Curriculum Guide

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Students who earned an A or an A- for Q3 of 9th Grade English may take a skills test to determine eligibility, and teacher recommendation. 

Course Description: 10th Grade Honors English is for students who have demonstrated advanced skills in their 9th grade English course. Much of the curriculum aligns with the standard 10th grade course, Modes of Communication; however, students are evaluated more rigorously and expected to work independently. Assignments and texts will differ as needed to challenge advanced students in a meaningful way.

Year | Required 6th Grade 

Course Description: Sixth grade is a time when children begin to move away from their youth and towards adolescence. Students are increasingly focused on their “coming of age,” and our core literature selection reflects this important and critical shift in their lives. Reading classic literature and more recently published novels creates opportunities for students to enhance self-awareness, explore diverse perspectives, and consider social consciousness. We use literary signposts to deepen comprehension of the important and relatable themes of identification, belonging, community, tolerance, and activism. Our assignments and projects enhance this understanding, and throughout the year students make critical connections between themselves, their novels, and the world.

The writing program covers a variety of skills that help each student develop a foundation in and appreciation for the English language. Writing abilities are developed through assignments that emphasize different styles such as expository, creative, narrative, essay, and poetry. The mechanics of writing are also stressed and include spelling, punctuation, and grammar. During the year students write a personal memoir reflecting on a significant event or experience in their lives. Students will also create a coming of-age fiction project that leads a young protagonist through a series of conflicts. Throughout the year the students also continue to hone their oral skills through individual and small group presentations.

Textbook: Elements of Language (Holt)

Year | Required

Course Description: Ideal for ensemble instrument players hoping to develop their musical abilities.

Students in 6th Grade will begin their journey on saxophone, clarinet, flute, violin, viola, cello, or trumpet as they gain exposure to a variety of musical styles and genres. Music 101 is the perfect platform for students to hone their individual instrumental skills while playing a range of material. This course is designed to provide all students with the opportunity to play an ensemble instrument for the first time or expand on their previous playing experience. Students will rotate between instrument lessons and music theory exercises. In addition to building confidence and learning the subtle expressive qualities of their instruments, students will be challenged to broaden their understanding of music theory using interactive online tools.

Year | Required 6th Grade 

Course Description: Sixth grade students participate in a yearlong rotation of world languages that includes the study of French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. The intent of the program is to provide students with an introduction to the various languages and cultures. Students will then be prepared to make an informed choice of one of the languages to study in 7th and 8th Grade based on their own experience.

Year | Middle School Elective

Course Description: Ideal for beginning ensemble instrument players hoping to develop their musical abilities.

Students in 7th and 8th grades can begin their journey on saxophone, clarinet, flute, violin, viola, cello or trumpet as they gain exposure to a variety of musical styles and genres. Music 101 is the perfect platform for students in grades 6 - 8 to hone their individual instrumental skills while playing a range of material. This course accommodates students who are playing an ensemble instrument for the first time. Students will rotate between instrument lessons and music theory exercises. In addition to building confidence and learning the subtle expressive qualities of their instruments, students will be challenged to broaden their understanding of music theory using interactive online tools.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Prior experience on stage or in an acting class is required. 

Course Description: This year-long course in Acting concentrates on the development of the student actor to create truthful moments on stage. Building upon the pedagogical foundations laid by Konstantin Stanislavski, the student will explore through exercise, rehearsal, and performance the principles of imagination, sense memory, given circumstance, intention, emotional honesty, repetition, details of behavior, and relationship. First semester monologues and scenes will be taken from contemporary texts with an emphasis on storytelling. Students will develop their improvisation skills, their ensemble building skills and their dramatic analysis skills. Second semester will concentrate on classical works and playwriting. Students will be expected to memorize monologues and scenes and prepare written work for those performances. Attendance and written critique of 1 Brentwood School production is required. 

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Placement audition and/or participation in Beginning and Intermediate Jazz Bands.

Expectation: Students must have strong performance and sight-reading skills. Students must have a basic understanding of improvisation and be willing to put in significant practice time outside of class. Students are encouraged to pursue private study on their instruments outside of school, but it is not required.

Course Description: Students will be playing a variety of jazz-based compositions as well as arrangements of popular songs. This includes a wide range of musical styles from swing, be-bop, fusion, latin, motown, pop, and rock. The course heavily emphasizes improvisation and the development of higher-level musicianship skills. Class time will be spent rehearsing as an ensemble, individually with the instructor, and as a group developing arrangements for performances. Students should be ready to work intensely to develop ensemble performance, improvisation, listening, and music theory skills. This ensemble has four main performances a year, and one-off campus show in the spring. Occasionally, the band performs for special events on campus. Members are expected to attend all extra rehearsals and performances as needed. 

Students in Grades 10-12 in this ensemble can be eligible for honors credit by learning two prewritten or transcribed solos per quarter. To maintain the honors credit, students must always come to class prepared and be on time.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: Students will learn how to evaluate sources, construct academic arguments, and present conclusions. Students will develop a research question based on a gap in existing topic literature and investigate that question using an appropriate method of their devising. The research culminates in an academic research proposal, a preliminary phase of data collection, and a presentation and oral defense.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: This one-semester course will explore the ongoing movements for equity, equality, and social justice of different groups in the history of the United States: Native Americans, Black/African-Americans, European immigrants, women, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQ+, and the disabled.  The course will be structured both chronologically and thematically; equal time will be dedicated to the study of each group, and the movement for social justice within each group will be studied chronologically.  The course will span from the establishment of the Virginia Company in 1606 – the first English permanent settlement in the Americas – and the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619 to the most recent term of the Supreme Court, in which decisions in Bostock v. Clayton County, June Medical Services v. Russo, DHS v. Regents of the University of California, and McGirt v. Oklahoma affected the LGBTQ+ community, women seeking abortion services, the fate of DACA recipients, and Native Americans in Oklahoma respectively. The course will include weekly readings, lectures, and discussions, as well as at least one guest speaker per unit.  The course will also have a fieldwork component in which students will meet with an advocacy group for one of the populations studied and explore how organizations are working to secure equity and justice today.  

Year | Required 8th Grade

Prerequisite: Pre-Algebra, or by departmental consent.

Course Description: Algebra A is a year-long course that builds upon the concepts presented in pre-algebra, and is a prerequisite for Algebra B in the Upper School. The day-to-day instruction of Algebra A is largely skills-based and student-paced, enabling students to become confident, independent learners. The topics are divided into the following units: solving linear equations and inequalities, graphing and writing linear equations, solving systems of linear equations, and exponents. The course allows students to make connections between real world applications and algebra by examining linear relationships.

Textbook: Big Ideas Math: A Bridge to Success Algebra I (Ron Larson, Laurie Boswell)

Year | Required 7th or 8th Grade

Prerequisite: Pre-Algebra, or Accelerated Pre-Algebra, or by departmental consent from math assessment

Course Description: This course, designed for strong math students, is intended to provide a general background in the structure and method of algebra with emphasis on problem-solving techniques and acquiring solid skills. The topics are divided into the following units: solving linear equations and inequalities, graphing and writing linear equations, solving systems of linear equations, exponents, operations with polynomials, graphing and solving quadratic equations, radicals, and data analysis. Emphasis is based on the connections between the real world and algebra.

Textbook: Big Ideas Math: A Bridge to Success Algebra I (Ron Larson, Laurie Boswell)

Year | Required

Prerequisite: Algebra A

Course Description: This course begins with solving linear equations in one variable, solving linear inequalities, graphing and writing linear equations, and solving systems of linear inequalities. It continues with the study of polynomials, solving quadratic equations, graphing quadratic equations, simplifying and manipulating rational expressions as well as radical expressions. 

Textbook: Big Ideas Math, Algebra 1, a Bridge to Success (Ron Larson, Laurie Boswell

Year | Required

Prerequisites: Completion of Geometry and either Algebra AB or Algebra B

Course Description: This course revisits Algebra I topics and uses them as building blocks for more advanced work, looking at problems through both an algebraic and graphical lens. This course investigates different types of functions and explores their similarities and differences. These connections and explorations will set students up for success in Precalculus and beyond. The topics include: algebra building blocks, functions and transformations of functions, quadratic equations and functions, products and factors of polynomials, polynomial functions, rational expressions, irrational and complex numbers, powers, roots and radicals. Time permitting, the course will also address sequences and series and probability.

Textbook: Algebra: Structure and Method Book 2 (Brown et al.)

Year | Required 8th Grade

Prerequisite: Global Studies

Course Description: This year-long civics course introduces students to the various institutions, groups, documents, and ideas that animate American democracy. Beginning with a focus on historical and philosophical foundations, the course develops an understanding of the Constitution and of the political process in the context of real-life events. In the second semester students will participate in simulations to give them a first-hand experience of political decision-making. Lessons in American culture and media analysis are also woven into the course. Principal resources include news media, supplemented by the textbook and primary source documents.

Textbook: Government Alive!: Power, Politics and You (TCI)

Year | Required 11th Grade

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: This year-long course focuses on developing analytical reading and writing skills through a study of American texts and culture. Taking a multimedia approach, students will explore literature, art, film, advertisements, current events, and more as they question and assess what it means to be an American - both historically and currently, for others and for themselves. Representative authors include: Frederick Douglass, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Kate Chopin, Langston Hughes, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Students complete a variety of assessments, such as group presentations, shorter responses papers, and longer, more comprehensive essays that require sustained argumentation across several pages supported by research. Additionally, students will end the year with a unit dedicated to developing skills around writing personal essays. Designed in coordination with the College Counseling Department, this unit is meant to provide all juniors with a useful foundation in personal essay writing as they work independently to develop application materials for the college admissions process.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Biology or Honors Biology. 

Course Description: During the course of study, we will investigate the following topics and systems: Orientation of the Body, Chemistry of Life, Cellular Structure and Function, Histology, Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Special Senses, Endocrine, Blood, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive systems. We are going to approach this class from an introductory perspective. Anatomy and physiology can be quite a challenging discipline on many levels. I like to take a deeper rather than wider perspective. Students will have the opportunity to learn thousands of new terms and concepts and the course may even be considered as learning a whole new language. The challenges will be great, but the rewards will be worth the effort! Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an in- depth understanding of principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships. Laboratory work includes dissection of preserved specimens, microscopic study, physiologic experiments, computer simulations, peer teaching and curriculum development, and multimedia presentations. There will be SEVERAL DISSECTIONS! Comparative anatomy is an essential tool to learn about the human body. Dissections will include, but are not limited to frogs, rats, fetal pigs, cats, and various sheep or cow organs. Participation in these activities is required and is critical to success in the course. Concurrent or previous enrollment in Biology is recommended.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of World History Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors Humanities or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters from AP United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from a year-long or semester-long AP elective course

Course Description: AP Art History is a one-year course covering drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, printmaking, and other media in a variety of civilizations and cultures. The course will provide a chronological, thematic, and cross-cultural framework to help students understand the nature and function of art. Students will become fluent in the language of art and will gain a better understanding of art within its historical and visual contexts. This course is writing intensive and requires several hours per week of independent preparation. The course will prepare students for the culminating AP Art History exam in May.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Teacher recommendation 
• Earned at least an A in both semesters of Biology or
• Earned at least an A- in both semesters of Honors Biology

Course Description: Advanced Placement Biology is an extensive biology course with a significant amount of laboratory work. The entire range of biology is considered from biochemistry and genetics to ecology and behavior. The information presented is intricate and detailed. In order to gain mastery of the material, students are expected to work independently, think critically, and synthesize information at a high level. Examinations consist of essay, multiple choice, and quantitative analysis questions, requiring a thorough command of material. Students are expected to model complex mechanisms, design experiments, apply statistical analyses, and predict outcomes.

Textbooks: Biology, AP Edition (Cummings) and CliffsNotes AP Biology (Cliffs Notes)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation and earned at least an A- assessment average in Precalculus

Course Description: AP Calculus AB is the equivalent of a first-term college-level calculus course, and is intended and designed for students who have demonstrated a facility with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and abstract critical thinking. Per the Advanced Placement College Board syllabus, the course topics comprise limits and continuity, derivatives, integrals, and differential equations. The course emphasizes analysis and application in preparation for the Calculus AB Advanced Placement exam. Students who have received credit for Honors Calculus A may only enroll in AP Calculus AB if they earned a B- or below in Honors Calculus A.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Honors Precalculus/Calculus A and departmental recommendation

Course Description: This course is a continuation of Honors Calculus A; the combined three semesters of these two courses are roughly equivalent to one year of college-level calculus. Calculus BC covers both kinds of integrals, including a proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus; a rigorous study of the calculus of logarithmic and exponential inverse functions; differential equations, including slope field representations and Euler’s method; applications of the definite integral to calculate areas, volumes, average values, arc lengths and work; algebraic techniques of integration; calculus in polar coordinates; and power series. The course also includes preparation for the Calculus BC Advanced Placement examination.

Textbook: Calculus: Late Transcendentals, 11th Ed. (Anton)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of Honors Chemistry and teacher recommendation.

Course Description: Advanced Placement Chemistry is designed to be the equivalent of a general chemistry course taken during the freshman year of college. It is intended for highly motivated students who desire to further their knowledge of chemistry with college level complexity. The pace and depth of the course require a solid background in introductory chemistry topics upon enrollment in the course. The abilities to think critically, learn independently, and manage one's time wisely are essential for success in this course. Laboratory work is designed to further develop concepts learned during lectures beyond their elementary applications, providing students with concrete situations to explore and interpret. Students are expected to critically examine the validity of their results and to formulate accurate conclusions based on the interpreted data. 

Textbook: Chemistry (Zumdahl)

Semester | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of World History Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors Humanities or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters from AP United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from a year-long or semester-long AP elective course

Course Description: The study of comparative government and politics is designed to help students gain knowledge of the world's diverse political structures and practices. The focus is on the study of both specific countries and the general concepts used to interpret the political relationships found in all national politics. Six countries form the core of this semester's study; these nations are Great Britain, Iran, Nigeria, Mexico, Russia, and China. The study of both developed and developing nations allows students to review the political implications of different economies. The course culminates with all students taking the Advanced Placement Examination in May.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: 9th Grade: Consent of instructor; 10th-12th Grade: None

Course Description: The AP Computer Science A course is a thorough introduction to computer programming using the Java language, starting from the basics of the language (use of variables, input, output, decision-making, looping, classes, and objects, arrays, methods) through more advanced programming concepts (class hierarchy, algorithm design, and advanced data structures). In addition, students develop the use of recursive programming techniques, ArrayLists, and searching/sorting algorithms. This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science A exam in May. After the AP, students develop independent projects based on their skills and interests.

Textbook: Java Methods (Litvin & Litvin)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: 9th Grade: Consent of instructor; 10th-12th Grade: None

Course Description: This course is a multidisciplinary introduction to the use of technology, computing, and computer science in all aspects of everyday life. The main units are: creativity, multimedia, data and information, algorithms, programming, the internet, and the global impact of technology. Students explore and learn about new technologies, conduct investigations, participate in discussions, and create content and artifacts using digital tools. This course covers issues that are of broad interest and relevance to all students and incorporates skills and knowledge that are valuable across all disciplines and fields of study, from the arts to the sciences. This is an interactive, hands-on, project-oriented course that blends diverse topics such as research, mobile technology, social media, current events, simulations, media, problem solving, and gamification. Students work individually and in groups on computational exercises and projects. The AP assessment involves creating a "Performance Task" artifact during the year, in addition to taking a traditional AP exam in May. After the AP, students develop independent projects based on their skills and interests.

Textbook: None 

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:

• Teacher recommendation AND 
• Earned an A for both semesters of 10th Grade English or
• Students who earned an A- for both semesters of 10th Grade English must take a skills test to determine eligibility or
• Earned at least an A- in both semesters of 10th grade honors English or Humanities or
• Students who earned a B+ in both semesters of 10th grade Honors English or Humanities must take a skills test to determine eligibility

 This college-level course offers an introduction to concepts and terms pertinent to the study of rhetoric, with an emphasis on critical analysis and argumentation. While in this year-long course, students will study works of nonfiction, persuasive essays, short works of fiction, poetry, visual art, and novels drawn from American Literature and appropriate for juniors enrolled in an advanced English program. Students will complete frequent take-home essays and in-class compositions in order to prepare for the specific skills assessed on the AP exam. Representative texts include The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Educated, In Cold Blood, Between the World and Me, All the Pretty Horses, The Scarlet Letter, and other works of American fiction.

