Latin School of Chicago

Chicago Connections Only at Latin Ninth Grade Tenth Grade Eleventh Grade Twelfth Grade ENGLISH English 9 introduces literary genres. Students read stories, novels, poems, plays and essays by writers from diverse backgrounds. e course hones critical reading, writing and oral argumentation skills through essays, creative assignments and lively discussions. English 10, a global literature course, emphasizes close reading, directed discussions and written analyses of novels, dramas, short stories, poems and creative nonfiction. e first semester focuses on the analytical essay. e second semester expands to the personal essay and a multi-genre response to a self-selected novel. English 11 explores American culture and literature. Each student chooses an American literature elective, but every class reads certain core texts. Electives: African American Literature, American Civilization, American Seeker, Banned America, Color of America, Modern American Literature English 12 Electives: A Novel's Place (or Novel Places), Creative Writing Seminar, Fixing the Race, Great Novellas, Mexican American Literature, Modern and Contemporary Poetry, Punching the Clock, Shakespeare, Time's Arrow, Utopia/Dystopia, Writer's Workshop HISTORY & SOCIAL STUDIES The History and Social Studies program helps students become active and informed citizens. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to: (1) Understand how the connection of personal, local, national and global phenomena produce patterns of change. (2) Articulate informed opinions (3) Recognize how politics, economics, ideology, geography, technology and gender combine and conflict to produce unique cultures over time. Students become critical thinkers and hone their research, writing and communication skills. Students enter the upper school mathematics program with different levels of preparedness. To best meet the needs of these differing learning styles and abilities, regular, honors and AP levels of certain math courses are offered. Upper school students must complete three or three-and-one-half credits, including Algebra 2 and Geometry. If Algebra 1 is studied in the eighth grade, the student must take three additional years of mathematics, two of which must be Algebra 2 and Geometry. If Algebra 1 is studied in the ninth grade, then two-and-one-half additional years of mathematics are required, two of which must be Algebra 2 and Geometry. Global Cities: Power and Creativity A ninth grade requirement, Global Cities offers a holistic approach to studying the events, people, and ideas that have shaped the world over time. By exploring cultural centers, including Athens, Changan, Baghdad, Florence, Paris and Mexico City, the course fosters an understanding of the contributions of each region during its period of global prominence. Students examine primary and secondary documents, architecture and arts as they undertake research projects, oral presentations, debates and simulations. Sophomores are required to choose two of the following classes (but not from the same category) – Category 1: World Religions, Nazi Mind, Global Ethics Category 2: Russian Revolutions, Latin American Revolutions, South Africa Category 3: Modern China, Middle East, Africa: Culture and Conflict (Seniors may choose to take these courses with departmental permission.) Junior and Senior electives: 9/11 in a Global Context (GOA*), Abnormal Psychology (GOA), AP Art History, AP Euro. History, AP Psychology, Chicago Social Justice Action, Chicago: City on the Make, Comparative Politics (GOA), Comparative Religions (GOA), Gender Studies (GOA), Genocide and Human Rights (GOA), Hon Comparative and Global Politics, Honors American Politics, International Macroeconomics (GOA), Intro to Psychology (GOA), ISP: History, Latin America, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, e Construction of Race in the United States, Introduction to Media Studies *Global Online Academy MATHEMATICS Ninth through Twelth Grades: Algebra 1 & 2, Honors Algebra 2, Geometry, Honors Geometry, Functions, Trigonometry, Honors Precalculus, Accelerated Honors Precalculus, Honors Differential Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Honors Multivariable Calculus, AP Statistics Advanced Geometry, Probability, Statistics: Graphical Display of Data, Statistics: Hypothesis Testing, Finance & Math 1, Finance & Math 2, Chicago Social Justice Action, Advanced Topics Electives for tenth through twelfth grades: The upper school science program focuses the attention of the students on the key concepts of science and stresses the processes of science. Through hands-on lab work, traditional and multimedia lectures and group discussion, students develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Students must successfully complete three years of science study, including one year each of: Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Electives are generally open to juniors and seniors only. SCIENCE Physics; Honors Physics Chemistry; Honors Chemistry Biology; Honors Biology; Honors Advanced Biology; AP