Courses

Middle School

Philosophy & Requirements

Middle School

Philosophy & Requirements

Arts (10 trimesters)
English (4 years)
Environmental Practices (2 trimesters)
Math (4 years)
Physical Education (9 trimesters)
Science (4 years)
Social Science (4 years)
Spanish (4 years)
Technology (3 trimesters)

Students entering EPS for 5th and 6th grade will take a minimum of two Visual Arts, two Theatre, and two Music courses over their MS career. Students entering as 7th graders must take one course from each Fine & Performing Arts area. Students entering as 8th graders must take one course from two different areas (e.g. one course from Visual Arts and one course from Theatre).

Environmental Practices is taken for one trimester in 7th grade and one trimester in 8th grade

Middle School courses are designed to give students opportunities to practice the habits of mind employed in each academic discipline. Critical thinking skills are emphasized. Integration plays an important role in tying ideas together, and teachers collaborate on specific units when it makes sense to do so. Faculty infuse each day in (and out of!) the classroom with enthusiasm and hands-on learning.

Students arrive in the Middle School as children and leave as young adults, having progressed through profound biological, social, and cognitive changes. Our program is effective because it fosters and supports student growth in language use, problem solving, memory development, ethical maturity, and social presence.

Our courses coordinate not only with interdisciplinary content, but also to teach important skills consistently throughout the Middle School experience. Upon completion students are able to:

Use the academic disciplines as a framework for critical thinking,
Solve complex problems within a variety of disciplines and topics,
Communicate written ideas thoughtfully and creatively
Confidently present ideas to large and small audiences,
Effectively employ technology to enhance learning,
Lead compassionately as a respectful member of our global community.

The ultimate goal of the Middle School Program is to equip students with the necessary academic and social skills for a more robust disciplinary study in the EPS Upper School.

Where appropriate, coursework is guided by grade-specific Big Questions.

Grade 5: Who Am I?
Grade 6: What Is The World Made Of?
Grade 7: How Did We Get Here?
Grade 8: What Does It Mean To Be Human?

Upper School

Philosophy & Requirements

Upper School

Philosophy & Requirements

Arts (5 trimesters)
English (4 years)
Math (3 years)
Physical Education (5 trimesters including PE Wellness)
Science (3 years)
Social Science (3 years)
Spanish (3 years or completion through Spanish 4)

As the "preparatory" part of our name indicates, a central intent of the Upper School experience at EPS is to prepare students for college.

This process entails gaining mastery and command in the traditional academic disciplines, developing skills to excel in today's competitive institutions of higher education. To this end, Eastside Prep students:

Become technologically literate, honing their ability to use tools effectively in research and presentation of knowledge
Engage sophisticated, complex coursework as a preparation for the future, wrestling with questions of high complexity
Integrate thinking from each of their classes, learning to apply knowledge mastered in one field to enhance learning in another
Practice academic collaboration with teachers, with the expectation that this will be a continued and important part of their college experience
Navigate a robust collection of course offerings, learning to discern their personal academic interests and choose a relevant path

Physical Education courses must include Wellness taken during the 9th grade year. Up to 4 of the 5-trimester PE distribution requirement may be satisfied by substantive participation on a sports team or in a non-sport activity.

English

Philosophy & Requirements

English

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirements (4 Years)
US Graduation Requirements (4 Years)

The mission of Eastside Preparatory School's English Discipline is to empower students in self-directed exploration and analysis of literature, writing, and discussion. Our pedagogy is founded in rigorous inquiry, student choice, empathy, creativity, relevance, and play, and we believe in giving students opportunities to make personal connections to literature so they can better understand their own world and how to have agency within it. We proudly commit to standing for the principles of equity, inclusion, representation, diversity, respect, and empowerment.

Middle school students explore what it means to be literary thinkers by focusing on the principal skills of reading, writing, and speaking. Students read a wide range of literary forms and genres, use the writing workshop model to practice writing skills, and share ideas verbally through a variety of discussion techniques. In the Upper School, students continue to build on these skills and processes, and also begin collegiate-level writing and analysis of literature. Across the discipline, students graduate prepared for life-long critical thinking, reading, and writing.

