UPPER SCHOOL 9Th -12Th Grades
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UPPER SCHOOL 9th -12th Grades The Future Of Education Is Here Riverfield Country Day is committed to developing lifelong learners. This is evident in the quality of School the curriculum and expertise of the faculty. The goals of the Upper School are to encour- age sound scholarship, independent learning, and critical thinking. The Upper School is the only non-sectarian independent high school in the Tulsa area and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). Riverfield continues to grow, with over 100 Upper School students. Small classes, with an average of 15 students per class, provide a rigorous and personalized academic program that emphasizes effective communication, fosters self-confidence, and gives a sense of purpose. A trusting and respectful environment leads to genuine dialogue among faculty and students. Riverfield was the first school in Oklahoma to offer a Tablet PC program, a unique tool that, when paired with our wireless campus, enhances student communication, presentation, and research capabilities. Riverfield Upper School provides challenge and support to all students so that they will graduate ready to meet the demands of college, a competitive workforce, and a complex life. Small classes emphasize effective communication with peers and faculty, foster self- confidence and give a sense of purpose in academic and personal goals. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Riverfield Country Day School is to provide an excellent education in a family-oriented atmosphere. Students are motivated and encouraged to learn, develop, and mature in a respectful, secure, and diverse environment. A caring, creative faculty and a challenging, integrated, and personalized curriculum promote the development of the whole student as a confident and responsible learner prepared for real world success. Riverfield Country Day School 2433 West 61st Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74132 918.446.3553 riverfield.org Course Descriptions ENGLISH 9th Grade Focuses on developing writing and critical reading skills. Literary techniques are studied through different genres with most selections coming from American Literature. Composition instruction includes academic, creative, and per- 11th Grade General Information sonal writing. Vocabulary study includes work- A survey course of American history from the Established in 1984, Riverfield has been enriching ing with English words derived from Greek and end of World War II to the present. Focus is on students through innovation, small class sizes, and Latin. Independent and summer readings are the Cold War, expansion of Civil Rights, unfold- positive collaborative relationships. Serving chil- required. ing of social movements in the U.S., the Viet- dren from 8 weeks through Upper School, Riverfield 10th Grade nam War, political and economic changes as a helps students reach their full potential in a family- Focuses on reading and analyzing literature as result of national/international issues, and some oriented atmosphere. The 120-acre campus with its well as developing composition and vocabulary discussion of current events. barnyard animals, hiking trails, woods, ponds, and skills. Literature study is organized around the 12th Grade outdoor classrooms, is an inviting introduction to the universal search for identity, including reading Seniors have their choice of two of the follow- array of learning opportunities the school offers its and discussing value systems, loss of innocence, ing three semester courses: History of Rock students. The challenging, personalized curriculum conflicts between the individual and society, Music, Survey of Supreme Court Decisions, or is presented as an integrated process, blending many and the search for fulfillment. Genres studies Art History. Students may also consider history subjects and activities. include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama options offered at Tulsa Community College. Faculty with readings from American, British, and With an average of 20 years of teaching, our world literature. Composition work includes experienced faculty encourages students to expository, narrative-descriptive, persuasive, MATHEMATICS achieve their potential in all aspects of develop- and creative writing. Individual, independent ment: intellectual, social, emotional, physical, reading, and/or projects plus summer readings Algebra I and moral. They promote the development of are required. Concepts include solving equations with one- mutual goals and responsibilities. A trusting, 11th Grade variable, working with polynomials and frac- tions, factoring, solving equations with two respectful, positive school environment leads to Focuses on a survey of world literature from the genuine dialogue between faculty and students. variables, graphing, working with inequalities, ancient Sumerians to modern writers, highlight- rational and irrational numbers, and quadratic ing not only the literature but also the history and equations. Word problems related to real life ap- Graduation Requirements culture behind each piece. Writing assignments plications are emphasized throughout the course. The primary purpose of our academic program involve personal responses to literature as well as is to challenge and support students so they will multi-paragraph essays discussing various aspects Geometry graduate from RCDS ready to meet the de- of literary pieces. Writing assignments emphasize (Algebra I is a prerequisite.) mands of a competitive college and of life. extended development and support of ideas and Teaches students to draw, visualize, and follow opinions as well as attention to organization, word algorithms; understand properties, mathematical Most students take five core courses (Eng- choice, sentence fluency, voice, and conventions. relationships, and proofs; use geometric ideas in lish, Math, Science, History, and World Lan- real situations; and represent geometric concepts 12th Grade with coordinates, networks, or other diagrams. guages) in addition to the non-core offerings. Focuses on a study of British literature from A student must take at least four core cours- the Anglo-Saxon period to modern writing. The Algebra II es, and one non-core course each semester. goal is to build cultural literacy as well as in- Riverfield’s graduation requirements meet (Algebra I is a prerequisite.) dependent reading, writing, and thinking skills. Focuses on functions, graphs, and matrices; sys- those required by Oklahoma’s state colleges Students will write multi-paragraph composi- tems of equations using graphing, substitution, and universities. Some colleges and univer- tions with an emphasis on expository writing and addition; quadratic functions and relations; sities have more stringent requirements that and close attention to effective development of and an introduction to trigonometry, analytical may also be met at Riverfield. ideas, organization, word choice, sentence flu- geometry, and calculus. English (4 credits) ency, voice, and conventions. Algebra III Math (3 credits) including Algebra I, Algebra (Algebra II is a prerequisite.) II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, and/or HISTORY Focuses on comprehensive review of concepts Calculus. from Algebra II, followed by an introduction to 9th Grade topics from college courses such as College Al- Science (2 credits) including Biology, Chemis- A survey course of United States history from gebra, Statistics, and Finite Math. try, and/or Physics. the Early Colonial period to the end of World War II. Major topics and themes include Colo- Pre-Calculus History (3 credits) including 1 year of American nial foundations of America, the era of American (Algebra II is a prerequisite.) History and 2 years from subjects of History, Eco- Revolution, U.S. Constitutional government, Includes a review of algebra and geometry con- nomics, Geography, Government, Civics, and/or non- Westward Expansion, the Civil War, the era of cepts, as well as an introduction to exponential, Western culture. Reconstruction, Industrialization, the Progres- sive Era, World War I, economic expansion and logarithmic and trigonometric functions, vec- Other (3 credits) from any of the subjects listed depression, and World War II. Topics discussed tors, complex numbers, conic sections, and ana- above or from computer science or World Languages. will include references to the concept of civics lytic geometry. At least two years of a World Languages is strongly as well as brief study of Oklahoma history. Calculus recommended. 10th Grade (Pre-Calculus is a prerequisite.) Minimum Core Total 15 credits An in-depth study of the history of major world cultures. Students are introduced to cultural, Advanced Math at TCC Also required: economic, political, and social developments (Pre-Calculus is a prerequisite.) Service - Required each semester. that played a fundamental role in shaping the Courses for college credit through TCC Con- Awareness - Required each semester. world in which they now live. Special focus will current Enrollment Program include Calculus I, Elective offerings - 2 credits with each non-core be paid to the ancient cultures of the world and Calculus II, College Algebra, Finite Math, and course worth .25 credits per semester. their contributions to the development of mod- Statistics. ern societies. SCIENCE REQUIRED NON-CORE COURSES Biology ALEKS A comprehensive overview of the central con- Students in 3rd - 12th have a subscription to ALEKS. ALEKS.com is a web-based supplement aligned cepts of biology: cell structure and functions,