Spring Seminars for Juniors: In addition to their core English class, juniors may enroll in senior spring seminars if space and schedule permit. See the senior seminar offerings for course descriptions.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: 

• Teacher Recommendation 
• Earned an A for both semesters of American Identity & Culture or
• Students who earned an A- for both semesters of American Identity and Culture must take a skills test to determine eligibility or
• Earned at least an A- in both semesters of AP Language and Composition or
• Students who earned a B+ in both semesters of AP Language and Composition  must take a skills test to determine eligibility

Course Description: AP Literature is a highly demanding, year-long, college-level elective for seniors who have consistently demonstrated excellence and genuine interest in the study of literature. The texts examined, such as Frankenstein, Hamlet, Things Fall Apart, short stories by Marquez and Munro, and a variety of poems, span diverse genres and historical periods from the 16th century to the present. Course work focuses on deepening and strengthening skills in literary analysis and critical thinking. As writers, students focus on their process and self-awareness as they work to deepen sophistication and sharpen style and clarity. Students also engage in creative and collaborative projects such as proposing modern adaptations of classic texts. Students in AP Literature should be committed to the study of literature as an exercise in unlocking the puzzles of language and style in the writing of others, as well as using their own language to communicate sophisticated insights with style and clarity.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: 

• Earned at least an A in both semesters of Biology and teacher recommendation or
• Earned at least an A- in both semesters of Honors Biology and teacher recommendation​​​​​​​

Course Description: Advanced Placement Environmental Science is a college-level course that introduces students to a range of topics, drawing on content from multiple disciplines such as biology, chemistry, economics, and statistics. The goal of the course is to provide students with the principles required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Lectures are complemented with laboratory work, activities, and field trips with options to do environmental conservation work on a volunteer basis. 

Textbook:  Environmental Science for AP (Macmillan)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 4 honors and teacher recommendation or
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: AP French Language and Culture is a college-level course intended for students in their fifth year of study of French. Every effort is made to conduct the class exclusively in French. The three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) defined in "Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century" are foundational to the AP French Language and Culture course. Students who enroll in this course should already have a good command of grammar and considerable competence in listening, reading, speaking, and writing in French. When communicating, students in the AP French Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the culture(s), incorporate interdisciplinary topics (connections), and make comparisons between the target language and the native languages in real-life settings. Students are expected to take the AP French Language and Culture exam at the end of this course.

All students will be required to take the National French Exam in March.

Textbook: AP French Preparing for the Language and Culture Examination (Richard Ladd) ISBN 978-0-13-317537-0 (Pearson) 2012

Year | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of World History Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors Humanities or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters from AP United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from a year-long or semester-long AP elective course

Course Description: Human Geography is the study of why people are located where they are across the globe. It looks at several factors that describe this distribution (from population growth factors and migration issues to agricultural and urban land use, just to name a few), all with a focus on human activity. The majority of assessments are quizzes, with a midterm and final that are similar in format to the AP exam (multiple choice and free response questions). The material is explored through researching current events, doing group presentations, viewing short documentaries, and engaging in active discussions. The course culminates with all students taking the Advanced Placement exam in May.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 4 honors and teacher recommendation or
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: This is a year-long elective that prepares students for the required AP Latin Exam in May. The students will translate excerpts of Caesar’s De Bello Gallico and Vergil’s Aeneid. Through these readings students will explore the themes of Roman values, war and empire, leadership, views of non-Romans, history and memory, and human beings and the gods. The texts are studied within their historical, political, religious, and cultural contexts. Particular attention will be paid to understanding grammar, identifying literary devices, and poetic scansion. Students will be tasked with answering multiple choice questions on these topics, as well as expressing their analyses in well-developed essays. All students will also take the National Latin Exam (Level V) in March.

Textbooks: Vergil's Aeneid (C. Pharr), Caesar’s De Bello Gallico (Mueller)

Spring Semester | Elective

Prerequisites: Completion of AP Microeconomics and the following: 

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of World History Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors Humanities or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters from AP United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from a year-long or semester-long AP elective course

Course Description: This second semester course rounds out students' understanding of economic theory basics by focusing on the big picture: GDP, inflation, business cycles, economic growth, and the vital role played by government in stabilizing the economy as a whole. Students learn both the efficacy and the limitations of fiscal and monetary policy tools in government's attempt to manage the macro-economy. The course culminates with all students taking the Advanced Placement Examination in May.

Fall Semester | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of World History Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors Humanities or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters from AP United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from a year-long or semester-long AP elective course

Course Description: The purpose of this one-semester Advanced Placement course in Microeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of economic theory as it applies to the behavior of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic system. Topics covered include the analysis of supply and demand, consumer demand theory, production costs, productivity measurement, perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, labor markets, and the role of government in promoting efficiency and equity. Through intensive practice, students learn to clearly and precisely express complex economic relationships. The analytical skills required for successful completion of this course are elementary mathematics and graphing. The course culminates with all students taking the Advanced Placement Examination in May.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Students must contact the instructor for a screening test and interview. The course requires a basic understanding of how to read and write music notation and basic piano skills. 

Course Description: AP Music Theory tests the students' understanding of music structure and compositional procedures through recorded and notated examples. Strong emphasis is given to listening skills, particularly those involving recognition and comprehension of melodic and rhythmic patterns, harmonic functions, small forms, and compositional techniques. Most of the musical examples are taken from standard repertoire, although some examples of contemporary, jazz, or vernacular music, or music beyond the Western tradition, are included for testing basic concepts. The examination assumes fluency in reading musical notation and a strong grounding in music fundamentals, terminology, and analysis.

This course can be applied towards the Fine Arts Requirement.  

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Successful completion of AP Calculus AB or concurrent enrollment in AP Calculus BC and teacher recommendation

Course Description: The subject matter of Advanced Placement Physics C is mechanics. Methods of calculus are used whenever appropriate in formulating physical principles and in applying them to physical problems. The syllabus follows the guidelines published by the College Board and is similar to a calculus-based first-year college course in Physics. As required by the College Board, 20% of class time will be spent on lab-related material. This course is offered based upon student qualification and interest. The course is offered based on student interest. 

Textbook: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Cummings)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra II

Course Description:  This course uses Python programming to bolster students' understanding of mathematics. Students learn how to use coding to solve problems in algebra, geometry, probability and statistics. We use Python to visualize data and graphs, transform geometric shapes to make patterns and fractals, solve algebraic equations, and simulate probability experiments. This course covers the basics of computer programming (variables, user input, loops, logic, data structures, and algorithms); however, the main focus of the course is to explore the mathematics concepts outlined above. No requisite knowledge of programming is needed. Students develop programming projects to demonstrate their proficiency in mathematics. This year-long course can be taken as your core mathematics course or concurrently with another mathematics course. Students interested in applied mathematics may choose to take Applied Mathematics in Python and Statistics as a two-course sequence.

Year | Elective

Course Description: The Applied Psychology curriculum, developed by the Princeton Center for Leadership Training, aims at providing freshmen a successful transition into high school. The course revolves around the training of a select group of senior peer leaders for weekly outreach sessions with the ninth grade.  In class seniors learn how to facilitate dialogue through an activity-based model, guide freshmen through the stages of group development, adopt effective leadership strategies, and counsel younger students through a critical developmental phase.

In their freshmen outreach sessions that take place once per week during Foundations, the seniors employ these skills when introducing topics such as effective communication, stress reduction, risk taking behaviors, conflict management, diversity, and healthy relationships.

As part of Brentwood School's expansive Peer Leadership program, students in Applied Psychology will also attend a summer training retreat, lead discussions between freshmen students and parents, and provide ongoing substance free social events for the entire 9th Grade.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 4 honors and teacher recommendation or
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description:  An AP Spanish Language course is comparable to a third-year college course. It prepares the student for the Advanced Placement examination in May. The class focuses on the mastery of reading, listening, writing, and speaking Spanish through the practice of activities such as: reading newspaper articles and literature passages; listening to podcasts, watching short movies and news clips; writing emails and essays; creating dialogues that reflect real-life situations; and formal speaking presentations about a variety of topics. The class will build the appropriate vocabulary to develop these skills.

Textbooks: Temas AP Spanish Literature and Culture, and AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam Preparation

Year | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Teacher recommendation and earned at least a B assessment average in Precalculus or
• Earned at least an A- assessment average in Statistics and at least a B- on S2 final

Course Description: We live in an information age. Daily we are bombarded with numbers and statistics related to topics as varied as unemployment and batting averages. Making sense out of these numbers is important; indeed, it is often crucial. In addition, many college majors (in both mathematical and non-mathematical fields) require the completion of a course in statistics. AP Statistics is designed to better equip students to deal with the myriad numbers facing them daily, as well as to prepare them for the AP Statistics examination, which is representative of a typical introductory course in college statistics. The topics for AP Statistics are divided into four major themes: exploratory analysis, planning a study, probability, and statistical inference. A TI-84 calculator is required for this course.

Textbook: Stats: Modeling the World, 5th Ed. (Bock, Bullard, Velleman, DeVeaux)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Depending upon which portfolio is to be completed, those wishing to enroll in APSA are to present a portfolio of recent artwork to the instructor for review prior to enrolling and have completed a minimum of:
—Ceramics & Sculpture III
—Drawing & Composition III
—Photography III
—Digital Photography III

Course Description: This full-year course follows the guidelines established by the College Board. The "2-D Design," "3-D Design," and "Drawing" portfolios are offered. The "Quality," "Concentration," and "Breadth" sections of these required portfolios inform the basis of all assignments. A broad range of mediums are explored as students work to complete either two or three dimensional artworks. Prior proficiency in studio skills and techniques are essential for this course. Students are expected to have the technical abilities necessary to develop concepts and assignments, with the teacher serving as a mentor and resource. It is necessary for students to produce art both in and out of class in order to complete the 20-25 artworks each portfolio requires. During the summer prior to enrolling, students will complete four finished artworks which are due when classes begin in the fall. Submitting a completed portfolio to the College Board for evaluation in May is mandatory. By selecting to fulfill the requirements of a different portfolio, students may enroll in this course more than once. For example, a student may complete the 2-D Design portfolio as a junior and the Drawing portfolio as a senior.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisites:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of World History Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters of Honors Humanities or
• Earned at least a B- in both semesters from AP United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from United States History or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters from a year-long or semester-long AP elective course

Course Description: The Advanced Placement course in U.S. Government and Politics is designed to give the student a critical perspective on politics and government in the United States. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret American politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political system. The major examinations include essay and multiple choice questions, reflecting the commitment to assist students in their ability to write essential factual information, to demonstrate their understanding of larger political issues, and to analyze the various and complicated aspects of our political system. The course culminates with all students taking the Advanced Placement Examination in May.

Year | Elective 11th Grade  

Prerequisites: Earned at least an average of A between both semesters of World History Part 2 or earned at least an average of B+ between both semesters of Honors World History: Part 2 or earned at least an average of B+ between both semesters of Honors Humanities. 

Course description: The AP course in U.S. History is designed to give students a critical perspective on the growth and development of the U.S. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret American history and the analysis of specific historical events. It also requires students to read and analyze primary source materials. The course covers various political and social institutions, groups, beliefs, and the ideas that make up this country’s history. The format for major examinations is essay and multiple choice, reflecting the commitment to knowledge, skills, and content, and developing the ability to analyze larger issues. The class culminates with all students taking the Advanced Placement exam in May.

Year| Middle School

Course Description:  Students will experience open-ended projects while developing problem-solving skills through drawing, painting, and sculpture.  Final pieces require dedication and allow for skill building, creativity, personal aesthetic, and expression. This course offers 6th graders the opportunity to explore distinctive art processes; drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and experience drawing digitally using iPads.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: Art History is a one-semester course that introduces students to topics related to art and architecture in different cultures. The course will examine works of art produced in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Students will gain familiarity with a variety of artistic styles and will be encouraged to think and write critically about visual culture. We will consider general topics such as: What is art? What can we learn about civilizations based on their art? Who owns art that was created centuries ago? Student also may suggest themes or works that they would like to cover in the course.

Semester or Year | Elective

Course Description: 

Ideal for beginners looking to start their musical journey on guitar, piano, bass or drums.

Students will begin the semester by exploring the fundamentals of all four rhythm section instruments while growing their understanding of both music theory and notation in a common learning environment.  The group will work through various contemporary song arrangements and gain musical proficiency in a fun, student-centered rehearsal setting.  In addition to acquiring new abilities on an instrument, students will learn how music has been integral to the various cultural movements and technological advancements of the 20th century.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Placement audition with the instructor is mandatory. 

Expectation: The students must have basic skills on their respective instruments and be willing to practice outside of class. Skills learned in rehearsals must be reinforced outside of school to facilitate improvement.

Course Description: Students will be playing a variety of jazz based compositions as well as arrangements of popular songs. This includes a wide range of musical styles from swing, be-bop, fusion, latin, motown, pop, and rock. The course introduces improvisation and the development of basic musicianship skills. Class time will be spent rehearsing as an ensemble, individually with the instructor, and as a group developing arrangements for performances. Students should be ready to work and develop ensemble performance, improvisation, listening, and music theory skills.

This ensemble has four main performances a year, and one-off campus show in the spring. Occasionally, the band performs for special events on campus. Members are expected to attend all extra rehearsals and performances as needed. One prepared solo is required at the end of each quarter.

Year | Required

Prerequisite: Chemistry

Course Description: Biology is a general survey course that considers topics related to living systems, from the simplest cells to the human animal. Having completed the Chemistry curriculum from the previous year, students gain further insight into the fundamental chemical processes governing biological functions and the role of the cell. The topics of genetics, natural selection, and human physiology are introduced, as well as subtopics in botany, zoology, and ecology.  The laboratory component of the course considers the microscopic view of life and includes an inquiry-based approach to biological principles. 

Textbook: Biology (McGraw-Hill) (iBook)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Precalculus AB and departmental recommendation.

Course Description: This course introduces students to essential themes of calculus (the limit, derivative, and integral). These topics are introduced conceptually and reinforced through traditional problem sets, graphical analysis, and real-world problems. Students develop their problem-solving skills and ability to generate clear, precise mathematical arguments. Students are expected to communicate their mathematical thinking through numeric, graphic, and analytic avenues.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Students will learn basic hand-building skills such as coiling, pinching and slab work. They will apply these technical skills to create a variety of small imaginative sculptures as well as functional ware such as bowls and wishing jars. Students are assessed by their effort and personal progress, as well as their increased proficiency and willingness to confront creative challenges. Projects are designed to build awareness and skills in craftsmanship, imagination, and aesthetics. Projects may vary depending upon the semester time frames. Upon successfully completing this course students may choose to advance to Ceramics & Sculpture II. Selected projects are often displayed throughout the campus. No previous experience is necessary for this one-semester course.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Ceramics & Sculpture I

Course Description: After successfully completing Ceramics I, students can advance to Ceramics II, where they will have opportunities to increase proficiency in hand-building and pottery techniques using mid-fire clay and glazes. Students will produce functional ware plus conceptually based projects.  Projects are designed to continue to expand awareness and skills in craftsmanship, imagination, functionality, and aesthetics. Four to five quality projects are accomplished by the end of each semester. Projects may vary depending upon the semester time frames. Upon successfully completing this course students may choose to advance to Ceramics & Sculpture III. Selected projects are often displayed throughout the campus.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Ceramics & Sculpture II

Course Description: After successfully completing Ceramics II, students can advance to Ceramics III where they have the opportunity to use all of the skills they have learned by concentrating on a personal series that will include a minimum of four advanced ceramic pieces. Students will choose to work within a functional or conceptual framework. Projects are graded on problem solving, craftsmanship, design, aesthetics, and originality. Formal proposals are turned in and kept on file as a record of each student’s accomplishments. It is expected that Advanced Ceramic students pursue challenging functional or conceptually based projects that reflect an excellent understanding of the principles of art and design. Selected projects are displayed throughout the campus and at the All School Art Show.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Prior advanced levels of Ceramics & Sculpture course

Course Description: After successfully completing Ceramics III, students can advance to Ceramics IV-VIII where they have the opportunity to use all of the skills they have learned by concentrating on a personal series that will include a minimum of four advanced ceramic pieces. Students will choose to work within a functional or conceptual framework. Projects are graded on problem solving, craftsmanship, design, aesthetics, and originality. Formal proposals are turned in and kept on file as a record of each student’s accomplishments. It is expected that Advanced Ceramics students pursue challenging functional or conceptually based projects that reflect an excellent understanding of the principles of art and design. Selected projects are displayed throughout the campus and at the All School Art Show.

Note: This course can be taken as Honors with additional criteria expectations such as the completion of two gallery visits and two written reports. Teacher approval required for Honors consideration.

Year | Required

Prerequisite:  Algebra I

Course Description: In Chemistry, students investigate the general nature of matter and the changes that matter undergoes. Topics include, but are not limited to: methods of scientific measurement, atomic structure and the organization of the periodic table, ionic and covalent bonding, chemical nomenclature, reactions and stoichiometry, the behavior of gases and solutions, and thermodynamics. The laboratory component of the course emphasizes techniques critical to chemistry, and includes traditional, micro-scale, and technology-based experiments. Qualitative and quantitative data collection, calculations, and analyses will accompany most labs. This course is not designed to prepare students for the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry. 

