UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE - 2021-2022 Graduation Requirements Registration Information
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UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE
2021-2022
Graduation Requirements
Registration Information
Course Descriptions
Updated 4/2021
Preparing
Students for
College
and Life
OUR MISSION
Seattle Academy is a dynamic
community that challenges students to
question, imagine, and create in order to
contribute boldly to a changing world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Registration Information and Academic Protocols. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Graduation Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Community Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Senior Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Learning Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Calendar of After-School Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2021-2022 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
AND CREDITS BY DEPARTMENT
Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Computational Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
English. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Entrepreneurship & Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Financial Literacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mathematics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Physical Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Rhetoric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
World Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Appendix A: Math Courses | Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Appendix B: French Courses | Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Appendix C: Spanish Courses | Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Appendix D: Mandarin Courses | Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Appendix E: Daily Block Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Appendix F: Arts Audition Dates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Updated 4/2019
ACADEMIC PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES
Registration Outside credits count as elective credits, with
Students register in the spring with the help the exception being PE credits, which can count
of their advisors for the following academic toward the PE requirement, and credits made up
year. Math and World Language placements to replace a failed course (see below). Outside
are made in consultation with the Math and PE credits and failed classes that are made up
World Language Faculty and are finalized in the outside of Seattle Academy are considered part
spring. Placement for arts courses with required of the 5 allowed credits.
auditions occur after auditions are held in the
spring. Students select elective courses for all Making up an F for required
subject areas from a range of choices and are credits/repeated courses
placed in classes based on availability and If a student fails a required course he/she must
with consideration of level and complexity retake the course or take an online equivalent
of schedule. and pass in order to fulfill the requirement
to graduate. Failed courses can be made
Students should earn a minimum of 23 credits up through Yellow Wood Academy, BYU
per year during 9th and 10th grades, 20 credits Independent Study, or another educational
during 11th grade. Seniors are required to take institution approved through the Registrar.
6 classes minimum per trimester. If fewer than 6 Failed classes that are made up outside of
classes are taken, approval of the Head of the Seattle Academy are considered part of the
Upper School is required. These 6 classes do not 5 allowed credits.
include community service, independent studies,
or after school activities. During the spring of Failing grades are not removed from the
senior year, due to senior projects, seniors only transcript. Both courses are included on the
earn half-credit in all courses they are enrolled transcript. Credit from outside institutions are
in other than English. Senior projects provide .5 recorded as pass on the transcript.
credit toward the English requirement.
Independent Study
Schedule/Course Changes Independent Study courses are designated
There is a three day add/drop period the first primarily for juniors and seniors and are arranged
week of each trimester. Students are allowed to between a student and an instructor in an area
add/drop an elective course during this time by in which the student has a special interest. The
request through a Google form. We generally student and instructor develop a contract of
do not allow students to drop a yearlong course work, which includes a minimum of a once-a-
or to make a change that involves a change of week meeting and a time commitment from the
instructor for a yearlong course. When these student of at least 40 hours of work. Independent
changes are requested, students will need study courses earn a pass, not a grade and
the approval of the Head of the Upper School, count as an elective credit. Learn more about the
Advisor, Teacher, Dean, and Registrar. Guidelines here.
Outside Credits Credit Waivers for Graduation Requirements
Students are allowed to earn 5 trimester credits We encourage students to complete the
outside of Seattle Academy. Credits must be graduation requirements at Seattle Academy.
earned with an accredited organization and In exceptional cases, waivers for graduation
must be pre-approved by the Registrar. Outside requirements will be considered by the
credits are recorded on transcripts as pass and administration.
are not calculated into the grade point average.
4 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021
Incompletes HONORS CLASSES
Incompletes can be issued at end-of-term
for a variety of reasons. If an incomplete is Honors English 11
issued, faculty will provide a written statement Honors English 12
that indicates material to be completed and a Honors History 11 (American History)
completion date. Once the work is complete, Honors History 12
Honors Intro to Calculus
the transcript will be adjusted.
Honors Accelerated Calculus 1
Honors Accelerated Calculus 2
Grading Policy Honors Statistics
Letter grades are based on a grading scale that Honors Chinese 4
includes (+) plus and minus (-) grades. A(4.0), Honors Chinese 5
A-(3.7), B+(3.3), B(3.0), B-(2.7), C+(2.3), C(2.0), Honors Chinese 6
C-(1.7), D+(1.3), D(1.0), D-(0.7), F(0). Honors French 4
Honors French 5
Pass grades are not figured into the grade point Honors French 6
average. High Honor Roll is a GPA of 3.75 and Honors Spanish 4
above. Honor Roll is a GPA of 3.45 to 3.74 and Honors Spanish 5
Honors Spanish 6
are based off of a studetn’s unweighted GPA.
Honors Advanced Chemistry
Seattle Academy calculates a weighted
Honors Biology*
academic core cumulative GPA by adding Honors Physics
.5 to the honors courses listed at right.
*Students may also earn honors distinction in
Biology on a term-by-term basis.
INNOVATIONS DISTRIBUTION AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
This table illustrates the Innovations Distribution that are part of the new graduation requirements.
Grade Trimester Trimester Trimester
Beginning
9th Rhetoric Health
Studio Arts
Foundations courses
Foundations in Foundations in are assigned during the
Foundations in 10th grade year and are
10th Financial Literacy Computational Thinking Design Thinking available to 9th grade.
Entrepreneurship
Health
11th and Design
These courses offered
One additional course is required in each of these areas during the high school career. can be taken 9th - 12th
grades if student sched-
ule allows.
