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Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the Course Offerings Booklet for the 2022-2023 academic year! As we begincourse advising and scheduling for next school year, the Course Offerings Bookletprovides relevant information for students and parents to make wise decisions aboutacademic choices. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the course offerings,procedures and the requirements needed for graduation. We offer a variety of coursesdesigned to provide students with solid foundations to be successful in tertiary educationand beyond.

We encourage parents and students to consider taking advantage of the opportunity toenroll in additional courses in our many electives and in our core departments. Weencourage you, as a family, to take the time to map out your future aspirations and goalsfor your children. Students, as you select your courses for next year, keep in mind yourinterests and your goals and challenge yourself to select courses which will enhance youreducation holistically. We ask that all students become familiar with the offerings and readthrough the course descriptions and prerequisites carefully before choosing a course.

It is our hope that students select carefully and seek counsel from their parents, theirteachers, and their university advisors.

Sincerely,

Elyn NollanAcademic Coordinator for the Secondary School

School Mission and Goals 2

Contact Details 3

Key Dates 4

Academic Requirements 5

Graduation Credits 5Additional Graduation Requirements 6Library Services 7University Advising 7Valedictorian and Salutatorian 7

Academic Guidelines and Procedures 8

Types of Courses 8Advanced Placement (AP) 9

Course Sign-Up Procedures 15

Course Changes 18

Add/Drop 18Switching a course to Pass/Fail and Auditing 18Late Withdrawal 19Withdrawing from a Year-long course 20

Redeeming Credits 21Retaking Courses 21Senior Credit Deficiency 21

Department Philosophies, Mapping/Pathways and Descriptions

English 23Bible 27Math 30Social Sciences 35Science and Technology 43Health & Physical Education (PE) 52World Languages 56Fine & Performing Arts 64

Mission StatementICS equips students to serve and transform their communities by delivering excellent

Christian education designed to cultivate their character, nurture their God-given abilities,and prepare them for life, including tertiary education.

Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs)All students will…

Identify and develop God-given abilitiesCommunicate effectively

Strive for excellenceAct as responsible members of the global community

Know, understand, and apply Biblical principlesThink independently, creatively, and analytically

MottoInstruction for Life | Commitment to Christ | Service to the Community

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Head of Schools Dr. Brian Modarelli modarellib@ics.edu.hk

HS Principal Dr. Emerson Keung keunge@ics.edu.hk

Dean of Curriculum andInstruction

Mrs. Liz Hutchison hutchisonl@ics.edu.hk

Dean of Co-Curricular, ServiceLearning and Pastoral Care(MAD, WWW)

Mr. Brian Van Tassel vantasselb@ics.edu.hk

Academic Coordinator Mrs. Elyn Nollan nollane@ics.edu.hk

Curriculum Department Chairs

English Language Arts Ms. Debs Taylor taylord@ics.edu.hk

Bible Mr. Kiel Nation nationk@ics.edu.hk

Mathematics Ms. Debbie Morris morrisd@ics.edu.hk

Social Sciences Mr. Michael Vander Kooi vanderkooim@ics.edu.hk

Science and Technology Mr. Carmel Kilpin kilpinc@ics.edu.hk

PE/Health Mr. William Schroeder schroederw@ics.edu.hk

World Languages Mrs. Christine Van Tassel vantasselc@ics.edu.hk

Fine and Performing Arts Mr. Chris Meyer meyerc@ics.edu.hk

University Advisors Ms. Jinny WongMs. Alex Wiseman

wongj@ics.edu.hkwisemana@ics.edu.hk

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2022-23 KEY ACADEMIC ADVISORY & SCHEDULING DATESAcad. Advisory & Scheduling Events Dates

Dates for Course Key Changes 2022-23 2022-23

Deadline to add honors Aug. 19

Deadline to drop honors (mid-Q1) Sept. 6

Deadline to switch to pass/fail or audit (mid-Q1) Sept. 6

Late withdrawal deadline (S1 and year-long courses) Oct. 14

Preliminary Course Selection for 2023-24 Nov. 3-21

G9-11 (HS) Course sign-up commences in Tribe Nov. 3

G8 Course sign-up commences in Facegroup Nov. 3

G8-11 Student Deadline Nov. 18

G8-11 Parent Deadline Nov. 21

S2 Add/Drop session (Dec 2019) Dec. 1-15

Deadline to add honors for S2 courses Jan. 17

Deadline to drop honors for S2 courses (mid-Q3) Feb. 15

Deadline to switch to pass/fail or audit (S2 courses only) Feb. 15

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Late withdrawal deadline (S2 courses only) Mar. 21

Final Course Selection Dates Feb. 16-Mar. 6

G9-11 (HS) Course sign-up commences in Tribe Feb. 16

G8 Parent Intro. to HS Night Feb. 24

G8 Course sign-up commences in Facegroup Feb. 16

G9-11 Course Emphasis Week Feb. 16-23

G7 Course Course sign-up commences in Facegroup Feb. 20

Course sign-up Advisory in Tribes Feb. 17, 23, Mar. 2

Individual advising with Admin Advisors for course sign-ups Feb. 23-Mar. 3

G7-11 Student Deadline Mar. 3

G7-11 Parent Deadline Mar. 6

Add/drop session for 2023-24 student schedules May 8-15

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Minimum Graduation Course CreditsGraduation requirements for the high school are based on four years of attendance. To graduatefrom ICS, a student must earn a minimum of 25 credits in total. Credit is awarded based onsuccessful course completion. One credit is equal to a course taken for a full academic year. Inkeeping with the philosophy and goals of ICS, each student is expected to earn minimum creditsfrom various academic departments:

4.0 credits of English - In Grades 9 and 10, English Language Arts 9 and 10 satisfies therequirement. In Grades 11 and 12 students can choose from several English coursesranging from literary style and genre.

1.0 credit per year of Bible - While attending ICS, students are required to take a credit ofBible courses each year.

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3.0 credits of Math - These credits depend on math placements and usually includeGeometry, Algebra and Pre-Calculus.

2.0 credits of Social Science - These credits include European History and Asian Studies,which are required for Grades 9 and 10. In Grades 11 and 12, students can choose fromseveral humanities courses that further develop areas of inquiry and research.

2.0 credits of Science & Technology - These courses must include lab-based sciencecourses. Students who wish to pursue a career in science may decide to take additionalscience courses.

0.5 credits of Health - This course is required for students in G.10 or above.

1.5 credits of Physical Education - These courses include PE Boys and Girls in G.9 andAdvanced PE in G.10.

2.0 credits of World Languages - Two credits of world languages, Chinese, Spanish orother languages are required to graduate.

2.0 credits of Fine & Performing Arts - These credits must include visual or performing arts.

Students are expected to register for a full load of courses. This means that students who are inICS all four years of HS will normally complete at least 26 credits by graduation. In addition,students will need to fulfil all credit requirements and beyond the minimum requirements as statedabove.

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Minimum Annual Course Loads

Grades 9 and 10 7 minimum credits per year

Grades 11 and 12 6 minimum credits per year

Credits can be earned in the following ways:

Courses A - H blocks 0.5 credit per semester

Courses during P blocks 0.5 credit per year

Unscheduled Courses● Advanced Individual Sports Contract● Leadership (Football)● Independent Filmmaking● Independent Writing

0.5 credit

Online ICS Courses 1 credit

Approved External Courses (including external online courses)as per the External Course Guidelines

Credits may vary - countstoward the annual course load

Additional Graduation RequirementsIn addition to the minimum course credits, each student must successfully complete the followingrequirements for each year of high school at ICS:

Make A Difference (MAD) projectThis is a project that students in grades 10-12 plan and implement to make a difference.(G11 students engage in 2-year projects that take them through to G12). A reflection paperand presentation are required at the end of the project. MAD projects are graded on aSuperior - Pass - Incomplete basis and will appear on transcripts. Grade 9 students do amore structured program of community service involvements. Please see the Make ADifference Manual for more information.

Week Without Walls (WWW)WWW is a week-long, off-campus learning experience designed to challenge the heartsand minds of everyone involved. It forms an integral part of the secondary curriculum eachyear and is part of the graduation requirements for all students.

The goal of the WWW program is to challenge students physically, emotionally,intellectually, and spiritually, in order to produce a greater awareness of the world aroundthem, their place in that world, and the challenge that Christ brings to their spiritualdevelopment.

Students are expected to participate in at least one WWW experience where the focus isprimarily service during their high school tenure. In addition, all WWW programs will havea service component. WWW programs are graded on a Pass - Incomplete basis and willappear on transcripts.

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*Co-CurricularsCo-curricular activities are beneficial for graduation and include all school-sponsored orschool-affiliated activities outside of the regular school classroom/course structure (e.g.student council, sports, music groups, clubs, Week Without Walls, service activities, Make aDifference Project, school camp, small group Bible studies, etc). These activities allow forstudent development that is consistent with a biblical worldview in a wide range of areasand contexts outside of the classroom such as skills, attitudes, character, knowledge, senseof identity, relationship with God and with others. We desire students to see all aspects oftheir lives as part of God’s world.*Co-curricular options are reviewed, updated and published each year.

Library ServicesThe ICS Library supports High School (HS) courses by providing resources for teachers andstudents to use for reading and research purposes. The library has purchased a number of sets ofnovels and informational (non-fiction) books specifically to support the HS curriculum. The Libraryalso subscribes to several online databases, including EBSCO, JSTOR and GALE In Context thatprovide students with access to up-to-date eBooks and encyclopaedias, as well as newspaper andjournal articles, for when they engage in inquiry. The Secondary Teacher-Librarian works closelywith Social Science, English, Math, Chinese and Science faculty to teach students research andcitation skills, including methods of evaluating information and the importance of acknowledginginformation sources. The ICS Library has a large HS fiction collection sorted by genre for freechoice borrowing, plus a number of sets of non-fiction and fiction texts for assigned reading inEnglish classes.

University AdvisingThe University Advisors provide individual and group sessions for university advising. Groupsessions begin with G.9 and both individual and group workshops are scheduled for Grades10-12.

Universities commonly require credits over and above the minimum ICS graduation requirement.Many university admission policies demand four credits in each of the core disciplines (languagearts, social sciences, world language, mathematics, and science).

Students should carefully research university entry requirements, as these can vary widely fromcountry to country and university to university, and can be very specificand stringent. During the course sign-up process, students will have the opportunity to consultwith advisors to determine an appropriate course of study.

G12 courses are considered to be the top course in each subject area. At ICS, top courses may bestudied in G11 or G12. Most universities normally require five or six G12 courses. Students needto check the admission requirements for each university and academic department theyare interested in to determine if specific courses are required for their programs of study.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian DeterminationA Valedictorian (highest cumulative GPA) and Salutatorian (second highest cumulative GPA) arenamed from each graduating class. Only students who have studied at ICS for at least two highschool years are eligible. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian are determined a week beforegraduation based on their cumulative GPA from ICS courses, including estimates from classteachers for G12 spring semester grades. The Valedictorian and ICS Award winner deliverspeeches at the graduation ceremony. In the event that the Valedictorian is the ICS Award winner,then the Salutatorian will also give a speech.

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Types of CoursesCourse Numbering SystemThe first digit of the course number indicates the department to which the course belongs. Forexample, all High School (HS) courses with numbers beginning with 0 earn credit toward theEnglish Language Arts graduation requirement. Higher course numbers do not necessarily imply amore advanced course or higher grade level.

Department indicated by the first digit:

0 English LanguageArts

3 Social Sciences 6 World Languages

1 Bible 4 Science &Technology

7 Fine & Performing Arts

2 Math 5 PE or Health

Honors CoursesHonors courses are delivered by two approaches: dedicated courses and layered courses.

● In dedicated honors courses, all students registered for the course will receive honorscredit.

● In layered courses, students may choose to take the course for either regular or honorscredit.

Those wishing to receive honors credit will be expected to complete more work at a higher levelof difficulty than those taking the courses for regular credit. Students determine their preferenceduring course sign-up. Most honors courses require students to have met prerequisite coursework.Students should check the descriptions of honors courses for their prerequisites.

A student who wishes to change from regular status to honors status in a layered course must doso within the first two weeks of each semester. A student who wishes to change from honors statusto regular status in a layered course must do so before the mid-quarter. As honors courses willrequire extra work, students should be cautious about the number of honors courses that theyattempt.

Students in extra-curricular music performing groups will be given honors credit if they are alsoenrolled in a curricular band (for band honors) or chorus class (for chorus honors). These studentsare eligible for honors credit in music since they participate for an extra hour of rehearsals eachweek, learn extra repertoire, and also have extra performances. Thus the after-school performinggroups are part of a co-curricular music program.

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The following courses are available for honors credit during the 2022-23 year:

Course Title Dedicated Layered

Advanced Honors Art (G11-12) ◊

Foundations of Science ◊

Music (see above) ◊

Honors Pre-Calculus (G11-12) ◊

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 7 ◊

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 8 ◊

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 9 ◊

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 10 ◊

Advanced Honors Professional Workplace Chinese ◊

Advanced Honors Chinese Oral Presentation ◊

Advanced Honors Chinese Culture and Society 11 ◊

Advanced Placement (AP)ICS offers a robust AP program to help prepare students for the demands of university education.The AP program permits students to take exams set by the College Board. Students who scorewell on the exams may receive college credit at the discretion of individual colleges anduniversities. AP courses expose students to rigorous academic programs that use college levelmaterial. Homework expectations are significantly higher for AP courses than non-AP courses. APcourses may also schedule mock AP exams on Saturdays in March and/or April. After thecompletion of the AP exams in May, AP classes will continue, but one block per cycle may begiven to students as a study hall.

At ICS, AP enrollment requirements conform to the College Board’s equity policy:“The College Board is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity toparticipate in rigorous and academically challenging courses and programs. All students who arewilling to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be given considerationfor admission to AP courses.”Students will be accepted into AP courses on the basis of having successfully met all prerequisitecoursework. The following AP courses will be offered in the 2020-21 school year, conditional onsufficient enrollment in each course. See the course descriptions in this booklet for theprerequisites for each course.

During the course registration process, students will have opportunities to consult with the courseteacher and with another advisor (a university advisor, the Academic Coordinator, the HS Principal,or a school counselor) to ensure that they are adequately prepared for AP studies.

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Students should beware of overloading themselves when making course selections. Six or moreAP courses during High School is considered a challenging curriculum. Please consider courseselection prayerfully and carefully.

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The following AP courses are offered in the year 2022-23:

Biology & Lab Music Theory

Chemistry & Lab Physics C & Lab

Calculus AB / BC Physics 2 & Lab

Chinese Language & Culture Psychology

Computer Science A Research

Environmental Science Seminar

English Language & Composition Spanish Language and Culture

English Literature & Composition Statistics

European History Studio Art (Drawing, 2D, 3D)

Micro / Macro Economics US History

World History

Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID)Students may earn the APID by earning a grade of at least 3 on the following five AP examcategories. Only exams for which ICS has an AP course are listed here.

● AP English Language and Composition● AP English Literature and Composition● AP Chinese Language and Culture● AP World History● AP Environmental Science● AP Macroeconomics● One AP Exam from the sciences or mathematics content areas

(Statistics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics C,Physics 2, Computer Science)

● One additional AP exam in the content areas of social sciences, science, mathematics orarts(Statistics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Computer Science, Psychology,Microeconomics, U.S. History, European History, World History, Biology,Chemistry, Environmental Science, Music Theory, Physics C, Physics 2,Studio Art, Seminar, Research)

AP Capstone Diploma

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AP Capstone is an innovative diploma program offered by the College Board. It gives students anopportunity to apply critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and research skills in across-curricular context. AP Capstone is built on the foundation of a new, two-year high schoolcourse sequence - AP Seminar and AP Research - and is designed to complement and enhancethe in-depth, discipline-specific study provided through AP courses.

In order to be eligible for the AP Capstone diploma, students need to take AP Seminar in G11, APResearch in G12, and 4 other AP courses at any time between G9 - G12. Students must receive atleast a 3 or higher in each AP exam taken in this program in order to earn the AP CapstoneDiploma.

ICS started offering AP Seminar in 2017-18, and introduced AP Research in 2018-19. Studentstaking AP Seminar can choose to take the course for either English Language Arts or SocialScience credit. AP Seminar can be taken as a standalone course. It is also a prerequisite for APResearch.

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AP Capstone Brochure

External CoursesICS provides a wide array of course offerings to meet the majority of curricular needs of students.Occasionally ICS is not able to offer a course that is needed, or course schedule conflicts mayprevent a student from taking a desired course offered at ICS, or a student may wish to gainexperience learning in another or online environment, and thus elect to take a course elsewherethat ICS does not offer. To help to fill these needs, ICS has chosen to allow students to access

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external courses (courses taken from another institution), including online learning platforms suchas SevenStar Academy’s courses.

This document applies to students currently enrolled at ICS who desire to access courses offeredby other educational institutions. Other guidelines are in place for transfer students.

Types of Recognition:● Full Recognition: Credit earned from the external course counts toward the ICS graduation

requirements and is listed on the ICS transcript as a transferred credit. However, the gradeearned is not calculated into the ICS G.P.A. When applying for university, transcripts fromthe other institution(s) must be ordered by the student if requested by the university.

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● Exemption upon Testing Out: Students taking Math and World Languages coursesexternally will only be exempted from the corresponding course at ICS after passing ourinternal exam. Credits earned from an external course count toward the ICS graduationrequirements. The grade earned is not calculated into the ICS G.P.A.

● Recognition toward annual minimum course requirements: If the student has already metgraduation requirements in a particular subject area at ICS, then credits earned externallydo not have to be transferred into the ICS transcript. The student can simply submitexternal transcripts to universities along with ICS transcripts. However, approval is stillhelpful if the student would like those external courses to be added to their ICS transcriptor because the minimum number of credits taken at ICS can be offset by credits takenexternally.

Approval ProceduresStudents desiring to take external courses must apply and gain pre-approval for each course atleast two weeks before enrolling in the course. Approval is granted in advance of externalcoursework, not after. This protects and supports student learning by providing timely advice andconsideration of student readiness.

The student should complete and submit Part I of the form “Application for Recognition of anExternal Course” (found online on PS Learning, on the Curriculum& Instruction page) to the Academic Coordinator during school hours. The Academic Coordinatormust approve exceptions to required courses. Parental approval is required and teacher oruniversity advisor recommendation may also be part of this application.

