranties, title, bailments, etc.), and Family Law (marriage, divorce, prenuptials, wills, etc.) This class also includes mock trials and courtroom visits.
604 BUSINESS PRINCIPLES & MANAGEMENT (BPM) (1 year – 1 credit): Attention Juniors and Seniors! Are you thinking that the business field may be of interest to you? Here is a chance to survey many of the majors within a business administration degree: Management (sports, personnel, retail), Marketing (advertising), Finance (investments and the stock market), Retail Merchandising, Entrepreneurship (running your own business), International Business, Economics, and Public Relations are just a few of the majors covered at an introductory level to determine if those are fields that might interest you.
606 ECONOMIC THEORY (1 year – 1 credit): Thinking about a college major in Economics (or at least wondering what an Economics major is all about)? Then this is the course that will teach you the basic economic concepts of production, supply and demand, consumption, etc. that affect every financial decision made by governments and national economies. Students will learn what drives some of the major decisions countries make about use of resources, international trade, imports/exports, sanctions, embargoes, and competition. This is NOT a consumer economics course (we don’t do checkbooks, income taxes, and personal budgets); rather, this is Economics on a national scale. Concepts in both microeconomics and macroeconomics will be covered.
614 PC APPLICATIONS FOR COLLEGE (1 semester - .5 credit): This course will provide you with the basics needed to feel comfortable about your computer skills as you enter college. You will learn: a) how to make presentations using PowerPoint (stand alone and backup); b) introductory spreadsheet skills for charting and graphing using Excel; c) MLA formatting for research papers; d) basic desktop publishing techniques; e) professional style letters to communicate like a skilled expert.
617 MICROSOFT WORD/DESKTOP PUBLISHING (1 semester - .5 credit): From simple one-page flyers to research papers, to form letters, mailing labels, and directories to professional newsletters and collaboration features, this course will enhance any student’s use of word processing and desktop publishing.
618 MICROSOFT EXCEL/POWERPOINT (1 semester - .5 credit): From simple spreadsheets and graphs to “what-if” analysis to financial functions and data tables this course will increase your knowledge and use of Excel. In addition, the correct usage of PowerPoint for both stand-alone and backup presentations will be covered in this project-driven course.
621 KEYBOARDING (1 semester - .5 credit): Have you always wished you could type better? Still looking at the keyboard and spending too much time on data entry to complete a report? Worried about all those college papers and the amount of time it takes you to just type it out? Are you considering a clerical office career? Maybe a course in keyboarding is what you need to break your bad habits and increase your ability and reduce your time in preparing documents on the computer. This may be your last opportunity to learn to type without looking at the keyboard or the screen. Learn to increase your speed while decreasing your stress level about the amount of time it takes you to get things done. Students will determine their current data entry skill level and will progress to more advanced levels of speed and accuracy.
Because of the sequential nature of the English program, no student will be allowed to take two required English courses in the same school year, except during senior year.
134 LITERACY STRATEGIES (1 year – 1 credit): Freshmen in Literacy Strategies will be selected based upon their scores on the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) administered in the eighth grade. Students will receive intensive literacy instruction in small groups to ready them for success with the high school curriculum. Students assigned to this course will also be assigned to the companion course, Freshman Writing.
135 FRESHMAN WRITING (1 year - 1 credit): Freshman Writing offers students the opportunity to improve their writing skills. Through individual and small group instruction as well as peer editing, students will develop the writing skills needed for success across the curriculum. Students assigned to Freshman Writing will also be assigned to the companion course - Literacy Strategies.
102 ENGLISH 1 (1 year - 1 credit): Welcome to Freshman English! You will read and analyze famous literature such as The Odyssey and Romeo and Juliet, and sample more contemporary offerings such as To Kill a Mockingbird, short stories, and poetry. You will also write descriptive, narrative, and persuasive assignments, as well as many expository essays. You will learn to use our Cony Research Guide when you write your research paper on Elizabethan England. Presentations are an important part of communication. For some presentations you will be part of a group, but in others, such as the story telling project in The Odyssey unit, you will do a solo act. Vocabulary study will help prepare you for the PSAT’s in your sophomore year and the SAT’s in your junior year.
