1. education
2. school

Dear Students and Parents,
The Berlin High School Statement of Core Values reveals our collective commitment to cultivate “21st century
skills toward success in a global society by engaging students in rigorous academic, social, and civic
responsibilities,” so that they will continue to “develop into independent, self-directed, life-long learners who take
responsibility for their academic outcomes, while demonstrating a positive work ethic.” Therefore, at BHS, we
are focused on helping you become successful, productive, and vital citizens, who contribute to our society in
significant and remarkable ways. The quality of the instruction that you shall receive, the rigor of the curricula,
and the broad selection of coursework will prepare you well for the complex and competitive world that awaits
you beyond graduation. As you peruse the Berlin High School 2014-2015 Program of Studies, you will find a
range of choices that will help you establish your personal plan of study, which can either be of your own design
or derived from the included sample course sequences. You will see that the quality and breadth of options for
study at BHS will afford you access to premium learning experiences. Whether you are certain about your college
or career path or you remain undecided at this time, this program of studies can meet your needs. At BHS, you
will not only be able to pursue your interests, but also expand your capacities. Consequently, you will increase
your cognizance of a variety of disciplines through the elective areas, ensuring that you benefit from a
comprehensive education.
This is an exciting time to be a high school student because there are so many new technologies, new teaching
techniques, and new understandings about learning, resulting in an educational climate that is more student
driven then ever before in the history of American public education. In our school, we value student
interdependence and independence, which means that student responsibility is paramount. Rest assured,
however, that we do not increase student autonomy without the support that each student needs to learn. Even
though BHS prides itself in remaining on the cutting edge of pedagogy and resources, we retain some tried and
true traditions in our school program as manifested in high academic standards, rigor of course expectations, and
the challenges put forth by teachers to students to constantly excel. At BHS, student performance is held to the
most contemporary standards, while we retain the important, time-proven belief that there is no substitute for
good old-fashioned hard work. In a time when entertainment media constantly bombards us with the erroneous
suggestion that success is easily acquired though luck or entitlement, our teachers, staff, and parents remain
steadfast in instilling a pride-driven work ethic to achieve excellence.
Within one to four years, you will earn your place amongst the esteemed ranks of well-prepared lifelong learners
who have graduated from Berlin High. Therefore, upon completion of your program of studies, you will be able to
live your life beyond high school with the confidence that you have acquired an impressive collection of 21st
century skills to equip you for the challenges and changes that college, careers, and all of your other endeavors
may present. I hope that you examine this program of studies with keen interest and excitement because it can
serve as a map as you strive to realize your dreams. On behalf of the faculty and administration, I wish you
every continued success!
Sincerely,
Francis T. Kennedy
Principal
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Berlin High School
Program of Studies 2014-2015
Principal’s Message ........................................................................................................................ 1
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 2
Administrative Positions ............................................................................................................... 3
Academic, Social & Civic Expectations, Equal Opportunity ....................................................... 4
Graduation Requirements (including Capstone project) ............................................................. 5
Performance Standards ................................................................................................................. 6
Summer School Policy .................................................................................................................... 8
Tutoring Policy ............................................................................................................................... 8
SAT/SRBI Student Interventions .................................................................................................. 9
Library Media Center .................................................................................................................... 9
School Counseling Department ................................................................................................... 10
Preparing Schedules..................................................................................................................... 13
Schedule Change Policy ............................................................................................................... 13
Transfer Students, Determining Grades and Credits ............................................................... 13
Grade Point Average (GPA) and Class Rank ............................................................................. 15
Career Education.......................................................................................................................... 15
Sixteen Connecticut Career Clusters .......................................................................................... 16
Community Service Recognition ................................................................................................. 19
Available Options to Achieve College Credit: Advanced Placement, UConn Early College
Experience (ECE), College Career Pathways program ............................................................ 19
President’s Award/Honors Graduates ......................................................................................... 20
Honor Roll Qualifications ............................................................................................................ 20
Independent Study Program ....................................................................................................... 20
Class Rank Differentials .............................................................................................................. 21
Honors Citations/Academic Honors Citations/Career Honors Citations .................................. 21
Art Curriculum ............................................................................................................................. 22
Business Curriculum.................................................................................................................... 25
English Curriculum ...................................................................................................................... 27
English Language Learners (ESOL) Curriculum ...................................................................... 31
Family & Consumer Science Curriculum ................................................................................... 31
Learning Center Curriculum ....................................................................................................... 33
Mathematics Curriculum ............................................................................................................. 35
Music Curriculum......................................................................................................................... 40
Physical Education/Health Curriculum ...................................................................................... 42
Reading Curriculum ..................................................................................................................... 43
Science Curriculum ...................................................................................................................... 44
Social Studies Curriculum ........................................................................................................... 49
Technical Education Curriculum ................................................................................................ 53
World Language Curriculum ....................................................................................................... 58
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BERLIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
238 Kensington Road
Berlin, Connecticut 06037
860-828-6581
Board of Education Members
Gary Brochu, President
Kathryn Bryers
Stephanie Carbone
Cynthia Kobus
George Synnott
Irene Matulis, Secretary
Kristin Campanelli
Jeffrey Cugno
Timothy Oakes
Administrative Officers
David B. Erwin
Brian J. Benigni
Superintendent of Schools
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum
and Instruction
Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Director of Business Operations
Supervisor of Special Education, 6-12
Supervisor of Special Education, PK-5
Director of Human Resources
Linda A. Holian
Roman J. Czuchta
Kelly S. Maio
Michelle Zeuschner
Denise Parsons
Berlin High School Administration
Principal
Francis T. Kennedy
Assistant Principals
Amanda E. Gagnon
Timothy A. Grady
Athletic Director
Dan Scavone
Department Supervisors
Career and Technical
English
ESOL
Mathematics
Library/Media
Physical Education
School Counseling
Science
Social Studies
Special Education
World Language
Christopher Wolfe
Laurie Piecewicz
Jean Borrup
Eileen Thurston
David Scannell
Sheila King
Deborrah Ramirez
Mary Salerno
David Francalangia
Leonilda DiTomasso
Teresa Dorsey
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BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL
139 Patterson Way
Berlin, CT 06037
860-828-6577 www.berlinwall.org
Academic Expectations
Read critically
Write effectively
Communicate clearly and persuasively
Use a variety of resources for academic, technological, and practical purposes
Solve problems creatively
Develop an active and healthy lifestyle
Become self-directed, self-reflective, independent learners
Social and Civic Expectations
Behave responsibly and ethically
Participate in the community
Respect the diversity of others
Contribute to a safe and supportive environment
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY and NONDISCRIMINATION
The Berlin Public School District is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and affirmative action for all
qualified persons and does not discriminate in any educational program, activity, employment or promotional
opportunities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion or any other basis prohibited
by Connecticut state and/or federal nondiscrimination laws. Inquiries regarding Berlin Public School’s District’s
non-discrimination policies should be directed to Denise Parsons, Title IX Coordinator, Berlin Public Schools, 238
Kensington Road, Berlin CT 06037 or 860/828-6581. For BHS building support related to Title IV and Title IX,
please contact either Mrs.Grady, Mrs. King, or a high school administrator.
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Graduation Requirements
1. Credit Requirements
In order to graduate from Berlin High School, students must earn a total of 27 credits as outlined below. In
addition, students must also successfully complete a Senior Capstone Project (see below), and meet the
established district performance standards in reading, writing, mathematics, and science (see Pages 6 and 7).
Credit Distribution of Required Courses
English
4 credits
Mathematics
4 credits
Social Studies
3.5 credits
(US History 1 cr. and Civics ½ cr.)
Science
4 credits
(including Biology)
Physical Ed.
2 credits
(including ¼ cr. Health)
Capstone project
1 credit
Electives
8.5 credits
(1 Art/Career and Technical Education)
Required Total: 27 credits
2. Course Enrollment
All students must enroll in a minimum of 7 credits each year for four years. Only under extraordinary
circumstances, the high school principal may exempt students from this requirement. It is expected that a
student will have a minimum of 4 academic subjects (e.g., math, science, English, social studies) each school
year.
In the event that a student transfers to Berlin High School during the senior year, the student must
successfully complete a minimum of one semester in order to be eligible for a Berlin High School
diploma.
3. HS22993G Senior Capstone Project
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 12
The BHS Capstone project is a graduation requirement intended to engage students in a personalized
learning experience. Each senior will be assigned a Capstone advisor throughout the project. The
mandatory elements of the Capstone project include:
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Pose a researchable essential question or problem
Develop a proposal and action plan
Reflection about process and progress
Evolving bibliography of interviews, observations, articles, and other reading related to the topic
Community connection or fieldwork experience
Exhibition of findings to an audience
4. District Performance Standards
In addition to the credit requirements listed above in section 1, students must also meet the following
performance standards in reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
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PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
READING STANDARD
READING STANDARD
Berlin High School graduates will successfully comprehend, interpret and evaluate pieces of fiction and
nonfiction writing. Berlin High School graduates will demonstrate an overall understanding of reading selections,
including inferential as well as literal interpretations.
Means of Assessment:
Students will have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate achievement in the reading standard. Any of the
following are accepted as evidence of achievement:
 Students who score at the Goal or Advanced level* on the CAPT Reading Across the Disciplines
assessment (class of 2015).
 Students who receive a score of 224 on the NWEA MAP Reading Assessment.
 Students who achieve a Critical Reading score of 50 on the PSAT or 500 on the Verbal portion of the SAT.
 Students who achieve a score of 20 on the English portion of the ACT.
 Students who fail to reach goal by the end of their junior year will demonstrate achievement of the
reading requirement through mastery of an alternative reading assessment in the first quarter during
their senior year. The Reading Department will plan intervention based on individual student needs.
WRITING STANDARD
WRITING STANDARD
Berlin High School graduates will produce written texts to express, develop, and substantiate ideas and
experiences. Berlin High School students will apply the conventions of standard English in oral and written
communication.
Means of Assessment:
Students will have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate achievement in the writing standard. Any of the
following are accepted as evidence of achievement:
 Students who score at the Goal or Advanced level* on the CAPT Writing Across the Disciplines
assessment (class of 2015).
 Students who achieve a Writing score of 50 on the PSAT or 500 on the Writing portion of the SAT.
 Students who fail to reach goal by the end of their junior year will demonstrate achievement of the
writing requirement through a score of proficient on the Capstone reflections pieces.
MATHEMATICS STANDARD
MATHEMATICS STANDARD
The student must satisfactorily complete multi-step real world mathematical problems that require
demonstration of basic mathematical operations and conceptual understanding in mathematics. The student may
be provided with any required formulas and may be permitted the use of a calculator in completing the task. The
student will explain in writing, or in a pictorial, graphical, or algebraic representation, how he/she arrived at the
answer to the problem.
Means of Assessment:
Students will have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate achievement in the mathematics standard. Any of
the following are accepted as evidence of achievement:
 Students who score at the Goal or Advanced level* on the CAPT Mathematics assessment (class of 2015).
 Students who score 241 or above on the NWEA 6+ Mathematics Test
 Students who achieve a score in mathematics of 50 on the PSAT or 500 on the mathematics portion of the
SAT.
 Students who achieve a score of 20 on the mathematics portion of the ACT.
 Students who fail to reach goal by the end of their junior year will demonstrate achievement of the
mathematics requirement through enrollment in Academic Math Support and mastery of an alternative
mathematics assessment in the first semester, of their senior year.
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SCIENCE STANDARD
SCIENCE STANDARD
The student must satisfactorily demonstrate an understanding of scientific concepts and processes, experimental
design and interpretations, and current issues related to science affecting society.
Means of Assessment:
Students will have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate achievement in the science standard. Any of the
following are accepted as evidence of achievement:
 Students who score at the Goal or Advanced level* on the CAPT Science assessment.
 Students who fail to reach Goal or Advanced* in the tenth grade will retake the CAPT Science
assessment in grade eleven.
 Students who fail to reach goal by the end of their junior year will demonstrate achievement of the
science requirement through completion of a Senior CAPT Science Portfolio. The portfolio will consist of
five laboratory experiences representing each science strand from the Connecticut State Science
Framework. Students will be scheduled for Senior CAPT Science Portfolio during their study hall.
 Students who achieve a score of 20 on the Science portion of the ACT.
5. General Provisions
Additional Support: Students who have not met the performance standard by the end of the first marking period
of senior year may be assigned to content-specific skill support class (non-credited). Assessments will be
conducted during the second, third, and fourth marking periods for any seniors who have not met the
performance standard during the previous marking period.
Exemptions: Students who transfer into Berlin High School during their senior year must meet Berlin’s
performance standards in order to graduate from Berlin High School unless such students have been exempted at
the sole discretion of the Berlin High School Administration. In considering any exemptions to the graduation
requirements set forth in this policy, the Berlin High School Administration may choose to review a student’s
prior academic profile and state/national assessment data.
Notification to Teachers, Students, and Parents: Frequent, ongoing communication between and among teachers,
students, and parents is essential in creating home-school support for students to meet the required performance
standards, particularly during senior year.
6. Alternative Programs
In certain situations, and with the approval of the principal, a student may complete the senior year elsewhere
and still be awarded a Berlin High School diploma. In order for a student to be eligible to receive a diploma while
attending a different institution during the senior year, the student must meet the following requirements:
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Have earned a total of twenty-two credits prior to the senior year.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 80 at the end of the junior year.
Provide two letters of recommendation from Berlin High School teachers.
Apply in writing to the high school principal by the end of Semester 1 of Junior year; application must
include a detailed description of the program to which the student is planning to attend.
 The program must be an accredited educational program.
 Complete the Senior Capstone Project prior to April 1st of the senior year.
 Receive approval from the high school principal prior to the start of the program.
A Berlin High School diploma will be issued after the principal conducts a review of credits earned in the
approved program. The principal reserves the right to establish/expand/revise compliance reporting dates for any
approved alternative senior year program at any time as part of this review process.
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6. Graduation Ceremony
In order to participate in the formal graduation ceremony, students must meet all the course credit requirements
and the district performance standards and have successfully completed the Senior Capstone Project by the date
of graduation, as specified in sections 1 and 4 of this policy. Parents and students will be informed in writing by
the high school guidance department during the second semester, but no later than April 1, of the individual
status of each student relative to graduation requirements, including the necessity of successfully completing any
courses in which the student may be currently enrolled.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statute 10-221a. High school graduation requirements
SUMMER SCHOOL POLICY
1.
Any student is eligible for Summer School who has failed a course or has not received credit due to
attendance in that course.
2.
A student who has withdrawn or has been withdrawn from a course for the remainder of the school year
may not make up the work missed in summer school.
3.
Summer school is 6 weeks in length with a two hour class each day. Homework is an expected aspect of the
program and 90% attendance is required.
4.
A student who receives under a 50 for a course and wants to take summer school can re-take the entire
course for 120 hours for 1 credit which must be done through the West Hartford Summer School Program.
5.
A student who receives between 50-59 and no loss of credit due to attendance can re-take the course for 60
hours and receive 1.00 credit. This must be at one of the remedial summer school locations listed below.
6.
Courses for which prerequisite grades are being made up are subject to the same policies as those for which
failing grades are being made up.
7.
Completion of summer school courses will be reflected on the student’s transcript; however, summer school
grades are not configured into the student’s class rank and GPA.
8.
Students cannot repeat a class that they have already passed for the purpose of qualification/eligibility for
co-curricular activities.
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Only 2 credits at a time may be taken in summer school.
Berlin High School does not sponsor a summer school program; however, students may enroll in summer school
programs offered in neighboring towns including Middletown, Cheshire, Southington, West Hartford, and
Plainville. Students must meet with their school counselor to fill out summer school/enrichment
education forms and then have them approved by the building principal.
Summer School at Other Institutions:
1. Students may take make-up courses at other accredited institutions. Credits accepted will be prorated
according to the hours and duration of the courses. A minimum of 50 must have been received in the failed
course.
2. Approval of the high school principal must be given in advance of the summer school program for any
credits to be transferred to Berlin High School. Students must sign up with their school counselor before
the last day of school.
3. Official transcript of credit and grades earned must be submitted for approval on the conclusion of any
courses at other institutions.
4. If a course is to be used to meet a prerequisite requirement, the final Berlin High School departmental
examination must be taken and will be one third of the final grade.
5. Courses taken at other institutions for summer school will not be included in the student’s GPA or class
rank.
TUTORING
1. Make-up courses may be completed through tutoring arrangements made by the student's family. Such
courses must be approved by the high school principal prior to the beginning of the program. All approvals
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should be completed by the scheduled first day of summer school. A minimum of 50 must have been
received in the failed course.
Tutors for such courses must have the approval of the high school principal. A tutor must be a certified
teacher in the subject being tutored.
The tutored make-up course curriculum must have the approval of the high school subject department
head. It is the responsibility of the family and tutor to make all necessary contacts with the department
head.
Tutored courses must have final examinations. Such examinations must be approved by the high school
subject department head and will be valued at one third of the final grade.
There is to be a minimum of ten graded papers besides the final submitted by the tutor (5 for a semester
course).
Evidence of a minimum of thirty hours of tutoring for a one credit course, fifteen for a 1/2 credit course,
must be submitted. These hours must extend over a six week period for a 1 credit course, three weeks for a
1/2 credit course.
The tutor is to submit all completed papers and exams, a summary of completed curriculum, a final
recommended grade, a final examination, and credit to be awarded. All papers are corrected by the tutor.
The credit and recommended grade are submitted directly to the high school principal.
Work submitted after the Friday before the return to school will not be accepted.
Students cannot repeat a course (through tutoring) that they have already passed for the purpose of
qualification/eligibility for co-curricular activities.
It is the student's and/or his family's responsibility to make all tutoring arrangements.
NOTE:
1. A student who is completing diploma requirements must do so by August 27th to qualify for his/her original
diploma. If this is not done, the student will receive the diploma for the academic year during which he/she
completes his/her requirements. In these cases, the requirements of the new class must be met.
2. A student with a 50 to 59 in a regular course is considered to have potentially earned 1/2 of the credits of the
course. The other half may be made up during the summer. It is only when full credit requirements are met
that any credit is allowed to be awarded.
SAT/SRBI Student Interventions
Berlin High School is dedicated to the academic, social, and emotional success of all students. There is a
comprehensive protocol in place in which students, struggling in any of these areas, will be identified using the
SAT (Student Assistance Team) process followed by SRBI (Scientific Researched-Based Interventions)
recommendations. Interventions range from TIER I teaching strategy interventions to more intense TIER II and
TIER III specialized, individual instruction, counseling, or behavioral supports. In all cases, data will be used to
determine areas of need and to measure the success rate following intervention(s). Questions regarding SAT or
SRBI can be directed to either assistant principal.
Library Media Center
The Thomas F. Galvin Library Media Center is a central resource for Berlin High School students and teachers.
As a center for collaborative instruction, research, independent reading, and other activities, the library is open
to all members of the school community.
The library contains over 20,000 volumes, and subscribes to a variety of electronic databases. Twenty five
internet-linked chromebooks are available for student use, as well as ten pc laptops. The library subscribes to
more than sixty periodicals and to six newspapers.
During the school’s reconstruction, many of the library’s books are in storage. Currently, the upstairs media room
houses fiction, short stories, graphic books, and biographies – all available for lending. A small collection of
reference titles is shelved in the downstairs media lab.
The library is open every school day. Doors open at 7:20, and the library is staffed until 3:15. Students are
welcome as part of a class, as independent learners sent by a teacher, and as study hall members who have first