12th Computational Thinking
Financial Literacy
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 5
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Seattle Academy’s academic year is divided into 3 trimesters. 84 trimester credits and 160 hours of
community service are required to graduate. These 84 credits are made up of the following:
HUMANITIES 31
English 12
History / Social Studies 9*
World Languages 9*
Rhetoric
STEM
1
21
* = MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
Most students will be encouraged
to take a 4th year.
Math 9*
Science 9*
Math or Science 3
COMPUTATIONAL THINKING 2
FINANCIAL LITERACY 2
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DESIGN 2
ARTS 7
Distribution Areas 4
Required Electives 3
PHYSICAL EDUCATION / HEALTH 6
Health 2
PE 4
ADDITIONAL CREDITS 13
(Earned through a fourth year of core academic
courses, general electives, and/or study skills)
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE 84
CLASS OF 2022 AND BEYOND • ADDITIONAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
160 Hours of Community Service Washington State History Requirement
Seattle Academy has a graduation requirement This course is completed in the 7th grade year
of 160 service-learning hours. In response at Seattle Academy and usually completed
to COVID-19, the annual service-learning in the 7th or 8th grades at other institutions.
requirement has been reduced from 40 to 20 Students in grades 9 to 12 who have not taken
hours beginning in the 2020-2021 academic Washington State History will be scheduled to
year for all Upper School students. Therefore, take the course their senior year in order to
the graduation requirement for the class of 2022 fulfill the requirement.
has been adjusted to 125 hours which represents
a reduction of 15 hours for the 2019-20 school Additional Credits
year, and a reduction of 20 hours for the 2020- When students continue to take classes in
21 school year. Class of 2022 Graduation an area and have fulfilled their graduation
Requirement = 125 hours. requirement the credit is applied to the elective
requirement.
Health Requirement
Two credits of Health are required within the
Physical Education requirement.
6 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021
COMMUNITY SERVICE
160 hours of community service required. ■ Service hours cannot be double counted. For
example, if a student receives compensation
To help our students build an understanding and or class credit, zero hours will be counted
respect for what it means to fully participate in toward the graduation requirement.
society, we ask all students to serve our local and
global community in ways that are meaningful to Our student-led Community Engagement
them, turning a passion into action. Service credit Organization (CEO) has created a list of remote
can also be earned by volunteering for tasks service-learning opportunities that can be found
within the Seattle Academy community. by clicking on this link to our website.
All hours must be entered and reflection External Service Opportunities
questions answered completely on the Seattle These opportunities include but are not limited
Academy Community Service Online Tracking to nonprofit organizations such as food banks,
System X2Vol, to receive service credit. Service parks, environmental restoration and/or arts
entries should be entered online within three projects, hospitals, shelters and retirement
months of the service date to be recognized and homes that provide health, human and/or civic
credited. To access the online system, go to: services. External hours can also be earned
https://www.x2vol.com by participating in SAAS- sponsored trips that
contain a service component.
Students can find their student ID # number
logging onto My Backpack, then by clicking Internal Service Opportunities
onto Academic Info, then Student Schedule. Students can earn up to a MAXIMUM of 40
The ID number will be at the top of the page. hours serving as a Teacher Assistant (TA)
for SAAS faculty, an athletic manager or arts
■ At least 80 hours must be earned department stage/production assistant.
outside of the SAAS community. Although students may work more than 40
■ These requirements may be adjusted hours, ONLY up to 40 hours count toward
if a student enters Seattle Academy the graduation requirement. Additional hours
after 9th grade. credited toward the graduation requirement
include peer tutoring and volunteering for SAAS
■ Students are required to bring verification
events like Open House and SAAS in the City.
from outside organizations.
Only the literal amount of hours served will be
■ Service entries must be entered online awarded. Students can TA multiple times, but
within three months of the service date only a maximum of 40 hours will be recognized
to be recognized and credited. toward the graduation requirement.
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 7
SENIOR PROJECT Senior Projects count as .5 English credit and is graded on a pass/fail basis The Senior Project Program is a culminating experience in the Seattle Academy curriculum. An objective of the Senior Project is to provide career-exploration opportunities for students in order to obtain real-life employment experience. As part of Preparing Students for College and Life, the Senior Project Program is offered the final half of spring trimester. This non-paid educational internship is designed to add value to the business and provide students with real-world job experience in an area of interest. Students will work with an advisor during the winter trimester to begin the brainstorming process to determine potential outside internship sites, or to identify an internal domestic project. Senior Projects begin after spring break for a six-week duration. Students who have completed their academic and service credit requirements will then continue with only their internship, which includes regular writing assignments about the work experience and a final presentation. Students will receive English credit for their Senior Projects, which are graded on a pass/fail basis. 