Course Descriptions
Advisory
CHA’s Advisory program focuses on empowering students to make positive academic and career choices based on their individual skills and interests. In Advisory students will learn to understand their own role in achieving success in high school and in life. Advisory groups are interest-based groups – students are matched to each other and their Advisor based on communicated interests. The first quarter Advisory program will focus on our students’ transition to high school. Our students will participate in hands-on community building lessons that are essential for the building of a positive and successful high school. Advisory meets two days per week for the entire year. The Advisor acts as the main point of contact between the school and the parents.
CREDITS: 1 credit per year
Internship
Internship placements are with our partnership organizations and occur outside of our school building in the community in which we live. Internships not only prepare students for on-the-job training in the “real world” but also help our students network for their future careers. All qualifying students must exhibit great independence, responsibility, reliability, and their parent’s/guardian’s permission in order to participate in the program. The CHA Internship Program is for current juniors and seniors in good academic standing. Students must have taken and passed all course requirements in order to be eligible for our internship program. Students also must take and pass the internship training and orientation training project with a 3 or above in order to interview for a prospective internship placement. Students can be removed from internships at any time during the school year based on violation of the internship contract or CHA/DOE policies.
Career & Technical Education
Software Engineering Program
9th Grade: Block Coding/Python/Physical Computing
Students are introduced to the exciting world of computer science through a range of programming vehicles. Students begin to explore the concepts of computer science through block coding using Snap!. Digital projects are built to explore and implement newly acquired skills in coding such as animations and game design. Robotics and Physical Computing (Arduino/Raspberry Pi) are used to shift students to syntactic coding with Python and C/C++. Digital literacy is touched on throughout the curriculum to support students’ digital citizenship.
CREDITS: 2 credits
10th Grade: Web Design/Javascript
Students build on the concepts learned in their introductory Software Engineering course. This course introduces students to basic web design using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Throughout the course students are introduced to planning and designing effective web pages; implementing web pages by writing HTML and CSS code, and adding functionality with Javascript; enhancing web pages with the use of page layout techniques, text formatting, graphics, images, and multimedia; and producing functional, multi-page websites. Students use the coding language P5.JS (Javascript Graphics) to create abstract animations, write their own functions and create object-oriented scripts.
CREDITS: 2 credits
11th Grade: AP Computer Science Principles
In this course, students will create applications and other programs using the p5.JS JavaScript library (semester 1, 2) as well as the Snap! programming language (semester 2). They will learn some of the most powerful ideas of computer science (i.e abstractions, algorithms, working with large data sets, the Internet, cybersecurity concerns, and computing). Emphasis is placed on creative program design in all laboratory activities through extended learning opportunities. Students learn to analyze information about and discuss the social implications of computing—thinking deeply about how they can be personally active in promoting the benefits and reducing the possible harms. This course is designed to support all students in successfully completing the AP Computer Science Principles exam. The course offers a multidisciplinary approach to learning the underlying principles of computation.
CREDITS: 2 credits
12th Grade: CFM/Senior Project
The senior year wraps up three years of computer science study into a year long authentic task. Students spend the first semester exploring careers and the workplace and personal finance, and the second producing an authentic digital product for local businesses. Students become versed in the structure of businesses and the roles they can embody in the future. This exploration sets them up for success on a project-based learning task in the second semester. Through outreach and ongoing collaboration students develop or redevelop websites, apps, graphics and other digital products to support the community. Through this guided process students gain real world experience working as a business collective.
Future Ready Course Sequence
9th Grade: Computer Science Discoveries
Introduction to Computer Science is a course intended to provide students with exposure to various information technology occupations and pathways such as Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Software Development. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to describe various information technology (IT) occupations and professional organizations. Moreover, they will be able to demonstrate logical thought processes and discuss the social, legal, and ethical issues encountered in the IT profession.
CREDITS: 1 credit per year
10th Grade: IT Fundamentals
IT Fundamentals is a course intended to teach students the basic concepts of hardware, software applications, database, and networking while introducing basic cybersecurity principles. Upon completion of the course, proficient students will demonstrate understanding of IT fundamentals, preparing them to specialize in cybersecurity.
CREDITS: 1 credit per year
Music Production
This course uses a combination of technical skills to engineer music sessions in a Digital Audio Workstation. Students will collaborate and discuss ideas and provide constructive criticism in order to improve their teammates' work. They will develop their skills in the DAW Garageband program.