Textbook:  Chemistry (Pearson) (iBook)

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: The students of this course are exposed to a combination of functional and sequential programming. The first part of the course draws from a curriculum designed at UC Berkeley called the Beauty and Joy of Computing Sparks the block-based programming environment, Snap!. Students explore functional programming as they complete projects on the topics of visualizing data, image manipulation, storing data and encryption. Turtlestitch, which is very similar to Snap!, is then used for students to program designs and scenes to be stitched on textiles by our programmable embroidery machine. Finally, students program simulations and games using the text based language Logo, created at MIT and assembled in the online environment called Lynx. Final projects may include: digital pets, a board game, and a ‘horse race,’ and more. This course serves as an introduction to students to the use of computer programming to design and define their world. Besides being empowering and generating tenacity, confidence and curiosity, successful completion of the course fosters the following invaluable life skills: creativity, collaboration, problem solving, approximation, and iterative thinking. Students go beyond being consumers of content on the computer and become creators! 

Course Description: Using Scratch, created at MIT, students are introduced to the fundamentals of computer programming, i.e. sequencing, logic, patterns, approximation, decision making and iterative thinking. Additionally, students learn to map their ideas and break large problems down into smaller, more manageable ones to solve. Students think creatively and collaboratively to produce original interactive stories, games, and animations based on their interests or topics from other courses. If time permits, physical computing and other programming environments will be explored. 

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: 

Ideal for students interested in creating original compositions, while honing their songwriting and music production skills.

Whether you see yourself as the next Taylor Swift, Dr. Dre, or John Williams, the Composition & Production class offers a creative space to explore a passion for musical storytelling.  Students will cover music theory fundamentals as they apply to songwriting, as well as learn how to use various hardware and software tools to create engaging original pieces of music.  Through various projects, students will learn about the complexities of an effective musical arrangement, which in turn will help to answer questions such as: "What gives a piece of music its emotional impact?" and "Why are The Beatles considered one of the most influential musical groups of all time?"

Year | Elective

Course Description: All voices in this 9th – 12th Grade ensemble focus on sight-reading with accuracy and confidence, advanced vocal technique, and stylistically appropriate performance practice. Concert Singers has a long-standing tradition of superior chamber choir performance, teamwork, and challenging projects. Repertoire will include jazz, pop, blues, rock, renaissance motets, major works for choir and orchestra, vocal jazz, and a cappella works for professional-level chamber choirs. Students sing in multiple foreign languages. Members of Concert Singers are often asked to sing for special events and are expected to attend all extra rehearsals and performances as needed. There may be opportunities to travel for special experiences and performances off campus. Past trips have included Disneyland and Carnegie Hall. Only by enrolling in this course are singers eligible to audition to perform with the jazz ensembles.

Developing music technique outside of the class is highly encouraged. 

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Audition or consent of the instructor.

Course Description: This course is meant for intermediate and advanced level dancers to further develop their dance technique and creative artistry. Class time will be spent on a warm-up, progressions across the floor, improvisation and both learning and creating choreography for the semester concert. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a master class series and audition to work with guest choreographers for each concert. 

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Dance I or consent of the instructor

Course Description: This course is meant for intermediate level dancers to further develop their dance technique in a range of styles. Students will learn a set warm-up that incorporates stretching and core work. Class time will be spent on progressions across the floor, center combinations and learning choreography for the semester concert. Students will be introduced to the principles of choreography and will research and explore the work of influential choreographers.

The class may be taken to fulfill either P.E. credit or Fine Arts credit for the semester, but not both at the same time.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: This course introduces students to the fundamentals of dance technique in a range of styles. Three to four dance styles will be covered each semester and may include, but are not limited to the following: jazz, modern, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater dance, salsa, swing, tap, Bollywood and African dance. Students will gain understanding of the structure of a dance class, dance vocabulary, proper body alignment, coordination, and musicality. At the end of the semester, students will work together to create a choreographed music video for their final project.

The class may be taken to fulfill either P.E. credit or Fine Arts credit for the semester, but not both at the same time.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Dance III or consent of the instructor

Course Description: This course is meant for intermediate level dancers to further develop their dance technique in a range of styles. Students will learn a set warm-up that incorporates stretching and core work. Class time will be spent on progressions across the floor, center combinations and learning choreography for the semester concert. Students will continue learning about the principles of composition and choreography as well as researching and exploring the history of iconic choreographic works. Dance IV students will take on leadership roles in this combined level course.

The class may be taken to fulfill either P.E. credit or Fine Arts credit for the semester, but not both at the same time.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: Beginning with an emphasis on cogent and persuasive public speaking skills, this semester-long elective will cover basic rules and techniques used in various styles of debate including, parliamentary, Lincoln-Douglas, and policy debate. From learning the essential components of arguments to executing such arguments in constructive and rebuttal speeches, students will engage in class debates with peers concerning social, political, and economic issues such as: Should steroid users be admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame? Should junk food be banned in school? Particular emphasis is placed on growth and development of speaking skills through SPAR debates, argument creation and case building. Interested students are encouraged to join the speech and debate team to represent Brentwood School at league tournaments against other independent schools.  Enrollment in this class is not necessary to compete on the Middle School Speech and Debate Team or Model United Nations Delegation.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: Students will learn and develop the fundamentals of digital image manipulation using Photoshop. A wide range of open-ended projects will allow students of all levels to explore real life applications to digital artwork. Learning how to make a magazine, and applying the principles of design to create a poster are some of the skills students will gain during this course. Project critiques will allow students to develop their ability to analyze, describe, interpret, and evaluate artwork throughout the course. By the end of the semester, students will have the ability to use digital art as a medium of personal expression.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None, although Photo I and/or an interest in computer graphics is strongly recommended.

Course Description: This one-semester Digital Photo I course will explore the fundamental tools of digital imaging. During the semester we will cover most of the Adobe CC products for creative imaging (Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, and InDesign). Through a series of short assignments we will touch on the wealth of image enhancement and manipulation techniques afforded by Adobe Photoshop. We will also examine how photography is used in graphic design via Illustrator and InDesign. Several small assignments will introduce the basics of scanning, printing, and compositing images. Class time will be divided between demonstrations, critiques, and work in progress sessions. This course will introduce concepts of file management, exposure, composition, and lighting. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify and operate the controls of a digital camera and learn to manage photos on personal home computers. Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1 hour per week outside of class working on photography assignments.

Required Materials: A 35mm Digital SLR and/or a digital point and shoot are strongly suggested. 

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Digital Photo I

Course Description: This one-semester Digital Photo II course focuses on gaining control of all photographic variables, while attempting various creative assignments. The use of manual camera controls is emphasized, along with the capture and processing of RAW image files. Course assignments include: point of view, editorial portraiture, narrative storytelling, surrealism, the use of artificial light, and backdrops. Through demonstrations and one-on-one sessions with the instructor, students will improve their skills as digital photographers and refine their control of computer based digital effects. The greater part of the class will be geared toward creating an open and dynamic environment where students engage in the give-and-take of constructive feedback on their progress. More advanced techniques using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator will be covered throughout the course. Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1 hour per week outside of class working on photography assignments.

Required Materials: A 35mm Digital SLR and/or a digital point and shoot.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Digital Art & Photoshop I & II

Course Description: Digital Art & Photoshop III is an advanced course designed for students who want to continue to strengthen their skills in Photoshop. Students will now start to use their own photography in their work like self-portraits and textured backgrounds. The course will combine manipulation of images and photos with an emphasis on creating their own graphics and artwork. Students will start to create visuals that facilitate an idea or story from one's own creative ability.  Digital Art & Photoshop  III is a feeder course for either continuing on to the upper Honors classes or onto the year long AP 2D Design course. 

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Documentary Filmmaking for Social Change examines the potential for film to make an impact on society. This course covers different approaches to creating documentaries designed to affect change, and looks at examples of professional films that made a significant impact on the world. Students will be introduced to the fundamental steps of the documentary filmmaking process, including research, pre-production planning, documentary-style cinematography, and editing techniques. Students will then spend the majority of their time creating their own documentary short films focusing on  social issues that matter to them, seeking out and documenting real-world organizations that are working with people affected by these issues. As a cross-listed course with the BCIL, this class will also focus on teaching and practicing the core skills and values identified in the BCIL charter. The semester will conclude with a screening of selected student work hosted by BCIL. No filmmaking experience is required for this course—the only prerequisite is a genuine desire to make a difference on issues that matter to you.

This course can be applied towards the Fine Arts Requirement.

Semester | Elective Middle School

Course Description: The art of drama is an exploration and communication of the human experience. This class will tap into the creative side of each student and help them develop their own innate abilities as storytellers. Students will develop the ability to relax, to trust, to expand their capacity for empathy, and to analyze creative work with a critical eye. Students will learn to collaborate as an ensemble and build confidence on stage through playing theater games, performing scenes and monologues from plays, and writing original scripts. In addition, students will be able to showcase their skills in a short performance at the end of the semester.

Semester themes include: monologues, improv, playwriting, scene study, storytelling, and pantomime.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Students will explore drawing, painting, and composition while developing a broader understanding of art at the high school level. Previous art experience is not required for this foundational semester course. The elements of line, shape, space, value, and color are emphasized in observational projects that cultivate individualized creative expression. Though specific culminating projects may vary each semester, technical skills and craftsmanship are introduced sequentially through in-class exercises. In addition to the hands-on aspects of this course, students will communicate art concepts and vocabulary individually and in groups through critique and written reflection. Selected student artwork will be included in at least one on-campus art exhibition. Students are expected to keep a sketchbook.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Drawing & Composition I

Course Description: This course is for students who wish to further advance their drawing and painting skills while adding experience with diverse media and stylistic influences to their repertoire. Structured assignments get progressively more complex while exploring various techniques and materials such as printmaking, india ink, and watercolor. Assignments may vary each semester. Increasingly open-ended projects encourage more student voice and strengthen the use of visual language. Student critiques and written reflections continue to be meaningful components of the artistic process in upper level Drawing. Selected student artwork will be included in at least one on-campus art exhibition. Students are expected to keep a sketchbook.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Drawing & Composition II

Course Description: This course is for students who wish to build on previously learned skills and to pursue more sophisticated visual and conceptual art ideas. Assignments continue to reinforce and expand knowledge of visual space, while allowing for more personal meaning in artwork. Creative problem solving is emphasized in assignments with more student choice for exploring expressive qualities in a variety of media. Verbal and written critical skills that are used when analyzing artwork are meaningful components of this class. Selected student artwork will be included in at least one on-campus art exhibition. Students are expected to keep a sketchbook.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Prior level Drawing & Composition course

Course Description: This course is for students who wish to further advance their studies in the visual arts. Structured assignments that are open to individual interpretations are essential components of this class. Contemporary art trends and other cultural influences are introduced to help inform student ideas. A series of individually directed artworks will comprise the second half of the semester. Analysis, in both written and verbal form, reinforces the content and understanding of the artwork that is produced. Students are expected to keep a sketchbook. Honors credit may be granted to those students in levels IV and higher who complete an advanced unit of study that includes an independent project with a corresponding outside gallery visit and written analysis.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisites: None

Course Description: Engineering and Design is a BCIL course designed for students interested in solving real-world challenges through the engineering design process. Students will learn how to create project roadmaps, understand building fundamentals through instructor-led “hands-on” demonstrations, and master essential engineering concepts throughout the semester. Students will also have access to various power tools, woodworking and hand tools, 3d printers, and laser cutter.

Year | Required 7th Grade

Course Description: The year-long course presents materials and teaches skills that will serve as the student’s foundation in English throughout the Brentwood School experience. The course is divided into components: grammar, concentrating on obtaining a solid understanding of the parts of speech and moving into more complex concepts; vocabulary, extending the student’s vocabulary while teaching strategies for deciphering meaning and analyzing words; writing, emphasizing the formal rules of composition and organizational structures, while incorporating creative writing and projects; and literature, exposing students to a variety of literary forms, including prose novels, graphic novels, short stories, and poetry. In literature and in their writing, students will examine the concept of “power” and will ask questions such as: How do we define power? How is it obtained and maintained? Who are the insiders and outsiders in society and why? The English curriculum, where appropriate, is aligned with the 7th grade Global Studies curriculum.

Year | Required 8th Grade

Prerequisite: 7th Grade English

Course Description: This year-long course will build upon the experiences and skills outlined in seventh grade. The course contains four general components: grammar, vocabulary, literature, and writing. Students will review their knowledge of the parts of speech before learning noun functions, etc. The course will introduce students to a plethora of vocabulary words and require them to integrate their expanded vocabulary into their writing. The literary focus of the course is the American Experience. The reading selections explore the themes of identity, dynamics of power, and the complexity of human nature. There is an emphasis on diverse protagonists, authors from different periods in American history, and topics as nuanced and varied as America itself. Students will explore the use of symbolism and literary devices as well as develop their close reading and annotation skills. All of this will inform student writing. Each writing assignment will challenge students to think critically about and respond empathetically to the overarching question for the course: What do we mean when we say, "We the People…"?

Year | Elective

Course Description:  From idea conception to business launch, this course immerses students in essential entrepreneurship skills.
In the first semester, students explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including problem identification, customer development, marketing, product creation, and revenue generation. In the second semester, students work in groups to build real businesses.  Students explore new ideas, focusing on resource identification, financial planning, and key partnerships crucial for success. This dynamic course prepares students for the real-world challenges of entrepreneurship, turning concepts into thriving ventures.

Semester | Elective Middle School

Course Description: Filmmaking is an entry-level course designed to expose students to all the essential skills and techniques necessary to create a film. Through a series of short video productions, students will learn the fundamentals of storytelling, how they apply to the film world, and develop the ability to create their own original film concepts. Students will learn basic camera skills, gain a solid understanding of a variety of different types of filming techniques, and develop a strong foundation in editing and the post-production process. Learning how to apply their critical thinking skills to watching films, students will analyze and appreciate the medium in a more meaningful way.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Filmmaking I is an entry-level course designed to introduce students to all the essential skills and techniques necessary to create a film. Students will learn about the fundamentals of visual storytelling and how a screenplay creates a roadmap for a successful film production, and establish a strong foundation the basics of cinematography and video editing through a serious of short film productions. Students will also learn how to apply their critical thinking skills to critiquing films, allowing them to analyze and appreciate the medium in a more meaningful way. Films from this course will be broadcast online via our YouTube channel, BWS Eaglevision, and selected work will be shared with the community at a Student Film Showcase at the end of the semester.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Filmmaking I

Course Description: Filmmaking II is designed for experienced film students interested in expanding their filmmaking knowledge. During this course, students will be introduced to three new genres of filmmaking: PSA, music video and documentary. They will also have the opportunity to work with more sophisticated equipment including DSLR cameras, microphones, and Adobe Premiere editing software, enabling them to practice more advanced cinematography, and editing techniques. Films from this course will be broadcast online via our YouTube channel, BWS Eaglevision, and selected work will be shared with the community at a Student Film Showcase at the end of the semester.

Note: Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1-2 hours per week outside of class working on film projects and assignments.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Filmmaking II

Course Description: Filmmaking III is an advanced course for students who are serious about developing their filmmaking skills. Through a series of creative exercises and one major film project, this course seeks to give students the tools to adapt to a diverse array of filmmaking situations and challenges. Students will have the opportunity to work with a professional-quality cinema camera, learning how to manually operate every essential setting on the camera and how to use different lengths and types of lenses to capture even more creative images. Students will also deepen their knowledge of Adobe Premiere editing software, learning how to use professional tools for color correction, audio mixing, and visual effects to further enhance their films. Students will spend the second half of the course creating an adapted screenplay and short film that will be broadcast online via our YouTube channel, BWS Eaglevision, and shared with the community at a Student Film Showcase at the end of the semester.

Note: Participants in this course should expect to spend at least 1-2 hours per week outside of class working on film projects and assignments.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Filmmaking III

Course Description: Filmmaking IV is an advanced course designed to help experienced filmmakers develop their own original creative voice. Using the book “Creative Filmmaking from the Inside Out: Five Keys to the Art of Making Inspired Movies and Television” by Jed Dannenbaum, et al. as a guide, students will learn how to draw on real life observations and experience to create films that communicate with audiences on a deeper and more personal level. This course focuses on writing and concept development, and students will experience a variety of writing exercises designed to help them develop their own unique artistic identity, cinematic voice, personal point of view, and to understand the infinite possibilities for creative expression inherent in film’s many forms. Students will also complete several cinematography and editing challenges to continue to refine their creative approach and develop their technical skills. As a final project, each student will write, produce, direct, and edit an original short film based on his or her observation of, research into and direct experience with real life. Students may take this course at an Honors level with teacher recommendation.

Note: Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1-2 hours per week outside of class working on film projects and assignments. 