2017-2018 Senior Project Mentors and Sites 21 Acres Inspo Network Seattle Repertory Theatre 5focus IUNU Seattle Sounders FC A3 Acoustics Kate Vrijmoet Artist‘s Studio Seattle Storm Alliance for Gun Responsibility King County Department of Public Defense Seattle University Alliant Insurance Services King County Prosecutor’s Office Seattle University Center for Environmental Amphipod, Inc. King County Superior Court Justice and Sustainability Animal Surgical Clinic of Seattle Kaiser Permanente of Washington State Seattle University School of Law Antica Farmacista Leschi Elementary School Seattle University Sports Medicine Audienz Likewise Spruce Street School Avant Physical Therapy Low Income Housing Institute St. Joseph School Bellevue Discovery Preschool Luly Yang Couture Switch Healthcare, Inc Bespoke Treatments Physical Therapy Mead St. Productions llc TAI Madison Park Physical Therapy Bike Works Microsoft The 5th Avenue Theatre Black Umbrella Music Mithun The Center for Wooden Boats Boyer Children’s Clinic Moment The Jewelbox Theater at The Rendezvous Cancer Pathways Newman Partners The Nature Conservancy Capitol Hill Housing NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) The Sports Medicine Clinic Capitol Hill Blog Nuflours The Washington Bus Coal Headwear Oddfellows Cafe Tim Kennedy Music Production CollinsWoerman One Love Foundation Treehouse Columbia City Fitness Center Overlake hospital UCDS Cyrus Biotechnology Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center Unfollow Media LLC Directions on Microsoft Phinney Bischoff United States Congress EasilyBuild.com, Inc. Pike Place Market Foundation/The Market United Way of King County El Centro de la Raza Commons University of Washington Eleven 11 Solutions Port of Seattle University of Washington Botanic Gardens Elmore Electric Post-Prison Education Program Valve Corporation Expedia, Inc. Prime 8 Consulting VOXA Field & Grove Design Studio Pure Watercraft Washington Attorney General’s Office Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum Richmond Public Relations Washington Trails Association foundry10 Salt & Sucre – A Pop-Up Restaurant WONGDOODY GEM Real Estate Partners Salua Lingerie LLC World Affairs Council of Seattle Glasair Aviation LLC USA Saykara Yes on 1631 Hand Crank Films Seattle Children’s Alyssa Burnett Adult Life ZGF Architects Harley Marine Services Center Harvard Avenue School Seattle Children’s Theatre 8 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021
LEARNING SUPPORT Study Skills is a small group, fee-based, elective class. To enroll as a new student in this class, parents meet with the Director of Learning Support to determine if placement is desired. Once a supplemental contract for Study Skills has been signed, a student is scheduled into a Study Skills class. Students receive support for executive functioning, as well as additional content support. Study skills are taught in the context of the content curriculum from students’ core academic courses. As with all electives, students receive an elective credit and a grade for this class and students can take it for multiple trimesters. What does the Study Skills class look like? The class meets during one of their elective blocks. The classes are typically organized around the same grade level but occasionally the grades are mixed if the priority is to have a student with a particular Study Skills teacher or in a specific block. Students work on individually identified goals based on their own specific learning profile, but the group setting allows them to work collaboratively on similar assignments or learn different strategies from peers. Initial emphasis is on developing habits for tracking assignments, time management, willingness to ask for and accept help, and metacognition. Once students have established regular habits around turning assignments in on time, higher order study skills are introduced. Rather than a separate study skills curriculum (i.e., stand alone unit on note taking or mnemonic memory strategies), students are learning to apply these skills to their coursework from their content area classes. While Study Skills teachers can help support students in their content area classes, the class does not provide basic skill remediation, and Study Skills teachers are not necessarily content area specialists across subjects. What else does the Study Skills teacher do to support students? The Study Skills teacher serves as an advocate for the student in helping them navigate their accommodations and communications with their teachers. Study Skills teachers work closely with classroom teachers so they know what the assignment expectations are and can help the classroom teacher better understand the student’s learning profile. The teacher also has regular communication with parents around assignment completion and progress. Who is Study Skills for? Students who typically enroll in a Study Skills class are ones who benefit from high frequency, individualized support for a variety of reasons: • Students who need help with organization and time management • Students who need help with managing stress • Students with specific learning differences who need help in learning how to utilize their accommodations and developing individualized learning strategies to work around their specific areas of challenge • Students who need help with making connections in the curriculum or need more guided practice in doing reading, writing, or math assignments • Students who are waiting for developmental maturity to catch up and need help managing expectations of a fast paced and demanding academic environment Please contact Megan McCall, Director of Learning Support, if you have questions or are interested in learning more about the program. Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 9
CALENDAR OF AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Below is a listing of activities that are offered after school. In creating one’s schedule, it is
important for students to note that the schedules for the after-school activities in the chart
below overlap and conflict with each other, so students need to choose one activity per season.
Questions about individual options or conflicts should be directed to the Athletics Director and/or
Head of the Arts Department.
Please note information below the table with details about participation and auditions/turnouts.
FALL WINTER SPRING
Fall Musical Robotics Robotics Continues
Girls’ Soccer Winter Production Underwater Robotics
Girls’ Volleyball Vocal Ensemble Spring Production
Boys’ Tennis Basketball Boys’ Soccer
Boys’ Golf Wrestling Boys’ Lacrosse
Boys’ Ultimate Frisbee After-School Clubs: Girls’ Lacrosse
Cross Country Squash & Climbing Girls’ Tennis
Girls’ Golf
Girls’ Ultimate Frisbee
Track and Field
Participation and Excellence
All programs represent the school’s philosophy of Participation and Excellence. Certain arts
programs have auditions and sports teams have turn-outs for placement, to ensure that all students
have access to programs and can participate at their appropriate level. In the arts, for example,
there are advanced, intermediate, and beginning levels, and sports teams have varsity, junior
varsity, and additional teams when needed.
Earning Credits
■ PE credit can be earned by participating in the after-school sports on the chart above. Sports
that are part of SAAS clubs (for example, Squash club or Climbing club) do not typically
support enough hours in one trimester to earn PE credit.
■ Arts credit can be earned by participating in after-school performances on the chart above.
Arts Auditions
(See Appendix D for more specific Arts Audition information.)
■ Auditions for fall and winter trimester Theater productions occur at the beginning of the
trimester in which the show is scheduled. The “Spring Production” is open only to Advanced
and Intermediate Acting classes.
■ Auditions for Advanced and Intermediate levels of the Vocal and Instrumental Music, Theater,
and Dance programs occur in spring trimester for the following year.
■ The Advanced and Intermediate levels of arts programs meet during the school day.
■ Advanced Dance also has an after-school commitment for choreography and
advanced technique.
