Queen of Peace High School
COURSE CURRICULUM GUIDE 2008-2009  
Table of Contents: Introduction
Timeline for registration and course selection
Registration requirements
Phasing (general description)
Phase explanation
Criteria for placing a student in a higher phase
Academic Program
Course Descriptions

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. With few exceptions, all students are "phased". 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: 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. Both the student and his/her parent/guardian must sign the completed course selection sheet, and the student must return it to school 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.
PLEASE NOTE: In order for a student to be admitted to class at the start of the school year in September, the non-refundable registration fee along with a minimum of 2 month's tuition must be paid. Those not having fulfilled this obligation will have their class schedules held in the Student Services Office.

Phasing
This process is used to group the students according to their academic ability. The goal of phasing is to motivate, challenge, and stretch the student to strive toward his/her academic potential. For incoming 9th graders or new students, the department chairpersons, guidance counselors, and Director of Studies use the following as criteria for phasing: 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, semester grades on the report, input from the Director of Studies, and input from the individual student and parents.

Phase Explanation -- ALL COURSES ARE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
Phase 3 - Courses designed for students who are willing to work to their potential and beyond.
Phase 4 - Courses designed for students desiring education in depth and willing to do Honors work.
Phase 5 - Challenging/college level courses for students with exceptional ability who are willing to assume responsibility for more independent work, go far beyond the normal high school level, and do research work.

Criteria for placing a student in a higher phase
  1. Student has demonstrated extraordinary mastery of the subject material at the present level.
  2. Student manifests a willingness to proceed to the next phase, and grades are 93 or above.
  3. Student’s teacher recommends or approves the phase change.
NOTE: Other academic information may be found in the Student Handbook.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

GRADE 9 (Phases are listed in parentheses)
Required
Religion I (3) (Catholic Christianity)
English I (3,4,5)
Group Guidance I
Algebra I (3,4,5) OR Geometry/Trigonometry (5)
Introduction to Technology (3)
Introduction to Fine Art (3)
Physical Science (3,4) OR Freshman Chemistry (5)
Physical Education I (3)
Western Civilization (3,4,5)
Service Hours: a minimum of 8 hours each semester
Foreign Language Requirement*: (Students choose one)
Please Note: Foreign Language Courses are not phased. (Students will receive phase 4 credit.)
Spanish I
Spanish I for Native Speakers
French I
* If the student speaks and/or understands Spanish and would like to take Spanish, the student will be placed in our "Spanish for Native Speakers" program. If the parent/guardian does not wish the student enrolled in the "Spanish for Native Speakers" program, then the student must take French. If it is determined that a student who is in a regular Spanish class actually speaks and/or understands the language, then he/she will be immediately placed in the "Spanish for Native Speakers" program or in French.
GRADE 10 (Phases are listed in parentheses)
Required:
Religion II (3) (Christian Outreach/Testament)
English II (3,4,5)
Group Guidance II
Geometry (3,4) or Geometry/Trigonometry (5) or Algebra II (5) - students who had Geo/Trig phase 5 as freshmen
Physical Education II (3)
Driver Education (3)
Biology (3,4,5)
Conflict Management/Domestic Violence/Teen Gambling (3)
Service Hours: 32-40 hours (Christian Outreach)
                            10 hours (Christian Testament)
Foreign Language Requirement: (Students choose one)
Please Note: Foreign Language Courses are not phased. (Students will receive phase 4 credit.)
Spanish II
Spanish II for Native Speakers
French II
Electives: (Students choose one)
Cultural Literacy (3,4)
Algebra II (5)
     This elective is only open
     to sophomores who are
     also taking Geom/Trig (5).
Area Studies (3,4)		 Business Technology I (3)
Drawing and Painting (3,4)
Visual BASIC.net Programming (4)
     This course is only open to
     students who are taking phase 4
     or phase 5 math.
GRADE 11 (Phases are listed in parentheses)
Required: 
 Religion III (3) - (Christian Lifestyles/Catholic Morality)
English III (3,4,5)
Group Guidance III
Algebra II (3,4,5) or Introduction to Calculus (5)*
Physical Education III
U. S. History I (3,4,5+)
Service Hours: a minimum of 16 hours each semester
*Introduction to Calculus is not actually a required course, however, it is highly recommended that phase 5 math students take this course.
 Electives: (Students choose 2)
Speech and Drama (3)
Effective Writing (4)
Cultural Literacy (3,4)
Visual BASIC.net Programming (3,4)
Introduction to Java Programming (4)
Spanish III
Spanish III for Native Speakers
French III

+ College credit available

Please Note: Foreign Language Courses are not phased. (Students will receive phase 4 credit.)
 Modern European History (4)
Business Technology (3)
Accounting (3,4)
Drawing and Painting (3,4)
Computer Art/Graphic Design (3,4)
Chemistry (3,4)
Advanced Chemistry (5)+
GRADE 12 (Phases are listed in parentheses)
Required:
Religion IV (3) -- Students choose 2 one-semester courses (see the Religious Studies section of this Course Curriculum Guide for a listing and description of courses.)
Group Guidance IV
English IV (3,4,5*+)
U. S. History II (3,4,5*+)
Service Hours: a minimum of 16 hours each semester
*Students who qualify for English IV Phase 5 and/or U. S. History II Phase 5 must sign up to take these courses for college credit and/or for Advanced Placement (AP test required).

Electives: (Students choose 4)
Speech and Drama (3)
Effective Writing (4)
Cultural Literacy (3,4)
Themes in Literature and Film (3)
Visual BASIC.net Programming (3,4)
Introduction to Java Programming (4)
Trigonometry and Topics (3)
Applications of Mathematics (3)
Pre-Calculus (4)
AP Calculus (5) (AP test required)
Spanish IV +#
Spanish IV for Native Speakers +#
French IV +#

+ College credit available

Please Note: Foreign Language Courses are not phased. (Students will receive phase 4 credit.)
 Chemistry (3,4)
Physics (3,4)
Anatomy/Physiology (4)
Modern European History (4)
Contemporary Issues (3,4)
Youth and Law/Sociology (3)
Western World - college credit (5)
Business Technology (3)
Accounting (3,4)
Drawing and Painting (3,4)
Computer Art/Graphic Design (3,4)
Advanced Art/Portfolio (4)
.

Adobe Acrobat Reader® is a free utility for viewing Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Click the button to go to the Adobe site for downloading the Reader.
If you don't have Microsoft Word, click the link to download the viewer.
 Click the icon to
download the entire
Course Curriculum Guide in
Adobe Acrobat PDF format
or in MS Word format .