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Prior level Filmmaking course

Course Description: Filmmaking V-VIII are advanced-level courses for students who are committed to achieving the highest level of filmmaking skill and experience possible. Students in these courses will use the techniques and skills developed from previous courses to create projects of their own design in genres of their choosing. Students will also have an opportunity to collaborate with other creative artists on campus to expand the production value and scope of their projects. Films from this course will be broadcast online via our YouTube channel, BWS Eaglevision, and selected work will be shared with the community at a Student Film Showcase at the end of each semester. For students who meet eligibility requirements, these courses can also be taken as an Honors option with additional expectations and requirements.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry and Biology or concurrent enrollment in Biology.

Course description: Food and Nutritional Science is an interdisciplinary course that explores the scientific principles taking place in food preparation. The goal of the course is for students to apply concepts learned in previous science classes to the context of the kitchen. Sample topics covered include: tastes, aromas and flavors; heat diffusion in proteins; cooking with acids; emulsions and foams; viscosity of sauces; food preservation and engineering; molecular gastronomy; and food and health safety. There is an extensive laboratory and cooking component in this course that require access to a kitchen (stove and oven) and basic kitchen utensils.

Textbook: None

Year | Required

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: A required class for all 9th graders, Foundations is designed to prepare students for what they will experience in and out of the classroom throughout the Upper School. During this year long, non-graded class students rotate through different units focused on equity, inclusion, multiculturalism, ethics, identity, mental health, substance use and abuse and relationships. Throughout these units, students learn to be more emotionally intelligent while becoming increasingly aware of themselves and others by talking and listening to their peers. Two 12th Grade teaching assistants are paired with each class, and they help mentor the students and model the communication skills this course works to develop.

Year | Elective

Course Description: This is the first year in a two-year series where students will study the introduction of the French language. Students will practice using rudimentary French language in a range of contexts likely to be encountered in the target culture. They will engage in active communication with other students and be encouraged to express their own meaning as early and as accurately as possible. Students will learn to improve comprehension of the French language through targeted listening exercises as well as through video, film, and music exposure. They will increase their cultural understanding of the French-speaking people through the Internet, projects, films, and oral presentations. Basic communication competency in reading and writing will be practiced through daily written homework assignments and reading in class. Most importantly, this course will provide students with a non-threatening and motivating environment where language acquisition and oral expression can truly take place.

Textbooks:

T’es Branché Level 1A

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: French IA

Course Description: The goal of this course is to build on the oral communication skills developed in French IA by using the French language in an expanded range of contexts. Students will acquire the ability and build the confidence necessary to engage in more complex conversations on a variety of topics using present and past tenses. Pronunciation and comprehension skills will be practiced through targeted listening and pronunciation activities, viewing video clips and movies, singing songs, and recording dialogues. Students will learn to appreciate the culture of the francophone community through Internet projects, oral presentations, and videos. They will also develop greater linguistic accuracy and critical thinking in language learning through systematic analysis of grammatical structures and learn to relate them to the comparable structures in English. Stronger emphasis will be placed on expanding students’ reading and writing competence through in-class and at-home readings of a variety of materials, writing daily homework assignments and compositions.

Textbooks:

T’es Branché Level 1B

Year | Elective

Course Description: This is a first year French course where students will study an introduction to the French language. In the first semester, students will practice using rudimentary French language in a range of contexts likely to be encountered in the target culture. They will engage in active communication with other students and be encouraged to express their own meaning as early and as accurately as possible. Students will learn to improve comprehension of the French language through targeted listening exercises as well as through video, film, and music exposure. They will increase their cultural understanding of the French-speaking people through internet, projects, films, and oral presentations. Basic communication competency in reading and writing will be practiced through daily written homework assignments and reading in class. In the second semester, students will acquire the ability and build confidence necessary to engage in more complex conversations on a variety of topics using present and past tenses. Pronunciation and comprehension skills will be practiced through targeted listening and pronunciation activities, viewing video clips and movies, and singing songs. Students will learn to appreciate the culture of the francophone community through internet projects, oral presentations, and videos. They will also develop greater linguistic accuracy and critical thinking in language learning through systematic analysis of grammatical structures and learn to relate them to the comparable structures in English. Stronger emphasis will be placed on expanding students’ reading and writing competence through in-class and at home readings of a variety of materials, writing daily homework assignments, and compositions. While a C- is the minimum passing grade, we highly encourage striving for a B- or higher to ensure automatic promotion and success in French 2. Students who do not achieve a B- are strongly encouraged to review  French 1 concepts over the summer to solidify their foundation before entering French 2.

Textbook: D’accord 1 ; Vista Higher Learning; Publisher José L. Blanco

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 1 with a grade of C- (70%) or higher and/or confirmation of eligibility from the department chair.

Course Description: This is a year-long course that emphasizes the four main areas of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading, and writing within a meaningful context. Students learn practical vocabulary as they read and talk about aspects of daily life in the francophone world that are also relevant to their own lives. Grammatical structures are presented with the aim of integrating them within the cultural context under discussion. Technological resources are used to help students to learn vocabulary, correct pronunciation, facilitate their mastery of grammatical concepts, and develop listening comprehension skills.

Textbooks: D’accord 2; Vista Higher Learning; Publisher José L. Blanco

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: French II with a grade of C- or better.

Course Description: In this course, great emphasis is placed on broadening vocabulary and improving fluency and accuracy in reading and writing. Language is practiced daily through longer, more complex conversational exchanges, and comprehension is enhanced by frequent listening exercises and video clips. Study of more advanced grammatical structures is the focus of this course along with increased use of French through oral reports, compositions, and cultural projects. Mastery of grammar is further exemplified and practiced by reading and analyzing authentic literary selections. Throughout the year, students get to explore and learn about French history and culture through targeted internet activities, presentations, and movies. During the second semester, students read two short novels.

Textbooks: EntreCultures 3, Workbook, Vive Le Taureau! (Turner & Ray) and Les Yeux de Carmen (Moscoso)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: French III with a grade of B or better.

Course Description: French Culture and Cinema [subtitle] Students in this class will explore the fusion of language, cinema, and culture. Beyond conventional language learning, this course immerses students in French cinema, featuring iconic films spanning classic masterpieces to contemporary films. Through film analysis and engaging discussions, students gain a nuanced understanding of French culture, delving into socio-cultural themes, historical events, and current societal norms across the francophone world. In addition, language and project-based learning are integrated throughout the course, enabling students to learn beyond the classroom, enhance language proficiency, and deepen appreciation for the richness of the French-speaking world.

Textbook: Face à Face

Semester | Elective

Course Description: Gender Studies will explore the links between gender, sexuality, identity, power, and social justice. Students will identify and analyze the intersections among gender and class, race, and religion. Students will discuss the following questions: What does it mean to be a man or a woman? How do our traditional gender roles constrict us as humans within our gender? How do we move beyond the binary? How do we support and empower one another as we delve into discussions about gender, identity, and sexuality? The course will cover gender from a historical and political context. Students will read literature, have discussions, present an analysis of gender, and blog about aspects of the course.

Year | Required

Prerequisite: Algebra AB

Course Description: Geometry investigates points, lines, surfaces, and solids and examines their properties, measurement, and mutual relations in space. Students are introduced to deductive reasoning and formal geometric proofs after an examination of the rules of logic. By exploring coordinate geometry, students see the ways in which algebra and geometry complement each other. Topics include: 1. Elements of Geometry 2. Angle Relationships 3. Coordinate Geometry and Rigid Transformations 4. Logic: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning 5. Two-column Proofs 6.Congruent Triangles 7. Perpendicular Lines 8. Parallel Lines and Planes 9. Quadrilaterals and Polygons 10. Similar Polygons 11. Right Triangles and Trigonometry 12. The Pythagorean Theorem 13. Circles 14. Area and Volume

Textbook: Geometry by Elayn Martin-Gay (Pearson)

Year | Required 7th Grade

Course Description: Exploring vital global and human rights issues, this course will introduce students to social awareness in an age of globalization. The primary goal of the course is to develop students’ global literacy, giving special attention to the geographic, historical, economic, political, and cultural forces that produce harmony and conflict across international borders. Thematic units form links to the literature and themes in English 7. Student inquiry is guided by the essential question, “Who holds the power and why?” Students will examine multiple sources and perspectives, with the aim of understanding the complexity and nuance of the human story. The course makes extensive use of resources available on the Internet, current events, and students will be introduced to research skills. The course aims to inspire responsible citizens who understand the importance of global interconnectivity and awareness.

Textbooks: History Alive! World Connections (TCI) and State of the World Atlas (Penguin)

Semester | Elective

Course Description: Students will examine the long history of antisemitism and trace its roots through world history into modern times. Students will study the cultural, political, and structural foundations that led up to the Holocaust, beginning with biblical history, continuing through medieval Europe, culminating in German devastation in WWI and its results leading up to WWII. The purpose of the course is two-fold: to give students a deeper understanding of the historical events surrounding the Holocaust and to familiarize students with antisemitic tropes and patterns as a means to better understand the world today.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: One year of Acting, an Audition, and consent of the instructor; Intermediate Acting is strongly recommended.

Course Description: The Brentwood Theater Company (BTC) is an honors class by audition only for 12-14 students. It is for serious students of acting and theater and has as its focus the creative power of the ensemble. The content varies from year to year because it is geared to each specific group. The group is required to meet after school in the weeks leading up to each show and for a 12-hour intensive the week before school begins in August. Previous years have worked on August: Osage County, ensemble adaptations of Lysistrata, A Chorus Line, When Harry Met Sally, Bat Boy: The Musical, Company, Mr. Burns, improv comedy shows as well as original writing projects. The Brentwood Theater Company performs 4 times per year. Each year we take a trip off campus to see live theater in Los Angeles.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Earned at least an A- in Honors Programming & Software Design, and teacher recommendation. 

Course Description: Having learned both foundational and more advanced programming skills in Java, as well as programming and developing web pages and apps, students will build upon their knowledge and branch out to develop larger and more diverse real world applications. Students will examine a variety of new programming languages and development environments, ranging from low level languages and hardware-based investigations to high level languages using graphical user interfaces and specialized design tools. The course culminates with student-generated projects in which students propose, design, develop, and implement programming projects, individually and in teams. This course is hands-on and project-oriented and allows students to incorporate their personal interests, strengths, and background in programming. Students also plan, research, and present two computer science related talks on topics of their interest, one during each semester. Some sections of the course are taught using a hybrid model, combining both classroom and online education techniques and tools. Students collaborate throughout the course, seamlessly adopting the roles of both student and teacher.

Textbooks: None

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:

• Earned at least a B in both semesters in Honors Geometry or
• Earned at least an A in both semesters in Geometry, teacher recommendation, and placement exam performance

Course Description: Honors Algebra II and Honors Precalculus form a three-semester sequence for students who will eventually take the Calculus BC Advanced Placement exam. Honors Algebra II begins with an introduction to functions and review of linear and quadratic relations. Problem solving techniques are emphasized and refined through practical applications. Additional topics include but are not limited to: systems of equations and inequalities, polynomials, radicals, rationals, exponents and logarithms, conic sections, and sequences and series. 

Textbook: Precalculus, A Problems Oriented Approach, 6th Ed. (Cohen) online

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: 

• Earned at least an A in both semesters of Chemistry, placement exam performance, and teacher recommendation or
• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of Honors Chemistry and teacher recommendation 

Course Description: Honors Biology covers the same topics as Biology but in greater depth. Particular attention is paid to the mechanisms involved in biological functions as well as other details important in understanding biological principles. The Honors Biology student is expected to delve deeper into concepts, work independently on inquiry-based projects, and apply statistical analyses appropriately. 

Textbook: Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections (Cummings)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: 

• Earned at least an A in both semesters of physics and teacher recommendation or
• Earned at least a A- in both semesters of Honors Physics and teacher recommendation 

Course Description: Honors Chemistry covers the same topics as general Chemistry but in greater depth. Additionally, combustion analyses, oxidation-reduction reactions, quantum theory, molecular hybridization, kinetics, acid-base equilibria, and electrochemistry may be included in the curriculum. In this course, a heavier emphasis is placed on independent, higher-level thinking and problem-solving skills. It is designed for students with strong math and science backgrounds as well as a serious desire to further their studies in these areas. In the laboratory, beyond the standard expectations of collecting and analyzing data, Honors Chemistry students are expected to relate their results to the theories discussed during lecture. 

Textbook: World of Chemistry  (Brooks/Cole/Cengage Learning)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Concert Singers I, audition

Course Description: Honors students serve as section leaders, responsible for organizing, sight read leading, and teaching and rehearsing their section. Consent of instructor required. 

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Audition or consent of the instructor.

Course Description:

This course is meant for intermediate and advanced level dancers to further develop their dance technique and creative artistry. Class time will be spent on a warm-up, progressions across the floor, improvisation and both learning and creating choreography for the semester concert. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a master class series and audition to work with guest choreographers for each concert. Honors Dance Ensemble is for students enrolling in their second year of Dance Ensemble, where they will be expected to take on leadership roles in the areas of choreography and production. 

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Audition or consent of the instructor.

Course Description: The Brentwood Dance Company is a group of highly committed student dancers. Class time will be spent on a warm-up, progressions across the floor, improvisation, learning and creating choreography, and helping to shape the artistic direction of our semester concert. Students will submit piece proposals and will be supported through the full choreographic process, including costume and lighting design. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a master class series and audition to work with guest choreographers for each concert. There may be opportunities for students to travel for special experiences and performances. At our top level in the dance program, students are expected to be leaders and to be focused and prepared in every class. 

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Digital Art & Photoshop III and/or AP 2D Design

Course Description: This one-semester honors course is open to advanced students who have shown an experienced understanding of the digital arts. Having found their style and voice as a young digital artist, students will have a greater independence to seek out new creative challenges and outlets outside the realm of Photoshop. Projects are student driven and teacher led. A body of work and portfolio will be created throughout the semester. The foundation of the class will be to create digital art that facilitates an idea or story from one's own creative ability. Sometimes there will be no logic to the creation of the designs, and in other instances, the visuals will be the platform for an entire story. For this honors course, the student is also required to complete a thematic concentration, a presentation to the class, and or produce a limited edition hardbound digital arts book of past and present work. Please note: If the student is unable to complete any of the requirements held to the standards of the class, Honors Credit will not be awarded.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Earned at least an A- in both semesters of level 2, teacher recommendation, and placement exam performance.

Course Description: Similar to French III, Honors French III is conducted in the target language and is intended to refine students’ proficiency in the four major areas of language study (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Particular emphasis is placed on acquiring strong reading and writing skills along with the ability to verbalize ideas in correct, idiomatic French. During the second semester, students will read Le Petit Prince.

Textbooks: EntreCultures 3, Activity Manual, Les Yeux de Carmen (Moscoso), and Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: 

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 3 honors and placement exam performance 
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: This is an advanced-level course open to students who have completed the course requirements for Honors French III with a grade of B+ or better. Although time is allotted for a brief overview of the grammar, the main focus of the course is on the literature. The work of the class proceeds largely through a discussion of reading materials taken from an anthology of French literature spanning the Middle Ages through existentialism. During the second semester, students read a play by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Textbooks: Une Fois Pour Toutes, Moments Littéraires (B.G. Hirsch), Huis Clos (Sartre)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Earned at least an A- average in all assessments in Algebra AB, and placement exam performance. 

Course Description: In this honors-level course, students wrestle with deductive reasoning and formal geometric proofs. They explore the foundations of Euclidean geometry, develop their problem-solving skills, and hone their algebraic processes. Topics include but are not limited to: Formal logic, geometric building blocks, formal proof, parallel lines and angle relationships, triangles, quadrilaterals, similarity, right triangles and trigonometry, polygons, circles, area/volume, construction.

Textbook: All materials provided by instructor

Year | Elective 8th Grade

Prerequisite: Algebra AB in grade 7 with a grade of A- or higher each semester and/or by departmental consent.

Course Description: In this course, designed for highly advanced, passionate math students, deductive reasoning and formal geometric proofs are introduced. Throughout the course, geometric concepts lend themselves to algebraic applications. Students will develop problem-solving skills as well as logical thought processes by analyzing diagrams and writing proofs. Topics include: logic, elements of geometry, angle relationships, congruent triangles, geometric inequalities, indirect proofs, perpendicular and parallel lines, quadrilaterals in a plane, polygonal regions and their areas, similarity, circles, solids, and geometric constructions. Computer and hands-on activities and technology will be used to explore geometric concepts.

Textbook: Geometry (Edwin Moise, Floyd Downs)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Earned at least an A- in both semesters of level 2, teacher recommendation, and placement exam performance.

Course Description: This is a year-long course on translating Latin prose literature. Students will practice applying the grammar knowledge acquired in earlier levels of Latin to authentic Latin texts. The course explores the themes of Romanitas (Roman-ness), Roman history and politics, Roman archaeology, Roman interactions with other cultures, comparative mythology, leadership, and heroism. The stories and topics to be read include: Romulus and Remus, the Horatii and Curiatii, Horatius Cocles, Mucius Scaevola, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and the Gauls. Students will take the National Latin Exam in March (Level III-IV prose).