10 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/20212021-2022 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ALPHABETICAL BY DEPARTMENT
Not all electives listed will be offered each year as determined by interest and staffing availability.
rotation and isolation of body parts, movement,
Arts and ranges. Students explore musical phrasing
and rhythm. They develop a basic vocabulary
Graduation Requirement: 7 credits, must include of connective steps and learn to perform them
at least one credit each of Dance, Visual, Theater in a variety of patterns. Students will learn
Arts, and Music. techniques for memorizing choreography and
develop appropriate performance skills. Students
Artistic endeavors require the development are evaluated on classroom participation and
and integration of the following four complex performance, along with their final execution of
skills and processes. The first is engagement. In set choreography. No prior experience required.
this phase, students become acclimated to the
creative environment and begin to recognize Dance for Musical Theater
and exercise their natural creativity. Second is One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
the development of vocabulary and technical This course studies the contributions the art of
skills. Vocabulary both supports the student in dance makes in the world of musical theatre.
dialogue with artists, peers, and teachers, and Students explore how dance is used as a tool in
begins to shape a world view in which the arts order to promote the story line of the musical. In
is in an integrated element. The development of addition to taking an in-depth look at the dance
technical skills allows students to excel in artistic used in classic musicals, the class explores how
expression. Third is performance and exhibition. different styles and techniques lend themselves
Students must be able not only to apply the to certain types of musicals. Students learn basic
skills that are required but also to integrate dance technique. They learn how to translate
these skills into the creative process. Fourth these movements into acting scenarios. They
and last is evaluation and reflection on both the learn how choreography is constructed as well as
product and the process. Students must have the how to memorize it. The class presents a finished
critical skills both to assess their own individual musical number at the end of the trimester.
development and provide constructive feedback
to peers. Introduction to Jazz and Modern Dance
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
Dance A beginning level class that will focus primarily
The following courses satisfy the dance on jazz and modern dance techniques. Jazz
distribution and qualify for arts credit. Extra dance includes rhythmic footwork, sharp and
dance credits can count towards PE credits, stylized movements, and draws from other dance
and once those are complete, towards styles including hip-hop, ballet, and social dance.
elective credits. Modern dance focuses on moving the whole
body with a sense of efficiency and full range of
Ballet motion. Throughout the trimester, students will
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. learn a variety of movements that incorporate
This course explores the art of ballet. Students rhythm, coordination, and making clear shapes
learn the basic concepts and principles of ballet. with their bodies. They will also work on dancing
They study and practice basic dance technique, with a sense of dynamic range, and on making
i.e. proper alignment and centering of the body, it clear to the observer where in the body a
particular movement originates. The class
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 11structure includes a thorough warm-up, exercises Music
that move across the floor, and learning a longer The following courses will satisfy the music
piece of choreography. distribution and qualify for arts credit.
Dance Program Beginning Music Appreciation (formerly
Placement by Audition Beginning Vocal)
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
Intermediate Dance Music Appreciation is a beginning-level survey
Two trimesters: Winter & Spring. of music. The course will cover aspects of the
Open to grades 9-12, by audition. following:
Intermediate Dance is a two trimester course. Listening and Interpreting Music
Classes will focus on dance technique in a Music Theory
variety of idioms including but not limited to: Basic Vocal Technique
ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, Ensemble Building
and musical theater dance. Throughout the Classes will be tailored to the students in the
year, students will also work on fine-tuning their course each trimester. As an introductory course,
technical and artistic skills with challenging prior music experience is not required, but is
movement material that is presented at a rapid always welcome. We will fully embrace the
pace. Rehearsals for the Dance Showcase and Culture of Performance by providing a creative
other performances allow students to focus atmosphere and options for performance
on the performing aspect of being a dancer. opportunities. A portion of this class will be
Auditions will be held in the spring. project-based, so students can tailor their
learning to their own interests within the vast
Intermediate Advanced Dance and wonderful world of music. (Note: this course
Yearlong course. replaces the former Beginning Vocal course).
Open to grades 9-12, by audition.
Intermediate Advanced Dance is a yearlong Choir
course. It is designed for the more serious One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
dance student who has taken at least one or In this class, we will be singing in a group setting
two trimesters of an introductory dance class or with the goals of becoming better singers, being
who has had some outside dance experience. supportive teammates, and creating beautiful
Students should be interested in more detailed music.
training and gaining additional performing We will sing a variety of choral music and learn
experience. Auditions will be held in the spring. aspects of the following:
Vocal technique
Advanced Dance Collaborative Music
Yearlong course. Performance Etiquette
Open to grades 9-12, by audition. Music Theory
Advanced Dance is a yearlong course. It is Aural Skills & Sight-Singing
designed for the more serious dance student in Choir will become a community in which you look
order to provide intensive training in addition to forward to making music and feel comfortable
multiple performing opportunities. There will be an enough to grow your voice. Engagement, Effort,
after-school component to Advanced Dance for and Respect are the core values of this course.
choreography. Auditions will be held in the spring.
Music Production
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
Students will work together to compose, record
and produce original music. Class meets in a
recording studio setting where students have
12 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021access to digital audio workstations, a studio Vocal Revue students will study basic voice
mixing console, and recording equipment, to technique. While the course is relatively casual,
produce and record their songs. The curriculum the performance goals for the class are high, and
will cover song composition, basic audio Vocal Revue has a one-night show.
engineering, music theory, and more.
Vocal Ensemble
Intermediate Music Production Winter Trimester.
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. Open to grades 10-12, by audition.
