Upper School Course Booklet 2019-2020
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Upper School Course Booklet 2019-2020 Dear Students and Parents, The 2019-2020 Course Booklet is designed to help students and their parents understand the academic offerings, graduation requirements, and policies of Cape Fear Academy’s Upper School. On the following pages, administrators and department chairs have assembled a common sense guide that offers practical and philosophical advice as students plan their course of studies in Upper School. Of course, any plan is likely to change during a four-year journey, but the advice offered is sound and worth considering. CFA’s curriculum and diploma requirements seek to balance breadth of exposure and in-depth pursuit of a student’s strongest interests. Advanced work in most areas is facilitated by access to Advanced Placement courses, and in some instances, courses beyond AP. The Upper School is pleased to offer five new AP courses during the 2019-2020 school year. As part of the AP Capstone ™ Diploma program, the AP Seminar course will be taught for the first time at Cape Fear Academy. CFA is one of approximately 1,800 schools worldwide to begin implementation of the AP Capstone ™ Diploma program―an innovative program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success, such as research, collaboration, and communication. Additional, the Upper School is pleased to offer AP Computer Science A/JavaScript, AP Physics C (Mechanics), AP Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism), and AP Chinese Language and Culture. Course descriptions are sorted by department. Read them carefully, as new courses have been added and others removed from the previous guide. The faculty make every attempt to include all courses that will be offered in a particular school year, but understand that some courses may not have sufficient enrollment to be included in the curriculum every year. Any announced course for which the enrollment is deemed insufficient may be withdrawn. The Upper School is here to answer questions, so please do not hesitate to contact us. Mr. Eric Miles Upper School Director Dr. Amy Tarallo Academic Dean 0 UPPER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION Eric Miles Amy Tarallo Ani Scuteri Upper School Director Academic Dean Dean of Students Tobi Ragon Jamison Fee Leigh Ann Hodges School Counselor Director of College Counseling College Counselor & Registrar Sara Auld Upper School Office Manager UPPER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT CHAIRS Amanda Holliday Bobby Palmer Rachel Hatfield English Math World Languages Benedict Fancy Meade McFarlane Julie Capps Fine Arts Science Social Studies Mission Cape Fear Academy is a learning community committed to discovering and developing individual potential, preparing each student for success in college and life. Core Principles Character: Integrity, Respect, Resilience, Accountability Cape Fear Academy believes that strength of character is an essential element of success. We foster individuals who make good decisions, respect and empathize with others, deal with challenges successfully, deliver on their commitments, and are accountable for their actions. Community Cape Fear Academy believes that students thrive in a close-knit community that both nurtures and challenges the individual. We value personal connections and service to other; build supportive relationships; and celebrate diverse talents, perspectives, and backgrounds. Opportunity Cape Fear Academy believes that participating in a broad range of opportunities stimulates personal growth. We develop the whole child by encouraging participation in athletics, arts, and other extracurricular activities. We challenge students to discover and develop their passions and strengths by providing a wealth of opportunities both in and outside the classroom. Academic Excellence Cape Fear Academy believes that our graduates will face an increasingly competitive, rapidly evolving world. We prepare our students by teaching them to think critically and creatively, communicate and collaborate effectively, 1 achieve technological fluency, and become engaged members of our global society. We set high academic expectations and provide a path to success through diverse teaching methods and dynamic learning experiences. Adopted by Cape Fear Academy Board of Trustees – January 24, 2013 Philosophy Cape Fear Academy, an independent coeducational day school, provides a challenging college preparatory program and a developmentally appropriate curriculum within a stimulating learning environment. The Academy considers scholarly achievement, character development, creative expression, and physical wellness the components of true excellence. Students make a strong commitment to their own education while enjoying a close relationship with their teachers. The faculty is the cornerstone of the learning community and is committed to developing students who are knowledgeable, reflective, creative, caring, and active participants in a complex global society. Each student is an individual with diverse skills, interests, and needs. With that in mind, the faculty employs teaching methods that engage the