The institution offering the external course must be an accredited educational institution. Bothsummer courses and regular academic year courses can be considered for recognition as on-sitelearning or as distance learning.

The course content of the external course should normally match the course content of acorresponding ICS course to a high degree (as determined by the Academic Coordinator or HSPrincipal in consultation with ICS subject area teachers), and the number of contact hours shouldnormally be comparable with the number of class hours for the corresponding ICS course.

Students and parents will be notified by email as to whether or not the external course will berecognized. Students are not permitted to graduate early from ICS due to taking external courses.

Reporting and Communication

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● Online Courses: Students are responsible for reporting their progress periodically to theOnline Learning Educational Assistant. ICS has a partnership with SevenStar Academy andNorthStar Academy. This enables the ICS Online Learning Educational Assistant to monitorstudents frequently if they are enrolled with these institutions. However, for other externalcourse providers the student needs to report progress.

● Other external courses: Progress in summer courses should be reported at the beginningof the school year to the Academic Coordinator. Courses completed during the semestershould be reported at the end of each ICS Quarter.

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Transfer CreditsThe student must pass the course with a passing grade of 60% or higher. An official transcriptshowing grades granted from the institution offering the external course must be submitted to ICSfor the credit(s) to be recognized. ICS will have direct access to student transcripts from SevenstarAcademy and NorthStar Academy. Credit earned from course(s) will be noted on studenttranscripts as one of the following:

● T (Transfer Credit) - Specific grades earned by the student will be noted on the student’sICS transcript, but will not be considered in the calculation of the ICS student’s Grade PointAverage (GPA).

● I (Incomplete) - will be recorded temporarily if the course has not been completed by theend of the reporting period.

● W (Withdraw) - will be recorded on the transcript if the student withdraws from the courseafter the external provider’s deadline.

● TF - will be entered if the student receives an “F” on the external course and the coursecounted towards their annual minimum credit load. (Does not affect GPA.)

● TI - will be entered if the student did not complete the course and the course countedtowards their annual minimum credit load. Once the course is passed, the grade willchange to a T. (Does not affect GPA.)

Course FeesStudents are responsible for paying all course fees relating to the external course, unlessotherwise specified. For certain courses, students are eligible for reimbursement of course fees.However, for other courses there will be no reimbursement. ICS budgets a maximum number ofstudents who can be reimbursed each year.

Courses for which reimbursement will be provided (upon successful completion) include those thathave been identified by department chairs and approved by the secondary curriculum committeeas courses that ICS desires to offer but for which enrollment numbers are too small to justifyoffering the course on site. Those courses can be found in the course descriptions for eachdepartment.

Students will need to pay for all other courses, including courses taken for credit recovery. Also,students will need to pay for the above-listed courses if the amount budgeted by the school forexternal course reimbursement has been spent.

***Disclaimer: External course content may not match the corresponding ICS course contentexactly. Students who use an external course as a prerequisite for an ICS course should be awarethat some lack of alignment in the courses might occur.

Additional Online Learning Conditions and Procedures● Students (and their parents) who wish to participate in an online course must consider that

online courses require a great deal of self-discipline, personal organization, and motivation.ICS wants to enable students to succeed in approved online courses, but successfulcompletion of each course is ultimately the responsibility of the student. Students shouldprovide the Online Learning Educational Assistant a learning plan that details majordeadlines.

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● Students can sign up to two credits worth of online courses per year. However, a maximumof one credit worth of online courses will count toward the minimum number of creditsrequired per year in each grade level. (For example, 6 credits are required in G11; a G11student would need to take at least 5 credits of coursework at ICS). The maximum creditload allowed per year, including online and ICS courses, is 9. This can only be exceededwith special permission from the Academic Coordinator and HS Principal.

● If students desire to take online courses, they must apply and gain pre-approval for eachcourse. This protects and supports student learning by providing timely advice andconsideration of student readiness.

● ICS has carefully evaluated online course providers and has chosen partners to provide ICSstudent access to their courses. ICS will continue to evaluate and consider new onlinecourse providers.

● Students taking online courses during the school day in Blocks A-H should conduct theirlearning sessions at the designated online learning location. The Online LearningEducational Assistant will check attendance, coach students in being successful using theonline platform, and monitor students’ progress. Students are responsible to check theirschool email/PS Learning account daily. Not responding to notifications from the OnlineLearning Educational Assistant may result in disciplinary measures such as detention, ordenial of future online course applications. Student learning behavior is monitored andlearning behavior ratings are reported on PowerSchool and end of semester report cards.

● The Online Learning Educational Assistant or the Assistant to the Academic Coordinatorwill help students with their online course registration after students attend theirmandatory meeting with the Online Learning Educational Assistant.

● There will be a mandatory meeting prior to signing up for an online course between thestudent and Online Learning Educational Assistant. Students should ask the Assistant tothe Academic Coordinator to schedule this meeting. An optional parents’ meeting may bearranged at the beginning of each semester to suggest how parents might support theirteen’s online learning at home.

*Study BlocksStudents in G9 – G11 will be assigned to a study hall for each block in which they do not have aclass. G12 students will be assigned to study halls if they are enrolled in external online courses.Otherwise, G12 students normally have off-campus privileges during free periods and are notassigned to study halls.*Exceptions to any of the above may be made from time-to-time at the discretion of the AcademicCoordinator or the Principal.

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Course Sign-upsStudents are expected to read over and learn the details of the course sign-up procedures, courseloads, and graduation expectations as emphasized in this booklet. Students should consult withtheir teachers, academic advisors, and university advisors for progression planning and courseselection. We use computer scheduling to ensure that more students get their first choice ofcourses. Unfortunately, however, we cannot promise that you will receive your first choice of anelective course. When signing up for courses, students must keep in mind the followingrequirements:

High School Graduation Plan Worksheet

Graduationrequirements

Grade 920__-20__

Grade 1020__-20__

Grade 1120__-20__

Grade 1220__-20__

Bible (4 creditsrequired –

1 for  each year atICS)

Foundations ofFaith 1 & 2

(1 credit)

SpiritualFormation,

L.E.A.D.(1 credit)

Life of Christ,Philosophy &

Theology(1 credit)

Doctrine &Apologetics,

Christ & Culture(1 credit)

English(4 credits required)

Grade 9Language Arts (1

credit)

Grade 10Language Arts (1

credit)

Math (3 creditsrequired)

Social Sciences(2 credits required)

European History(1 credit)

Asian Studies(1 credit)

Science &Technology

(2 credits required)

Foundations ofScience(1 credit)

World Languages(2 credits required)

Fine & PerformingArts

(2 credits required)

P.E.(1.5 credits required) P.E. 9 (1 credit) Advanced PE

(0.5 or 1 credit)

Health(0.5 credits required)

Electives

Min. Course Load 7 credits 7 credits 6 credits 6 credits

*The above credits represent the minimum required for graduation.  Many university admissionpolicies demand four credits in the following disciplines (i.e. English, Social Sciences, Language,Mathematics, and Science). 

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Preliminary Course Sign-up (November)All G8 to G11 students who will be returning the following year will undergo preliminary onlinecourse sign-up in November. Course Planning Worksheets will be available to help students plantheir high school courses. Students’ preliminary choices will determine the number of sectionsrequired for each course. Students should consider preliminary course sign-ups carefully to avoiddisappointments getting into certain popular courses.

The final course sign-up season commences in late February when students will finalize theircourse choices.

Course Advising Period (January to March)Students should use their Course Planning Worksheet to plan their courses thoughtfully andthoroughly. They should also discuss their course choices with parents. In addition, they shouldconsult course teachers, tribe advisors, and academic advisors from the administration team tomake well-informed choices.

To help students understand the HS courses, course syllabi and AP summer homework will beavailable for review at Final course sign-up time. Students will have opportunities to discuss coursecontents and ask questions during Course Emphasis Week in January. Tribe advisors will advisestudents on course progression, graduation progress, college readiness, and workloadconsiderations. Should students have additional questions, they can make appointments withacademic advisors from the administration team including the High School Principal, theAcademic Coordinator, the University Advisors, the Secondary Counselors, or the LearningSupport Teacher.

Final Course Sign-up (February)Students are expected to be aware of the following items and to follow our procedure to sign upfor courses:

● Credits already completed and credits needed to graduate● Admissions requirements of universities/departments of interest to them● Whether they have met the prerequisite requirements for a course (Check the Course

Offerings Book and Procedures and/or ask the relevant course teachers.)● Certain courses (e.g. Bible) are required● Only certain courses may be taken more than once for credit (see “Re-taking Courses” in

previous section)● Students are advised to complete their required courses early in high school if possible● Students are advised to complete prerequisite courses early on in high school if possible

(for example, a student highly interested in a 2D design focus for AP Art would want totake Drawing 1 and Painting 1 early)

● Complete their Course Planning Worksheet thoughtfully and thoroughly.● Attend a one-on-one advising session with the tribe/facegroup advisor, university advisor,

guidance counsellor, or academic coordinator to ensure course choices meet grade levelexpectations.

● Following this advisory meeting, students must sign-up online, ensuring accurate data isentered.

● A parent/guardian should then approve online.

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The Master ScheduleA computer-generated Master Schedule will be developed based on all data provided. This willprovide for the needs of the majority of our students. G12 has scheduling priority, followed byGrades 11, 10, and then 9. Student schedules will be available online in May for students andparents. Students wishing to make adjustments to their schedule then have to go through theAdd-Drop process (see section on Add/Drop procedure below).

AP Course Sign-up Considerations for G10 studentsAP courses are considered top level courses in the departments that offer them. As such, they areusually offered to G11 and G12 students. G10 students may take one AP course in addition to APChinese and/or AP Music Theory, providing they meet appropriate prerequisites. Students mustpass all G9 courses in addition to meeting particular prerequisites for the relevant AP course.Students are encouraged to seek wise counsel and to carefully consider their course andcommitment load when making course selections. Please see the course descriptions andprerequisites in each of the department course offerings in this booklet. AP courses available atG10 include:

AP Statistics AP Music Theory

AP US History AP English Language and Composition

AP European History AP Chinese Communication 5

AP World History AP Chemistry

Testing Out of CoursesWe acknowledge that students learn in diverse ways and contexts and at varied paces. Studentswho believe they have already mastered the learning goals of a given course may request to testout of the course to show competency regarding the learning outcomes. For example, this mightbe done if the intention is to demonstrate knowledge of prerequisites so as to accelerate toanother course.

● Criteria: To successfully test out, a student must have a pass of 80% for each assessmentrequired.

● Credits: When a student tests out of a course, the course will not receive credit towardsgraduation requirements.

● Transcript: When a student tests out of a course, the course will appear on the student’stranscript as ‘TO’.

● Procedure:a. Discuss testing out with parents/guardians, seeking their approval.b. Seek pre-approval from the Academic Coordinator at least one month in advance of the

course starting.c. Students who wish to test out of a course to commence an advanced course the following

academic year should organize to test out at least one month prior to the end of the currentyear.

d. Provide a rationale for testing out and explain how the learning was or would be acquired,such as through substantial self-study, tutoring, etc. Testing out will only be facilitated forstudents who are well prepared, to respect the time of graders and administration.

e. Arrange with the Academic Coordinator a suitable time to test out of the course. This mightmean sitting an exam individually or with the current cohort of students enrolled in the course,or a combination of the two where multiple assessments are required.

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Course ChangesAdd/DropThe High School aims to meet student academic needs by providing a flexible system that allowsstudents to better manage their schedules and course loads. This is done through the add/dropprocess where students may apply to switch courses or to move their classes around to createmore convenient schedules. There will be an add/drop period in May 2022 to cater for differentstudent needs.

Students must follow the procedure below to apply for such changes. All add/drop requests mustbe submitted within the add/drop period. An announcement will be made on Schoology prior tothe add/drop period. Add/drop requests received after the period will not be processed.

● May: This add/drop period allows students to make changes to their scheduled courses forthe next academic year after the master schedule is announced.

● December: During the last 2 weeks of semester 1, students are allowed to change theirsemester 2 course choices. Changes to year-long courses are considered Late Withdrawals.Please refer to the section on Late Withdrawals below.

● Process:a. Download the add/drop form from the Schoology add/drop announcement or from

the link in the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) folder on Schoology.b. Carefully complete the add/drop form with all necessary changes. Students should

ensure accuracy of their requested changes, as erroneous and incompleteinformation will not be processed. Students may only turn in 2 add/drop forms peradd/drop session.

c. Obtain signatures from a parent, the teachers of courses to be dropped, and theteachers of courses to be added.

d. A course teacher’s signature is still required even if the change is just a movementbetween sections.

e. Submit all change requests together to the Curriculum and Instruction Office withinthe add/drop period.

Switching to Regular/Honors Status for Layered Honors CoursesStudents may only switch their honors status with layered courses - Hon./Foundations of Biology,Chemistry and Physics, AP/Microeconomics, AP/Macroeconomics, AP/Introduction to Psychology,and AP Calculus AB/BC. Students desiring to switch status must complete an Add/Drop form.Deadline for switching to Honors or AP status is the end of the 2nd week of Semester 1 (for S1and year-long courses) and the end of the 2nd week of Semester 2 (for S2 courses). Deadline fordropping Honors or AP status is Mid-Quarter 1 / Mid-Quarter 3.

Switching a Course to Pass/Fail and AuditingTo allow students to participate in further learning opportunities beyond minimum requirementswithin High School while protecting their overall commitment level and well-being, G11 and G12students who have met the minimum required credits within a department and the minimumamount of credits for the relevant grade will be permitted to take a Pass/Fail course or anAttendance Audit course. A maximum of 2 Attendance Audit, Pass/Fail, or External courses maybe taken per year.

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● Pass/FailA Pass will not affect the student’s GPA. However, it will give an additional credit and willappear on transcripts.  A Fail will affect the GPA and provide no credit. Students will needto fully participate in class and complete work as designated up to a passing level.Students desiring to take a course as a Pass/Fail should indicate their intentions on theadd/drop form. They will be signed up after all other add/drops have been fulfilled,providing there is room in the course. Students will have until Mid-Quarter 1 / Mid-Quarter3 to adjust their course status to Pass/Fail providing they meet all criteria.

● Attendance AuditsAttendance Audits require full participation in class. There will be no expectations outsideof class except where a group project is involved. Group project participation requirementswill be at teacher discretion. Students desiring to take a course as an Attendance Auditshould indicate their intentions on the add/drop form within the Add/Drop period. Theywill be signed up after all other add/drops and Pass/Fail course subscribers have beenfulfilled, providing there is room in the course. Attendance Audits do not appear on thetranscript and do not affect credits or GPA. A student who is not participating fully in classor in group projects may be asked by the teacher to withdraw from the audit.

Late WithdrawalWe desire for students to make responsible and thoughtful decisions when selecting courses,therefore minimizing the need to make late course adjustments. Though we want students to beresilient, we understand that at times student workloads may need some adjustments to bettersupport their learning and well-being.

● Deadline: End of quarter 1 or End of quarter 3 for Semester 2 courses● Transcript: If the withdrawal is approved, the transcript will show a ‘W’ to indicate the

withdrawal and the grade at the time of the withdrawal.● GPA: A withdrawal will not impact the student’s GPA. No credit is earned for this course.● Conditions for granting approval:

a. The student has displayed good learning behaviors as judged by their teacherthroughout the quarter

b. The student has regularly sought help and support from their teacher and others beforemaking the decision to withdraw

c. The student does not need the course or credit for graduationd. The student maintains the minimum credit loade. The student requests the withdrawal in writing stating the reasons they would like to

withdraw and explaining the responsibility they take for the situationf. The student’s parents request the withdrawal in writing to the Academic Coordinator,

explaining the steps the student has taken to succeed in the course and the reason forthe withdrawal.

● University Considerations: If a G12 student has completed an early application and thecourse to be withdrawn is related to the potential major, university acceptance may be injeopardy.

● Future Course Selections: Students who withdraw from a course will be strongly advisedagainst overloading themselves in future years.

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Withdrawing from a Year-Long Course in Semester 2 (G11 and G12 only)Year-long courses normally cannot be dropped or withdrawn from past Mid-Quarter 1. For G11and G12 students, an exception may be made under extraordinary circumstances to allowstudents to drop a year-long course at the end of Semester 1. If approved to withdraw, thestudent will receive credit for Semester 1 (unless an F was received) and a “W” (withdrawn) willappear in the transcript for Semester 2. The following special conditions apply:

● Graduation requirements in the subject being dropped have already been fulfilled● The student can provide strong rationale for withdrawing from a course● The student’s credit load will not fall below the minimum credit load after the withdrawal● The course is not critical for the student’s anticipated future plans● Parents and the course teacher consent● Exemplary or Consistent learning behaviors have been displayed during Semester 1

Final decision will be made by the Academic Coordinator in consultation with the High SchoolPrincipal, the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, and/or Student Services.

Administrative WithdrawalAt times, the school may make changes in a student’s schedule due to scheduling conflicts, smallclass size, or placement in a different level of math or World Language. In such cases, studentsand parents will be emailed a copy of the new schedule.

Extended AbsencesStudents who have missed 13 or more classes in a semester are at risk of not receiving credit forthe course. This may result in the administration withdrawing the student from the course. Anadministrative withdrawal may be recorded on the transcript as a failed (F) grade (which wouldimpact GPA) or a withdrawal (W) grade (which would not impact GPA). Extenuating circumstanceswould dictate the course of action.

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Redeeming CreditsRetaking CoursesA student who fails a course may elect to re-take it (or a comparable external course must betaken – see External Courses Policy). If one semester of a year-long course is failed and onesemester passed, the decision as to whether or not the course must be re-taken will be made bythe Academic Coordinator or HS Principal in consultation with the subject teacher. Students mayelect to re-take any course. However, in general students are advised not to retake courses theyhave already passed.

If a course is retaken, the latest attempt in the course will be used for calculating the GPA. Thecourse taken earlier will appear in the transcript with the grade “R”, and will not contribute toeither the GPA or the total number of credits earned. The student should contact the AcademicCoordinator to ensure that this change is made on the transcript.

Exceptions: Certain courses may be taken more than once for credit: theater arts, music, theatertechnology, audio technology (independent learning), yearbook (G11-12), any PE course (G11-12),and Worship on the Word (G11-12). 

