Grade: 11-12

Prerequisite: At least one AP course

The Capstone curriculum is designed to further develop inquiry and research skills as applied to topics of global relevance. The program helps foster communication, collaboration, and creative skills to improve college and career readiness and success. Students participating in this program have required tasks that include a team project, and individual presentation, and a written exam.

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: AP Seminar

This course cultivates the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research in order to produce and defend a scholarly academic thesis. The course offers an opportunity for students to explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan and conduct a yearlong mentored, research-based investigation to address a research question. The course culminates in an academic thesis paper and a presentation with an oral defense.

Grade: 11

Prerequisite: Competition GEMS 10th grade seminar

This multi-disciplinary seminar course may replace the seminar program for identified gifted students in grade eleven. The class explores different dimensions of the American experience to determine what constitutes the American identity. The class is multicultural and multi-disciplinary, examining literature, history, science, customs, and visual and performing arts in the kaleidoscope of American culture.

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: Placement in the PWCS Gifted Program

The multi-disciplinary seminar course may replace the seminar program for identified gifted students in grade twelve. Students will develop their conceptual, creative, critical, collaborative, and communication skills by exploring topics such as philosophy, metaphysics, and ethics. The class will also examine the epistemological structures of each academic discipline and employ critical thinking skills to evaluate the reliability and nature of knowledge. The course includes a research component.

Grade: 9-12

Prerequisite: Teacher Interview

Students will learn about the aspects of leadership by looking at historical and modern examples. Planning and implementing school activities will allow the students the practical application of leadership theory. Through the practice of planning, coordinating, and implementing school wide activities, students will be exposed to a wide variety of leadership experiences. Each student enrolled in the course is assigned a position in which they are responsible for specific tasks that support the student body.

Grade: 10-12

Prerequisite: Leadership I or Teacher Interview

Students will learn about the aspects of leadership by looking at historical and modern examples. Planning and implementing school activities will allow the students the practical application of leadership theory. Through the practice of planning, coordinating, and implementing school wide activities, students will be exposed to a wide variety of leadership experiences. Each student enrolled in the course is assigned a position in which they are responsible for specific tasks that support the student body.

Grade: 11-12

Prerequisite: Leadership II or Teacher Interview

Students will learn about the aspects of leadership by looking at historical and modern examples. Planning and implementing school activities will allow the students the practical application of leadership theory. Through the practice of planning, coordinating, and implementing school wide activities, students will be exposed to a wide variety of leadership experiences. Each student enrolled in the course is assigned a position in which they are responsible for specific tasks that support the student body.

Grade: 10-12

Prerequisite: Completion of at least one English course

Students write and revise extensively to develop voice and style as experiment with a variety of subjects, genres, techniques, purposes, and audiences producing polished writing in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. Students will submit their work for publication in the school’s literary magazine.