Preequisite: Music Production. Vocal Ensemble is a one trimester class, after
Intermediate Music Production is for students school, graded Pass/Fail. The Vocal Ensemble
who have taken the beginning level course. will put on a show in February. Students will
Students will continue to develop their technical study voice technique, and the performance
and composition skills while learning audio standards are high. A placement audition is
engineering basics and an in-depth exploration required, and auditions are held in the spring.
of the stereo field. The course will build on
concepts and topics learned in Beginning Jazz Choir III
Music Production, with students completing Two trimesters: Fall and Winter.
individual recording projects as well as sharing Open to grades 9-12, by audition.
in their creative process by way of musical Jazz Choir III is a two-trimester class which
collaborations. performs at school and festival events. Jazz Choir
III focuses on solo and group repertoire from
Advanced Music Production the jazz idiom. While this is the beginning level
Two trimesters: Fall and Winter. Open to grades of our Jazz Choir sequence, expectations in this
11-12, by audition. group are high and require regular homework.
Advanced Music Production is a two trimester, Auditions for this group are competitive and are
audition-based class where students will held in the spring.
create a youth run record label, SAAS Records.
Students will compose original music, learn Jazz Choir II
music as a business, and take their music into the Two trimesters: Fall and Winter.
community in an innovative and entrepreneurial Open to grades 9-12, by audition.
learning model. The curriculum is organized into Jazz Choir II is a two-trimester class. This group
three sections: CREATE (music creation), SHARE performs regularly at school and at the Bellevue
(music as a business), and SERVE (music as a Jazz Choir Festival. Jazz Choir II focuses on
service). The course will feature guest artists, solo and group repertoire from the jazz idiom.
field trips to professional recording studios, Expectations in this group are high and require
opportunities to serve the community, a SAAS regular homework. Auditions for this group are
Records music compilation album, and branded competitive and are held in the spring.
merchandise with all proceeds going to charity.
Jazz Choir I, “The Onions”
Musical Theater Yearlong course.
Winter trimester. Open to grades 9-12. Open to grades 9-12, by audition.
See description under Theater Arts section. Jazz Choir I is a yearlong class. This group
performs regularly at school and community
Vocal Performing Groups functions, at the Reno Jazz Festival, and they
Placement by Audition have an end-of-year concert. “The Onions”
represent the best in Seattle Academy vocal
Vocal Revue music, and therefore will maintain the highest
Spring trimester. of musical standards. Auditions for this group
Open to grades 9-12, by audition. are competitive and are held in the spring.
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 13Instrumental Music research and select a scene, with partner(s), from
Placement by Audition a known work of theater. They will learn how to
prepare a scene from prewritten material and
Jazz Ensemble I & II bring a character to life from that material. The
Yearlong courses. class will culminate with a public performance of
Open to grades 9-12, by audition. their scenes. This class is a prerequisite for other
The SAAS Instrumental Jazz Ensembles are theater arts classes.
yearlong classes, with both intermediate and
advanced instrumental levels. While focusing on Improvisation
a variety of musical styles, the groups work to One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
develop solid skills in performance technique, Students will learn the techniques of acting
sight-reading, self- and group-evaluation, and without prepared text. The class uses techniques
improvisation. Both ensembles are performance derived from Viola Spolin, Theater Sports, Keith
classes and play two evening concerts a year, at Johnstone, and others. Students will learn to
end-of-tri performances, sports manias, traveling make offers, develop characterizations, and be
competitive festivals, and other special events. required to perform on a daily basis. This class
Placement in ensembles is made through an satisfies the prerequisite for other theater arts
audition in the spring and is subject to the classes.
instrument needs of each group. Previous
playing experience of at least one year is highly Costume Design
recommended, but accommodations can be Winter trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
made for beginners taking private lessons. We generally think of a costume as something
that is worn for a performance or Halloween,
String Ensemble but the term actually refers to dress in general.
One Trimester or yearlong. Open to grades 9-12, Each of us puts on a costume every day when
by audition. we get dressed, because the clothing we wear
String Ensemble is a course for intermediate tells the world about us—where we come from,
to advanced level string players (violin, viola, what we think, and what is important to us. In
cello, bass). The focus is mainly on playing this class we explore what can be communicated
classical chamber music and learning the skills with clothing both in the world of entertainment
to be a good ensemble player. The repertoire (theatrical costumes) and in our everyday lives
chosen will address the skill level of the group (fashion). Students will explore ideas about visual
as a whole to develop a cohesive group sound communication as they relate to dress through
and produce an accomplished end of trimester research, class discussions, and hands-on
presentation. We will explore and learn chamber projects completed in half scale. Basic sewing
music skills such as verbal and non-verbal and pattern drafting and draping will be taught to
communication, ensemble techniques, musical facilitate the expression of one’s ideas.
expression, sight reading, and performance skills.
Mask Making
Spring trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
Theater Arts Students in this class explore the role of the
The following courses satisfy the theater arts mask in both character development and
distribution and qualify for arts credit. performance. Students will begin with the
development of individual life masks, then move
Beginning Acting on to character masks, and finally to exploration
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. of physical acting using masks.
Students will explore basic aspects of character
creation: improvisation, expression, voice, Musical Theater
diction, projection, and interaction. They will Winter trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
14 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021This course is designed to give students a narrative of a theatrical event. The class will
general introduction into the world of musical focus on use of physical acuity and development
theater. Students will explore basic concepts of sword techniques.
and principles of musical theater and will learn
how to combine the components of music, Technical Theater and Design
dance, and drama to create a finished musical One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
theater number. This course is team taught with This class will function as an introductory survey
a musical director and a choreographer/director. of stagecraft and will walk students through
Musical Theater can count as a Music or the major design forms of set, light, sound, and
Theater credit. costume. Elementary drafting, model work, and
a study of the historical development of the
Playing Shakespeare technical aspects of dramatic art are all studied.
