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Core Courses and Electives

A Few Things to Consider when Selecting Courses:

Based on one or more of the following criteria, the Administration of the school reserves the right to grant or not grant final approval for a student's course selection.

• Course availability based on student interest

• Course availability based on teacher availability

• Past academic performance of the student

• Testing that may be required to determine a student's potential for success

• Teacher recommendation

Elective choices will be scheduled after a student's core courses are given priority.

Occasionally, a course will not be available due to lack of student interest...a course must have a minimum of 8 students enrolled in order to maintain availability for the school year.

It is the responsibility of students and their parents/guardians to select courses that will meet the graduation requirements of the student's diploma program.

Core Courses

BIB109: Mastering Bible Study Skills / Understanding Acts

Credits earned: 1

Description: The first half of this course is designed to encourage and motivate students to study the Bible for themselves. Students will learn to make 'astute observations, careful interpretation, and conscientious application' of the text on an independent level, while engaging interest and developing skills for reading Scripture. In the second half, students will teach principles for Christian living from the example of the early church as recorded in Acts. Students are encouraged to apply principles demonstrated in the lives and actions of the heroic men and women of Acts. It is assumed that each student has a foundational understanding of the story of the Old Testament and the life of Christ in the Gospels.

ENG209: Grammar/Composition/Introduction to Literature

Credits earned: 1

Description: Students will continue to fine-tune their communication skills through their review of grammatical structure, language mechanics and vocabulary building. This will be accomplished through writing assignments and public speaking. The students will be introduced to drama, poetry, short stories, essays and the novel. They will become familiar with the vocabulary of literature and will be introduced to the lives and works of prominent British and American authors.

ENG209H: Honors Grammar/Composition/Introduction to Literature

Prerequisites: Grade of 90% in previous English course or 85% in Advanced English 8; Must complete summer reading and related assignments. Transfer students must pass a writing test and score at or above the 85 percentile in reading comprehension.

Credits earned: 1

Disclaimer: Students in grades 9-11 who meet the course prerequisites may choose the honors level version of their English class. They do so with the understanding that they have mastered basic writing skills, are able to work independently, and can manage the additional research, reading and writing requirements of Honors English. A minimum amount of time will be assigned to reviewing language mechanics allowing more time to be set aside for developing proficiency in writing.

MTH309: ALGEBRA I

Credits earned: 1

Description: Algebra I combines the study of concrete numbers with abstract numerical concepts. This course gives an introduction to real numbers, rational numbers, square roots and graphing. Students will also concentrate on developing problem solving skills through the use of linear equations. In addition, students will learn problem solving techniques for analyzing and solving word problems. Students will study equations, inequalities, polynomials and quadratic equations. This course is foundational for students who want to succeed in higher-level math.

MTH310: GEOMETRY

Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Algebra I. Transfer students must demonstrate their potential for success by the results of their math placement test.

Credits earned: 1

Description: The student will study the theorems and postulates of plane Euclidean geometry with an emphasis on the principles of logical thinking, formal proofs and patterns of reasoning. This course will include the writing of proofs, calculation of area for regular polygons, surface area, and volume for simple solids. Throughout this course, the students will observe plane and spatial relationships and gain a better understanding of mathematics and the real number system.

MTH311: ALGEBRA II

Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Algebra I and Geometry. Transfer students must demonstrate their potential for success by the results of their math placement test.

Credits earned: 1

Description: In this course the student will build on the algebraic foundation developed in Algebra I by studying high powered equations in more than one variable, irrational and complex numbers, coordinate geometry, exponential function, conic sections, matrices and rational expressions. The student will also be introduced to Analytic Geometry and basic Trigonometry functions, identities and graphs.

SCI409: PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Credits earned: 1

Description: Physical Science is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of the scientific method and the physical sciences in order to prepare them for upper level laboratory courses such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics. It is a lab-based course that defines and describes matter, energy and their interactions at the conceptual level. Students will develop a minimal level of scientific literacy in the physical sciences and hopefully will be impressed with the amazing order and design of the universe. The students will be encouraged to develop a deeper appreciation for God's wisdom and power. The first semester will be an introduction to chemistry and the second semester will be an introduction to physics.

