Course Offerings - Grade 12

ENGLISH - Academic Literacy - Course No.: 9522L

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 OTHER: Students may choose to continue their development of reading skills by re-enrolling for grade and credit.    

Academic Literacy provides small group and individualized instruction to improve the student’s reading level.  The program is designed to remediate reading skills and improve the reading levels of students who are reading below grade level. This course is individually structured to improve the student’s ability to phonetically read the written word, improve silent reading fluency, use comprehension strategies effectively, and improve vocabulary.  This course receives graduation credit, but does not count toward the English requirement.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

ENGLISH - English Language Arts IV - Course No.: 9544L, 9644B

GRADES: 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 OTHER: Writing Intensive 

English Language Arts IV blends reading of literature and nonfiction materials with written composition. Students will continue to improve reading, writing, speaking, research, and critical thinking skills through reading and comparing selected literature and non-fictional materials. Emphasis is placed on oral presentations, classroom discussions and written assignments. Instruction includes the use of the library, Internet, and research materials. English Language Arts IV fulfills the fourth year English requirement for graduation.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

ENGLISH - English Language Arts Laboratory - Course No.: 9701R 

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 OTHER: Writing Intensive 

English Language Arts Laboratory is designed to teach the four aspects of language use:  functional reading, writing, speaking and listening skills and is built upon each student’s prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and the mechanics of writing.  Journalistic writing will be introduced and incorporated into the curriculum.  Students will be introduced to various genres of literature with writing exercises linked to reading selections.  Specific topics and objectives may vary according to the student’s IEP. 
PREREQUISITE: Placement

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES - Consumer Education - Course No.: 9522LS, 9604BS

GRADES: 12 LENGTH: 1 Sem (Semester 2 only) CREDIT: 0.5 OTHER: In special circumstances, grade 11 students may be allowed to enroll in this course, with staff approval and space permitting. Meets consumer education graduation requirement

Consumer Education provides students with the basic principles necessary to make wise economic decisions that will benefit their personal and professional lives.  The major areas of study will focus on checking accounts and online banking, budgeting, using credit, advertising, car and home buying, insurance, renting an apartment, comparison shopping, and good financial management.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES - Vocational and Consumer Education - Course No.: 9589L PREREQUISITE: Placement  

GRADES: 10, 11, 12   LENGTH:Full Year   CREDIT: 1.0

Vocational and Consumer Education (VCE) will address consumer, vocational and independent living skills development to support students’ post-secondary readiness. Course content will include: independent living skills; personal finance; budgeting; banking; employment application writing; interviewing skills; self-determination skills for the workplace; and vocational soft skills development. Upon recommendation from the IEP team, the student may additionally choose to participate in a tiered pre-vocational work site experience, in-school or community-based.

HEALTH - Health Skills - Course No.: 9702RF, 9703RS  

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: 1 Sem (Semester 1 only) CREDIT: 0.5

Health Skills ​is a one semester course that students take in lieu of physical education.  The structure of the class emphasizes wellness, responsible decision-making and planning for a healthy lifestyle.  Topics the students examine include: mental, emotional, and social wellness, prevention education, safety, substance education, nutrition, weight control, sexual health, stress and stress management.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

MATHEMATICS - Algebra I 2 Period Option - Course No.: 9502L

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 OTHER: Meets 2 consecutive periods. A TI-84+ graphing calculator is required.

Algebra I 2 Period Option is a course designed for students not ready for the pace of a single period Algebra I course. Topics include properties of real numbers, solving equations and inequalities, linear functions, systems of equations, properties of exponents and exponential functions, polynomials and factoring, quadratic functions and equations, radical expressions and equations, rational expressions and functions, and data analysis and probability. Emphasis is placed on problem solving and constructing mathematical arguments. This course fulfills the Algebra I component of Illinois’ math graduation requirement.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

MATHEMATICS - Algebraic Concepts - Course No.: 9594L

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0

Algebraic Concepts is designed to review math foundations, continuing onto a pre-algebra curriculum that will fully prepare students for Algebra I the following year.  Course topics typically include linear equations and systems of equations, quadratics and radicals, probability and statistics and a geometry unit.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

MATHEMATICS - Informal Geometry - Course No.: 9638B

GRADES: 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 OTHER: A TI-84+ graphing calculator is required.

Informal Geometry is similar to Geometry with the difference being a lighter emphasis on formal proofs. Informal Geometry will study shapes and sizes and their uses in real life. Students will study area, volume, congruence, similarity, special right triangles, and right triangle trigonometry.
PREREQUISITE: Algebra I or Placement

MATHEMATICS - Math Applications - Course No.: 9599L

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0

Math Applications will review math foundations and continue to develop general math skills in relation to adult daily living skills using basic math skills, algebra and geometry concepts. Examples of such topics may include elapsed time, money, budgeting, travel, calendar skills and other daily applications.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

MATHEMATICS - Math Foundations - Course No.: 9597L

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0

Math Foundations is designed to teach general math skills, extend these skills to include some pre-algebra, algebra topics, and geometry topics and use these skills in a variety of practical, consumer, business, and occupational applications.  Course topics typically include number line, fractions, numerical operations, expressions and basic geometry.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