English

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 11^th

American Literature

Paired and Integrated with United States History: The American Question

Coursework engages a critical exploration of major cultural and artistic ideologies from the past thirty years, with an emphasis on science fiction; sometimes called speculative fiction. Students explore the cultural-aesthetic movement called Postmodernism; one fraught with fragmentation and ambiguity. Familiarity with Postmodernism prepares students to address it in various frameworks. Authors and philosophers studied include but are not limited to Thomas Pynchon, William Gibson, Neil Stephenson, Jacques Derrida, Jean-Francois Lyotard, and Jean Baudrillard. Students write fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and read and respond to the work of both published writers and each other. Coursework strengthens aspects of student writing including narrative structure, sentence fluency, and clarity of expression.

English

Trimester | 9-12^th

Creative Writing

English

Trimester | 9-12^th

Advanced Creative Writing

English

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

Advanced Creative Writing

Pre-requisite: Creative Writing
This course may be taken in multiple trimesters for credit
Does Not Satisfy Graduation Requirement for English

Building on the skills learned in Creative Writing, students in this course will engage in the exploration of a particular genre, such as science fiction/fantasy, graphic novels/cartoons, or playwriting/screenwriting. This class offers an in-depth exploration of topics within the larger field of creative writing via both reading and producing work in a particular genre. The class will run on a workshop model, which requires students’ investment in sharing their work with others, critiquing others’ work, and keeping on track with their writing process. Students will produce one large piece in the genre being studied, or a portfolio of shorter pieces.

Social Science

Philosophy & Requirements

Social Science

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirement (4 years)
US Course Requirement (3 Years in Grades 9-11)

At Eastside Preparatory School a foundation of historical, cultural, ideological, and geographical literacy and the ability to think like a social scientist is fostered through a diverse curriculum and progressive pedagogical methods.

Does Not Satisfy Graduation Requirement for History/Social Science

In this place-based course, students explore the area in which they live through historical study, cultural exploration, and field experiences. The first phase of the course includes an intensive study of local literature and historical texts to establish a baseline for understanding the history and composition of the Seattle Metropolitan area. The second phase of the course requires students to conduct an independent research project where they self-select and investigate an aspect of local history as a means to better understanding the region in which they live. Example project pursuits might include proposing solutions to modern challenges of the region (i.e. environmental issues, education, infrastructure), volunteering at MOHAI, or developing an exhibit. A key component of the course is three required Saturdays of place-based study in Downtown Seattle, the Snoqualmie Valley area, and Bainbridge Island.

Mathematics

Philosophy & Requirements

Mathematics

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirement (4 years)
US Graduation Requirement (3 Years in Grades 9-11)

The purpose of the Math Discipline at Eastside Prep is to equip students with the number sense and problem-solving skills required to succeed in advanced work in math and other disciplines, to be discerning consumers of quantitative information, and put these to practical use in their lives.

This is achieved through a combination of direct instruction and hands-on investigation, stressing process and context as much as solution. Understanding is assessed through the application of knowledge and skills to a new context, and whenever possible, stress is put on application to the real world.

Prior to enrollment, students are placed at a math level commensurate with their past course experience and current skill level. Placement decisions are based on a placement exam/interview and/or the discretion of the Math Discipline Faculty and the Upper School Head.

Mathematics

Yearlong | 5^th

Mathematical Foundations 5

Mathematics

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 5^th

Mathematical Foundations 5

The instructional approach in this course is differentiated to meet the mathematical needs of each student. Prior to each unit of study, students take a pre-assessment to identify which topics they have mastered and which topics they need to work on. Coursework is designed to offer extensive exposure to operations on real numbers and a solid grounding in practical problem-solving processes. Through hands-on, problem-solving methods, students build both conceptual understandings and operational fluency connected to the following topics: fractions/decimals/percentages, positive and negative numbers, and order of operations.