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obtained a pass from a subject teacher. Before and after school, students are welcome to use the library with no
pass needed.
Located on the floor of the former library space is the Writing Center, a student assistive program which utilizes
trained peer writing tutors to work one on one with other students to improve their writing.
SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
The School Counseling Department delivers lesson from a Comprehensive School Counseling Curriculum
structured to anticipate and nurture the academic, career, and personal/social growth of all students as they pass
through different developmental stages in their high school career. In addition to
individual counseling, school counselors assist students in their school transition
and adjustment, in goal-setting and achievement, in decision-making and
problem solving, and with post-secondary career and college planning. The
mission of the School Counseling Department is to assist students in maximizing
their educational and personal development and self-fulfillment. To accomplish
this end, the School Counseling Department works with the entire educational
community in a proactive manner providing services for students, parents, and
instructional staff. Specific School Counseling programs are made available and
presented to all parents of students in grades 9-12, focusing on students’ developmental educational issues.
College Admission:
Grades, class rank, difficulty of courses taken, counselors’ and teachers’ recommendations, activities (athletic,
clubs, community service) and national standardized testing such as SATs and ACTs are the most important
factors a college admissions office considers in determining student acceptance. Students are urged to meet with
their school counselor and visit colleges with their parents in order to gain more detailed information. Success in
a full, challenging academic program, including the senior year, is the best preparation for college admission and
eventual college success. Students applying to two and four year schools will do so through our
Naviance College and Career Planning online program.
Recommended Course Sequence for Four-Year Highly Competitive Colleges/Universities
The following chart is a recommended sequence of courses students should strongly consider for admission into a
competitive four year post-secondary institution. Students will meet with their counselor in order to develop a
program of studies specifically designed to meet the student’s future plans.
Grade 9
Grade 10
Advanced English 9
Honors Geometry
Advanced Chemistry
World and People I
World Language II
Art or CTE
Physical Education and Health
Advanced American Studies
Honors Algebra II
AP/UConn Biology
World and People II/Civics
World Language III
Physical Education
Grade 11
Grade 12
AP Language and Composition
Honors Pre-Calculus
AP US History or Honors Social Studies
AP/UConn Chemistry or AP Environmental
Science
World Language IV
Physical Education
AP/UConn Literature and Composition
AP/UConn Calculus/UConn Discrete and/or
UConn Statistics
AP Psychology, AP World History or
Humanities
AP/UConn Physics, AP Environmental
Science or AP/UConn Chemistry
World Language V
Physical Education
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Recommended Course Sequence for Two–Year Schools
or Four-Year Moderately Competitive Colleges
Each student is recommended by his/her counselor to take as rigorous an academic program as can be carried. It
is possible to attend a two-year school or a four-year less competitive college with a straight college preparatory
or advanced program of studies.
Grade 9
Grade 10
English 9 or Advanced English 9
Geometry or Honors Geometry
Chemistry or Advanced Chemistry
World and People I
World Language I or II
Art or CTE
Physical Education and Health
American Lit. I/II or
Advanced American Studies
Algebra II or Honors Algebra II
Biology or AP/UConn Biology
World and People II/Civics
World Language II or III
Physical Education
Grade 12
Grade 11
Junior English Seminar or AP Language
and Composition
Pre-Calculus or Honors Pre-Calculus or
College Algebra/ Math Modeling
Probability/Statistics
US History or AP US History
Physics or Science Electives
World Language III or IV
Physical Education
Senior English Seminar or AP/UConn
Literature & Composition
Honors Calculus
AP Psychology or Social Studies elective
Physics or Anatomy & Physiology or AP or
other Science Electives
World Language IV or V
Physical Education
Recommended Course Sequence for Vocational or Technical Training
Grade 9
Grade 10
English 9
Balanced Algebra I/Geometry I or Algebra I
Integrated Earth and Physical Science
World and People I
World Language
Art or CTE
Physical Education and Health
American Lit. I/II or
Advanced American Studies
Balanced Algebra I/Geometry II or
Geometry or Algebra II
Biology
World and People II/Civics
World Language
Art or CTE
Physical Education
Grade 11
Grade 12
Junior English Seminar
Balanced Algebra I/Geometry III or
Algebra II or
College Algebra and Math Modeling
US History
Chemistry or Science Electives
Art or CTE
Physical Education
Senior English Seminar
Trigonometry, Probability and Statistics I/II,
Financial Algebra or Algebra II
½ Social Studies Elective
Science Elective
Art or CTE
Physical Education
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NCAA Clearinghouse Course Requirements for Athletes Focusing on Division I and II
 At the beginning of their Junior year, student-athletes will need to complete their registration by going to
www.eligibilitycenter.org.
 Student-athletes should take the SAT, ACT or both and send scores to the
Clearinghouse using the Eligibility Center Code “9999” so that scores are
sent directly to NCAA.
 Ask your school counselor to send transcripts at the end of your Junior year
 In your Senior year, take the SAT or ACT again if necessary – the Eligibility
Center will use your best scores from each section.
 Check your courses to see that they match BHS’s list of approved courses for
eligibility.
 Review amateurism responses and request final amateurism certification.
 After graduation, have your high school send a final transcript to the Eligibility Center with proof of
graduation.
Academic- Eligibility Requirements
Division I – 16 Core Courses
 Graduate from HS
 4 years English
 3 years Math (Algebra I or higher)
 2 years natural or physical science
 1 extra year of English, math, or
natural or physical science
 2 years social science
 4 years of extra core courses
 Sliding scale A will be used to determine
eligibility to receive athletic aid, practice,
and competition during the first year
Go to www.eligibilitycenter.org
Academic-Eligibility Requirements
Division II – 16 Core Courses
• Graduate from HS
• 3 years English
• 2 years math (Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of natural or physical science
• 3 additional years of English science
• 2 additional years of English, math
or natural or physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 4 years of additional core courses
• Earn a 2.0 GPA in core courses
• Earn a combined SAT of 820 or an ACT of 68
NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester of
high school(seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math, or natural or physical
science under the distribution requirements).
These 10 courses will be “locked in” at the seventh semester of high school and cannot be retaken
for grade improvement.
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PREPARING SCHEDULES
Course Selection
Students will meet with their school counselor during Advisory to discuss teacher recommendations and the
course registration process. Parents and students are asked to discuss course selections and
recommendations together. Course selection sheets should be signed by a parent and brought to the
counselor during individual academic planning meetings. Subjects are then scheduled according to the
spaces available and the period the course is offered. Students will receive their course enrollments on
the last day of the school for the following school year. Students will receive their schedules
(showing course names only) in mid-August.
Courses identified by Roman numerals or grade levels are sequential courses and must be taken in
numerical order. For example: Spanish I must be taken and passed before a student may take Spanish II.
Failure of a course will require making up the deficiency before going on to the next course in sequence. Two
or more courses in the same sequence may not be taken in one school year without the approval of the
principal. One (1.00) credit is given for courses which meet for the entire year; courses which meet for a
semester (1/2 year or its equivalent), earn .50 credit. In some instances, PE will meet two days weekly for a
year to receive .50 credit. In order to provide for the needs of students, some courses are ability grouped.
Groupings include the following levels: Honors courses which include Advanced Placement and UConn ECE
when applicable, advanced courses when an honor course is not offered, college preparatory and resource
courses, including learning center classes. All levels do not exist for all courses and many courses are not
grouped at all. Assignment to groups is the responsibility of the school counselor who receives teacher
recommendations. Many courses are heterogeneous so that students may benefit from a wide range of
experiences in a challenging curriculum.
SCHEDULE CHANGE POLICY
Course Changes (Add/Drops, Level Changes, Withdrawals) Students are required to carry a minimum of 7.0 credits per year based on Board of Education policy.
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For single-semester electives: First semester elective course changes will not be honored after
the eighth school day of the first semester. For second semester electives, course changes will
not be honored after the eighth day of the second semester.
Core course level changes only will be honored up until the last school day in September. NO changes will be honored after the last school day in September. Any course from which a student has withdrawn beyond the ninth school day will receive a “WF” or “WP”
for withdrawal from a course and this will be reflected on the student’s transcript. Requests for specific teachers WILL NOT be considered. Berlin High School supports students interested in further challenging themselves in their academic pursuits.
While teachers will recommend students for particular courses, students may choose to enroll in a course other
than the recommended course with the use of a Berlin HS override form. The final decision to override remains
with the parent and student provided there is consultation with the teacher and counselor. Override
forms can be provided to students by their counselors.
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Override Forms WILL BE due to the student’s counselor PRIOR to April vacation.
Override Forms WILL NOT BE HONORED after this point.
TRANSFER STUDENTS - DETERMINING GRADES AND CREDITS
Students Transferring into BHS after completion of 1+ years at another high school:
When a student transfers into BHS from an accredited high school, consideration will be given to successfully
fulfilled requirements of the sending high school with respect to criteria for successful completion of grades 9, 10,
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11, and 12, as well as graduation requirements. Upon review, the BHS Administration will determine grade
level placement and possibly prorate remaining BHS graduation requirements for the transferring student.
When a student transfers into BHS having completed 1+ years at another high school, those courses will be
noted in the student’s cumulative file and transcript as courses completed in curriculum categories,
e.g., English, mathematics, science, social studies, world language, electives, and PE/Health, toward the credits
required for graduation from BHS. These courses from another high school will be listed on the BHS transcript
as “TR Math, TR English, TR Science, TR Social Studies, TR World Language, TR Elective, and TR PE/Health,”
and they will be given the credit value received from the other high school, but NO grade will be listed.
Senior students applying to colleges will need to provide a transcript from their previous school in
addition to their BHS transcript in order to provide accurate information to the college on courses
taken at each high school.
Students Transferring into BHS after the start of the school year:
When a student has taken courses at another school during any part of a high school year, grades and/or credits
will be reviewed by counselors and treated as a transfer credit.
Credit Grid for both BHS and Transfer Students and Where They Should be
at the End of Each Grade Level:
Starting with the Class of 2015 – All Berlin High School Students starting from 9th grade are required to
achieve 27 credits to graduate.
In order to be considered on target for graduating in four years, students must achieve the following:
At The End of:
Students should have achieved:
9th Grade
6.75 credits
10th Grade
13.50 credits
11th Grade
20.25 credits
12th Grade
27.00 credits
Since the Connecticut State Department of Education recommends that students achieve 25 credits,
students transferring into Berlin High School will need to have the following credit requirements to graduate in
four years:
At The End of
Student should have achieved
9th Grade
6.25 credits
10th Grade
12.50 credits
11th Grade
18.75 credits
12th Grade
25.00 credits
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Transfer students are responsible for fulfilling Berlin High School’s “core” requirements and they
will be scheduled for Berlin HS’s minimum of 7 credits:
4.0 credits English
3.5 credits Social Studies (0.5 cr. Civics/1.0 cr. US History)
4.0 credits Math
4.0 credits Science (1 cr. Biology)
1.75 credits PE
0.25 credit Health
Credit Recovery
If students should fall below the credit recommendation above, they can request permission to pursue a preapproved form of credit recovery in order to graduate in four years. A letter will go home at the end of each year
to those students who are below the credit requirement for graduating in four years. One of the options for credit
recovery is Odysseyware, an online interactive program available from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, Mondays-Thursdays at
BHS. To be eligible for Odysseyware, a student must earn a grade between 50-59 with no loss of credit due to
attendance. Students are able to take 2.0 credits per year on Odysseyware, based upon availability. Consult
with your school counselor to determine whether Odysseyware is an appropriate option for you.
Transcripts
When transfer students are requesting transcripts for post-secondary education or career options, the BHS
transcript will list the credit awarded for accepted courses transferred from previous high schools as specified
above, along with the courses taken at Berlin High School. If a complete high school record is required for
colleges and/or employment, transfer students will be responsible for contacting their previous high
school(s) to request that their official transcript be sent to each college and/or employer.
GPA AND RANK
GPAs indicated in Berlin High School’s grading system for transfer students include only courses taken at Berlin
High School (class rank is computed and indicated only for students who have completed 8 quarters at Berlin
High). Students who transfer to Berlin High School during their freshman or beginning of their sophomore year
will be included in Berlin High School’s GPA/Rank. Students who transfer into BHS after this time will
not have met this 8 quarter criteria and will not be included in Berlin High School’s GPA/Rank.
Honors:
Any student transferring in as a senior with a 91 average or above at graduation is eligible to be indicated as an
honors student in the graduation program and wear an honor cord.
Note for students enrolled in coursework at outside institutions or magnet schools, such as GHAMAS
or GHAA: Courses completed at outside schools will neither be included in GPA nor class rank at Berlin High
School. Such courses would be recorded as transfer credits only, as described above. This policy is in effect
beginning with the class of 2017.
CAREER EDUCATION
Information about possible careers is available to students in the Media Center and School Counseling Suite.
Students may see school counselors or media personnel in order to make use of the material in these areas.
Career/college information and computer search software with printouts is available in the School Counseling
Suite and students are encouraged to use these resources. Students may register for several SAT preparation
programs online and they can see their counselor for details. Courses of study which provide career or vocational
exploratory experiences are available in several departments, including Technology Education, Business, Family
& Consumer Science, Art, Music, and in the Media Center.
School counselors facilitate goal-setting and personality inventory lessons with all 9th grade classes and an
interest inventory is taught to grade 10 students as part of a developmental school counseling program. The
school counseling department sponsors a career seminar during the spring semester.
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SIXTEEN CONNECTICUT CAREER CLUSTERS
At different times throughout the course of the school year, students meet with their
counselors to discuss their four-year educational plans and career or post-secondary
interests. Listed below are courses that are recommended for students in each of the
sixteen career cluster areas designated by the Connecticut State Department of
Education. The lists are to help students focus on preparing the skills and background
needed to advance toward education in a particular field of study or for direct entry into
a specific career.
Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
Anatomy & Physiology
Baking & Pastry Arts I/II
Biology (all levels)
Biotechnology
Business Law
Chemistry (all levels)
Cooking for a Crowd
Cultures & Cuisines
Earth Science electives
E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Economics
Environmental Science (all levels)
Food for Fitness
Foods/Nutrition I/II
Horticulture
Introduction to Law
Marine Biology I/II
Physics (all levels)
UConn Statistics
World Languages (UConn)
Band
Bella Voce
Broadcast Journalism I and II
Business Communications
Chorale
Civics
Concert Choir
Creative Writing
Digital Media & Movie- Making
Digital Photography
Drawing I/II (UConn)
E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Electronic Communications
Graphic Communications
Humanities
Intro to Business Technologies
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
Journalism
Mixed Media
Music Technology I/II
Music Theory I/II
Painting I/II
PC Build & Repair
Piano I/II
Pottery I/II/III
Radio & TV Production
Sculpture I/II
Speech
World Languages (UConn)
World of Technology
Architecture & Construction
Algebra I/Algebra II
Architectural Design
Basic House Wiring
Basic Plumbing & HVAC
Digital Photography
Electronics
Geometry
Intro to Business Technologies
Intro to CADD & Design
Manufacturing Technology
Physics (all levels)
Residential Construction & Repair
Stagecraft I and II
UConn Discrete
Woods and Plastics I and II
World Languages (UConn)
World of Technology
Business, Management, & Administration
Accounting I and II
Business Communications
Business Law
Business Survey
Digital Art I/II
Digital Media & Movie-Making
Arts, A-V Tech, & Communications
2-D Design I/II
Advanced American Studies
AP Studio Art (all categories)
Art History
Art Survey
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Digital Photography
E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Economics
Financial Algebra
Graphic Communication Technology
Intro to Business Technologies
Introduction to Law
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
Marketing Management
Personal Finance
Radio and Television Production
Sports in America
Survey in Business
UConn Discrete
UConn Statistics
World Languages (UConn)
Foods & Nutrition
US History (all levels)
Health Science
Firefighting
Foods for Fitness
Foods & Nutrition I/II
Health/PE
Humanities
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Law
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
Lifetime Activities I/II
Physics (all levels)
UConn ECE Intro to Individual & Family
US History (AP)
World Languages (UConn)
Education & Training
Art History
Child Development
Creative Writing
Health
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
Music Technology I/II
Music Theory I/II
Piano I/II
UConn ECE Intro. to Individual & Family
Development
World Languages (UConn)
Hospitality & Tourism
Art History
Baking & Pastry Arts I/II
Cooking for a Crowd
Culinary Arts I/II/III
Cultures & Cuisine
Digital Photography
E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Economics
Foods & Nutrition I/II
Graphic Communications Technology
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
Sports in America
UConn ECE Intro to Individual & Family
World Languages (UConn)
Finance
Accounting I and II
Business Law
Business Survey
E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Financial Algebra
Intro to Business Technologies
Personal Finance
UConn Discrete
UConn Statistics
World Languages (UConn)
Human Services
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology (all levels)
Biotechnology
Chemistry (all levels)
Child Development
Firefighting
Foods & Nutrition I/II
Forensics
Health/PE
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
UCONN ECE Intro to Individual & Family
World Languages (UConn)
Government & Public Administration
Advanced American Studies
Anatomy & Physiology
AP US Government & Politics
Biology (all levels)
Biotechnology
Business Communication
Business Law
Chemistry (all levels)
Child Development
Civics
Civics II
Electrical Communication
Firefighting
Information Technology
AP Computer Science
Broadcast Journalism
Business Communications
Creative Writing
Digital Art I/II
Digital Media & Movie-Making
Digital Photography
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Electronic Communication
Graphic Communication Technology
Journalism
Modern Applications of Math
Music Tech I/II
PC Build & Repair
Reel History I/II
World Languages (UConn)
World of Technology
E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Economics
Electronic Communication
Financial Algebra
Graphic Communications Tech
Intro to Business Technologies
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
Marketing Management
Probability & Statistics I/II
UConn Discrete
UConn Statistics
World Languages (UConn)
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math
Algebra I/II (all levels)
All elective sciences
Anatomy & Physiology
AP Computer Science
Architecture Technology
Biology (all levels)
Calculus (all levels)
Chemistry (all levels)
Earth Science electives
Electronics
Engineering Design
Engineering Principles
Geometry (all levels)
Introduction to CADD & Design
Introduction to Power Transportation
Manufacturing Technology
Physics (all levels)
Pre-Calculus (all levels)
Transportation Technology
UConn Discrete
UConn Statistics
Woods & Plastics I & II
World Languages (UConn)
World of Technology
Law, Public Safety, & Security
Advanced American Studies
AP US Government & Politics
Business Law
Civics
Civics II
Firefighting
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Law
Introduction to Psychology (AP)
Introduction to Sociology
US History (AP)
Wars that Changed the World
World Languages (UConn)
Manufacturing
Architecture Technology
Introduction to CADD & Design
Manufacturing Technology
PC Build & Repair
Physics (all levels)
Residential Construction & Repair
Woods & Plastics I/II
Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics
Alternative Energy Vehicle - Electrathon
Automotive Transportation Systems
Introduction to Power Transportation
Probability & Statistics I/II
Transportation Technology
UConn Discrete
UConn Statistics
Marketing, Sales, & Service
2-D Design I/II
Accounting I/II
Broadcast Journalism
Business Communications
Business Law
Creative Writing
Digital Art I/II
Digital Media & Movie-Making
Digital Photography
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COMMUNITY SERVICE RECOGNITION
A student who completes 120 hours of approved community service will receive recognition at graduation to
include notation on the graduation program and a special citation awarded to the student along with the
diploma. The community service must be approved by the person in charge of the related activity and cannot be a
"required" service. The community service must be unpaid and voluntary. This can be within the school or in the
community. The community service proposal form must be completed prior to the activity and approved by a
school counselor, school administrator, class advisor or school advisor of a service organization. The reporting
portion of the form must be completed after the activity, signed by the person in charge of the activity, attesting
to the hours the student devoted to the service. The school counseling secretary will record the information. At
the end of each year, the hours completed for the year will be totaled. The hours for the citation must be
completed by the beginning of quarter 4, senior year, and will be verified at that time.
AVAILABLE OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE CREDIT
Berlin High School provides academically motivated students the opportunity to achieve college credit while still
in high school through a variety of different program options:
Advanced Placement Courses: Berlin High School offers 16 Advanced Placement Courses:
1. AP Biology
2. AP Calculus
3. AP Chemistry
4. AP Computer Science A
5. AP English Language & Composition
6. AP English Literature & Composition
7. AP Environmental Science
8. AP Music Theory
9. AP Physics
10. AP Psychology
11. AP Studio Art 2-D Design
12. AP Studio Art 3-D Design
13. AP Studio Art Drawing/Painting
14. AP United States Government & Politics
15. AP U.S. History
16. AP World History
Students are given college-level curriculum to help them gain skills and habits necessary to be successful in college.
Students complete their coursework with an end of the year Advanced Placement exam that takes place in May. Scores achieved
of 3, 4, or 5 can provide the student with eligibility for college credit.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students the opportunity to preview
college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that
provide both an academic and a financial head-start on a college degree (courses are typically
taken in grades 11 and/or 12). UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as
adjunct professors by the University. The UConn ECE faculty fosters independent learning,
creativity and critical thinking – all important for success in college. Berlin High School
offers the following 10 UConn ECE courses:
1. UConn ECE Biology
2. UConn ECE Calculus I/II
3. UConn ECE Chemistry
4. UConn ECE Discrete
5. UConn ECE Drawing
6. UConn ECE English Literature & Composition
7. UConn ECE Introduction to Individual and Family Development
8. UConn ECE Physics
9. UConn ECE Spanish V
10. UConn ECE Statistics
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To support rigorous learning, University of Connecticut academic resources, including library and online
classroom access, are available to all UConn ECE students.
UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to
receive University credit. University credits are highly transferable to other colleges and universities.
Students are charged a $25 per credit processing fee. For additional program information visit:
www.ece.uconn.edu . Course fees are dictated by the University of Connecticut and are subject to
change yearly.
College Career Pathways program
The College Career Pathways program (CCP) is an opportunity for students to match their education with future
workplace needs. The Pathways program is a partnership between Tunxis and the school district to identify and
group courses within Career and Technical Education areas of study to provide knowledge and skill building that
will link to specific post-secondary degree or certificate programs.
A career pathway is a series of courses that CCP students commit to taking while in high school. Berlin High
School offers College Career Pathway programs in Accounting and Computer Information Systems. Students
