SRVHS AP

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SRVHS AP Honors Parent Information Evening
March 26, 2009
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Accelerated Advanced Courses

• Different than regular college prep classes    
• Pace
• Depth and complexity of assignments
• Higher standards of evaluation
• Accelerated Biology, Algebra II, English 10
• No weighted grade

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Honors Courses

• Specialized content with extended workload
• Weighted grade
• Honors Classes at SRVHS
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Pre-Calculus / Trigonometry
• World Languages French 4, Spanish 4

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Advanced Placement

• College Level
• Access with Multiple Measures (prerequisites,
  tests, prior course grades, teacher
  recommendations)
• Weighted Grade
• Possible college credit w/ College Boards AP
  Exams in May

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Why take AP courses?

• Challenging curriculum
• Preparation for college work
• Potential to earn college credit

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SRVHS Expectations for AP Students

• Highly motivated
• Independent learners
• Stick with the challenge
• Try to avoid over scheduling
• Computer savvy a big plus
• Take AP Exam

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Visual and Performing Arts

• Advanced Photography
• AP Studio Art
• AP Music Theory

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AP Studio Art

• 11th-12th grade
• Independent projects
• Complete a portfolio for AP exam
• Drawing
• 2D
• Minimum of 18 works
• Entrance Guidelines Application

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AP Music Theory

• 11th-12th grade
• Covers music vocabulary, note relationships,
  melodic and rhythmic diction, and other topics.
• Summer study packet

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English Courses

• AP English Language
• AP English Literature

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AP English Language

• 11th grade
• Superior reading comprehension and writing skills
• Self-discipline and self-motivation
• Comfort with ambiguity                    
• Emphasis on expository writing and critical
  reading
• Entrance Guidelines B- or better in Advanced
  English 10 or placement exam
• Possible Summer Assignment

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AP English Literature

• 12th grade
• Superior reading comprehension and writing skills
• Focus on Western Literature
• Entrance Guidelines B- or better in AP English
  Language or placement exam
• Possible Summer Assignment

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Mathematics Courses

• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics

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AP Calculus AB

• 11th-12th grade
• Desire to succeed and a willingness to work hard
• Equivalent to one semester of college Calculus
• Homework daily 0.5-1 hour/day
• Entrance Guidelines Completion of Math Analysis
  / Trigonometry

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AP Calculus BC

• 12th grade
• Equivalent to a year-long college Calculus course
• Entrance Guidelines
• C or better in Calculus AB or
• B or better in Honors Math Analysis /
  Trigonometry with teacher recommendation

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What do we do after the Calculus AP test in May?

• A project
• Some days we play cricket!

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Advanced Placement Statistics

• 11th-12th grade
• Analytical Skills and Logical Reasoning
• Graphing Calculator
• Homework 30-45 minutes per day
• Entrance Guidelines Algebra 2 with a B- or
  better

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AP Computer Science Java

• 10th-12th grade
• Equivalent to a college-level programming course
• Entrance Guidelines Computer 1 with a B- or
  better and a teacher recommendation

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World Languages

• Honors Spanish 4
• Honors French 4
• AP Spanish 5
• AP French 5

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AP Spanish 5

• 11th-12th grade
• Course entirely in Spanish
• Students to have oral and written fluency
• Homework is at least 20-30 minutes per evening
• Entrance Guidelines Spanish 4 with a C or
  better and a diagnostic test

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AP French 5

• 11th-12th grade
• Class entirely in French
• High level of fluency
• Knowledge of advanced vocabulary and ability to
  read sophisticated material and write
  sophisticated essays
• Homework 20-30 minutes per night
• Entrance Guidelines French 4 with C or better

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Social Studies

• AP European History
• AP U.S. History
• AP Psychology
• AP Economics
• AP American Government

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AP European History

• 10th grade
• Students need accelerated reading, comprehension,
  note taking, and writing skills
• In-depth look at European History
• Homework extensive reading, 4-7 hours per week