Mathematics

Yearlong | 6^th

Mathematical Foundations 6

Mathematics

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 6^th

Mathematical Foundations 6

Prerequisite: Mathematical Foundations 5

The instructional approach in this course is differentiated to meet the mathematical needs of each student. Prior to each unit of study, students take a pre-assessment to identify which topics they have mastered and which topics they need to work on. By the conclusion of the course students have fluency in operations with real numbers (integers, decimals and fractions), finding common factors and multiples, units of measure, and some 2D and 3D geometry. Inquiry-based activities focus on applying mathematics to explorations of and solutions to real-life problems, such as tax, tip, and best purchases, as well as economic concepts, like interest.

Mathematics

Yearlong | 5-7^th

Pre-Algebra

Mathematics

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 5-7^th

Pre-Algebra

Prerequisite: Mathematical Foundations 6

In this course an investigative approach is used to extend understanding of mathematical concepts, and broader, more abstract, mathematical thinking. Variables, equations, and expressions are introduced, while practice substituting, evaluating, and solving equations is explored in the context of algebraic problem-solving. Course topics include but are not limited to: operations on exponents and radicals, scientific notation, distributive property, and factoring. The intentional and collaborative approach to problem-solving in this course prepares students well for success in Algebra I.

Mathematics

Yearlong | 7-9^th

Algebra 1

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 11-12^th

Advanced Calculus

Prerequisite: Calculus

Coursework is focused on a student-centered inquiry process and expands upon topics covered in Calculus while also exploring applications of calculus to other coordinate systems. Topics covered include bits but are not limited to advanced integration techniques, volumes via integration, improper integrals, and Infinite series, including the Taylor series. Focus is also placed on differential equations and simple methods for solving them via separable differential, numerical solving via Euler’s method, and Second Order Runge Kutta. The course concludes with a look into 3-D vector spaces, polar and parametric calculus, and infinite series convergence tests.

Mathematics

Yearlong | 11-12^th

Statistics

Mathematics

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 11-12^th

Statistics

Prerequisite: Algebra 2

Statistics is about the study of data. Coursework asks students to learn how to collect, organize, and interpret data. Students begin by building their base knowledge and vocabulary, as they learn how to use statistics to describe and make sense of large data sets. Study builds toward learning how to use a sample of data to make inferences about greater populations. Students also focus on how to effectively design and conduct a study, and the role that probability and chance play in statistics-gathering. Numerous data sets and real-world scenarios are explored throughout the course using graphing calculators, Desmos, and spreadsheets as tools for computing statistics.

Mathematics

Yearlong | 12^th

Science

Yearlong | 8^th

Scientific Thinking 3

Science

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 8^th

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 10-12^th

Data Science 2

Prerequisite: Data Science 1
Does Not Satisfy Graduation Requirement for Science

Building upon the material and ideas in Data Science 1, students engage commonly employed machine learning techniques for classification, image recognition, decision-making, and sentiment analysis of text. Richer and more complex visualization techniques are explored, and the building interactive data dashboards. Students consider the societal and ethical benefits and perils associated with our increasingly data-driven lives. An independent or group project and presentations culminates the term.

Science

Trimester | 10-12^th

Geoscience

Science

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 10-12^th

Geoscience

Does Not Satisfy Graduation Requirement for Science

Coursework is focused on the study of the complex systems, and the interrelated processes that have formed and driven the past, current, and future evolution of the Earth’s surface features, atmosphere, and water systems. Through scientific research and data collection and analysis students learn and practice methods of current geoscience research, as well as examining and writing about human impact on the geological processes that shape planet Earth.

Science

Trimester | 10-12^th

Marine Biology

Spanish

Philosophy & Requirements

Spanish

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirement (4 years)
US Graduation Requirement (3 Years in Grades 9-12 or through Spanish 4)

All students at Eastside Prep study the Spanish language. Spanish is spoken in more than twenty-three countries, is one of the official languages of the United Nations and is the second most spoken language in the United States.