CREDITS: 1 credit per year
Drawing
Students will be introduced to basic observational freehand drawing techniques, including line, form, light, and shade & composition. Students will study examples of work from various artists and have an opportunity to apply this knowledge in the studio and in outdoor settings.
CREDITS: 1 credit per year
Comics and Cartooning
This course will focus on exploring the field of comics, sequential art, cartooning, and other forms of expressive illustration. Students will create characters and pages of comics, develop skills such as drawing and abstracting the human figure, using perspective to create believable environments, designing and formatting pages, preparing comics for print, and more.
Spanish
Students will study the Spanish language and learn about the culture of Spanish speaking populations in Latin America, Spain and the United States. Class will be conducted in Spanish and emphasis will be on developing communication skills as students engage in listening, speaking, reading and writing activities in the target language. Cultural concepts and influences will be integrated into instruction and assignments to foster understanding and tolerance of others. Students MUST pass 2 semesters of Spanish in order to meet graduation requirements.
CREDITS: 2 credits
English
9th Grade
This is a literature-based course. Along with traditional reading and writing projects, students are challenged through authentic assessments that mirror the rigor of the real world. Although continued improvement in mechanical conventions and content skills are major goals of the course, the entire process of reading and writing is developed. Students are expected to think critically, analyze, and react to the literature that they read. These may take the form of oral, visual, technological, and collaborative work.
CREDITS: 2 credits
10th Grade
10th grade English is a two-semester course that is designed to build on the foundational knowledge and to refine skills students will need to be successful within ELA, across subject areas, and on the ELA Regents Exam. The curriculum is based on the new Core Standards, the newly-revised ELA Regents exam, and the New York State Core Curriculum. The 10th grade curriculum specifically focuses on the philosophy of the human condition: Is mankind essentially good or are we inherently evil? In addition to analyzing literature and nonfiction texts, students will be publishing their own writing in response to the aforementioned question. By the end of this course, students will be able to react critically to texts, write papers that analyze what they read, and argue and defend their opinion.
CREDITS: 2 credits
11th Grade
11th grade English will discuss what outside influences shape our morality, and what effects they have on shaping us as individuals. The class will explore these ideas through argumentative essays, seminars, and creative tasks. All assignments will contribute to your preparation for the ELA Regents exam. This course will terminate in a Regents Exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
12th Grade
12th grade English will study the quote, "The answers you get from literature depend on the questions you pose" by Margaret Atwood, by concentrating on literature which asks difficult questions about society, psychology, and the world we live in. The curriculum will prepare students for college-level writing, and will be based on the Next Generation Learning Standards and the New York State English Curriculum.
CREDITS: 2 credits
AP English Literature
AP English Literature will teach 12th grade students how to understand and evaluate works of fiction, poetry, and drama from various periods and cultures. Students will read literary works and write essays to explain and support their analysis of them. This course will prepare students to take the AP English Literature exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Creative Writing
This course focuses on writing as a method of self expression. Students use readings to enrich their own writing and work on the mechanics of the English language. This will be done through a variety of independent, group, and whole class activities, which include projects, presentations, and writers’ workshops.
CREDITS: 1 credit per year
History
Global Studies - 9th-10th grade
Students take an intense and in-depth look at the development of humanity, the growth of global civilizations, and the evolution of various religions through the investigation and examination of primary source documents, music, art, and out-of-the-classroom experiences in Global Studies courses at CHA. Students thoroughly analyze, evaluate, and critique the establishment of various forms government around the world and across different eras of time, and judge the effectiveness of these governments. Through unit projects and exams, students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of critical elements and events in world history through the eyes of being a world citizen. Finally, all students will be expected to demonstrate a high level of understanding and analysis of key terms and people by completing an end-of-year project, which will include a research paper and a 5-8 minute technology based presentation of their research paper. NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
AP Human Geography- 10th grade
AP Human Geography is an introductory college-level human geography course. Students cultivate their understanding of human geography through data and geographic analyses as they explore topics like patterns and spatial organization, human impacts and interactions with their environment, and spatial processes and societal changes.
CREDITS: 2 credits
AP US History- 11th grade
AP US History is a survey of American history from the Pre-Columbian period to the present. In addition to the study of specific eras and topics, the course will emphasize a series of key themes throughout the year, including: the development of American diversity, identity and culture; economic trends and transformations; citizenship and the development of political institutions and customs; social reform movements; and the evolution of American foreign policy and role of the United States in an increasingly interdependent world. This course is designed to provide both a college-level experience and preparation for the AP Exam in United States History.
