2019-2020 Upper School College Profile MinnehahaAcademy.net College & Guidance Office: 612-729-8321 School Code: 241-625 The Upper School Experience Minnehaha Academy 2019 Highlights The mission of Minnehaha Academy is “to provide high • Twenty-six students achieved multiple outstanding ratings quality education integrating Christian faith and learning so from the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Theatre that our students will grow in wisdom and stature and in program. This included 6 separate awards for individuals favor with God and others.” The Upper School provides and groups. many opportunities for students to explore their interests and pursue their talents. Our teachers, in collaboration with • More than 34 students were recognized for their work in the colleagues and administrators through Professional arts on local, state, and national levels at various music Learning Communities, create and shape their curricula in competitions across the state, as well as being invited to order to enrich their students’ learning experiences. Nearly participate in All-State band, orchestra, or choir. 90% of our Upper School faculty hold advanced degrees. • Upper School students will visit local and national sites as Students are encouraged to take initiative, express well as Guatemala, Haiti, London, Slovakia, and Spain to creativity, and challenge themselves in different activities serve with and learn from others during Cultural Field and areas of study. Experience (CFE) week. Admission Policy • The Talon student newspaper earned an All-State Gold award and declared “National First-Class” by the National The Upper School seeks a mission-appropriate student Scholastic Press Association. The Antler yearbook was body that closely reflects the diversity of the Twin Cities given the “All-State Silver” award and our RedhawksOnline metropolitan area with 32% of the school population being website was awarded “All-State Bronze.” Journalism students of color. We welcome students of all ethnic, racial, students won 5 National and 20 State level awards for their and religious faiths and backgrounds, and believe in the writing, photography, design, and multimedia work. equality of all persons under God. • 11 athletic teams represented Minnehaha Academy at the Modified Block Schedule Minnesota State Tournament level. Football and Girls’ Basketball won State Championships while the Boys’ Minnehaha Academy’s Upper School follows a year-long, Basketball team claimed the State Title for the third year in seven-period modified block schedule. The modified block a row. Baseball took home 2nd place in the State schedule promotes diverse teaching strategies such as Tournament and we also had an individual State Champion sustained discussion, question and answer sessions, in Boys’ Swimming. reflections, simulations, rehearsals, laboratory experiments, • 108 athletes earned All-Conference and Honorable group projects, and cooperative learning. In addition, while Mention recognition and several earned All-State honors for the schedule maintains three class meetings per week, the their athletic achievements. schedule enables students to focus on fewer individual subjects each day as they only need to delve into, at most, College and Guidance Counseling Staff four classes per block day. Advanced Placement & Honors Courses Mike DiNardo, Ed.D., Vice Principal & Director of Counseling [email protected] We offer a wide range of Advanced Placement and Honors Kristin Overton, M.S., College and Guidance Counselor (A-K) courses in addition to the traditional college preparatory [email protected] curricula. We currently offer more AP courses than any other private school in the state of Minnesota. During Christine Paton, M.S. College and Guidance Counselor (L-Z) students’ time in the Upper School, they are encouraged to [email protected] challenge themselves by taking advanced courses that meet their academic goals. We have an application process Wanda Monroe, M.S., Non-Public School Counselor for students who wish to enroll in AP courses. However, [email protected] enrollment is essentially granted to all students who wish to take on the challenge of college level coursework. All Diane Rahm, Registrar and Counseling Office Assistant students enrolled in AP courses are required to take their [email protected] respectiveMA College AP exams. Profile updated 10/2019 !1 Course Offerings and Graduation Social Studies - 3.5 cr. required Fine Arts - 1 cr. required Requirements World History I, II, III Fundamentals of Art AP European History Painting Students earn one credit per full Early American History Sculpture academic year of course work. Recent American History Ceramics Students must successfully complete AP