SOCIAL STUDIES - Current Issues - Course No.: 9573F, 9574S

GRADES: 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: 1 Sem CREDIT: 0.5 OTHER: Global Scholar Course

Current Issues provides an opportunity to study and analyze a wide variety of vital present day world topics.  Emphasis is placed on oral presentations, classroom discussions and written research assignments.  Instruction includes the use of the library, Internet, and research materials.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

 

SOCIAL STUDIES - Geography - Course No.: 9506L, 9662B

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0, Global Scholar Course

Geography is an introduction to the study of the people of the world and their ways of life. The introductory unit emphasizes the practical use of maps and globes and reading including place location and geographical data. The remainder of the course is devoted to the study of the various physical and cultural regions of the world. A mapping/writing research project is required each semester.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

 

SOCIAL STUDIES - Geography Skills - Course No.: 9707R

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0

Geography skills is an introduction to the study of the people of the world and their ways of life. The introductory unit emphasizes the practical use of maps and globes and reading including place location and geographical data. The remainder of the course is devoted to the study of the various physical and cultural regions of the world. A mapping/writing research project is required each semester.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

SOCIAL STUDIES - Government - Course No.: 9507LF, 9663BF

GRADES: 12 LENGTH: 1 Sem (Semester 1 only)  CREDIT: 0.5

Government includes the fundamentals of the United States Constitution, State and local governments, the evolutionary development of the political process, and the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship. Completion of the State mandated service learning component is required for the successful completion of this course.  
PREREQUISITE: Placement

SOCIAL STUDIES - U. S. Government Skills - Course No.: 9704RF, 9705RS

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: 1 Sem (Semester 1 only) CREDIT: 0.5

U.S. Government Skills includes the fundamentals of the United States Constitution, State and local governments, the evolutionary development of the political process, and the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship. Completion of the State mandated service learning component is required for the successful completion of this course.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

SOCIAL STUDIES - United States History - Course No.: 9560L, 9682B

GRADES: 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0

United States History is a broad survey of the major social, economic, political and cultural events, concepts and themes that have been the focus in the development of the United States.  This course also includes an emphasis in literacy and writing skills through the use of primary and secondary resources.  Research work is required each semester.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

SOCIAL STUDIES - United States History Skills - Course No.: 9706R

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0

United States History Skills is a broad survey of the major social, economic, political and cultural events, concepts and themes that have been the focus in the development of the United States.  This course also includes an emphasis in literacy and writing skills through the use of primary and secondary resources.  Research work is required each semester.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

TUTORIAL - Tutorial - Course No.: 9510L, 9600L, 9601L, 9602L, 9611B

GRADES: 9, 10, 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 OTHER: Grades will be issued on a credit/no credit basis. Students supported on an indirect/check-in basis do not receive credit.    

Tutorial ​courses are designed to address individual student IEP needs in academic, functional, social and/or behavioral areas. The course emphasizes the development of self-advocacy and problem solving skills as well as provides academic support in identified deficit areas. Tutorial courses are designed to aid students enrolled in general education and/or special education courses and vary in the level of support provided based on student’s independent level of functioning.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL SERVICES COURSES - Community Workplace Experience Program - Course No.: 9591L

GRADES: 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.0 per semester OTHER: Students must be at least 16 years old and have a good attendance record.

Community Work Experience Program will engage students in spending a portion of their school day in a supported community worksite.  A Job Coach provided by the Special Education District of Lake County, SEDOL, supervises students. Job sites vary and may change during the semester. This work experience concentrates on development of general employability skills, not specific work skills.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL SERVICES COURSES - Independent Community Work Experience - Course No.: 9593L

GRADES: 11, 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 0.5 per semester /
OTHER: Academic credit is earned and counted toward the maximum credits per school year.

Independent Community Work Experience provides an opportunity to earn credit by junior and senior students in special services who are behind in VHHS academic credits. Juniors and seniors may apply at the beginning of each semester with the Special Services Transition Coordinator. To earn credit in this course, students must find their own job, work at least fifteen hours per week during the semester and provide documentation of current employment through paycheck stubs and/or employer contacts.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL SERVICES COURSES - In School Work Experience - Course No.: 9595L

GRADES: 10, 11, 12 LENGTH:Full Year CREDIT: 0.5 per semester /OTHER: Students must have a good attendance record.  

In School Work Experience provides a structured in-school job experience for eligible students in Special Services. Students work in school offices or on school related projects in the classroom.  Emphasis is on following directions, appropriate social interactions with a variety of adults and peers, and development of pre-employment skills.
PREREQUISITE: Placement

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL SERVICES COURSES - Mentoring Training Program - Course No.: 9590L

GRADES: 12 LENGTH: Full Year CREDIT: 1.5 per semester OTHER: Students must have a good attendance record.  

Mentoring Training Program is on site at either the Veterans Administration Hospital in North Chicago, Great Lakes Naval Hospital in North Chicago or Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. The Special Education District of Lake County, SEDOL, supervises this program.  Students are placed in a supervised training area to gain job training skills as well as develop general employability skills.
PREREQUISITE: Placement