Electives

Course Code: 9520                       

Grade Level: 9                    Credits: 10                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite: None

The 21st Century Learning Skills Seminar is designed for freshman students who elect to take a course providing the structures to maximize their academic achievements while also providing opportunities and guidance to grow as community members and future college and career participants. The course is to prepare students for the rigor of the high school curriculum while also preparing students for the current and future world of work, learning and technology, community, self and social awareness, as well as preparing students for success with the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).  Adapted from curriculum based on 21st Century Skills and ePortfolio, this technically based educational course recognizes that the talents and skills students need to be successful in the future are not the same as they were at the beginning of the 20thcentury. The course explores five main focus areas of self-knowledge, collaboration and community, research and assessment, the communication process and technology within the context of understanding and developing the skills necessary to be a successful student and community member. Communication, creativity, using technology, taking responsibility, and working collaboratively are essential components for success in both high school and the contemporary world.

The Electronic Portfolio (ePortfolio) is an essential tool in the 21st Century Learning Skills Seminar. The ePortfolio allows students to have a hands-on technical approach in monitoring and measuring their progress on a variety of key assignments and activities. Because the ePortfolio is used as a learning tool throughout the year, students are able to learn and interact regularly with technology. In addition to the 21st Century Skills and ePortfolio curriculum, Seminar students will have opportunities to explore strategies from the AVID curriculum. AVID Student Success Skills and AVID College and Career units will be embedded within the course as supplemental materials.  The AVID Student Success Skills unit will be implemented to develop the organizational and study skills necessary to be successful in high school while also providing the support system and monitoring to increase student responsibility and accountability. The AVID College and Career unit will be explored as an extension of the curriculum and may include academic and college counseling from school counselors, advocates and appropriate off site support providers.

The 21st Century Learning Skills Seminar is meant to enrich the students experience and assist students as they learn to become effective team members, citizens of the community, self directed life-long learners, effective researchers, effective communicators and proficient with  technology, and adaptable to change in an ever-expanding world.  

Course Code: 9507                       

Grade Level: 9                    Credits: 10                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite:  GPA range of 2.0-3.5; average or above-average standardized test scores, especially in mathematics; high level of individual determination; motivation; positive attitude; student and parent/guardian contract.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a series of academic, regularly scheduled elective classes that uses writing as a tool for learning, inquiry, and collaboration. The three main components of the AVID program are academic instruction (AVID curriculum), tutorial support, and motivational activities. The mission of the AVID program is to ensure that all students, especially those in the middle who are capable of completing a college-preparatory path, have a chance to succeed and to increase enrollment of these students in four-year colleges and universities. 

Course Code: 9508                       

Grade Level: 10                  Credits: 10                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisites: GPA range of 2.0-3.5; average or above-average standardized test scores, especially in mathematics; high level of individual determination; motivation; positive attitude; student and parent/guardian contract.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a series of academic, regularly scheduled elective classes that uses writing as a tool for learning, inquiry, and collaboration. The three main components of the AVID program are academic instruction (AVID curriculum), tutorial support, and motivational activities. The mission of the AVID program is to ensure that all students, especially those in the middle who are capable of completing a college-preparatory path, have a chance to succeed and to increase enrollment of these students in four-year colleges and universities. 

Course Code: 9509                       

Grade Level: 11                   Credits: 10                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite: GPA range of 2.0-3.5; average or above-average standardized test scores, especially in mathematics; high level of individual determination; motivation; positive attitude; student and parent/guardian contract.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a series of academic, regularly scheduled elective classes that uses writing as a tool for learning, inquiry, and collaboration. The three main components of the AVID program are academic instruction (AVID curriculum), tutorial support, and motivational activities. The mission of the AVID program is to ensure that all students, especially those in the middle who are capable of completing a college-preparatory path, have a chance to succeed and to increase enrollment of these students in four-year colleges and universities. 