114 HONORS ENGLISH 1 (1 year - 1 credit): Do you love to read and write? Are you gifted in language arts? If so, this is the class for you. You will read the same literature as English I, and more. You will write the same basic assignments, and more. For example, in addition to the Elizabethan research paper, you will read a book independently and research the author along with critical writings about the novel. Because we will be studying literature and writing in greater depth, and since we will also be covering more material, you should anticipate a heavier work load than for English 1. A summer reading/writing project is required.
105 ENGLISH 2 (1 year - 1 credit): Now that you are familiar with Cony English, you will build on the foundation you started last year. Your literature selections will include a Shakespearian play, short stories, A Separate Peace, and The Lovely Bones. This year when you study poetry, you will each analyze a different poem, write a paper, and give a presentation. You will also explore future career options and give a formal speech about a possible career. Writing will again focus on expository essays. This year your research will center on a novel you select. You will research the author and critical writings about the book. Vocabulary continues to be focused on preparing for the SAT test in junior year.
115 HONORS ENGLISH 2 (1 year - 1 credit): This is another course for gifted English students. Your Shakespearean play will be The Merchant of Venice, and instead of The Lovely Bones you will read A Tale of Two Cities. Your research is a critical analysis that will require you to read four novels by the same author, to research the author and critical writings, and to develop your own thesis statement. Again, you should anticipate a heavier work load than for English 2. A summer reading/writing project is required.
124 TECHNICAL ENGLISH 3 (1 year – 1 credit): Plan ahead; take Technical English III to prepare for the KVCC English composition course and earn college credit here at Cony. Besides practicing the types of writing covered in the KVCC college writing course, you will study literature that is required by the Cony curriculum and the Maine Learning Results, and you will research topics relevant to your future career.
106 ENGLISH 3 (1 year - 1 credit): Junior year focuses on American literature, a good match with American History. You will read Macbeth, The Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, and many short stories and poems by American authors, such as Poe, Dickinson, and Hemingway. Although you will practice all types of writing, this year you will focus on persuasive writing, in preparation for writing your college essays in senior year! For research you will write a critical
¶analysis of a novel by an American author. Vocabulary lessons will continue to prepare you for the SAT test in the spring.
101 ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION - AP ENGLISH 3 (1 year – 1 credit): This is a college freshman composition class, designed to prepare students for the national AP English Language and Composition exam given each spring. It stresses levels of diction from formal to casual; organized study of sentence structure; varieties of sentence types; relationships of sentences within paragraphs; modes of discourse; aims of discourse; rhetorical strategies; and relationships among author, subject, and reader. There is a focus on writing and revision. A summer reading/writing project is required.
125 TECHNICAL COLLEGE ENGLISH 4 (1 year – 1 credit): Technical College English IV allows you to sample the rigor of a college English composition course. Besides practicing the types of writing covered in the KVCC college writing course, you will complete a resume and learn how to write a letter of application. You will also study required literature as per the Cony curriculum and the Maine Learning Results.
107 ENGLISH 4 (1 year - 1 credit): This course directs grammar and usage instruction towards meeting specific class needs. Each students will study selections from early Western literature and from British literature and will write a critical analysis on a British author. Students write descriptive, narrative, persuasive and expository essays and produce college essays and resumes.
111 KVCC ENGLISH (1 year - 1 credit): Here is a chance to earn English Composition college credit through Kennebec Valley Community College while simultaneously satisfying the Cony English 4 requirement. Students must pass an Accuplacer Test to qualify for this course. This course includes all of the types of writing assigned in a college freshman composition class, including argumentative, persuasive, descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, and process writing. Students will write a research paper, study literature such as Lord of the Flies, Night, Nickel and Dimed, short stories, and examine the mystery genre. College credit earned through this course is accepted at all University of Maine and Maine Community System colleges.
100 ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION - AP ENGLISH 4 (1 year – 1 credit): This is the equivalent of a college freshman writing class with a focus on nonfiction prose. An extensive study of rhetoric allows students to incorporate a number of new strategies in their own writing. The class is also designed to prepare students for the May AP Literature exam. Included in this course is a significant amount of writing, revising and reflecting. Summer reading and writing are also required.
