COURSE OFFERINGS &
ELECTIVES 2011-12
All of life is a journey; which paths we
take, what we look back on, and what we
look forward to is up to us. We determine
our destination, what kind of road we will
take to get there, and how happy we are
when we get there.
From A Little Book of Happiness
VCHS Science Program: The Core 4
9
10
11
12
Regents
Program
Living
Environment
(Regents/AD)
Earth Science
(Regents/AD)
Regents Chemistry
and/or
Science Elective
Regents Physics
and/or
Science Elective
Accelerated
Program
Earth
Block
Science
LE/ES
(AD)
Chemistry
(Regents/AD)
Regents
Physics
Science Elective
VC Science Electives Program
High School Electives
College Electives
Elements of Science
Science Research
Basic Physics
AP Biology
Forensics- Pending BOE
Approval
AP Chemistry
AP Physics
Speak to your science teacher/guidance counselor about ways
for motivated students to take the Core 4 Science courses and
access science electives!
VC Science Electives
Elements of Science
1. Alternative to Regents Chemistry
2. Basic concepts of chemistry and physics
3. No scheduled lab period (labs incorporated in class)
4. Fulfills NYS mandated 3rd credit of science
VC Science Electives
Forensics- Pending BOE Approval
1. Major goal: gain an understanding of the
science of criminal investigation
2. Major areas of study: crime scene analysis, trace
evidence (hair, blood, prints, DNA) , determining
cause/time of death, witness reliability
3. No scheduled lab period (labs incorporated in class)
4. Fulfills NYS mandated 3rd credit of science
5. Prerequisite: Successful completion of two (2) Regents
science classes
VC Science Electives
Basics Physics
1. Alternative to Regents Physics
2. Basic concepts of physics
3. No scheduled lab period (labs incorporated in class)
4. 4th credit of science
5. Prerequisite: Elements of Science or Regents
Chemistry
VC Science Electives
Science Research I, II, III
1. 3-year SUNY Albany course starting in grade 10
2. 12 college credits & 3 Regents elective credits
3. Motivated students looking to do research in any field
• Design, conduct , report on an original experiment
• Present at science competitions like Intel or Siemens
• Attempt to have research paper published
Advanced Placement(AP)Science Courses
1. Motivated students looking to go beyond the basics
learned in Regents science classes (equivalent of a first
year college science course)
2. Extensive lab experiences with formal written lab reports
3. Students take the AP exam at the end of the course and
may be eligible for college credit
4. Prerequisite: Mastery (minimum 85 or higher) of
corresponding Regents science course or a science teacher
recommendation
VC Science Electives
Advanced Placement Biology
1. Major areas of study: molecules and cells, genetics and
evolution, organisms and populations
2. Prerequisite: Mastery of Regents Living Environment
and successful completion of (or concurrent enrollment
in ) Regents Chemistry
VC Science Electives
Advanced Placement Chemistry
1. Major goal: attain depth of understanding of chemical
problems, with emphasis on the mathematical
formulation of the principles of chemistry
2. Major areas of study: structure and states of matter,
chemical reactions, descriptive chemistry and extensive
lab experiences
3. Prerequisites: Mastery of Regents Chemistry & Math 11
VC Science Electives
Advanced Placement Physics (C)
1. Major goal: develop an understanding of principles of
physics and the ability to apply them in the solution of
problems.
2. Major areas of study: calculus-based Newtonian
mechanics (2 dimensional motion, work and energy)
3. Prerequisites: Mastery of Regents Physics and Math 11
Welcome to the High School Science Department
Biology
Earth Science
Chemistry
Physics
For more information stop by the Science Office:
Mr. Fracalossi, Science Supervisor OR speak with
your science teacher or guidance counselor
English choices
2011-2012
College Credit Options
AP- English Language and Comp.
This
course is a college-level
course based on helping
students to become skilled
readers of prose written in a
variety of contexts and to
become skilled writers.
AP- English Literature and Comp.
• This course is a college-level
course based on the careful
reading and analysis of
imaginative literature.
All students in AP will be expected to sit for the AP Examination in May.
Valley Central grade and credit will be awarded in June, however, students may be
eligible for college credit depending on their AP Examination score in July -subject
to the policy of their selected college or university.
College Credit Options
College English 101/102- SUNY
• This course is a college-level course that emphasizes
student practice in expository writing and library skills.
Reading and class discussion center on the formal and
informal essay and the research paper.
• Valley Central grade and credit will be awarded in
January and June, however, students may be eligible for
up to 6 college credits depending on the policy of their
selected college or university.
•
FEE REQUIRED and textbooks must be purchased.
Elective ChoicesShakespeare-The Shakespeare elective is designed to
provide extensive reading and analysis of
Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. The course is
created to stimulate the student's enjoyment and
understanding of Shakespeare.
Public Speaking- This course is offered to those
students wishing to better participate in public
speaking. It will provide the necessary training to
enable the student to speak in public with positive
self-adequacy. The course requires active
participation and provides excellent preparation for
successful adult-world communication.
