Interdisciplinary
AP Research is a year-long course and is the second step in participating in the AP Capstone Program. In the AP Research course, students design, execute, present, and defend a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest. They build on skills developed in AP Seminar by learning how to understand research methodology; employ ethical research practices; and collect, analyze, and synthesize information to contribute to academic research. Like AP Seminar, AP Research is a project-based course. Each student’s AP Research score is based on their academic paper, presentation, and oral defense.
Prerequisites: AP Seminar
Textbooks: None
This yearlong course introduces students to the fundamentals of computer science through two engaging and hands-on semesters. In CS I, students learn the foundations of programming and computational thinking with the goal of designing and building their own original computer game. Along the way, they explore how code can be used as a creative tool for problem-solving and innovation. In CS II, students shift to physical computing by learning how to solder and work with basic electronic components. They apply their coding skills to program a micro-controller (Arduino) and create interactive devices using various inputs (like sensors and buttons) and outputs (like lights and motors). By the end of the year, students will have developed both digital and physical projects, building a strong foundation in coding, electronics, and creative design.
Prerequisites: Students entering Computer Science I must have basic familiarity with computers and software applications, plus a curious spirit and a willingness to experiment and learn. Students entering Computer Science II must have completed Computer Science I, or have teacher approval.
Requirements:
- Students need to bring to every class a computer (Mac or PC, no Chromebooks) that have all the class-utilized applications installed and the personal class work or data associated with it. This requires students to have a prearranged data backup procedure in place and a hardware failure/backup plan to protect and maximize learning in a time of computer failure.
Creative Writing is a semester-long writing-based course that explores the various styles and genres of writing. This course is organized into three major genres: Poetry, Non-Fiction, and Fiction. Each major genre will include smaller sub-genres such as song writing, screenwriting, biography, and short narrative. In addition to developing their creative writing skills, students will also read and analyze writings from each genre and participate in workshops where they will critique and edit each other’s work. Students will create a portfolio throughout the semester, culminating in a final polished writing sample in the genre of their choosing.
Textbooks and Reading List:
- Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book? by Ally Carter; ISBN 978-1338212273
- The Elements of Style 2017 by Richard De A’Morelli; ISBN-13: 978-1988236285
Environmental History (Semester 1) is a course open to juniors and seniors as a part of Ojai Valley School’s new Land and Climate initiative. This course examines the evolution of the relationship between humans and the natural environment in the modern era. This relationship is inherently bi-lateral: just as humans have had a significant and increasing impact on their environments over the last several centuries, the natural world has also played a key role in shaping the trajectory of human civilizations. This course will analyze these developments on a global scale through a series of themes and case studies. Though the course examines global developments, the focus of the course will be on American environmental history, with special attention paid to the American West.
Textbooks and Reading List:
- Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West, by Sara Dant, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN-13: 978-1118934296
Environmental Justice (Semester 2) is a course open to juniors and seniors as a part of Ojai Valley School’s new Land and Climate initiative. This course builds off the fall semester course in environmental history, examining the relationship between environmental change and social justice in the contemporary era. Though this course will examine developments around the globe, there will be a strong focus in the second half on issues in the United States, especially in California and the American West. In this course, students will examine a variety of environmental issues, including air and water pollution, drought and wildfires, food waste, agriculture, industrial waste cleanup, and climate change.
Textbooks: None
The Equine Science course will be based upon understanding horses and their relationship to humans throughout history. The students will study equine psychology and behavior, management skills, maintenance requirements including farrier and veterinary care, and techniques to safely work with horses in various types of activities including competitions. Daily work will include reading and written assignments.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
In the course of human history individuals and groups have often stood against incredible odds to advocate for what they believe to be right, true, and just. The Activist’s Voice will look at the ethical positions implied in historic and contemporary movements around the globe. This semester-long applied ethics course will familiarize students with the language and logic of ethics and will train them to identify and explain the moral reasoning behind our actions and inactions. As well as examining the ethical underpinnings of historical activists and movements, students will take a courageous look at the ethical arguments propelling current events. Through directed readings, group discussion, organized debates, collaborative presentations, and public speaking, students will gain skills to guide their meaningful participation in critical matters that face them today and in their futures. In addition to textbooks, the class will use podcasts, academic and popular lectures, and reportage from established and citizen journalists.
