Queen of Peace High School
COURSE CURRICULUM GUIDE 2011-2012  
Table of Contents  Introduction
 Timeline for registration and course selection
 Registration requirements
 Grouping of Students
 Explanation of Course Levels
 Recommended Sequence of Courses for each Department
Academic Program
Grade 9
Grade 10 		Grade 11
Grade 12
Course Descriptions
Business
English
Fine Art
Foreign Language
Guidance		 Mathematics
Physical Education
Religious Studies
Science
Social Studies

Introduction
The principal goal of Queen of Peace High School is to prepare each student to take his/her place in society as a Christian man/woman and a responsible citizen. The planned curriculum, as explained in this Curriculum Guide, is one step in this preparation. Selection of the proper courses is a serious responsibility and should be done thoughtfully and realistically. Students are urged to discuss this matter with parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and the Studies Office during the time frame specified. Ordinarily, once chosen, verified, and approved COURSE CHANGES ARE NOT PERMITTED. Under extraordinary circumstances, a course change will be considered. A $25.00 fee will be charged for any course changes that do take place. This fee is imposed to impress upon both the STUDENT and PARENT/GUARDIAN the seriousness with which the process of COURSE SELECTION is to be taken. The Administration reserves the right to cancel or change any course, if circumstances necessitate it.

Timeline for Registration and Course Selection:
January/February: At the beginning of the second semester, the guidance counselors will explain the contents of this Curriculum Guide to their Guidance classes. The Curriculum Guide will also be posted on the QPHS web site for easy reference by students and parents/guardians.

February: At the beginning of the month, each student will receive a course selection sheet. It is the student's responsibility to complete the course selection sheet by choosing a designated number of electives, ranking them in order of preference, and obtaining an appropriate teacher's signature as a sign of approval. The student must return the course selection sheet to the Student Service Office by the designated date.

March: At the beginning of the month, each student will receive a registration packet containing a registration form and a tuition/fundraising contract. These forms must be completed and signed by the student's parent/guardian and returned to school by the designated date. The non-refundable registration fee must accompany these forms when they are returned in order to secure the student's place in the enrollment of Queen of Peace High School for the new school year.

Registration Requirements
THE FOLLOWING MUST BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL IN ORDER THAT A STUDENT BE CONSIDERED REGISTERED FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR:

  1. Completed and signed course selection sheet.
  2. Completed and signed registration form.
  3. Completed and signed tuition/fundraising contract.
  4. Non-refundable registration fee.

Grouping of Students:
Queen of Peace High School makes a sincere effort to group students in courses according to each one’s ability in order to motivate, challenge, and stretch the student to strive toward his/her potential. For incoming 9th graders or new students, the department chairpersons, guidance counselors, and Director of Studies use the following as criteria for assigning students to course levels: previous report card grades, results from standardized testing, and input from previous school(s). For currently enrolled students who are proceeding to the next grade, the following criteria are used: input/observations of the student’s current teachers and guidance counselors, semester grades on the report, input from the Director of Studies, and input from the individual student and parents.

Explanation of Course Levels -- ALL COURSES ARE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
Lasallian (L): Courses designed for students who need to have their academic skills strengthened. Such students need to be instructed in how to work and learn more independently. Such courses cover college prep content, with teaching methods that reinforce academic skills.
Scholastic (S): Courses designed for students of average to above average ability with average to above average work ethic. Such students need to strengthen their ability to work and learn more independently. Such courses cover college prep content, with teaching methods that challenge students to become more independent learners.
Accelerated (A): Courses designed for students with exceptionally high ability and work ethic. Such students are expected to work and learn independently. Such courses are of college level content, teaching method, and teacher expectation.
NOTE: Other academic information may be found in the Student Handbook also posted on the QPHS web site.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