Credit RecoveryWhen a student receives an ‘I’ (incomplete) at the end of the semester, they have two weeks fromthe date that reports are released to submit or correct the missing or inadequate work. Insemester 1, students must submit their work directly to their teacher. In semester 2, students mustsubmit their work to the Academic Coordinator in the Curriculum & Instruction office.  

If, after two weeks, the student has not submitted work that is to adequate standard, the studentmay explore the following two options for any credit essential for graduation:

1. Repeat the course entirely – Upon successful completion of the course, the ‘I/F’ grade willbe changed to ‘R’ (repeated), and the student will receive the new grade earned for thenext assessment period. 

2. Complete the course externally – Upon successful completion of a pre-approved externalcourse (as evidenced by submission of a complete transcript from the external courseprovider), the ‘I/F’ grade will be changed to ‘R’ (repeated) and the external credit will betransferred onto their ICS transcript as a ‘T’ (transfer credit). 

If, at the end of the semester reporting period, the student still has an ‘I’, the transcript will show ‘IF’ and the GPA will be affected as if the student received an ‘F’ grade.  If the student thencompletes credit recovery, the student GPA will be re-calculated with the updated grade and the 'IF' for the original course will be replaced with an 'R' on the transcript.

Senior Credit DeficiencyThis section outlines procedures related to participation in the ICS graduation ceremony andreceiving an ICS HS diploma in cases of credit deficiencies. ICS HS diplomas are given to studentswho have met all graduation requirements. Seniors participate in the ICS graduation ceremonywhen their transcript and grades indicate that they are projected to meet graduationrequirements. In the event that an ICS senior is not on track to meet graduation requirements, thefollowing options are available:

OPTION A: Continue to work toward meeting ICS graduation requirements and consequentlygraduate from ICS.

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● Seniors whose transcript and current grades1 one week before graduation indicate that they are projected to bewithin one credit2 of meeting graduation requirements may participate in the graduation ceremony if theyagree to finish all credits within 3 months of the last day of school. Upon completion of these credits andsubmission of official documentation, they will then receive an ICS HS diploma. If graduation credits have notbeen completed by this point, then they will not receive an ICS diploma. Option B will be the only remainingoption.

● Seniors who do not meet the criteria noted above may not participate in the graduation ceremony. However, if,by the end of the spring semester of their senior year, their completed courses (including any external courses3)put them within one credit4 of meeting graduation requirements, they will be given an extension of threemonths from the last day of school within which to meet graduation requirements. Upon completion of thesecredits, and submission of official documentation, they will then receive an ICS HS diploma. If they have notcompleted the required graduation credits by this point, then they will not receive an ICS diploma. Option Bwill be the only remaining option.

● Students who are lacking 1.5 - 3.5 of the required credits for graduation5, 6, 7 by the end of the spring semesterof their senior year may partner with ICS to complete these credits during the following school year. Studentswill pay for and take the needed courses externally for transfer credit. Students will also pay ICS tuition on aprorated basis8. Students will not come to school except as agreed9, and for services such as external coursetest proctoring. Students who complete all graduation requirements by the first week before graduation thefollowing year may participate in the graduation ceremony the following year if they wish. If they have notcompleted the required graduation credits by this point, then they will not receive an ICS diploma. Option Bwill be the only remaining option.__________________________________________________________________________[1] Any external courses taken to regain credit need to be completed one week before graduation for the purposes of this projection.[2] For the purposes of this calculation an incomplete WWW course and incomplete MAD project each count as 0.5 credits[3] Only external courses completed by the last day of school will count in the determination of how many credits have beencompleted.[4] See footnote 2.[5] See footnote 2[6] 3 credits is 50% of a “normal” senior load of 6 credits[7] Only external courses completed by the last day of school will count in the determination of how many credits have beencompleted.[8] Based on number of credits outstanding, as a percentage of the “normal” senior load of 7 credits. The exact amount may varydepending on additional ICS support needs, such as whether a student needs a MAD advisor.[9] For example, attending WWW meetings, if the student was short on WWW requirements, or for agreed upon service.

OPTION B: Students may transfer their credits from ICS to another school where they worktowards graduation according to the other school’s graduation requirements. They will not receivean ICS HS diploma.

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PhilosophyThe English Language Arts Program enables students to read, listen and view informationanalytically and critically from a Biblical perspective. Students are thus empowered to participatein the global community by sharing insights, opinions, and knowledge through effective writtenand spoken language that are powerful tools of communication. 

Progressive skill development in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing enablesstudents to understand other content areas, and provides them with the critical and analyticalthinking skills necessary to obtain, explore, analyze and share information across disciplines and insociety. Students are taught to ask critical questions, use creative thinking, and make connectionsthrough exposure to a wide variety of literature to encourage them to become lifelong readers,creative writers, critical listeners, and effective speakers.

English Language Arts Course Progression Chart (4 credits)(This pathway chart has yet to be edited for 2022-23.)

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Course Description

English 9 (024)Grade 9 - 1 CreditGrade 9 Language Arts is an introductorycourse. During the year, a variety of literature isstudied, emphasizing active reading, criticalreflection and literary analysis, and writtenresponse. Concurrently, students will also developtheir writing skills – both creative andanalytical. They will be taught writingfundamentals including the writing process,research, informational, argumentative, andcreative writing. It is intended that criticallystudying literature will inform, inspire, anddevelop writing and composition.  

English 10 (025)Grade 10 - 1 CreditGrade 10 English Language Arts offers students aselection of poetry, short stories, novels,nonfiction, and drama. Students will also developtheir skills of close reading, critical thinking, andscholarly writing. They will refine higher levelanalytical skills in literature, and practice bothcreative and expository writing genres. Thepractice of listening, speaking, and research willbe reinforced, empowering students to expressthemselves in a clear, yet scholarly manner. This isa required course for all G10 students.

Journalism (013)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: English 10The Journalism course provides students with anopportunity to improve their writing skills andhave their work read by the audience of the ICSschool newspaper. Students will learn to writefeature stories, editorials, personal profiles andcolumns, and will create editorial cartoons andphoto stories. Journalism ethics and a career injournalism will be explored. Students will discussand write about current news events. The finalassessment in this course will be a portfoliocontaining a selection of the student’s best workalong with their reflections on the process ofcreating it. Students in Grades 11-12 may takeJournalism ONCE for credit.

Advanced Journalism (026)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: English 10 and JournalismThe Advanced Journalism course providesstudents with an opportunity to improve theirwriting, editorial, and leadership skills in theproduction of the ICS school newspaper.Advanced students will learn and apply editorialskills and assign news stories, features, andeditorials to the regular Journalism coursestudents. As section editors, advanced studentswill also create page layouts and edit articles,photos, captions, and headlines. Students willmore fully explore journalism ethics and a careerin journalism. Students will discuss and writeabout current news events. The ongoing and finalassessments in this course will be the publicationof the ICS High School student newspaper.Students in Grades 11-12 may take AdvancedJournalism ONCE for credit.

Rhetorical Writing and Speech (017)Grades: 11 - 12 - 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: English 10In this class, students will learn effective persuasivewriting and speaking, especially the use of figuresof speech and other compositional techniques. Bycompleting this course students will understandthe differences between spoken and writtenlanguage, hone purpose-related research andwriting skills, including brainstorming, outliningand drafting. Students will have four to fivecompositions to write and present over the courseof the semester, including narrative, informative,and persuasive speeches with a call to action. Asstudents share their writing through oralpresentations, they will develop skills in listening,interpersonal and group communication, andpublic performance, as they grow inself-confidence in public settings.

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College Writing (052)Grades: 11 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisite: English 10This course focuses on preparing students foruniversity level writing. Students will learn theskills needed to be successful in an academicsetting, such as seminar presentation, SATvocabulary mastery, developing a resume anddefending opinions. They will write researchpapers, college entrance essays, SAT and ACTessays, reviews, and articles. They will alsoexplore writing genres that can enrich theirpersonal lives such as family stories, poetry, travelblogs, advertisements, personal creeds, shortstories, and dialogues. Students will gain the skillsto be coherent communicators, and enhance theiropportunity for success in whatever career theychoose. College-level critical thinking and writingskills are expected of students by the end of theyear.

Novels from a Global Perspective (032)Grades: 11-12 - 1 CreditPrerequisite: English 10This is a seminar course in which students willstudy a variety of novels from different countries,become familiar with their social, historical andcultural backgrounds, and examine themes andcharacters in the light of the ethos of thosecultures. While studying the novels, students willalso experiment with a variety of creative andpersonal writing, following the various steps ofthe writing process.

Independent Writer (053)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: English 10This course provides a practical and hands-onopportunity for students to develop their writingskills by working towards creating writing thatcould be published. They will also developindependent management skills, creativity, andtime management. Students will apply the skillslearned in many of the earlier English courses buthave the freedom to create an original piece ofwork through continuous time and work.  Although this is an unscheduled course, studentswill be required to set regular meetings with theteacher to receive feedback on their progress andideas. Students who take this course shouldensure that they have a suitable course scheduleto allow time for production and editing. They willneed to develop a working knowledge of theindustry in which they wish to publish their work.

Literature and Culture (054)Grades: 11 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisite: English 10

In this course, students will explore key historicalliterary and cultural movements in history andlearn how literature has a clear progression ofideas and form. We will explore the worldviewrepresented in each epoch and how literature andother cultural expressions have reflected it and, insome ways, shaped it. This course counts as aprerequisite for AP English Literature andComposition.

Language and Power (034)Grades: 11 - 12 - 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: English 10From God speaking the world into existence, tocreating humans with the ability to use language,to the expectation of human responsibility tolanguage, the biblical narrative is clear about thepower of language. Students will examine a rangeof texts from popular culture to explore issuesrelated to language in the areas of acquisition,history, thinking, identity, and the future. By theend of the semester, participants will have anunderstanding of the connections betweenlanguage and power in a wide range of domainsand settings.

Science Fiction (035)Grades: 11 - 12 - 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: English 10Science Fiction shows us other worlds; itdescribes possible future societies and theproblems lurking ahead. It also shows how humanbeings can and do create these future worlds -that our future is in our hands. We will explore thisgenre through a range of texts: e.g. short stories,novels, graphic novels, films, music. Students willbe asked to wrestle with the questions these textsask such as the social, cultural, and ethicalimplications of technology and science. Studentswill be given opportunities to look at how sciencefiction texts have at times accurately predictedthe present and where they have failed, and why.

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AP English Language & Composition (020)Grades: 10 - 12 - 1 CreditStudents wishing to take this course in G10 musttest out of English 10.AP English Language and Composition is acourse where students will read and criticallyanalyze excellent writing. It focuses on thedevelopment and revision of evidence-basedanalytic and persuasive writing and the rhetoricalanalysis of non-fiction texts. They will deepentheir understanding of the ways writers uselanguage to communicate well. Writingassignments will include expository, analytical,and persuasive essays. Students evaluate,synthesize and cite research to support theirarguments. In preparation for the College Boardexamination, students will receive practice inwriting timed essays and in tacklingmultiple-choice questions. Students should beable to read and comprehend college-level textsand apply the conventions of standard writtenEnglish in their writing.

AP English Literature & Composition (009)Grades: 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: AP Language or one of theliterature-based electivesAP English Literature and Composition is aseminar-style course in which students will readclosely and critically analyze works from severalgenres and periods covering the 16th to the 20th

century. They will deepen their understanding ofthe ways writers use language to provide bothmeaning and pleasure. Students will consider awork’s structure, style, and themes, as well as theuse of figurative language, symbolism, and tone.Writing is an integral part of this course. Writingassignments will focus on the critical analysis ofliterature, and will include expository, analytical,and persuasive essays. In preparation for theCollege Board examination, students will receivepractice in writing timed essays and in tacklingmultiple-choice questions.

AP Seminar – AP Capstone (030)Grades: 11 - 12 - 1 CreditAP Seminar is the first year of the AP Capstoneprogram, taking AP Research for the second yearis encouraged but not mandated. It engagesstudents in cross-curricular inquiry, exploring thecomplexities of real-world topics and issues byanalyzing multiple perspectives. Students willread and analyze a range of sources such asarticles, images, videos, interviews, podcasts,research studies, and authored texts. In addition,students will learn to synthesize information frommultiple sources, write research-based papers,formulate an argument, and design and deliveroral and visual presentations, both individuallyand as part of a team.

AP Research (031)Grades: 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: AP Seminar

AP Research is the second year (following APSeminar) of the AP Capstone program. Studentsare responsible for designing, planning, andconducting a 3 month long research basedinvestigation to address a research question oftheir choice. They will then spend quarter 3writing up their findings and results. The coursecovers literature review; research methodology;employing ethical research practices; collectingdata; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizinginformation. Students document their processesand skill development, and record thedevelopment of their scholarly work in a gradedportfolio. The course culminates in an academicpaper of approximately 4000–5000 words and apresentation with an oral defense.

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PHILOSOPHYWe believe that truth exists. It is found in the person of Jesus Christ, and is revealed in the Bible and in allcreation. The Bible is the foundation of truth and expresses the narrative of God’s purpose for the world andredemptive plan for mankind. It remains active and relevant for each person today. Students will be guidedto cultivate their knowledge of this narrative and to pursue truth by developing a worldview throughpatterns of thought that are rigorous, intellectually coherent, and Biblically founded.

We believe that each student has been created in the image of God and, as such, is the object of God’sredemptive work in Christ. Therefore, students will be given frequent and authentic opportunities torespond to the invitations of Christ. It is through the transforming work of Jesus Christ that students will beable to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for their lives. Our goal is that students will be forming a value systembased on Biblical principles that will influence their lifelong affections, decisions and actions. As students aresupported through the process of learning to hear and obey God’s voice, they will develop heart patternsthat reflect the heart of God.

As students grow in their relationship with Jesus and their understanding of Christ’s model of service, thisbecomes the basis and motivation for a life of serving others, a personal response to and a reflection ofGod’s love and grace. The resulting attitude of service leads to action which is dependent on the power ofthe Holy Spirit and for the glory of God.

Course Progression Chart (4 Credits Required)● 1 credit for each year of HS at ICS required for graduation● All students have two required semester courses.

Semester 1 Semester 2

Grade 9 Foundations of Faith 1 Foundations of Faith 2

Grade 10 Spiritual Formation L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Evangelism andDiscipleship)

Grade 11 Life of Christ Philosophy & Theology

Grade 12 Christ and Culture Doctrine and Apologetics

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Course Description

Foundations of Faith 1 (120)Grade 9 - 0.5 CreditThis class will focus on inviting students to build asolid foundation of belief in the person of Christand His teachings. Students will examine theChrist-centered Theistic worldview, in comparisonto other major worldviews, and will gain anunderstanding of what it means to apply God’sinvitation to love Him with all their hearts, souls,and minds. Students will be challenged to applythe definitions of faith and truth in theirexamination of the claim of the Bible as God’scollected book of inerrant revelation. Ultimately,the course will provide an opportunity to gain anunderstanding of the whole of Scripture in view ofthe mission of God.

Foundations of Faith 2 (121)Grade 9 - 0.5 CreditFoundations of Faith 2 invites students to answerthe question “How do I understand and applyGod’s written revelation to my life?” The coursebegins by building upon the concept ofworldview by examining how our perspective ofreality impacts our perspective of the Bible. Thecourse then builds by inviting students to use theChristian understanding of reality to make senseof our disintegrated world and to view thenarrative of Scripture from the perspective ofunderstanding God’s mission for humanity: to fillthe earth with the reflection of His glory.Ultimately the course invites students to examinetheir own response to the invitation to participatein God’s mission and to view the world through aChrist-centered lens.

Spiritual Formation (122)Grade 10 - 0.5 CreditStudents will understand that Christ’s example indiscipleship is the model for both the process ofspiritual growth and the product of spiritualmaturity. The stages of spiritual growth identifiedand utilized by Christ will be used as the outlinefor the course. Students will learn to apply theprinciples of spiritual growth taught by Christ andidentify His model both personally and in thecontext of community.

Leadership, Evangelism,& Discipleship(LEAD) (123)Grade 10 - 0.5 CreditThis course is designed to equip students to leadthemselves and others through the process ofreproducing Christ in their circles of influence.Students will develop a deep awareness andunderstanding of the doctrine of the imago Deiand how Christ equips each of us to reflect Himuniquely. Students will practice the skills andapply the principles of Christ-centered missionstatements that guides them in the fulfilment ofGod’s purposes through their lives. ThroughLEAD, students will acquire the knowledge andunderstanding necessary for further growth,preparing them to reflect the Lord in their circlesof influence.

Life of Christ (124)Grade 11 - 0.5 CreditThis class will focus on inviting students tobecome friends of Christ.  Students will examineand apply the concept of Christ’s role as ourprophet, priest, and king.  Students will gain anunderstanding of Jesus as the fulfillment ofprophecy and will not only understand His placein history, but also His relevance to our livestoday.  Ultimately, the hope is that Jesus’ life andmessage will transform students’ lives as theygain a greater understanding of who Christ is intheir individual lives, and personalize theirresponse to Him.

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Philosophy and Theology (126)Grade 11 - 0.5 CreditThis course combines the study of basicphilosophy and Christ-centered theology with anexploration of the highly influential works of G.K.Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien,including: Orthodoxy, Mere Christianity, TheGreat Divorce, and selections from TheSilmarillion, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings.Students also study original works fromworld-renowned philosophers such as Plato andNietzsche. Class discussion is centered onbecoming a real Christian and choosing to makeone’s faith personal, dynamic, active andjoy-filled.

Doctrine and Apologetics (127)Grade 12 - 0.5 CreditThis course is designed to equip the Christianwith answers to the most difficult questions posedby both believers and unbelievers. Within thetheological framework, students will study majordoctrines pertaining to the existence and natureof God, evil, the nature of man, Scripture as thesource of truth, and the church as the body ofChrist. Students will understand and apply thosedoctrines in the context of living out one’s faith ina contemporary culture of competing worldviewsand relativism.

