ELECTIVES

Advanced Music: This course is designed for the serious musician or any student wishing to further their education in music. Through the study of theory, students will come to a better understanding of the elements of music. This course will use a variety of techniques to teach composition, ear training and analysis.

• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Music and Approval of Music Teacher

Advanced Art: This course is a continuation of the Studio Art course with the addition of watercolor and oil painting. This course incorporates an in-depth exploration of the art techniques covered in Studio Art. Students are encouraged to develop a personal style and maintain an art portfolio. Museum and gallery visits are an integral part of the class. The course culminates in the annual Art Expo, a display of various student works.

• Prerequisites: Successful completion of Studio Art and the approval of the Department Chairperson

Studio Art: This class focuses on the practical application of artistic techniques, resulting in large scale work in charcoal, oil pastel, chalk pastel, markers, colored pencils, and paint. This multi-media course concentrates on developing the student’s individual talent. Both realistic and abstract art is addressed. Museum and gallery visits are an integral part of the class. Students planning a career in art or an art-related field are advised and guided in the preparation of their portfolios. The course culminates in the annual Art Expo, a display of various student works.

• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Art and Approval of Art Teacher

Anatomy/Physiology: This course examines the structure and function of the human body. Topics include: the parts of the body (bones, muscles and organs) and the roles of the body’s systems. Laboratory experiences will be included. The course will focus on fitness and conditioning which includes two or three sessions per week at the gym. A separate fee will be applied to this course. At the culmination of the course, the student is eligible to sit for the exam certifying them as a personal trainer.

• Pre-requisite: Completion of two laboratory science courses, one of which must be Biology

AP Spanish: The AP Spanish Language and Culture course takes a holistic approach to language proficiency and recognizes the complex inter-relatedness of comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. Students will learn language structures in context and use them to convey meaning. The course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use. The course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. e course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of products, both tangible (e.g., tools, books) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions that underlie both practices and products). In order to best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught in the target language. All students will take the AP exam in May.

• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish I and II, approval by Spanish Teacher

Ceramics: This course provides an introduction to ceramics in the use of clay with hand building techniques. Emphasis will be placed on 3D design elements of form and texture. Focus will be on the vocabulary related to ceramics, pinch, coil and slab work. Various glaze and decoration techniques will be taught throughout the duration of the course.

Chorus: The course develops the vocal abilities of those students interested in singing. It covers: proper vocal training, ear training, singing harmony, breathing techniques, diction and dynamics (loudness and softness). The course prepares a repertoire of songs to be sung at various events during the school year. Students are graded on focus, participation and use of their talent.

• Prerequisite: Audition and approval by the Music Teacher

Coding: As a student in this course, you will learn the more advanced topics in programming using Python.
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able gain more confidence in their skills and learn to recognize the logic behind developing high-quality programs. Students will be able do the following using Python. (Prerequisite: Computer 1-Introduction)
• Identify and define a problem
• Design a program to solve the problem
• Create executable code
• Read Python code
Students will also learn the following topics:
• Lists and Tuples
• More About Strings
• Dictionaries and Sets
• Classes Object-Oriented Programming
• Inheritance
• Recursion
• GUI (Graphical User Interface) Programming
• More on Turtle Graphics

Criminal Law: This course is designed to introduce students to the fascinating world of law. Topics covered are: the history of law, criminal law, court procedures, the Supreme Court and related cases, and various civil cases that have had an impact of the United States legal system. The student will also study the various amendments to the Constitution and the effects they have on present day law.

Earth Science: This course explores various processes occurring on the Earth and beyond the planet. Topics include: geology, tectonics, mountains, continental drift, fossils, earth history, rocks and minerals, the water cycle, oceanography, weather and climate, weather maps, astronomy, solar system, and evidence of the origin and evolution of the universe. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1200 minutes of laboratory time. All students must take the New York State Earth Science Exam (including the lab practicum) in June.

• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry

Environmental Science: This course encourages students to engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. Throughout the course and its lab sessions, students will analyze environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, air, water and land pollution, and water resources. Students will evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them.

Finance: The course is designed to acquaint the students with the financial world they are about to enter. Topics include: money, banking, savings accounts, checking accounts, CDs, investing, stocks and bonds, insurance (life and health), IRAs, pension plans, 401K plans, wills, tax preparation, and credit cards. The course is intended to be a “hands-on” course in which students are required to participate in many facets of the financial world. The course is designed to educate the students with the financial world they are about to enter and the fiscal literacy that they need long after they graduate high school & college. Topics include: money, banking, savings accounts, checking accounts, investing, stocks and bonds, insurance (life and health), IRAs, pension plans, 40 I K plans, wills, tax preparation, and credit cards. Entrepreneurship, business startups and business plans, including marketing. The course is intended to be a “hands-on” course in which students are required to participate in many facets of the financial world.

Intro to Psychology/Sociology: This class will be an elective course for seniors and will introduce them to the dual disciplines of psychology (first semester) and sociology (second semester). The Psychology semester will act as an introduction to the scientific & systematic study of human behavior and mental processes. Students will assess various approaches to psychology including biological, behavioral, cognitive and socio-cultural perspectives. Topics covered include psychological learning as well as unpacking the mechanisms of memory, motivation, emotion, and personality. Sociology (second half) will focus on the systematic understanding of social interaction, social organization, societal changes, social inequality, and the impact of all these on human behavior.

Journalism: Journalism is an elective course available to Grade 12 students. In this class, students will be writing for the school newspaper, The Cardinal. Students will develop their writing by conducting interviews, responding to journalistic writing from daily newspapers and magazines, composing articles on school, local, national and international activities. Students will also edit and revise both their own work and the work of other students within the class. Students will follow the conventions of standard written English and work as part of a professional team.

Leadership: To be a leader of a community, you first must serve it. Those two verbs—serve and lead—are used all the time to describe people who give back to the larger community, like local utility, school, or non-profit board members. In this course, we will work together to build up the skills you have to help you stand out as a leader at La Salle and in your future. You will work on brainstorming, planning, executing, and reflecting on a wide variety of projects while collaborating in large and small groups to arrive at agreed-upon goals. You’ll have the chance to stretch your comfort zone and work on goal-setting new achievements. We’ll also make time to spread kindness to your peers and your community. You’ll also reflect on your personal growth and the growth of our group.

Microsoft 2: Students will learn the Intermediate levels of Microsoft Office 365, i.e. Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. (Prerequisite: Microsoft 1)

Music Theory and Composition: This class introduces the interested student to the technique of Music Composition and how to write music for instruments. The tutorial will survey great works of musical literature from the Baroque up to the Modern Era and encourage the student to study and compose small specimens for a variety of solo and groups of instruments. Hands-on instruction to the fundamentals of playing the guitar, reading sheet music and chord charts along with basic elements of music theory. The student will develop an appreciation of the guitar and its literature along with its application in a variety of musical genres, making it the most popular and versatile of instruments.

Photography: This course will start with the history and invention of photography and culminate in a portfolio of images taken with students phones or cameras. Focusing on composition, lighting, style, exposure and the elements and principles of design as they relate to photography. Students must provide their own camera or camera phone.

Physics: This course explores the various forms of energy. Topics include: motion, forces, mechanical energy, waves, sound and light, electric and magnetic fields, electric current, and basic concepts of “modern” physics. There is a strong emphasis on mathematical applications and problem-solving. Laboratory experiences reinforce the topics and skills presented. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1200 minutes of laboratory time. Students take the New York State Physics Regents Exam in June.

• Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry, approval by science teacher

Spanish 1: This course offers an introduction to the basic elements of Spanish. It is designed to teach the following basic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Elementary grammar patterns are introduced, as well as cultural background. Audio-lingual materials will acquaint the student with Spanish. This course will be guided in a review of all lessons using the Duolingo program for basic Spanish learners.