Textbooks: Wheelock’s Latin Reader (LaFleur), Caesar’s De Bello Gallico (Mueller)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: 

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 3 honors and placement exam performance 
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: This is a year-long course in which students further explore authentic Latin literature through Roman poetry. Students will translate selections from Martial, Catullus, Ovid, and Virgil which span the genres of satire, love poetry, and epic. Students will discuss and develop projects around the key themes of the texts, including love, gender, rumor, tragedy/comedy, and reception studies. Students will also learn about the Trojan War, the history of ancient North Africa, and the context of Virgil's Aeneid. In addition to offering translation practice, this course introduces students to the scansion of dactylic hexameters in epic poetry. All students will take the National Latin Exam (Latin IV, poetry) in March.

Textbooks: Wheelock’s Latin Reader (LaFleur), A Martial Reader (Williams), The Student’s Catullus (Garrison), Vergil's Aeneid (C. Pharr)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Earned at least an A- in both semesters of level 2, teacher recommendation, and placement exam performance. 

Course Description: This class is a high intermediate Mandarin Chinese course designed for students who have performed at a high level in Chinese II or who possess an equivalent level of language proficiency. Chinese III continues the process of introducing students to Chinese language and culture. The course uses multi-media teaching materials, along with appropriate authentic language materials to help students develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to a high intermediate level. Mandarin will be the primary language of instruction. Students in the course will be required to complete certain additional (and more comprehensive) reading and writing assignments than students enrolled in the non-honors version of the course. Both simplified and traditional Chinese characters will be used in class.

Textbook: Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 2 (Simplified, 3rd Edition)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: 

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 3 honors and placement exam performance 
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: Honors Mandarin Chinese IV is an advanced Mandarin Chinese course designed for students who have completed Honors Chinese III or who have reached an equivalent level of language proficiency. This course will help students develop high level skills across the three communicative modes (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) and the five goal areas (communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities). Its aim is to provide students with ongoing and varied opportunities to further enhance their proficiencies across the full range of language skills within a cultural framework. Instructional materials and activities are strategically adapted from authentic sources to support the linguistic and cultural goals of the course. Students will explore Chinese literature with readings from and discussions of selected short stories and excerpts from longer works.

Textbook: Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 1 (Simplified & Traditional, 3rd edition)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 4 honors and teacher recommendation or
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: Honors Mandarin Chinese V is a highly advanced Mandarin Chinese course designed for students who have completed Honors Chinese IV or who have reached an equivalent level of language proficiency. This course will help students further develop proficiency in the Chinese language while also gaining additional knowledge of Chinese culture. It will cover a wide variety of topics, including Chinese language structures and characters, Chinese customs, proverbs, holidays, social phenomena, religions, poetry, geography, as well as Chinese folklore. Students in this course will have opportunities to explore developments in contemporary China by following current events. Students will also read and discuss increasingly sophisticated works of Chinese literature throughout the year.

Textbook: Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 2 (Simplified & Traditional, 3rd edition)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Successful completion of AP Calculus BC

Course Description: This course is approximately equivalent to a two-quarter college course (see Math 32AB at UCLA, for example). The first semester consists of an introduction to vectors in three-space, vector-valued functions, and partial differentiation. In the second semester, we study double and triple integration and other topics in vector calculus. We finish up the semester with a study of some techniques of solving differential equations beyond what had been covered in Calculus BC.

Textbook: Calculus: Late Transcendentals, 11th Ed. (Anton)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Orchestra I and/or consent of the instructor

Course Description: Students in Orchestra may audition for Honors starting in 10th Grade. Honors students in Orchestra are expected to contribute more to daily rehearsal, sight-read more quickly, perform with higher musicianship, serve as section leaders when appropriate, and lead in-group activities.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisites: Photography III and/or AP Studio Art: 2-D Design.

Course Description: This one-semester honors course is open to advanced students who have shown an experienced understanding of both darkroom and digital photography. Having found their style and voice as a young photographer, students will have great independence to seek out new creative challenges and outlets within the realm of photography. Projects are student driven and teacher guided. A body of work and portfolio will be created throughout the semester. The foundation of the class will be made up of darkroom and digital projects. For this honors course, the student is also required to complete a thematic concentration, a presentation to the class, and/or produce a limited edition hardbound photography book of past and present work.

Note: If the student is unable to complete any of the requirements held to the standards of the class, Honors Credit will not be awarded.

Required Materials: Students are expected to have their own 35mm DSLR cameras, a thorough understanding of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, and strongly advised to have their own Adobe software.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Earned at least an A- average in all assessments in 8th Grade Science, math placement exam performance, and teacher recommendation. 

Course Description: Honors Physics covers the same topics as general Physics. In this course, emphasis is placed on symbolic mathematics, so students in Honors Physics must have excellent mathematical and abstract reasoning skills since they work at an accelerated pace. Laboratory work is more intensive, and assessments are more comprehensive and challenging. This course is designed as a "Pre-AP" Physics course in the sense that successful completion of Honors Physics prepares students for AP Physics in subsequent years, should they choose to take it.  

Textbook:  Physics: Principles and Problems (McGraw-Hill) (iBook)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and earned at least a B assessment average in Honors Algebra 2

Course Description: Honors Precalculus/Calculus A are back-to-back semester-long courses that connect Honors Algebra II to AP Calculus BC. Honors Precalculus is a course in trigonometry: topics include traditional and advanced triangle problems; the definitions, values, graphs, and inverses of the six trigonometric functions; real-world applications of periodic functions; derivations and proofs of trigonometric identities; and solving equations involving the trigonometric functions. Students will be introduced to polar coordinates,  parametric equations, and the connection between complex numbers and trigonometry. Honors Calculus A is the first course in a three-semester sequence culminating in the Calculus BC Advanced Placement examination. Calculus A covers limits and differential calculus, with emphasis on evaluating and analyzing derivatives. All topics are studied from numerical, graphical, verbal, and algebraic perspectives. Familiarity with the TI-84 graphing calculator is assumed; specialized calculator skills are introduced throughout the course.

Textbooks: Brentwood Honors Precalculus (Schwartzman) and Calculus: Late Transcendentals, 11th Ed. (Anton)

Semester | Elective

Prerequisites: Stagecraft III or higher; leadership positions in performing art productions.

Course Description: This is a class for the student who wishes to pursue more leadership roles in the area of Theater Design and Production Management. Each student is required to do any one of the following for one production per semester: design lights, sound or costumes; act as a stage manager; or act as a technical director. It is expected that the student will spend additional time after school and on weekends throughout the semester.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Earned at least an A- in AP Computer Science A and teacher recommendation. 

Course Description: Having learned the foundations of Java, students build on their programming skills and branch out and work on more advanced applications. Students complete a unit on cybersecurity (cryptography) and then examine a variety of new data structures (Collections). Students will expand their problem-solving skills, study the efficiency of algorithms, and learn how to optimize their code. Students will also learn how to design, build, and program simple web applets and mobile apps, starting with an overview of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. During a mobile device programming unit, students are introduced to app development. Both semesters culminate with projects in which students explore and create something in different programming environments. This course is hands-on and project-oriented, and it allows students to incorporate their interests into their programming. Students will be re-introduced to and practice both pair programming and small team software development in this course.

Textbooks: Java Methods (Litvin & Litvin) and Getting Started with Processing (Reas & Fry)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite:Earned at least an A- in both semesters of level 2, teacher recommendation, and placement exam performance.

Course Description: Honors Spanish III is intended to prepare students for success in Honors Spanish IV and AP Spanish Language.  The course aims to develop further the students’ level of written and oral comprehension, as well as hone their presentational and interpersonal communicative skills. Some of the activities include developing projects based on authentic sources and giving short oral presentations on a variety of socio-cultural topics. Particular emphasis is placed on acquiring strong reading and writing skills along with the ability to verbalize ideas in correct, idiomatic Spanish.

Textbook: Descubre 3

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: 

• Earned at least a B+ in both semesters of level 3 honors and placement exam performance 
• Placement Exam score if coming from regular level 3 or level 4 and teacher recommendation

Course Description: This is a high-intermediate course designed to go beyond the grammatical and lexical foundations of Spanish I to III; the course emphasizes advanced language expression and comprehension. Emphasis will be on reading Spanish/Latin American literature with additional classroom discussions, exercises, compositions, as well as cultural activities and projects to support and promote continued growth in Spanish proficiency. The class will be taught entirely in Spanish.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: One year of Concert Singers, audition

Course Description: Honors Vocal Jazz Ensemble is for students seeking an opportunity to study and perform a capella choral music at an advanced level. In this class students will receive in-depth instruction in improvisation, keyboard skills, vocal technique, stage technique, music literacy, and music history. Through the performance of a variety of genres of music, students will hone their collaboration skills, performance skills, musical knowledge, and sight-singing abilities. An important component of this class is the ability to rehearse music independently or in sectionals outside of class. Students in this class will have the opportunity to be featured with the jazz ensembles by audition only. There may be opportunities to travel for special experiences and performances off campus. Past trips have included Disneyland and Carnegie Hall. Only by enrolling in this course are singers eligible to audition to perform with the jazz ensembles. 

Year | Required 10th Grade

Prerequisite: Successful performance in 9th Grade World History, Part One, placement exam performance, and teacher recommendation. 

Course description: This course studies world history from the Scientific Revolution through major regional and global developments of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and to the present, including, but not limited to, Europe, Latin America, East Asia, and Africa and such topics as imperialism, nationalism, industrialization, the two World Wars, globalization, and decolonization. This course surveys this history in greater depth than the regular Modern World History course and requires independent analytical work.  Students are expected to read and understand both primary and secondary sources on their own, to be actively engaged in all aspects of the learning process, and to have a solid foundation for in-class analytical writing. Students will be graded on their active participation and leadership of discussions regarding a wide range of primary sources. During spring semester, students write an analytical research paper on a twentieth-century historical topic and participate in a current event simulation.  Honors work carries with it high expectations for consistently mature effort and responsible learning.

Fall Semester | Required 7th Grade

Course Description:  The Human Development courses are designed to provide an environment in which Middle School students can openly learn, reflect upon, and discuss ideas pertinent to their development as human beings.  Through a group process interaction, we seek to raise awareness about each student’s intellectual, physical, and social-emotional well-being.  This course will give students opportunities to reflect on common dilemmas adolescents experience in their daily lives. Students will identify and integrate personal and school core values into their decision-making and communication, as well as develop a sense of responsibility for actions, thoughts, and feelings. Overall, the course will increase each student’s knowledge of important personal, social-emotional, and wellness issues to enable them to make better and healthier choices.  The 7^th Grade Human Development course will focus on individual development related to making healthy choices, emphasizing community and community-based processes, self-esteem, peer pressure, drug and alcohol awareness, puberty and adolescence, body image, human reproduction, sex education I, social media, and cultural awareness and sensitivity.  

Spring Semester | Required 8th Grade

Prerequisite: Human Development I

Course Description: The 8th grade Human Development course builds upon the insights gained in 7th grade, and offers the opportunity to explore issues in further depth with regards to leadership in the community. Through group interactions, we seek to raise awareness about each student’s intellectual, physical and social-emotional well-being. The courses will give students opportunities to reflect on common dilemmas adolescents experience in their daily lives.  Students will identify and integrate personal and school core values into their decision-making and communication, as well as develop a sense of responsibility for their actions, thoughts, and feelings.  Overall, the courses will aim to increase student knowledge of important personal, social-emotional, and wellness issues to enable students to make healthier choices.  This course will allow students to continue to focus on individual development related to making healthy choices, self-respect, peer pressure, drug and alcohol awareness, puberty and adolescence, body image, human reproduction, sex education II, social media, and cultural awareness and sensitivity.  Additional components of the course include human sexuality, nutrition, and conflict resolution.

Year | Elective

Course Description: After an application and tryout period, 10-12 seniors are chosen to be teaching assistants in the 9th Grade Foundations classes. Along with the freshmen, the TAs attend class, where they assist the teachers and support the students. They act as both members of the class and mentors to the 9th graders while they participate in and lead class activities and give their perspective in group discussions. The TAs connect with the students both in and outside of the classroom, offering insights, advice, and empathy. In this yearlong program, Foundations Teaching Assistants help the freshman cultivate self-awareness and social consciousness as they further develop their own. As the semester changes, and the TAs move on to a new group of students, they also remain available as contacts, mentors, and as support to those in their first-semester class.

Course Description: Innovation is a hands on course for students to both design and make using a variety of tools. The design thinking process and other problem solving skills will be used as students develop their confidence and creativity. Students will be challenged to work collaboratively and make adaptations based on the feedback received.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Innovative Design and Architecture I

Course Description: Build upon skills of Arc-ID by developing a semester-long design of a space. Using Floor Plan software, Smart Draw, TinkerCA, Bauhaus videos, Interior Design articles, etc. students will understand the entire process of designing a piece of furniture/lighting, create a thesis project in residential design, and examine Historical architecture and visual art piece. 

This course can be applied towards the Fine Arts Requirement.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Students will be introduced to the basic design principles of interior spaces learning to draft floor plans and elevations including doors windows and other structures. Students will measure rooms using standard tape measures and digital devices and translate the information into 2D and 3D representations. Focus will be on the flow of spaces and how humans interact within them. Lighting is a major unit and we study how its application functions to both direct movement and reveal architectural style. Further projects will include using software to develop a portfolio and to create an obstacle course rendered digitally in 3D. Paper models will be constructed by students of their final projects. The history of architecture and design will be explored through video presentations with a focus on influential people and the Bauhaus School. Writing about design aesthetics is included in classwork and culminates in a final journal specific to each student.

This course can be applied towards the Fine Arts Requirement.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Acting or Introduction to Acting is required.

Course Description:This year-long course is a scene study course for serious acting students who love to read and wish to delve into, and bring to life, scenes from some of the greatest plays in all of dramatic literature. Play analysis, research, costume, music, and makeup will accompany all scene study projects. A strong emphasis will be placed on freeing the voice to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of the language in these plays. Attendance at Brentwood School productions is required.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Placement audition and/or participation in Beginning Jazz Band.

Expectation: The student must have a solid skill set on his or her instrument and some understanding of improvisation. Developing music technique outside of the class is highly encouraged. Students are encouraged to pursue private study on their instruments outside of school, but it is not required. 

Course Description: Students will be playing a variety of jazz based compositions as well as arrangements of popular songs. This includes a wide range of musical styles from swing, be-bop, fusion, latin, motown, pop, and rock.  The course emphasizes improvisation and the development of higher-level musicianship skills. Class time will be spent rehearsing as an ensemble, individually with the instructor, and as a group developing arrangements for performances. Students should be ready to work and develop ensemble performance, improvisation, listening, and music theory skills.  This ensemble has four main performances a year, and one-off campus show in the spring. Occasionally, the band performs for special events on campus. Members are expected to attend all extra rehearsals and performances as needed. 

Students in Grades 10-12 in this ensemble can be eligible for honors credit by learning two prewritten or transcribed solos per quarter. To maintain the honors credit, students must always come to class prepared and be on time.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: This course will explore real-world applications of aerospace and drone technology by utilizing the fabrication lab for projects focused on the physics of flying. The course will include preparation and completion of an FAA commercial remote pilot (drone operator) certificate.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: This semester course introduces you to computer science and the principles of programming and computational thinking. It invites students to explore how computing and technology impact the world and how it is transforming the world that we live in. The course introduces students to programming, computational thinking, creative problem solving, algorithms, data, the Internet, cybersecurity, and the global and societal impacts of computing. It gives students the opportunity to use current technologies to create digital artifacts, express themselves, and practice problem solving. Students learn to design and write practical and challenging computer programs. Programming topics include algorithmic thinking, logic, decision making, and input and output.

Textbook: Getting Started with p5.js (McCarthy, Reas, & Fry)

Semester | Elective

Course Description: In this course, students will be allowed to learn about and employ philosophical methods of reading, writing, and oral argument through close attention to a central area of modern philosophy: epistemology, or the study of knowledge. Course Purpose:  The purpose of the course is threefold: 1) to introduce students to big questions in the philosophical study of knowledge; 2) to help students develop stronger oral and written argumentation skills by using argument structures commonly found in philosophical works; 3) to introduce students to what could be called the "ethics of thinking": the need for sustained, disciplined, self-reflective, generous, and critical thought processes that foreground openness to the views of others both in academic discussion and, more broadly, in human social life. Course Objective and Outcome: At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1) explain a range of positions taken by philosophers in response to skepticism; scientific inquiry; and value judgments; 2) Write concise, tightly argued defenses/criticisms of philosophical positions; 3) engage in constructive, critical conversations about genuine intellectual problems with their fellow students.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: The course is an introduction to the science and foundational aspects of psychology. Psychology is a broad and varied field, and this course moves quickly through many of the main areas of study. Topics include, but are not limited to: biology of behavior, learning, memory, human development, sleep and consciousness, personality, social processes,  psychological disorders and treatment. The course focuses on well-substantiated research and current trends within each of these categories. Relevant case examples and stimulating learning activities will be employed to make the study of psychology come alive and help students better understand themselves and the people around them.