Christ and Culture (128)Grade 12 - 0.5 CreditThe class will focus on challenging students withthe eternal plan and purpose of God for the earthand their role in fulfilling His mission. Students willbuild a solid theological foundation for thebiblical history of cultural interaction andresponse to the plan of God; examine key NewTestament letters to early churches to identifyearly conflicts and victories; examine key historicalwitnesses and events up to the modern daychallenges faced by this generation. Finallystudents will be challenged to reflect on God’splan for integration and develop a personal planfor responding to the invitation to participate inthe mission of God beyond the walls of theirclassroom and to reflect Christ in their circles ofinfluence.

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PhilosophyMathematics is the study of shape, space, pattern and relationshipswhich reflects God’s creation of mankind with creativity and rationality, aswell as God’s creation of a world with design. Mathematics is aconceptual tool that has proved valuable to other disciplines in seekingto understand the world.

The mathematics program at ICS aims to provide students withmathematical knowledge and skills, related skills, attitudes, and Biblicallyconsistent perspectives that will prepare them for the needs of daily life,university, and the workplace.

To achieve these ends, the mathematics program offers a carefullyaligned sequence of courses. Mathematics instruction also involves differentiated instruction, approachingmathematics using multiple representations, creativity and problem-solving, real-world examples andapplications, the integration of technology as appropriate, ethical considerations, written and oralcommunication, and a variety of assessment types aiming at outcomes across the spectrum of thinkinglevels.

● Only courses taken in HS earn credit towards graduation.● Students taking Algebra 1 or Geometry in G8 and receiving a D or below will be required to repeat

that respective course in G9.● All students in Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, or Calculus need to have a TI-84 graphing

calculator.● Students taking external courses in Math can earn credit towards graduation. However, they are still

required to complete the test-out test to ensure similar rigor.

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Mathematics Course Progression Chart (3 credits)Below are two charts explaining more thoroughly Mathematics course offerings, typical progression,acceleration options, and illustrative pathways. These along with the course descriptions andaccompanying prerequisites should inform decision-making. Students should consult with theirrelevant teachers, academic advisors, and university advisors for progression planning and courseselection.

KEY:♢ shows typical progression# shows acceleration

Grades 9 10 11 12

Courses Offered Prerequisites Grade level typically taken

215 Algebra 1 None ♢

208 Geometry Algebra 1 ♢ ♢

222 Math Modelling &Theory

Algebra 1, Geometry ♢ ♢ ♢

207 Algebra 2 Algebra 1, Geometry co-requisite ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

209 Pre-Calculus Algebra 2 and Geometry (Fordetails please refer to the coursedescription)

# ♢ ♢ ♢

252 Honors Pre-Calculus Algebra 2 and Geometry (Fordetails please refer to the coursedescription)

# ♢ ♢ ♢

210 Statistics Algebra 1 ♢ ♢ ♢

216 AP Statistics Algebra 2 # ♢ ♢

221H Calculus Pre-Calculus # ♢ ♢

211 AP Calculus AB B- or higher in Honors Pre-CalculusOr Department Approval

# ♢ ♢

210 AP Calculus BC A- or higher in Honors Pre-CalculusOr Department Approval

# ♢ ♢

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Math Pathways

IllustrativePathways

Pathway 1 Pathway 2 Pathway 3 Pathway 4

G8 Intro.toAlgebra

Algebra 1 Algebra 1 Geometry

G9 Algebra 1 Geometry Geometry andAlgebra 2

Algebra 2

G10 Geometry Algebra 2 andStatistics

Pre-Calculus or Hons.Pre-Calculus and/orStatistics or MathModelling

Pre-Calculus or Hons.Pre-Calculus and/orStatistics or MathModelling

G11 Algebra 2 orStatisticsand/or MathModelling

Math Modellingor Hons.Pre-Calculusand/or(AP) Statistics

Calculus or APCalculus AB and/or(AP) Statistics or MathModelling

Calculus or AP CalculusAB and/or (AP) Statistics

G12 Pre-Calculus orAP Statistics

Calculus / APCalculus AB or BC

Calculus or APCalculus AB or BCand/or (AP) Statistics

Calculus or AP CalculusAB or BC and/or (AP)Statistics

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Course Description

Algebra 1 (215)Grade: 9 - 1 CreditStudents will learn the basic concepts needed tosolve algebraic equations with one and twovariables, as well as strategies in solving practicalword-problem applications. The topics to becovered are Introduction to Algebra, Workingwith Real Numbers, Solving Equations andProblems, Polynomials, Factoring Polynomials,Fractions, Applying Fractions, Introduction toFunctions, Systems of Linear Equations,Inequalities, Rational and Irrational Numbers, andQuadratic Functions.

Geometry (208)Grades: 9 - 11 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Algebra 1Students will learn the essential concepts neededto perform geometric proofs, as well asrelationships of topics in two-dimensional andthree-dimensional geometry. The topics coveredare Introduction to Geometry, Basic Reasoningand Proofs, Parallel and Perpendicular Lines,Triangles, Polygons, Circles, Surface Area andVolume, Transformations, Trigonometry andEnrichment Topics.

Algebra 2 (207)Grades: 9 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Algebra 1 and GeometryStudents may do Geometry concurrently withAlgebra 2, but this should have proper teacherapproval.This course deepens students' understanding ofsequences and series, statistics, data analysis,systems of equations, probability, binomialtheorem, and elementary functions (linear,quadratic, polynomial, square root, circle,exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, andparametric).

Mathematical Modelling & Theory (222)Grades: 9 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Algebra 1 and Geometry(This course will not be offered in the 21-22 academicschool year).This course will be a study of how mathematicscan model the world around us. Mathematicalalgorithms will be given their historical contextand then used in modern applications. Studentswill be assessed at a basic mathematical levelfirst, and secondly on a project set at the rigorlevel of the individual student. Units wouldinclude the math theory context, game analysis,sports kinematics, Biblical math, and financialmath.

Pre-Calculus (209)Grades: 10 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Algebra 2 or departmentalapprovalStudents will examine the properties andreal-world problem-modeling applications ofvarious families of functions (linear, exponential,logarithmic, trigonometric, polynomial, rational,and parametric) using algebraic, numerical, andgraphic perspectives.

Honors Pre-Calculus (252)Grades: 10 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Geometry, Pre-Calculus or A- inAlgebra 2, or departmental approval.In addition to the requirements of Pre-Calculus,Honors students will study elements of matrices,conic sections, polar coordinates and functions,vectors, sequences and series.

Statistics (210)Grades: 10 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Algebra 1Students will examine topics similar to the APStatistics course (data production, probability,statistical inference and hypothesis testing), but ata less theoretical and more practical level. Thiscourse will also emphasize data organization andinterpretation as encountered in daily life. Ifstudents wish to take AP Statistics later they willreceive a total of 1.5 credits for both courses. TheStatistics course credit will be altered to a value of0.5 once the AP Statistics course is completed.

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AP Statistics (216)Grades: 10 – 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Algebra 2Students will examine data production (throughobservational or experimental studies), dataorganization and description, probability as afoundation for understanding statistical inference,and statistical inference and hypothesis testing(for population means, proportions, anddistributions). This course is essentially equivalentto a first semester university statistics course.Technology will be used regularly; therefore agraphing calculator is REQUIRED. Students whoscore well on the external AP statistics exam mayreceive university credit.

Calculus (221)Grades: 11 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites: Pre-CalculusThis course consists of a full high school academicyear of work that is at a high-school level of rigor.Time will be devoted to elementary functionsbefore continuing into limit analysis, derivatives,and finishing with integral calculus. As opposedto the AP Calculus courses, this course is notintended to prepare students for taking the APCalculus test specifically. It will rigorously teachthe same standards yet not have the timepressures of taking the AP Calculus Exam in May.

AP Calculus AB (211)Grades: 11, 12 - 1.5 CreditsPrerequisites: B- in Honors Pre-Calculus ordepartment approvalThe Advanced Placement Calculus AB courseconsists of a full high school academic year ofwork that is comparable to calculus courses incolleges and universities. It is expected thatstudents who take an AP Calculus course will seekcollege credit, college placement, or both, frominstitutions of higher learning. The AP Calculuscurriculum will spend some time on elementaryfunctions, but most of the year will be devoted totopics in differential and integral calculus. Mostcolleges and universities grant advancedplacement and credit to qualifying students asmeasured by the results of an AP Examination inMay. Technology will be used regularly; thereforea graphing calculator is REQUIRED.

AP Calculus BC (219)Grades: 11, 12 - 1.5 CreditsPrerequisites: A- or above in Honors Pre-Calculusor department approval.This course prepares students to take the APCalculus BC exam. Students learn all of the skillsand concepts from AP Calculus AB, as well asadditional topics such as the Taylor series, thebasic calculus of parametric and polar functions,Euler's method, integration by parts, partialfractions, and vector calculus. Students who takeAP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC will earn atotal of 2.0 credits for both courses.

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PhilosophyThe major purpose of the Social Sciences department is to prepare students to be rational, informed, andproactive members of a diverse yet interdependent global society.

To become proactive, students must develop the skills to analyze how decisions, actions and attitudes, bothhistoric and contemporary, interact with culture and the environment, and inquire about the world aroundthem. Social Science classes train students to apply a wide range of analytical skills, to develop their ownconclusions, to use evidence to support claims, to respond effectively to issues from a Biblical worldview,and to communicate effectively within a cross-cultural context. More than two credits is highlyrecommended for anyone pursuing law, international relations, journalism and international business. Wehave recently adopted the C3 Framework for Social Sciences.

Social Sciences Course Progression Chart (2 credits)

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Course Description

European Studies (324)Grade: 9 - 1 CreditUsing a biblical perspective, European Studiesprovides students with a multidisciplinary view ofEurope, and Europe’s influence on Westerncivilization and the modern world. Utilizing the C3Framework for Social Science, this course usesthe dimensions of history, civics, geography, andeconomics. Beginning with Ancient civilizations inEurope and ending with an exploration of issues inmodern Europe, this course examines the majorhistorical events, religions, and philosophies ofthe region, as well as an emphasis on theHumanities. Students will demonstrate researchskills, and learn how to respond to primary andsecondary sources by analyzing, evaluating,critiquing, comparing, and presenting arguments.

Asian Studies (305)Grade: 10 - 1 CreditUsing a biblical perspective, Asian Studiesprovides students with a multidisciplinary view ofAsia, and Asia’s influence on Eastern civilizationand the modern world. Utilizing the C3 Frameworkfor Social Science, this course uses thedimensions of history, civics, geography, andeconomics. Beginning with the classical era inAsia and ending with an exploration of issues inmodern Asia, this course examines the majorhistorical events, religions, and philosophies of theregion. Students will demonstrate research skills,and learn how to respond to primary andsecondary sources by analyzing, evaluating,critiquing, comparing, and presenting arguments.

Microeconomics (306)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceMicroeconomics is taught with the APMicroeconomics class. For a full coursedescription see AP Microeconomics (SS 318). Thepurpose of the course is to expose students tomajor microeconomic concepts and analysis.Students taking this course will not take theofficial College Board AP exam, and at times willhave alternative assessments that better fit theirlearning needs, such as replacing a test with aproject or portfolio of work that demonstratesunderstanding of the topics and objectives.Students will be informed by the instructor whenand how these modifications will be applied. Thiscourse is taught in Semester 1.

AP Microeconomics (318)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceThe purpose of the AP and regularMicroeconomics course is to give students athorough understanding of the principles ofeconomics that apply to the functions ofindividual decision makers, both consumers andproducers, within an economic system from aBiblical perspective. It places emphasis on thenature and functions of product markets, andincludes the study of factor markets and the roleof government’s impact on these specificeconomic units. Graphing and datainterpretations will be key tools incomprehending how the economy operates.Students will examine economics, takingparticular notice of the impact of differentworldviews and their effects on individuals associeties. This course will be taught from aBiblical perspective, helping students understand,appreciate, value and apply biblical principles totheir economic reasoning. AP students will takethe AP Microeconomics test at the end of thiscourse. This course is taught in semester 1.

Artwork byMuyin Chang, Alumni,2019 Graduate

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Macroeconomics (307)Grades: 11 - 12 - 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social Science,Microeconomics recommendedMacroeconomics is taught with the APMacroeconomics class. For a full coursedescription see AP Macroeconomics (318). Thepurpose of the course is to expose students tomajor macroeconomic concepts and analysis.Students taking this course will not take theofficial College Board AP exam, and at times willhave alternative assessments that better fit theirlearning needs, such as replacing a test with aproject or portfolio of work that demonstratesunderstanding of the topics and objectives.Students will be informed by the instructor whenand how these modifications will be applied. Thiscourse is taught in Semester 2, after studentshave completed Microeconomics. Note: Students who have not takenMicroeconomics will be required to complete Unit1 over the Christmas break. They will be tested onthis knowledge in the first week ofMacroeconomics.

AP Macroeconomics (319)Grades: 11 - 12 - 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social Science, APMicroeconomics recommendedMacroeconomics focuses on how the economicsystem works as a whole.  Students study how theeconomy is measured by using concepts such asgross domestic product (GDP) and otherindicators.  Students engage in decision-makingprocesses intended to create an environmentwhere high employment and a higher standard ofliving are achievable using the economic tools offiscal and monetary policy.  Graphing, datainterpretation, and Biblical evaluation will bestressed as tools to use in understanding how theeconomy operates. Students will examineeconomics, taking particular notice of the impactof different worldviews and their effects onindividuals as well as societies.  This course will betaught from a Biblical perspective, helpingstudents understand, appreciate, value, and applyBiblical principles to their economicreasoning. AP Students will take the APMacroeconomics test at the end of this course.Note: Students who have not taken APMicroeconomics will be required to complete Unit1 over the Christmas break. They will be tested onthis knowledge in the first week of APMacroeconomics.

Introduction to Psychology (309)Grades: 11 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceIntroduction to Psychology is taught alongside APPsychology. For a full course description see APPsychology (317) This course introduces studentsto the science of psychology from a Christianperspective. Students who choose to take thiscourse will gain a much deeper understanding ofself, others, and the world around them.Introduction to Psychology is not a prerequisite toAP Psychology, and students who takeIntroduction to Psychology should notsubsequently take AP Psychology. To better meettheir learning needs, students taking Introductionto Psychology will, at times, have differentlearning objectives and alternative assessments tothe AP Psychology students. Students will beinformed by the instructor when and how thesemodifications will take place.Note: Students can only choose Introduction toPsychology OR AP Psychology.

AP Psychology (317)Grades: 11 - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceThe purpose of AP Psychology is to introduce thesystematic and scientific study of the behaviorand mental processes of human beings from aChristian perspective. Students will consider thepsychological facts, principles, and phenomenaassociated with each of the major subfields withinpsychology, including the history of psychology,the biological basis for psychology, humandevelopment, cognition, personality, abnormalbehaviour, and social psychology. Students alsolearn about the ethics and methods thatpsychologists use in their science and practice.Psychology is an extremely useful and diversecourse, with relevance to students interested inbusiness, education, medicine, law, and athletics.It is often a prerequisite in the aforementionedfields in university. AP psychology provides alearning experience equivalent to that obtained inmost college introductory psychology courses. Note: Students can only choose eitherIntroduction to Psychology OR AP Psychology,not both.

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Introduction to Human Rights (314)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceIntroduction to Human Rights guides students todefine Human Rights as expressed by both theinternational and Christian community. Thecourse places importance on a range of casestudies where human rights have been violated.These cases are examined with a historicalperspective of the country, region or place, andthese case studies are also analyzed from theperspective of the victims and the perpetrators.

Middle East Studies (323)Grades: 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: 2 Credits of Social ScienceMiddle East Studies provides students with amultidisciplinary perspective on Southwest Asia.Careful examination of the regional history,geography, and religious milieu will be applied tothe analysis of current problems, trends, andevents in the wider region. Middle East Studiesand AP World History compliment each other, butare not pre-requisites for each other.

Introduction to Anthropology (321)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceThis course surveys and explains the cultural,linguistic and biological legacy of humankind,from antiquity to the present, using the researchtools of anthropology.  Anthropology is both ascientific and humanistic endeavor that attemptsto explain the differences and similarities betweenand among human groups.  Anthropology studieswhere people come from, who they are, whatthey do, and why they do it. The study of theseprinciples will be grounded in a Biblical/Christianworldview perspective.

Introduction to Sociology (322)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social ScienceIntroduction to Sociology analyzes humaninteraction and studies the application of scientificmethods to the observation and analysis of socialchange, norms, groups, intergroup relations,social stratification, institutions, and basicsocialization processes. This course providesinformation to guide students in developing anawareness of the processes involved in humaninteraction. To this end, the course is designed toprovide students with opportunities to learn thebasic elements of sociology as an analyticalbehavioral science, while also considering Biblicaland Christian worldview perspectives related tohuman development.

AP US History (308)Grades: 10 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social Science, or G.10with a 95% in European StudiesThis course is offered every other year and will beoffered in 2022-23.The AP US History gives juniors and seniors anopportunity for university credit. The course,spanning 1490 to 2000, has an in-depth andrigorous agenda. Students will consider variousaspects of the American political, economic,social, cultural, intellectual, and diplomatichistorical experience. If this is a course yourequire, it is strongly suggested that you showyour intention by signing up during preliminarycourse sign-up. If you wait until G12, it may notbe available. It is strongly encouraged (but notrequired) that you take AP World History beforetaking this course.

AP World History (316)Grades: 10 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social Science, or G.10with a 95% in European StudiesAP World History builds upon concepts andcontent from all of the prerequisite social sciencecourses to compare world civilizations andanalyze their interactions and their developmentover time. Given the wide breadth of subjectmatter it would benefit students to take as manyhistory and literature courses as possible prior toenrolling in AP World History. It is recommended(but not required) that students take AP WorldHistory before AP US History or AP EuropeanHistory, as the skills learned in AP World arebeneficial to subsequent AP history courses.

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AP European History (320)Grades: 10 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisite: 2 Credits of Social Science, or G.10with a 95% in European StudiesThis course is offered every other year – it willnext be offered in 2023-24.The study of European history since 1450introduces students to cultural, economic,political, and social developments that played afundamental role in shaping the world in whichthey live. Without this knowledge, we would lackthe context for understanding the developmentof contemporary institutions, the role of continuityand change in present-day society and politics,and the evolution of current forms of artisticexpression and intellectual discourse. In additionto providing a basic narrative of events andmovements, the goals of AP European History areto develop (a) an understanding of some of theprincipal themes in modern European history, (b)an ability to analyze historical evidence andhistorical interpretation, and (c) an ability toexpress historical understanding in writing. It isstrongly encouraged (but not required) that youtake AP World History before taking this course.

