For a more compact list see Current Courses

Foreign Language

• French I

  Basic grammar and spoken French. Emphasis on conjugating verbs, acquiring vocabulary.

• French II

  This class expands and reinforces what students have learned in French 1. It offers a variety of written exercises; including games and situational activities, where students can practice what they have already learned. Both language skills and cultural contents are checked. This class will enable students to practice speaking french with their classmates in pairs or in small groups. Because structure, vocabulary and culture have been interrelated, students will communicate in french using authentic expressions. The course provides students with the vocabulary, structures and cultural understandings necessary to communicate in authentic french about a range of practical, everyday situations.

• French III

  This class expands and reinforces what students have learned in French II. It offers a variety of written exercises; including games and situational activities, where students can practice what they have already learned. Both language skills and cultural contents are checked. This class will enable students to practice speaking french with their classmates in pairs or in small groups. Because structure, vocabulary and culture have been interrelated, students will communicate in french using authentic expressions. The course provides students with the vocabulary, structures and cultural understandings necessary to communicate in authentic french about a range of practical, everyday situations.

• French IV

  Continuation of grammar with special attention to more advanced tenses and moods and with emphasis on the spoken language.

• French V

  This class expands and reinforces what students have learned in French Intermediate.
  It offers a variety of written exercises; including games and situational activities, where students can practice what they have already learned. Both language skills and cultural contents are checked. This class will enable students to practice speaking french with their classmates in pairs or in small groups. Because structure, vocabulary and culture have been interrelated, students will communicate in french using authentic expressions. The course provides students with the vocabulary, structures and cultural understandings necessary to communicate in authentic french about a range of practical, everyday situations.

• German I

  German I covers the basic vocabulary, grammar, speaking, and listening skills necessary for simple, functional communication. Students will learn to read and write simple texts, and explore culture and contemporary life through a creative learning program. Students will also be expected to participate in creative activities, complete group and individual projects, and research-based activities inside and out of the classroom.

• German II

  German II continues the program from Level I of vocabulary, grammar, speaking and listening skills. The content encourages proficiency in conversational skills. The student reads and writes more material than in Level I and continues to explore culture and contemporary life. Students will also be expected to participate in creative activities, complete group and individual projects, and research-based activities inside and out of the classroom.

• German III

  German III is designed to increase the student’s knowledge of vocabulary and to complete most of the grammar. The student becomes more at ease with understanding and speaking the normal speech of everyday German. He/she reads longer, more advanced selections and writes short creative and/or expository themes. The student will study the cultural patterns of daily living, as well as topics concerning arts and sciences.

• Latin I

  This course is designed as an introduction to give students a working knowledge of basic Latin vocabulary and grammatical structures which enables them to comprehend connected Latin passages. Simultaneous study of English derivatives from Latin and the Latin roots used in English can provide students with a tool to increase their vocabulary. Roman society, culture and their contribution to western civilization are also stressed as well as an emphasis on grammar, syntax, vocabulary and translation.

• Latin II

  This course continues the skills learned in Latin I. Simultaneous study of English derivatives from Latin and the Latin roots used in English can provide students with a tool to increase their vocabulary. Roman society, culture and their contribution to western civilization are also stressed as well as an emphasis on grammar, syntax, vocabulary and translation.

• Latin III

  This course continues the skills learned in Latin I. Simultaneous study of English derivatives from Latin II and the Latin roots used in English can provide students with a tool to increase their vocabulary. Roman society, culture and their contribution to western civilization are also stressed as well as an emphasis on grammar, syntax, vocabulary and translation.

• Spanish Conversation A

  A required addendum to all Spanish classes. This course is not offered for credit. Students are grouped by lingual ability for conversation completely in Spanish with the instructor for one hour per week.

• Spanish Conversation B

  A required addendum to all Spanish classes. This course is not offered for credit. Students are grouped by lingual ability for conversation completely in Spanish with the instructor for one hour per week.

• Spanish Conversation C

  A required addendum to all Spanish classes. This course is not offered for credit. Students are grouped by lingual ability for conversation completely in Spanish with the instructor for one hour per week.

• Spanish Conversation D

  A required addendum to all Spanish classes. This course is not offered for credit. Students are grouped by lingual ability for conversation completely in Spanish with the instructor for one hour per week.

• Spanish I

  The students learn to understand basic spoken Spanish, to speak basic Spanish using acceptable pronunciation, to read and write basic Spanish. Students also acquire a general knowledge of the geography, history and culture of the Hispanic people.