Course Description:  During this five-week course, six grade students will develop their communication skills in a safe and supportive environment. They will learn to command attention, deliver a clear and concise message, and engage their audience in a fun way. Students will be introduced to key elements of effective public speaking, and develop greater confidence as they deliver short speeches in front of others.

Course Description: The students of this course are exposed to a combination of functional and sequential programming. The first part of the course draws from a curriculum designed at UC Berkeley called BJC Sparks, that employs the block-based programming environment, Snap!. Students explore functional programming as they complete projects on the topics of visualizing data, image manipulation, storing data and encryption. Turtlestitch, which is very similar to Snap!, is then used for students to program designs and scenes to be stitched on textiles using our programmable embroidery machine. Finally, students program simulations and games using the text-based language Logo, created at MIT and assembled in the online environment called Lynx. Final projects may include: digital pets, a board game, and a ‘horse race,' and more. This course serves as an introduction to the use of computer programming. Besides being empowering and generating tenacity, confidence and curiosity, successful completion of the course fosters the following invaluable life skills: creativity, collaboration, problem solving, approximation, and iterative thinking. Students go beyond being consumers of content on the computer to creators of content! No prior programming experience is necessary.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: From Wall-E and EVE, to R2-D2 and C-3P0, robots reflect and capture our imaginations. Using various materials and equipment, students design, create and program all sorts of interactive robots. Creations vary from year to year depending on what the students wish to make. Past and potential projects include Halloween Jaws, the Chef Bot, Harry Potter ferocious monster books and more. Students bring their robots to life by creating mechanisms using servos and motors; programming LEDs, distance and light sensors connected to Hummingbird Bit and the BBC micro:bit. In addition, students employ simple engineering mechanisms such as cranks, winches, cable systems, and cam and followers. Students showcase their robots during the Middle School art show and potentially for the community during lunches or assemblies. Students program their robots using the block-based programming environment, Snap!, created at UC Berkeley. No prior programming or robotics experience is necessary.

Year | Elective Middle School

Prerequisite: Enrollment by audition.

Course Description:

Ideal for the advancing musician who is interested in fast-paced ensemble playing as well as learning the basics of playing improvised solos.

From Duke Ellington to Dua Lipa, this ensemble focuses on upbeat material and fosters a collaborative, student-driven environment.  Students will learn about improvisation as well as how to accompany a soloist.  With various performances throughout the year, Jazz Band is the perfect place to develop creatively as a musician. In addition to playing as a group, students will be challenged to broaden their understanding of music history and theory using interactive online tools.

Incoming students are expected to be able to read music notation and/or chord markings and all are welcome to audition.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Latin IA

Course Description: This is a continuation of Latin IA. The pace is slightly faster and the grammar is more complex. All verb tenses other than the present will be introduced, in the active voice. More advanced uses of cases will be presented. Sentences become longer and include a variety of subordinate clauses.  Students continue to build reading skills and translation skills through daily practice, still relying on memory skills involved in learning grammar and vocabulary.  Through the daily readings, the students keep in touch with the life of the poet Horace and are thus introduced to important aspects of the history and culture of Rome at the end of the Republic through the first century AD. The class will watch a full-feature movie that depicts the Roman Empire in the above-mentioned time frame. Finally, by the end of Eighth Grade, students should be able to read and write in Latin with an appropriate level of proficiency.

Textbook: Oxford Latin Course Part II (Balme and Morewood)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Latin I is a year-long course that teaches the basics of Latin grammar and common Latin vocabulary. By translating simple Latin sentences and passages, students will learn Roman history and mythology as well as the geography of the ancient Mediterranean world. The language is that of Classical Rome (100 BCE-100 CE), but through it students will discover foundations of our modern culture as well as the roots of English vocabulary. Students will take the National Latin Exam in March. This course is the equivalent of Latin IA+IB and will prepare students for Latin II.

Textbook: Wheelock’s Latin (LaFleur)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Latin 1A and 1B [or Latin I] with a grade of C or better.

Course Description: This is a year-long course that focuses on completing students' understanding of basic Latin grammar and applying these skills to translation of more complex sentence structures. Through practice passages, students will learn about Roman mythology in its comparative Indo-European contexts. Students will consider the function of mythology in society, how it relates to the human experience, and to ancient Roman identity and worldview. Students will take the National Latin Exam (Latin II level) in March and will have the option to take the National Mythology Exam as well.

Textbooks: Latin Via Ovid (Goldman and Nyenhuis)

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Latin II with a grade of C- or better.

Course Description: This is a year-long course on translating Latin prose literature. Students will practice applying the grammar knowledge acquired in earlier levels of Latin to authentic Latin texts, with a focus on reviewing more basic grammatical forms and constructions than the Honors version of the course. There is also particular attention to study strategies and annotation practices. The course explores the themes of Romanitas (Roman-ness), Roman history and politics, Roman archaeology, Roman interactions with other cultures, comparative mythology, leadership, and heroism. The stories and topics to be read include: Romulus and Remus, the Horatii and Curiatii, Horatius Cocles, Mucius Scaevola, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and the Gauls. Students will take the National Latin Exam in March (Level III-IV prose).

Textbooks: Wheelock’s Latin Reader (LaFleur), Caesar’s De Bello Gallico (Mueller)

Year | Required 9th Grade

Course Description: With a strong emphasis on critical reading and writing, this year-long course prepares students to be successful students of literature. Using both classic and contemporary texts, the course engages students in the analysis of different literary genres: poetry, epic poetry, short story, drama, non-fiction, and the novel. The course provides an intensive focus on close-reading and analytical writing, a review of grammar concepts, an emphasis on logical and original argumentation, and instruction in research techniques

Year | Elective

Course Description: This is the first year of the two-year Mandarin program for beginners.  Mandarin class is an immersion class. Students receive comprehensible input in the target language; in the same way babies acquire a language: naturally, and with ease. A method of language acquisition called TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) is used. It is an effective and involved way for students to acquire any language. First, the teacher introduces high-frequency structures and vocabulary. Second, the class constructs an interesting story with the new vocabulary together. Finally, the class reads and writes the story. Videos, songs, projects, skits, role-play, and games will be presented in the target language too. Chinese cultural lessons are selected to reflect topics from the social studies curriculum, such as the migrant experience, minority lives, dictatorship, censorship, and propaganda.

Textbook: n/a

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese I with grade of C- or better.

Course Description: This class is an intermediate Mandarin Chinese course that focuses on helping students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in modern standard Chinese, using pinyin and simplified characters. Chinese II is designed for students who have completed Chinese I or who possess an equivalent level of language proficiency. The course uses multi-media teaching materials to introduce Chinese language and culture and to provide students with strong basic skills in reading and writing Chinese characters. Special emphasis is placed on helping students establish a solid foundation in speaking and pronunciation.

Textbooks: Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 1 Textbook and Workbook.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese II with grade of C- or better.

Course Description: This class is a high intermediate Mandarin Chinese course designed for students who have completed Chinese II or who possess an equivalent level of language proficiency. Chinese III continues the process of introducing students to Chinese language and culture. The course uses multi-media teaching materials, along with appropriate authentic language materials, to help students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to a high intermediate level. Mandarin will be the primary language of instruction.

Textbook: Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 2 (Simplified, 3rd edition)

Fall Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Successful completion or concurrent enrollment in Biology.

Course Description: This fall semester course examines the ocean environment and the biology of marine organisms with an emphasis on their adaptations to life in the ocean. Laboratory sessions will involve anatomical comparisons of marine taxa, fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and multimedia presentations.  While it is not required, students are encouraged to take the second part of this course, Marine Biology: Marine Ecosystems & Human Impacts on the Ocean, in the spring. 

Spring Semester | Elective

Prerequisites: Successful completion or concurrent enrollment in Biology.

Course Description: This spring course examines the ecology of various marine ecosystems with a focus on the impacts of humans on those systems. There will be student-driven projects addressing problems such as increased surface runoff, destructive fishing practices, ocean acidification, and chemical pollution. While it is not required, students are strongly encouraged to take Marine Biology: Oceanography and Marine Organisms first.

Year | Required

Course Description: The 6th Grade program strengthens foundational mathematical thinking and application through complex concepts and problems. Students review operations using whole numbers, fractions and mixed numbers, decimals, and percentages. Procedural fluency is emphasized, and students are introduced to pre-algebraic concepts including integers, expressions, equations, and inequalities. Ratios, proportions, geometry, and statistics are also examined. Questions modeling real-life scenarios encourage students to conceptualize, reason, and explore different problem-solving strategies. Students deepen their understanding as they are challenged to teach their methodology and examine the approaches taken by others. 

Textbook: Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life (Larson & Boswell) 

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Enrollment by audition.

Course Description: Middle School Dance Company is a class designed for students who are passionate and dedicated to dance and movement. Students will study classical and new forms of movement (such as ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary). In addition to investigating dance technique, students will explore choreography and will gain a deeper understanding of how to design a dance. Learning about tools and viewing live and recorded performances, will help students build on their knowledge to successfully create a well-choreographed dance. Students will perform in the winter or spring dance recital, at the end of the semester.

Year | Middle School Elective

Prerequisite: Prerequisite:  The MSTC is an advanced-level study of theater, and admission is by audition. 

Course Description:  In this advanced theater class, students will work collaboratively to perform shows for the Brentwood school community. Class time is used to explore the dynamics of an ensemble, to learn skills appropriate to the content of the upcoming production, and to rehearse for performance. In addition to studying advanced acting techniques and character study, students will actively engage throughout the entire production process by writing original material, directing, and production management. Ensemble members must be available to rehearse and perform in shows after school.

Past productions include Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Phantom Tollbooth.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Prerequisite: Studio Art

Course Description: Considered the “next level” course after having taken Studio Art, this course allows students to further develop their artistic skills and knowledge through a multimedia approach. Students will explore a variety of materials and techniques such as still life drawing, various methods of shading, stippling, figure drawing, glass fusing, glazing bisque ware pottery, bringing light into artwork with circuits sculptural compositing with found objects, and exploring both linear and atmospheric perspective. Throughout this course, students will develop their art-making practice by engaging in critiques using discussion as a critical tool for artistic and personal growth. As every student works at a different level, each individual is encouraged to excel at their own rate and progress is measured based on a personal level of mastery.

Semester | Elective

Course Description: This is a semester-long history elective designed for 11th and 12th graders seeking to dive deeper into some of the topics touched upon in the later part of World History, Part Two. This course will focus on non-Western nations and use the case study model to examine the transitions and ongoing challenges faced by those nations following decolonization. The course content will emphasize the colonial history of those nations, including the legacies and lingering impact of colonialism, as well as the varied post-colonial challenges and successes faced by these nations in modern times. Tentative case studies to be covered include South Africa, India, Vietnam, Syria, and Venezuela. In the course, we will use a variety of primary and secondary written sources, images, and films to examine our case studies closely, and will use these sources to create a discussion-based format for the class itself. There will be a significant focus on reading, writing, analytical, critical thinking, and argumentation skills. If you enjoyed World History, Part Two and have found yourself wanting to continue the study of history, this is the course for you!

Year | Required 10th Grade

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Building on skills developed in Literature and Composition, Modes of Communication considers the art and craft of expression through various modalities and media. Students will practice analytical reading and writing through the exploration of literature, visual and performance art, and other artifacts of culture. Likewise, students themselves will engage in the art and craft of expression, allowing for a creative yet disciplined approach to the development of their communication skills. Themes and topics explored in this course include representations of the Self with respect to Nature, Technology, Otherness, and Society.

Textbook: None

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: Designed for real-world application, this exciting course introduces students to the myriad of information and skills necessary to make wise financial decisions as young adults and beyond. Starting at the personal level, students will learn principles of finance and money management through traditional and innovative educational techniques such as simulations, games, and focused analysis. Core topics will include, but are certainly not limited to the history and rationale of money, budgeting, investments, credit vs. debit cards, interest, taxes, online banking, saving for college, loans, and philanthropy. Working individually and collaboratively, students will interface with professionals such as financial planners, investment advisors, and human resources specialists. They will also have the opportunity to develop employment acquisition skills such as resume writing and job interviewing. The curriculum will evolve based on additional student interest with an eye toward current events.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description:  Movement explores the fundamentals of dance forms, space, time, and levels. In order to explore these concepts, students will learn an eclectic mix of dance styles such as contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and break dancing. Additionally, students will explore creative movement with props. Improvisation, live and recorded performances will assess student understanding of each unit.  This course will culminate with students performing in the winter or spring dance recital at the end of the semester.

Semester | 7th or 8th Grade Elective - Year

Prerequisite: Enrollment by audition

Course Description: Ideal for singers hoping to grow their expressive capabilities in a vocal group that combines dynamic solos with harmony and the blending of voices.

From pop to gospel, Broadway to folk, this spirited ensemble performs a wide variety of musical genres in a collaborative environment that fosters each student’s confidence as a vocalist.  Singers will have the opportunity to shine in lead vocal roles, learn about the essentials of harmony, and delve into the subtleties of blending voices in a group. With a host of performances at various venues throughout the year, MS Singers is the perfect place to develop expressively as a singer. Students will also be encouraged to unleash their full musical potential by furthering their ability to self-accompany on piano, and/ or guitar. In addition to working as a group, students will be challenged to broaden their understanding of music theory using interactive online tools.  All are welcome to audition.

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Audition and consent of the instructor.

Expectation: It is expected for instrumental students to have a minimum of two years on their instruments and that they continue private lessons outside of school.

Course Description: Students in this 9th –12th Grade ensemble focus on rehearsing and performing masterworks of the repertoire, development of phrasing and balance, and independent growth in technique. Orchestra students study the lives and works of the composers they play. The atmosphere of Orchestra rehearsals is traditionally collegial. Repertory will be film scores, Broadway, jazz, pop, classical symphony, and overtures. Developing music technique outside of the class is highly encouraged. Students who are not currently meeting with private instructors outside of school have the opportunity to meet with instructors during or after school to enhance their skills. There may be opportunities to travel for special experiences and performances off campus. Past trips have included Disneyland and Carnegie Hall.

Fall Semester | Elective Middle School

Course Description: In photography, students will learn and practice the fundamentals to become proficient digital photographers. The course will focus on using Digital SLR cameras to practice manual photography techniques and learn about composition, lighting, and storytelling. Students will work on three units: documentary photography, studio photography, and art photography. They will utilize Adobe Lightroom as the main photo management and editing software. Students may bring their own Digital SLR or mirrorless cameras if they wish.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: In Photo I students will learn the fundamentals of digital photography. In this beginning course special emphasis is placed on camera functions, an essential understanding of the elements of composition, lighting, and subject matter. Through various projects, students will learn how to creatively control the look and feel of their photos using the camera’s aperture, shutter, and lens. Students will also learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for photorealistic enhancement and an easier workflow.

Required Materials: A 35mm Digital SLR camera is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Note: The school does provide a limited number of cameras to students if needed. 

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Photography I

Course Description: In Photo II students will continue to strengthen their knowledge of the fundamentals of digital photography. They will start the process of training their new found photographic eye to see things from fresh new creative perspectives and angles. This will be accomplished through various teacher lead projects incorporating different genres of photography. Projects will include but not be limited to self portraits, long exposures, macro, narrative tableau, landscape, and photoshop specific projects. Photo II students will also be introduced to film photography. For the darkroom portion of the class, students will use manual SLR camera’s to create analog work that will then be developed and printed in the darkroom. 

Required Materials: A 35mm Digital SLR camera is highly recommended but not mandatory. 

Note: The school does provide a limited number of cameras to students if needed.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Photo II (or both Photo I and Digital Photo I).

Course Description: Photography III is an advanced course designed for students interested in finding their own voice and creative style. Using both film and digital cameras, it is a class that will explore the genres, concepts, and visual metaphor through all forms of photography. Projects will be both student driven and teacher lead giving the young photographer the freedom to explore their own interests and passions in the world of photography. This course will provide the student with an environment where they can grow as a perceptive and curious image-maker. Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1 hour per week outside of class working on photography assignments.​

​​​​​​Required Materials: Students are required to have a 35mm Digital SLR film camera. A 35mm film SLR is strongly suggested.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Prior level Photo course (or both Digital Photo I and II).

Course Description: In this intensive one-semester course, advanced Photo IV students are encouraged to develop a personal vision and work towards the production of a photographic portfolio. Students are encouraged to use any photo-based method or approach that can best serve their individual ideas and directions. Later emphasis will be on refining and editing each project, with assistance in determining a final completed portfolio of prints. Students will be expected to delve deeper into their work, be inventive, take risks, and challenge themselves and each other. Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1 hour per week outside of class working on photography assignments.