AP Seminar – AP Capstone (330)Grades: 11 - 12 – 1 CreditAP Seminar is a foundational course that engagesstudents in cross-curricular conversations thatexplore the complexities of academic andreal-world topics and issues by analyzingdivergent perspectives. Students will use aninquiring framework to practice reading andanalyzing articles, research studies, andfoundational literary and philosophical texts. Theywill also listen to and view speeches, broadcasts,and personal accounts, and experience artisticworks and performances. Students will learn tosynthesize information from multiple sources,develop their own perspectives in research-basedwritten essays, and design and deliver oral andvisual presentations, both individually and as partof a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equipstudents with the power to analyze and evaluateinformation with accuracy and precision in orderto craft and communicate evidence-basedarguments.

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0

Science Philosophy (2 Credits from Lab-Based Courses)Science is a method for gaining knowledge about the natural world and the body of knowledge that hasbeen gathered over time using observation and experimentation. The ICS Science Department focuses onthe areas of Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and the Nature of Science.

As part of a Christian school, we seek to develop in students an appreciation for the orderliness andcomplexity of the natural world and for God as its Creator. We believe the natural world is one of the waysin which God reveals Himself to mankind (Rom. 1:20) and that He is its continual sustainer (Col. 1:15-17). Aspart of a community of learners, we use a variety of instructional methods, with an emphasis on laboratorywork and hands-on experience, to meet the needs of all students and to encourage them to work to thebest of their abilities. We seek to develop students who are curious, capable of thinking scientifically, andable to work individually or as part of a team to solve problems. All courses follow the Next GenerationScience Standards. They are lab and inquiry-based.

As a school that is actively engaged in and witness to the community, we seek to develop students whomorally and ethically apply their scientific knowledge and higher level thinking skills to real life. The studentswill be prepared for further study of the sciences after graduation, and conscientious stewards of theenvironment.

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Notes for course selection● All students must complete a minimum of 2 lab-based science credits to meet graduation

requirements. It is recommended that students wishing to pursue post-secondary education takeat least 3 science credits.

● All students are required to take Foundations of Science (FBS) or FBS Honors in Grade 9.● Students who desire to pursue a career in science need to make sure they have taken the necessary

AP science courses combined with the necessary prerequisites (see course descriptions).● Normally AP Science courses are offered to students in Grades 11 and 12. Students who wish to

take these courses in 10th grade must show excellence in the necessary prerequisites.● Suggested courses for specific science careers:

o Engineering: Pre-AP Physics, AP Physics 2 and C (STEM recommended)o Medicine: Pre-AP Chemistry, AP Chemistry and AP Biology (in any order)o Other careers: Please consult with HS Science Teachers and University Counselors

Two charts are shown explaining illustrative pathways, typical progression, and acceleration options. These,along with the course descriptions and the accompanying prerequisites, should inform decision-making.Students should consult with their relevant teachers, academic advisors, and university advisors forprogression planning and course selection.

Illustrative Pathways for Science (for reference only)

Illustrativepathways

Pathway 1Minimum credits

Pathway 23-4 credit

Pathway 34.5 - 5 credits

Pathway 45+ credits

Pathway 5Accelerated pathway 1

Pathway 6Accelerated pathway 2

G9 Foundations of Science Foundations ofScience / Hons.Foundations ofScience

Foundations ofScience / Hons.Foundations ofScience

Foundations ofScience / Hons.Foundations ofScience

Foundations ofScience / Hons.Foundations ofScience and Hons.Physics

Foundations ofScience / Hons.Foundations ofScience and Hons.Chemistry

G10 Any one of:Chemistry /Hons. Biology /Hons. Chemistry /STEM / Forensic Science /Human Anatomy &Physiology /Earth Science /Environmental Science

Up to two of:Chemistry /Hons. Physics /EnvironmentalScience

Hons. Physics&/orSTEM

Hons. Chemistryor Hons. Biology

AP Physics CAP Physics 2&/or STEM

AP Biology

G11 Physics CAP Physics 2&/orRobotics 1

AP Biology orAP Chemistry

AP Physics 2 /AP Biology /AP Chemistry /Robotics 1

AP Chemistry

G12 AP EnvironmentalScience

AP Physics CAP Physics 2&/orRobotics 2

AP Biology /AP Chemistry

AP Physics 2/AP Biology /AP Chemistry /Robotics 2

Potentially leadingto careers inEnvironmentalScience

Potentiallyleading tocareers inEngineering

Potentiallyleading tocareers inMedicine orVeterinary

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KEY: ♢ shows typical progression, # shows acceleration

Progression 9 10 11 12

Courses Offered Prerequisites Grade level course offerings

414 Foundations of Science None ♢

473 Hons. Foundations of Science None ♢

490 Sport and Exercise Science None (For details please refer tothe course description)

♢ ♢

450 Hons. Biology Foundations of Science # ♢ ♢ ♢

407 Chemistry Foundations of Science # ♢ ♢ ♢

451 Hons. Chemistry Foundations of Science # ♢ ♢ ♢

452 Hons. Physics Foundations of Science # ♢ ♢ ♢

410 Forensic Science Foundations of Science ♢ ♢ ♢

415 Earth Science Foundations of Science ♢ ♢ ♢

416 Environmental Science Foundations of Science ♢ ♢ ♢

417 Human Anatomy & Physiology Foundations of Science ♢ ♢ ♢

455 STEM (Principles of Engineering) Foundations of Science ♢ ♢ ♢

456/457 Robotics 1 and 2 STEM ♢ ♢ ♢

420 AP Environmental Science4202 AP Env. Science Lab

Foundations of Science, Chemistryor Pre-AP Physics

♢ ♢

425 AP Physics C4252 AP Physics C Lab

Foundations of Science,Pre-AP Physics,Hon. Pre-Calculus takenconcurrently

# ♢ ♢

422 AP Physics 24222 AP Physics 2 Lab

Foundations of Science,Pre-AP Physics,Hon. Pre-Calculus takenconcurrently

# ♢ ♢

435/436 AP Biology/AP Biology (Lab) Foundations of Science,Pre-AP Biology (recommended)or Pre-AP Chemistry

# ♢ ♢

445/446 AP Chemistry/Chemistry Lab Foundations of Science,Pre-AP Chemistry

# ♢ ♢

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Course Description

Foundations of Science (414)Grade: 9 – 1 CreditThis course introduces students to the basicprinciples of biology, chemistry, and physics andprepares them for more advanced study later on.This course is a 'doing' course, where theprocesses of science (modelling, investigating,analyzing, etc) are more important thanmemorizing facts. Biology components: cells andmetabolism, genetics; physics component:kinematics, Newton's Laws, motion and energy(mechanics); chemistry component: matter - mass,volume, density, slope, significant figures,particles in motion; energy (movement vs temp;C, F and K temp range), gas laws, particles -elements in the periodic table.

Honors Foundations of Science (473)Grade: 9 – 1 CreditThe Honors Foundations of Science coursechallenges students with extra or higher levelprojects, and more difficult questioning than theregular Foundations of Science course. Topics areconsistent with the regular course, but will requiredeeper understanding. Students seeking toaccelerate and who show high performance levelsshould take the Honor-level course.

Chemistry (407)Grades: 10 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisite: Foundations of ScienceThis course is designed for students who want tohave a solid foundation in chemistry and whowant to refine their laboratory skills. This is courseis useful for any AP Science course as itstrengthens  many general concepts found withina Science based course. It is often also very usefulfor students who want to progress further inforensics or anatomy and physiology.

Honors Biology (431)Grades: 9 (Accelerated) - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Foundations of ScienceThis biology course is a more in-depth coursefollowing the 9th grade science course. It will helpstudents learn to appreciate the creatures aroundus, and understand the marvels of the humanbody. The course will cover important conceptsincluded but not limited to: science, technology,evolution, relationships between structure andfunction, ecology and the scientific process.Students will dive into the content throughhands-on activities, projects, and labs. It isrecommended that students take this course ifthey are interested in taking AP Biology.

Honors Chemistry (451)Grades: 9 (Acceleration) – 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisite: Foundations of ScienceThis course is designed as a precursor for APChemistry. Students will cover the topics  andprinciples found within AP Chemistry - atomicstructure, physical properties of matter, chemicalreactions, rates of reactions, thermochemistry,and equilibrium. They will perform experimentsthat will prepare them for the laboratory workfound in AP Chemistry such as titrations andgravimetric analysis, as well as stoichiometry.Students will be expected to perform complexcalculations and inquiry-based laboratory work.G9 students who desire to take this course mustmeet the following criteria: 80% or above in G8Algebra 1 in Q2, and 80% in G8 Science in Q2,and Learning Behaviors of 3 or above in G8Science courses. Should any of the above criterianot be met, a recommendation for accelerationfrom the G8 science teacher is required. Beaware: This course will be taught at a rigorouspace, catering for mature science students, andstudents must take Foundations of Science at thesame time. Note: If a student does not performwell, their GPA will be affected. G8 students whobelieve they meet the criteria can apply for theacceleration opportunity during Quarter 3, whena form and due date will be posted onSchoology.

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Honors Physics (452)Grades: 9 (Acceleration) - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: GeometryCorequisites: Algebra 2This course focuses on the foundational Physicsknowledge and skills that matter most for collegeand career readiness. Students engage withquestions designed to encourage thinking that iselevated beyond simple memorization and recall. The topics covered are Kinematics, Newton's lawsof motion, uniform circular motion, work, energy,and momentum. Topics revolve around big ideassuch as systems, fields, interactions, change, andconservation. The course emphasizes integratingcontent with science practices like modeling,argumentation, data analysis, and the use of mathroutines and established experimental methods. Itdevelops powerful reasoning tools that supportstudents in analyzing the natural world aroundthem.Honors Physics will use right triangletrigonometry, quadratic equations, linearfunctions and inverse functions. Students areexpected to study these concepts beforehandand complete a summer assignment in Algebra 2if they have not previously taken that course. Thiscourse will be taught at a rigorous pace, cateringto students with a strong background in scienceand mathematics.

Forensic Science (410)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Foundations of ScienceThe aim of this course is to introduce students toscientific method and inquiry-based learning inthe specific context of forensic science (sciencefor the courts). The course is designed to utilize awide range of scientific skills. Topics will include:crime scene, types of evidence, analysis offingerprints, ballistics, blood analysis and bloodsplatter, autopsy, and drugs.

Earth Science (415)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Foundations of ScienceThis elective course provides students with abasic understanding of Earth Science andGeology. Units covered include the Earth inSpace, Model of the Earth, Tectonics, EarthChemistry, Rocks and Minerals, Resources andMining, Weathering and Erosion, Rock Recordsand the History of Continents. Some studies inastronomy will also be included.

Environmental Science (416)Grades: 10-12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Foundations of ScienceEnvironmental science is a project based inquirycourse that provides an introduction to the studyof the environment. Students will study science asa process as it relates to the diversity andinterconnectedness of ecosystems, the underlyingchemistry of environmental issues, energy andalternatives, and the large-scale impact thathumans have on the environment.

Human Anatomy & Physiology (417)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Foundations of ScienceIn this course students study the systems of thehuman body, focusing on specific organs andtheir functions. We will also look at diseasescommon to each system. This course isrecommended (but not required) for thosepreparing to take AP Biology. Students who havealready taken AP Biology may find this coursesomewhat repetitive, but they are able to learnmore of the human body at a slower pace.

STEM (Principles of Engineering) (455)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Foundations of Science, Algebra 2(can be taken concurrently)This course adopts a flexible approach andwelcomes all students who would like to explorethe wide variety of work engineers do and theprinciples they employ through engineeringprojects using design thinking.   Depending onyour interests and skills, you can choose to workin any of the engineering fields. Some options are: ● 3D modelling and simple animation using blender● creating vector graphics with Inkscape● prototyping with the laser cutter● programming the Microbit to develop solutions to

problems● constructing an electric house● building and testing bridges● rubber band powered car● coding video games on Scratch● coding Pasco smart carts using blockly● Google cloud website deployment and

development● building iPhone app using Swift, etc.You will document your engineering processthrough electronic notes and photos. There areno tests in the course.  Each project is assessedthrough the design process rubrics. Take yourtime and learn a skill. At the end of the course,you will work on a project of your choice. Socome and explore the world of engineering anddevelop some skills even if you do not want to bean engineer.

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Robotics 1 (456)Grades: 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: STEM (Principles of Engineering) orTeacher approvalRobotics 1 is a lab-based course that uses ahands-on approach to introduce the basicconcepts of robotics, focusing on the constructionand programming of autonomous mobile robots.The students will work in groups to build labexperiments and test more complex VEX robots.They will be learning about robotics engineeringconcepts related to sensor reading andmechanical systems. The students will beintroduced to VEXnet, object manipulation,speed, power, torque & DC motors, drivetraindesign, lifting mechanisms. This would be aSemester long course that could be followed byRobotics 2.

Robotics 2 (457)Grades: 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Robotics 1 or teacher approvalRobotics 2 would involve advanced programmingapplication of the learning from Robotics 1 inadvanced application of the design andprogramming principles learned in Robotics 1.

AP Environmental Science (420)Grades: 11, 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites:● Foundations of Science● Chemistry or Honor Physics● Environmental Science would be an

advantage.Corequisites: AP Environmental Science Labcourse (4202)This course is an excellent AP for students whowant a broad exposure to many subjectdisciplines, because it touches on other APsubjects, such as Economics, Chemistry,Psychology, Law and Biology. We Learn much ofthe subject content through case studies andlaboratories. We get to spend time examiningcurrent environmental issues by understandinglaws and constitutions. This year will be the firstyear that we will run a full semester lab coursealongside the theory course and students will beencouraged to choose one environmental area onwhich to focus their research and present theirfindings.

AP Environmental Science Lab (4202)Required if taking AP Env. ScienceGrades: 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites:

● Foundations of Science● Chemistry or Honor Physics● Environmental Science would be an

advantage.Corequisites: AP Environmental Science course(420)This laboratory course will prepare students forworking in the field of environmental science.Students will be able to use a wide range of newtechnologies that have recently emerged in thisgrowing integrated discipline. Students will takepart in a variety of laboratories such as: vehicleemission analysis, ozone and carbon detection,soil testing assays, ocean acidification analysis,water testing and eutrophication analysis.Students will be able to solve problems, thinkcritically and apply their knowledge to theirimmediate environment in Hong Kong. Thiscourse will also involve field work and variedassessment including lab reports, presentationsand group projects. This course must be done inconjunction with AP Environmental Sciencecourse work.

AP Physics 2 (422)Grades: 11, 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Honor Physics, Algebra 2Corequisites: Hon. Pre-Calculus and AP Physics 2Lab course (4222).AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, college-levelintroductory physics course that explores a widerange of topics other than Newtonian mechanics.Students cultivate their understanding of appliedphysics through inquiry-based investigations asthey explore these topics:● Fluids, thermodynamics● Electrical force, field, and potential● Electric circuits● Magnetism and electromagnetic induction● Geometric and physical optics● Quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics

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AP Physics 2 Lab (4222)Grades: 11, 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Honor Physics, Algebra 2Corequisites: Hon. Pre-Calculus and AP Physics 2course (422)Students will practice reasoning skills used byphysicists by discussing and debating, with peers,the physical phenomena investigated in class.Students will also design and conductinquiry-based laboratory investigations to solveproblems using first-hand observations, datacollection, analysis, and interpretation.

AP Physics C (423)Grades: 11, 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Honor Physics, Algebra 2Corequisites: Hon. Pre-Calculus and AP Physics CLab course (4232)This is a calculus-based, college-level physicscourse. It deals with the topics covered in Pre-APPhysics such as kinematics, Newton's laws ofmotion, work, energy, and power, systems ofparticles and linear momentum, circular motionand rotation, oscillations, and gravitation. Theelectricity and magnetism portion of the courseprovides instruction in each of the following sixcontent areas: electrostatics, conductors,capacitors and dielectrics, electric circuits,magnetic fields, and electromagnetism. Thecourse starts with Algebra-based Newtonianmechanics, transitioning to calculus-basedPhysics  later. It assists students in developing theskills required for the Physics C Mechanics examand the AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetismexam.

AP Physics C Lab (4232)Grades: 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Honor Physics, Algebra 2Corequisites: Hon. Pre-Calculus and AP PhysicsC (423)Students will practice reasoning skills used byphysicists by discussing and debating, with peers,the physical phenomena investigated in class.Students will also design and conductinquiry-based laboratory investigations to solveproblems using first-hand observations, datacollection, analysis, and interpretation.

AP Biology (435)Grades: 10 (accelerated) - 12 - 1 CreditPrerequisites:● Foundations of Science● Honor Biology (recommended)

or Honor ChemistryCorequisites: AP Biology Lab course (436)This elective course is designed to be theequivalent of an introductory university biologycourse. The emphasis is on context rather thancontent, with an emphasis on inquiry-basedlearning in science. The AP Biology course is nowfocusing on four Big Ideas and will investigate:Evolution, Metabolism, Cells and Communicationsystems, Homeostasis and Coordination,Genetics, and Ecology. Minor labs are includedbut all major inquiry labs are completed duringthe AP Biology lab course. The theoreticalaspects of the labs are part of this class. Studentswho sign up for this course must also sign up forthe AP Biology Lab Course and will receive oneand a half credits total. Students who score wellon the external AP Exam may receive collegecredit.

AP Biology Lab (436)Grade: 10 (accelerated) - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites:● Foundations of Science● Honor Biology (recommended)

or Honor ChemistryCorequisites: AP Biology Lab course (436)This elective will allow the students to have timeto develop and undertake inquiry-based labexperiments. Some of the labs will be long-termand require repetition to produce statisticallyvalid results. Labs will include BLAST analysis,diffusion and osmosis, investigation of enzymes,cellular respiration of insects, photosynthesis,transpiration, bacterial transformation, and crimescene investigation using electrophoresis andanimal behavior labs. Assessment will be by arange of presentations of the lab reports. Thiscourse must be done either before or inconjunction with AP Biology course work.