The goals of the Spanish Program at EPS are: (1) to introduce students to the joy and beauty of world language learning and to help them develop their communicative abilities through the consistent application of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing; (2) to prepare students to eventually live, work, or study in a Spanish-speaking environment; (3) to prepare students for placement into university-level Spanish classes; (4) to develop intercultural awareness by exploring the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world; (5) and to support our school's heritage speakers’ unique experiences and needs in our classrooms.

At the time of enrollment in the Upper School program, students are placed at a Spanish level commensurate with their past Spanish experience and current skills. Placement decisions are made based on a placement exam and/or at the discretion of the Spanish Faculty and Upper School Head.

Prerequisite: Spanish 4

Coursework develops each student’s ability to communicate thoughtfully and with a deepened awareness of current political and social climates in the Hispanic world. Topics may include economic, human rights, and educational issues relevant at the time the course is offered. Students also spend time exploring topics of personal interest. Throughout the course, students are equipped with vocabulary and cultural/historical context to engage with authentic Hispanic sources in print and media, examining them through in-class conversation, independent investigation, and project work. Grammar and vocabulary lessons are integrated into the study of each theme.

ALL ADVANCED SPANISH COURSES at Eastside Prep are designed and taught to maximize verbal and written proficiency. While the curricular core of each option is unique, all courses focus on communication and conversation to support the development of the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Fine & Performing Arts

Philosophy & Requirements

Fine & Performing Arts

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirement (10 trimesters)
US Graduation Requirements (5 trimesters)

Across the stages and studios of the Fine & Performing Arts, students create a trusted community of friends and learn lifelong lessons of expression, resilience, and collaboration. At EPS, all students are art students. Central to our curriculum in visual art, theatre and music is the artistic process: to create, respond, connect, and present. This learning process is present in other areas of the school as well as life: how to communicate, give and receive feedback, refine work, and present it to an audience. As Arts Faculty, this is our contribution to the mission-driven experience that makes up the EPS education: to think, act, lead and innovate.

In this course, students integrate performance skills with text. They study and practice vocabulary derived from various acting methods (including but not limited to Stanislavski, Meisner, Hagen and Adler), and apply knowledge, personal experience, and imagination to a variety of scenes and dialogues. Students practice character development, textual analysis, and rehearsal methods. As a culmination of this class, students present a public performance of a one act play or series of one act plays.

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 7-8^th

Stagecraft (7/8)

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 7-8^th

Stagecraft (7/8)

This course may be taken a maximum of two trimesters for credit

There are many things that happen behind the scenes to bring a play to life. Production designers, carpenters, technicians and artisans spend many hours designing, building, and creating all aspects of what is seen and heard in any given production. This course introduces the basic concepts and skills needed to build for the stage. Students learn simple construction and design techniques, as well as how to identify the technical needs of a production. Since the best theatre-making is always collaborative in nature, students work together in “Production Teams” to create and design work. When possible, this course supports and builds for EPS Theatre Productions.

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 9-12^th

Acting 1

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 9-12^th

Acting 2

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

Acting 2

Pre-requisite: Acting 1

Building on the experience and skills gained in Acting 1, students explore and apply advanced acting technique to plays with elevated texts. Students deepen their understanding of the actor's toolbox by examining and building complex characters in dynamic situations. Continued attention is paid to vocal work, body awareness, textual analysis, and working as an ensemble. Students in the Acting 2 class integrate all of their learning into a public performance of a full play.

Fine & Performing Arts

Yearlong | 7-12^th

Chamber Music Ensemble

Fine & Performing Arts

Yearlong | 3.0 Credits | 7-12^th

Chamber Music Ensemble

Prerequisite: Enrollment is by Audition
This course may be taken in multiple trimesters for credit
Meets before school during “0” Period

Chamber Music Ensemble explores music through rehearsal and performance on a traditional band or orchestra instrument. Geared towards students with previous experience and proficiency in their instruments, this course aims to refine skills of musicianship, instrument technique, and music theory. This course culminates in one or more public performances.