must apply in their junior or senior year and submit their application to the School Counseling Department Head
to determine pathway eligibility. Each pathway includes a designated math course, English/speech courses,
science course, and a course(s) in a career pathway area. Students must maintain a 75 average in the course and
may be required to take a college level final exam in order to receive credit from Tunxis. Students can earn dual
credit; credit from Berlin High School and credit from Tunxis. Applications will be reviewed by Tunxis CCP
personnel in the spring of each school year.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD/HONORS GRADUATES
The President's Education Award, established by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes and honors
outstanding education achievement. To qualify, the recipient must have the following qualifications: a
graduating senior must have a weighted, not rounded, 90% or higher 4-year average, calculated after finalized
semester 3 grades. Two credits must be in honors or advanced courses.
If a graduating senior meets the criteria, he/she is recognized at graduation as both an Honors
Graduate and recipient of the President's Education Award—a combined recognition.
HONOR ROLL QUALIFICATIONS
Berlin High School publishes its honor roll after the close of each quarter and at the end of the school year.
Only unweighted averages are used, and averages are not rounded up. In order to qualify, students must
be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per year: The criteria are as follows:
High Honors: 91% average with no grade below 85
Honors:
85% average with no grade below 80
INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM
A Junior or Senior student may apply for a credited (.50 to 1.0 credit) independent study program with a teacher
advisor. If the advisor is outside the school, the liaison will be a school counselor. Application is made to the
Independent Study Program coordinator. Approval of the program is required by the principal before it is
undertaken. The principal also reviews and grants credit. Independent study programs are intended to enrich
students' experiences. They are undertaken in addition to all course requirements and may not replace courses
in the regular program. They provide in-depth opportunities for study beyond the school's regular offerings in
areas where teachers' expertise cannot be accessed in regular programs. Courses from other institutions are not
considered independent study programs. High school courses as such may not be replaced through the
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independent study program. Students must have a total of 7 credits in their schedule before applying. A pass/fail
grade is awarded at the conclusion of the study.
CLASS RANK DIFFERENTIALS
Differentials are added to certain courses in consideration of difficulty for purposes of establishing the student’s
cumulative grade point average and rank in class. For courses that are denoted as Honors, eight points will be
added. For advanced courses, five points will be added. There is also a special notation on the student's
permanent record. Note: The points are not added to the grade itself, but computed into the grade points when
factoring GPA. If a student levels down from an honors or advanced course, they are not awarded any differential
points from the former course.
HONORS CITATIONS
Qualified students are encouraged to become members of the Berlin High School Honors Program by applying for
one of the following citations: 1. Academic Honors Citation
2. Career Honors Citation
Please see the next two sections for details and apply in the Counseling office.
ACADEMIC HONORS CITATION
This program is designed to motivate academically strong students to enroll in the most demanding high school
course offerings and to give recognition to students who achieve high averages in academically demanding
courses, an academic honors citation is possible for each student who makes application and meets the
requirements. At graduation, each qualifying student will receive a special citation identified as academic
honors.
• General Requirements:
1. Weighted Average of 85 or above in all courses.
2. Weighted Average of 85 or better in 10 academic credits as follows: World Language- 2 years, Science,
Mathematics, English, and Social Studies.
3. Forms are completed by the student’s counselor in their senior year. Approval for having met the criteria
is considered at the end of the third marking period, senior year.
• Specific Requirements: Average of 88 or better in at least two of the following departmental sequences:
1. World Language: 5 years in one language (4 years when 5 are not available).
2. Science: Advanced Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics.
3. Mathematics: Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, Honors Pre-Calculus, UConn Calculus 1a/1b, AP
Calculus, or UConn Statistics & UConn Discrete Mathematics.
4. English: Advanced English 9, Advanced American Studies, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature
and Composition.
5. Social Studies: The World & Its People I & II, Civics, Advanced Placement U.S. History or Advanced
American Studies, Introduction to Anthropology or Humanities.
CAREER HONORS CITATION
Career Honors Citation (Technology, Business Education, and Family & Consumer Science):
Students who have demonstrated excellence in specific career areas by meeting or exceeding established criteria
are awarded a Career Honors Citation in their area of specialization at graduation. This certificate attests to the
fact that the student has attained a high level of performance in his/her career area and is unusually well
prepared either to further his/her education in the area or to secure gainful employment as may be appropriate.
To obtain this certificate, the student must:
1. Submit an application administered through the counseling department during junior year. This must be
approved for admittance to the program.
2. Complete satisfactorily the prescribed requirements of the career area:
a. Weighted average of 85 or above in all courses
b. Weighted average of 88 or above in CTE cluster courses
c. Average of 85 or above on applicable CTE assessments
3. Receive approval of administration having met the criteria of the program at the beginning of the fourth
quarter during the student’s senior year.
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ART CURRICULUM
The Art Department curriculum is aligned with National and State Visual Arts Standards and works to nurture
the student’s ability to communicate visually and understand the meaning of images.
HS05154G12 2D-Design I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
This course focuses on the fundamentals of art. As
our world is continually becoming more visual, this
course will explore the communication skills used in
conveying a message to the viewer. Students will
learn how to incorporate composition, visual
hierarchy, and the elements and principles of design
and color theory into their artwork. Students will
create both commercial and fine art using handbased media including, but not limited to: paper,
printmaking, colored pencil, markers, pencils, paint,
and mixed media.
No prior skills required. If a student has taken a
Digital Art course and is thinking of pursuing the
AP Studio Art 2-D Design Portfolio in the future, 2D Design is recommended.
course is a great pre-cursor for the AP Studio Art 2D Design Portfolio.
HS05151G Art Survey
Full Year 1.00 Credit
Grades: 9, 10, 11 or 12
Art Survey is specifically intended for the beginning
art student as it serves as an introductory course to
all other courses in the Art Department. Students
will have the opportunity to explore Drawing,
Painting, Art History, Pottery, Design and
Sculpture. No prior skills required.
HS05152G Art History
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades: 10, 11 or 12
Art plays a huge role in the expression of
reoccurring thoughts and concerns of society
throughout time and geography. Thematically laid
out, this course is meant for the mature student
who is prepared to tease out life questions that have
been considered through artwork such as religion,
death, romance, shelter, etc. This is a great course
for the studio and non-studio student alike. No prior
experience required, just a sense of curiosity and
wonder about the world around you.
HS05154G22 2D-Design II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: 2D-Design I
This course is an extension of 2-D Design I. It
requires the student to apply the skills previously
learned to problem solve different scenarios
conceptually. Hand-based media continues to be
explored utilizing the Elements and Principles. This
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HS05171H2D **AP Studio Art 2-D Design
HS05171H3D **AP Studio Art 3-D Design
HS05172H **AP Studio Art Drawing/Painting
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades: 11 or 12
AP Studio Art is intended for motivated students
who are interested in the study of art and the
development of a portfolio. An AP portfolio consists
of 12 works in a breadth section, 12 in a
concentration of the student’s choice, and 5 quality
pieces that could be pulled from either the breadth
or concentration sections. It is the student’s choice
to focus all 24 pieces in either: Drawing/Painting, 2D Design or 3-D Design strands. Due to the fast
nature of this course, it is highly recommended that
students have prior knowledge in whichever strand
they choose by taking those corresponding courses
offered by the department. Students have the
option of taking AP Studio Art in more than one
strand in their Junior and Senior years. An
exclusive AP Studio Art Show will take place in the
spring to celebrate the students and their work.
Students are encouraged to submit their portfolios
to the College Board for college credit. Over the
course of the school year, to encourage students to
study art at the post-secondary level, colleges and
universities known for their art programs will be
invited to this class to discuss potential careers
opportunities in the field of Art. In addition, it is
recommended that students attend the National
Portfolio Day to seek feedback on their artwork.
This class will explore the basic principles of the
drawing process through careful observation of
objects, their structure and the space that they
occupy. Drawing entails an involvement of all the
senses; it is a process of exploration, concentration,
decision making, risk taking, learning and
understanding relationships. We will cover the
formal aspects of perspective, contour, composition,
scale, form (organic and geometric), line, structure
and value relationships. The objective of this course
is to provide the basic skills, vocabulary and
understanding of direct and accurate observational
drawing as a process and language upon which you
can develop, explore and expand.
HS05162G12 Digital Art I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
We live in a world driven by Digital Media. Digital
Art I is about learning how to create Fine Art on the
computer, as well as learning to understand how
Commercial Art, its context and applications, are
used to sell products and ideas in our world.
Students will be using Adobe Photoshop and
Illustrator software to explore areas of digital
collaging, retouching, illustration and digital mixed
media. Students will also explore the commercial
aspects of Design such as the creation of a logo,
advertising campaign, and working with client
specifications. There will be an emphasis on
composition, hierarchy and the usage of the
elements and principles of design. No prior skills
required.
HS05156G12 Drawing I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades: 9, 10, 11 or 12
Drawing is thought to be at the root of all artwork,
therefore this course serves as a great prerequisite
for all other Art courses. Students will develop their
skills of observation through line, proportion,
composition, value, perspective, portraiture, and
figure studies. No prior skills required.
HS05162G22 Digital Art II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Digital Art I
Digital Art II is focused on exploring advanced
ideas, themes, and concepts while building
advanced technical skills in Adobe Photoshop,
Illustrator and InDesign. Emphasis will be placed
on the creation of digital fine art, commercial art,
and the dynamic usage of typography.
This course is a great pre-cursor for the AP Studio
Art 2-D Design Portfolio.
HS05156G22 Drawing II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades: 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Drawing I
This course serves as an extension of Drawing I in
that the students will apply skills previously
learned to problem solve different concepts.
Creativity through personal expression and
composition is encouraged. Media as well as work
size is explored. This course is a great pre-cursor for
UConn Drawing ECE and
AP Studio Art Drawing/Painting Portfolio.
HS05155G12 Mixed Media
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Mixed Media explores the pulse of what is
happening in Contemporary Art. Students will be
mixing, layering, experimenting and combining
techniques and processes using multiple forms of
media at once: including but not limited to pencil,
charcoal, watercolors, acrylics, ink, collage,
photography, digital art, and incorporating
sculptural elements, textures and found objects into
their work. Students will be encouraged to find their
personal voices and style, through developing
HS05156H **Honors UConn Drawing ECE
1 Year 1.00 credit
Grades: 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Drawing II
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Projects and class content will reference historical
and contemporary ceramics.
artistic behaviors such as documenting thoughts,
ideas, experiences, and the processes of their
artwork in their sketchbooks. This course requires
all students to purchase a 9x12” Mixed Media
sketchbook. No prior skills required.
HS05159G33 Pottery III
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Pottery II
This class is for the advanced student that is serious
about furthering their pottery skills. A combination
of elaborate hand building, wheel throwing and
glazing techniques will be utilized for each project.
Students will be guided through the development of
sophisticated concepts and designs.
This course is a great pre-cursor for the AP Studio
Art 3-D Design Portfolio.
HS05157G12 Painting I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades: 9, 10, 11 or 12
The joy of color is at the heart of painting and color
theory. Different techniques such as washes,
sponging, masking, etc., are practiced through
studies based on observation as well as reference.
Students will work one quarter with watercolors
and the other quarter with acrylics. Prior
drawing skills are helpful, but not required.
HS05158G12 Sculpture I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Students will design and create three-dimensional
artwork using a variety of expressive media,
including clay, cardboard, wood, wire and papiermâché. Projects will explore art history while
utilizing both additive and subtractive techniques to
work in both relief and sculpture-in-the-round. A
wide variety of sculptural procedures will be
examined, including realistic, abstract, and nonrepresentational along with several finishing
methods. No prior skills required.
HS 05157G22 Painting II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades: 9, 10, 11, or 12
Prerequisite: Painting I
This course serves as an extension of Painting I in
that the students will apply previously learned
skills to problem solve different concepts. Creativity
through personal expression and composition is
nurtured. Watercolor and acrylics will both be
explored further. This course is a great pre-cursor
for the AP Studio Art Drawing/Painting Portfolio.
HS05159G13 Pottery I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Within this course, students will learn about the
properties of clay and how to prepare it for use. This
course will focus on hand building techniques such
as pinch, coil, and slab as well as introduce students
to the potter’s wheel. Students will learn basic
throwing skills and will create common forms on the
wheel. Glazes and additional decorating techniques
will be utilized. No prior skills required.
HS05158G22 Sculpture II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Sculpture I
Within this course, students will explore more
complex areas of sculpture in greater depth, with
special emphasis on conceptual and technical
development. Projects and class content will
reference historical and contemporary sculpture.
Traditional media, such as wood, wire, plaster, clay
and stone may be utilized, as well as unconventional
materials, such as cardboard, found objects, and
recyclables. This course is a great pre-cursor for the
AP Studio Art 3-D Design Portfolio.
HS05159G23 Pottery II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Pottery I
The students will explore more advanced hand
building and wheel throwing techniques, including
non-traditional combined methods. The course will
have a concentration on conceptual development
and advanced glazing and decorative procedures.
CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)
Career Technical Education includes the Business Department, the Technology Education Department, and the
Family & Consumer Science Department.
Departments are listed alphabetically.
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BUSINESS CURRICULUM
The Business Department curriculum is fully aligned with The National Standards for Business Education
which is based on the conviction that business education competencies are essential for all students. Students
have an opportunity to explore the basics of personal finance, the decision-making techniques needed to be savvy
consumers and ethical employees, the economic principles of an increasingly international marketplace, and the
processes by which businesses operate. In addition, these standards provide a solid educational foundation for
students who want to successfully complete college programs in various business disciplines.
HS12104G12 Accounting I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Students will learn that accounting is the “language
of business” and that it provides the financial
knowledge and analytical skills needed by both
businesses and individuals. Students will complete
accounting cycles for proprietorships and
corporations using Excel and accounting software.
This course is highly recommended for students
considering a business major in college.
study of criminal law, courts and procedures, torts,
contracts, business ethics and other legal situations
encountered in daily endeavors are covered.
Students engage in collaborative learning
experiences when analyzing law related current
events as well as preparing for and carrying out
debates, mock trials, and mock town hall meetings.
HS12101G Personal Finance
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Students will be introduced to a wide variety of
personal finance topics that reflect current trends
and issues consumers face in the marketplace,
including career planning, spending plans,
managing savings and checking accounts, credit,
insurances, investing, and other types of financial
services. Students will complete activities and
projects that apply the knowledge they gain with
their current and future financial situations.
The course will use interesting and contemporary
learning materials that will teach students to:
identify and prioritize their personal money
management goals, develop a budget, track their
income and spending to stay within their budget,
comprehend the impact of time on the value of
money, understand the cost of using credit and
protect their assets as they begin to accumulate
money. In addition, students will complete real-life
simulations and utilize iPad applications to manage
finances.
HS12104G22 Accounting II
Full Year 1.0 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Completion of Accounting I with a
grade of 75% or better.
Accounting II further develops financial analysis
and interpretation of concepts learned in
Accounting I. Advanced theory and generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP) are
emphasized to facilitate further study at the postsecondary level.
HS12009G Business Communications
Full Year 1.0 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Students will learn to communicate effectively,
solve problems, work collaboratively, and present
themselves professionally. These “soft skills” are
critical to a student’s success and without these
skills students will struggle no matter how
knowledgeable they are in their field of study.
Students who can demonstrate strong soft skills
have a huge competitive advantage in today’s
workforce. Students will engage in hands-on
activities that integrate a wide range of skills from
team building to listening and public speaking, to
preparing business correspondence and applying
appropriate business etiquette.
HS12051G Business Survey
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 9
This introductory business course uses an
interactive, multimedia computer laboratory
system. Students explore units in Marketing,
Business Law, Economics & Personal Finance,
Accounting, International Business, Management,
and Entrepreneurship based on the National
Standards for Business Education. Each unit also
incorporates activities in Microsoft® Office, career
development, and communication skills.
HS12054G Business Law
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course offers students an understanding of
business and personal law as it applies to
consumers, citizens, and employees/employers. The
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HS12053G E-Commerce/Entrepreneurship
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
The E-Commerce course is designed to introduce
students to the world of E-Commerce while
developing academic, creative thinking and problem
solving skills through the completion of a
comprehensive E-Commerce business project.
Students will develop and maintain a fully
functioning online store. This course is taught via
blended learning utilizing a teacher-facilitated,
student-centered environment that leverages
technology to strengthen classroom learning.
Students will have the opportunity to interact with
other students (from other schools) through forums
and blogs and keep online journals of personal work.
working with Microsoft® Word and Excel learning
techniques to manage, format, chart, and analyze
data. The second half will examine Access and
PowerPoint; these more advanced skills will be in
creating queries, forms, reports, and presentations
with a focus on proper business applications.
Students will increase understanding of the
capabilities of Cloud applications for data,
collaboration, virtual meetings, images and graphics
in the classroom and beyond. While developing
computer competency, students work through taskoriented applications around a business theme.
This program is self-paced and tutorial in nature.
HS12105G Economics
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course utilizes the Junior Achievement
Economics Program. JA Economics reinforces
concepts of micro- and macro-economics by having
students explore the basic characteristics of the
U.S. economic system, and how economic principles
influence business decisions. It also introduces
students to career opportunities, consumer issues,
and helps reinforce important academic and
leadership skills, including: research and data
analysis, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
HS12152G Marketing Management
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
An introductory course designed to provide broadbased foundation of the exciting field of marketing.
Through projects, problem solving, and
collaboration, students will apply the principles of
marketing. Areas of emphasis include product
promotion, product development, pricing, and
consumer behavior.
HS12055G Survey in Business
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 12
This course is designed to give college-bound seniors
an introduction to business through the interactive
multimedia laboratory system. Students will
explore business topics (of their choice) as well as
careers and Microsoft® Office applications. See
Business Survey course description for topics.
HS10005G Intro to Business Technologies
Full Year 1.0 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course will give students a foundation in 21st
Century technology skills crucial to effective
communication. Students will spend half the course
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ENGLISH CURRICULUM
The English Department strives to support the academic, social, and civic expectations of Berlin High School in
all of its courses, particularly emphasizing reading critically, writing effectively, communicating clearly and
persuasively, and using a variety of resources for academic, technological, and practical purposes.
Four full years of English (4 credits) are required for a Berlin High School diploma. They must be taken as part
of the regular high school offerings as described in this booklet for all students enrolled in the high school.
Additional courses or electives may be taken, but there is an expectation that one full credit of Berlin High
School English be successfully completed during each year of high school.
Writing Requirements
The development of writing skills is an objective of each course in the high school, grades 9-12. To achieve this
objective, a certain level of student effort is required. Therefore, in order to receive credit for each course, the
student is expected to complete writing assignments in a satisfactory manner. Students who do not meet these
requirements may receive a failing grade in the course even though the average of other coursework is passing
(the senior Capstone Project is a separate grade and a student must receive a passing grade in order to
graduate).
Honors and Advanced Classes
Students are admitted to the Advanced English 9 course by recommendation of Grade 8 teachers and counselors.
Students may elect to enroll in the honors program in grades 11 and 12 by filling out the program’s contract at
course registration time.
*Indicates an Advanced level course
**Indicates an Honors level course
HS01002E *Advanced American Studies
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 10
Prerequisite: By recommendation of
grade 9 English teacher
This course integrates the study of American
history and American literature. During the study
of each theme, students have opportunities to
develop their communication skills, including
grammar, writing, oral presentations and
discussions, vocabulary, composition, and critical
analysis while studying the history, art and
literature related to the themes. Research
techniques and the development of SAT-level
vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing
skills are also emphasized.
HS01001G English 9
Full Year 1.00 credit
In this course, attention is given to
writing and the development of
communication skills including accurate language
usage in written and oral form. A wide breadth of
literature, primarily British and American, is read
and studied. Comprehension and interpretation of
fiction and nonfiction texts is a main focus
throughout the year.
HS01001E *Advanced English 9
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: By recommendation of grade 8
Integrated Language Arts (ILA)
teachers/counselors.
Students selected for this course work intensively
on writing and literature at advanced levels.
Considerable writing, including essays and research
papers, is required. Critical interpretation skills are
a main focus
HS01003G Junior Seminar: Critical Reading,
Writing, and Thinking
Full Year
1.00 credit
Grade 11
Junior Seminar students will analyze multiple
interpretations of stories, drama, poetry, and nonfiction pieces. They will gather relevant information
from a variety of authoritative print and digital
sources. Students will produce high quality written
work in various rhetorical modes. They will use
technology to produce, publish, and update
individual or shared writing products in response to
ongoing feedback, including new arguments and
information. Students will initiate and participate
effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
HS01054G12 American Literature
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 10
This course includes instruction in communication
skills and literature. There is a strong emphasis on
American literature and the development of
composition using the “writing as a process”
approach. Vocabulary and essays are included in
this course with a focus on American literature
after 1900 during the second semester.
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HS01005H **Advanced Placement English
Language and Composition
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 11
Prerequisite: By recommendation of grade 10
English teacher
This course is designed to help students become
skilled readers of prose written in a variety of
rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers
who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their
reading and their writing should make students
aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes,
audience expectations, and subjects, as well as how
the generic conventions and the resources of
language contribute to effectiveness in writing.
Academic Expectations: Advanced Placement
Language and Composition is a demanding course
which will yield substantial benefits to the
conscientious student. All students enrolled in this
course are expected to demonstrate mature
initiative, through preparation and willing
cooperation. We expect each member of this class to
take the Advanced Placement examination.
Students are individually responsible for the costs
associated with the Advanced Placement
examination.
Readings will include selections from various
nonfiction as well as fiction genres. Students will
consider the readings in light of a variety of critical
approaches. Writing will be our primary medium for
exploring meaning. Students will study and employ
important grammatical, syntactic, and stylistic
elements as a strategy to improve their own
writing. Students will interact with the writing
process across a range of compositional and
assessment strategies. Students will satisfy the
requirements for English 111, as described in the
curriculum handbook of the University of
Connecticut. English 111 is a seminar in writing
about some of the world’s best literature.
Academic Expectations: Advanced Placement,
UConn ECE English is a demanding course which
will yield substantial benefits to the conscientious
student. Everybody involved in this course is
expected to demonstrate mature initiative,
thorough preparation, and willing cooperation.
Students who complete this course with a “C” or
better will be awarded University of Connecticut
credit. As well, students who complete this course
are prepared to take the Advanced Placement
examination. We expect each member of this class
to achieve University of Connecticut credit, as well
as take the Advanced Placement examination.
Students are individually responsible for costs
associated with University of Connecticut credit
and the Advanced Placement examination.
Financial assistance is available for AP test fees
with demonstration of need. Please see counselor.
HS01006H **Advanced Placement, UConn
ECE English Literature and Composition
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: By recommendation of grade 11
English teacher
This course requires substantial and challenging
reading, critical thinking, and analytical writing.
English Department Electives
Senior students who are not enrolled in Advanced Placement, UConn ECE English Literature and
Composition will select two .50 credit electives to fulfill the requirements of their final full year
of English at Berlin High School. Students in grades 10 - 11 may choose to take an English
elective, but preference will be given to seniors. Please note that an elective taken during the
sophomore or junior year will not count toward the two-elective requirement for seniors. Electives
will run based upon course enrollment.
HS04350G Mythology
1/2 year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course will focus on the various gods/goddesses
and stories that form Greek mythology. Time will be
spent focusing on the mythology of other cultures as
well, including mythical religions from Rome,
China, India and the Netherlands. Students will
study and read interesting myths about the various
deities, analyzing the creation of the gods/goddesses
as a means of explaining how/why things happened
on Earth. Included will be the study of the epic hero
through the research of figures including Hercules,
Perseus, Theseus, and Jason. Additionally, this
course will take an extensive look at religious
conceptions of hell derived from various cultures.
Included in this section will be some studies of the
various ideas involving creation and the
Apocalypse. By the end of course, students will have
a clearer understanding of what mythology is, why
it was developed, and how it has survived in various
forms throughout the centuries. Several writing
assignments, a research presentation, videotape
projects, and mythology web quests will be required
to successfully complete the course.
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HS01061G Science-Fiction/ Fantasy
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course will explore the genres of science fiction
and fantasy. It will focus on works by some of the
greatest authors of science fiction and fantasy
including, but not limited to, Isaac Asimov, Ray
Bradbury, Aldous Huxley, H.G. Wells, J.R.R.
Tolkien, and Philip Pullman. We will explore the
literary value of these works, study author style and
craft, draw parallels between their world and ours,
and examine their historical and social significance.
Novels, short stories, film, and poetry will be
essential in exploring these ideas. Students will be
expected to engage in critical analysis and
discussion of these works. The use of technology is
heavily emphasized.
HS01151G Speech
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This class provides students with a chance to learn
and practice the skills of public speaking. Students
will analyze such literary concepts as audience,
tone, bias, and purpose by asking students to
analyze those elements in the works of others and
then incorporate those into their own speeches.
There is an emphasis on the writing process, peer
collaboration and feedback, and oral presentation
skills. The final exam for this course is a formal
speech delivered to an audience of peers and
teachers.
HS05051G Theatre Arts
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Sophomores with teacher recommendations will be
considered. This class allows students with an
interest in theater to gain knowledge on all aspects
of drama. It studies the history of theater from
ancient to modern times, allowing students the
opportunity to study classic Greek tragedies,
Renaissance plays, and a variety of modern scripts.
They will be expected to critically analyze the
historical and cultural aspects of each piece.
Students will also study improvisation techniques,
set design, and theatrical production on and off the
stage.
HS01149G Issues and Methods in Writing and
Peer Tutoring
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course combines the exploration of writing
studies with the application of tutoring skills.
Working in collaboration with the Berlin High
School Writing Center, students will read, reflect,
and respond to influential essays from the fields of
composition and tutoring studies. Students will
conduct hands-on research, will examine practical
approaches to peer tutoring, and will apply their
knowledge by tutoring their peers in the BHS
Writing Center. Constant self-reflection will act as a
fundamental element of growth in this course. As a
result, students in this course will gain new insight
into their own writing practices, which will help
them transfer what they know about writing from
one course or subject to another. Students will also
engage in the type of reading they are likely to
encounter in college, namely expository essays,
articles, and nonfiction books. Sophomores with
teacher recommendations will be considered.
HS04306G Philosophy and Literature
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
The course aims at being an introduction to
philosophical thinking rather than to provide a full
survey of philosophical disciplines. Instead of trying
to give a comprehensive account of all forms
philosophy has assumed throughout its history, we
shall zero in on several characteristic examples
illustrating how classical and modern thinkers
formulate their questions and how they grapple
with their issues in contrast to ordinary, religious
and scientific consciousness. The following
questions will be considered through various
readings: Is knowledge possible? Does it come from
reason or from experience? What is the ultimate
substance of the world? Is it material or ideal? Are
human actions free or determined? Does God exist?
Why is there evil? Are moral norms relative or
absolute? In addition, the course will provide a
preliminary orientation about the notion of
philosophical argument, its various forms, and the
ways arguments should be analyzed.
HS11101G Journalism
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Sophomores with teacher recommendations will be
considered.
This course instructs students in the ethical
questions and skills of journalism. Students will
begin by exploring the history of journalism and
censorship. Students will then engage in research;
study and apply interviewing and reporting
techniques; and compare the experience of writing
for online media and traditional print. In addition,
students will maintain the Redcoat Review’s online
companion website. Students will develop skills in
problem solving and critical thinking and
cooperative learning.
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HS01065G American Voices & Modern Issues
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
American Voices & Modern Issues explores the
diversification of the American culture by
introducing students to key historical, cultural and
literary events in our history through the
experiences, eye witness accounts, and memories of
those individuals who experienced them first-hand.
The course includes thematic units that establish
the historical, cultural, social, and political contexts
of the changing voices of America through primary
source documents, short stories, novels, memoirs,
essays, and poetry. Students engage in discussions
and debate about current issues and policies facing
American society today. Students will connect
literature with relevant current events that connect
conflict, style, and theme.
production broadcasts from our Berlin High School
studio, and video blogging on the WERB or Berlin
Wall website. Guest speakers and field trips to local
radio and television stations will supplement this
course.
HS01063G World Literature
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course considers emerging cultures that are
becoming more prevalent in American society: the
Middle East, India, South American, and
Asia/Pacific Rim. Many of the texts are
contemporary fiction, and each unit will study
important historical and cultural contexts in order
to comprehend each region’s style, moods,
characters, and conflicts. Students will be involved
in regular research about cultures and countries.
HS11149G12 Broadcast Journalism I
HS11149G22 Broadcast Journalism II
Semester I & II .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course provides students the opportunity to
learn multiple aspects of broadcast journalism
(television and radio) in three lab settings: the radio
studio (WERB), the television studio, and the
computer lab. With the guidance and knowledge of
two teachers, a Technology Education and English
teacher, students will engage in activity-based
assignments focusing on: preproduction of
broadcasting segments (scripting and creating
storyboards), production (actual filming and
recording), and post-production (revising and
editing broadcasts). Additionally, students will
learn interviewing skills, examine present
investigative and news reporting, and consider
ethical matters in broadcasting. Major projects
include: producing live radio shows for WERB, TV
HS01104G Creative Writing
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Sophomores with teacher recommendations will be
considered. A semester course designed as an outlet
for student creativity. The goal is to provide
opportunity, guidance, and feedback for student
writers. The class will present various genres,
styles, and activities to provide students with a wide
range of inspiration for their writing. Students will
share their writing with the class and have it
discussed in a workshop setting. Through this
setting, students will learn the importance of
drafting and revision as well as the giving and
taking of constructive criticism. Substantial
amounts of writing and reading are required.
Student selected texts will support their writing
study in the areas of memoir, poetry, children’s
literature, and a variety of modern genres. By the
end of the course, students will be expected to
produce a portfolio of writings from several different
genres and submit to a local or national publication.
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ESOL CURRICULUM
The ESOL Department provides instruction and support to English Language Learners (ELLs) developing
English proficiency for success in both social and academic settings. The ESOL Department assists ELLs in
comfortably integrating within the school community, and is committed to ensuring they become responsible
and productive members of society. ESOL English and ESOL Social Studies courses coordinate with
Connecticut State Department of Education ELL Frameworks and the Common Core State Standards.
Enrollment is determined by the ESOL Coordinator.
EL01001G Grade 9 ESOL English
EL01002G Grade 10 ESOL English
EL01003G Grade 11 ESOL English
EL01004G Grade 12 ESOL English
Full Year 1.00 credit
This skill-centered course focuses on developing
reading, writing, listening, speaking and critical
thinking skills within context. Reading strategies
are explicitly taught and practiced through
examination of many different types of fiction and
nonfiction text at demanding reading levels.
Grammar and vocabulary lessons stem from
readings. Skills for effective writing are developed
and practiced.
essay-writing skills. This course covers U.S. history
from industrialization to the present.
EL04051G ESOL World History
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course develops reading, writing, listening,
speaking and critical thinking skills through the
examination of world history, geography, economics
and government, as well as relevant current events
topics. Students build extensive academic
vocabulary and word knowledge (affixes and roots).
Also of primary focus are note-taking skills and
essay-writing skills. This course covers world
history from the dawn of civilization to the present.
EL04103G ESOL U.S. History
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course develops reading, writing, listening,
speaking and critical thinking skills through the
examination of U.S. History, geography, economics
and government, as well as relevant current events
topics. Students build extensive academic
vocabulary and word knowledge (affixes and roots).
Also of primary focus are note-taking skills and
EL01992G ESOL Study Support
Full Year .50 credit
This course provides one-on-one or small group
assistance to ELLs toward success in meeting the
same standards and expectations as their non-ELL
peers. Students focus on study skills, reading
strategies and writing skills applied to classes
outside the ESOL Program.
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCE CURRICULUM
All the classes that are offered in the Family & Consumer Science Department promote that students
become responsible, productive citizens and lifelong learners that will result in healthier and informed
consumers in the future. Students will learn to solve problems creatively and continue to write effectively.
HS16056G12 Baking and Pastry Arts I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Students will learn the basic skills and role of ingredients in
baking. This course will provide an opportunity to work with
a team to bake various types of baked goods. Students will
develop the ability to determine and evaluate methods of
preparation of baked products, become familiar with various
baking tools and equipment and work effectively within a
team.
This course will provide students with advanced baking skills
and knowledge of baking tools and equipment. Emphasis is
placed on advanced pastry and bread baking. Students will
also have the opportunity to study and master cake decorating,
as well as the use of fondant to embellish cakes. In addition,
students will further their knowledge on the role of baking
ingredients and discover the art of decorating their final
products.
HS22202G12 Foods & Nutrition I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course is designed to give students information
about food and nutrition that they can use every day.
This practical, up-to-date course focuses on the latest
HS16056G22 Baking and Pastry Arts II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Baking & Pastry Arts I
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in dietary and food trends to help students make
smart food choices. The course includes basic food
preparation, with emphasis on preparing quick and
easy foods from scratch. Other topics include buying
and storing food, food safety, food industry careers,
and consumer decisions.
HS16054G Foods for Fitness
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Foods for Fitness is designed to give you information on food
and nutrition that will enable you to make smart food choices
and create exercise plans to maintain good health throughout
your lifetime. This class will include information on planning
and preparing recipes that are delicious and nutritionally
sound. We will also cover a wide range of topics that will
focus on our total well-being: healthy weight, nutrition basics,
and exercise.
HS22202G22 Foods & Nutrition II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course offers all the success in the foods
industry. The essential knowledge and skills needed
to become a culinary professional will be explored
through topics including advanced cooking
techniques, culinary nutrition, the use of equipment
found in a professional kitchen, with emphasis on
kitchen safety and sanitation.
HS22249G Cultures and Cuisines
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Foods and Nutrition I
Students focus on European/International cooking
experiences while learning about the cultural aspect
of European countries. They gain advanced cooking
skills through the selection and preparation of more
sophisticated recipes from their own and other
cultures. Students plan, prepare, and taste dishes
from various European cuisines to make connections
with historical events that helped ingredients travel
around the world. The students also discuss the
commonalities and uniqueness of nutrition and eating
habits across cultures. Careers relating to ethnic
cuisines in the food industry are investigated.
HS165052G Foods & Nutrition III
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Students will be provided with a variety of hands-on
experiences as they explore opportunities in food service and
the hospitality industries. This course includes instruction in
food production, safe and sanitary work techniques and the
value of pre-planning. Students will plan, cost out, market,
and prepare meals using principles and techniques used in
large restaurants, hotels, and bake shops. This course also
studies the life styles of selected countries and the effect of
culture on food consumption and preparation techniques.
HS22999H ** UConn ECE Introduction to
Individual and Family Development (UConn
HDFS 1070)
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Students successfully completing the full year
UConn course are eligible for three credits from
UConn.
This course is an introduction to the general study of
human development from conception through old age.
The course examines physical, intellectual, social and
emotional growth across the life span, emphasizing
that development results from the interdependence of
these areas at every stage. The life span perspective
of development is a means of understanding the
challenges, conflicts, and achievements that are
central to people in every part of the world and at
every age.
HS22204G Child Development
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This class is designed to develop knowledge and practical
experience in child development; from conception to age four.
Students will explore the physical, emotional and social, and
intellectual development and how these impact how a child
learns and grows. Topics and discussions will include
consideration of the roles, responsibilities and challenges of
parenthood; human sexuality; pregnancy; prenatal
development; preparation for birth; the birth process;
heredity; and the environment. In addition, you will also have
the opportunity to take on the role of teacher and observer
during our play school program. This program runs over an 8
to 10 week period you will have the opportunity to see
children meeting the challenges of development in their own
ways and interpreting their behaviors.
32
LEARNING CENTER CURRICULUM
The Learning Center classes are designed for students found eligible for special education services. In these
courses, teachers assist and encourage students to challenge themselves to achieve in the least restrictive
environment considered to be academically and/or socially appropriate. Academic expectations focus on
increasing students’ abilities to communicate clearly and persuasively, solve problems creatively, read critically
and write effectively.
LC22005G12 Learning Strategies – Gr 9 or 10
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9 or 10
The purpose of this course is to offer students an
opportunity to receive remediation and specialized
instruction in their area of need which will enable
them to be successful in their classes and monitor
their progress towards their goals and objectives.
Specialized instruction will be offered in reading,
writing, numeracy, and transition skills.
progress for 0.5 credit.
LC22203G22 Structured Study Support A
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
The purpose of this course is to provide a structured
study hall and/or time for remediation. Students will
be made accountable for maintaining a planner,
keeping an organized notebook, and bringing the
appropriate materials. Students will receive
instruction in test-taking strategies, note-taking, and
study skills. Enrollment is determined by a PPT
and/or consultation between the School Counselor
and the SAT team. Students may have the option to
take this course for 1/2 year and .50 credit based on
their academic progress.
LC22005G22 Learning Strategies - Gr 11 or 12
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
The purpose of this course is to offer students an
opportunity to receive remediation and specialized
instruction in their area of need which will enable
them to be successful in their classes and monitor
their progress towards their goals and objectives.
Specialized instruction will be offered in reading,
writing, numeracy, and transition skills.
LC22207G Alternative Learning Strategies
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
The purpose of this course is to offer special
education students whose exceptionality impacts
their ability to problem solve, socialize and
communicate with others at an age appropriate level.
The overall focus is on teaching social, life and
communication skills so that these students are able
to develop into independent problem solvers, selfadvocators and lifelong learners and productive
members of society.
LC02002B Learning Center Math
Full Year 1.00 credit
Concentration of instruction is placed on each
individual's needs which could include an intensive
review of the four basic operations with whole
numbers, fractions and decimals, percentages,
geometry, practical math skills essential to everyday
living and specific vocations or trades. Pre-algebra
skills are offered for advanced students.
LC01001B Learning Center English – Gr 9
LC01002B Learning Center English – Gr 10
LC01003B Learning Center English – Gr 11
LC01004B Learning Center English – Gr 12
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course is structured for students who need to
improve their knowledge and usage of basic English
and written expression skills. Areas addressed may
include spelling, vocabulary, grammar, word usage,
paragraph development, creative writing,
reference/research skills, and literature.
LC22203G12 Structured Study Support A
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9 or 10
The purpose of this course is to provide a structured
study hall and/or time for remediation. Students will
be made accountable for maintaining a planner,
keeping an organized notebook, and bringing the
appropriate materials. Students will receive
instruction in test-taking strategies, note-taking, and
study skills. Enrollment is determined by a PPT
and/or consultation between the School Counselor
and the SAT team. Students may have the option to
take this course for ½ year based on their academic
33
LC22206B Life Skills
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course is structured to meet the individual needs
of each student. Emphasis is on increasing
independence for activities of daily living. Areas
covered in class include Nutrition, the Human Body,
Exercise, Family Living and Building SelfConfidence. Students learn about the Food Pyramid
and developing healthy menus. Students have
opportunities to shop in the community and prepare
their lunch at school using microwave-picture recipes.
Other self-care skills are addressed on an individual
basis as indicated in the IEP.
LC01068B Learning Center Reading
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course is for students who struggle significantly
with decoding. In order to improve decoding skills,
the course focuses on a systematic phonetic approach
to reading. It also incorporates instruction to improve
fluency, comprehension, and basic writing skills.
LC04061B Learning Center Social Studies –
World & Its People I
LC04055B Learning Center Social Studies –
World & Its People II
LC04161B Learning Center Social Studies –
Civics
LC04101B Learning Center Social Studies – US
History
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course uses a multi-modality instructional
approach in exploring the periods of early American
civilization through the present era. Instruction in
learning strategies is also offered.
LC03202B Learning Center Science
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course is structured for students who need a
multimodality instructional approach. The course
will explore the practical applications of science to
everyday life.
LC22151B Careers/Vocational Education
Full Year 1.00 credit
This course is an overview of what employers are
looking for in an employee. It includes skills
necessary for seeking and maintaining employment.
Students will practice filling out job applications and
perform mock interviews on videotape. Students will
participate in hands-on vocational work situations
within the school building. Appropriate social skills at
work will be a central theme throughout the year.
Some students may participate in the work-study
program and may work within the building as well as
in the community.
34
MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
The Mathematics Department offers courses encompassing a wide range of student abilities and pursuits. Each
course emphasizes a variety of problem-solving methods and strategies, and integrated into each course are
applications to real-life situations utilizing data and current technology. Students are encouraged to solve
problems creatively and to communicate their results clearly and persuasively. The BHS Math Department
requires a TI-30XIIS calculator and highly recommends/or requires a TI 84 Plus Graphing calculator (see course
description).
Structure of the Mathematics Curriculum at BHS
Grades 8-12
8th Grade
Algebra Concepts
Algebra I*