ENGLISH ELECTIVES
108 CREATIVE WRITING (1 semester - .5 credit): Love to write, but hate always writing essays? Want a chance to write stories, poems, or something you choose? Creative writing provides the time for you to work on your own writing, a chance to share it with other writers, and the opportunity to pick up tips, tools and techniques to make your writing better. In addition, the class will discuss what makes good writing good, and apply those ideas to the selection of stories and poems for publication in the school’s literary magazine, The Cue.
PREREQUISITE: English 1.
109 FILM AS LITERATURE (1 semester - .5 credit): Did you know movies use all those concepts your English teachers keep trying to show you in books? In Film as Literature you will watch great films of the 20th and 21st centuries, discuss the way they communicate, and learn to write essays looking at the storytellers’ techniques. And you will look into the minds of America’s great directors! PREREQUISITE: English 1.
117 INTRODUCTION TO THEATER (1 semester - .5 credit): Why do you tell an actor to “break a leg” instead of wishing him or her good luck before a performance? This and other mysteries will be revealed in Introduction to Theatre, where you will get the chance to read some great plays, learn how shows are put on, develop basic acting techniques, and understand how theatre came to be what it is today.
119 ADVANCED THEATRE (1 semester - .5 credit): Serious about acting, directing, or theatre tech? Advanced Theatre provides a chance for entirely hands-on, in-depth work on theatre projects. Projects are both individual and small group, and all combine to create a real theatrical production. PREREQUISITE: English 1, Intro to Theatre or instructor’s permission.
120 GRECO-ROMAN MYTHOLOGY (1 semester - .5 credit): The power of Zeus. The allure of Aphrodite. The mysteries of the underworld. The founding of Rome. Greco-Roman Mythology explores ancient stories peopled with the greatest of gods and most terrifying of monsters to reveal qualities and vices that are all too human. This course has something for everyone!
118 JOURNALISM (1 semester - .5 credit): We depend on the news media to tell us what’s happening in our world, and what to prepare for. But what do you know about media? How do they decide what to tell us? Using newspapers as a model, Journalism/Page Design looks at these questions, while teaching the techniques and skills of reporting, news writing and editing in a hands-on environment. This class is about learning by doing, as it produces two issues of the school’s newspaper, Rameses. PREREQUISITE: English 1.
116 MODERN LITERATURE (1 semester - .5 credit): Remember when you loved to read, before high school required you to scrutinize "classics" that only English teachers find "delightful?" Rediscover your love of reading through Modern Lit, a class that actually studies books written by men and women born in the same century as you. Expect to read, write and talk about books that are contemporary and relevant! PREREQUISITE: English 1 and English 2.
123 SPEECH (1 semester - .5 credit): Communications skills play an increasingly important role in today’s world. From college and job interviews to dealing with the public on the job site, effective public speaking is more important now than ever. The goal of a Speech class is to hone communications skills that will prove useful in exchanging information, solving business problems, and influencing the behavior of others. Two areas of focus will be debate and communicating in the workplace. Speech is a graduation requirement for the class 2008.
126 WORLD MYTHOLOGY (1 semester - .5 credit): If you like mythology and legend, but want to read about more than Hercules and Homer, then here’s a class for you! Whether you’re an expert or a novice with Greco-Roman mythology, World Mythology can offer an interesting new challenge. Join the class as we span the globe and span the ages, surveying the mythology of six continents. Be prepared to read, write, discuss, and interpret as we explore the myths of a variety of cultures.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), 127, 128, 129 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is a comprehensive four-year program designed for English Language Learner (ELL) students. This course will emphasize building listening, speaking, reading, writing and study skills. Other topics include the development of marketable skills for entrance into the work force and acculturation into American life while maintaining appreciation for native heritage. This program is designed to aid students' transition into the regular high school curriculum, at which point an appropriate maintenance program is offered to enable students to function at grade level.
132 ESL WORKSHOP (1 year - .5 credit): This course provides small group academic support with a sheltered approach for ELL students in the content areas.
130 ESL READING/WRITING LAB (1 year - .5 credit): This freshman course develops effective reading and writing comprehension strategies for ELL learners. Skills such as predicting, inferring, vocabulary enhancement, writing styles, and the language of the content areas will be addressed.