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 10-12^th

Arts Portfolio Development

Fine & Performing Arts

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 10-12^th

Arts Portfolio Development

Prerequisites: Drawing & Painting 2 and Submission of Art Samples
This course may be taken a maximum of two trimesters for credit

This course is designed for students to explore and further refine their individual artistic identity by developing a body of work. Utilizing prior fine art and design knowledge, students investigate personal direction, style, and visual preferences in drawing, painting and digital 2-D work. As part of the artistic process, students learn documentation, writing, presentation, and how to give and receive productive feedback.

Physical Education

Philosophy & Requirements

Physical Education

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirement (9 trimesters)
US Graduation Requirement (5 trimesters)*

Eastside Prep offers a new perspective on physical education through movement, wellness, and mindfulness. We encourage and inspire students to take responsibility for their own fitness and health, developing life skills for healthy living. Courses include individual and group formats including Wellness in a classroom environment, yoga, customize training to maximize performance and group physical education classes. We believe that team building, mindfulness, improvement of athletic skills and knowledge helps students become more interested in lifelong sports and activities.

The US graduation requirement for Physical Education is met through a combination of the following:

Credits

PE Wellness (Grade 9) (required)
PE trimester courses (up to 4 credits earned)

Waivers

A season of an EPS sport (US level) (up to 4 PE credits waived)
A season of a sport that EPS does not offer (US level) (maximum of 3 PE credits waived)**
A PE trimester course or a season of an EPS sport is required if 3 PE credits are waived in this fashion

**Students seeking pre-approval of a waiver for a season of a US level sport that EPS does not offer must email a request to the Executive Assistant to the Upper School Head the previous to the trimester in which the student is seeking the waiver; retroactive waivers are not granted. Questions about other athletic activities that EPS does not offer should be directed to kberg@eastsideprep.org.

Physical Education

Trimester | 5-6^th

Physical Education (5/6)

Physical Education

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 5-6^th

Physical Education (5/6)

This course may be taken in multiple trimesters for credit

In this course, students engage in sports, games and challenge activities from around the world. Classes focus on teamwork, sportsmanship, skills, technique, rules, court/field awareness, and overall fitness. Participants are also introduced to strategy and leadership opportunities. A goal throughout the trimester is to inspire and encourage students to participate in physical activity and healthy living outside of the classroom.

Trimester | 7-8^th

P.E. Customized Training to Maximize P...

Physical Education

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 7-8^th

P.E. Customized Training to Maximize Performance (7/8)

This course may be taken multiple trimesters for credit

Coursework focuses on individuals designing and engaging their own approach to physical fitness and wellness based on their needs and interests. The experience equips students with fitness literacy and physical fitness skills through one or more of the following domains: 1) sport-specific training and athletic conditioning; 2) customized non-traditional activities that encourage physical wellness; and/or 3) an adaptive approach to movement based on a need for physical therapy activities (including those related to prior injuries or medical conditions) or adaptive exercises to compliment the recovery process.

Physical Education

Trimester | 7-8^th

P.E. Yoga (7/8)

Physical Education

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 7-8^th

P.E. Yoga (7/8)

This course may be taken multiple trimesters for credit

This Middle School physical education course focuses on movements found in Yoga and Pilates. Students are exposed to "what is Yoga?" - primarily in the form of experiencing different physical postures (asanas). On our mats, students explore movements that come from different modalities - Yoga (primarily), Pilates, natural movement. Emphasis is on proper alignment as well as learning safe ranges of motion and delving into themes of mindfulness and various breathing practices. This is an all-levels class where students learn the basics of yoga in a safe and supportive environment.

This course guides students to--

• establish healthy breathing patterns that can relax and energize the body and mind

• develop focus, gain self-awareness and self-control through meditation

• build strength, release tension and increase flexibility through asana practice

• learn techniques to calm the nervous system and emotions from mindfulness practices

Physical Education

Trimester | 9^th

P.E. Wellness

Physical Education

Trimester | 9-12^th

Physical Education (US)

Physical Education

Trimester | 9-12^th

P.E.: Customized Training to Maximize ...