One trimester. Open to grades 10-12. Students need to serve on the technical crew for
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and one SAAS theater show during the course of
women merely players.” Shakespeare’s plays the trimester.
were written to be performed! This class will
explore the tools and techniques actors use to Acting Program
bring Shakespeare’s text and characters to life. Placement by Audition
Students will use the fundamentals of acting and
dramatic text analysis to unlock the meaning Intermediate Acting
and underlying action of Shakespeare’s words. Two trimester class: Fall & Winter.
Students will apply what they’ve learned to Open to grades 10-12, by audition.
monologue and scene work. Particular attention Intermediate Acting focuses on developing
will be placed on the role that the body, voice, ensemble techniques, basic scene study, and
and imagination play in releasing Shakespeare’s an introduction to emotional exploration for the
power and complexity in performance. actor. Students will work on the development
of a short theatrical piece during the second
Sketch Comedy TV Writing trimester. Intermediate students are also eligible
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. to audition for the Spring Main Stage production.
Students will learn proper formatting techniques
for a half-hour situational comedy. They will Advanced Acting
explore story structure, character development, Yearlong course.
and joke writing. Students will learn to write Open to grades 10-12, by audition.
story pitches, episode pitches, create outlines, Advanced Acting students will explore a deeper,
and write dialogue. Various scripts from actual more serious level of character creation. They
television shows will be read, watched, and will explore their inner landscape, personal
analyzed. The class collaborates on writing a obstacles to expression, and deep emotional
half-hour episode of a TV show that has been character work. The class focuses on a
developed over many years at Seattle Academy monologue of the student’s choosing. The work
will focus on the exercises of Jerzy Grotowski,
Stage Combat Stephen Waugh, Sanford Meisner, Ethel Eyler,
Spring trimester. Open to grades 9-12 and Warren Robertson. Auditions for this class
Stage combat is an artistic presentation of are held in the spring.
violence in a theatrical environment. It is
violence based on the principles of reality, Visual Arts
masked by specific techniques that make the The following courses will satisfy the visual arts
actions safe for the performers, and perceived distribution and qualify for arts credit. Beginning
by an audience as reality. The choreographed Studio Arts, required for all incoming freshmen, is
piece is designed to enhance and continue the a prerequisite for all other Visual, Studio, & Media
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 15arts courses with the exception of Film. of work for college admissions and personal use.
A portfolio of student work should demonstrate
Beginning Studio Arts a mastery of basic skills as well as student voice.
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. A portfolio is a visual document of a collection
Beginning Studio Arts instills in each student a of a student’s artwork representing the variety
foundation, rooted in the Elements & Principles and quality of their capabilities as an artist.
of Art. With an emphasis on exploration, students Process Journals will be used throughout the
will work in a variety of media with the focus on year to research, explore techniques, practice,
fundamental skills including drawing, painting, and document the artistic process. Students
mixed-media, and an introduction to digital will be required to submit a portfolio in October
art. Creativity and personal voice is nurtured for colleges, competitions, and supplemental
throughout. Students will learn to reflect on portfolios. Students will continue to refine their
their work and participate in critiques and peer portfolios throughout the year by exploring new
reviews. Art history and contemporary art and mediums, skills, which will culminate in a body of
artists are woven into the curriculum. work for our annual spring art show.
Intermediate Studio Arts Studio Arts
Two trimesters: Fall & Winter or Winter & Spring. Studio Arts courses offer students an opportunity
Open to grades 9-12. Prerequisite: Beginning to focus their creative development on a specific
Studio Arts. medium and/or concept. All of these courses will
Intermediate Studio Arts offers students the help to deepen your understanding and practice
opportunity to take the fundamental skills from of art as well as your portfolio.
BSA and develop them further. With an emphasis The following courses will also satisfy the visual
on observational drawing, painting, and exploring distribution and qualify for arts credit.
personal voice, students will work on longer
term projects and develop a body of work to Studio Arts: Art History Studio
create a portfolio. Research Journals will be used One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. Prerequisite:
throughout to research, explore techniques, Beginning Studio Arts.
practice, and document the artistic process. When creating artwork, it is almost impossible
not to refer to it’s history, whether you are
Portfolio Development aware of it or not. Humans are highly visual
One Trimester, Spring Open to grade 11 creatures and we take and break down images
Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts & Portfolio from the moment we are brought into the
Review world. For artists, Art History is an essential
Portfolio Development is designed specifically area of study. In this course, we will take the
for juniors who are interested in building a position of the artist who is eager to learn of the
portfolio to prepare for art schools and/or for a histories of their craft. Going across the globe,
supplemental portfolio. Students will work on a through eras, and centuries we will discover our
series of works and conceptual ideas, and they own understanding of how our life has been
will strengthen techniques and skills and apply transformed through the arts. Emphasis will be
those to existing work. The course will include on deepening our skills in observational drawing
regular critiques, as well as documenting one’s and painting.
work digitally and uploading images to a drive,
blog, or website portfolio. Studio Arts: Book Making & Paper Engineering
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
Advanced Studio Arts Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts.
Two trimesters: Fall & Winter Open to grades 11- This course offers students hands-on experience
12. Prerequisite: Portfolio Review in a variety of craft design areas. It offers a wide
Students in this class are developing a portfolio range of techniques which includes, but is not
16 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021limited to: paper making, origami folding, card art making materials to found and recycled
making, sculptural books, folded paper designs, materials. Students will create free-standing
paper sculptures, and handmade art journals. objects, working individually and in small groups.