Contemporary Issues in Literature- This is a
course for students who want to read compelling
literature and discuss how it relates to real life.
Students will examine contemporary novels,
short stories and poetry that express voices from
various cultures and social backgrounds.
Journalism-Journalism introduces students to the
many styles and principles of responsible
journalism. Students learn several types of news
and are required to produce, edit and publish the
school newspaper. The course provides handson experience with the world of communications
and allows students to work under deadline
conditions.
Creative Writing – This course is designed to
motivate students who would like to write
fearlessly and with confidence. Students will try
their hands at poetry, short stories, playwriting
and other genres to give each student a taste of
the world of writing.
Video Production- In this project-based course,
students will learn the basics of concept
development, scriptwriting, production planning,
photographic composition, camera techniques,
lighting design, sound design, and digital editing.
Quality work from the class will be shown at
VC’s annual film festival and on VC’s emerging
television station.
Why take Math?
Which course is for me?
December, 2010
• In order to graduate high school in New
York State…
• You MUST earn at least 3 credits in Math
– Algebra
– Geometry
– Mathematics in Action
– Algebra II and Trigonometry
• If you are planning to go to college…
• DON’T go without math in your senior
year!
You will have to take a placement test
when you get to college. If you don’t do
well, you will have to take a remedial math
class that you pay for but does not get you
any credit.
• College Prep Math –for non-Math
or Science majors
• Pre Calculus
• College Algebra – 3 OCCC credits
& College Trigonometry – 3 OCCC credits
• AP Calculus AB
Other Math Electives
Probability & Statistics
• This course is designed to provide the student with an
understanding of the persuasiveness of probability and
statistics in today’s society and the means to use the
concepts and formulas to problem solve. Topics
included are data collection techniques, calculating
probabilities, data distributions, hypothesis testing,
regression and analysis, expected values, conditional
probability, binomial and normal distribution, data
analysis (random sampling and sampling distribution),
and measures of association.
VCHS Social Studies Department
Electives
College Course Offerings & AP Courses
Social Studies Electives
•What makes for a stable family?
•What causes racism?
•Why is it more likely that one
person will help another when
there are less people around and
less likely when there are more
people around? How does
gender influence your decisions?
Many of the questions that fascinate us are questions about people’s
behavior in groups.
Sociology is a one semester elective on the study of group life and
provides a perspective on the world – a lens in which to examine the
link between personal experience, families, friendships and society at
large. This course provides an excellent foundation for Sociology classes
in college.
Why do you make the choices you do?
How does your brain influence your
personality? Why do you dream?
Why do you have reflexes?
How can you tell when people are lying?
Are criminals born or made?
If the only tool you have is a
hammer, you tend to see every
problem as a nail.
-Abraham Maslow
Psychology is a one semester elective on the study
of the human mind and behavior. Major topics
include: the brain, abnormal psychology,
psychological theories and experimentation, sleep
and consciousness, perception, emotion,
intelligence, memory, defense mechanisms, child
psychology, stress and more.
Psychology teaches us to help understand
ourselves and others and provides an excellent
foundation for the study of Psychology in college.
American
Law
•What are your rights if
you’re pulled over?
•What happens at a crime
scene?
American Law is a one
semester elective. It is the
study of criminal law,
juvenile law and your
rights and responsibilities
as a citizen. Meet and
discuss issues with police
officers and other law
enforcement personnel.
College Courses & AP Courses
The Holocaust in History
Albany State University: 3 credits
“…In spite of everything I still believe
that people are really good at heart”
--Anne Frank
The Holocaust stands out as perhaps the greatest example of evil,
or of human inhumanity in history. The Holocaust is History is a
one semester college course. Students explore the many aspects of
the Holocaust. At the completion of this college course students
will receive three (3) credits from Albany State University.
Medieval & Renaissance
Europe
SUNY Orange: 3 credits
Medieval & Renaissance Europe is a one
semester college course that deals with the
Medieval and Renaissance periods in
European History. The course begins with
the post-Roman world and ends with the
Protestant Reformation.
At the completion of this course students
will receive three (3) college credits from
SUNY Orange.
Modern Europe
SUNY Orange: 3 credits
Modern Europe is a one
semester college course that
emphasizes the social,
economic, cultural and political
development in Europe from
the 19th century to current day.
At the completion of this course
students will receive three (3)
college credits from SUNY
Orange.
National Government
SUNY Orange: 3 credits
A survey of the U.S. political system at the
national level the constitutional
framework, examination of the
presidency, congress, federal bureaucracy,
judicial structure, political parties, interest
groups, the media, and current public
issues.
At the completion of this one semester
course students will receive three (3)
college credits from SUNY Orange.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Courses
Gain the edge in college preparation. Stand out in the college
admission process! You can gain as much as six (6) college
credits to transfer into college.
AP US History offers a course and exam in
US History to qualified students who wish
to complete studies in high school
equivalent to an introductory college
course in US History.
AP US History is a full year course. You
can gain as much as six (6) college credits to
transfer into college.