Physical Education

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

P.E.: Customized Training to Maximize Performance (US)

This course may be taken multiple trimesters for credit

Coursework focuses on individuals designing and engaging their own approach to physical fitness and wellness based on their needs and interests. The experience equips students with fitness literacy and physical fitness skills through one or more of the following domains: 1) sport-specific training and athletic conditioning; 2) customized non-traditional activities that encourage physical wellness; and/or 3) an adaptive approach to movement based on a need for physical therapy activities (including those related to prior injuries or medical conditions) or adaptive exercises to compliment the recovery process.

Physical Education

Trimester | 9-12^th

P.E. Yoga (US)

Physical Education

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

P.E. Yoga (US)

This course may be taken in multiple trimesters for credit

This Upper School physical education course is designed to give students a holistic overview of “Yoga”. This is an all-levels class, where students will learn how to build a healthy "asana" practice by incorporating breathing practices, and mindfulness. The majority of the class time is spent on learning, adapting and enhancing different physical postures (asanas) in a safe and supportive environment. Part of the class time is dedicated to exploring connections to Eastern philosophies in terms of learning an abbreviated version of the history of yoga as well as discussing some topics in yoga philosophy.

The ultimate goals of this course are to guide students to--

• establish healthy breathing patterns that can relax and energize the body and mind

• develop focus, gain self-awareness and self-control through meditation

• build strength, release tension and increase flexibility through asana practice

• learn techniques to calm the nervous system and emotions from mindfulness practices

• become more self-accepting - both physically and mentally (longer term goal)

Interdisciplinary

Philosophy & Requirements

Interdisciplinary

Trimester | 10-12^th

Evolution of Society: Economics & Tech...

Interdisciplinary

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 10-12^th

Evolution of Society: Economics & Technology

As technology and ideas progress, our society evolves to take advantage of new media and rapidly changing economic and technological landscapes. Coursework briefly explores complexity theory and history through a number of inflection points (The Big Bang Theory, the appearance of life on earth, to The Industrial Revolution, and the shifting media and digital economics paradigms of the last thirty years--from a point where the creation and distribution of media was a tightly controlled expensive endeavor, to our current system where anyone can create a blog, YouTube video, podcast or web page, or spin up an economic enterprise for little or no cost. The central pursuit of this course is an investigation of how technological development is impacting human economies and human behavior. Course projects focus on punctuated equilibrium and acceleration, the growth and scarcity power of The Big 5 Tech Companies, and the contemporary media, economic, and technological landscapes our society might evolve with over the next five to thirty years.

Interdisciplinary

Trimester | 12^th

Experience: Arches National Park

Interdisciplinary

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 12^th

Experience: Arches National Park

An additional fee for travel costs is required for each student enrolled in this course (amount determined prior to the start of the Spring Term)

Interdisciplinary

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

Truth in Film: The Crafting of Reality

Documentary film performs multiple roles as historical chronicler, cultural commentator and social actor in our world. The historical evolution of the documentary film is investigated in depth in this course, along with the medium's role as a social agent in the contemporary age. Films examined may include but are not limited to: The Fog of War, Man on Wire, Life and Debt, Hoop Dreams, This Is What Democracy Looks Like, King Corn, Hearts and Minds, and The Thin Blue Line. Coursework focuses on discussion of film in literate and substantive ways, often using testimony from actual documentarians as a model. A short documentary film project on a student-chosen issue is required.

Technology

Philosophy & Requirements

Technology

Philosophy & Requirements

MS Course Requirement (3 trimesters in grades 6-8)
US Graduation Requirement (none)

The technology discipline at EPS seeks to equip students with the skills and ways of thinking necessary to tackle complex problems using technology. We caution against chasing popular trends and instead emphasize the importance of thoughtful and deliberate decision-making keeping the people potentially affected by our designs in mind. With courses for novices through those pursing computer science in college, we place an emphasis on developing code and projects that are easy to change, communicate and contribute to. We encourage students to seek and find their own answers online and in peers, recognizing that keeping pace with technological change requires finding your own answers, reflecting on what you know and continuous learning.