Projects could include handmade papers, Past projects have included articulated figures,
handmade, deconstructed and altered books, topographical paper portraits, architectural
zines, tunel books, origami and paper sculptures. models, site-specific installations, oversized pop
art sculptures and RBG inspired collars!
Studio Arts: Printmaking
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. Ceramics
Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts. One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
This course offers students a hands-on Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts.
experience with the art of multiples. Students As long as humans have been on earth, they
will use drawing skills to transfer images from have worked with clay both for the joy of
one surface to another by replicating images expression as well as to satisfy utilitarian needs.
multiple times with shape, lines, colors, and In Ceramics I we will focus on hand building
textures, by etching, carving, rubbing, and silk- using a low-fire clay and explore both ancient
screening. The artistic practice transfers ink from and modern techniques. We will create both
a plate onto material - typically paper - making sculptural and functional pieces while exploring a
multiple impressions of the original image or variety of surface techniques including sgraffito,
drawing. Projects could include screen-printing relief, printing, glazing, and more!
t-shirts, poster art, etching/lithography, woodcuts,
linoleum reduction printing and monoprinting. Intermediate Ceramics
One trimester Open to grades 11-12.
Studio Arts: New Media Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts & Ceramics
One Trimester Open to grades 9-12. In Ceramics II we will explore longer term
Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts projects with an emphasis on personal voice and
In the New Media class, students learn developing a body of work. Students will also
contemporary tools for expression, have the opportunity to work on the wheel. The
communication, and interaction. Skills such history of this craft and contemporary artists will
as media literacy, programming, projection inform our work.
mapping, installation, social practice, user
interface, and electronics are combined with Fiber Arts
familiar methods of analog artmaking to create One trimester: Fall or Winter.
art that actively engages with an audience as a Open to grades 9-12.
performance or experience. Whether you start Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts.
out by planning digitally and finish in a traditional In this class we will be exploring all things fiber,
fine arts way, OR starting with a fine arts practice with a twist! The goal is to expose you to as many
and refining digitally, the mediums will serve your different kinds of materials as possible, while at
message! the same time pushing you to think conceptually
about how you are using them. We will therefore
3D Mixed-Media be using traditional materials in non-traditional
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. ways and non-traditional materials in traditional
Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts. ways. Projects could include felting, weaving,
In this studio class we will explore three- shibori resist, embroidery, sewing, textile design,
dimensional design from concept to form. We silk-screening and dyeing.
will work with assemblage boxes, found-object
transformations, cardboard, and paper and Graphic Design and Typography
wire sculpture, to name just a few. Mixed-media One trimester: Winter or Spring.
is just that! A mix of things from traditional Open to grades 9-12.
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 17Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts. Beginning Film is designed to introduce students to
This course combines studio work with the film-making process and provide a foundation
classroom instruction, demos, and field trips. for media literacy. You will gain an understanding of
Students will experience an introduction to the how to use equipment and software for producing
visual principles and fundamentals of graphic short films in addition to common techniques for
design as they relate to line, form, color, icon capturing and editing your ideas. We will also
& logo design, and typography. The history of explore how video and cinema is created, and
graphic design and visual communication will consumed in popular and artistic culture and how
also be covered, as well as a look into the way to be informed creators and consumers of this
visual media and design has permeated and content.
affected the cultural atmosphere, both in America
and Internationally. Students will develop Advanced Film
hands-on drawing, sketching, and crafting skills, Two trimesters. Fall & Winter. Open to grades
as well as learn basic digital-based skills using 9-12. Prerequisite: Film & Instructor Review
Adobe software to produce their final projects Advanced Film is a production-oriented class
incorporating text and image, including book or with more in-depth coverage of technical aspects
CD album covers, posters, and more. of film: lighting, cameras and lenses, editing
equipment usage, etc. Exposure to film theory,
Sculpture different genres, new technologies, and analog
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. practices will be introduced to give you an idea
Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts. of the possibilities and history of this medium.
In this repeatable course we concentrate on This course is aimed at giving students maximum
the proficient and safe use of many studio/shop control and ability to express their own vision
tools and explore the most prevalent three- through film during one or two trimesters and the
dimensional art-making techniques. They are: time and space to develop your ideas and see
Reduction (carving,) Fabrication (assemblies), them through to a finished film.
and Casting (multiples from molds and poured
liquids.) Using influences mostly from post-WWII Film Animation
Western artists, students can execute works in Spring trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
wood, stone, steel, aluminum, copper, fiberglass, Prerequisite: None
plaster, concrete, and potentially, some Ever look at a moving image on TV or at the
thermoplastics. A partial list of the tools used in movies that defies reality and ask “How did they
this course includes chisels and knives, rasps, do that?” In this class we will explore some of the
sanders, drills, grinders, and saws. ways animation brings still images to life, whether
they start out as hand drawn pictures, lumps
Media Arts of clay, Lego pieces, real live people, or even
Media Arts courses have limited enrollment computer generated shapes and characters.
due to space and distribution of equipment. We will view many animated works and discuss
Students interested in Media Arts classes will be the techniques used to create them. Then,
selected in consultation with the teachers, based working together as a class, individually, and/or
on enrollment numbers, arts requirements, and in small groups, we will use time-honored manual
individual student schedules. techniques and learn to use computer programs
The following courses will also satisfy the visual like Photoshop, Motion, After Effects, and
distribution and qualify for arts credit. Premere to create our own short animated films.
This class is open to all levels of filmmakers.
