Page 5 - 2019-2020-Course-Catalog
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Within each department are the following:
Block Schedule
Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School oper- Overview of the department
ates on an A/B block schedule that permits students Course number and name
to take up to eight classes with four classes meeting
each day. Credit earned: 0.5 credit for one semester
course, 1.0 credit for a full year course
Some required courses are offered on multiple lev-
els: Academic, Advanced, Honors, and Advanced This Course Catalog contains descriptions of courses
Placement. Students are placed in the level that is that will be offered in the upcoming years so stu-
most appropriate within each subject area, according dents will have the information they need to make
to demonstrated aptitude and performance. While the most of their academic planning.
the curriculum is parallel, in that each level of the
course has similar goals and objectives, the applica-
tion of instruction varies by methodology, degree of Advanced Placement and Honors Courses
difficulty, and volume of information presented.
Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors Courses are
designed to meet the needs of students who want an
Advanced Placement/Honors Level advanced college preparatory curriculum and have
demonstrated a high level of responsibility, interest,
These courses are designed to meet the needs of aptitude and achievement. The course principles
students who can excel with a challenging, rigorous and concepts are explored in greater depth, and
college preparatory curriculum, who are highly moti- more independent work is expected of the student.
vated, and who have demonstrated a high level of
responsibility, aptitude and achievement. At Saint John Paul the Great, registration for AP and
Honors courses involve several steps: the student
Principles and concepts are explored in greater must 1) meet the prerequisite requirements, 2) be
depth, and more independent work is required of the recommended for Advanced Placement/Honors by
student. his/her current teacher within the department
(applies to current JP students only), and 3) stu-
dents requesting AP courses must read and agree to
our AP policy as outlined below.
Advanced Level
These courses are designed to meet the needs of In addition to course prerequisites, requesting AP
students who seek a demanding college preparatory and Honors level courses require careful considera-
curriculum, who can complete tasks with minimum tion and approval from both teachers and counse-
supervision, and who demonstrate an above average lors. The student’s Guidance Counselor will make
level of aptitude and achievement. the final decision based on their review of all of a
student’s academic progress and current course re-
quests.
Academic Level It is important that students make careful decisions
These courses are college preparatory courses. They about course selection as it will impact the academic
are designed to meet the needs of students who schedule, teacher assignments, and hiring. Once a
seek a demanding college preparatory curriculum student has selected an AP/Honors course, it may be
and who demonstrate a general level of aptitude and impossible to drop the class due to scheduling con-
achievement. flicts.
Course Catalog Information Advanced Placement Information
The pages that follow contain descriptions of each Advanced Placement courses have the following con-
course offered at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic ditions that must be met prior to enrollment in the
High School. The listings are by academic depart- course:
ment. All of our courses are college preparatory. In
courses that are distinguished as AP, Honors, or Ad- AP courses require considerably more homework and
vanced Courses, the following distinction is found in studying than an advanced course. AP courses are
the Catalog: college level courses. Work will be assigned and will
be graded accordingly.
AP = Advanced Placement Course
H = Honors Course Any student who enrolls in an AP course must re-
Adv. = Advanced Level Course main in the course until the completion of the
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