Chemistry; AP Environmental Science; Advanced Physics; AP Physics C; Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2; Medicinal Chemistry 1 & 2; Organic & Biological Chemistry 1 & 2; Philosophy of Science; Stellar Astronomy; Cosmology The English program is designed to encourage students' love for the language, develop their command of reading and writing, and increase their confidence and pleasure in expressing themselves. The faculty seeks to refine students' literary, critical and argumentative analysis while fostering an appreciation of the art of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. The curriculum is designed to help them articulate their responses to literature and their perceptions of themselves and their world. The upper school language program offers five levels of Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish. Students must successfully complete a minimum of three consecutive years of a language. All four language skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing are addressed. Students practice these skills by means of a variety of real-life situations, the study of culture and an exposure to print media, literature and the arts. The primary goal is for students to be able to function confidently in a Chinese-, French-, or Spanish-speaking country. Through the Latin curriculum students develop of reading proficiency so that they can engage authentic Latin authors. All languages offer opportunities to study in native speaking countries (students taking Latin may study in Rome). Latin: Latin: Beginning Latin; Latin 3; Honors Latin 3; Latin 4; Honors Latin 4; Latin Literature: e Roman Republic; Honors Latin Lyric Poetry; AP Latin: Vergil French: French 1; French 2; French 3; Honors French 3; French 4; Honors French 4; French 5; French rough Contemporary Media; Honors French Literature; AP French Language Chinese: Intermediate Low; Intermediate Mid; Novice High; Novice Low Spanish: Spanish 1; Spanish 2; Spanish 3; Honors Spanish 3; Spanish 4; Honors Spanish 4; Spanish 5; Honors Spanish Literature: e Art of Revolution; Conversation in Spanish; AP Spanish Language LANGUAGES PERFORMING ARTS PROJECT WEEK The Performing Arts program promotes success in a nurturing environment that helps students develop self-esteem, gives them freedom to learn from artistic risks and encourages them to take pride in their accomplishments. Students have many opportunities to share their art with others through public concerts, plays and presentations. The mission of the Physical Education program is to help students achieve active and healthy lives and benefit from positive outcomes associated with good health. Freshmen are enrolled in the Wellness course all year; sophomores, juniors and seniors must earn eight quarters of credit in total (three-sport athletes in grades 10-12 are exempt from the PE requirement and seasonal athletes are required to only take PE during the off-season). Acting Company, Chorus, Improvisation 1, Music eory, Speech, Stagecraft, Wind Ensemble, Improvisation 2 Intermediate Acting Company, Playwriting/Directing Advanced Acting Company, Independent Study PHYSICAL EDUCATION Wellness: CPR/AED; nutrition/body image; weight training; sex education; Hatha yoga; substance education; mental health and emotional health Yoga/Pilates; strength training; lifeguarding; unique competition; health; adventure education; racquet sports; individual sports; health club experience; team sports SERVICE LEARNING COLLEGE COUNSELING LEARNING RESOURCES Service Learning is critical in teaching students an awareness of the world outside themselves and the needs of others. Our JK - 12 program is based on the tenets of empathy, awareness and action. In the upper school, service learning is a required part of the curriculum. Freshmen must complete 10 hours and sophomores must complete 20 hours of service during the school year. Latin students regularly volunteer with up to 70 different organizations in Chicago. A significant number of those are relationships the school has developed through its Uptown Community Partnership. Last year, upper school students completed about 7,500 hours of community service, more than half of them in Uptown. COUNSELING COMPUTER SCIENCE ONLY AT LATIN Each March, all upper school students put their regular class work aside to participate in a wide range of alternative educational experiences during Project Week. They may choose to travel the world or explore their city, participate in service efforts or outward bound expeditions, gain a fuller appreciation of different cultures, languages, art or music, or build their own computers, sea kayaks, or robots. Successful completion of a project is required each year of upper school. College counseling is an integrated and intimate process for all students at Latin. Counselors meet with students individually, lead junior and senior college classes and conduct grade-level meetings and conference with families. All Latin students learn to collect reliable information, plan for standardized testing, organize applications, present