• Spanish II

  In this course, increased emphasis is placed on oral-aural ability. Writing and further grammar study are major parts of course content. Hispanic culture is explored through the study of foods, songs, and assigned projects. Study Abroad/Foreign Exchange opportunities for students accelerate the rate of learning and enhance the retention rate of Spanish at this level.

• Spanish III

  The students work on the official curriculum of Spanish III, according to the Roanoke County specifications. We concentrate on regular and irregular verb conjugations, present, past, future, conditional, and reflexive verbs. The students bring in weekly journals and papers on assigned subjects. We also concentrate in conversation, a student guided activity and class discussions on several topics. They will read Don Quixote de la Mancha, discuss the book in class and read other Spanish literature. The desired instructional model for this class will be ONLY in Spanish.

• Spanish IV

  Students continue to develop oral-aural skills in various situational activities, with an emphasis on conversation, as well as comprehension and writing skills based on the different genres of elementary Hispanic literature and cultural topics.

• Spanish V AP

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Literature and Writing

• 21st Century Theater

  21st Century Drama: Return of the Problem Play” is a brief survey course of American dramatic literature of the new century. The “Problem Play,” which has its roots in works by writers like Alexander Dumas and was “developed in the 19th century to deal with controversial social issues in a realistic manner, to expose social ills, and to stimulate thought and discussion on the part of the audience.” Norwegian playwright Henrick Ibsen became the master of the “Problem Play.” We’ll begin with a sample from Ibsen and then look at plays from the last ten years that directly tackle social issues — plays that might be called “Canvassing Plays” for their conscious efforts “campaign.” The reading list includes works that we’ll tackle in class. Then the independent project will include works that you will read on your own. You will select one of those plays and prepare a class presentation of about 20 minutes.

• Basic Composition

  This course is a base line writing class designed to guarantee that everyone at CHS has solid writing skills. The goal of the course is for the five paragraph essay to become second nature. Students are required to read, discuss and then write. Good writing is a result of careful thinking and well developed basic skills. All entering students must get credit for this course or “write out of it.”;”NULL

• Beat Literature

  This course is a survey of Beat Literature that is threaded through the works of authors from the NY Beat movement through to the San Francisco Beat movement.

• Contemporary Southern Literature

  In this course, we’ve read a number of novels, short stories and poems by celebrated contemporary writers form the South or with strong Southern ties, in an attempt to explore the following questions: What, if anything, marks Contemporary Southern Literature as distinct in the broader context of American Letters? How has it changed as a regional literature from its so-called â”Golden Ageâ” in the mid-twentieth century? In addition to a hefty reading load, students will be expected to write a research paper, a critical essay and a short story, and to prepare one presentation on a writer not included in the syllabus.

• Critics and Editors

  This course will help students to think effectively, heighten their intuitions, get them to see a variety of perspectives and develop a “sense of wonder” that is an essential motivator for self directed learning, and a component of living a more fulfilling life.

• Katabasis: Going to Hell

  This course will examine a range of pre-modern, modern and contemporary texts, whose theme is a decent into Hell. Students will learn about the classical and pre-classical narratives that gave shape to this literary tradition (termed katabasis in Greek), and we will consider some transformations of the tradition. We will also examine historical and fictional descents to Hell in a variety of media (spanning from the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch to the Film “Apocalypse Now”). This class will require a large amount of independent research and a moderate amount of reading (which will vary in length relative to its perceived difficulty). Credit for the Literature component of this course will largely depend upon the quality of the student’s preparation and participation in class discussions. Writing credit will be based on the completion of several writing assignments appropriate to the students’ aptitude.

• Music Criticism

  Lindsey has engaged in this yearlong independent study with me. In addition to reading widely in the cannon of contemporary music and popular culture criticism, from writers such as Lester Bangs, Greil Marcus and Sasha Frere Jones, Lindsey wrote a number of essays. This therefore served as a sort of focused expository writing course.

• New Student Seminar

  The purpose of this course is for me as Director to get to know the new students and to assess their reading, writing, comprehension, speaking and critical thinking skills. Each student has an individual learning style and the sooner we at CH know both his/her current status and potential, the sooner we can be most useful to each student academically and socially. The summer reading will give us the opportunity to explore both reasons why the students have chosen CH and look at how these students view situations outside of their personal environs. As a group, with my assistance and agreement, the class will choose the books to be added to the syllabus.

• Senior Seminar

  A course designed to equip seniors for the transition to college. Writing skills are especially emphasized.

• Writing Section A

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• Writing Section B

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• Writing Section C

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• Writing Section D

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Math and Science

• Algebra

  Students will be using variables to represent numerical values, plotting linear equations, solving linear equations using algebraic techniques, factoring quadratic equations, solving quadratic equations, and solving systems of equations.