CREDITS: 2 credits
AP US Government and Politics- 12th grade
The AP course in United States Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret US government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, ideas that constitute US government and politics. This course will prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Exam
CREDITS: 2 credits
Participation in Government- 12th grade
This course examines the political institutions of the United States Government and how said institutions impact the lives of Americans each day. Due to the recent rise in civil rights issues in our society today this course will shift focus to further knowledge and understanding on the perspective of Black and Brown citizens of this country. The goal is to help the students understand how our government operates, and what actions we can take as citizens to shape our country’s future. Understanding our government, our politics, and our civic responsibilities are imperative to becoming a better global citizen. This course is a graduation requirement.
CREDIT: 1 credit per year
Economics- 12th grade
This course examines the financial institutions of the United States Government and how said institutions impact the lives of Americans each day. The goal is to help our students to understand the ways in which our economy operates, and what actions we can take as citizens to shape our economic future. This course is a graduation requirement.
CREDIT: 1 credit per year
Mathematics
Integrated Algebra - 9th-10th grade
The goal of the Integrated Algebra Course is to assist students in mastering essential mathematical knowledge and in deepening their critical thinking skills. Students will study number sense and operations, algebra, measurement, and statistics and probability. NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Geometry - 9th-10th grade
The goal of the Geometry Course is to assist students in mastering essential mathematical knowledge and deepening their critical thinking skills. They will study the basic tools of geometry, geometric relationships and constructions, and develop the ability to present valid arguments in written form, justified by theorems. This course will prepare students for the Geometry Regents Exam. NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Algebra II/Trigonometry- 11th grade
The goal of the Algebra 2 course is to develop thinking and reasoning abilities in order to successfully problem solve and justify mathematical findings. Each unit is designed according to the Next Generation Math Learning Standards mandated by the state. Students will study 7 units (see below). This course is designed to utilize, apply and enhance students’ prior Integrated Algebra & Geometry skills to solve, discuss and design Algebra 2/ Trigonometry problems. This course will prepare students for the Algebra 2/ Trigonometry exam. NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Pre-Calculus- 12th grade
The goal of the Pre-Calculus course is to prepare students for Calculus, either in high school or college and to develop students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills. During this course of Pre-Calculus students will review and learn further applications in topics that they were exposed to from the Algebra2/Trig course.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Science
Living Environment - 9th-10th grade
Living Environment is a comprehensive, two-semester, introductory biology course that includes a mandated laboratory component. The topics covered include: life characteristics, scientific method, biological tools, cells, plants and animal physiology, classification of organisms, reproduction, Mendelian and modern genetics, evolution and ecology. The course is designed to prepare students for the Living Environment Regents Exam. To be eligible to take the Living Environment Regents Exam, a student must complete all laboratory activities to the satisfaction of their teacher, with a complete set of each student’s finished labs kept on file, as mandated by the State Board of Regents. NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Earth Science- 9th-10th grade
Earth Science is a comprehensive, two-semester, introductory course that includes geology, astronomy, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science. It also includes a mandated laboratory component. The topics covered include: rocks and minerals, landscapes, weathering and erosion, insolation, earthquakes, earth’s history, the solar system and the stars. The course is designed to prepare students for the Earth Science Regents Exam. To be eligible to take the Earth Science Regents Exam, a student must complete all laboratory activities to the satisfaction of their teacher, with a complete set of each student’s finished labs kept on file, as mandated by the State Board of Regents. NOTE: This course will terminate in a Regents exam.
CREDITS: 2 credits
Science Enrichment
Science Enrichment courses are designed to meet the specific science needs of individual students. Students will work independently on online curricula and assignments from their science teacher. Enrichment targets students’ specific areas for growth. These courses meet 2-3 times per week depending on the students’ specific needs. Science enrichment courses will begin Quarter 2.
CREDITS: Varies depending on student’s individual program
Physical Education
The course is designed to provide students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to identify, analyze, and evaluate their physical activity. Students will possess knowledge of physical and written assessment in psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Students will also participate in the “Fitness Gram” which is a program used to assess students’ health on a yearly basis. This course also engages students in the use of technology periodically specifically geared toward physical education.
CREDITS: .5 per semester
NOTE: Students are required to take and pass PE EVERY SEMESTER of high school.
