This two-year course is designed to develop practical computer networking knowledge and skills in a hands-on environment. Students will learn the principles and practice of designing, building, and maintaining computer networks. This program will also prepare students for the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam (CNNA), which is an industry-based certification for network technicians who have demonstrated the capability to install, configure, and operate simple routed LAN, routed WAN, and switched LAN networks. (Elective course credit will follow the teacher’s certification.)

Clockwise, an honors seminar given at the senior level, is a multi-disciplinary course with Time as its theme. This one-semester course looks at Time from many different perspectives including those of philosophy, art, science, literature, anthropology and astronomy. Faculty from Lake Forest High School teach Clockwise while professors from Lake Forest College and experts drawn from the community at large serve as guest lecturers.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH — 1/2 Unit of credit Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Prerequisite: Second semester senior and teacher’s approval

Community Outreach is a class for students who wish to learn more about the world beyond their immediate environment and to extend themselves toward others. Class work is experiential and hands-on rather than textbook-centered, with a variety of both in-school and out-of-school service learning experiences during Quarter 3. The focus of Quarter 4 is an intensive investigation/service project focused on the community at large and derived from each student’s specific area of interest. While students are working on their service project—the field study—they are excused from class in compensation for the time they will be spending in the community. Please note they are required to meet with their teacher in conference once a week during this field study time to ensure a successful meeting of goals. Students will demonstrate the results of their projects at the end of the semester in a presentation of reflections, findings, commentary, photographs, and artifacts.

CREATIVITY H — 1/2 Unit of credit Sophomores
Prerequisite: By special invitation based on test scores, teacher recommendation and student application

This one semester course examines Creativity from many different perspectives including art, music, philosophy, science, mathematics, literature, and history. The course focuses on different historical periods which exhibited great surges of creativity. By studying certain creative individuals who have made lasting contributions to mankind, the course explores the process involved in creating. This course is available by invitation only.

ENGLISH WORKSHOP— 1/2 Unit of credit Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: Counselor referral

This course is designed for students whose native language is other than English. Instruction emphasizes enrichment in reading comprehension, written skills, oral communication and vocabulary. Through the use of personal and analytical experiences, students learn to develop well-structured sentences and paragraphs. Students read various literary works appropriate to their mastery of the English language. This course is designed to increase the student’s language proficiency as well as cultural awareness. English as a second language enables the student to function in a mainstream classroom as well as in their social environment.

ENRICHED STUDY — No credit Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite:           Recommendation by Parent or Faculty Member

The purpose of this voluntary program is to provide assistance and support to students in achieving their academic goals.  Students will be coached to become more effective learners by setting their own goals, sharing them with their counselor and parents, working on them daily and receiving regular feedback from their instructor.  Students typically exit from this program by achieving their goals and demonstrating the ability to be successful independently.  Students may stay in this program only as long as they remain committed to working on their goals.  Students will be taught specific strategies in the areas of organization, study skills and test-taking skills.  In addition, students will also be given an opportunity with a school social worker to learn social-emotional skills to contribute to their success, such as managing test anxiety.  Students may re-enter the program each year in a similar way.

FIELD STUDY – 1/4 Unit of credit Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor and Instructional Director
through an application process

Courses offered through this program provide the student with structured curricular experiences outside the regular school calendar – most typically during the summer. Field Study programs combine educational travel with individual research and reading in the area of study. Academic activities generally precede and/or follow the actual travel and the student will submit a variety of work, including journals, research papers, oral presentations, etc., as a requirement for completion of the course and the receipt of credit. The student and his/her parents are responsible for all costs involved in participation in the Field Study program. The specific focus of the Field Study will vary from year to year based upon the interest and expertise of the faculty.

FRESHMAN EXPERIENCE — 1/4 Unit of credit Freshmen
Prerequisite:           Recommendation by Parent or Faculty Member

Freshman Experience provides a supportive learning environment to help freshmen get off to a good start.  Students will be coached to become more productive learners by setting their own specific goals and receiving instructor feedback on a regular basis.  Students will receive individual and small group instruction in time management, organization, note taking, study skills, test taking, self-advocacy and the use of an assignment notebook and/or planner.  In addition, students will be given an opportunity with a school social worker to learn additional social-emotional skills to contribute to their success, such as managing test anxiety.  Time will also be allotted for students to receive assistance with the completing of course assignments and preparing for tests while applying the strategies they are learning. 

WORD POWER – 1/2 Unit of credit Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: None

Word Power is designed to improve English vocabulary skills by analyzing word roots, word formation and cognates. Through a study of the most important Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes, students increase their understanding of etymology and develop precision in the use of words for speaking, writing and comprehension.