United States History Drawing a minimum of 26.75 credits in grades U.S. Government & Politics Paper Arts 9 through 12 to graduate from Economics AP Studio Art Minnehaha Academy. Freshmen and AP Macroeconomics Exploration of Theater/Acting sophomores take seven courses AP Microeconomics Beginning Filmmaking each year, while juniors and seniors Introduction to Psychology Intermediate Filmmaking take a minimum of six. Introduction to Business Advanced Filmmaking Leadership Studies Graphic Design English - 4 cr. required Personal Finance Advanced Graphic Design English 9 & 10 Digital Photography Honors English 10 Concert Band English 11 & 12 Sacred Studies - 2 cr. required Orchestra AP English 11 & 12 Reading the Bible Symphonic Wind Ensemble Argumentation & Debate Life and Teachings of Christ Men’s Choir Speech Communications The Uniqueness of Christianity Women’s Chorale Beginning Journalism New Testament Studies Singers Intermediate Journalism (Yearbook Honors Christian Ethics or Newspaper/Social Media) Senior Capstone Cultural Field Experience (CFE) - Advanced Journalism (Yearbook or 3 sessions (0.75 credits) Newspaper/Social Media) required for students in gr. 9-11 Physical Education & Health - See the next page for more Mathematics - 3 cr. required 1.5 cr. required information about our Cultural Field Algebra I & II Physical Education - Team Sports Experience (CFE) program. Enriched Algebra II Physics Education - Conditioning Geometry Current Health Issues *College In the Schools (CIS) Enriched Geometry Personal Fitness College in the Schools courses are Pre-Calculus offered through the University of Enriched Pre-Calculus Minnesota Twin Cities and Bethel Calculus World Languages - 2 cr. required University. Students receive college Statistics/Discrete Math Chinese I, II & III credit and an official transcript from AP Statistics French I, II & III the University of Minnesota Twin Cities AP Calculus I (AB) Latin I, II & III or Bethel University after completion of AP Calculus II (BC) Spanish I, II & III these courses. Multivariable Calculus & Adv. Topics Honors Chinese IV & V (CIS*) Honors French IV & V (CIS*) Science - 3 cr. required Honors Latin IV & V (CIS*) Physics Honors Spanish IV & V (CIS*) Chemistry AP Chinese AP Chemistry AP Spanish Biology AP Biology Computer Science AP Physics C (Mechanics) AP Computer Science Applied Res. in Engineering I Applied Res. in Engineering II - ISS Special Academic Needs Environmental Science Learning Lab Honors Anatomy & Physiology (CIS*) Independent Scientific Research MA College Profile updated 10/2019 !2 No Rank Policy International Space Station Project (ISS) Given the rigorous college preparatory curriculum taken by all students and the relatively small size of the Minnehaha Academy was the first school in the Midwest graduation class, Minnehaha Academy does not rank its and one of only 25 schools worldwide to offer an students. In lieu of a class rank, we provide a distribution opportunity for Upper School students to design a of standardized test scores and grade point averages. science experiment to be placed aboard the International Space Station through our Applied Research in Standardized Test Information Engineering II course. While working with community mentors, students have the opportunity to plan, test, ACT 2017 2018 2019 document and launch a micro-lab experiment to be Students 74 77 79 studied in a micro-gravity environment. Mean Comp. 27.4 27.8 25.8 Mid-50% 24-31 24-32 22-30 Intern Leadership Program Interns are 11th and 12th grade leaders who possess a SAT 2017 2018 2019 high degree of commitment to the school’s values and Students 13 10 35 ideals. After being selected through an application and Mean Score 1380 1300 1263 interview process, interns help oversee particular areas Mid-50% 1305-1445 1240-1400 1160-1380 of the school such as service learning, school spirit, student services, chapel programming, intramural National Merit and Achievement Awards athletics, peer tutoring, publicity and social activities. Graduation year 2018 2019 2020 Cultural Field Experience (CFE) Class Size 79 81 94 Semifinalists 2 3 3 In March of each academic year, students in grades 9-11 Commended 6 0 3 participate in weeklong on-site learning opportunities called Cultural Field Experience. During this week, Advanced Placement 2017 2018 2019 students are exposed to people and communities that are different from their own. The goal of this program is Candidates 154 141 169 to promote an understanding of different sociocultural Exams Given 378 300 336 perspectives and to provide students with opportunities % Scores 3 or Higher 80.5 69.7 74.6 to build bridges within our school, neighborhood and AP Scholars 23 17 24 global communities among people from