HS Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015 - 1.pdf - AISC - American

60 Pages·2014·1.61 MB·English

High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015
American International School – Chennai
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2014-2015
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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015
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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

Table of Contents

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...................................................................................................................................... 4
MISSION .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Beliefs .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Student Learning Objectives ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Strategic Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL ............................................................................................................................................ 6
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 7
TYPICAL COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................ 10
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION PROGRAMS ...................................................................................................................... 10
IB Diploma Program ................................................................................................................................................... 10
Advanced Placement Program ................................................................................................................................. 15
Guidelines for Students in IB and AP Classes ........................................................................................................ 16
ACADEMIC SUPPORT ...................................................................................................................................................... 17
HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY ................................................................................................................................................. 17
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS ...............................................................................................................................................18
English ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19
English as an Additional Language ......................................................................................................................... 22
World Languages ....................................................................................................................................................... 24
Social Studies ............................................................................................................................................................... 28
Science ........................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Mathematics ................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Performing Arts ............................................................................................................................................................ 44
Visual Arts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Physical and Health Education .................................................................................................................................. 52
Information Technology .............................................................................................................................................. 54
DISCOVER INDIA .............................................................................................................................................................. 57

Cover Art: “Change – as in transition”
by Muna Buhari, Class of 2014

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Students and Parents,

This booklet contains a description of the academic program offered in the high school at American International
School - Chennai. It is intended to help you in planning your program of studies in a way that will allow you to
pursue studies that interest you, meet AISC graduation requirements and prepare you for your life after high
school.

When selecting a course of study for the coming year, be sure to find out as much as you can, including course
objectives, requirements and prerequisites. It is important for you to meet with your counselor as you make your
class choices and develop a well-considered four-year plan.

Students in the 9th and 10th grades should discuss the IB diploma program with their counselor and parents. The
success of past AISC students in the IB diploma continues to attract more students to participate in this globally
recognized program. We look forward to the continued growth of participation as more AISC students seek a
challenging college preparatory program.

Annual curriculum review and revision has resulted in the following changes to course offerings for 2014-2015:

 The Social Studies department will now offer the IB Psychology and AP Human Geography courses.
 AP World History will no longer be offered.
 In the Visual Arts department, Drawing and Painting will now be offered as two separate one-semester
courses, Drawing and Painting 1 and Drawing and Painting 2.
 Also in the Visual Arts department, Graphic Design will be offered as a one-semester course. It will be
available for Fine Arts credit only.
 In alignment with the College Board, AP Physics B will be replaced by AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2.
These year-long courses will be offered in alternating years beginning in 2014-2015.
 Students in grade 10 will be required to take seven courses. Students in good standing will be able to use
the remaining period as a Free Period. Students who are not in good standing will be assigned to a
supervised Study Period.

During high school you are laying the foundation for your future academic and working career. It is a time of
increasing independence and responsibility. Your teachers, the guidance counselors and I are here to help you
achieve success during these important years. Don't hesitate to ask us for help if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Joelle Basnight
High School Principal

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

MISSION

Together we inspire a love of learning, empowering all students with the courage, confidence, creativity and
compassion to make their unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

OUR CORE VALUES
We believe that…
 Each person has equal intrinsic value, worthy of dignity and respect.
 We are responsible for our choices and their effect on ourselves, others and the environment.
 Being open to new ideas and challenging experiences enriches our lives.
 Mutual respect, trust and caring foster healthy interpersonal relationships.
 Embracing our diversity makes us a stronger community.
 In an interconnected world, our positive contributions to the community and the environment are essential.
 Individuals thrive in a nurturing environment that provides for their physical and emotional safety.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By 2018, all students will:
 Explore new interests with curiosity and be resilient in pursuing their passions.
 Evaluate real world situations, identify problems and design innovative solutions.
 Choose to actively serve their local and global communities.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Learning
We will align expected outcomes, assessment, teaching, learning and reflection on practice in order to support our
mission and student learning objectives.

Talent
The school will hire, develop and retain staff members who embody the school mission and core values.

Community
We will actively communicate, support, and contribute to our core values, mission and student learning objectives so
that our community lives the shared vision.

Resources
We will strategically use all possible resources* to create a learning community aligned with our core values and
mission.