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AP Chemistry (445)Grades: 10 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites:● G10 with a 95% or above in Pre-AP

Chemistry and C or above in all othersubjects

● G11 or 12 with a B grade or higher in HonorChemistry, or AP Biology for acceleratedstudents.

Corequisites: AP Chemistry Lab course (446)This elective course is designed to be theequivalent of an introductory university chemistrycourse. The course will focus on Six Big Ideas andwill investigate: Atomic Structure, PhysicalProperties of Matter, Chemical Reactions, Rates ofReactions, Thermochemistry, and Equilibrium.Students who sign up for this course must alsosign up for the AP Chemistry Lab Course and willreceive one and a half credits total. Students whocomplete this course will receive the APChemistry designation on their transcript and canattempt the external AP Exam which may result incollege credit.

AP Chemistry Lab (446)Grade: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites:● G10 with a 95% or above in Pre-AP

Chemistry and C or above in all othersubjects

● G11 or 12 with a B grade or higher in HonorChemistry, or AP Biology for acceleratedstudents.

Corequisites: AP Chemistry course concurrently(445)

This elective will allow the students to have timeto develop and undertake inquiry-based labexperiments. Some of the labs will be long-termand require students to design experiments asthey carry out inquiry-based lab work. Labs willinclude: Spectrophotometry, Gravimetric Analysis,Titrations, Chromatography, Qualitative Analysis,Redox Reactions, Kinetics, Equilibrium and AcidBase Experiments. Assessment will be by a rangeof lab reports and lab test. This course must bedone in conjunction with AP Chemistry coursework.

Sport and Exercise Science (490)Grade: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis course is for students who want anintroduction to the field of Kinesiology. Thiscourse will introduce students to the world ofsports and exercise science. Students will grow intheir understanding of the human body and thescience of human movement. This course willcover a range of topics including anatomy,physiology, biomechanics, motor learning,exercise physiology, sports nutrition, sportspsychology, and injury prevention/treatment.Students will learn through a blend of hands-onexperiments and classroom learning. This courseprepares students for university programs inkinesiology, health sciences, health studies,recreation, physical education, and sportsadministration.

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Technology Courses

Our Technology courses equip students withtechnical information, skills, and more; they alsohelp students understand the socialconsiderations and ethical implications of the useof technology from a Biblical perspective.Students will be challenged to directly apply theirknowledge of technology to real life situationsand to develop the lifelong skills ofindependently growing with and utilizingtechnology.

Audio Technology (478)Grades: 9 – 12 – 0.5 CreditAudio Technology gives students the opportunityto acquire the skills of audio mixing andproduction by working on real audio sound mixeswith professional mixing equipment. This coursefills a technology need for students to have thatgolden opportunity to produce “non-live” audio.Students will be introduced to the DAW Logic ProX and be given practical exercises to learn andchallenge their skills in acoustics, audio gear andaudio production. This course will be a layeredcourse with Audio Technology (IndependentLearning).

Audio Technology (Independent Learning)(478A)Grade: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Audio Technology (478)Audio Technology (Independent Learning) is aproject-based course. Students will be given theopportunity during the second semester toproduce real projects for the Worship on theWord musical audio tracks. This is a greatopportunity for audio-loving, music-loving techstudents. This course will be a layered course withAudio Technology (800A). Students shouldcomplete an ‘Audio Technology ApplicationForm’. Forms are available from the AudioTechnology teacher and should be completedbefore course sign ups.

Foundations of Programming (479D)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 Credit(This course will be offered as an online course throughSevenstar Academy.)

Foundations of Programming teaches studentsthe fundamentals of programming using thecomputer language Python. The course providesyou with the concepts, techniques, and processesassociated with computer programming andsoftware development. You will also explore themany programming career opportunities availablein this high-demand field. This course is part of aprogram of study that provides coherent andrigorous content needed for progression in theInformation Technology career cluster. Manyopportunities for programming practice areoffered. The amount of time a student spends inthis course will be directly related to their currentprogramming experience.

AP Computer Science (480D)Grades: 10 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisite: Algebra 2

This course enables students to understand andmaster important concepts of programming, andapply that to solve programming problems usingdifferent languages. Students will solve problemsinvolving primitive data types, methods, andcontrol statements. Later, their inquiry will evolveinto the use of Object Oriented Programming(OOP), which is today’s most common andpractical way to develop software. Throughoutthe course, students will also grow to understandhow computers process information. Thisunderstanding will deepen as students applythese concepts in algorithms that interact withexternal data. Through program developmentprojects students will expand and secure theirknowledge of programming.

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Health Philosophy (0.5 Credit Required)In the Health Education program at ICS we seek to help students develop the knowledge, skills, andattitudes needed to understand, value, and lead a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle which is pleasing to God. Inso doing, students will be better prepared to become responsible global citizens and continue to develop acommitment to life planning with the leading and wisdom of God. Our curriculum guides and nurtures eachstudent by promoting social well-being through positive relationships with God and people, and by givingstudents the means to make and act upon informed health decisions.

Physical Education (PE) (1.5 Credits Required)In Physical Education our teachers seek to optimize the development of each student by teaching Biblicalstandards and values through a balance of physical, cognitive and character-building activities. Werecognize and challenge the divergent needs of students in the spiritual, cognitive, affective, andpsychomotor domains and we seek to provide students with many opportunities to experience success in avariety of activities while reinforcing their natural tendency to move and play.

Program delivery: Differentiation is at the core of our teaching practice. Therefore we strive to make eachlesson a viable learning experience that is also physically challenging for our students. It is expected that allstudents will participate in all activities to the best of their ability.

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Course Description

Health Boys (533) / Health Girls (538)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditRequiredStudents will explore and define the complexityof health and its effect on our relationships andpurpose. They will reflect and analyze their pasthealth in terms of health influences andaccessibility of information, products and services.They will investigate a variety of health conceptsbefore examining those in which they arepersonally interested, choosing from such topicsas nutrition, rest, relationships, emotionalwell-being, addictions and change theory.Students will demonstrate skills that include goalsetting, action planning, self-managing, analyzing,communicating, and decision-making as theyseek to enhance their own health. Students willexamine in-depth a topic of inquiry based onpersonal curiosity and/or concern, demonstratingresearch, interpersonal communication, andadvocacy skills related to health promotion.Students will also demonstrate competency infirst aid and CPR.

Grade 9 PE (538G9)Grade: 9 – 1 CreditRequired Credit for G.9Students receive instruction in a variety ofactivities in order to learn key concepts applicableto all activities. Students will complete eight unitson the following activities:

● Invasion games - Aussie rules, AmericanFootball, Basketball, Netball, Touch Rugby,Football, Handball

● Net & Wall games - Tennis, Badminton, TableTennis, Squash

● Striking & Fielding games - Softball, Hockey,Ball hockey, Cricket

● Aquatics – Swimming, Bronze Medallion,SKWIM, Water Safety, Water Polo

● Movement Activities – Dance, Aerobics,Gymnastics

● Fitness Studies – Athletics, Circuits,Resistance Training

● Adventure & Outdoor Activities –Orienteering, Cooperative Games, Trustgames, Initiative Games

● International Games – variety of games &pastimes played in other countries

Advanced PE (574/574Y)574 – 0.5 credit / 574Y – 1 creditGrades: 10Required Credit for G.10Prerequisite: G.9 PEThis course gives the student an in-depth view oflifetime physical activity by studying subjects suchas: nutrition, wellness strategies, exerciseprogramming, lifetime activities and team sports. Students will apply what they learn byparticipating in a more challenging way throughplanning and analysis of movement. This courseguides students through an in-depth examinationof the effects of exercise on the body, as well asbasic anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, andsports nutrition while participating in a variety ofphysical activities and applying principles they’velearned. Units will be viewed through the lens of“lifetime physical activity” and how theseactivities can help keep students active andhealthy for life.

Personalized Fitness (572/572Y)572 – 0.5 credit / 572Y – 1 creditGrades: 11 - 12Prerequisite: G.9 PE and Advanced PEThis course takes an in-depth look at creating,adapting, and evaluating personalized fitnessplans and developing the essential 21st centuryskill of health literacy. Personalized fitness allowsstudents to discover new interests as theyexperiment with a variety of exercise stylesincluding cardio, strength, and flexibility in anencouraging and non-competitive atmosphere.This course empowers students to createmeaningful fitness plans which are centered onindividual goals and interests. Students willexecute their fitness plans each week in order toprogress in their fitness journey. During each unit,students will participate in beginning and end ofunit fitness assessments that will allow them to setgoals and analyze their fitness journey. Thestudent centered nature of the course allowsstudents to target different areas of fitness inorder to increase their understanding of healthypractices and improve their overall fitness levelboth now and throughout their lifetime.

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Leadership in Physical Education (505)Grades: 11- 12 – 0.5 creditPrerequisite: G.9 PE and Advanced PEAn advanced PE course focusing on leadershipand student teaching. Members of this course willplan and implement quality PE lessons formembers of the Bridges program. In conjunctionwith planning and teaching the ‘Adapted PE’lessons throughout the semester, students willlearn leadership skills by exploring and practicinga variety of leadership concepts and principlesthroughout this course.This is a one-semester course that will consist oftwo parts:● Lesson planning, teaching, and participating

with the Bridges students.● Learning and applying leadership principles.

This is a course where students need to have astrong understanding of sport and movementconcepts. Class time will be split betweenleadership coursework, activity planning, andactivity time.

Sport Team and Leadership (571)Grades: 11- 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: G.9 PE and Advanced PEMembers of the high school that travels andcompetes at ACSC. They must be a member ofanother competitive team within the same sportand play year round. They can apply to receive PEcredit for Sport participation and leadership.Students must be part of the MAD (Make ADifference) course that works with elementarystudents of the same sport. They must eitherparticipate in the autumn football tournamentand Season 3 football. Or the ACSCBasketball/Volleyball as well as competing in theirchosen sport year round for a competitive andapproved team (Approval comes from AD).

The course will have two elements:● Team Training: Team evaluation and

self-evaluation of the student’s performance.● Leadership: Leading and coaching

elementary classes.

This is a full-year course, so ongoing participationis required throughout the school year. As part ofthe class, students will lead a 10-week elementarycoaching clinic. This will include submittingplanning, reflection, and analysis. A reflectivejournal will also be required. Before taking thiscourse students must get approval from theAthletic Director.

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Advanced Individual Sports Contract(580 AIC)Grades: 11 – 12 – 0.5 creditPrerequisite: Completed G.9 & G.10 PEStudents doing an active sport at an internationalor equivalent level must include the followingconditions:

Recognition toward minimum courserequirement:● The student engages in regular training for a

minimum of six hours per week for aminimum of 12 weeks duration.

● The sport must be done at a level beyondwhat can be done at school, or in an area nottaught at school. Examples include HK sportinternational representative (HK HockeyTeam), professional sports team (HKProfessional Football League), participatingregularly in international competitions (Asianteams of golf tournaments).

● The partnering organization is a legitimatesporting organization, approved by the PEDepartment Chair.

● The student keeps a log book detailingactivities performed.

● The student participates in set self-reflectionand analysis activities.

● Partnering coaches and teacher mentorsshall complete assessment and analysis.

● The student attends individual teachermentor meetings to discuss progress.

Conditions and Procedures● Approval is granted in advance of the

coursework, not after the fact. The studentshould complete and submit Part I of theform “Application for Recognition ofAdvanced Individual Sports Contract” to theAcademic Coordinator or PE DepartmentChair during school hours at least two weeksbefore commencing the sport season. Part IIof the form will be returned to the studentindicating whether the course will berecognized.

● The sport organization offering the coursemust be approved by the PE DepartmentChair. Both summer courses and regularacademic year courses can be considered forrecognition.

● The student must pass the course with a C-grade or higher.

● Partnering coaches and teacher mentorsmust complete and submit assessment andanalysis to ICS in order to be recognized.

● Having completed an external sport contractdoes not automatically mean that a reducedcourse load is permitted; a full course load is

normally to be taken (up to the permittednumber of study halls).

However, while working on an external coursewhose duration overlaps with the majority ofan ICS semester, one additional study hallwill be permitted during that semester.

● Students are responsible for all fees relatingto the external sport contract.

● Students are responsible for reporting theirprogress periodically to the relevant facultyadvisor.

● Students / parents are responsible forobtaining appropriate medical liabilityinsurance prior to the start of the sport, andproviding ICS with proof of this insurance.

DisclaimerExternal sport contract content may not matchICS course content exactly. Students who use anexternal sport contract should be aware thatsome lack of alignment in the courses mayoccur.

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Overall Philosophy (Two Credits)Communication is at the heart of the human experience. It is our belief that learning languages is vital to anindependent but global society. With the integration of Christian values, learning languages will reinforcestudents’ respect and understanding of other cultures from a Biblical perspective. Students will also enhancetheir willingness and readiness to communicate God’s love to the world.

Through a practical and interactive approach, with the integration of instructional technology, students willdevelop four communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, which will enable them tointeract effectively and actively in the global community.

The Chinese and Spanish programs at International Christian School (ICS) cultivates students’ ability tocommunicate in these languages with cultural competence. Both language streams enriches students’knowledge about political, economic, and social aspects of the Chinese and Spanish-speaking communities.Students also participate in higher-order thinking and the language programs equip students with thenecessary communicative skills to face the challenges of the 21st century. Chinese Language will be taughtthroughout Middle and High School, and Spanish Language will be taught from G7 onwards.

Philosophy of the Chinese Language ProgramStudents in ICS represent a diverse range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds, from Chinese heritagefamilies who speak Putonghua or a Chinese dialect, to those from Asian countries such as Japan and Korea,to those who are brought up with English as their only language. In order to accommodate differentacademic needs in Chinese learning, the school offers two streams of study: the Chinese Literacy Stream(CL) and the Chinese Communication Stream (CC). The placement of students takes into account theirlearning aptitude and potential in reading and writing. The medium of instruction is simplified characters inwritten form and Putonghua in spoken form.

Philosophy of the Spanish Language ProgramStudents at ICS represent a diverse range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including American,Australian, British, Chinese, European, Japanese, Korean, and South Asian. The World LanguagesDepartment at ICS offers Spanish as one of the world languages with four levels of instruction. Thesecourses cover the beginner to an advanced level, equipping students with diverse skills including basicvocabulary and grammar to sophisticated analysis of literary texts of past centuries and conversationalSpanish to detailed study of modern film. Students will discover and reflect biblically on cultures rich incenturies of history in Spain and Latin American countries. The major portion of study is devoted to skillsand content knowledge, which develops desired student progress in the areas of Spanish phonology andphonetics, syntax and structure, vocabulary, and culture.

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Chinese Literacy Stream (CL)The CL stream provides a Chinese language curriculum for students who demonstrate some ability toconverse in Putonghua or a Chinese dialect and some knowledge in reading and writing Chinese. Studentsare prepared for a higher degree of competence in reading and writing in various literary forms andcommunication skills both orally and in writing. Putonghua is the instructional language. 

Teaching materials are selected from those published in mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore, which aredesigned primarily for overseas Chinese learners. Resources from the Hong Kong local community andauthentic materials are also integrated to enrich learning.  Since teachers are moving toward aself-developed curriculum, various resources and materials will be used to enhance our program.

(This pathway chart has yet to be edited for 2022-23.)

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Chinese Communication Stream (CC) Pathway

The CC stream is designed to provide a Chinese language course for students who have little orno experience in Chinese language. Students are prepared with the pronunciation system (Pinyin),orthography, sentence structure, discourse and culture of the language.  Communicative functionis emphasized both orally and in practical writing forms. The language of instruction is mainlyPutonghua, with English used for explanation where necessary. 

Our teaching materials for the CC stream are designed for learning Chinese as a secondlanguage. They are published in mainland China, Taiwan, Australia, and the United States. Authentic materials and useful sites from the internet are also integrated for learning.  Studentswill be prepared to sit for the Advanced Placement examination in Chinese Language and Cultureduring High School. An appropriate level of typing skill will be necessary for the examination.

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Course Description

Chinese Communication 1 (643)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites:Students who finished MSCC Foundation, MSCC1, or with no previous knowledge in Chineselanguage.

This CC course introduces the rules of Pinyin – theRomanization system, basic vocabulary andsimple grammar. Students will demonstrate use ofthe language in daily situations such as describingfriends, family and common daily objects.Students will read and write with the assistance ofPinyin, and express orally in Putonghua or inwritten form one’s opinions with basicinformation.

Chinese Communication 2 (644)Grades: 9 – 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in theHS Chin Com 1, MSCC2, or equivalent.

This CC course continues to develop the basiccommunication skills. More vocabulary andsentence structures regarding spatial relationship,directions, distance measurements, daily routinesand living environment are covered. Foundationskills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writingare developed. Students will read and write withless assistance of Pinyin, and demonstrate morecomplex ideas in Putonghua and/or in Chinesecharacters. Chinese culture is introduced and theaccuracy in Chinese character writing is expected.

Chinese Communication 3 (646)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in theHS Chin Com 2, MSCC3, or equivalent.

This CC course continues to further develop thelanguage ability in the four macro skills. Authenticmaterials are adopted in discussing Chineseculture and Cross-cultural awareness. Studentswill read and write with little assistance of Pinyin.A variety of practical genres is introduced forcommunication both in Putonghua and in writing.Critical thinking is involved in making personaljudgment and from a Biblical perspective.Students will be recommended to sit for SAT IIChinese Subject test during the course.

Honor Chinese Communication 4 (672)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in theMSCC4, HSCC 3, or equivalent.

This CC course is comparable to a fourthsemester (or the equivalent) college or universitycourse in Mandarin Chinese. It aims to helpstudents develop proficiency and knowledge ofChinese culture in greater depth. The courseprepares students to sit for the AP Chineseexamination the following year. Topics like socialissues, economic issues, political issues andvarious aspects of Chinese culture will beincorporated in the course.  Students will beexposed to articles in a variety of text types andlearn to write in various literary forms. This courserequires students to complete a cultural projectand participate in 2 field trips in Hong Kong orChina.

AP Chinese Communication 5 (673)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in theHS Hon. Chinese Com 4, or equivalent.

