The Birth of a Family
In this course, students trace the journey of Abraham as the progenitor of a tribe. They think critically about the family relationships described in Bereshit (Genesis), from Adam and Eve to Joseph and his brothers. Students are encouraged to evaluate these relationships and use the narratives of Bereshit as a guide for their own development.…
Read MoreCon Law I: Foundations of Authority and Constitutional Design
This Advanced Agora Seminars seminar course investigates the deep historical and ethical roots of Western governance, treating the U.S. Constitution not as a static document, but as the culmination of a millennia-long dialogue regarding justice and power. The course begins by analyzing the transition from ancient legal codes and covenantal structures to the modern social…
Read MoreInternational Relations: Anarchy, Order, and the Global Pulse
This Advanced Agora Seminars seminar course provides an introduction for understanding the “Grand Strategies” and hidden forces that drive global politics. Students are introduced to the major theoretical frameworks used to analyze state behavior, exploring the persistent tension between national interest and international cooperation. The course moves from the historical mechanics of balance-of-power diplomacy to…
Read MoreClassical Mythology
Moving beyond the Mediterranean canon, this Advanced Agora Seminars course treats mythology as the fundamental “software” of human civilization. Students engage in a rigorous comparative study of diverse origin stories, hero cycles, and ethical myths from across the globe to identify universal archetypes and distinct cultural variations. The seminar investigates how these foundational narratives encode…
Read MoreCon Law II: The Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court
This Advanced Agora Seminars course functions as an analytical laboratory for the evolution of individual rights and the mechanics of the American judicial system. Using a case-study methodology, students trace the narrative of civil liberties through the shifting interpretations of the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments. The seminar focuses on the “Great Debates” of…
Read MoreStudy Hall
Study Hall is designed for students who want a quiet and structured time during the school day to complete school work under the supervision of a faculty member.
Read MoreThe Rabbinic Revolution
This course introduces students to the revolutionary innovations of the first generations of rabbis, through the study of passages in Masechet Brachot, Seder Moed, and Seder Nezikin. Students develop core Mishnah text and analytical skills and engage in intensive study of selected passages of Gemara, building the language and critical-thinking skills necessary for studying the…
Read MoreBiology
This course is a study of the composition of living things and their interrelationships. It provides students with an understanding of scientific principles, biological concepts, and methodologies that include cell structure and energy, biodiversity, evolution, heredity, genetics, human systems, and homeostasis. The emphasis is for students to develop their communication, collaboration, inquiry skills and problem-solving…
Read MoreHonors Biology
This is a highly intensive course, designed to challenge while mastering the unifying principles of life at the organismal, cellular, and molecular levels of organization. This course is intended for students who have excelled at the highest levels in their eighth-grade science and social studies courses and are highly motivated and driven to learn at…
Read MorePhysical Education
The Leffell School’s physical education classes for High School students are scheduled for two periods per week. Each student can choose activities which will last three to four weeks. Students can choose from tennis, basketball, floor hockey, football, soccer, softball, pickle ball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, and more. Each student must pass each semester of physical…
Read MoreComputer Science VI
The beginning of this course will cover the basics of video game history, this includes the technologies and companies responsible for what we have today. We will then cover the basics of video game development through the use of the C# programming language in the Unity game engine.
