2015-2016

Course Selection Guide

Welcome to your 2015-2016 school year! This

course selection guide is designed to help you
make informed decisions about the courses you
will be taking. Core academic classes follow a
progression and are scheduled for you based on
your year in school, your previously completed
courses and the Nevada high school graduation
requirements (there are 12 credits required in the
core academic areas). Elective courses are
additional classes required to earn a standard
high school diploma (there are 10.5 credits
required in these areas). This guide includes
course descriptions and course numbers for the
classes you can take at our school to meet your
graduation requirements (a total of 22.5 credits
are necessary to earn a standard high school
diploma).

Core Academic Courses

Core academic classes earn 0.5 credits per semester.

English-
ID English 1A/1B (1301-1302)- Interdisciplinary Freshman English
ID English 2A/2B (1303-1304)- Interdisciplinary Sophomore English
ID English 3A/3B (1305-1306)- Interdisciplinary Junior English
ID English 4A/4B (1307-1308)- Interdisciplinary Senior English

Mathematics-
ID Algebra 1A/1B (2401-2402)- Interdisciplinary Freshman Math
ID Geometry 1A/1B (2403-2404)- Interdisciplinary Sophomore Math
ID Algebra 2A/2B (2405-2406)- Interdisciplinary Junior Math
ID Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus (2407-2408)- Interdisciplinary Senior
Math

History-
ID World Geography 1/2 (4135-4136)- Interdisciplinary Freshman
History
ID World History 1/2 (4109-4119)- Interdisciplinary Sophomore
History
ID American History 1/2 (4137-4138)- Interdisciplinary Junior History
ID American Government 1/2 (4167-4168)- Interdisciplinary Senior
History

Science-
ID Life Science 1/2 (3301-3302)- Interdisciplinary Freshman Science
ID Earth and Space Science 1/2 (3303-3304)- Interdisciplinary
Sophomore Science
ID Physical Science 1/2 (3305-3306)- Interdisciplinary Junior Science
ID Engineering Design 1/2 (3307-3308)- Interdisciplinary Senior
Science

Elective Courses
Elective courses earn 0.5 credits per semester.

Study Hall (8033)- This course is reserved for junior and senior students who plan
to complete an independent study to make up for a failed course earlier in their
academic career. Students can complete one independent study class per semester.

Kitchen Assistant 1/2 (6014-6015)- This course is for students who want to learn
about kitchen maintenance. Students can expect to learn how to keep an industrial
kitchen running and able to pass the various inspections required to serve food to
the public.

Drama (6451, 6452, 6453, 6454)- As a drama class, we will develop the art of
expression through public speaking and creative staging. Activities will include play
acting, preparing for and presenting a performance. New to the course is set design,
stage makeup and costuming. This course will focus on all areas of creative
expression and the arts. Students who continue with drama will learn more
advanced dramatic arts.

Creative Writing (1323-1324)- The focus of this class is the graphic novel. Students
will produce a written and illustrated book using pen, ink, and paint to produce a
personal expression. Students should plan to break out their poetry and prose skills.
Drawing (6141,6142)- This course will focus on using drawing media, including
pencil, conte crayon, colored pencil, pen and ink. We will work from photographs
and still-lifes set up in the room. Students will learn shading, one- and two- point
perspective, and atmospheric perspective. This class will create drawings for the
school calendar. There will be a written exam for the course.
Painting (6151, 6152)- This advanced art course will explore the use of watercolor
and acrylic paint. Working with a color wheel, students will study color mixing and
creating subtle grey shades. Students will work from photographs and still-lifes.
Expect to adopt a favorite artist to emulate. The class will also create paintings of
MidTown buildings.

Art (6111-6112)- The focus of this class is current trends in art. Students in this
class can expect to look at what is happening in the arts and translate those trends
into their personal expressions. The class will culminate in a gallery show of student
works.

Physical Education (5101-5102)- PE combines males and females at freshman,
sophomore, junior and senior levels. Each semester students are introduced to a
variety of sports. These sports are divided into three categories: lifetime, team, and

individual. There are daily warm-up activities, which include cardiovascular runs
and calisthenics.

Health (5311)- This course will be offered first and third quarters and meets the
health requirement for graduation. Students will examine the relationships between
the structural and physiological functions required for mental, physical, social and
emotional wellness. Topics include decision making, wellness, nutrition, physical
activity, body systems, substance abuse, communicable and non-communicable
diseases, violence prevention, safety mental health and consumer health.

Computer Literacy (9140)- This course will be offered second and fourth quarters
and meets the computer literacy requirement for graduation. Students will be
introduced to various aspects of computer technology. The appropriate use of
technology is an integral part of the course.

Advisory (8041-8042)- This is an intervention class. This course is designed to meet
potential areas of need for students academically and includes elements of college
and career preparation. Students are assessed on reading, writing and mathematics
skills and placed accordingly.

InterDisciplinary Project

This course makes Rainshadow unique. The main focus of the course varies by quarter,
semester and year. The purpose of each course is to focus on learning using all
academic disciplines. Each year, the staff comes together to determine a theme and
teach a course incorporating the theme and their passion. The course earns half an
elective credit. (Course Numbers are 7141, 7142)