Technology

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

Physical Meets Digital

For the majority of history, people of our culture manipulated only physical objects. In the last fifty years, people have developed the ability to manipulate digital objects as well. The boundary between physical and digital creation has started to blur. This course exists at the interface between physical and virtual. Coursework involves a basic introduction to electronics and circuitry, taking physical inputs into micro-controllers and processing them with software by building digital sensors or personal USB devices. Students also design objects on computers and create them using laser cutters. This course is focused on empowering students to bring ideas to life using all the modern tools at our disposal.

Technology

Trimester | 9-12^th

Web Design 1: From the Ground Up

Technology

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

Web Design 1: From the Ground Up

The internet and the world wide web in particular are fulfilling a greater role in society. Through writing web pages, students are introduced to the underlying structure of the internet. The course provides instruction and practice on web page construction, employment of HTML, Cascading Style Sheets and JavaScript. This course is designed for both novice and experienced web designers and consists primarily of short lectures and labs culminating in each student building a personal web site.

Technology

Trimester | 9-12^th

Web Design 2

Technology

Trimester | 9-12^th

Programming 1: Introduction to Program...

Technology

Trimester | 1.0 Credits | 9-12^th

Programming 1: Introduction to Programming

Students with previous coding experience should connect with the Technology faculty to determine if they can place into Programming 2

This course is designed to provide a smooth and fun introduction to programming and computer science. Coursework introduces the basic elements of programming, such as variables, loops, and functions. The course begins with text-based input and output and then moves into visual and animated programs. Student work is a mix of small programs and larger projects: students will create a choose-your-own-adventure story, a virtual pet, and an advanced final project, such as a small game. No prior experience is required.

Technology

Prerequisite: Programming 2: Object-Oriented Programming

This course is aimed at students considering the study of computer science in college. This course takes students beyond elementary flow control and simple logic, and into the tool set required to solve real programming problem efficiently. Fundamental data structures including lists, queues, stacks, trees and graphs are discussed along with major algorithms starting with sorting and searching. Along the way, elementary complexity theory is used to judge the efficiency of the approach at hand. Time permitting, there will be units discussing operating system concepts, parallelism, databases, and transactions. The course culminates in a meaningful, real-world programming or modeling problem.

Seminars

Faculty Facilitator: Briggs

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do different programming paradigms encourage us to think about problems differently?

Throughout the history of programming, computer scientists have attacked design problems with different paradigms of computing. Depending on the abstraction, some problems become easier or harder. The majority of programming that students encounter will be Object Oriented in nature but there are many insights to be gained from expanding your programming repertoire. In this course, students are exposed to the functional programming paradigm which aggressively avoids relying on the current state of our program or changing the values of variables. This makes for more declarative programs and encourages looking at problems differently.

It is expected that students have some experience programming in a language prior to starting this course. Students use the elixir language to explore this domain of programming.

Independent Research

Philosophy & Requirements

Independent Research

Requirements: (a) minimum of one Independent Study of exceptional quality (Grade 11 - Spring Term | Grade 12 – Fall Term); (b) an Independent Study with intent to complete a Senior Thesis (Grade 12 - Winter Term), and (c) a Senior Thesis (Grade 12 – Spring Term).

The Senior Thesis is the most rigorous research opportunity in the EPS academic program, providing students time and support to build on the work of previous Independent Study work to produce a substantive research product. The thesis is designed to be both a culmination of work in an individual academic discipline (or an inter-disciplinary domain), and preparation for intensive research as an undergraduate. For the Senior Thesis, students may: (1) expand the scope of research from a previous Independent Study; (2) engage in new, original research; or (3) combine elements 1 & 2.

The Senior Thesis is a two-part offering:

Part 1 | Research and Methods Independent Study with Intent to Complete a Senior Thesis (Grade 12 - Winter Term)

Part 2 | Thesis Construction Senior Thesis (Grade 12 – Spring Term)