Required Materials: Photo materials will vary depending upon each student’s needs and interests. 35mm Digital SLR is required.

Year | Required

Course Description: Physical education is taught in a mix of single-gender and co-ed classes. Sixth 6th Grade Physical Education will lay down the fundamental principles of both athleticism and all-around wellness, giving the students the tools and skills necessary to lead healthy, well-rounded lives. A focus on building character traits such as sportsmanship, responsibility, trust and confidence are a key element in the 6th grade program. The fitness component will focus on creating a solid base of fundamental movement patterns, focusing on developing proprioception, cardiovascular fitness, and core strength. The basic skills and rules of myriad sports are taught to develop a solid foundation for athletic participation, culminating in team and individual competition. Field sports, court sports, aquatics, personal fitness and team challenges, all part of the curriculum.

Year | Required 7th Grade

Course Description: Physical Education is taught in a mix of single-gender and co-ed classes. Seventh Grade Physical Education is a character-building program that focuses on developing elements of responsibility, confidence, trust, sportsmanship, and personal fitness skills while learning about aspects of health and nutrition. These tools are building blocks that enable students to challenge themselves and develop a healthy lifestyle. The basic skills of each sport are taught to develop a solid foundation for athletic participation culminating in team and individual competition. There is a fitness component that is incorporated throughout the year, which increases cardiovascular fitness, core strength, and an appreciation for the value of personal wellness. Field sports, court sports, team challenges, personal fitness, yoga, and swimming are all part of the curriculum. There is also an additional human development unit each year.

Year | Required

Course Description: Physical Education is taught in a mix of single-gender and co-ed classes. Eighth Grade Physical Education is a continued exploration in a character-building program that focuses on the continued development of responsibility, confidence, trust, sportsmanship and personal fitness skills. These tools are building blocks that enable students to challenge themselves and their classmates. The basic skills of a variety of sports are taught to develop a solid foundation for athletic participation culminating in team and individual competition. There is a fitness component that is incorporated throughout the year, which increases cardiovascular fitness, core strength, and an appreciation for the value of personal wellness. Field sports, court sports, team challenges, self-defense, yoga, and swimming are all part of the curriculum. There is also an additional human development unit each year.

Year | Required

Prerequisite:  None

Course Description: This course is designed as the introduction to Science in the Upper School at Brentwood. It establishes a foundation in the major topics in physics, organized thematically to highlight connections between course content and the real world. It is a laboratory and project-based course in which students design experiments, construct models, and interpret data to answer questions about the operation of the universe. At the conclusion of the course, students will have a better understanding of the physical world and the role of the scientific method in it. The problem solving and critical thinking skills developed through the inquiry-based investigations in this course will set the foundation for subsequent coursework in the Sciences. 

Textbook:  Conceptual Physics (Pearson)

Year | Middle School Elective

Prerequisite: Enrollment by audition 

Course Description: Ideal for students who have completed at least one-year of instrumental study and who are hoping to further develop their playing skills in a popular music ensemble that also offers opportunities for vocalists. 

Pops Orchestra will cover a truly eclectic blend of rock, pop, and film score music with an emphasis on fun while playing accessible arrangements.  This is a combined group of strings, winds, brass, and percussion with opportunities for instrumentalists who also sing as well.  With various performances throughout the year, Pops Orchestra is the perfect place to build confidence and expand on fundamental abilities as a musician.  In addition to playing as a group, students will be challenged to broaden their understanding of music theory using interactive online tools.

Incoming students are expected to be able to read basic music notation and all are welcome to audition.

Year | Required or Place Out 7th Grade 

Prerequisite: Optional Math assessment.

Course Description:

These courses review arithmetic skills learned in the elementary grades and expand on these skills through algebraic applications. Topics include an introduction to algebra, positive and negative numbers, rational numbers, solving equations, geometric figures, ratios, proportions, percents, order of operations, properties of numbers, scientific notation, problem solving, equations and inequalities, data analysis, and probability. While many of these topics will be studied to differing degrees of depth and complexity based on the class (Pre-Algebra vs. Accelerated Pre-Algebra), both courses emphasize real-world application, analysis, and synthesis.

Pre-Algebra is for students who have a solid foundation in 6th grade arithmetic. They will have experienced success in their math class and work well with skill-based instruction and intermittent projects. Projects include: using Canva to make a timeline of one’s life, using Scratch to write a program that solves two-step equations, and using Google Forms and Sheets for work with percentages. 

Accelerated Pre-Algebra is geared towards students with a high degree of understanding in math concepts, who explore math concepts independently, seek out challenges, and enjoy discovering math strategies. The class reinforces standard pre-algebra skills, placing emphasis on applying skills through projects. Projects include a Tinkercad scaling project, using Canva to make a timeline of one’s life, using Scratch to write a program that solves two-step equations, using Google Forms and Sheets for work with percentages and probability concepts, often including a carnival.

Textbooks: Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life (Ron Larson, Laurie Boswell)

Year | Elective

Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra II with an assessment average of B or better and departmental recommendation.

Course Description: The Precalculus course revolves around the study of functions in preparation for calculus. Students will rigorously examine and analyze a variety of function families - constant, linear, quadratic, absolute value, general polynomial, rational, square root, general radical, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric - and their particular properties, graphs, algebra, and applications. Additionally, students will study and apply composite and inverse operations, as well as transformations and graphical analysis. Successfully completing this course prepares students for AP Calculus AB or any introductory college-level calculus course.

Textbook: Precalculus (Stitz/Zeager) online

Description: In this five-week introductory programming course, students learn the basic programming concepts of loops, if/then statements, variables, sequencing and writing comments within code. Using these concepts, they create a few simple projects and then a more complex multi-level game on a theme of their choice. This course is taught using Scratch, an online block-based programming environment produced by researchers at MIT.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description:  The goal of this course is to teach students how to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences in a variety of formats. From prepared speeches, for example: the speech to inform and the speech persuade, to reciting published works, students will practice the skills necessary for communication. In addition, students will learn to listen attentively, speak clearly, think critically, and research and write clearly. Effective communication also requires appreciating different points of view and giving constructive feedback with patience and sensitivity. At the end of the course, each student will deliver a final speech about a salient or social issue that aligns with Brentwood’s equity and inclusion mission. This will be in the format of either a formal speech, TED Talk, or Podcast. 

Semester | Middle School Elective

Prerequisite: Enrollment by audition

Course Description: Ideal for intermediate students looking to build their confidence on a rhythm section instrument, as part of a band.

With a hugely diverse and extensive variety of musical genres available at our fingertips, it is important for musicians to deepen their understanding of stylistic subtleties. This class helps to unlock these subtleties and encourages students to develop a solid practice regimen, as well as giving them the experience of playing in a group.  Rhythm Section Workshop provides the opportunity to grow further on either guitar, bass, drums, or keyboards through both original and standard arrangements of contemporary material. Incoming students are expected to have a strong working knowledge of their instrument, as well as music theory, however all are welcome to audition.

Course Description:  This Earth Science course is a comprehensive and engaging exploration of various aspects of Earth and space science, with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning and collaboration between students. The course is divided into three main sections, with the first section focusing on the Earth's dynamic systems such as plate tectonics, volcanoes, and landforms, as well as climate and weather. The second section expands the scope of the course to include the observable phenomena of the Moon, the Sun, the solar system, the Milky Way, and the vastness of the cosmos. The third and final section of the course focuses on the environmental impact of human activities on the planet, which is a crucial topic in the modern world.

Throughout the course, students will work both individually and cooperatively with lab partners to conduct investigations, analyze data, form evidence-based conclusions, and present information. This approach is an excellent way to promote active learning and critical thinking, which are important skills for any science student. The course also includes various assessments, such as quizzes and exams, written analysis, experiments, lab reports, and projects, which provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. A capstone project partnering with the Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership is a particularly exciting opportunity for students to explore real-world issues related to the environment or problems affecting society, using a foundation in science to develop solutions.

Year | Required

Course Description:  The seventh-grade life science course is designed to provide students with a hands-on and inquiry-based learning experience in the field of life science. The curriculum is focused on experimental study, creating models, and conducting research in a cooperative learning environment. The course introduces students to various tools and equipment to enhance their lab skills and provide them with a view of the complexities of life at both a microscopic and macroscopic level. The areas of study covered in the course include plant and animal physiology, evolution, ecology, and cellular processes. Students will learn to present evidence to support their conclusions and understanding of the concepts explored, which will help them to analyze the natural world more effectively.

The course offers various projects and collaboration opportunities with the Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership (BCIL), which allows for differentiation and a deeper understanding of the material presented. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by working on these projects and will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in real-world scenarios. The hands-on, inquiry-based learning approach will help them to develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and prepare them for more advanced studies in the future.

Year | Required

Course Description:  The focus of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of physical science through an inquiry-based curriculum. The course emphasizes the importance of evidence in science and helps students to develop laboratory skills, scientific reasoning, and problem-solving skills.  Throughout the course, students work both individually and in cooperative groups to conduct a series of experiments that lead them to an understanding of the atomic model of matter and basic concepts in chemistry and physics. The projects included in the course are designed to help students connect science to real-world examples, enhancing their understanding of the practical applications of scientific knowledge.  Students are required to conduct experiments by determining the purpose, initiating procedures, observing and recording data, and drawing conclusions. Each experiment involves guided reasoning and requires an analysis of data for students to gather evidence to support conclusions and generalizations.

As students work through the experiments, they will develop skills in experimental design, technical writing, scientific measurement, methods of observation, distinguishing matter using extensive and intensive properties, scientific laws versus scientific theory, separation of mixtures, composition, and categorization of matter, and Newton's three laws. These skills will be demonstrated through the writing of lab reports that encapsulate all the skills required and help to enhance their technical writing ability.

Semester | elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: The Science of Well-Being class will investigate the most up-to-date research about happiness and well-being with the goal of improving student's own mental health as well as the culture of mental health on Brentwood's campus. Students will partake in assessments and reflections to better understand their own baseline happiness and character strengths.  Additionally, this course will provide an overview of strategies proven to increase happiness and well-being and students will get hands-on work implementing these strategies to further their own happiness. An emphasis will be placed on how social connections can boost happiness and well-being with students actively engaging in activities such as Random Acts of Kindness and Meaningful Conversations. Lastly, the culminating project in this course will ask students to take what they have learned from this course and apply it by designing and implementing a Wellness Campaign for Brentwood or community partner.

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description: This course has a basis in three-dimensional form focusing on sculptural concepts, materials and design-inspired products.  Students will explore a variety of media such as paper, clay, wire, plaster, tape, mixed media assemblages and more. Introductory ceramic techniques are covered, which allows for future foundational skills in Upper School Ceramics courses. Multiple techniques ranging from relief, life casting, coil building, additive and subtractive sculptural pieces will be explored. Projects offer the opportunity to develop traditional and backward-by-design methods of creating. Students will develop and implement their own ideas by practicing creative problem-solving and craftsmanship approaches. As every student works at a different level, progress is measured based on a personal level of mastery.

Semester | Required 12th Grade

Course Description: Seniors are to take two semester-long seminar options, one in the fall and the other in the spring. All Brentwood students must complete four full years of English. Seniors may also enroll in additional English seminars to meet their interests. All Senior English Seminars will read and examine an equivalent number of texts, compose ~15 pages of analytical and/or creative writing, and complete either a final assessment each semester.

LAtinx – An Exploration of Identity in Los Angeles (BCIL)
Teacher: Mr. Palomino

The L.A. Times calls Los Angeles “a vibrant, ever-changing city defined by its diversity and its diasporas.” In this class the city will be our textbook as we ask questions and discuss complexities of race, identity, class, immigration, gender, place, community, diversity, and diasporas. We will study graffiti murals, taco culture, tattoos, higher education, protests, riots, court cases that shape our nation, film, TV, music, the Dodger’s role, neighborhood maps and other forms of cultural expression. Through project-based learning, collaborative works, and class discussions we will learn from comedians, stars, politicians, ex-gang members, leaders, artists, poet laureates, cooks, and kids. We will ask questions and be comfortable with messy and often contradictory answers, and perhaps more puzzlement. This course cannot promise you grand-narratives, solutions, nor easy definitions, but it can offer you a chance to explore, learn deeply, question what you think you know, and emerge with a deeper understanding of how challenging and complex, how devastating, encouraging, and compelling Los Angeles is, especially when it comes to the many iterations, identities, cross-sections, and representations of the city’s largest ethnic group. Writing for this course will include personal reflections and essays.

Modern Hispanic Literature in Translation
Teacher: Mr. Palomino

Men with enormous wings, polaroids that stop time, and weddings which end in bloodshed: learn how modern Hispanic literature overturns literary paradigms and illuminates Latin America’s challenging history. We’ll compare literature with art and film to understand how the  use of different symbols and new ways of telling stories lead you to question the nature of reality, time, race, identity, and humanity.

Students will creatively reimagine their own 21st century realities.  By analyzing how authors frame their texts, students will explore ways to tell their own stories and find their own voices as they delve into relationships of power, violence, class, poverty, upheaval or societal expectations.

Fiction and the Human Condition
Teacher: Ms. Gouger

What are the defining features of the human condition? What is our purpose, and how can we ensure a full and meaningful existence? Do we have moral responsibilities to others and to the world at large? This course invites you to engage these questions by studying fictional works through a philosophical and psychological lens. We will study various schools of philosophy and psychology, such as mind-body dualism, ethics, metaphysics, existentialism, eastern philosophy, psychoanalysis, Jungian archetypes, and developmental theories. As writers, students will engage in both personal reflections and analytical responses, seeking ways to apply these themes to own growth and potential. The course will involve thought-provoking discussions, critical observation, and deep inward examination.

Humor Theory in Literature and Life
Teacher: Ms. Gouger

What are the techniques involved in creating humorous works? How might humor influence our perspectives, our experiences, our society, our individual lives? What are the cultural and sociopolitical expectations and norms regarding comedy? This course invites you to engage these questions by studying the essential elements of works of humor - from ancient to contemporary times - and inventing some humor of your own. Students will get the chance to both analyze various comedic texts and write their own humorous pieces. Some styles we will examine include sketch writing, satire, irony, humor in narrative and personal writing, fiction and comedy, and stand-up.

Creative Writing in Study and Practice
Teacher: Dr. Katz or Ms. Gouger

In this course, we will explore Creative Writing in various forms and styles. Students will hone their craft as creative writers through daily writing practice, projects large and small, and through reading mentor authors and texts to better grasp the techniques and arcs that lead to effective, artful writing. This class invites students to consider why they like the media they do. It will use the workshop method, a process by which students will engage -- on a regular basis -- in critical peer reviews of each other’s work to lead to innovative explorations of prose and imagination in addition to thoughtfully-driven revisions and works.

LA in Film and Fiction
Teacher: Dr. Katz

This course will study the diverse cultures of Los Angeles as they are depicted in various works of fiction and non-fiction, films and TV series. Among the issues we will consider are how and why Hollywood chooses to represent the film industry in popular culture, why detective fiction and film noir are the chosen media for uncovering the corruption beneath the glittering surface of the city, and how race relations in the aftermath of the 1992 riots and the OJ Simpson trial continue to be explored in documentaries, films, novels, and music. Students will also be asked to reflect on their own experiences as Angelenos as they prepare to venture out into the world beyond Brentwood. A final project will invite students to explore some aspect of the culture of LA they remain curious about. 

Romantic Fictions
Teacher: Dr. Katz

This course will examine depictions of relationships across genres, eras, and media to focus on how works of literature and TV/film treat the topic of romantic love. We will investigate how conventions shape stories of love, and how over time these stories respond to and teach us about the enduring truths and changing realities of friendship, love, marriage, heartbreak, and reconciliation. Particular attention will be paid to how to these stories respond to issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation. Students will write short analytical pieces and, by the end of the course, craft their own storyline for a romantic narrative that challenges the conventions of representing romance. 

Wilderness and the Human Experience
Teacher: Mr. Foote

What is the relationship between humans and nature? Do we love nature, or merely the idea of it? What is the impact of civilization on the natural landscape? What role does wilderness play in our mental and physical health? This course invites you to engage questions of gender, race, identity, and especially issues of access/privilege as you explore the role of nature in the human experience, imagination, and survival.

Science Fiction and the Human Experience
Teacher: Mr. Foote

What makes us human? What roles do gender, race, access/privilege, identity play in shaping our outlook on both our own humanity and, more importantly, on the humanity of others? How does the genre of science fiction take us beyond the 'human' to challenge and question our notions of who we humans really are? This course invites you to engage these questions by exploring all that seems beyond the scope of what we know "today," and instead speculate on the what if of "tomorrow": aliens, time-travel, utopias and dystopias, dangerous technology, and more. 