9th Grade
Algebra I,
Balanced Algebra 1/
Geometry I


10th Grade
Balanced Algebra 1/
Geometry II


Honors Algebra I

Geometry,
Balanced Algebra 1/
Geometry II

Honors Geometry
Geometry

Algebra II,
Balanced Algebra 1/
Geometry III
Algebra II part 1




11th
Grade
Balanced Algebra 1/
Geometry III
Pre-Calculus, College
Algebra and Math
Modeling, Probability
and Statistics I/II,
Modern Applications of
Math,
Finite Math,
Algebra II part 1 or 2
Honors Pre-Calculus,
Pre-Calculus,
College Algebra and
Math Modeling, UConn
Discrete or UConn
Statistics




Calculus Concepts
Honors Calculus,
Pre-Calculus,
UConn Discrete, UConn
Statistics, Elementary
Math Modeling,
Probability and
Statistics I and II,
Finite Math,
Modern Applications of
Math, Algebra II part 2,
AP Computer Science A,
Contemporary Math
AP/UCONN ECE
Calculus,
Honors Calculus**,
Calculus Concepts,
UConn Discrete, UConn
Statistics, Elementary
Math Modeling,
Finite Math,
Modern Applications of
Math,
AP Computer Science A
12th Grade
Algebra II,
Financial Algebra,
Probability and
Statistics I/II,
Trigonometry,
Algebra II part 1,
Contemporary Math,
*Some students may take Algebra I in the 9th grade.
35