Textbooks and Reading List:
- Thinkers Guide to Fallacies by Richard Paul and Linda Elder. ISBN-13: 978-0944583272
- The Thinkers Guide to Ethical Reasoning by Richard Paul and Linda Elder. ISBN-13: 978-0944583173
- Modern Ethics in 77 Arguments: A Stone Reader by Peter Catapano and Simon Critchley. ISBN-13: 978-1631493997
The goal for the Expository Writing Class is to develop the ability to write correctly in English. Students write on a daily basis in class and for homework with individual attention from the instructor. Work begins with short assignments and progresses to longer expository compositions. Students learn to write essays that inform, persuade, entertain, argue, and document. Essay types include analogy, cause and effect, classification, comparison and contrast, definition, description, narration, process, and analysis. Research papers focus on the use of citations and avoidance of plagiarism as well as the means of finding information. In order to write well, students need to master English language-usage, so they also study grammar, punctuation, and usage concerns as needed.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
Film Studies is a semester-long course where students will have the opportunity to study the history, mechanics, and theory of cinema. This course will engage students’ curiosity in a medium that includes a mastery of academic principles as well as artistic choices. Gaining an understanding of the history of film will allow students to explore the topics of diversity and inclusion in the industry. While studying various visual components of cinema such as mise en scene, cinematography, editing, and even acting, a student will gain a richer appreciation for the art form. Finally, students will grow their analytical skills by approaching a film’s narrative structure and script as they would a piece of literature, reading in-depth the literal and figurative choices writers made to craft meaningful work. Students will view and study films of note during this course and be expected to compose weekly written reflections and essays that utilize the analytical and research skills gained in English classes on them. Additionally, they will be engaging in creative and collaborative projects that reflect the experiential learning environment. Throughout the semester the class will view films such as Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Top Hat, and JAWS. We will also be looking at aspects and styles that were cultivated by significant directors, such as Akira Kurasawa, Alfred Hitchcock, Spike Lee, and Ava DuVernay. Ultimately, by the end of the course, a student will be able to walk away with a deeper appreciation of film.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
Freshman Studies is a course designed to provide 9th grade students with skills that will help them transition into the high school setting and develop a sense of community. The “not for credit” course is taught during a “flex” block and scheduled throughout the school year. Students will learn organizational strategies and time management, identify their academic strengths and weaknesses, create goals and good habits, as well as learn about academic and social/emotional resources available to all students. Students will participate in team-building challenges and the Ropes Course elements. Additional topics include: History of OVS, Health and Wellness, Diversity and Inclusion, Culinary Arts, Leadership and Community Service. The class is taught by a rotating faculty, which gives students the chance to meet the many wonderful teachers at the high school.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
In this one semester course students will take a deep dive into the geology, biology, and human history of California’s Channel Islands, with a special focus on the four islands of the Santa Barbara Channel. Units of study will include: a) geological history of the islands; b) island ecology and biogeography; c) marine life; d) human history; e) modern recreation in Channel Islands National Park. Students will learn about the islands through focused reading selections, films, research based projects, and a field trip to the National Park Headquarters. The course will also offer a camping trip to one or more of the local islands. While visiting the islands, students will have the opportunity to participate in a volunteer conservation project.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
Journalism students undertake a broad range of media studies that provide a comprehensive understanding of the powers and responsibilities of the press, and its role in maintaining a democratic society. Students explore, from a historical perspective, the role of the press in founding and shaping our nation, and they come to understand how that role has changed as the country has developed. They delve into the practical aspects of the profession, including communication theory, and the ethical, legal and economic issues involved in contemporary American journalism. Students also examine the changing nature of today’s media as government watchdog and the expanding role of the Internet in gathering, analyzing and delivering news. Student-journalists are curious about people, cultures and science; about how political and economic systems work and do not work. They are critical thinkers who know how to observe, listen and ask questions. They are skilled writers, editors and visual communicators. To that end, written assignments – which include weekly blogging, stories for the student newspaper and its companion website, and a range of other publications – are geared toward sharpening students’ skills in interviewing, writing, organization, and information analysis.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
Building on skills they learned in the introductory journalism course, students in Advanced Journalism delve deeply into the practical and theoretical aspects of journalism. Students participate in an advanced course of research, writing, and editing for journalistic publications and other media, including websites, blogs and online newspapers. However, the emphasis of this course is to take students well beyond the practice of journalism, immersing them in an in-depth study of the various facets of journalism theory. This 11th- and 12th- grade course is open to students who excelled in the introductory journalism course and who wish to continue to learn about and develop confidence in writing for 21st century journalistic media. The quantity and quality of writing in this course will be commensurate with that expected in upper-division honors English courses; the reflection, peer editing, and revision will be as rigorous, or more rigorous, than what is expected in other language arts class, and the final editing will be dictated by professional production values. Writing for this course seeks to meet the standards of professional publications in accuracy, clarity and proofreading.