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL

The curriculum of the AISC High School has its foundations in the liberal arts approach to education, which offers
students the opportunity to explore and learn in all of the academic disciplines. We seek to educate the whole
child and encourage participation in extracurricular activities such as team and individual sports, visual and
performing arts and community service. Our students learn responsible citizenship by actively participating in the
governance of the school as members of the student government and the strategic planning committees.

In the High School, our goal is to assure that our students are well prepared for success in post- secondary
education and beyond. We seek to do this by:

 Presenting a challenging program of instruction leading to an American high school diploma.

 Providing a learning environment in which students explore, question, evaluate, and analyze information and
ideas through active participation and collaboration.

 Offering a balanced course of study in English literature, a second language, social studies, science,
mathematics, fine arts, information technology, physical education and health.

 Offering elective courses, independent studies and extracurricular activities to allow students to pursue their
interests.

 Encouraging students to develop an awareness and understanding of global issues and prepare for their
roles as responsible global citizens.

 Ensuring that the school environment provides for the cognitive, emotional, social, aesthetic and physical
development of our students.

 The option of earning advanced standing in college through the International Baccalaureate Diploma
program and/or Advanced Placement courses.

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

All high school students are required to pursue the AISC diploma, which is typically earned at the end of Grade
12. The diploma is earned by meeting the graduation requirements. The purpose in establishing these graduation
requirements is to ensure that AISC students are well prepared for post-secondary education and to lead fulfilling,
productive lives.

In order to receive a high school diploma from American International School - Chennai, each student must earn a
minimum of 24 credits while in grades 9 through 12. Students earn one-half credit for each semester of study that
is successfully completed. To earn the high school diploma, these credits must be distributed among the subject
areas as follows:

English 4 credits
Foreign Language 2 credits (must be in the same language)
Social Studies 3 credits
Science 3 credits
Mathematics 3 credits (including Algebra 2 or equivalent)
Fine Arts 1 credits
Physical Education/Health 2 credits
Information Technology 0.5 credit
Elective Courses 5.5 credits
Total 24 credits

In addition to the AISC high school diploma, students may earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma by meeting
the requirements established by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

Community Service

Ten hours of community service are required for every year at AISC. While students are allowed to do community
service that is not organized by AISC, they are encouraged to be a part of the school arranged service activities.

Maximum Age

A student must complete the requirements for graduation before his or her 21st birthday.

Residence

A student who intends to graduate from AISC must be in attendance for the entire final academic year.

Exceptions

The Administration may at its sole discretion waive a particular graduation requirement in case of exceptional
circumstances. Such circumstances may include but are not limited to the following:

 physical disabilities
 documented learning difficulties
 a required class not being offered during the student’s year(s) of enrollment
 master-scheduling conflicts
 difficulty in meeting the requirements for gradu ation due to differences in the student’s previous school
program

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

Transfer Student Credits

Many students do not attend AISC for all four years of high school. AISC graduation requirements are not intended
to penalize students who transfer from high schools with different requirements and are certainly not meant to
place unreasonable demands on any student.

Students entering AISC as bona fide sophomores, juniors or seniors will be given prorated requirements based on
the graduation standards of AISC and on courses taken in previous schools as follows:

 Students attending AISC for three years must have completed a course of study typical of an AISC 9th
grade student prior to entering the school and must complete a minimum of 20 credits at AISC.
 Students attending AISC for two years must have completed a course of study typical of an AISC 10th
grade student prior to entering the school and must complete a minimum of 12 credits at AISC.
 Students attending AISC for one year must have completed a course of study typical of an AISC 11th
grade student prior to entering the school and must complete a minimum of 6 credits at AISC.

Grade Placement

Students who enter AISC from another school will be placed in classes on the basis of official records from the
previous school and placement assessments that may be given prior to admission at AISC. The following guidelines
will apply:

 A student will be placed in the 10th grade if s/he has completed one year of high school at an accredited
institution and has earned a minimum of one credit each in English, social studies, science and mathematics
(including Algebra 1 or an equivalent course).
 A student will be placed in the 11th grade if s/he has completed two years of high school at an
accredited institution and has earned a minimum of two credits each in English, social studies, science and
mathematics (including Algebra 1 and Geometry or equivalent courses) and one credit in physical
education.
 A student will be placed in the 12th grade if s/he has completed three years of high school at an
accredited institution and has earned a minimum of three credits in English, two credits each in social
studies, science and mathematics (including Algebra 1 and Geometry or equivalent courses) and one credit
each in world language and physical education.