Honors Algebra II
Algebra II

Note: Students doubling up with Geometry and Algebra II as freshman and meeting with success can take Pre-Calculus as a
sophomore, Calculus Concepts as a junior, and AP Calculus or Honors Calculus as a senior.
HS02001B14 Grade 9 Academic Math Support
HS02001B24 Grade 10 Academic Math
Support
HS02001B34 Grade 11 Academic Math
Support
HS02001B44 Grade 12 Academic Math
Support
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: NWEA testing and/or teacher
recommendation.
This course provides students the opportunity to
develop the fundamental math skills necessary for
the continued study of mathematics. Classes will
provide both individualized and group instruction
targeting these skills focusing on student’s ability to
understand and solve both multi-step and openended problems. Additionally, this course will also
be an instructional support system for the student’s
current course work, increasing their working
knowledge of the CCSS-M standards for Algebra 1,
Geometry and Algebra 2. Eligibility for this course
will be determined by both the results of the NWEA
testing, and the student’s performance in their
current math course. Credit received for this
course will not count towards the
Mathematics credit requirement necessary for
graduation.
equations. Problem-solving and applications to
real-life situations is emphasized. The curriculum
utilizes real data and technology to help visualize
the material.
HS02174G23
Balanced Algebra 1/ Geometry II
Full Year 1.00 credit (.67 cr. NCAA)
Prerequisite: Balanced Algebra 1/ Geometry I,
Algebra I, or teacher recommendation
This is the second of a three-course sequence that is
aligned to the CCSS-M standards for Algebra 1 and
Geometry. This course emphasizes problem solving
utilizing concepts from algebra, geometry, and basic
probability. The coursework spirals off the content
presented in Balanced Algebra 1/ Geometry I.
Topics of study include solving and graphing linear
equations including rational numbers in any form,
solving linear inequalities, solving application
problems involving linear equations, ratios, rates
and proportions (and their applications), surface
area and volume, and segment and angle addition.
Also, defining, evaluating, comparing and modeling
with functions, analyzing data through scatter plots
and best-fit lines, basic right-triangle trigonometry,
coordinate geometry and geometric constructions.
Computer technology, scientific and graphing
calculators are integrated into coursework.
HS02174G13
Balanced Algebra 1/ Geometry I
Full Year 1.00 credit (.67 cr. NCAA)
Prerequisite: Pre-Algebra and/or teacher
recommendation
This is the first of a three –course sequence that is
aligned to the CCSS-M standards for Algebra 1 and
Geometry. This course emphasizes problem solving
utilizing concepts from algebra, geometry,
probability and statistics and discrete mathematics
concepts. Topics of study include Pythagorean
Theorem, probability and decision-making,
properties of real numbers and algebraic
expressions, solving linear equations, ratios and
proportions, and area, perimeter and circumference,
similarity and dilations, properties of parallel and
perpendicular lines, and properties of circles.
Computer technology and scientific calculators are
integrated into coursework.
HS02174G33
Balanced Algebra 1/ Geometry III
Full Year 1.00 credit (.67 cr. NCAA)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Balanced
Algebra 1/ Geometry II or teacher recommendation.
This is the third of a three-course sequence that is
aligned to the CCSS-M standards for Algebra 1 and
Geometry. This course spirals off content presented
in Balanced Algebra 1/ Geometry I and II. Topics of
study include solving systems of equations and
inequalities, laws of exponents (including radicals
and integer exponents), interpreting data,
probability, polynomial operations, factoring,
solving quadratic equations, properties of parallel
and perpendicular lines, quadrilaterals ,
transformations and Isometrics, triangle
congruence and proof, and properties and theorems
involving circles. Computer technology, scientific
and graphing calculators are integrated into
coursework. A comprehensive look at applications
of these topics is integrated into the curriculum.
HS02052G Algebra I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: 8th Grade Algebra Concepts or transfer
students and teacher recommendation
This course includes a study of the real number
system, first degree equations and inequalities and
an introduction to quadratic expressions and
36
HS02056G Algebra II
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Geometry and teacher recommendation
This course is a continuation of Algebra I with
emphasis on the concepts of linear, quadratic, and
exponential functions, polynomials, rational
expressions, radicals, irrational numbers, complex
numbers, problem solving, data analysis and
technology.
HS02155G Financial Algebra
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Concepts of Algebra and Geometry III,
and/or teacher recommendation
This course covers financial topics such as banking,
checking and savings accounts, mortgages,
consumer credit investing, employment,
independent living, budgets and automobile
ownership. Selected topics from Algebra I and II,
Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Probability and
Statistics are integrated into coursework. Computer
technology, scientific calculators and graphing
calculators will be used to support classroom
instruction.
HS02056H **Honors Algebra II
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry
and teacher recommendation
This course includes the study of all topics listed for
Algebra II with more rigorous treatment.
HS02072G Geometry
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra I and teacher
recommendation
This course includes the study of deductive and
inductive reasoning, parallel lines and planes,
congruent triangles, quadrilaterals, similar
polygons, right triangles, and circles. Hands-on
activities, technology, and algebraic proof are
utilized to develop the concepts presented in class.
HS02057G College Algebra and Math Modeling
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra II and teacher
recommendation
The course emphasizes two components necessary
for success in future math courses. The first
component consists of basic algebraic notions and
their manipulations. The second component consists
of the practice of solving multi-step problems from
other disciplines, called mathematical modeling.
The topics include lines, systems of equations,
polynomials,
functions,
quadratic
equations,
complex numbers, triangle trigonometry, and
rational expressions, exponential and logarithmic
functions. This course is strongly recommended for
students whose algebra skills need reinforcement.
This course can be taken before Pre-Calculus,
however, cannot be taken after Pre-Calculus. A TI
84 Plus Graphing Calculator is required.
HS02072H **Honors Geometry
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Honors Algebra I and teacher
recommendation
This course includes the topics listed for Geometry,
but the topics are covered in greater depth.
Additional topics may include coordinate geometry
and transformations. A greater emphasis is given
to logic and more rigorous treatment is given to
deductive proof and critical thinking.
HS02103G Trigonometry
1/2 Year .50 credit
Prerequisite: Concepts of Algebra and Geometry III,
Algebra II and teacher recommendation
This course introduces students to the major topics
found in a college trigonometry course. Students
will study properties and many real-world
applications of the six trigonometric functions.
Computer technology, scientific calculators and
graphing calculators are integrated into coursework.
Students may not earn credit for both Trigonometry
and Pre-Calculus.
HS02056G12 Algebra II A
Full year 1.00 credit (pending NCAA approval)
Prerequisite: Geometry or Balanced Algebra and
Geometry III
This course is designed to strengthen and extend the
concepts learned in Algebra 1 and introduce the essential
concepts in Algebra 2. Topics include equations and
inequalities in one variable, graphing linear, exponential and
quadratic equations, problem solving, and operations with
polynomials. Graphing is emphasized in relation to all
functions studied. A graphing calculator is required.
HS02056G22 Algebra II B
Full year 1.00 credit (pending NCAA approval)
Prerequisite: Algebra IIA
This course is designed to extend the topics learned in
Algebra 2 Part 1 and provide a basic introduction to
statistics. Algebra 2 topics include logarithmic, polynomial
and radical functions. This course will also take an
introductory look at the theory and use of statistics.
Emphasis will be on the collection and analysis of data,
elementary probability and experimental design.
HS02201G Probability and Statistics I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra II and teacher
recommendation
This course is designed to provide the background
necessary to interpret statistical data. It will
include elementary probability and the fundamental
statistics needed to interpret and prepare research
materials. Students may not earn credit for both
37
Statistics and Probability and UConn/ECE
Statistics.
equations and inequalities in one variable, solving
formulas and word problems involving linear
equations, graphing linear equations and
inequalities in two variables, formulating equations
of lines in two variables, rules of integral exponents
and the four operations (addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division) on polynomials, factoring,
and solving systems of two equations in two
variables.
HS02202G Probability and Statistics II
1/2 Year
.50 credit
Prerequisite: Probability and Statistics I
This course builds on topics found in
Statistics and Probability I. It is designed to
provide the background necessary to interpret
statistical data in your everyday life and your
career. Topics of study include normal probability
distributions, hypothesis testing and correlation and
regression. Time permitting, confidence intervals
will be included. There is a focus on the relevance
of statistics through the use of “real world”
examples. Graphing calculators are integrated into
this course. Students may not earn credit for both
Statistics and Probability I /II and UConn/ECE
Statistics.
HS02102H **UConn/ ECE Discrete
Mathematics (UConn Math 1030Q)
Sem. 1 .50 credit
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus and teacher
recommendation
This course is offered in conjunction with
the University of Connecticut Early
College Experience (ECE) program. This course
emphasizes problem solving through the following
concepts: voting methods, apportionment methods,
mathematics of money, counting principles and
probability, graph theory. (UConn credit will be
granted to pre-registered students with a grade of C
or better. Students are individually responsible for
costs associated with the University of Connecticut.)
HS02110G Pre-Calculus
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra II and teacher
recommendation
This course includes the study of polynomial,
rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and
their graphs. There is a concentrated study of
trigonometry. Additional topics include sequence
and series and analytic geometry. The TI 84 Plus
Graphing Calculators is highly recommended for
this course and will be integrated into coursework.
HS02122H/HS02123H ** Honors Calculus
Full Year
1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus or Calculus Concepts and
teacher recommendation
This course includes the study of the
following topics, with supporting
algebraic topics: limits, derivatives, and
extreme values of algebraic, trigonometric,
exponential and logarithmic functions. Additional
topics include techniques and applications of antidifferentiation and integration. Graphing
calculators are integrated into coursework. The TI84 Plus graphing calculator is required for this
course.
HS02110H **Honors Pre-Calculus
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Honors Algebra II and
teacher recommendation
This course includes a rigorous, in-depth
study and application of linear, quadratic, higher
degree polynomials, rational, exponential,
logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Vectors,
laws of trigonometry, conic sections, and polar
coordinates are also studied and used to solve
various application problems. Additional topics
include sequences, series, and three-dimensional
coordinate geometry. Graphing calculators are
integrated into coursework. The TI-84 Plus
graphing calculator is required for this course.
HS02121G Calculus Concepts
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus and teacher
recommendation
This course includes the study of the following
topics, with supporting algebraic topics: limits,
derivatives, extreme values, and anti-derivatives of
algebraic, trigonometric, exponential and
logarithmic functions. Time permitting, additional
topics include the definite integral as well as
techniques and applications of integration.
Graphing calculators are integrated into the
HS02061G Contemporary Math
Full Year 1.00 credit
For seniors who have completed
Algebra II (75 or below) or students
who have completed BAG III (75 or
below)
Topics in this course include sets, logic number
theory, geometric concepts, consumer finance, and
an introduction to probability and statistics. The
following topics of an algebra review are
incorporated as well: signed numbers, solving linear
38
coursework. The TI-84 Plus is required for this
course.
is built around the development of computer
programs that correctly solve a given problem.
These programs should be understandable,
adaptable, and, when appropriate, reusable. At the
same time, the design and implementation of
computer programs is used as a context for
introducing other important aspects of computer
science, including the development and analysis of
algorithms, the development and use of
fundamental data structures, the study of standard
algorithms and typical applications, and the use of
logic and formal methods. In addition, the
responsible use of these systems is an integral part
of the course.
HS02105G Elementary Math Modeling
1/2 Year .50 credit
Prerequisite: College Algebra and Math Modeling or
Pre-Calculus and teacher recommendation
This course presents algebra and trigonometry
concepts utilizing graphic, numeric and symbolic
methods to analyze quantitative relationships and
illustrate the role of mathematics in modern life.
The graphing calculator and Excel are integrated
into most sections. The TI 84 Plus Graphing
Calculator is required for this course.
HS02153G Modern Applications of Math – A
Computer Based Course
Full Year 1.00 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra 2 and teacher recommendation
This course spirals off Algebra II and Geometry
topics and applies them to modern-day problems
and uses. Topics of study include sabermetrics (the
study of baseball statistics), vector and matrices in
relation to computer graphics, discrete math and its
role in computer programming, and game theory
(strategic decision making). Each topic will have a
computer-based component associated with it to
support classroom instruction. A technology-based
project will be integrated into each quarter. A TI 84
Plus Graphing Calculator is required for this
course.
HS02124H **Advanced Placement, UConn/ECE
Calculus
Full Year 1.25 credit
AP Calculus, (UConn Math 1131Q
and 1132Q)
Prerequisite: Honors Pre-Calculus and teacher
recommendation.
This course is offered in conjunction with the
University of Connecticut Early College Experience
(ECE) program. This advanced course in
mathematics provides a comprehensive and
rigorous development of the concept of function
(including polynomial, rational, trigonometric,
logarithmic and exponential), limits, continuity,
differentiation, integration, infinite series, and
polar coordinates. The TI-84 Plus graphing
calculator is required for this course. Calculus also
has one additional class period per week. This
course will provide the background needed for any
student who desires to take the UConn and/or
Advanced Placement AB Examination in Calculus.
We expect each member of this class to achieve
University of Connecticut credit, as well as take the
Advanced Placement examination. (UConn credit
will be granted to pre-registered students with a
grade of C or better. Students are individually
responsible for costs associated with the University
of Connecticut and the Advanced Placement
examination.
HS02104G Finite Mathematics
1/2 Year
.50 credit
Prerequisite: Algebra II and teacher
recommendation
Topics to include those chosen from logic, theory of
sets, counting techniques, probability theory, linear
equations, linear programming, matrix algebra,
graph theory, and Markov chains. Emphasis placed
on the construction of mathematical models and
their applications. The TI 84 Plus Graphing
Calculator is required for this course.
HS10157H **AP Computer Science A
Full Year
1.00 credit (pending NCAA approval)
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 1 with a B or
higher, or successful completion of Algebra 2.
The AP Computer Science course is an introductory
course in computer science. Because the design and
implementation of computer programs to solve
problems involve skills that are fundamental to the
study of computer science, a large part of the course
HS02203H **UConn/ ECE
Statistics
(STAT-1100 QC)
Sem. 2 .50 credit
Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus and teacher
recommendation
39
analysis.
Statistical functions of the graphing
calculator are integrated into the coursework. The
TI-84 Plus graphing calculator is highly
recommended for this course (UConn credit will be
granted to pre-registered students with a grade of C
or better. Students are individually responsible for
costs associated with the University of Connecticut.)
This course is offered in conjunction with the
University of Connecticut Early College Experience
(ECE) program. This course considers a standard
approach to statistical analysis primarily for
students of business and economics. Topics of study
include
elementary
probability,
sampling
distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis
testing, regression and correlation, exploratory data
MUSIC CURRICULUM
The Music Department at Berlin High School is committed to developing life-long participants in, and
appreciators of, music. Music offers students an opportunity to develop both creative and critical skills, which
enable them to relate their musical experiences with history and culture. Through a variety of course offerings
such as choral performance, instrumental performance, music technology, keyboard skills, music theory and
music history, students develop communication and problem solving skills in a collaborative atmosphere.
Emphasis is placed on the mastery of performance fundamentals for both vocal and instrumental ensembles as
well as the development of individuality through expression and the creative process.
HS05102G22 Concert Band II
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Concert Band
I or audition.
Concert Band II is a full year course for students in grades
10-12. The course will provide a large ensemble setting for
students who wish to develop both their individual skills on
a musical instrument and their skills as an ensemble
member. Students will study varied musical literature to
develop these skills. Students will be given many
opportunities for performance throughout the school year.
Students will be required to attend all football games, events
and required rehearsals in the evening. A required, one week
marching band camp will be held in August. In addition, the
concert band and its members will travel to regional and
national festivals to perform and compete.
HS05101G Beginning Band
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
This course is open to any student who wishes to
learn a wind instrument. No experience with music
is necessary. Students will learn the fundamentals
of playing a wind instrument and present a small
concert at the end of the year. Assessments will
consist of daily participation and individual playing
exams.
HS05102G12 Concert Band I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9
Prerequisite: Participation in middle school band or
audition.
Concert Band I is a full year course for freshmen
entering the Berlin High School Band program. In
this course, students will continue to develop
technical and musical skills on their individual
instrument. Through the use of appropriate
exercises and literature, students will develop
fundamental skills on their instrument related to
proper tone production and technique, musical
literacy, basic music theory and musicianship.
Through performance, students will gain valuable
and memorable musical experiences. Students will
be required to attend all football games, events and
required rehearsals in the evening. A required, one
week marching band camp will be held in August.
In addition, the concert band and its members will
travel to regional and national festivals to perform
and compete.
HS05110G13 Chorale
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10 or 11
This course is a year of training and transition for
the first year chorister and is mandatory for
students who want to continue singing in Grades
10-12 in mixed chorus. Through the use of
appropriate exercises and choral literature,
emphasis will be on developing a foundation of
healthy vocal production technique, instilling
musicianship through performance and the study of
basic theory and fostering a sense of community
within the chorus through mutual respect and
support.
Participation in chorus performances is a
requirement of this course.
40
HS05110G23 Concert Choir
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course is designed for the student interested in
group vocal experiences through participation in the
high school chorus. A variety of vocal experiences
will be provided to develop the student’s ability and
provide worthwhile choral participation.
Participation in chorus performances is a
requirement of this course.
HS10249G22 Music Technology II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Music
Technology I
This course is a continuation Music Technology I
and will build on previous experience with the
fundamentals of music technology and sound
engineering to integrate their knowledge of
traditional musical elements with past and current
technologies used to capture, create, mix and
present music. Students will explore the creative
and aesthetic implications of music technology and
sound engineering through class projects.
HS05110G33 Bella Voces
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor through
audition.
This course is designed to improve the individual
student’s quality of singing with emphasis on
breathing, diction, musicianship, style and
interpretation. In addition, advanced choral
experiences will be provided and all students in this
course will be members of the high school chorus.
Participation in chorus performances is a
requirement of this course.
HS05107G14 Class Piano I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Class Piano I is open to all students, regardless of
musical knowledge or experience. This class will
cover with the fundamentals of reading music and
playing piano. Students set their own pace for
learning. Grading will be based on daily
participation, playing tests, and a comprehensive
final performance exam.
HS05118G History of Rock and Roll
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
This course will give students a broad,
comprehensive understanding of the genre of music
known as Rock and Roll. Students will begin their
study with the “field hollers” of the 1800s and
conclude with recent developments and advances in
rock and roll. Special focus will be placed on
significant artists and developments of the genre.
Grading will consist of daily participation, written
exams, and journal writing.
HS05107G24 Class Piano II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Class Piano I or Audition for
Instructor.
This course continues the lessons that were started
in the Piano I method book and will focus on the
continuing development of fundamental playing
skills and musical knowledge. Grading will be
based on daily participation, playing tests, and a
comprehensive final performance exam.
HS05116G Music Survey
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Music Survey will provide students a broad
overview of the eras in music; the music of those
eras; and the significant artists/composers of the
age. Grading will include daily participation, tests,
and group projects.
HS05107G34 Class Piano III
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Class Piano II or Audition for
Instructor.
Piano III is designed for the intermediate to
advanced pianist. Coursework will include
exercises in the intermediate method book or music
currently being studied in private instruction.
Grading will be based on daily participation,
playing tests, and a comprehensive final
performance exam.
HS10249G12 Music Technology I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course is designed to introduce students to the
world of digital audio and MIDI computer recording.
By using the tools of digital recording, students will
create their own musical compositions and
arrangements for use in a variety of applications.
The course will explore the electronic keyboard,
MIDI and audio recording, music theory, notation,
arranging, composition, music production and
performance.
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HS05107G44 Class Piano IV
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Piano III or Audition for Instructor.
Piano IV is intended for the advanced pianist who
wishes to further develop their skills in reading and
performing. Emphasis will be placed on scales and
arpeggios, work in the advanced method book, and
performance of standard solo literature. Grading
will be based on daily participation, playing tests,
and a comprehensive final performance exam.
participation, written tests, homework, and a
comprehensive, final exam.
HS05114H **AP Music Theory
Full Year 1.0 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Class Piano I
and II, or one year of Band or Chorus
This course is designed to be the equivalent of a
first-year music theory college course as specified by
the College Board. AP Music Theory develops
students’ understanding of musical structure and
compositional procedures. Usually intended for
students who already possess performance-level
skills, AP Music Theory courses extend and build
upon students’ knowledge of intervals, scales,
chords, metric/rhythmic patterns, and the ways they
interact in a composition. Musical notation,
analysis, composition, and aural skills are
important components of the course.
HS05113G12 Music Theory I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Music Theory I is intended for those students
interested in a deeper understanding of the inner
workings of music and composition. The course will
explore the fundamentals of harmony, intervals,
rhythm, music analysis, and basic composition.
Grading will include daily participation, written
tests, homework, and a comprehensive, final exam.
HS05106G Percussion Ensemble
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Students must purchase some
equipment for this course
No music experience is necessary to take Percussion
Ensemble. Students will learn the basics of music
reading and percussion performance and will
receive instruction on mallet percussion, Latin
percussion, battery percussion, and various
auxiliary percussion instruments. Grading will be
based on daily participation, playing tests, and a
group performance exam.
HS05113G22 Music Theory II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Music Theory I
Music Theory II will continue where Music Theory I
finishes. By the end of this course, students will be
able to compose and analyze music in 4-part
harmony, complex rhythms and meter signatures,
and transcribe music from any instrument to any
other instrument. Grading will include daily
PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH CURRICULUM
All students are required to take PE each year. Each student is required to complete 1.75 credits in Physical
Education and .25 credits in Health Education for graduation. The P.E. curriculum is designed to promote and
reinforce a healthy and active lifestyle. The curriculum also aims to develop responsible, ethical and productive
citizens. Individual and group instruction in a positive social setting encourages students to accept and
appreciate diversity while allowing each student to explore their own potential.
The grade 9 Health curriculum is designed to develop critical thinking skills about today’s ever changing societal
issues. Emphasis is placed on the importance of living a long healthy lifestyle. The purpose is to supply the
students with practical and theoretical knowledge that will allow them to make smart choices, promoting sound
personal, ethical and moral character.
HS08001G12 PE Grade 9
0.25 credit
Emphasis is placed on skill development in the
following units of instruction: Lifetime activities,
personal wellness, international games, racquet
sports, group games and cooperative games.
communication skills, relationships, nutrition,
eating disorders, stress management, addiction,
drugs, alcohol, tobacco, reproduction and sexually
transmitted infections.
HS08001G22 PE Grade 10
.50 credit
Under the grade 10 PE curriculum, PE lessons will
include lifetime activities, personal wellness,
international games, racquet sports, group games
and cooperative games.
HG08057G Health PE 9
0.25 credit
Health topics include decision-making skills,
assertiveness training, conflict resolution,
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HS08052G12 PE Grade 11
.50 credit
As part of the grade 11 program, health topics are
offered with emphasis on stimulating critical
thinking regarding substance abuse, smoking, and
AIDS education. Activities at this level are
designed to develop an interest in physical fitness
and leisure time activities. The following units of
instruction are offered: Lifetime activities, personal
wellness, international games, racquet sports, group
games and cooperative games.
students from going outside, the focus will remain
on personal wellness which includes resistance
training in the weight room, cardio-respiratory
endurance, flexibility, Yoga, and Pilates.
HS08016G22 Lifetime Activities II
.50 credit
Prerequisite Participants must have passed Lifetime
Activities I
If you enjoyed Lifetime Activities I, this class is for
you. Students will take a more serious look into
bicycling. This class will go in depth into skills,
techniques, maintenance, efficiency, and laws.
Students participate in off campus rides regularly.
When weather restricts students from going outside,
the focus will remain on personal wellness which
includes resistance training in the weight room,
cardio-respiratory endurance and flexibility.
Students will participate in a more advanced level
of Yoga and Pilates workouts. This class features a
deeper look into more popular styles of yoga,
advanced poses, and core training.
HS08052G22 PE Grade 12
.50 credit
As part of the grade 12 program, health topics are
offered with emphasis on stimulating critical
thinking regarding substance abuse, smoking, and
AIDS education. Activities at this level are
designed to develop an interest in physical fitness
and leisure time activities. The following units of
instruction are offered: Lifetime activities, personal
wellness, international games, racquet sports, group
games and cooperative games.
HS08016G12 Lifetime Activities I
.50 credit
This course will focus on non-competitive “lifetime”
activities. Bicycling will be the focus during good
weather days. Introductory skills, techniques, basic
maintenance, and road rules will be covered so
students will have all of the tools needed for a
lifetime of activity. When weather restricts
READING CURRICULUM
The Reading Curriculum provides additional support for students to be able to read, listen and view critically as
well as write and communicate effectively. Instruction is presented in individual, small group and whole group
settings. Students make use of a wide variety of reading resources and text and are instructed to produce
responses to text that effectively express, develop, substantiate and extend their ideas.
HS01066B12 Academic Reading II – Gr. 9 or 10
HS01066B22 Academic Reading II – Gr 11 or 12
Full Year 1.0 credit
Students who are reading approximately one year
behind or not reading up to their own potential are
scheduled for reading. These students are referred by
their English teachers or school counselors.
Curriculum based measures, reading scores, CMT
practice CAPT, and CAPT scores will be taken into
consideration when making recommendations. The
focus is on individualized and group instruction in
reading, listening and viewing critically as well as
writing and communicating effectively.
HS01067B Academic Reading I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
This course is for students who are more than two
years behind in their reading skills. Both individual
and group instruction emphasize skills in reading,
listening and viewing for understanding as well as
writing and communicating effectively. Enrollment is
determined by a PPT and/or consultation between the
Reading and School Counseling departments.
43
SCIENCE CURRICULUM
The Science Department strives to support the academic, social, and civic expectations of Berlin High School in
all of its courses. All science courses stress inquiry-based learning and encourage students to use a variety of
academic and technological resources. Substantial emphasis is placed on reading critically, solving problems
creatively, and developing an understanding of the scientific reasons for maintaining an active and healthy
lifestyle.
All students are required to successfully complete one year (1.25 credits) in Biology. Successful completion of a
total of 4.0 credits in Science (including Biology) and achievement of Goal on the Science CAPT are required in
order to graduate. Note: All Science courses, including semester and full year courses, may be used toward
fulfilling the total number of Science credits needed for graduation.
* Indicates an Advanced level course.
** Indicates an Honors level course.
Structure of Science Curriculum
Chemistry



10th
Grade
Biology
Biology



11th
Grade
Chemistry (Math
Requirement Met)
or
Science Electives
Physics (Math
Requirement Met)
or
Anatomy
or
Science Electives


12th
Grade
Chemistry (Math
Requirement Met)
or
Physics (Math
Requirement Met)
or
Anatomy
Science Electives


Physics (Math
Requirement Met)
or
Anatomy
Science Electives
or
AP/UConn Biology,
AP Environmental
Science AP/UConn
ECE
Chemistry
44
Advanced
Chemistry