varied learning styles of students. The Academy promotes a sense of community where students live as responsible persons whose word is their bond, whose work is their own, and around whom the property and well-being of others are safe. School Motto “Qui Erimus Nunc Fimus” What We Shall Be, Now We Are Becoming Statement of Honor The Cape Fear Academy standard is that each student will live as a responsible person one whose word is his or her bond, whose work is always his or her own, and around whom the well-being and property of others is safe. 2 Course Advising for the 2019-2020 School Year 1. Four years of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language are recommended for all 5 core subjects. All CFA courses are college preparatory. The UNC-System (16 universities) requires students to take an additional math beyond Algebra II for minimum admission consideration. Please note, the baseline minimum GPA for admission into any UNC-System school is a 2.5. 2. AP Courses Offered at CFA: AP CAPSTONE AP Seminar ARTS AP Music Theory AP Studio Art: 2 D Design ENGLISH AP English Language & Composition AP English Literature & Composition HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCES AP Economics AP Psychology AP U.S. Government & Politics AP U.S. History AP World History STEM AP Biology AP Calculus AB AP Calculus AB/BC AP Chemistry AP Computer Science Principles AP Computer Science A/JavaScript AP Environmental Science AP Physics I AP Physics C (Mechanics) AP Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism) AP Statistics WORLD LANGUAGE AP Chinese Language and Culture AP Spanish Language and Culture AP Spanish Literature and Culture 3. Department Chairs will present course information and students will register for courses via a Google form. Students’ academic load should be reasonable with regard to honors and AP classes scheduled. As a healthy balance with the combination of academics, athletics, and the arts, a scheduling waiver must be signed by a parent, the student, the student’s advisor, a college counselor, and Upper School Director to take three or more Advanced Placement courses. 4. Seniors receive first priority in scheduling. 5. Students must meet the listed class prerequisites at the time of class registration. 3 6. The Upper School Administration will review each request. College Counselors are available for requested appointments/conferences. 7. Drop-Add Policy: Students are required to meet with the teacher of the course as well as a College Counselor and the Upper School Director before making any course changes once the academic year has begun. Students may add or drop either a 1st semester or a yearlong course without penalty by Friday, September 13, 2019. The grade from the dropped course will not transfer to the added course; however, assignments may be expected to be made-up per teacher’s discretion. The second semester add/drop deadline is by Friday, January 10, 2020. Students choosing to drop a course after the Drop/ Add date will receive a “Withdraw Passing/Failing” notation for the dropped course on their transcript depending on their current grade at the time of withdrawal. Graduation Requirements and Recommendations: Subject Minimum Required Additional Details Recommended English 4 English in each grade 9-12 4 Math 4 Math in each grade 9-12 4 Science 3 Minimum “3” must include 4 Biology, Chemistry, & Physics* Social Studies 3 Minimum “3” must include 4 Civics & Economics, World History, & US History World Language 2 Minimum “2” must be two successive 3 courses of the same language Fine Arts 1 1+ Electives 5 5 P.E. 1 Minimum can be met by participating in 3 1 seasons of an Upper School sport or a combination thereof TOTAL 23 26+ +27 credits include a PE credit, online courses, and additional elective courses. *Physics to be required for the Class of 2022 ● MATH: Please note that public universities and colleges in North Carolina require an additional math course beyond Algebra II. Once the student meets the minimum requirement, courses will be considered an elective, including academic core elective courses. Please refer to the semester and year electives in each departmental section. ● WORLD LANGUAGE: Please note that a student who has completed 1 or more credits of a World Language before grade 9 must still complete 2 years of a World Language in the Upper School. These requirements prepare students to attend many selective colleges and universities. A student must complete 23 credits in grades 9-12 and should carry 6 courses per year. Students will be assigned six courses unless scheduling conflicts or prior approval is received from the College Counselors and/or Upper School Director. Additional requirements include: 72 hours of approved community service (9 per semester/18 per year at CFA) 2019 - 2020 Course Registration Procedures Feb.18, 2019 Course information/communication Students receive the course offerings for next year and guidelines for completing their initial course request. Department Chairs will communicate course selections. Feb. 19, 2019 Course selection during Flex by Advisory for rising 11th and 12th graders. 4 Students will register for courses via a Google form and have parents sign.