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AP U.S. History

• 11th grade
• Study of American History from the colonial era
  to the present
• Strong reading comprehension and writing skills
• Homework 4-5 hours per week

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AP Psychology

• 11th-12th grade
• Comprehensive study of general psychology
  including research and clinical psychology
• Strong reading comprehension and critical
  thinking skills
• Homework 30-45 minutes per night

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AP American Government

• 12th grade
• Commitment to excellence
• Analytical skills, essay writing, critical
  thinking skills, factual recall ability
• Lecture-based course
• Exams, quizzes, essays, presentations, and
  research project
• Homework approximately 6 hours/week

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AP Comparative Government

• 12th grade
• Covers government requirement
• Strong reading and writing skills

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AP Economics

• 12th grade
• Strong math and analytical skills
• Homework is 1 hour every night with one test a
  week.
• Info Mtg. 3/16 _at_Lunch, B4

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Science

• AP Physics B
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environmental Science

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AP Physics B

• Pre-requisites B or better in Trig/ Math
  Analysis recommended that students concurrently
  enrolled in AP Calculus AB
• intended for students with an interest in
  engineering, science or the medical field
• includes topics in both classical and modern
  physics
• The five general areas covered include Newtonian
  mechanics, fluid mechanics and thermal physics,
  electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and
  atomic and nuclear physics are required by the
  College Board
• Homework appx. 5 hours per week

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AP Biology

• Freshman College Biology meets UC/CSU d
  requirement for lab science.
• Uses Campbell 7th Edition Biology (widely used
  textbook)
• Summer Assignment (Ecology Unit- 6 chapters due
  first day of school)
• 12 Required Laboratory Activities by College
  Board
• Homework 5 hours/ week including extensive
  reading, 10 formal lab write-ups post-AP Exam
  project.

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AP Chemistry

• Breadth and depth of curriculum requires a high
  level of discipline and commitment from the
  student.
• Chemistry knowledge prerequisite
• Students should have passed Honors Chemistry with
  a B or better. A working
• Knowledge of the basics of chemistry is expected
  at the beginning of the course.
• No summer assignment- however, in order to cover
  all of the material demanded by the AP exam,
  mandatory work, such as, reading and problem
  assignments, may be required over school breaks
  and vacations.
• Homework requirement approx. 6 hours per week.

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AP Environmental ScienceCourse Description

• Equivalent of a one-semester, introductory
  college course in environmental science
• Interdisciplinary course embracing topics from
  chemistry, biology, earth science, population
  dynamics, environmental quality, resource policy
  and management, and the environment and society
• Summer Assignment is required and includes
  pulling articles from newspaper and completing
  short write-up
• Homework requirement approx. 5 hours per week
• Designed to satisfy University of California and
  California State University lab science
  requirements

An E2 Program Class
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APES Projects

• Integrated pest management and native species
  demonstration garden
• Water quality monitoring in San Ramon Creek
• Conduct 10 environmental labs
• Home audits of waste, food intake and energy
• Onsite recycling program
• Career project

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Placement Agreements

• Parent and student signature required
• Have up to 6 weeks to drop the course without a
  grade appearing on the transcript
• No guarantee that a substitute course is
  available
• Please select courses carefully

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Contact Information

• Counseling Office 552-3021
• Jessica Coulson (A-Cha)
• Ian Farr (Che-Fo)
• Nancy Conti (Fr-Ki)
• Melissa Bergstedt (Kl-Ni)
• Jennifer Levy-Wendt (No-San)
• Vivian Srouji (Sap-Z)

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Key Dates

• Parent Meetings, 700pm in PAC
• March 3rd -- To be 10th grade
• March 4th -- To be 11th grade
• March 5th -- To be 12th grade
• Building Bridges  March 10   March 11
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• Drop-In Mtgs. w/ Counselors
• March 12th, A period
• March 17th, Lunch
• March 19th, After School