SCI409H: HONORS PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites: Grade of 90% in prior non-honors science course. Transfer students must also score at the 85th percentile or above in reading comprehension.

Credits earned: 1

Description: This course is designed for the self-motivated student interested in exploring the physical sciences. Students will cover the same course content as the regular physical science students, but in a full-time lab setting. They will explore physical science concepts using experiments that they set up and evaluate. Students also will go beyond the regular lab activity and develop their own lab experiment for each of the major curriculum areas.

HIS509: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Credits earned: 1

Description: Students will learn how government operates on three levels: federal, state and local. They will study how political leaders are elected on all levels and how they make the laws that govern our country. Students will also develop an understanding of the role America plays in the world community.

HIS509H: HONORS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Prerequisites: 90% average in prior social studies course. Transfer students must also score at the 85th percentile or above in reading comprehension.

Credits earned: 1

Description: In addition to the goals and course content of HIS509, the Honors Government students will complete an in-depth study of the constitution and natural law. They will also organize and participate in a mock trial.

PE909G: GIRLS PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PE909B: BOYS PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Credits earned: .5

Description: Students taking PE will be taught the rules and basic skills needed to participate in lifetime sports. They will also participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Test.

HLTH909G: GIRLS HEALTH

HLTH909B: BOYS HEALTH

Credits earned: .5

Description: This health course presents a positive and informative approach toward health issues. Students are encouraged to examine their own health behavior and develop a plan for improvement. The course emphasizes correct thinking, problem solving and making the right choices in the prevention of diseases, injuries and health problems.

Electives

Foreign Language

GBCS offers the choice of two foreign languages: Spanish and French. Two credits in consecutive years of one foreign language are required for the General or Academic Diplomas. Students must take these courses in sequence. While in 8th grade, students may take either Spanish I or French I, and then take the 2nd level in 9th grade. Students wishing to graduate with an Academic Diploma with Honors in Foreign Language will need four credits of either language in succession.

A foreign language series begins with basic vocabulary and grammar. Students will acquire skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing the language through oral practice, written grammatical exercises and cultural lessons. The goal is fluency.

ESP609: SPANISH I

ESP610: SPANISH II

FRE609: FRENCH I

FRE610: FRENCH II

Science

SCI415: INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING (ROBOTICS)

Grades: 9-12

Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra I, concurrently enrolled in Geometry

Credits earned: 1

Description: Introduction to Engineering allows the student to experience many aspects of engineering in an environment that is conducive to success. This course uses the basis of the STEM program to teach students how the engineering process is not only useful in everyday life but also every career. Students will be stretched to use their knowledge of math and science to design and build a robot that will navigate different game scenarios designed by VEX.

SCI419: PRINCIPLES/EXPLORATION OF AVIATION AND AEROSPACE

Grades: 9-10

Credits earned: 1

Description: In the 1st part of the course, students will gain historical perspective starting from the earliest flying machines to the wide variety of modern aircraft and the integral role they play in making today’s world work. Students will learn about the history and impact of space exploration and have many opportunities to build and fly historical and contemporary aircraft and spacecraft designs. Students will also begin to drill down into the various sectors of aviation, including the airlines, general aviation, military, commercial space, and unmanned aircraft. They’ll discover how advances in aviation created a need for regulation, and will learn about the promulgation of civil aviation oversight. In the 2nd part of the course, students will explore modern day innovations and use technology to develop their own innovative ideas to address real-world challenges facing the aviation industry. They will be exposed to a variety of career options in aviation and aerospace and take an in-depth look at the opportunities available.

Technology

TEC710: MICROSOFT OFFICE APPLICATIONS

Grades: 9-12

Credits earned: 1

Description: This course will introduce the student to MS Office Applications. The students will develop a working knowledge of Word, Excel, Access and Power Point.