themselves to college representatives, and write personal and essays for applications. College counselors also work with faculty and advisers to insure that students and faculty are receiving accurate and timely information about college planning. The wellbeing and safety of our middle and upper school students is the Counseling program's main priority. Counselors offer assistance and expertise to students who may be experiencing psychological stress, social difficulties and acute crisis, or are participating in high-risk behaviors. Latin's counselors offer an open and accepting environment in which each student is treated with care. Counselors also serve as consultants and liaisons to parents, faculty, staff and administrators. Any student or family member may request or be referred to one of the counselors, who will work collaboratively with families to develop the best plan to address that student's needs. Students also are always welcome to stop by the counseling offices informally to discuss any issues concerning their own well being or the well being of others. The Computer Science program recognizes the growing impact of computation on nearly every aspect of modern life and aims to prepare students to integrate computer science into their future pursuits, whether academic, professional, or personal. The Computer Science Principles sequence explores the foundational principles of computer science, the explosion of digital media and the Internet, and the creative power of programming. Later coursework introduces students to theoretical and practical applications of these concepts, preparing students to use advanced programming and algorithmic tools to solve problems, understand data, and design interactive web applications. Grade-level meetings with students and parents to answer questions about preparing for the college process. Parents are introduced to the college process and the sophomore class meets with the college counselors at least once per semester. All Latin sophomores take the PSAT. Classes offered by the College Counseling Office to help students understand the current college landscape, research schools, and articulate their own personal interests and choices. Individual and family college meetings are mandatory. All Latin juniors take the PSAT. Individual counseling with students and families continues as well as the college class. Counselors assist with essays, applications, and presentation skills. ey also help students investigate financial support, gap years and choose colleges in the spring. VISUAL ARTS The Visual Arts Program believes that the best way to learn artistic values is to create art. While the study of aesthetics, technique and history plays a vital part in most facets of the fine arts curriculum, creating the "product" Gives students the opportunity appreciate the process of art making, to work analytically to solve problems, to respect others' forms of expression and to interact in group efforts. Students share their art with others through exhibits, publications and presentations. Global Cities: Visual Arts Computer Graphic Design 1, Digital Image Making, Digital Video Production, Drawing 1 & 2, Fashion Design, Photography, Advanced Photography: Digital Printmaking Computer Science Principles I, Computer Science Principles II, Honors Advanced Programing (Java), Web Application Development (Ruby on Rails) Design 2, Modern Art, Observational Painting, Painting Studio, Painting 2, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Independent Study AP Art History, Art History: Prehistoric to Gothic, Art History: Renaissance to Modern, AP Art Studio LIBRARY The upper school library program is focused on building students' information literacy skills. The librarians work closely with faculty to ensure that content area and research skills are thoroughly covered using a variety of print and digital resources. The upper school LR program provides support to students as they become increasingly independent and self-aware of their needs as a learner. In the junior year, LR partners with students, their families and college counseling to facilitate accommodations on standardized testing. MICKEY & THE MASTERS As the culmination in their study of the History of Western Painting, ninth graders recreate master paintings with the added challenge of substituting Mickey Mouse as the main character. UNDERSTANDING EVIL In the Nazi Mind elective sophomores examine the Nazi era and its broader context by studying primary sources. e final project for the nationally recognized course is a Nuremberg Trials simulation. A TALE OF TISSUES As an introduction to biology, students read e Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks e unit culminates with a bioethical debate about whether people should have legal ownership of, and/or control over their tissues. A CLASS OF YOUR OWN Senior students have the opportunity to work with a faculty member to create a year-long interdisciplinary project that links research to Chicago community resources.

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