This CC course is a mid-high level in the ChineseCommunication Stream. Students will be guidedto further develop the ability to communicate inChinese through learning more advanced andcommonly used structures. The course preparesstudents to sit for the AP Chinese examination.Students will gain experience with thecollege-level work. Students who do well on theAP examination may receive advanced credit,placement, or both at certain institutions.Exemption is subject to individual colleges anduniversities. Topics like social issues, economicissues, political issues and various aspects ofChinese culture will be incorporated in thecourse.  Students will be exposed to articles in avariety of text types and learn to write in variousliterary forms.

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Advanced Honors Chinese Oral Presentation(CC) (675)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Students who are in Grade 10 orabove, attained a pass in MSCL7, or HSCC5, orabove (This course will not be offered in the 21-22academic school year).

The Advanced Honors Chinese Oral PerformingArts course is taught with the CL Oral PerformingArts course. The purpose of this course is toexpose students to different forms of oralperforming arts such as poem and prose recitals,story-telling, comic dialogues and drama.Students will have the opportunity to do enrichedspeech practice in Putonghua and learn toperform to a variety of audiences and in a varietyof settings using different language expressionskills. Students will be graded more leniently thanthe CL Performing Arts course.

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 7 (671)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass inMSCL7 or HSOP(CC), or equivalent. (This coursewill not be offered in the 21-22 academic school year).

This CL honors course is designed for studentswho have demonstrated a foundational level inreading and writing Chinese language. It aims toenhance the usage of the language by inputting avariety of vocabulary and syntax. Students will betaught doing narrative writing with an emphasison scenery narration and illustrative writing inobject illustration. This course will also bridgehigh school Communication stream to Literacystream in the next level of language proficiency.

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 8 (654)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in HSAdv Hon Chin Lit 7, MSCL8, or equivalent.

This CL honors course aims to further enhancethe skills of listening, speaking, reading, writingand typing Chinese. Customs of different races inChina and folklores will be studied. Literatureexcerpts in a variety of genres will be integratedas study materials. Writing formal applicationletters, movie critiques and illustrative writings willbe adopted to further develop the writing skill.

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 9 (661)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in HSAdv Hon Chin Lit 8, MSCL9, or equivalent.

In this CL honors course, students will beintroduced to articles in a variety of genres. Anumber of contemporary writers and the historyof the Chinese New Cultural Movement will bestudied. Students also delve into some literatureextracts and other contemporary materials.Writing will be more focused on descriptive andformal letter writing form. Oral presentations,storytelling and speeches with convincingmessages are practiced in enhancing students’speaking skill. The AP Chinese exam trainingcomponents will be part of the emphasis in thiscourse.

Advanced Honors Professional WorkplaceChinese (level 10,11) (657)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Students who are in grade 10 orabove and have attained a pass in Adv Hon CL 9or above. (This course will not be offered in the 21-22academic school year).

Professional workplace Chinese helps studentslearn career skills and technical language skills ina workplace context. Students develop all fourskills including listening, speaking, reading andwriting. Students learn through communicativetasks and workplace scenarios, includingrole-plays, topic discussions, workplacepresentations, negotiation, examining casestudies and situations involving culturaldifferences, and self-directed research. Field trips,workplace visits, and other interactions withworkplace professionals may be part of thiscourse. This course is similar to PracticalWorkplace Chinese but at a more advanced levelof language proficiency.

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Advanced Honors Chinese Oral Presentation(CL) (676)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Students who are in grade 10 orabove, and have attained a pass in Adv Hon CL 9or above. (This course will not be offered in the 21-22academic school year).Chinese history is rich in a variety of oralperforming arts. This course introduces studentsto different forms of oral Chinese performing artssuch as poem/prose recitals, story-telling, comicdialogues and drama. Students will have theopportunity to do advanced speech practice inPutonghua and learn to perform in front of avariety of audiences and settings using differentlanguage expression skills.

Advanced Honors Chinese Literacy 10 (662)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in HSAdv Hon Chin Lit 9 or ProWP Chin, or equivalent.(This course will not be offered in the 21-22 academicschool year).This CL honors course aims to further developstudents’ listening, speaking, reading and writingskills. Literatures written by writers from differentcountries will be studied. Some Chinese historicaland famous figures will also be introduced.Students are expected to express themselves indescriptive writing, lyric writing, as well asargumentative writing. Critical thinking willinclude understanding arguments made bystudents. Students will also further develop theirspeaking skills in making presentations and moviecritiques.

Advanced Honors Chinese Culture and Society11 (677)Grades: 10, 11, 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass in HSAdv Hon CL 10 or equivalent.This CL honors course is the highest level in CLstream. Students will be guided to appreciate andcompare different literature pieces of famouswriters from Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong andMainland China. Extensive reading from literaturein either Traditional Chinese characters orSimplified Chinese characters will be studied inthis course. Students will have the opportunity tofurther strengthen oral communication skillsthrough drama, news reports, and debates inPutonghua.

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Spanish Language StudiesPlacement of students takes into account their interest and/or prior learning. The medium of instruction isSpanish, with English used for explanation where necessary. Middle School Spanish 1, an introductorySpanish language course, is offered in G8.  Students from this course may progress to Spanish 2 when theyenter High School.

Spanish Pathway

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Course Description

Spanish 1 (667)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditIn Spanish 1, students will be introduced to theSpanish alphabet and pronunciation. Studentswill demonstrate use of the language ingreetings, date and time, introducing oneself andfamily with basic personal information includingphysical appearance, character and clothing;shopping; the home; the neighborhood; weatherand location of Spanish-speaking regions andtheir arts and crafts, etc. Students will be writingsimple texts such as notes, emails and journalentries. Prerequisites: None.

Spanish 2 (668)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Spanish 1, MS Spanish 1, orequivalent.In Spanish 2, students will reinforce their priorknowledge and continue to develop grammar. Students will demonstrate use of the language indescribing leisure activities, travel andimmigration, school life, personal life, historicalevents, and people of Spanish-speakingcountries.  Students will be writing texts such asemails, stories, news articles, travel brochures,informal letters and narrative writings -incorporating one’s opinion when comparing orcontrasting information.

Spanish 3 (669)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass inSpanish 2 or equivalent.In Spanish 3, students will continue to strengthentheir prior knowledge and develop more complexgrammar. Students will demonstrate use oflanguage in habits, childhood, ideal candidatesfor a job position, and comparing the culture,social habits and customs in Spain orSpanish-speaking countries to one’s own.Students will be writing texts such as resumes, lifestories, biographies and travel journals. Studentswill express opinions or desires through debates,giving advice, and/or expressing actions that areprohibited. 

Spanish 4 (670)Grades: 10, 11, 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass inSpanish 3 or equivalent.In Spanish 4, students will continue building uponprior knowledge while developing a morecomplex grammar and vocabulary. Students willpractise to communicate important lifeexperiences, elaborate on the arts as a culturalexpression through painting, sculpture, music anddance, express opinions and perspectives ontopics related to health and nutrition, personalitytraits, conflict resolution, future professions, andissues of historical and environmental concern.This course will also prepare students for APcourse in the following year and developlanguage proficiency through application ofinterpersonal communication, presentationalwriting and speaking, and interpretive reading,writing, listening and speaking.

AP Spanish (678)Grades: 11 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: Students who attained a pass inSpanish 4 or equivalent.In the AP Spanish course, the teaching andlearning will emphasize communication byapplying interpersonal, interpretive, andpresentational skills in real-life situations. Thisincludes vocabulary usage, language control,communication strategies, and culturalawareness. The course will also continue todevelop students' awareness and appreciation ofcultural perspectives, particles and appreciation.The instruction will be supported with APresources and multimedia support.

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Overall Philosophy (Two Credits)Fine and Performing Arts is valued at ICS because it is integral to the total human experience and uniquelymirrors God's creative image. An effective and challenging curriculum in Fine and Performing Arts providesstudents an avenue for expressing creativity, beauty and spirituality. They are also given an opportunity toidentify, develop, and celebrate their God-given abilities. The Fine and Performing Arts Department offers awide range of courses in four diverse areas: Visual Art, Theater Art, Music, and Media Studies.

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Visual Arts PhilosophyThroughout history, the visual arts have been an inseparable part of the human journey, describing,defining, and deepening that experience. In contemporary society, artwork has become embedded in ourdaily lives that we cannot help but respond to it. Therefore, visual arts education is necessary to empowereach student to make critical judgments and appropriate responses regarding art – allowing students toreflect on artwork as a viewer, creator, or participant. The visual arts courses include the four disciplines of 1)creative expression, 2) art history and culture, 3) understanding of aesthetics, and 4) art criticism and review. In addition, we believe that the visual arts are gifted to us by God and the purpose of the creation of art isto glorify Him.  By weaving together these five aspects of learning, we are preparing students for a lifelonginteraction with the visual world around them.  

Progression chart for students aiming to take AP Art (2D or 3D)(This chart shows typical progression)

2D-Pathway 1(ideal 2D)

2D-Pathway 2**

2D-Pathway 3***

3D-Pathway 4(ideal 3D)

Electives(See coursedescriptions for gradelevel requirementsand prerequisites)

G9 Drawing 1Painting 1

Drawing 1Painting 1

Ceramics 1 andCeramics 2and/or Ceramics3(at least 1-credit)

Drawing 1Drawing 2

Painting 1Painting 2

Digital Design 1Digital Design 2

Photography 1Photography 2

Ceramics 1Ceramics 2Ceramics 3IndependentCeramics

3D ArtHonors Advanced Art

G10 Drawing 2Painting 2

Photography 1Digital Design 1

G11 Advanced Art* Drawing 2Painting 2Advanced Art*

Photography 2Digital Design 2

Advanced Art*IndependentCeramics

G12 AP Studio Art* AP Studio Art* AP Studio Art*2D Design(Photography orDigital Designfocus)

AP Studio Art*3D Design

* Indicates a yearlong course (1 credit); the rest are semester courses (.5 credit).

** Drawing 1 and Painting 1 can be taken either in G9 or G10. In G11, it is optional for the student to take Drawing 2 and Painting 2 inaddition to Advanced Honors Art if they have not taken those courses yet.  

*** Students interested in using the camera or digital media in producing artwork could choose not to take Drawing and Painting 1.Instead, they could complete Photography 1 and 2 and/or Digital Design 1 and 2 in their G10 and G11 years. In this case, studentswould be eligible to take AP Studio Art their senior year, focusing on either photography or digital media.

Additional elective courses may be taken throughout the four years of high school to aid in building portfolios as well as exposing thestudent to a wider variety of art techniques.

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Course Description

Drawing 1 (712)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditConcentrating entirely on enhancing drawingskills, this first semester course will include theblack and white media of graphite, charcoal, andpen/ink. Available in all grade levels, this courseprovides a good starting point for incomingfreshmen who are interested in following a visualarts track in high school or for anyone interestedin taking a basic art course.

Painting 1 (711)Grades: 9 – 12 – 0.5 CreditThis course introduces students to two majorpaint types:  watercolor and acrylic. The first halfof the course will consist of watercolor work, withacrylic study beginning in the second half. Thecourse is offered in the second semester, and isavailable to all grade levels. Freshmen studentswith an interest in art are encouraged to take thiscourse as a follow up to the first semesterDrawing course as a beginning to their educationin the visual arts. Others interested in taking abasic art course are encouraged to join.

Drawing 2 (707)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Drawing 1 or permission of theinstructorPicking up where Drawing 1 left off, this coursewill include colored media such as colored penciland oilbar. The course will also focus on drawingfrom observation and learning to work morequickly. This course is recommended for G10 andG11 students considering advanced or AP StudioArt in the future, or for students interested inimproving drawing skills.

Painting 2 (708)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Painting 1 or permission of theinstructorStudents who have completed Painting 1 cancontinue developing their painting skills in thiscourse. Projects are more experimental andexpressive as we seek to explore the excitingpossibilities of the medium of paint. This course isrecommended for G10 and G11 consideringAdvanced or AP art in the future.

Photography 1 (715)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThe history of photography will be brieflycovered, but the main goal of the course is toincrease understanding of the camera. Projectsare designed to incorporate different functions ofa single lens reflex (SLR) camera. The course willfocus on digital photography, but students mayhave the option to experiment with darkroomprinting techniques.Note: Students must have an advanced SLRcamera with automatic and manual functions. Theschool provides print developing, cardstockpaper for mounting photographs, and AdobePhotoshop for editing, but be aware that at timesstudents may be required to pay for developingthemselves.

Photography 2 (784)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Photography 1In Photography 2, students will experiment withmore avaned techniques in either the darkroomor with digital photography. Photography 2students can work towards building an AP StudioArt: 2D design portfolio during the course; G11students can enrol in AP art course simultaneouslywith AP art.Note: Students must have access to an advancedSLR camera with automatic and manual functions,either film or digital.

3-D Art (733)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis course will concentrate on creating art that isnot confined to a two-dimensional surface.Throughout the semester, students willexperiment with a variety of materials toaccomplish additive, subtractive, and foundobject processes to form sculptural art. Materials

will vary; some possibilities are wood, plastic,metal, plaster, resin and foam. Students will learnhow to use a variety of tools, including manualtools, power tools, and digital tools to createartwork.

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Digital Design 1 (7143)Grades: 10, 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditThe world we live in today is becoming more andmore digital, and everything around us isdesigned. Even students who go on to studydisciplines that are not within the realm of theVisual Arts will benefit from the ability to be ableto use programs such as those in the AdobeCreative Suite to complete design work in theirfuture careers. In this course, students will learndesign and composition through projectsinvolving layout design, advertising design,poster design, and product design. While theemphasis will be on design for print graphics, thetools and techniques will translate to webgraphics as well. Students will learn both theAdobe Indesign program and the AdobePhotoshop program; prior knowledge of theprograms is not necessary.

Digital Design 2 (7833)Grades: 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Digital Design 1Students will again focus on using the AdobeIndesign and Photoshop programs to create printgraphics. This course will also introduce AdobeIllustrator. In addition to using the computer tocreate practical designs, emphasis will be placedon using the computer as a more creative tool forthe purpose of producing digital artwork.Students who complete this course may considertaking AP Studio Art as a senior, with a focus ondigital artwork.

Ceramics 1 (754)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis course is an addition to our 3D art program,with a focus on the complete ceramics process.Fundamental techniques in clay formation,decoration, and glazing are taught.  Students willbe exposed to hand-built pottery projects and willbe introduced to the potter's wheel. Aftercompleting Ceramics 1, students who wish tocontinue with this medium can choose betweenCeramics 2 (sculpture) or Ceramics 3 (wheelthrowing).

Ceramics 2 (782)Grades: 10, 11, 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Ceramics 1Building on the skills learned in the Ceramics 1course, students will increase mastery of sculptingtechniques. Students will continueexperimentation with both hand building andtheme based work, and will have the opportunityto sculpt with clay using their own conceptualideas in specific themes.

Ceramics 3 (7831)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Ceramics 2Building on the skills learned in the Ceramics 2course, students will increase mastery of wheelthrowing techniques. They will continueexperimentation with a focus on wheel throwingand altering wheel thrown work, and will have theopportunity to make bowls, cylinders, teapots,and sets with specific themes.

Independent Ceramics (7893)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites:Ceramics 1, Ceramics 2, and Ceramics 3, or withteacher signature after completing Ceramics 1followed by Ceramics 2 or Ceramics 3. (This coursemay be taken multiple times for credit)This course is designed for the ceramics studentwho is interested in developing a body of workfor exhibition, presentation, or for an AP 3D-Artportfolio. Students will work with the teachermentor to increase their understanding of glazesand kilns, and will have greater opportunity to usehand-building and or throwing techniques toexpress their own creativity and critical thinkingskills in building their forms. Included arediscussions of how surface embellishment andfiring processes affect both the function andaesthetics of the ceramic object.

Yearbook (716)Grades: 11 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites: One year of high school art orpermission of instructorStudents will produce all elements of the annualyearbook, including photography, design, layout,and composition. Students will also learn theAdobe InDesign program. In addition, theyearbook staff needs writers, designers,photographers, and artists. Open to juniors andseniors, the team especially needs a core ofjuniors who will commit to two years on staff.

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Advanced Honors Art (717)Grades: 11 - 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites:● A minimum of one year of high school art.● For students in the 2D stream, at least one

drawing and at least one painting class mustbe completed.

● For students in the 3D stream, one year of3D courses is required (Ceramics 1, Ceramics2 and/or 3).

This yearlong course is designed for those whoare both strongly interested and highly skilled inart, and who are considering a career in the visualarts. In addition to project work, students willcomplete a number of out-of-class assignmentsand a substantial art history unit. Studentsconsidering AP Art are encouraged to take thisclass as juniors, in order to build a strong portfoliofor their AP year. Students taking the course willeither choose a 2D stream or a 3D stream, basedon prerequisites, interest, and what type of APportfolio they are interested in producing. The 2Dstream will be drawing and painting based, butwill include other media such as print-making andcut paper. The 3D course will focus on sculpturein multiple media, but ceramics will not beincluded.

AP Studio Art (718)Grade: 12 – 1 CreditPrerequisites:

● AP Studio Art Photography – Completion ofPhotography 1 and Photography 2 by G.12

● AP Studio Art Digital Design – Completion ofboth Digital Design 1 and 2 by the end ofthe junior year.

● AP Studio Art 3D -Completion of two full years of 3D artcourses by G.12. Ceramics 1, Ceramics 2,Ceramics 3, 3D art, and Honors AdvancedArt 3D will count toward this total.

● AP Studio Art Drawing or 2D Design –Completion of a minimum of two full years ofart courses including a drawing course, apainting course, and Honors Advanced Art. Itis highly recommended for students tocomplete three years of art by picking up asecond drawing course and a secondpainting course.

This course is the culmination of the high schoolart courses. Although all interested students whohave met the prerequisites are welcome, AP art isspecifically aimed at those who are consideringart schools for university and art as a career.Students will complete a thematic twelve-pieceportfolio of their own concepts and design,concentrating on techniques and media withwhich they excel. Any medium is acceptable:drawing, painting, photography, digital design,3D/ceramics, or other medium such as cut paper.Participants have the option of submitting theportfolio to The College Board for AdvancedPlacement credit.

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Theatre Arts PhilosophyDrama enriches us spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually. It fosters creativity, teachesdiscipline, inspires self-confidence, and encourages cooperation. The ICS drama department places equalvalue on the learning process and performance. Our classes and co-curricular activities are open to allstudents who want to develop a lifelong appreciation of the arts and explore their potential. The programstresses the importance of these dramatic and presentation skills across all subject areas, not simply thestage.

