A38A Arts of the World

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credit: 5

This one quarter class focuses on a variety of art and media from all over the world; Japanese brush painting, European renaissance portraiture, African masks, and Australian papunya dot paintings.

D80A Computer Applications

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credit: 5

This one quarter class focuses on computer vocabulary, hardware repair and upgrade, and Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel).

D87A Internet/Web Applications

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credit: 5

This one quarter class focuses HTML coding, Custom Style Sheets, Adobe Dreamweaver, and Web 2.0 Tools.

L31 Communication in Society

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

In this one-quarter block class students gain skills and experience in effective communication, including awareness and expression of ideas and thoughts; speech fundamentals; communication in relationships, work situations and the community; barriers to communication; problem solving, conflict management, thinking skills, and decision making. Students also explore design psychology, use design technology, and read, discuss, create and critically examine information and literature.

L19 Creative Writing

• Course length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

This course introduces students to the writing of fiction stories, poetry, personal narrative, scripts, and creative essays.  Class assignments give students opportunities to develop creativity and appropriate freedom of expression, as well as to discover their “voice” in writing.

L33 Discussion & Debate

• Course length: 1 quarter
• Prerequisites: None; designated for 11-12^th graders
• Credits: 5

This course is designed to study techniques used in argumentation, forms of discussion, and formal debate. Students will learn the fundamentals of communication and persuasion. Skills practiced in this class are applicable to other classes and to participation in the democratic process in our communities, states, and country.

L35 Introduction to Theater

• Course length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

This course provides a foundation in all aspects of theater: history, play analysis, terminology, basic stage movement, vocal exercises, memorization, character interpretation, basic production principles, and selection and evaluation of plays.

L68 Multicultural Literature

• Course length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

This course focuses on short stories, poetry, autobiographies, novels, and plays by minority authors.  Literary analysis is supplemented by media and creative projects aimed toward experiencing various cultures.

L80 Mythology

• Course length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None; designated for 11-12^th graders
• Credits: 5

This course focuses primarily on Greek and Roman myths, but myths from other cultures may be studied as well. Background material on characteristic themes of world cultures adds depth to individual myths studied.

L64 Science Fiction

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

In this one-quarter block class students imagine new societal structures and investigate technological, scientific and social change through the genre of science fiction. Students address all 6 of the BVSD Language Arts standards while analyzing literature for scientific accuracy, literary merit, and relevance to real life. The creative writing in this class allows students to explore their personal viewpoints in the area of science fiction.

X61A Student Council

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credit: 5

In this one-quarter block class students gain skills and experience in effective leadership, including project planning, task identification, effective delegation, scheduling, effective communication, interpersonal skills, constructive argument, budgeting and parliamentary procedure.

H50 Living On Your Own

• Course Length: 1 Semester
• Prerequisite: None
• Credits: 5 in Health and 5 in Finance

This year long course is designed to help you sharpen your focus on your own life.  It is to help you to gain a clearer picture of who you are, how you got that way, and most importantly, to help you make wise choices in your life.  Topics include: relationships, housing personal finance, parenting, communications, healthy life style, food and nutrition, and preparing for life after high school.

 H74 Teen Choices and Challenges

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisite: None (Recommended for all 9^th & 10^th grade students)
• Credits: 5 in Health or Practical Arts Teen

Choices and Challenges focuses on personal power and success, wellness, personal relationships, understanding human sexuality, and teens and the law.  Parental permission is required for the human sexuality unit.

H61 Child development

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisite: None (Recommended for all 9^th & 10^th grade students)
• Credits: 5

Child development offers the opportunity to develop a positive understanding of the growth and development of children and parenting skills.  Class activities will emphasize the responsibilities and challenges of parenting.

H22 Foods

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisite: None (Recommended for all 9^th & 10^th grade students)
• Credits: 5

Students will have the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the impact food has on their lives from the diet/health link to career options in the fields of foods and nutrition.  Areas of nutrition, consumer skills, food management and preparation are the foundation for the course.  Lab experience will reinforce the basic skills and develop critical thinking.

S15 Anatomy and Physiology

• Course length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: Biology S31A and S31B
• Credits: 5

Anatomy and Physiology provides students the opportunity to explore the intricate and sophisticated relationship between structure and function in the human body.  Students will study topics such as Homeostasis, Anatomical and Physiological Disorders and a survey of various Body Systems.  Laboratory and classroom activities reinforce concepts and principles presented in the course. 

 S42 Astronomy

• Course length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: Physical Science S10A and S10B
• Credits: 5

Astronomy provides students the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding about the solar system, galaxy, and universe in which they live.  Much attention is given to stellar and planetary astronomy. Laboratory and classroom activities reinforce concepts and principles presented in the course. 

T66 Current World Affairs

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

This course provides students with the opportunity to explore other cultures, political and economic systems, and belief systems.  Students will be expected to keep themselves well-informed on worldwide events and issues through a variety of media.

T25 Local History

• 1 Quarter
• Prerequisite: None
• Credits: 5

This course offers the community as a classroom.  Students will physically explore much of the content they study in class.  They will touch, smell, taste, and hear the histroy through field trips, interviews with community members, primary sources, local cemeteries, local experts, local museums, historic landmarks, and more.

T80 Psychology

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5

Psychology is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the science of human behavior. This class will present students with a basic view of the field of study and will cover theories of personality, mental, emotional, and physical development as they relate to the understanding of behavior.

T84 Sociology

• Course Length: 1 Quarter
• Prerequisites: None
• Credits: 5