Prerequisites: Journalism
Law and Society is a semester course dedicated to teaching an understanding of the American legal system. At the conclusion of the semester, students will have gained an understanding of the law through interactive methods that focus on legal issues relevant to their lives. The class emphasizes problem-solving skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, and mock trial and debate experience. Topics covered include: criminal law, civil law, criminal procedure, juvenile justice, family law, Constitutional law and the Bill of Rights, and relevant U.S. Supreme Court case law. Students develop critical thinking and analytical skills through legal writing and research, mock trials, interviews, debates, trial techniques, jury selection and service, case briefs, and short research papers. Public policy related to sustainability and the environment are emphasized through case studies involving toxic torts. Students enjoy hearing from guest speakers ranging from local attorneys to law enforcement and probation officers. A trip to Ventura County Superior Court is a highlight of the class, as well as preparation for and participation in the Mock Trial final exam.
Prerequisites: One year of U.S. History and one semester of American Government (preferred)
Textbook:
- Street Law: A Course in Practical Law, 9th Edition by Glencoe McGraw Hill (No textbook purchase necessary; class set available)
From Moses to Muir this semester-long class will explore the inescapable pull of wilderness on our imaginations. Perpetually captivated and repelled by wilderness, we continue to seek a better understanding of ourselves in the most formidable landscapes. Literature of the Wilderness will look at how encounters with the outdoors produce transformational personal experiences and shape an environmental ethic that drives us to better know and protect the beautiful and brutal fabric of our natural world. Through directed readings, creative journal construction, experiential projects, and expeditions, students will discover the influence of the wilderness on some of our greatest thinkers and artists and will chronicle their own encounters with a world untamed. The text for the class will be a wilderness reader that includes Wallace Stegner, Annie Dillard, Lao Tzu, Edward Abbey, Dante, Mary Austin, Everett Ruess, John Muir, Gary Snyder, Robinson Jeffers, Terry Tempest Williams, Lewis and Clark, and others. In addition to course work, students will participate in two multi-day expeditions and three local field trips.
This hands-on, team-based course engages students in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics, where students design, build, and program robots to compete in an annual international competition. It is open to students in all grades and can be taken every year. The course allows students to take on a variety of roles based on their interests and strengths, including mechanical design, software development, engineering documentation, marketing, outreach, and project management. Beyond the technical skills, students gain lifelong practical experience in collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. They learn how to overcome obstacles as a team, manage real-world challenges, and develop leadership and time-management skills in a fast-paced, supportive environment. Students with at least one year of experience may also take Robotics for elective credit, continuing to refine their skills and mentor others..
No textbooks or prerequisites are required
Yearbook is designed to study all aspects of yearbook production, including photography, page layout, and journalism. It establishes the fundamentals of high school yearbook production through the study of photography, image editing, page design, and layout. This course will explore aspects of journalism by considering ethics, news gathering, copy writing, photography, editing, and revision. The culmination of the course is the planning, creation, and distribution of the school yearbook.
No textbooks or prerequisites are required