Year | Required

Course Description: The 6th grade program focuses on the ancient worlds and the early beginnings of civilization. The students explore six history themes that are interwoven throughout the units: human-environment interaction, the rise of civilizations, growth and changes in society, development of political institutions and ideas, belief systems, and the interconnectedness of society. Through the various units on archeology, early humans, Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, ancient Egypt, ancient Chinese civilizations, ancient Greece and Rome, the students explore a variety of related social studies skills including geography, research, analysis, note-taking, outlining, presenting, and report writing. Students work collaboratively and independently on a wide variety of interdisciplinary projects to help showcase their knowledge. 

Textbook: History Alive! The Ancient World (TCI) 

Year | Elective

Course Description: This yearlong course is the first in a two-year series that emphasizes active communication in Spanish. Four language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are developed in a meaningful context as students talk and write about a variety of themes that are relevant to their lives. Pronunciation skills are emphasized and practiced in a safe, motivating atmosphere. During this course, students will build a strong grammatical base, which will allow them to successfully create sentences and write paragraphs. Through songs, games, and interactive lessons, students will learn how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, describe themselves and their families, and create connections between their native language and Spanish. The culture of different Spanish-speaking countries will be integrated into the curriculum. By the end of this course, students will be able to handle everyday situations, by asking and answering simple questions in Spanish.

Textbook: n/a

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: This is a year-long course that emphasizes active communication in Spanish from the first day of class. The four language skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing) are developed in a meaningful context as students talk and write about themes that are relevant to their daily lives. There is also a focus on the three modes of communication (interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal). Students work towards mastery of the basic grammatical structures and the Spanish verb system while growing their Spanish language proficiency. Authentic materials are used regularly to highlight target structures and illustrate the close relationship between language and culture. Approximately 20 to 30 minutes of homework is assigned nightly. While a C- is the minimum passing grade, we highly encourage striving for a B- or higher to ensure automatic promotion and success in Spanish 2. Students who do not achieve a B- are strongly encouraged to review  Spanish 1 concepts over the summer to solidify their foundation before entering Spanish 2.

Textbook: Senderos 1, workbook, additional readers at the teacher’s discretion

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 1 with a grade of C- (70%) or higher and/or confirmation of eligibility from the department chair.

Course Description: This is a beginning course designed to give students a measurable degree of communicative proficiency while complementing and reinforcing the skills acquired in Spanish I. The four language skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing) are developed in a meaningful context as students talk and write about themes that are relevant to their daily lives. There is also a focus on the three modes of communication (interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal). 

Textbook: Senderos 2 (textbook and workbook), additional readers at the teacher’s discretion.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Spanish II with a grade of C- or better.

Course Description: Spanish III is designed to review and build upon the grammatical and lexical foundations of Spanish I and II, with expanded reading, discussion, compositions, and cultural activities that support and promote continued growth in Spanish proficiency. Taught almost entirely in Spanish, the goal is always to facilitate meaningful, active, and comprehensible communication.

Textbooks: Senderos 4 (textbook and workbook), additional readers at the teacher’s discretion.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Spanish III with a grade of B or better.

Course Description: This is an advanced college-prep course designed to go beyond the grammatical and lexical foundations of Spanish I to III; the course emphasizes advanced language expression and comprehension. Emphasis will be on communicating in Spanish through classroom discussions, exercises, and compositions, along with cultural activities and projects to support and promote continued growth in Spanish proficiency.

Textbook: Senderos 4

Semester 7th or 8th

Course Description: Throughout the course, students will explore the various components of stagecraft, including set design, lighting, sound, props, costumes, and makeup. They will learn the basics of stagecraft terminology, techniques, and tools, as well as the role of each component in creating a cohesive and effective production. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on exercises, and collaborative projects, students will develop practical skills in technical theater. They will learn how to use tools, construct and paint scenery, hang and focus lighting instruments, design and execute sound cues, and much more.  Students will practice their skills while supporting the mainstage production season.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to give the student practical, hands-on experience in theater production. This class reads, researches, designs, organizes, builds, and runs all performances. This includes the construction and acquisition of props and scenery, the hanging of lights, and an understanding of sound as it relates to theater. The students take responsibility for all aspects of production and learn the procedures in professional theater companies. In addition, students learn drafting and basic design principles for theatrical production by making scale models of an actual set. Attendance at performances and participation in weekend tech days are also required.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Stagecraft I

Course Description: This course is for the student who wishes to further his or her knowledge in the building of scenery, hanging and focusing lights, building props, scenic painting, sound design and editing, and related technical areas. Previous experience will be used to mentor to the Stagecraft I students. All students are required to read plays and related articles, spend extra hours in after school work sessions, and attend various school performances throughout the semester. Technical work will be reinforced through quizzes and a final project. Attendance at performances and participation in weekend tech days is also required.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisites: Stagecraft II/III and permission of instructor.

Course Description: The class is offered to students interested in advanced theater production skills and responsibilities. Students can pursue stage management, technical direction, publicity, box office management, and various areas of design, including set, lighting, costume, and sound. Class work centers on the needs and challenges of the productions for that semester, including dance, and music concerts. The student, teacher, and production director will do an evaluation of the student. Attendance at performances and participation in weekend tech days are also required.

Semester | elective

Prerequisite: None 

Course Description: Beginning with safety precautions and an overview of course material, students quickly move on to learn the techniques involved in the construction of "Tiffany style" copper foil panels. These procedures include pattern making, glass cutting, copper foiling, and soldering. Students then study and learn to apply the elements and principles of art and design as they work to create original compositions and patterns. This process is reinforced by examples from art history, research, and the use of Glass Eye computer software. Students learn related vocabulary and use it to analyze their work and that of their classmates in both verbal and written form. After completing an initial sample project, each student designs and then builds two required concept-based copper foil panels. Ability increases with experience and by the completion of this course, students should be comfortable and competent while working with stained glass as a means of expression. Assessment is based upon class participation and initiative, the application of design information, and the development of technical proficiency. Sketchbook work and written self-reflections are also a part of the evaluation process. Students are expected to supply their own stained glass, copper foil, lead, and solder. Financial assistance is available through the Business Office.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Stained Glass I

Course Description: This course focuses on applying previously learned stained glass skills to leaded glass construction. All aspects of this process are thoroughly presented. The elements and principles of art and design are reinforced and influence the creation of original compositions and patterns to a greater extent at this level. Course work is reinforced by examples from art history, research, and the use of Glass Eye computer software. Students learn related vocabulary and use it to analyze their work and that of their classmates in both verbal and written form. After completing an initial non-objective project that emphasizes the technical aspects of lead construction, each student designs and then builds another required concept-based panel that investigates abstraction of natural forms. At this stage, know-how and increased confidence allow for greater mechanical control and refined craftsmanship. Time permitting, students may use either the lead or copper foil construction style to complete additional projects. Assessment is based upon class participation and initiative, the application of design information, and the development of technical proficiency. Sketchbook work and written self-reflections are also a part of the evaluation process. Students are expected to supply their own stained glass, copper foil, lead, and solder. Financial assistance is available through the Business Office.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Stained Glass Design II

Course Description: This course is for continuing stained glass design students who wish to further their experience in this medium by exploring personal design motifs, three-dimensional construction, mosaic, and/or the use of both traditional and non-traditional materials. The elements and principles of art and design continue to inform and influence the creation of original compositions, patterns, and constructions at this level. To succeed in this course, those enrolled should be extremely self-motivated, using previously acquired skills to pursue and perfect the aesthetic aspects of the stained glass construction process. Concept-based designs, research, written self-reflections, and class critiques reinforce and expand learning as the course evolves. Assessment is based upon class participation and initiative, the application of design information, and the development of technical proficiency. Sketchbook work and written self-reflections are also a part of the evaluation process. Students are expected to supply their own stained glass, copper foil, lead, and solder. Financial assistance is available through the Business Office.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Prior level Stained Glass courses

Course Description: At this level, those involved will use prior experience and acquired skills to further advance construction techniques in pursuit of self-expression with emphasis on concept-based aesthetics. The elements and principles of art and design are applied in more sophisticated ways in the creation of original compositions, patterns, and constructions. Projects will vary as personal themes emerge and students choose to specialize in a given style, or use experience and abilities as a springboard to new areas of exploration in this media. Issues of design and quality craftsmanship are paramount concerns as participants continue to perfect skills. Assessment is based upon class participation and initiative, the application of design information, and the development of technical proficiency. Sketchbook work and written self-reflections are also a part of the evaluation process. Students are expected to supply their own stained glass, copper foil, lead, and solder. Financial assistance is available through the Business Office.

Year | Elective

Prerequisite: Algebra II and department recommendation.

Course Description: The aim of a non-AP statistics course is to provide students with a class in which learner-centered activities are used to discover statistical concepts, explore statistical properties, and apply statistical techniques. Current and relevant data are explored and analyzed by way of technology and through interaction with the teacher and between peers. The course focuses on the “big ideas” of statistics and will pay less attention to the details that often divert students’ understanding of the larger issues.  Students are challenged to explain and interpret rather than to merely calculate. The scope of statistics includes:  exploring data by studying distributions, exploring data by comparing and looking for relationships, learning how to properly collect data, studying the properties that emerge from randomness in data, and exploring basic principles of making inferences from data.

Textbook: Workshop Statistics: Discovery with Data and the Graphing Calculator (Rossman, Chance, Barr Von Oehsen).

Semester | Middle School Elective

Course Description:  Studio Art is the “entry level” art class for the Middle School visual art program. As every student works at a different level; each individual is encouraged to excel at their own rate and progress is measured based on a personal level of mastery. Students will study many drawing, painting and design skills at a more sophisticated level. The hands-on nature of this class lays the groundwork for many techniques used in a variety of art media drawing from still life and their imagination, portrait drawing, be introduced to color theory, acrylic painting and more. Students will learn and implement concepts including art elements and design principles, collaboration, and how to communicate their own ideas visually. Students will learn about different artists within the context in which it was created, highlighting diverse experiences of the artist’s life. A cross- cultural approach to art-creation is emphasized by discussing how the diverse environments that are home to different artists, influences their art work and helps them create unique cultural meaning.  They will Students will refine their critical reasoning skills to effectively write and talk about art in the art-making practice and class critiques. As every student works at a different level, each individual is encouraged to excel at his or her own rate and progress is measured based on a personal level of mastery.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: This course seeks to teach students the fundamental skills of graphic design, emphasizing sustainability and global perspectives. We will be looking at models of exceptional artists from around the world and the historical development of graphic design. This includes Japanese textile prints, Cubism, Modernism, Native American Art, Afrofuturism, the school of Bauhaus, and current visual design trends. Students will work extensively with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Fusion 360 to design, create, and iterate projects to solve users' challenges or address specific needs. The coursework includes business cards, posters, billboards, packaging, and designing products using various sustainable materials.

This course can be applied towards the Fine Arts Requirement.

Course Description: The course is ideal for individuals who have a keen interest in the technical aspects of live performance (theater/dance/music). Throughout the course, students will be introduced to a range of technical areas, including lighting, sound, costumes, set design, projection, and stage management.  They will learn how to design and operate lighting systems, set up and mix sound for live performances, build and install stage sets, and manage the logistics of a theatrical production. Students develop a vocabulary around technical collaboration and receive hands-on practice while supporting the mainstage production season. They will learn the basics of theater technical terminology, tools, and techniques, as well as the key responsibilities of each role within the technical team. Students are instructed and mentored as they take on positions involving managerial or creative responsibility and leadership within production crews.

Year | Elective Middle School

Prerequisite: Enrollment by audition.

Course Description: Ideal for proficient musicians, singers or aspiring songwriters hoping to express themselves more confidently, as part of a band.

With flexible combinations of singing and instrumental accompaniment, students will learn fundamental playing techniques that they can showcase during various performance opportunities throughout the year.  The class will play songs covering a diverse variety of musical genres to deepen their understanding of the stylistic subtleties.  In addition to playing as a group, students will be challenged to broaden their understanding of music theory using interactive online tools. Incoming students are expected to have proficient knowledge of their instrument, as well as music theory, however all are welcome to audition.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: “The Writers’ Room” is a writing-focused course designed to introduce students to the art of screenwriting. Through a series of writing exercises, discussion sessions and screenplay projects, students will learn about the fundamentals of storytelling and how they apply to the film world, and how the format of a screenplay lays the foundation for a successful film project. By reading and analyzing professional scripts and writing their own scenes, short films and episodes, students will learn how to take a film concept and shape it into a screenplay ready for production, and how to collaborate like a professional writing staff to brainstorm, create characters and craft dialogue. Most importantly, students will develop their ability to generate ideas stemming from their own interests and experiences and turn them into stories from their own unique personal perspective.

Note: Participants in this course should expect to spend an average of 1-2 hours per week outside of class working on reading and writing assignments.

Year | Required 11th Grade

Course description: The United States History course fulfills the goals of a survey course, covering history from colonial North America to the present. This course endeavors to provide students with the ability to evaluate historical evidence, do comparative analysis, and develop sound historical arguments based on multiple perspectives of historical events. Through the incorporation of supplemental readings on current issues, the course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the nation’s political, economic, diplomatic, and social history in order to be informed and responsible citizens.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Video Editing is a hands-on course for students of all ability levels how are interested in learning how to transform uncut footage into a finished film. Through a series of projects using Abode Premiere editing software, students will learn and practice different technique and approaches used in a variety of video formats, developing the ability to create a compelling story from raw material and to use graphics and audio to create a polished and professional final product. Students will also learn how to use some of Premiere’s advanced tools for color correction, sound mixing, and visual effects to further enhance their films. Films from this course will be broadcast online via our YouTube channels, BWS Eaglevision, and selected work will be shared with the community at a Student Film Showcase at the end of the semester.

Note: This class focuses on the post-production process, and does not include the use of cameras.

Semester | Elective

Prerequisite: Video Editing I 

Course Description: Video Editing II is an advanced course designed for students who would like to deepen their skills and knowledge of video editing using Adobe Premiere. Through a series of projects including a TV commercial, music video and movie trailer, students will learn the key editing concepts and skills required to work in these genres. Students will also have the opportunity to specialize in sound design, music composition, color grading or visual effects, adding one of these professional-level post-production categories to their skill set. Films from this course will be broadcast online via our YouTube channel, BWS Eaglevision, and selected work will be shared with the community at a Student Film Showcase at the end of the semester.

Semester | elective

Prerequisite: This class is open to 10th-12th grade students with the approval of the Physical Education department chair.

Course Description: The class will meet twice a week from 3:15 to 4:15. Students will have the choice of a combination of weight training (with emphasis on muscle endurance) as well as a cardio workout. They will learn the benefits of a solid workout routine and hopefully will develop healthy lifetime fitness habits. This class is geared towards the student who wants to work hard, develop confidence, increase self-esteem, and have fun while doing so.

Year | Required 9th Grade

Course Description: This 9th grade course is designed to create a bridge between seventh-grade social studies and tenth grade World History Part Two: The Modern World and Global Issues. World History Part One will help students understand diverse cultures and a wide range of human interactions and experiences across the globe. Our thematic approach will cover major events and ideas across 5000 years of world history. In addition to reviewing shared case studies as a class, students will be invited to research topics of their choice through the lens of specific thematic frameworks. We will use primary documents and artifacts to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, economic, and political values of people across time and place. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to make relevant connections between the past and present and will consider how the past has informed their own experiences, ideas, and values. This required ninth-grade history course focuses on helping students acquire foundational skills, such as critical thinking, note taking, test preparation, analytical writing, primary document analysis, research, and outlining.   

Textbook: Kenneth R. Curtis. World History: Voyages of Exploration. Cengage Learning K12, 2021. Other sources: Variety of primary and secondary sources (listed under each topic)

Year | Required 10th Grade

Course description: In this course students come to understand how the world today is a product of the last 500 years of history. Through the study of events such as the French Revolution and Haitian Revolution, students will come to understand how governments rooted in the ideas of liberty and constitutionalism challenged absolutism and the divine right of kings. Advances in transportation, communication, and industry during the Industrial Revolution transformed the world’s economy from a series of isolated villages to an interconnected global world and had long-term effects on many colonized peoples around the world. Other topics that we will examine include the communist revolutions in Russia and China, the First and Second World Wars, and the Cold War. Some units incorporate simulations or role-play activities to make the learning process more experiential. Using primary materials such as images, documents, and other media, students come to understand the different international viewpoints surrounding key historical events. In the second semester, students use the library resources to conduct research on a 20th century topic of their own choosing and write a six-page research essay. The year ends with a current event simulation in which students work together to solve an international crisis, reacting to real-world current events and presenting their research, reactions, and ideas through an online blog. This course builds on the skills developed in the 9th Grade such as critical thinking, document analysis, research, analytical writing, public speaking, and the use of technology.