AP/UConn ECE
Biology


AP/UConn ECE
Chemistry
or
AP Environmental
Science

Integrated Earth
&
Physical Science

9th
Grade

AP/UConn ECE
Physics
and (if desired)
Anatomy
Science Electives
Science Core Classes
HS03101E *Advanced Chemistry
Full Year 1.25 credit
Grade 9
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Honors
Algebra I and science teacher recommendation.
This is a full year lab course in the principles of
modern chemistry for college preparatory students
with superior math skills and a strong interest in
Science. Units include properties of matter, atomic
structure, periodicity, chemical bonds and formulas,
types of reactions, stoichiometry, gas laws, acids
and bases, and organic chemistry. Problem solving
and critical laboratory report writing will be
emphasized as well as required. CAPT Science
Embedded Tasks, labs, and practice are completed
throughout the year. This course includes one
double lab period per week.
HS03201G Integrated Earth & Physical
Science
Full Year 1.25 credit
Grade 9
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation. Intended for
students who are concurrently enrolled in Academic
Math Support, Balanced Algebra I/Geometry I, or
Algebra I.
This course covers the study of the physical and
chemical components of the Earth and provides
students with foundational concepts necessary for
future study in Science. Units of study include the
Structure of Matter, Chemistry and Composition of
the Atmosphere; Weather; Volcanoes and Plate
Tectonics; Energy and Earth Resources; the
Universe; Forces and Motion. Students develop an
understanding of interactions and interdependence
within and between Earth systems and changes in
Earth systems over time. Throughout the year, the
scientific method and problem solving are stressed
in class demonstrations and laboratory activities.
Emphasis is placed on extending student learning
through the integration of higher order thinking
strategies. CAPT Science Embedded Tasks, labs,
and practice are completed throughout the year.
This course includes one double lab period per
week.
HS03051G Biology
Full Year 1.25 credit
Grade 10
This is a general biology course with an emphasis
on the application of the Scientific Method and
relevance of Biology to everyday life. Topics include
investigations of the following: cell structure and
function, genetics, DNA, evolution, photosynthesis,
cellular respiration, and ecology. Critical thinking
and applications will be emphasized. CAPT Science
Embedded Tasks, labs, and practice will be
completed throughout the first semester. This
course includes one double lab period per week.
Successful completion of this course fulfills the
Biology graduation requirement.
HS03056H **Advanced Placement, UConn
ECE Biology (Honors)
Full Year 1.50 credits
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of *Advanced
Chemistry with a recommended average of 88 or
above and science teacher recommendation.
Students enrolling in this class must be aware that
this is a college level course and will be taught as
such. Topics covered are consistent with UConn Bio
1107 & 1108 and with the AP Biology Development
Committee. Topics covered include biomolecules
and cells, genetics and evolution, evolutionary
history of biological diversity, plant and animal
form and function, and ecology. Students use the
college level text Biology (AP) 9th ed, Campbell
2011. Students electing to enroll in this course
must participate in field trips and fetal pig
dissection. Students are encouraged to take the AP
Exam in May and are also encouraged to achieve
University of Connecticut credit. Students are
HS03101G Chemistry
Full Year 1.25 credit
Grades 9 (may be taken in grades 11 or 12 as
an elective)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra I or
Balanced Algebra I/Geometry II and science teacher
recommendation.
This course is an introductory course in chemistry
for the college-bound student with average math
skills. The course utilizes as much mathematics as
is necessary for the basic material and offers the
application of chemistry to everyday life.
Laboratory reports utilizing a technical writing
format will be required. Concepts include the
properties and structure of matter, the periodic
table, writing chemical formulas and balancing
equations, acids & bases, gas laws, and nuclear
chemistry. CAPT Science Embedded Tasks, labs,
and practice are completed throughout the year.
This course includes one double lab period per
week.
45
individually responsible for the costs associated
with the University of Connecticut credit and the
Advanced Placement examination. There are two
double lab periods scheduled per week. Successful
completion of this course fulfills the Biology
graduation requirement.
physiological experiments. This course includes one
double lab per week.
HS03106H **Advanced Placement UConn ECE
Chemistry (Honors)
Full Year 1.5 credits
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Advanced
Chemistry with a recommended average of 88 or
above and a science teacher recommendation. Must
have completed an Algebra II course (may not be
concurrently enrolled). Completion of a Summer
Chemistry Problem Set is required.
Students enrolling in this class must be aware that
this is a college level course and will be taught as
such. Topics covered are consistent with UConn
CHEM 1127Q and 1128Q and with the AP
Chemistry Development Committee. Topics covered
include: properties/ states/ structure of matter,
measurement, stoichiometry, solution chemistry,
electron behavior and the quantum concept,
covalent and ionic bonding, thermochemistry,
gaseous/ acid-base / precipitation equilibrium,
spontaneity and rate of reaction, electrochemistry,
and nuclear chemistry. Students use the college
level text: Masterton, William H., and Cecile N.
Hurley. Chemistry: Principles and Reactions. This
course includes two double lab periods per week.
Students electing to enroll in this course are
encouraged to take the AP Exam in May and
register with the UConn ECE program for the
opportunity to earn UConn credits in CHEM 1127Q
and 1128Q. Students are individually responsible
for the costs associated with the University of
Connecticut credit and the Advanced Placement
examination.
HS03151G Physics
Full Year 1.25 credits
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful
completion of Geometry and Algebra II and
concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus or College
Algebra & Math Modeling, and science teacher
recommendation.
A full-year lab course in the principles of physics
and problem solving for college preparatory
students with strong math backgrounds. Topics
include measurement, mechanics, hydrostatics,
aerodynamics, optics, sound, electricity, and an
introduction to modern physics. This course
includes one double lab period per week.
HS03155H **Advanced Placement, UConn ECE
Physics (Honors)
Full Year 1.50 credits
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Science teacher recommendation.
Must be concurrently enrolled in senior level Honors
Math class and have successfully completed PreCalculus Honors.
A full-year lab course in the principles and
applications of physics, requiring extensive use of
mathematics. Topics include mechanics,
hydrostatics, thermodynamics, optics, sound,
electricity, magnetism, and an introduction to
modern physics. The course includes two double
labs per week. Students admitted to the University
of Connecticut Early College Experience Program
may earn UConn credits in non-calculus physics
(PH1201Q & PH1202Q) with a grade of "C" or
better. Students are encouraged to take the AP
Physics I Exam in May and are also encouraged to
achieve University of Connecticut credit. Students
are individually responsible for the costs associated
with the University of Connecticut credit and the
Advanced Placement examination.
HS03207H **AP Environmental Science
Full Year 1.50 credits
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology and
Chemistry and science teacher recommendation.
Students enrolling in this class must be aware that
this is a college level course and will be taught as
such. AP Environmental Science is designed to
align with the Advanced Placement curriculum. It
provides students with principles, concepts, and
methodologies required to understand the
interrelationships of the natural world, to identify
and analyze both natural and human-made
environmental problems, to evaluate the relative
risks associated with these problems, and to
examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or
preventing them. This course includes two double
lab periods per week. Students electing to enroll in
this course are encouraged to take the AP Exam in
May. Students are individually responsible for the
costs associated with the Advanced Placement
examination.
HS03053G Anatomy and Physiology
Full Year 1.25 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology and
Chemistry and science teacher recommendation.
A detailed study of human anatomy and physiology
for the student with a sincere interest in the
biological/medical field, this course is designed to
introduce the students to the structures and
functions of the human body. Each student is
required to dissect a domestic cat, perform other
dissections, and become involved in various
46
Science Electives
HS03058G Horticulture
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology.
Horticulture involves both outdoor and indoor study
of plant care. Students will become involved in seed
germination of spring plants as well as learning
other methods of plant propagation. Plant form and
function will be introduced as part of the
information necessary to perform the laboratory
experiments. As the weather warms, students will
learn basic landscape techniques as they work in
the one of the two school courtyards. Students will
learn through a combination of field, classroom, and
laboratory activities. Hands-on activities will be
emphasized and participation in the activities is
required to successfully complete the course.
HS14252G Biotechnology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry
and Biology and science teacher recommendation.
The themes of this single semester course are
fermentation, microorganisms and DNA
manipulation. Using up-to-date laboratory methods
and technology, students will explore our ability to
engineer DNA to enable harmless forms of microbes
to produce useful products. The inquiry-based
course includes the history of biotechnology,
techniques in DNA science, microbiology,
fermentation, genetics, forensics and related
societal issues. This course is highly recommended
for serious juniors and seniors who plan to major in
the biological or medical fields in college.
HS03202G Forensic Science
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology.
The course will seek to investigate basic concepts in
a variety of disciplines including Earth Science,
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics while solving
crimes through hands-on experimentation.
Extensive use of math is required to perform the
laboratory assessments. Students will construct a
portfolio from all of the laboratory exercises
performed in the course. Topics covered in this
course will be the analysis of crime scenes, blood,
fingerprints, bodily fluids. DNA fingerprints as well
as the recognition of protein patterns found in fibers
and cells left at a crime scene will be investigated.
HS03005G12 Marine Biology I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12 (Semester 1)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology.
Students will study the physical, chemical and
biological aspects of the marine environment. Heavy
emphasis will be on the chemistry of sea water and
the ecology of estuaries. An introduction to the
ecology of coral reefs and deep sea hydrothermal
vent communities will also be provided. Marine
aquariums will be maintained and science field
investigations in Long Island Sound, using Project
Oceanology, will be done.
HS03005G22 Marine Biology II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12 (Semester 2)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Marine
Biology I.
Students will study the anatomy and physiology of
representative animals. Emphasis will be placed
upon the structure of the organism sand how they
are adapted to their particular habitat. Dissections
are included. Field trips are planned in association
with Project Oceanology.
HS03003G Environmental Science
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology.
Environmental science is both relevant to students’
personal experiences as well as vital to the future of
our planet. In this semester course students will
gain a better understanding of the human impact
on the environment by expanding on ecological
issues presented in biology. Some of the topics that
will be covered include resource depletion and
shifting to a more sustainable use of resources,
different types of pollution and their causes and
solutions. Extensive emphasis will be placed on
current events. All students will be required to
maintain a weekly current events journal. Inquirybased lab activities and field trips will also be
included.
47
HS03004G Astronomy
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of a full year
core science course and Algebra I or Balanced
Alg. I/Geometry II.
Skills developed in Algebra I will be used to
investigate topics of current interest such as
formation of stars, planets, our solar system, origin
of chemical elements, novae and supernovae, white
dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, active galaxies,
quasars, asteroids, meteors, distances in space, and
explore the possibility of life outside of Earth. The
topics listed above may vary due to current events
in astronomy.
weather, the greenhouse effect, atmospheric ozone,
air pollution, and El Nino. The topics listed above
may vary due to current events in meteorology.
HS03049G Catastrophic Events in Science
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of a full year core
science course.
Topics of current interest such as: asteroid impacts, black
holes, gamma ray bursts, super-volcanoes, climate change,
epidemics, super-earthquakes, and tsunamis. The topics
listed above may vary due to current events in science.
HS03210G Busting Myths in Science
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of a full year
core science course
This is a project and lab based course based on the
hit T.V. show MythBusters. By utilizing the
scientific method students will prove or debunk
advertising claims, online videos, and myths in
science. Students will communicate their finding in
numerous ways, including: video presentations,
PowerPoint presentations, and written reports.
HS03006G Meteorology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of a full year
core science course and Algebra I or Balanced
Algebra I/Geometry II.
Topics of current interest such as: atmospheric
structure and composition, global circulation and
atmospheric motions, clouds and precipitation,
weather patterns and weather prediction, severe
48
SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
The Berlin High School Social Studies Department is committed to the mission of developing responsible and
ethical citizens as well as lifelong learners. Departmental courses actively engage students in the acquisition of
theoretical, technological, and practical knowledge; rigorously challenge students to think creatively and
critically, and encourage students to understand, accept, and appreciate the diverse nature of society. In
particular, departmental courses prepare Berlin High School students to read critically, write effectively, and
communicate clearly and persuasively. In this way, the Social Studies Department, its faculty and its courses,
provides students the skills to achieve and to fulfill the expectations of their school and community.
* Indicates Advanced Credit
**Indicates Honors credit
HS04061G The World and Its People, Part I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 9
The World and Its People I
curriculum focuses on the history, cultures and
geography of major regions of the world. Students
enrolled in the full-year Grade 9 course will study
Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia
(particularly India, China and Japan). The study of
these regions addresses a critical need for exposing
students to historical and cultural aspects of key
parts of the world that are socially and culturally
different from our own. It is the goal of the course to
impart to students a set of enduring understandings
about human beings and their interactions, both past
and present, to prepare them for life in a globalized
society.
HS04101G12 United States History I
Semester 1 .50 credit
Grade 11
All students in Grade 11 enroll in United States
History I & II, Advanced Placement U.S. History, or
Advanced American Studies. The most important
aspects of United States history from the 1880's to
modern times are studied, with an emphasis on major
social, cultural, political and economic developments
of the time period.
HS04101G22 United States History II
Semester 2 .50 credit
Grade 11
All students in Grade 11 enroll in United States
History I & II, Advanced Placement U.S. History, or
Advanced American Studies. The most important
aspects of United States history from the 1880's to
modern times are studied, with an emphasis on major
social, cultural, political and economic developments
of the time period.
HS04055G The World and Its People, Part II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 10
This course is a continuation of the
Grade 9 study in global history.
Specific regions of the world—Western Europe and
Russia/Eastern Europe—are studied with emphasis
on history, culture, geography and contemporary
issues of that part of the world. A variety of
instructional approaches is employed. All students in
Grade 10 are assigned to this course.
HS04104H **AP U.S. History
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 11
The AP United States History program is designed to
provide students with the analytical skills and factual
knowledge necessary to deal critically with the
problems and materials in United States history.
Students will learn to assess historical materials—
their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their
reliability and their importance—and to weigh the
evidence and interpretations presented in historical
scholarship. Admission to an AP course should depend
upon a student’s commitment to the subject as well as
high aptitude. Student responsibility for reading and
digesting material is a must. We encourage each
member of this class to take the AP examination and
is responsible for costs associated with the AP
examination.
HS04161G Civics
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 10
Students will study the historical and contemporary
conflicts of constitutional principles. They will
investigate the rights and responsibilities of citizens,
take positions on current issues and participate in
civic projects. Investigations of local, state and
federal governments will help prepare students to
become active citizens in the present and future.
Civics is a state-required course for graduation.
Students are required to complete a performancebased assessment through the Civics course.
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SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES
HS04199G Civics II: The World and You
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 10 or 11
This course will focus on duties and responsibilities of
citizenship, and the relationship between individuals
and society. Students will explore current issues in
society and how these issues impact government and
people. Students will research how history, media,
special interest groups, politicians, and citizens
influence the creation and solutions to local, state,
national, and international issues. Students will
participate in debates, group projects, community
service projects and individual research in a pursuit
to understand their own connection to the World.
with an understanding of these relationships through
observation, research, readings and discussions
regarding topics such as self, school and town
community, American culture and society, group
dynamics, pop culture and mass media, social
problems, social institutions and human
development.
HS04302H **Humanities Man’s Search For
Meaning
(English .50, Social Studies .50)
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 12
This interdisciplinary class combines the study of
philosophy, religion, art history, music and
psychology showing students the interconnectedness
of ideas in our lives. A sampling of topics will include
the philosophical study of man’s place in the
universe, good and evil, man and the state, the
Florentine Renaissance, and creativity in our lives.
Readings will be taken from Plato, Hume,
Machiavelli, the Bible, the Koran, Bhagavad Gita,
Buddhist sources and other historical writings.
HS04251G Introduction to Anthropology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Anthropology is the cross-cultural study of human
societies. This course is taught at the college level
and a sophisticated level of student participation is
expected. The course covers a wide range of societies
worldwide and suggests what we might learn about
ourselves based on an intensive examination of
people whose cultures differ from our own.
HS04254G Introduction to Psychology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Can you really have a “great personality?” What does
“smart” mean? How do we define insanity? This
course will examine ideas such as personality,
intelligence, emotion, human development, and
psychological disorders such as depression and
addiction. Readings and films will include both
literary and historical sources.
HS04162G Introduction to Law
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 10, 11, or 12
In this course, students will examine the reasons why
one should know law and how it applies to our
everyday lives. Concepts such as jurisdiction
(federal, state and local), preparation for a trial, jury
selection, types of courts, types of laws (criminal and
civil) will be studied.
HS04157H **AP United States Government
& Politics
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Advanced Placement United States Government &
Politics is a course designed for students who are
ready to meet the demands of college level work.
Students will analyze and interpret political culture
and behavior in the democratic process, rules
governing elections, and political parties and
agendas. They will critique both historical and
contemporary events underpinning the ideologies and
institutions of American government.
HS04258G Introduction to Sociology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
The Introduction to Sociology curriculum is designed
to allow students insight into and appreciation of the
basic concepts of human relationships, their causes
and consequences. This course will provide students
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HS04057H **AP World History
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This AP course, organized around key concepts and
themes, covers six chronological periods of world
history from 600 BCE to the present. The themes
and key concepts are intended to provide
foundational knowledge for future college-level
coursework in history. Themes focus on interaction
between humans and the environment; the
development and interaction of cultures; statebuilding, expansion, and conflict; creation, expansion,
and interaction of economic systems; and the
development and transformation of social structures.
The goal of the course is to develop historical
thinking skills necessary to explore the broad trends
and global processes. Accordingly, students will be
able to craft historical arguments from historical
evidence, use chronological reasoning and
understand historical causation, compare and
contextualize broader regional, national, and global
processes, and engage in historical interpretation and
synthesis. We encourage each member of this class
to take the AP examination. Students are
individually responsible for the costs associated with
the examination.
institutions, and their relevance to the present.
Students will discuss how assumptions about human
nature, economics, and individualism dictate politics.
They will question why politics is not an exact science
and why politicians disagree. Students will determine
when and if people should rebel against their
government, and develop their own ideas on who
should hold more power than others, if at all. They
will question what creates justice in society,
determine why the world is the way it is today,
develop their own educated views on politics, and
make predictions for the future.
HS04249G Economic Development and Global
Poverty
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 11 or12
Over 1 billion people in the world today live on less
than $1/day. This course aims to explore why this is
so, and what can be done about it. Students in this
class will examine and compare basic living
conditions in countries throughout the world.
Students will also develop an understanding of basic
economic principles and terminology, and evaluate
different approaches to solving poverty and improving
the daily lives of people around the world.
HS04149G Sports in American Society
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Students in this course will examine American
history, society, and culture through the perspective
of sports. Major topics of the course, including
economic, ethnic, gender, and contemporary issues,
will be explored through literature, film, research,
and activities. Additionally, students will become
familiar with social interaction, sports organization,
social and psychological aspects of sports, team
behavior, and the culture of sports at the
professional, collegiate, high school, and youth levels.
HS04256H **AP Psychology
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
The AP Program offers a course and exam in
psychology to qualified students who wish to complete
studies in post secondary school equivalent to an
introductory college course in psychology. The AP
Psychology course is designed to introduce students to
the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and
mental processes of human beings and other animals.
Students are exposed to the psychological facts,
principles, and phenomena associated with each of the
major subfields within psychology. They also learn
about the ethics and methods psychologists use in
their science and practice. We encourage each member
of this class to take the AP examination. Students are
individually responsible for costs associated with the
AP examination.
HS11100G12 Reel History I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course offers students the opportunity to study
various historical events and issues through the eye
of the camera. This one semester course presents
movies ranging from Gladiators and Braveheart to
Schindler’s List, Titanic and Thirteen Days. The
course provides the context of the movie through
reading and discussion. Assessment ranges from
quizzes on the movies to an occasional paper.
Students may take either or both “Reel History I” and
“Reel History II.”
HS04153H **Political Theory
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grade 11 or12
This class will be run as a Socratic seminar where
students will analyze political theories and
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will be placed on current issues. For each war, we will
investigate causes, technology used, strategy, tactics,
and the life of the common soldier, the impact of the
war on civilians, and the impact of the war on the
world.
HS11101G22 Reel History II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course offers students the opportunity to study
various historical events and issues through the eye
of the camera. The semester length course presents
movies ranging from Forest Gump and American
Graffiti to Malcolm X and Quiz Show. The course
provides the context of the movie through reading
and discussion. Assessment ranges from quizzes on
the movies to an occasional paper. Students may
take either or both “Reel History I” and “Reel History
II.”
This course will examine the way countries work
together to solve conflicts and look at the major wars
around the world and how they have impacted
history. Historical and contemporary examples of
international warfare, revolutionary movements, civil
war, and resource competition and refugee activity
will be used to analyze conflict management and
resolution. The primary goals of this course are to
have the students understand how these conflicts
began and how they affected the nations and peoples
involved.
HS04065G Wars that Changed the World
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course will consist of an in-depth study of