GRADE 9 (L = Lasallian, S = Scholastic, A = Accelerated )
Required
Religion I (S) (Scripture/The Trinity)
English I (L,S,A)
Group Guidance I
Algebra I (L,S,A) OR Algebra II (A)
Introduction to Technology (S)
Spanish I (S)
Physical Science (L, S) OR Freshman Chemistry (A)
Physical Education I (S)
Western Civilization (L,S,A)
Service Hours: 12 per semester
GRADE 10 (L = Lasallian, S = Scholastic, A = Accelerated )
Required:
Religion II (S) (Paschal Mystery/The Church)
English II (L, S, A)
Group Guidance II
Geometry (L, S) or Geometry/Trigonometry (A)
Physical Education II (S)
Driver Education (S)
Biology (L, S, A)
Spanish II (S)
Conflict Management/Domestic Violence/Teen Gambling (S)
Service Hours: 14 per semester
Electives: (Students take one elective)
Algebra II (A)
     This elective is only open
     to sophomores who are
     also taking Geom/Trig (A).
Area Studies (S)		 Business Technology (S)
Drawing and Painting (S)
GRADE 11 (L = Lasallian, S = Scholastic, A = Accelerated )
Required: 
 Religion III (S) - (Catholic Morality/Sacraments)
English III (S, A)
Group Guidance III
Algebra II (L, S, A) or Introduction to Calculus (A)*
Physical Education III (S)
U. S. History I (S) or AP U. S. History I (A) - college credit available
Service Hours: 16 per semester
*Introduction to Calculus is not actually a required course, however, it is highly recommended that Accelerated math students take this course.
 Electives: (Students take 2 electives)
Effective Writing (S)
Spanish III (S)
French III (S)

 Business Technology (S)
Accounting (S)
Drawing and Painting (S)
Computer Art/Graphic Design (S)
Chemistry (L, S)
GRADE 12 (L = Lasallian, S = Scholastic, A = Accelerated )
Required:
Religion IV (S) - (Social Justice/Contemporary Spirituality) or Religion IV Seminar (A)
Group Guidance IV
English IV (S) or English IV (A) - college credit required
U. S. History II (S) or AP U. S. History II (A) - college credit and/or AP test required
Service Hours: 18 per semester

Electives: (Students take 4 electives)
Effective Writing (S)
Trigonometry and Topics (S)
Applications of Mathematics (L)
Introduction to Calculus (A)
AP Calculus (A) - AP test required
Spanish IV (A)+
French IV (A)+
Chemistry (L, S)

+ College credit available

 Physics (S)
Anatomy/Physiology (S)
Contemporary Issues (S)
Business Technology (S)
Accounting (S)
Drawing and Painting (S)
Computer Art/Graphic Design (S)
Advanced Art/Portfolio (A)
Psychology (S)


RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE OF COURSES FOR EACH DEPARTMENT
Levels are listed in parentheses.  Electives are marked with an asterisk (*).
Department Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12
Business Intro to Tech (S) *Business Tech (S) *Business Tech (S)
*Accounting (S)		 *Business Tech (S)
*Accounting (S)
English English I (L, S, A)
Eng 2nd Lang I (S)		 English II (L, S, A)
Eng 2nd Lang I II (S)		 English III (S, A)
*Effective Writing (S)
Eng 2nd Lang II (S)		 English IV (S, A)
*Effective Writing (S)
Fine Art   *Draw & Paint (S) *Draw & Paint (S)
*Computer Art (S)		 *Draw & Paint (S)
*Computer Art (S)
*Advanced Art (A)
Foreign
Language		 Spanish I (S) Spanish II (S) *French III (S)
*Spanish III (S)		 *French IV (A)
*Spanish IV (A)
Guidance Fr Group Guidance Soph Group Guidance Jr Group Guidance Senior Group Guidance
*Psychology (S)
Mathematics Algebra I (L, S, A)
Algebra II (A)		 Geometry (L, S)
Geo/Trig (A)
*Algebra II (A)		 Algebra II (L, S, A)
*Intro to Calculus (A)		 *Trig & Topics (S)
*Intro to Calculus (A)
*AP Calculus (A)
*Applications of Math (L)
Physical
Education		 Phys Ed I (S) Phys Ed II (S) 
Driver's Education (S)
Conflict Management/
Domestic Violence/
Teenage Gambling (S)		 Phys Ed III (S) Phys ED IV (S);
Religious
Studies		 Scripture/
The Trinity (S)		 Paschal Mystery/
The Church (S)		 Catholic Morality/
Sacraments (S)		 Religion IV Seminar (A)
Social Justice (S)/
Contemporary Spirituality (S)
Science Physical Science (L, S)
Freshman Chem (A)		 Biology (L, S, A) *Chemistry (L, S)
*Anatomy/Physiology (S)		 *Anatomy/Physiology (S)
*Physics (S)
Social Studies Western Civ (L, S, A) *Area Studies (S) U.S. History I (S)
AP U.S. History I (A)		 U.S. History II (S)
AP U.S. History II (A)
*Contemporary Issues (S)

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