Final decisions on grade placement and class standing will be made by the Principal.

Minimum Course Enrollment

Students in Grades 9 are required to enroll in a minimum of eight courses each semester. Students in Grades 10,
11 and 12 must enroll in a minimum of seven courses each semester.

Repeating Courses

Certain courses may be repeated for credit, as noted in the course description. Students will not be allowed to
repeat other courses without the approval of the department chairperson, the Counselor and the Principal. In these
cases, the transcript will reflect both grades. If a student repeats a course that may not be repeated for credit,
s/he will receive no additional credit and grade point average will be based on the repeated (second) class.

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

Audit

On occasion, a mature, self-directed student may audit a course, which means that s/he attends the class as a
regular student but receives no credit. The primary reason for auditing a course is to allow the student to learn new
material that interests him/her while remaining free from the pressure of grades. A course may be audited only if
it is not a course required for graduation. Attendance is required just as a regular class for credit. Students who
audit a course are expected to complete all assignments. Approval to audit must be obtained from the teacher,
Counselor and Principal no later than two weeks after the start of the semester.

Independent Study

Independent study offers Grade 11 and 12 students the opportunity to do independent research and study in an
area of the curriculum that is of special interest to them. It involves in-depth, organized study and requires a high
level of maturity and persistence. Students normally opt for independent study to explore further a topic not
covered in desirable depth in a course or subject area. It is not intended as an alternate means of gaining credit
for course work already offered in the AISC curriculum or as a substitute for credit required for graduation.

All independent study projects must be supervised by an AISC faculty member. Students interested in pursuing an
independent study program must first consult with the High School Counselor and the advising teacher before
applying. Following initial approval, an Independent Study proposal must be submitted to the High School
Principal. The proposal must specify the procedures and requirements of the independent study. The supervising
teacher will be responsible for determining the student’s grade for the study. An 11thor 12thgrade student
undertaking an independent study must be enrolled in at least six courses in addition to the independent study.
More information regarding Independent Study can be found in the Student Handbook.

Correspondence and Online Courses

A student may have a credit deficiency and not have an opportunity to take the required the course at AISC due to
a scheduling conflict. With the permission of the Principal, the student may obtain credit via an online or
correspondence course with a fully accredited U.S. educational organization. One course credit in a student’s high
school career may be earned this way. Students will be required to present a written proposal of study to the
Principal for acceptance before the course commences. An official transcript from the school offering the course
must be presented in order for AISC credit to be awarded.

Schedule Changes

All requests for a class schedule change must be approved by the High School Principal. Class changes requested
by the student are authorized for only two weeks after the start of the semester. Any student-initiated class
changes after that time will be considered a withdraw/fail. Class changes recommended by a teacher or the
Counselor may be made at any time.

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American International School - Chennai
High School Curriculum Guide 2014 - 2015

TYPICAL COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

It is important for students to begin their college planning early in their high school career. Since each college
establishes its own particular requirements, it is important to follow the suggestions given in the catalogs of the
colleges being considered. The guidance counselor is available to assist students in planning their college
preparatory programs.

Generally, minimum college entrance requirements are:

English 4 years
Social Studies 3 years
Math 3 years (through Algebra II)
Science 2 years (including biological and physical science)
Foreign Language 2 years (of the same language)
Fine Arts 1 year

Selective colleges expect capable students to go beyond the minimum requirements and take challenging courses
commensurate with their abilities and interests. Colleges also consider a student’s involvement in extracurricular
activities, such as athletics, fine arts, student government and community service when making admissions decisions.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION PROGRAMS

IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) is a pre-university course of study designed for students
in their last two years of secondary school. The IBDP was developed by a group of educators at the International
School of Geneva in the early 1960’s to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for
geographically mobile students. This group of teachers was also motivated by an idealistic vision: they hoped that
a shared academic experience emphasizing critical thinking and exposure to a variety of viewpoints would foster
tolerance and inter-cultural understanding among young people.
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American International School - Chennai