Course Description

Theatre Arts 1 – S1 Standard Production(7513) – 0.5 credit / Theatre Arts 1 – S2Standard Production (7515) – 0.5 creditGrades: 9 - 12This semester-long class will explore the variousaspects of a standard theatre production on amain stage. Students will be made aware of all ofthe roles involved in a production. These rolesinclude (but are not limited to) director, actor,light technician, set designer, costume designer,and makeup designer. Students also learn howdrama can communicate morality and faith andserve the community through outreach. Studentsare assessed on the following: empathy, energy,character development, vocal quality, stageawareness and presence, teamwork, and stageetiquette.

Theatre Arts 2 – S1 Alternative Production(7514) – 0.5 credit / Theatre Arts 2 – S2Alternative Production (7516) – 0.5 creditGrades: 9-12This semester-long class puts on productions thatare not standard. This includes improv drama,one-act plays, children’s theater, thrust staging,theater in the round, and others. Students will beable to participate in all of the roles involved in aproduction. These roles include (but are notlimited to) director, actor, light tech, set designer,costume designer, and makeup designer.Students also learn how drama can communicatemorality and faith and serve the communitythrough outreach. Each student makes anaudition portfolio, which is necessary at theuniversity level and beyond.

Theatre Tech. S1 (762) – 0.5 creditTheatre Tech. S2 (7621) – 0.5 creditGrades: 9 - 12This course introduces students to the technicalskills used in the performing arts, includingsound, lighting, staging, stage-management,rigging, video, and multimedia. While workingwith these technologies, students will study therelevant underlying principles in applied science,engineering, and physics. The class format will bean interactive seminar style. Students will berequired to attend certain performances duringthe year as part of our class evaluation of thetechnology used in the performances. Hands-onlearning will take place at events and programs,on and off campus, where students will have theopportunity to practice their skills. Students areexpected to have a reasonable level of fitness anddedication due to the oftentimes long hours andphysically demanding support needed at suchevents.

Stagecraft (7623)Grades: 9-12 – 0.5 creditThis semester-long course introduces students tothe practical construction skills used in dramaproductions. They will become familiar with stageterminology and scenic design theory. The classformat will be an interactive seminar style. Afterstudents are familiar with stage and tool safety,hands-on learning will take place as studentsprepare sets for the upcoming dramaproductions. Students are expected to have areasonable level of fitness and dedication due tothe oftentimes long hours and physicallydemanding support needed at such events.

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Music PhilosophyMusic enriches us spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. It fosters creativity, teachesdiscipline, and encourages cooperation. The ICS music department places equal value on thelearning process and performance. Our classes and co-curricular activities are open to all studentswho want to develop a lifelong appreciation of music and explore their potential as musicians.ICS offers both performance music classes during the P Block and general music classes in the A -G class schedule.

Music PerformanceClasses (P Block)

After School HonorsClasses

Electives Music TheoryPathway Suggestions

Allegro SingersArmonia Men’s ChoirVoci CelestiICS VoicesICS SingersICS GleeShow BandConcert BandHS Chamber Strings

Jazz BandSymphonyHS Madrigal

Note: Students mustenroll in a musicperformance class toreceive honors status.

Exploring MusicDigital MusicClass Guitar 1Class Guitar 2Class Piano 1Class Piano 2Music TheoryAP Music Theory

Class Piano 1, orClass Guitar 1, orClass Guitar 2

↓Class Piano 2, orMusic Theory

↓AP Music Theory

(Students can test outof basic level courses)

Honors Music StatusBand, Chorus, and Strings students will be given honors credit in a corresponding P-block ensemble fortheir participation in after-school performing groups.

The groups will be given co-curricular status and will be attached to a curricular music ensemble. Thesestudents participate for an extra hour each week, learn extra repertoire, and have extra performances. Aswith regular school-hour courses, attendance is taken every class in these co-curricular ensemble groups andstudents are expected to work on their own at home in order to be prepared for each class. Assignments forthese classes will be assessed and entered in the grading system.

● Jazz Band - Jazz Band provides experienced students with the opportunity to play exciting band musicarranged in a variety of Jazz Styles. The Jazz Band has several occasions to perform including thebiennial Jazz Café and the Christmas and Spring concerts. Jazz Band students will receive Honors creditin the most advanced band course in which they are enrolled.

● Symphony - HS Symphony provides experienced string, wind, and percussion students the opportunityto play classical and contemporary full-orchestra music. The Symphony has several occasions at whichto perform, including the Honors Recital and the Christmas and Spring concerts. Symphony studentswill receive Honors credit in the most advanced band or strings course in which they are enrolled.

● Madrigal Singers - This audition-only ensemble provides students with opportunities to sing in asmaller ensemble of select musicians who perform a more advanced and varied repertoire of musicspanning styles from the Renaissance to Jazz. These singers are often invited to participate incommunity and service activities. Participants in Madrigal Singers can expect four to ten performancesduring the course of the year. Practices will be determined according to student signups andscheduling arrangements. Since students in this ensemble are performing advanced level repertoire,participation in a curricular choral group is required. Madrigal students will receive Honors credit in themost advanced Choral course in which they are enrolled.

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Course Description

Allegro Singers (7660)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis large ensemble is for beginning level choralperformers. The curriculum includes instruction inproper singing habits such as correct posture,breathing and tone production. Students will alsosing in various world languages and study basicmusic theory. Performances include the Christmasand Spring Concerts, as well as possiblecommunity events.

ICS Armonia Mens’ Chorus (7622)Voci Celesti Ladies’ Chorus (7663)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThese ensembles are for intermediate level choralperformers. The curriculum includes instruction inproper singing habits such as correct posture,breathing and tone production. Students will alsosing in various world languages and study basicmusic theory. Performances include the Christmasand Spring Concerts, as well as communityevents.

ICS Voices (766)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis large ensemble is for intermediate-levelchoral performers. The curriculum includesinstruction in proper singing habits such ascorrect posture, breathing, tone production, basicmusic theory, and singing in a world language. Performances include the Christmas and SpringConcerts, as well as community events.

ICS Singers (765)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis large ensemble is for intermediate toadvanced level choral performers. The curriculumincludes instruction in proper singing habits suchas correct posture, breathing and toneproduction. Students will also sing in variousworld languages and study basic music theory.Performances include the Christmas and SpringConcerts, as well as community events. Studentsenrolled in this course have the opportunity toaudition for the ACSC Honor Choir Festival whenit is a festival year.

ICS Glee (7911)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Audition and Teacher permissionThis select mixed ensemble with advanced vocaland performance skills combines the study ofmusical theatre and singing in the followingmusical styles: gospel, pop, jazz and Broadwaymusicals. In addition to techniques of rehearsaland performance, the student will developsight-reading skills, basic aural skills, and willparticipate in the creation of choreography for themusic learned. Show Choir will present aproduction in the first semester. This is anintensive course, requiring some extra rehearsals:two Saturday rehearsals – choreography “camp”and a Dress Rehearsal on the week before theproduction and three afternoons of rehearsaloutside of class in order to receive credit for thecourse.

Show Band (764)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Students should have at least oneyear of experience with their band instrument.Students will learn to perfect the fundamentals ofinstrumental performance and will perform avaried repertoire of popular and lighter musicalstyles and compositions. This band is involved inspecial competitions, as well as the Christmas andSpring concerts. Students enrolled in this coursehave the opportunity to audition for AMIS HonorBand when it is a festival year.

Concert Band (763)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite:● Director’s recommendation and audition

required if not enrolled in an ICS Band in theprevious year.

● Students should have at least two years ofexperience with their band instrument.

This is the high school band for students of aboveaverage musical maturity and skill. It is designedfor students who have the determination andability to perform at the highest level. Studentswill learn to perfect the fundamentals ofinstrumental performance and will perform avaried repertoire of musical compositions andstyles. This band is involved in specialcompetitions, as well as the Christmas andSpring concerts. Students enrolled in this coursehave the opportunity to audition for ACSC HonorBand Festival 2021.

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Chamber Strings Ensemble (7692)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite:

● Students should have at least two yearsof experience with their stringinstrument.

● If students have one year of experiencewith their string instrument, teacherrecommendation is needed.

This class is open to all students in grades 9 – 12who play violin, viola, cello, or double bass. Thisperformance and skill-based class will includeplaying a varied repertoire of music with emphasison advancing skill technique. This group performsduring the Christmas and Spring instrumentalconcerts, and may have other performingopportunities in the community. Studentsenrolled in this course have the opportunity toaudition for ACSC Honor Band Festival and/or theAMIS Honor Band when it is a festival year.

Other Electives and Theory Courses

Exploring Music (7004)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 Credit

Through hands-on exploration, students will learnto create, perform, appreciate and understandmusic in our world. Students in this class will belistening to music, composing and arrangingmusic using drums and unconventionalinstruments, creating their own music videos, andanalysing and writing about music, dancing, andsinging.

Digital Music Course (7008)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 creditThis course is offered every other year – will beoffered in 2022-23.

This is a music writing class where we will look atthe components of popular and modern musicstyles and learn how to create these songsdigitally. Step by step we will learn how to write,play, and record drum grooves, bass lines,chordal parts, and melodies using the MIDI ortyping keyboard. The focus is on musicianship,and the skills learned in this course can betransferred to traditional performing ensembles.We will learn basic music theory that will help uswrite better songs and give a deeperunderstanding of what occurs behind the musicyou like to listen to. Throughout the course,students will have an opportunity to create, share,discuss, read, write about, and listen to musicmade with technology. Additional topics coveredwill be audio editing, sequencing software,looping, and remixing.

Class Guitar 1 (7002)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditIn this course students with no prior experiencewill learn to play on and sing with guitar. Noprevious musical experience or knowledge isrequired, though students with experience arecertainly welcome. No public concerts orperformances will be required, though you willneed to play and sing every day in class. If youenjoy music and want to learn more about it, butmaybe do not enjoy rehearsals and concerts in aschool band, choir, or orchestra, this is the classfor you. Students who already have an advancedknowledge of guitar are not encouraged to takehis course. The course is geared toward thosewith no prior experience on guitar. Students willlearn different styles of playing chordaccompaniments and melodies, as well as simpleimprovisation and composition. This course willnot meet during P block, and will have no effecton your ability to participate in any musicensemble or take a study hall.Note: Students will need to supply their ownguitar and will have no effect on your ability toparticipate in any music ensemble or take a studyhall.

Class Guitar 2 (7006)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Guitar 1 or Teacher recommendation.Guitar 2 is an intermediate level guitar course. Itis designed for those withbeginning-to-intermediate level guitar skills. Itwill offer the opportunity for students to developand extend their knowledge and understandingof music using guitar as the medium. This courseprovides the structures and opportunities forstudents to learn skills, theory, history,performance, and creation of music.Note: Students will need to supply their ownguitar.

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Class Piano 1 (7005)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis course is offered every other year – will nextbe offered in 2023-24.This beginning piano class is designed to teachthe basic concepts and fundamentals of pianoperformance. Students will play melodies andharmonies in several keys and have theopportunity to participate in ensembles within theclass. Students will develop good practice habitsand learn techniques to increase the agility andflexibility of their hands. Students will learn toread the treble and bass clef and the vocabularyof chords and keys.

Class Piano 2 (7011)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisite: Class Piano 1 or Teacher ApprovalThis class is designed to teach students how tointerpret primary and secondary piano chords andcadences, harmonize melodies for non-classicalsongs, perform musical pieces at student’s choiceand play duets. Students will work throughlessons as a group as well as have time todevelop their own learning goals and practiceindividually. Learning goals may includeperforming music with non-traditional ensembleslike worship teams, playing accompaniments tofavorite songs, or playing duets using activelistening skills. In the process, students will learnthe fundamentals of music theory necessary formore advanced music study. Students will beassessed both in their performance of chords andaccompaniments, their knowledge offundamental music theory concepts in theirperformance as a soloist or in duets.

Music Theory (7001)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Previous experience in a musicensemble or lessons is recommended, but notrequired.This is an advanced, non-performance musiccourse dedicated to the academic study of music.The primary emphasis is on the theoreticalanalysis of music (analyzing melody, harmony,texture, form, etc.). Secondary emphases includecomposition, history, listening, and aural skills.This course will foster independent, creative, andanalytical thinking about music. No concerts orperformances will be required for this course,although students will learn to sight-sing in class.This course should be of particular interest to anystudent considering music study at the universitylevel, as well as anyone interested in advancingtheir understanding of music or writing their ownmusic. This course will not meet during P block.

AP Music Theory (7007)Grades: 9 - 12 – 1 Credit

Prerequisites: Prior music theory study equivalentto ABRSM Grade 5 or the ICS Music Theorycourse. Students will need to pass a diagnosticexam in order to confirm course enrollment.Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in an ICSmusic performance ensemble (band, choir, ororchestra).This is an advanced music course dedicated tothe academic study of music. It corresponds totwo semesters of a typical introductory collegemusic theory course that covers topics such asmusicianship, theory, musical materials, andprocedures. The course is about the theoreticalanalysis of music (analyzing melody, harmony,texture, form, etc.) and applying that tocomposition, listening, and aural skills.Musicianship skills (including dictation and otherlistening skills), sight-singing, and keyboardharmony are considered an important part of thecourse. This course will foster independent,creative, and analytical thinking about music.Students will develop the ability to recognize,understand, and describe basic materials andprocesses of music that are heard or presented ina musical score. Development of aural skills is aprimary objective. Performance is part of thelearning process, but no concerts orperformances will be required for this course.Students will learn to understand basic conceptsand terminology by listening to and performing awide variety of music. Notational skills, speed,and fluency with basic materials are emphasized.This course should be of particular interest to anystudent considering music study at the universitylevel, as well as anyone interested in deepeningtheir understanding of music or composing theirown music.

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Media Studies PhilosophyThe goal of the Media Studies department is to provide students with the foundation for lifelonglearning in a digital and global world, while providing further opportunities for students to achievethe Expected Schoolwide Learning Results.

Through the creation of their own media projects , students have opportunity to engage in theproduction process, develop their skills in team-based environments and to identify andcommunicate effectively with their peers and master self-management skills. The production ofmedia that is designed to entertain, inform, communicate or critique enables students todemonstrate their understanding of concepts as well as develop their creativity and originality.

Students, as consumers of media, talk about their media experiences in a family, religious or peercontext. The students’ own cultural backgrounds, values and beliefs are taken into account andstudents are taught to filter the media they encounter from a distinctly Christian perspective.

The media studies courses focuses on four main areas: Media Ideas, Media Production, Responsesto Media and Media in Society, which work together to prepare students to be responsible,discerning, life-long learners of the media and digital world around them.(This pathway chart has yet to be edited for 2022-23.)

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Course Description

Intro. to Media Production (790)Grades: 9 - 12 – 0.5 CreditThis course is a basic introduction to all of themedia skills. Students will develop the productionskills needed to help them advance to othermedia courses. The main focus of this course is tobuild hands-on video and editing skills throughthe study of Hollywood film genres. Students willengage in a variety of activities and learn basicproduction processes and operating cameraequipment, as well as learn software such as FinalCut Pro and Photoshop to create their own shortfilm genre scene.

Film Studies (792)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Introduction to Media Productionor permission from instructor.The focus of this course is narrative film. Studentsengage with a range of narrative film styles andgenre and are provided opportunities to examinehow a story is told and represented, whileengaging and entertaining audiences. Studentsanalyze techniques in production and storyelements in film, are introduced to film theories,examine the convention of movie trailers, andmove on to writing their own narrative film scriptswhile learning about aspects of production andportfolio work.

Media Advertising and Image (798)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Introduction to Media Productionor permission from instructor.(This course will not be offered in the 2021-2022academic school year.)This course explores the concepts ofrepresentation and stereotypes in advertising.Students view, listen to, and analyze relevantmainstream commercial media texts and examinehow audiences are influenced and targetedthrough marketing tactics. Students will alsoengage in a variety of activities to learn basic filmproduction processes, in addition to learningsoftware such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshopand After Effects.

Film Art (7972)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Introduction to Media Productionor permission from instructorThe focus of this course is the study of aestheticsin artistic and independent films. Students view,listen to, and analyze contemporary andtraditional examples of media art, identifyingtechniques and themes, meanings that arecreated, and audiences’ interpretations. Theyconsider the values and technologicaldevelopments that influence perceptions of art.Students are encouraged to experiment withtechnologies, structures, codes, and conventionsto express their ideas and creativity. They havethe opportunity to develop competence inproduction skills and processes in the media oftheir choice and to begin to develop personalstyles.

Video Production (795)Grades: 10 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Introduction to Media Productionor permission from instructor.The focus of this course is communityservice-based filming and hands-on productionwork. Students will use a hands-on approach inthe use of a camera, filming techniques,production and editing in a variety of video formsand animation. They will film school events andedit content for broadcast to the schoolcommunity. They develop skill and technicalcompetence in practical hands-on activitiesworking towards producing their own‘multimedia’ video work.

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Independent Filmmaking (709) (IndependentLearning)Grades: 11 - 12 – 0.5 CreditPrerequisites: Introduction to Media Productionand at least 1 other media course. G11 or abovewith extensive experience with filming andsoftware technology.

This course has limited space. Students shouldcomplete an ‘Independent FilmmakingApplication Form’ and submit to the teacher.Forms are available from the Media Studiesteacher and should be completed before coursesignups. Teacher will determine courseadmission.

This course provides a practical and hands-onopportunity for students to develop moreadvanced media skills by producing their ownshort film(s). This non-scheduled course will alsodevelop independent management skills,creativity, and time management. Students willapply the skills learned in many of theintroductory level courses (media production,planning, post production editing) and the seniorlevel courses (analyzing different types andmethods used in various film productions).Although this is an unscheduled course, studentswill be required to schedule regular meetings withthe media studies teacher to gain feedback ontheir progress and ideas. Students who take thiscourse should ensure that they have a suitableschedule to allow time for production andediting. They need to be able to workindependently with the technical aspects ofproducing a film or other media products andthey need to have demonstrated exemplarymedia skills and self-directedness.

Note: This course is not scheduled within any ofthe blocks of the ICS schedule. Students willcomplete the work for this course on their own,with regular consultation with the Media Studiesteacher.

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