• Biology with Lab

  This is a laboratory based course with emphasis in on-hand investigation. The course will include microscope training, scientific method, cell structure and function, classification, genetics, evolution, biological molecurles and dissection of organisms. The course will include two semester projects, independent investigation and tests. Advanced placement credit is optional.

• Calculus

  Students will learn properties and analysis of functions, definition and use of derivatives, definition and use of integrals, series analysis, and advanced problem-solving techniques.

• Earth Science

  Students will demonstrate knowledge of the six steps of scientific method by completing two semester science projects. Investigation will include cycles of nature, geology, weather nad planetary development. Course will include independent investigation, tests and projects.

• Environmental Projects A

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• Environmental Projects B

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• Geometry

  Students will learn identification and definition of the fundamental concepts in geometry as well as the geometry of various triangles and the properties of right triangles, including work on the properties of squares and square roots. Honor Students are required to construct legitimate proofs for geometric situations and solve problems using geometric and trigonometric tools.

• Math Lab

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• Math Lab Algebra/Geometry

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• Math Lab Calculus A

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• Math Lab Calculus B

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• Math Lab Pre-Calculus A

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• Math Lab Pre-Calculus B

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• Mathematical Ideas

  Mathematical ideas, an elective that meets once week, exposes students to topics in mathematics that are ordinarily outside of the scope of high school classes. Some of these include logic, number theory, fractal geometry and chaos. The class is not calculation intensive, its goal is to help students appreciate the underlaying principles of mathematics such as symmetry and pattern that, although in many ways simple and beautiful, can be lost in the (necessary) rigor of ordinary math classes. The class is designed to appeal to both students who already have a strong interest in math as well as to those who have not yet been “hooked.”;”NULL

• Physics

  We follow a standard course of study that begins with the laws of motion and mechanics and will wind up at electricity and magnetism and topics in modern physics including relativity and quantum mechanics. The course is taught at nearly a college level with an emphasis placed on concepts as well as problem solving. Where possible examples are drawn from music and the arts as these are fields where a knowledge of basic physics can be particularly enriching. Students may receive lab credit for this course.

• Pre-Calculus

  Functional analysis, introduction and use of transcendental functions, circular and right angle trigonometric analysis, advanced algebraic problem solving, and analysis of graphs.

• Science Seminar with Lab

  Science seminar is a project/seminar based course that is designed to serve the needs of students who do not intend to pursue science in the future academic careers. The course is divided into month long units devoted to a broad topic these include weather and climate, astronomy and cosmology, Disease and epidemics. Several seminar style lectures are given that address the central topic of each unit from a variety of scientific perspectives. Meanwhile, students complete research papers or projects on some aspect of the current topic that is of interest to them further broadening the entire classes coverage of the subject. The goal of the course is to introduce students to many important ideas in science enabling them to appreciate the scientific aspect of issues they will confront regardless their future academic path. Students who complete enough projects throughout the year will able to receive lab credit.

Other Elective

• Ethics

  Students are led in a discussion and debate of various ethical issues. Issues are taken from current events as well as student experiences.

• Opera Studies

  Opera Studies is a survey of different styles, sounds and images that make up the world of opera. In short, opera is an art form that encompasses all of the art forms: music, dance, visual art, acting, singing, stagecraft and more. We’ll begin with a look at what makes an opera — how is it different from a musical, an oratorio or an operetta. We’ll get to know the voices and some of the stars and then work our way to the early baroque works of Monteverdi to contemporary composers like William Bolcum, Mark Adamo and John Adams. By the course’s end you should hopefully take away a working knowledge of what makes opera unique, exciting and oh so relevant that fist-fights over singers have been known to break out. The fall semester will address what is opera and how it cam to be. We’ll then work through the early composers and productions, finishing with the bel canto composers by Christmas. Spring semester will look at ideas of Romanticism, Verismo, the Modernists and finally, contemporary composers. As the year progresses we’ll look for opportunities to see live performances. That’s the best way to experience this unique art form.

• Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll

  Squaresville, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the rise of an American counterculture, and the Backlash of the Silent Majority through literature, television, film and music. Readings include: John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Mario Savio, Betty Friedan, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Tim O’Brien, and Tom Wolfe.

• Soccer/Tennis/Basketball

  An opportunity for students to gather once per week and play various organized games or walk the track for excersise.

• Yoga

  Taught by a certified Yoga instructor, this course is held once a week for an hour. Students learn various yoga positions, postures and breathing exercises.

