US Curriculum Guide - Newark Academy US Curriculum Guide Newark Academy’s Upper School provides an engaging, supportive, friendly and ethical environment for students. Education takes place both in and outside of the classroom. Students are taught to be high-quality writers, researchers, speakers, problem-solvers, collaborators and critical thinkers who can excel at the undergraduate level and beyond. 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Ninth grade at Newark Academy is a year in which three themes are emphasized. Intellectually, students begin to master the analytical argument. Notions of proof, thesis, evidence and counterclaim occur across subjects, albeit by different names—e.g. a proof in Geometry, a thesis in an English or Humanities paper, and an hypothesis in a Biology lab report. Second, students continue to master the executive functioning skills necessary to be a high functioning, self-reliant adult. These include managing a schedule, planning ahead, keeping track of work and communicating—with teachers, advisors, peers and parents. Finally, ninth graders work on the interpersonal cultural competency skills necessary to navigate the social environment at NA and the world beyond. Fundamental to the growth in these areas are Peer Group Creating Community , and Advisor Groups, as well as a myriad of extracurricular opportunities which ninth graders should explore in earnest. Tenth grade at Newark Academy is a year of identity. Newark Academy gives much attention to sophomores, seeking to prevent them from falling through existential cracks during their high school years. Every student and their family has a meeting with the Upper School Principal to plot out their future courses, to establish an individualized timeline for college admissions testing, and to reflect upon their extracurricular involvements. Tenth graders make important decisions about whether to pursue important programs in 11th and 12th grades, such as the IB Diploma Program and Off-Campus Study. In tenth grade, much of the coursework becomes more abstract and more differentiated by academic performance and interest. By the end of the year, nearly all sophomores master essential study skills. Some students identify their academic strengths and longer-term interests and begin to narrow their extracurriculars to those of the most enduring personal importance. Eleventh grade at Newark Academy offers a medley of increased concentration, freedom and self-reflection. It is a time when many students raise their intellectual game to the next level. Increased academic focus is common as energies regarding their future begin to swirl around them and move to center stage. Junior year may include fewer curricular requirements and more opportunities for advanced courses and electives. Students often take advantage of this by enrolling in an elective of interest. Many Students complete the first year of their IB Diploma courses, along with the Extended Essay during June term. Finally, eleventh graders engage in self-reflection upon entering the college search process honestly, seeking to find the set of colleges that best matches their strengths and interests. Twelfth grade at Newark Academy is a year of rigor, leadership and, finally, of gratitude. Roughly half of each graduating class pursues the full IB Diploma and nearly all others take individual IB and AP courses. Much of their psychic energies are devoted to the college application process. Thus, the fall of senior year can be a busy and emotionally-fraught time. As the year progresses, many seniors successfully shift their energies outward, typically into their leadership roles in the school community. As their year — and their time at NA — comes to a close, we hope that our seniors have made the important shift from extrinsic to intrinsic learner, recognizing that there is much to learn and embrace for its own sake, not merely for a grade or a college admissions or career preparation. They graduate with gratitude for the special opportunities and relationships that marked their high school experience at NA. All Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 All ADMINISTRATIVE ARTS HEALTH HUMANITIES IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM LANGUAGE MATHEMATICS SCIENCE SPECIALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCES ARTS 2D VISUAL ART (6102) This course provides students with a comprehensive foundation in both dry and wet media, allowing students to learn the frameworks of composition, Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about 2D VISUAL ART (6102) ADMINISTRATIVE ACADEMIC WORK PERIOD (7501) Ninth grade students who have demonstrated difficulty getting their assignments done on time—or at all—are assigned to two Academic Work Periods per cycle so that they may devote focused time to improvement. Grade 09 about ACADEMIC WORK PERIOD (7501) ARTS ACTING SKILLS (6130) This course is ideal for students who wish to increase their level of self-confidence and develop their own resources as expressive agents. Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about ACTING SKILLS (6130) ARTS ADVANCED ACTING SKILLS (11-12, two-year course), by audition (6320) An acting class creates a sense of community in the most authentic of ways, and through a shared experience, young artists often carry their theatrical training into their future endeavors. Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED ACTING SKILLS (11-12, two-year course), by audition (6320) ARTS ADVANCED ART (11-12, two-year course) – by application (6500, 6510) This rigorous course is offered to highly motivated students who have a passion for the visual arts and previous experience in the art studios. Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED ART (11-12, two-year course) – by application (6500, 6510) ARTS ADVANCED DANCE (11-12, two-year course), by permission of instructor (6310) This is a technique class for serious dancers who have extensive dance experience. Students will do advanced work in many dance techniques including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, Latin dance, elements of improvisation, and yoga. Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED DANCE (11-12, two-year course), by permission of instructor (6310) ARTS ADVANCED FILMMAKING (11-12, two-year course), by application (6300) This course offers students theoretical and hands-on experience with the practical and artistic applications of digital filmmaking and media production. Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED FILMMAKING (11-12, two-year course), by application (6300) ARTS ADVANCED JAZZ – 4 meetings per cycle (6450) Upper School Jazz and Advanced Jazz are full-year courses that give students a big band experience, Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED JAZZ – 4 meetings per cycle (6450) LANGUAGE ADVANCED MANDARIN (2340) This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Mandarin 3 or its equivalent. Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED MANDARIN (2340) LANGUAGE ADVANCED MANDARIN II (2350) This course continues to address the five C’s of language acquisition. Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED MANDARIN II (2350) ARTS ADVANCED ORCHESTRA – 4 meetings per cycle; once per week after school; by audition (6356) This is an auditioned full-year course for advanced string and piano students who would like the intimate rehearsal and spotlighted performance experiences that chamber music affords. Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED ORCHESTRA – 4 meetings per cycle; once per week after school; by audition (6356) SCIENCE ADVANCED PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS (4440) This course gives students the opportunity to apply to physics more fully the advanced math methods they have learned in other courses. Grade 11 Grade 12 about ADVANCED PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS (4440) MATHEMATICS ALGEBRA 1 (5100) This course in intermediate algebra covers the elements of analytic geometry and trigonometry. The primary goal of Algebra 2/Trigonometry is to help our students gain a deeper understanding of fundamental topics that will help them develop into quantitatively literate thinkers. Grade 09 about ALGEBRA 1 (5100) MATHEMATICS ALGEBRA 2/TRIGONOMETRY (5210, H-5220) This course in intermediate algebra covers the elements of analytic geometry and trigonometry. The primary goal of Algebra 2/Trigonometry is to help our students gain a deeper understanding of fundamental topics that will help them develop into quantitatively literate thinkers. Grade 09 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 about ALGEBRA 2/TRIGONOMETRY (5210, H-5220) AMERICAN LITERATURE (1200) By examining a range of genres and voices in American Literature—from the poetry of Emily Dickinson to the prose of Hurston, Fitzgerald, and a variety of contemporary authors Grade 10 about AMERICAN LITERATURE (1200)