812 FOODS 1 (1 semester - .5 credit): Learning to cook is a skill everyone needs to have. This class combines learning about foods and healthy nutrition, hands-on lab experiences. Designed as an introductory class, you will learn basic kitchen safety and sanitation practices, meal planning and preparation, basic nutrition and food science. Try your hand at pasta dishes, salads, muffins and breakfast foods, pies and desserts, healthy alternatives and many other exciting dishes. Bookwork and hands-on experiences are combined.
814 JOY OF COOKING (1 semester - .5 credit): Those of you with cooking experience will with enjoy the challenges of this class. Building on what you know about food and nutrition, try your hand at more complex recipes and healthy nutrition topics. You will work with yeast and dough, cook vegetarian recipes, use alternatives for fats and sugars, and explore the world of exotic foods, along with standard meal planning and preparation. Foods 1 is recommended.
817 SEWING 1 (1 semester - .5 credit): Have you ever felt like you just don’t have anything to wear, or that things don’t fit right? In this class you can explore the world of fashion and sewing. Learn about styles, color, fabrics and how clothes are put together. Start with sewing basics and advance to more creative and complex projects. In this hands-on class you supply the materials and learn to use all the equipment in the classroom. Learning fashion care and repair to basic clothing construction is a valuable life skill.
818 SEWING 2 (1 semester - .5 credit): Designed for the student with sewing experience, this class lets you advance your skills. Learn more about fabrics, fitting, color selection and techniques. Review the basics and move onto creating fabulous fashions for yourself or others.
811 FASHION DESIGN (1 semester - .5 credit): Ever wonder what fashion designers do for a career? If you think about fashions and how they develop, this class is for you. You will explore the history of fashion, the people involved, learn about design as it is applied to clothing, and develop basic clothing construction techniques. Class work, design and hands-on construction are combined. See how creative you can be!
813 INTERIOR DESIGN (1 semester - .5 credit): Ever wonder what an Interior Designer does for work? Learn what the designers know. You will explore the history of American architecture, and try your hand at designing and decorating a variety of spaces. Learn about space planning and drawing, color theory, design principles and elements and about the parts that make up the interior of a house. This is a hands-on class where you will create a portfolio of architecture styles, design theory and color schemes. You will incorporate your ideas in a final house project in which you will design the house and create all the interiors.
815 TEEN ISSUES (1 semester - .5 credit): This course examines issues found in social psychology that are of special interest to teens. This class examines who you are as a person, personality development, communication skills and various types of relationships. Issues such as eating
¶disorders, the media, dating, depression, divorce, music, substance abuse, etc. are researched, presented and discussed.
810 CHILD DEVELOPMENT (1 semester - .5 credit): At some point, we were all children, or we will have children, or we will encounter children. We start with the basics of human development, explore the world of prenatal development, travel through infancy, and examine childhood. We examine the five types of development, teen pregnancy, abuse situations, exceptional children and the world of child care. This class is a great introduction for anyone going into nursing, education, social work, psychology, child care or early childhood education.
504 FRENCH 1 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is the first in a four-year sequence and is designed for students who have no previous French experience, or who had French at the middle school level but need to review their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills before they continue with the language. The culture of the French-speaking world is introduced at this level.
512 HONORS FRENCH 1 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is the first in a four-year sequence for students who have a good understanding of beginning level French from the middle school. These students will continue where they left off at the middle school. They will further develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and will continue learning about the culture of the French-speaking world.
505 FRENCH 2 (1 year –1 credit): This course will continue to develop the listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills that were begun in French I. As students develop these skills they will be able to work on various assessments and projects that incorporate these four skills. They will also continue to study the culture of the French-speaking world.
513 HONORS FRENCH 2 (1 year – 1 credit): This course further develops the work of Honors French 1 with continued emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will do more in-depth work on vocabulary, verb tenses and the structure of the language. Students will further develop their knowledge of the French-speaking world through a variety of cultural readings, including a short story.
506 FRENCH 3 (1 year – 1 credit): Students will continue to build on their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. A review of verb tenses and grammar will be covered in this course. There will also be discussions in French of selected reading materials, and continued development of conversational skills. There will be further study of the French-speaking world.
511 HONORS FRENCH 3 (1 year – 1 credit): This course will continue the development of French through an in-depth review of grammar, readings such as short stories, plays and a novel in its original version. There is further development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will work on various types of assessments such as skits, journals, and projects. Students will read Le Petit Prince and learn more about the French-speaking world. Class discussions are conducted in French as much as possible.