TEC714: HTML5: BASICS OF WEB DESIGN

Grade: 9-12

Prerequisites: None, but Intro to Computer Science and/or MS Office is recommended

Credits earned: 1

Description: In this one credit course, students will become familiar with the basic principles of internet-based programming using HTML5, JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS3), multiple forms of imagery and multimedia, and a variety of respective concepts. Students will complete the design, coding, and debugging of solutions to all programming assignments and web-site based projects. Students will also interact with the specific tools that will exist in creating and editing single and multi-page websites.

TEC716: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE

Grades: 9-12

Credit earned: 1

Description: Students learn the fundamentals of programming in a procedural language for a console environment (Quick Basic and DOS) and a graphical interface environment (Visual Basic in Windows). Console topics include variables, numeric and string handling, flow control, sub-procedures and functions, and character and pixel graphics. Graphical topics include forms, controls, properties and subroutines used to design event driven programs.

TEC721: INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY / ELEMENTARY YEARBOOK

Grades: 9-10

Prerequisites: Students must have access to specific equipment and the course will require certain supplies and some financial investment to print photos. Cell phone and mobile devices will not meet the requirements of this course and some point and shoot cameras will not meet the requirements; the camera must have full manual mode and access to something that can meet the guidelines for the course is required. This course will be limited to 10 students.

Credit earned: 1

Description: Introduction to Photography and Elementary Yearbook is a course designed to teach the basics of photography. Students will also be responsible for taking photographs for, formatting, uploading photos, designing the layout, and completing the elementary yearbook during the year. Students will learn about the fundamentals of photography: technique, composition, editing, and developing their eye to see the world from a more artistic perspective and use these skills to develop the yearbook and weekly photo projects and critiques.

Fine Arts

FA810: ART I - INTRODUCTION TO THE ELEMENTS OF ART

Grades: 9-12

Credits earned: 1

Description: Art 1 is concentrated on learning and applying foundational skills and techniques in art. Within the curriculum, the Elements of Art and Principles of Design are emphasized as a basis for composition. Additional focus is on the development of drawing skills as foundational for more complex art compositions. Students will explore a variety of artists, art processes and materials such as drawing, painting, and two & three-dimensional design. Willingness to get involved in the creative process is an important requirement, greater than the student’s talent or previous experience.

FA813: THEATRE ARTS - PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE

Grades: 9-12

Credits earned: 1

Description: This course is an introduction to theatre. The class will discover foundational concepts of acting, such as improvisation, pantomime and mime, voice and diction, character development. In addition, this class will enjoy script writing and performance, stage building, sound, lighting, costuming, and makeup. The students will participate in the spring school drama production in some capacity.

FA814: WORK OF GRACE (HS Choir)

Grades: 9-12

Prerequisites: Audition with Music Director

Credits earned: 1

Description: A ministry group using God-given music talents as a means of evangelism. Class will enhance, and stretch student's musical ability.

FA815: HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Grades: 9-12

Prerequisites: Previous experience with a musical instrument.

Credits earned: 1

Description: This is a beginner and/or intermediate band. Students are taught the essentials of playing the band instrument of their choice. As the students gain proficiency, opportunities for performance will be provided.

FA816: ORCHESTRA

Grades: 6-12

Prerequisites: Previous experience with an orchestra-related musical instrument.

Credits earned: 1

Description: An instrumental course that develops the discipline of daily practicing in order to gain an intermediate level of performance proficiency. This course will promote the use of intermediate and advanced mechanics while playing a musical instrument to enhance the overall performance of the student. The course will then focus on developing individual performance skills in order to achieve a quality group performance.

General Electives

GEN913: CAREER EXPLORATION

Grades: 9-11

Credits earned: .5

Description: This one-semester course introduces students to the theoretical and practical framework with which to explore careers compatible with overall academic skills, aptitudes, interests, and life goals. Students will examine the world of work, use various tools to assess their interests and abilities, and make realistic decisions on careers, academic majors, and potential colleges/universities. Students will explore various programs such as Kuder Navigator, the ACT World of Work Map, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook online.

If you have any questions regarding any of these courses and their descriptions, please contact the Education Office.