Social Science and Critical Thinking

• Archeology and Anthropolgy

  This yearlong course served as an introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Paleoanthropology and Archaeology. We used texts intended for college level work, and covered each topic as one would in a freshman level course. Special emphasis has been placed on research methodology and applications outside the field.

• Western Civilizations

  “The West” is a problematic concept that gives more emphasis to Europe than other continents, and to Judaism and Christianity over other faiths. At Community High, we have always sought to offer many ways of understanding Humanity, in classes ranging from Anthropology to African Studies. This class offers only one way of knowing the world. That said, our hope is not to perpetuate ignorance about the rest of the world and its traditions and cultures, but to bring attention to the history of one commonly held tradition of thinking, to understand it and its implications. A study of Western Civilization gives a solid grounding in understanding the World around you, if only because so many politicians, writers, artists, and so on have had this same material as their primary training in how the world works.

Visual and Performing Arts

• Advanced Photography

  Students will understand difficult concepts in composition and transition from digital medium into traditional film medium.

• Art Studio

  Introduction to the materials, techniques and critical language of studio art with oil painting as the primary focus. Topics include: stretching canvas, mixing color, varieties of paint applications, additive and subtractive techniques, an in depth study of painting surface and medium viscosity. Emphasis is on the painting process, therefore finishing artworks will not be emphasized and narrative content will be avoided.

• Band B

  An overview of basic band techniques. Subjects covered include; general public address (PA) use and setup, studio techniques including overview of mixing console, mics. How to work up arrangements of songs, with help in tuning and song structure is also studied.

• Bass Guitar Lessons

  Individual 1/2 hour weekly guitar lessons.

• Beginning Photography

  Introduction of the camera and composition to students.

• Digital Graphics

  Digital Graphics is a course designed to help the student become comfortable editing digital pictures and artwork. It primarily utilizes adobe Photoshop as the core program. This is an elective course.

• Drama

  This is a scene analysis class where students work on character building, staging, and diaologue. A production of Little Shop of Horrors will be performed at the end of the semester for the entire community.

• Drawing

  This course is an introduction to the study and exploration of the basic elements in drawing using a variety of materials/mediums. Students will develop throughout the semester their methodologies and evolutionary intellectual processes in drawing by working on group and individual projects that are based on specific methods. Students are expected to participate in critiques, contribute to discussions, and present when appropriate, the work they have produced as a result of their explorations in the media.

• Drum Lessons

  Students wil receive a 1/2 hour drum lesson per week.

• Film

  The Film Production class will explore what it takes to make a short film from beginning to end. During their journey, students will start by studying the societal impact of film (including a brief history), consider their roll by learning to write for screen, test their organizational skills by storyboarding, casting, and setting locations, have hands on experience with all equipment used while shooting, learn to edit, and how to advertise their projects for presentation.

• Film Genre

  Students will read articles from various film journals. We will screen approximately twelve classic films and discuss them in length. Evaluation will be based on papers, tests and presentations emphasizing historical contextualization, shot and narrative analysis.

• Guitar Lessons

  Students will receive one half-hour individual lesson per week.

• Guitar Lessons

  Individual 1/2 hour weekly guitar lessons.

• Music Theory A

  Course provides an overview of music theory including PA basic understanding, song writing, and arrangement and band theory and structure.

• Music Theory B

  Course provides an overview of music theory including PA basic understanding, song writing, and arrangement and band theory and structure.

• Performance Band

  Open to high level muscians only, this course is for high level musicians. Students perform with one another at functions both within and outside the school.

• Piano

  Students will be given a half-hour individual lesson once per week.

• Sculpture Art Studio

  Students will be introduced to three dimensional visualization techniques (such as drawing and model-making) applicable to both additive and subtractive processes. Exploration of both processes using a variety of materials and tools, including, but not limited to plaster and styrofoam-subtractive, cardboard, foamcore, posterboard, found objects – additive. Students will achieve an understanding of various problems of structure, construction, finish and presentation of suclpture while increasing their vocabulary and ability to analyze, understand and articulate responses to various kinds of sculpture.

• Theater Production

  Theatre Production is an immersion of theater styles, production and exploring each student’s potential as an actor or as a production specialist (props, lighting, costumes, set construction, marketing and so forth). Once again, students will have the opportunity to explore variety of ways theater artists express their ideas and practice their craft. Students will have the opportunity to study monologues and scenes as well as participate in the creation and performance of three plays: Vaudeville Chekhov, The Diviners, and Charley’s Aunt. Along the way we will examine voice production, character analysis, script analysis and performance strategies.

• Watercolor Painting

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