Course Code: 9510            

Grade Level: 12                   Credits: 10                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite: GPA 2.0-3.5; average or above-average standardized test scores, high level of individual determination, motivation, positive attitude, student and parent/guardian contract.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID 12) is a series of academic, regularly scheduled elective classes that uses writing as a tool for learning, inquiry, and collaboration.  The three main components of the AVID program are academic instruction (AVID curriculum), tutorial support, and motivational activities.  The mission of the AVID program is to ensure that all students, especially those in the middle who are capable of completing a college-preparatory path, have a chance to succeed and to increase enrollment of these students in four-year colleges and universities. Throughout the school year, the AVID 12 teacher serves as conduit to colleges and universities as well as to academic departments on campus. This individual assists AVID students in applying for college, researching financial aid and housing options, registering for entrance and placement exams, and in preparing for external examinations in the spring. 

Course Code: 9002                       

Grade Level: 10, 11, 12        Credits: 0                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite:  Failing Grade in a previously taken course.

Recognizing the need for students to have credit recovery options in order to prevent students from dropping out of high school, MPUSD offers several credit recovery options through Central Coast High School, the Academic Recovery Centers at each of our comprehensive high schools, After School Programs, and the Adult School. In each of the credit recovery settings, a certificated teacher supports each student in learning the material that is needed to demonstrate proficiency in different subject areas. Some settings incorporate the use of computer‐based programs and assessment that are standards aligned, while others rely on traditional teacher directed instruction.

Students do not receive credit for taking Credit Recovery; they receive credit for the courses they make up during Credit recovery. 

Course Code: 7098                       

Grade Level:  10, 11, 12                   Credits: 10    UC/CSU: Yes

Prerequisite: None

Including Central and South America, Latin America blends a plethora of native and cultures. Its native civilizations provide a complex history of technologically advanced who outsiders observed as unsophisticated and barbaric. The clash of native people colonial conquerors not only pitted vastly different cultures against each other, but created new, hybrid culture unique to Latin America. Natives, foreigners, and mestizos clashed over several centuries until groups identified themselves as Latin Americans. Students will be asked to read primary and secondary sources along with fiction pieces and write several fiction and non-fiction essays. The course will be standards-based with a combination of Social Science and English-Language Arts high school standards.

MPUSD has a significant Latino population with nearly half of its population identifying itself as Hispanic (DataQuest, 2011). Research has found that students are more likely to be successful with content when they are able to connect to it. Though World History standards include Latin America, its coverage is limited to a few sub-standards. This course is designed for students to learn about their backgrounds from both historical and cultural lenses. Students will be able to explore native culture in the Pre-Columbian period and the impact of colonization. An emphasis will be placed on the hybrid culture created but also interactions between Latin America and the United States. As the course will be standards-based, its coverage of Social Science and English-Language Arts allows students to learn how to analyze both fiction and non-fiction documents/ works in a historical/cultural context. Connection to content and standards- based curriculum help make this a dynamic course that caters to students of Seaside High School.  

Course Code: 7464                       

Grade Level: 9-12               Credits:10 (elective)            UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation; 3.0 minimum grade point average. Required for elected student body and class officers. Recommended for class representatives and other interested students.

Student leadership is for those interested in learning leadership skills, improving their school and community, and representing student interests. This course will assist in acquiring excellent leadership abilities through the organization and coordination of proposed activities. The objective is to develop responsibility, initiative, creativity, leadership and school pride; to allow student the opportunity to participate in and plan activities; to successfully run an effective and democratic government; to better understand the importance of good leadership; to become familiar with parliamentary procedures; to appreciate and implement legally required ASB policies. 

Course Code: 9020                       

Grade Level: 11, 12              Credits: 10                UC/CSU: No

Prerequisite: None

The purpose of the Link Crew class is to develop student leadership skills, increase the student’s sense of community, and improve school learning, improve school and social climates and to provide freshman students a successful transition into high school. Link Crew students design and implement ways to connect with freshman through a variety of academic and social activities and exercises both in the classroom, on campus and in the community. Through this program, students learn to be team leaders in addition to developing writing skills, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, team building, time management, reflection and positive role modeling. 

Course Code: 5545                       

Grade Level: 10, 11, 12        Credits: 5                 UC/CSU:

Prerequisite: Student must be 10th, 11th, or 12th grader in good standing and active on one school sponsored athletic team.

The Scholar Athlete Seminar course is designed for those students who elect to take a course providing the structures to maximize their academic achievements while also providing opportunities and guidance to grow as a student athlete. The course is offered for 10th, 11th and 12th grade students involved in athletics with the interest and motivation to maintain or improve academic levels and explore characteristics of leadership within the context of a student athlete.