507 FRENCH 4 (1 year – 1 credit): This course will continue to develop language, speaking and reading skills. Students will further develop their writing skills through assigned readings. They will read short stories, examine some original versions of French literary works, and review French grammar. Culture throughout the course will be studied through the readings. Class discussions are conducted in French as much as possible.
514 HONORS FRENCH 4 (1 year - 1 credit): This course continues the review of French tenses and covers more advanced points of structure. Students will continue to work at a more in-depth level on the fours skills of language – listening, speaking, reading and writing at a more advanced level. They will read literature, write short papers and hold most class discussions in French. Opportunities will be provided to use French in real life situations and to further learn about the culture of the French-speaking world.
508 GERMAN 1 (1 year - 1 credit): This course is the first in a four-year sequence for students who are beginning the study of German. The course introduces the student to basic vocabulary, grammar, and cultural topics. Students develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, and begin their study of the German-speaking world.
509 GERMAN 2 (1 year - 1 credit): This course will continue to develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. A variety of cultural topics will be covered and students will continue their study of the German-speaking world.
510 GERMAN 3 (1 year - 1 credit): This course introduces advanced grammar and vocabulary topics, as well as investigates aspects of the history and culture if German-speaking countries in greater detail. A variety of materials will be used to further the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Class discussions are conducted mostly in German.
503 GERMAN 4 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is for students who wish to continue their study at a more advanced level. Students will use the culture, history, and literature of German-speaking countries to master the skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Class discussions are conducted mostly in German.
516 LATIN 1 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is the first in a 4-year sequence aimed at the beginning student. It starts with the development of grammatical and vocabulary skills and introduces the mythology, history and civilization of Rome
517 LATIN 2 (1 year – 1 credit): This course further develops the objectives of Latin I with more advanced grammar, vocabulary and derivatives. Students improve their translation skills and expand their knowledge of Roman mythology, history and civilization.
518 LATIN 3/4 (1 year – 1 credit): This course alternates readings of Roman authors in the original language with the presentation of more advanced grammatical concepts first introduced in Latin I and Latin II. Students will continue to perfect their translation skills while refining their understanding of classical mythology and various aspects of life in Greco-Roman antiquity.
520 SPANISH 1 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is the first in a four-year sequence for students who are beginning the study of Spanish. The course introduces the student to basic vocabulary, grammar and cultural topics. Students develop skills in listening , speaking, reading and writing, and begin their study of the Spanish-speaking world.
521 SPANISH 2 (1 year – 1 credit): This course will continue to develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. A variety of cultural topics will be covered and students will continue their study of the Spanish-speaking world.
522 SPANISH 3 (1 year – 1 credit): This course introduces advanced grammar and vocabulary topics, as well as investigates aspects of the history and culture of Spanish-speaking countries in greater detail. A variety of materials will be used to further the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Class discussions are conducted mostly in Spanish.
523 SPANISH 4 (1 year – 1 credit): This course is for students who wish to continue their study at a more advanced level. Students will use the culture, history and literature of Spanish-speaking countries to master the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. This course is conducted primarily in Spanish.
NOTE: French 4, Honors French 4, Spanish 4 and German 4 students have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Language Exams in May. Please see your instructor early in the school year if you intend to take an AP Language Exam.
702 INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY AND CAREER EXPLORATION (1 year - 1 credit): This course is designed to explore technical careers by understanding what technology is and how it shapes our society and makes our world. Technology units covered will include communication, transportation, construction, and manufacturing. Small projects relating to these units will be researched and constructed, learning the proper use and safety of hand tools and machines. Manual and computer drafting will be included as part of the design process. Technical careers will be explored through field trips to local businesses, and having guest speakers share their expertise.
703 APPLIED TECHNOLOGY (1 semester - .5 credit): In this course students will design and construct a product using wood, metal, plastic, and composite technologies. The class will work in groups to create a mock construction/manufacturing company that will define a school or community need and layout a procedure which will result in a finished product. Studies will include business management, material research, drafting design, and construction and manufacturing techniques. PREREQUISITE: Introduction to Technology and Career Exploration.
INTEGRATED MATHEMATICS
The Integrated Math course sequence meets the requirements for students who may pursue post secondary training. These courses offer students a good experience in the practical application of mathematics.