Film
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. Film Appreciation
Prerequisite: None Spring trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
18 SEATTLE ACADEMY Updated 4/2021Prerequisite: None shutter speed, or they may check out a school
Learning how to read a film turns passive TV, camera. Students will also learn to scan prints
movie, and other media viewing on its head. By and film to create a digital record of their work.
becoming aware of the production elements of
a film—camera movement, composition, lighting, Photography: Digital
and sound—we become active participants One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
in the media experience. Understanding how Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts.
films influence our thoughts and feelings, we Combining modern technologies with
can look at the cultural and political issues traditional photographic theory, students will
relevant to the time in which the film was made, use digital cameras to create color and black
and gain a greater understanding of what the & white photographs, building a language of
filmmaker is trying to make you believe. During visual literacy. Classes will consist of lectures,
this one- trimester class, we watch and discuss demonstrations, field trips, and group critiques.
films, to gain a greater understanding of the Through introductory assignments, students
power of film. We will also create short film will learn basic camera operations, and explore
reenactments of scenes from these films, using elements and principles of design as they relate
basic filmmaking techniques, to understand how to photographic composition. In the “digital
they were made. darkroom,” students will learn basic image
editing using Adobe Photoshop software.
Film Documentary Students will be given weekly photography
Winter trimester. Open to grades 9-12 and reading assignments and will create a final
Prerequisite: None photography portfolio by the end of the trimester.
Did you know that when you take pictures or Students may use their own digital camera that
videos of friends you are making a documentary? has manual controls for aperture and shutter
We are in the age of the documentary. With the speed, or they may check out a school camera.
use of computers this film form has exploded to
include all kinds of creative techniques. Similar to Photography: Experimental
Beginning Film, in this class we learn the basics Spring trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
of film making as we focus on the documentary Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts.
film form. Learn while creating documentaries In this modern technological age, more and
of your friends, family, places, events, or larger more artists are returning to historic, hands-on
world issues that are important to you. processes to discover the beauty and magic of
light-based image making. The focus of this class
Photography: Black and White is to explore unusual, historic, and experimental
One trimester. Open to grades 9-12. methods of creating photographic images.
Prerequisite: Beginning Studio Arts. Through an intensive hands-on approach we
This is an introduction to black & white film will cover simple camera creation, film exposure
photography designed to teach creative visual and development, darkroom procedures, and
expression through photography, learning an introduction to the history of photographic
manual camera operations and traditional film image-making. Students may explore historical
development, and printing in the darkroom. image-making techniques including cyanotypes
Elements and principles of design will be (blueprints), pin-hole camera and toy camera
explored as they relate to photographic use, and mixed media digital/film combinations.
composition. Classes will consist of lectures, Creativity, personal expression, and exploration
demonstrations, group critiques, and supervised are key in this class. During class there will
lab work during class time. Students will be given be lectures, demonstrations, slide shows,
weekly photography and reading assignments. discussions, and critiques to encourage students
Students may use their own SLR 35mm film to explore the potential of the medium. Students
camera that has manual controls for aperture and will have weekly reading assignments, as well as
Updated 4/2021 CURRICULUM GUIDE 19weekly shooting and printing assignments. and using patterns, abstraction, and algorithms
as programmatic solutions to problems. Students
Advanced Photography will then learn introductory programming
Two trimesters: Fall & Winter. Open to grades 11- concepts in a text-based programming language
12, priority goes to seniors. such as Python and complete example projects.
Prerequisite: Black & White Photography and The course will conclude with an examination of
Digital Photography as well as instructor portfolio the basics of artificial intelligence, including an
review. overview of how it works, potential applications
In Advanced Photography, students will continue of this technology, and ethical concerns
work to develop and refine their own photo- in its development and deployment. Prior
graphic portfolio, explore fine art printing and programming experience is not required.
presentation techniques, and prepare work for a
professional group show. The class is designed Computational Thinking: Dealing with Data
to further students’ understanding of visual One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
language and to explore visual and conceptual Prerequisite: Foundations in CT
concerns in contemporary photography as they Dealing with data is one of the most important
relate to their own work. Students will learn aspects of making progress in any field–
studio lighting techniques for portrait and still from science to business to journalism.
life photography as well as on-location shooting. Understanding the world requires understanding
Advanced readings, demos, field trips, studio and manipulating data. Students in this class will
tours, and critiques will occur. Students may work learn a popular open-source programming and
with Film or Digital photography depending on data analysis software system that will enable
which media is appropriate for their work. We them to explore, make inferences, and visualize
have school cameras, lighting, and advanced data sets in informative ways. Skills learned in
studio equipment to use during class and this class will be widely applicable to many fields
available for checkout. of study and future careers. Prior programming
experience is not required.
Computational Thinking Computational Thinking:
Machine Learning, AI, and the Future
Graduation Requirement: One trimester. Open to grades 9-12.
2 credits (one trimester required in 10th grade; Prerequiste: Foundations in CT.
one trimester can be taken during the 9th - 12th Machine learning, automation, and artificial
grade years). intelligence are technologies that already have
dramatic effects on our daily lives, and will
Foundations in Computational Thinking continue to impact them in challenging ways
One trimester. Typically taken during the 10th –from recommending our music, targeting our
grade year but can be taken in 9th. Required for advertising, and managing our money to driving
graduation. our cars. In many ways these technologies will
Computational Thinking involves solving change the nature of work in many fields. This
problems like a computer scientist - identifying trimester course will explore the technologies
different possible solutions to a particular behind the hype to develop an understanding
problem and selecting elegant, effective, and of how they work, where they are headed,
efficient strategies. Given technology’s important the ethical issues raised by them, and how
role in our lives, it is essential for all students to to navigate a changing world. Students will
develop computational literacy. Students in this complete demonstration programming projects,
trimester course will learn general computational read primary literature, and engage in discussion.
thinking concepts including the four essential Prior programming experience is not required.
ideas of problem decomposition, recognizing
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