military engagements that have influenced World
and United States history. The content of this course
varies; however, the main areas studied include, but
are not limited to, the U.S. Civil War, WWI, WWII,
Vietnam, and the Cold War era. A heavy emphasis
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TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CURRICULUM
The Technology Education curriculum consists of applied courses that are process ordered and
activity based. Students apply the concepts and processes they learn in Technology Education as well
as in core subject courses to challenging problems in the applied areas of Communication, Design,
Construction, and Engineering. Some classes may not be offered every year. Check the course
descriptions for additional details.
What can I do with a major in Technology Education?
• Technology Education Teacher
• Industrial Engineering Technician
• Human Resource Instructor/Supervisor
• Computer Repair
• Firefighter
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Industrial Designer
• Numerical Control Machine Operator
• Automotive Service Tech / Service Writer
• Construction Contractor
• Industrial Relations Director
• Industrial Engineering Technician
• Forensic Photographer
• Video Studio Management
• Stage Craft Design
• Broadcast Engineer
• Safety Professional
• Field Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Graphic Designer
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Plastics Engineer
• Construction Superintendent
• Electrical Inspector
• Materials Engineer
• Manufacturer’s Representative
• Construction Inspector
• Studio Photographer
• Video Technician
• Civil Engineer
• Architectural Engineer
• Marketing Engineer
All courses in the Technology Education Department are open to both male and female students.
Students following college preparatory, technical, business or general programs of study are
encouraged to include technology education courses in their schedules. Courses in the Technology
Education Department include topics in the following areas: transportation, construction,
communication and manufacturing. These courses are activity based (hands on) and encourage
development of problem solving skills. Students taking courses in technology education will become
more aware of technology and its impact on society and the environment.
HS21052G World of Technology
Full Year 1.0 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
Have you ever wondered how airplanes fly? How you
get MTV on your television? How bridges are built or
how mountain bikes are mass produced? These and
other intriguing problems will be explored in World of
Technology. Technology is the technical means
people use to improve their surroundings without
harming the environment. World of Technology
includes studies in the following areas
communications, construction, manufacturing,
transportations and electricity. Lab periods will
include extensive hands on activities which
emphasize problem solving skills. Tech Ed teachers
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rotate in the teaching of this full-year exploratory
course for both male and female students.
HS17006G Woods and Plastics I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This is an introduction to both wood and plastic
technology, with activity based lessons designed to
develop a student’s awareness of
woodworking/materials technology. This standards
based course introduces students to various types of
materials, hand tools and machinery with an
emphasis on safety. Students will learn how to plan
and design a project, along with how to measure,
select, cut, assemble, and finish materials into
completed useful objects. Students will be exposed to
employment opportunities within the woodworking
field along with a historical and scientific look at
wood/woodworking and plastics.
students who have an interest in working with
plumbing or heating and enjoy working with both
their hands and heads. This course covers the
fundamentals of residential plumbing for students
who are career bound or those students who wish to
learn how to perform their own plumbing work. The
student will understand terminology, maintaining
and upgrading existing plumbing, tools of the trade
and career opportunities. This half year course will
cover not only the “how” but also the “why” of safe
plumbing and HVAC. Hand on and classroom
participation activities are stressed.
HS13054G Woods and Plastics II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Woods & Plastics I
Offered only on even number graduating years.
Students who are interested in further study beyond
woodworking will develop additional skills and
experience in joinery, jigs, and cabinetmaking.
Students will continue to develop their planning and
problem solving skills for their projects. This handson course will focus on the students independent
skills as a craftsperson.
HS13002G Manufacturing Technology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This is a hands-on course that will involve student in
all aspects of manufacturing. Units of study will
include: Sheet Metal Fabrication, Machining
Methods, Forming Methods, Material Conditioning
and Combining Methods, Engineering Drawing
Interpretation and Design. Student activities will
involve designing, process engineering and
manufacturing unique individual and group projects.
School service projects and class projects will be used
to supplement individual activities.
HS17002G Residential Construction & Repair
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Offered only on odd number graduating years.
Construction covers a wide variety of areas; bridges,
roads, skyscrapers, office buildings, and houses. This
course focuses on standard residential construction.
The class will explore all the aspects of home
construction including; fasteners, materials, building
practices, and building codes. This course also
examines alternatives to traditional wood-framed
residential construction systems. Activities include
repairs of various home systems: wiring, plumbing,
landscape, etc.
HS21102G Introduction to CAD & Design
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Students will develop an understanding of the Design
Process with an emphasis on the Elements &
Principles of Design as they relate to student’s
individual interests. The course explores design
principles through hand sketching, drawing in CAD,
model making, and presentation boards. The course
also introduces students to the various career
opportunities including Interior Design, Architecture,
and Engineering.
HS17103G Basic House Wiring
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Offered on odd numbered graduating years.
This course is the study of residential and commercial
wiring systems. Basic House Wiring is offered to all
students who have an interest in working with
electricity and enjoy working with both their hands
and heads. The course covers the fundamentals of
residential wiring for students who are career bound
or those students who wish to learn how to perform
their own electrical work. The student will
understand terminology, switches, circuit protection
devices, outlets and fixtures, maintaining and
upgrading existing wiring, tools of the trade and
career opportunities. This half year course will cover
not only the “how” but also the “why” of safe
household wiring. Hands on and classroom
participation activities are stressed.
HS21103G Architectural Design
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
In this course students will learn why our houses are
designed and constructed the way they are. Where
are windows placed? How big is a large living room?
What is a Green home? Students will also have the
opportunity to design their own home and create a set
of plans for that home. Topics covered in this class
include different areas of the home, building codes,
zoning, community planning, sustainability and
energy efficiency. Students will also learn about
standards of drawing and construction using a
professional CAD system.
HS17059G Basic Plumbing & HVAC
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Offered on even number graduating years.
This course is the study of residential plumbing and
HVAC systems. Basic plumbing is offered to all
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HS21006G Engineering Design
Full year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Algebra I.
Students will develop an understanding of engineering design;
the formal process that transforms ideas into products or
systems of the designed world. Group and individual
activities engage students in creating ideas, developing
innovations, and producing practical solutions. The course
explores design principles through hand sketching, training in
3D CAD, and model making. Students will develop
presentation skills with emphasis on visualization and
communication. This course includes a number of problem
solving design activities that require creative thinking skills.
Hybrid Vehicles. Students will learn the basics of
automotive power system theory, repair, maintenance
and safety. Students wishing to perform basic
maintenance of their own vehicles must pass safety
exam and present a valid driver’s license.
HS20101G12 Transportation Systems
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Offered only on even number graduating years.
Students will discover and explore transportation
systems dealing with air, space, land and sea travel.
Activities such as model building, brainstorming,
computer simulations, and problem solving will be
stressed.
HS21007G Engineering Principles
Full year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Engineering Design or Intro to CAD &
Design.
This is course helps students understand and apply
engineering concepts, prepare for college and identify
career opportunities. Topics include mechanisms,
fluid power, electrical systems, control systems,
statics, strength of materials, production processes
and kinematics. All topics are reinforced with
interesting and fun hands-on activities, projects and
problem exercises.
HS20101G22 Electrathon/Alternative Energy
Vehicle
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Intro. to Power Trans. Systems.
Offered only on even number graduating years.
This course provides students with an opportunity to
learn about technology and how it affects their lives.
This course encourages the development of team
building, communication and problem-solving skills.
Students will work on a long term open ended
alternative energy vehicle design and build project
with a common goal of producing a vehicle capable of
competing at the state sponsored Electrathon race.
Each student is responsible to identify and apply
individual skills to achieve the common class team
goal. The ultimate class product is the design,
construction and testing of an Electrathon vehicle.
Students will apply engineering concepts and
problem solving techniques to complete the
competition vehicle. The course will be taught using
demonstrations, lectures, lab activities and discussion
combined with both individual and team centered
activities.
HS20102G Intro to Power Transportation
Systems
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This is an introductory course with activity based
lessons designed to develop a student's awareness of
small engine fundamentals and safety. This course
introduces students to various types of two and four
cycle small engines, such as those used on lawn and
garden equipment. Students will have hands on
opportunities to discover the relationships between
exhaust, intake, compression, power,
electrical/ignition, cooling, carburetion and
lubrication of internal combustion engines. Students
will learn the basics of small engine theory, repair,
maintenance and safety.
HS20103G Automotive Transportation Systems
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Intro to Power Transportation Systems.
This course introduces students to automotive power
systems. It encompasses automotive safety, tools and
measuring devices, basic engine cooling, lubrication,
fuel, electrical, emissions, brakes, suspension and
steering systems. This course uses both lecture and
activity based lessons designed to develop a student's
awareness of automotive power system fundamentals
and safety. Students will investigate other power
systems such as; Bio Fuel, Diesel, Electric Motors and
HS11155G Graphic Communications
Technology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This hands-on course is an introduction to the field of
Graphic Communication. Students are introduced to
imaging hardware and software, video production
and editing, printing, webpage design, graphic design
and other graphic communication technologies. Lab
time occurs daily with a variety of engaging and
interesting projects. School service projects and class
projects will be used to supplement individual
activities.
55
HS11054G Digital Photography
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This student centered course emphasizes the
technology of imaging and its use. Students are
introduced to digital imaging and software, the
history of photography, cameras, lenses, light in
photography, light sensitive media, and composition.
Lab time occurs daily with a variety of engaging and
interesting projects, such as: Pinhole Photography,
Design in photography, Portrait Photography, Digital
Slide Shows and Photoshop projects. School service
projects and class projects will be used to supplement
individual activities. Access to a digital camera is
required.
Student activities will develop team building skills as
they work as a small business while marketing,
advertising, publishing, and selling the yearbook.
Yearbook I & III are offered during the 1st semester
and Yearbook II & V are offered during the 2nd
semester. Yearbook III & IV is limited to seniors
only. Students should be aware that additional time
before and after school will be necessary to meet
project deadlines.
HS17108G Introduction to Electrical Energy
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This activity based course introduces students to the
rapidly changing and expanding field of electrical
energy. This course will cover electrical safety,
principles of electricity, tools, and alternative energy
sources. Activities will include building electric
motors, building a wind generator and building a
home-made speaker.
HS11051G Radio & Television Production
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This activity based course introduces students to
basic radio and television production skills. Students
will work in small groups applying the concepts and
processes of preproduction (planning, outlining, and
scripting), production (WERB Radio and BHS TV)
and post-production techniques. Students will work
in a cooperative environment and show leadership
skills while working on both group and individual
projects. In addition students will be responsible for
the daily legal operation of the high school radio
station, WERB FM.
HS17101G Electronics
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This activity based course offers a broad overview of
the various electronic devices that impact our lives
and future careers. One of the primary goals is to
have students understand the basic electronic
principles that govern the operation of these basic
electronic devices. This course will promote organized
thinking and problem solving; make the link between
Mathematics, Science and Technology; cover the use
of electronic measuring devices and the proper use of
tools. In addition students will explore career choices
in the field of electronics and electricity. A variety of
electronic projects will be built to reinforce the theory.
HS11151G Digital Media & Moviemaking
Full year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
DM3 introduces students to the world of digital film
and video as a component of the rapidly evolving
digital media industry. During semester one,
students will develop and enhance academic skills,
creative thinking skills, digital media literacy, and
film making skills through the successful completion
of individual assignments. In the second semester,
students will form a production company, producing a
Public Service Announcement (PSA), a CCC News
Report, an Animated Short, a Documentary Short,
and a Fictional Short.
HS10252G PC Build and Repair
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course is a hands-on introduction to the field of
computer hardware and software. If you are
interested in building, repairing, or just upgrading
your PC, this course is for you. The course will cover
the following topics: How PCs work, how to install
hardware and software, how to diagnose common
computer problems, and basic networking. In
addition, an overview of A+ certification will be
included.
HS11104G14 Yearbook I
HS11104G24 Yearbook II
HS11104G34 Yearbook III
HS11104G44 Yearbook IV
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Students enrolled in these team taught, hands-on
courses will design and produce the Berlin High
School yearbook. Students will learn various aspects
of design, layout, desktop publishing, digital
photography, imaging, marketing and accounting.
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HS10160G Introduction to Mobile Apps &
Video Game Design
Full Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course introduces students to the world of
mobile app and video game design in a straight
forward format. Students will have the opportunity
to learn the creative and technical components
required to launch a new app or video game. Students
will develop the skills of art, science, and technology
needed to design apps and video games. This course
is designed for beginners with little or no prior
programming experience.
HS05056G22 Stagecraft & Set Design II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12 (Spring semester)
Students will learn the basics of technical theater: set
design, construction, stage lighting, and sound. In
addition, the students will explore design and its
execution as a means of communicating a theme in a
dramatic work. This course is designed to focus more
intently on design concept and execution in technical
Theater Design includes set, sound, and lighting.
HS15152G Firefighting
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Must be at least 16 years of age.
This course is the study of firefighting and its related
systems. The course is correlated to the 2002 edition
of NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional
Qualifications, Levels I, widely accepted as the
standard of knowledge and skills measurement for all
firefighters in North America. Basic Firefighting is
offered to all students who have an interest in
working in the fire service and enjoy working with
both their hands and their heads. The course covers
the fundamentals of firefighting for students who
have fire service career interests or those students
who wish to learn as a precursor to community
involvement at a volunteer fire department. A
firefighting class would provide most of the training
in the classroom with a variety of hands-on labs.
During their academic coursework, students study
and make connections to English, Physics, Chemistry,
Mathematics and Fire Science in relation to real-life
fire situations. To be effective problem solvers and
keep up good communication on the job, a firefighter
needs to be well-rounded.
HS05056G12 Stagecraft & Set Design I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12 (Fall semester)
Students will learn the basics of technical theater: set
design, construction, stage lighting, and sound. In
addition, the students will explore design and its
execution as a means of communicating a theme in a
dramatic work. This course is designed to focus more
intently on design concept and execution in technical
theater. Design includes set, sound, and lighting.
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WORLD LANGUAGE CURRICULUM
The BHS World Language Department is committed to the acquisition of skills set forth by The National
Standards for World Language. These standards are the backbone of our curriculum and are based on the “Five
C’s” (communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities). Students in a World Language class
will read critically, write effectively, and communicate clearly in the target language in accordance with their
level of proficiency. Standard-based and performance-based assessments are utilized as part of the evaluative
process in all levels. Students will be expected to practice speaking, reading, and writing skills in and out of the
classroom in order to build fluency and gain comfort in the target language. Task-specific oral and written
rubrics will be used to assess student work.
* Indicates an Advanced level course
** Indicates an Honors level course
HS06101G Spanish I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or12
This is an introductory course in which students will
begin to develop listening, reading, writing, and
speaking skills in Spanish, as well as explore the
diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.
Multimedia resources are utilized to offer a variety of
opportunities to hear and respond to native speakers.
Cooperative learning and thematic writing activities
are employed.
HS06104E *Spanish IV
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
This course is a rigorous study of advanced Spanish
grammar in order to acquire strong skills in the
reading, writing, speaking and understanding of the
Spanish language. There is extensive conversation in
the target language to help the students develop their
ability to speak and to listen. There is a review of
previously taught grammar and vocabulary.
Advanced grammatical concepts and verb tenses are
introduced. Spanish history, art and literature are
included in various readings and projects.
HS06102G Spanish II
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
HS06112H **UConn ECE Spanish V
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 12
This course is offered in conjunction with the
University of Connecticut Early College Experience
Program. College credit will be granted by the
University of Connecticut upon successful completion
of the course (Grade of C).
The National Standards for World Language
Instruction, also known as the “Five C’s”
(communication, cultures, connections, comparisons
and communities), are the continuing focus of the
Level V class. Spanish civilization will be studied
through contemporary readings and class discussions
with religion, politics, and the family used as the basis
for both written and oral presentations. Work with
advanced grammar/vocabulary and assigned writings
will be the foundation of the course. Oral proficiency
will be stressed. Students are individually responsible
for costs associated with University of Connecticut
credit and the Advanced Placement examination.
Note: Students may also choose to take the Advanced
Placement Spanish examination in the spring. These
students should see their Spanish teacher for
information and preparation for this examination.
The skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing
Spanish are further developed within the context of
real-life situations. There is a review of previously
taught grammar and vocabulary. Additional
grammatical concepts and verb tenses are introduced.
Spanish language writing exercises are assigned to
provide practice in the use of grammatical
construction and vocabulary. Communicative
activities and texts are used to encourage an interest
in and an appreciation for the language and diverse
cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. By course
completion, students are expected to have significant
improvement in oral communication and listening
comprehension.
HS06103G Spanish III
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course is a continuation of the skills and
concepts presented in Spanish II. There is a review of
previously taught grammar and vocabulary.
Additional grammatical concepts and verb tenses are
introduced. There is an enhanced focus on speaking
and listening skills with a concentration on
communicating in the past tense. Students will
continue their study of the diverse cultures of the
Spanish-speaking world.
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HS06121G French I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
This is an introductory course in which students
will begin to develop listening, reading, writing, and
speaking skills in French, and will explore the
diverse cultures of the French-speaking world.
Multimedia resources are utilized to offer a variety
of opportunities to hear and respond to native
speakers. Cooperative learning and thematic
writing activities are employed
HS06125H ** French V
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grade 12
This is a rigorous study of French based on the
National Standards for World Language Instruction
known as the “Five C’s” (communication, cultures,
connections, comparisons and communities). Daily
oral proficiency is stressed and formal essays are
assigned. Literary selections from the Francophone
world are highlighted. French culture and
civilization are studied along with advanced
grammatical concepts.
HS06122G French II
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12
The skills of listening, speaking, reading and
writing French are further developed within the
context of real-life situations. There is a review of
previously taught grammar and vocabulary.
Additional grammatical concepts and verb tenses
are introduced. French language writing exercises
are assigned to provide practice in the use of
grammatical construction and vocabulary.
Communicative activities and texts are used to
encourage an interest in and an appreciation for the
language and diverse cultures of the Frenchspeaking world. By course completion, students are
expected to have significant improvement in oral
communication and listening comprehension.
HS06601G Russian I
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or12
In this introductory course, students will begin to
develop listening, reading, writing, and speaking
skills in Russian, and will explore the culture of the
Russian people. Multimedia resources are utilized
to offer a variety of opportunities to hear and
respond to native speakers. Cooperative learning
and thematic writing activities are employed.
HS06602G Russian II
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
The skills of listening, speaking, reading and
writing Russian are further developed within the
context of real-life situations. Writing exercises are
assigned to provide practice in the use of
grammatical construction and vocabulary.
Communicative activities and texts are used to
encourage interest in and appreciation for the
language and culture of the Russian peoples. By
course completion, students are expected to have
significant improvement in oral communication and
listening, comprehension construction and
vocabulary. Communicative activities and texts are
used to encourage interest in and appreciation for
the language and culture of the Russian peoples. By
course completion, students are expected to have
significant improvement in oral communication and
listening comprehension.
HS06123G French III
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
This course is a continuation of the skills and
concepts presented in French II. There is a review
of previously taught grammar and vocabulary,
additional grammatical concepts and verb tenses
are introduced. There is an increased focus on
speaking and listening skills. Students will
communicate in French about such topics as the
family, school and travel. Students will also
continue their study of the diverse cultures of the
French-speaking world.
HS06124E *French IV
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 or 12
There is a review of previously taught grammar and
vocabulary. Advanced grammatical concepts and
verb tenses are introduced. This is a study of
advanced French grammar needed to acquire strong
skills in reading, writing, speaking and
understanding of the language. There is extensive
conversation in French to help the students develop
the ability to speak and listen. There is a review of
previously taught grammar and advanced
grammatical concepts are taught. French art,
history and literature are introduced.
HS06603G Russian III
HS06604G Russian IV
HS06605G Russian V
Full Year 1.00 credit each
Grades 11 or 12
As a student progresses in their study of Russian
language and culture, a more refined, individualized
program is developed for the student by the teacher.
There is a continuation of the skills and concepts
presented in the beginner levels along with an
enhanced focus on speaking and listening skills.
Advanced grammatical concepts are introduced.
Russian history, art, and literature are included in
various readings and project.
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