The Integrated Math program is designed for those students who have found mathematics to be a challenging subject. Based on real-life applications, this program ensures that students receive a thorough, standards-based math curriculum with a “user friendly” approach, including in-depth use of the graphing calculator.
309 INTEGRATED ALGEBRA 1 (1 year - 1 credit): This course is the first in a 3-year Secondary Mathematics Core Curriculum that successfully connects mathematics with the real world of people, business and everyday life. It builds bridges between different mathematical areas: mathematics and science; mathematics and history, literature and art – connections that will help students to grasp important math concepts, and gain a fuller, richer understanding of mathematics. Topics include algebra, probability, statistics, pattern exploration, and measurement.
316 INTEGRATED GEOMETRY (1 year – 1 credit): This course starts with the basic concepts of measuring length and area, using symmetries of planar shapes to address questions about polygonal figures. Algebraic ideas from Algebra 1 are elaborated upon by using geometric interpretations. Standard principles of congruence and triangulation of polygonal figures are developed so as to make clear their applicability to real world problems. PREREQUISITE: Algebra 1 or Integrated Algebra 1.
317 INTEGRATED ALGEBRA 2 (1 year – 1 credit): This course uses mathematical models of real world situations to provide for the discussion of algebraic, periodic, exponential and logarithmic functions. The emphasis throughout this material is the utility of mathematical tools for describing and clarifying what we observe. This course is a further extension of the modeling theme to encompass methods of
¶linear programming, optimization and topics from graph theory. PREREQUISITE: Geometry or Integrated Geometry.
318 SENIOR MATH (1 Year – 1 credit): This course provides a solid foundation and overview of a variety of math topics, enabling the student to be well-prepared for general education math courses, in post secondary study. Topics include problem solving, set theory, logic, the real number system, algebra, geometry, consumer math, probability and statistics, among others. This course will give students a strong knowledge of fundamental mathematics, involve students in authentic problem solving applications, and enable students to develop skills in key aspects of critical thinking. PREREQUISITE: Geometry/Algebra 2 or Integrated Geometry/Integrated Algebra 2. proposed
ACADEMIC MATHEMATICS
Students interested in postsecondary work that is more math and science oriented should take the following: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus. These courses provide a good to rigorous preparation for college mathematics.
303 ALGEBRA 1 (1 year - 1 credit): This course offers a challenging approach to Algebra I, giving students a strong foundation in Algebra, for subsequent course offerings. Areas of study include but are not limited to real numbers, solving equations and word problems, polynomials, rational expressions, introduction to functions and systems of linear equations, as well as some work with quadratics.
304 GEOMETRY (1 year - 1 credit): The course begins by emphasizing the elements of geometry (theorems, definitions, postulates, properties, and axioms) with applications to writing proofs and solving numerical problems with a primary focus on vocabulary. Key areas are triangles and quadrilaterals and related concepts. The second semester has an increased emphasis on numerical applications. Key areas are planes, parallel lines, polygons, and circles. PREREQUISITE: Algebra 1.
300 ALGEBRA 2 (1 year - 1 credit): This course includes mathematical concepts such as relations, functions and graphing. The use of graphing calculators is emphasized. Specific topics include linear and quadratic functions and inequalities in the real number system, systems of equations and matrices, rational expressions, polynomials, complex numbers, radicals and exponential functions, logarithms and probability. PREREQUISITE: Algebra 1 and/or concurrently with Geometry.
310 PRECALCULUS (1 year - 1 credit): This course is designed for those students who intend to pursue a post secondary course of study that requires higher levels of mathematics. Topics include linear and quadratic functions, polynomial and rational functions, triangle trigonometry, trigonometric functions, analytical geometry, exponents and logarithms, sequences and series, and time permitting, combinations and probability. PREREQUISITE: Algebra 2 and Geometry.
HONORS MATHEMATICS
Students interested in careers that are highly dependent upon mathematics and science should enroll in honors classes. These careers may include engineering, actuarial work, intensive study in the medical fields, chemistry, physics or any other careers in science and mathematics.
306 HONORS ALGEBRA 1 (1 year - 1 credit): This course covers the same material as Algebra I. In addition, higher level thinking skills are used extensively throughout the course with particular emphasis on the solution of word problems and application of concepts