Read MoreGeneral Algebra
This course is designed to give students a solid understanding of the fundamentals of algebraic problem solving by learning to read mathematical problems critically and to present solutions effectively. The course will also help students understand and appreciate how mathematics can be used outside the classroom and in real-world situations. Students in this course will…
Read MoreAlgebra I
This is the first mathematics course in the high school mathematics sequence. It serves as the foundation for the rest of high school and college mathematics by introducing basic concepts and problem-solving strategies that are common to all branches of mathematics and disciplines. Students taking this course will demonstrate the ability to construct valid, complete,…
Read MoreAccelerated Geometry
This is the second mathematics course in the high school sequence. In this course, students will have the opportunity to make conjectures about geometric situations and prove in a variety of ways that their conclusion follows logically from their hypothesis. Geometry is meant to lead students to an understanding that reasoning and proof are fundamental…
Read MoreHonors Geometry
This course will build on algebraic and geometric skills from previous courses. Students are expected to grasp concepts without need for repetition and to be self-motivated, organized, mathematically exceptional, and possess high retention. This is a highly rigorous course for students who have demonstrated exceptional drive and ability to learn mathematics. This course utilizes technology…
Read MoreSpanish V
This advanced-level course further hones and develops students’ writing and speaking skills. Critical-thinking skills are utilized to analyze literary selections, films, and different readings. Personal reflection is incorporated in the form of a journal. Students are encouraged to question, interpret, synthesize, and integrate the Spanish language into their present and future lives while acquiring lifelong…
Read MoreEngineering & Entrepreneurship I-A: E2 Essential Training
In the first semester of Engineering and Entrepreneurship (E2), typically taken in fall semester of ninth grade, students immerse themselves in computer science, coding, and electrical engineering. Students learn foundational concepts including understanding a circuit and computing systems, and learn to program the Arduino microcontroller to work with a variety of sensor input and digital…
Read MoreEngineering & Entrepreneurship I-B: E2 Essential Training Continued
In the second semester of Engineering and Entrepreneurship (E2), students develop and demonstrate conventional fabrication skills using cardboard, wood, and acrylic and digital fabrication skills using computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing, and laser cutting. Concurrently, students develop collaboration and design-thinking skills through multiple team-design challenges and discussions. The second semester provides students with the basic…
Read MoreComputer Science I
This course introduces students to the basic principles of computer science using the Java programming language. We explore the basic foundations and fundamentals of programming to solve problems and create tools. Students learn to create efficient and effective programs through a series of in-class labs. This course (or equivalent experience) is required to take Computer…
Read MoreComputer Science II
This course expands on the fundamentals of computing that are introduced in Computer Science I. Students study the data structures and algorithms that make their everyday life possible, as well as a new focus on Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). Prerequisite: Computer Science I or instructor’s permission.
Read MoreComputer Science III
This course continues to build on the foundation of the previous classes. Students cover advanced topics that open new paths for their projects. The class learns more about how Java functions as a language through the use of interfaces, abstract classes, associations, generics, and collections. Prerequisite: Computer Science II or instructor’s permission.
Read MoreComputer Science IV
This course places students in an environment to explore a selection of advanced topics in computer science. The class works with exceptions, multithreading, and databases. There also is a focus on reading documentation to solve more advanced problems. Prerequisite: Computer Science III or instructor’s permission.
Read MoreComputer Science V
The class will adapt their previously learned Java skills into new projects and ideas. Students will then build new skills through the use of GUI (Graphical User Interface) development to make visually interactive desktop applications. We will explore the use of images, sound, and other assets in our software. Prerequisite: Computer Science IV or instructor’s…
Read MoreSpanish I
Spanish I emphasizes how to learn a foreign language. Students begin by learning the basic regular and irregular conjugations of simple present- and past-tense verbs. The vocabulary presents cognates, family members, numbers, academic subjects, days of the week, months of the year, clothing, seasons, and descriptive adjectives. Students are also exposed to common idiomatic expressions…
Read MoreSpanish II
In the first part of Spanish II, students review grammar from Spanish I. They then proceed to new verb tenses, including the imperfect, future, and present perfect. They also study irregular verb forms and idiomatic expressions. Students are asked to improve their skills in understanding and expressing their points of view appropriate to the second-year…
Read MoreSpanish III
Level III begins with a rapid review of the previous two years’ grammar and vocabulary, after which it focuses on the present and pluperfect tenses, commands, and double-object pronouns. The main grammatical unit is the subjunctive mood, both present and past, with many of its uses. The vocabulary studied is diverse—some of it centered on…
Read MoreSpanish IV
This course provides students with numerous opportunities to continue to discover, learn, and use Spanish in meaningful, creative, and engaging contexts. Authentic reading materials are used to further develop proficiency in the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Grammar is reviewed and used not as an end in itself, but rather as…
Read MoreHebrew I
Hebrew I is for students with little to no prior knowledge of Hebrew (fewer than 150 vocabulary words or struggles with reading and writing). Upon completion of this level, most students will be able to listen, view, and read with comprehension, and write and speak with emerging fluency and accuracy about the following topics: basic…
Read MoreHebrew II
Hebrew I-X progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreHebrew III
Hebrew I-X progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreHebrew IV
Hebrew I-X progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreHebrew V
Hebrew I-X progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreHebrew VI
Hebrew I-XI progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreHebrew VII
Hebrew I-XI progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreHebrew VIII
Hebrew I-XI progress along the track toward Hebrew proficiency. ACTFL, (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language,) defines levels of proficiency as Novice (beginners), Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. Each level is divided into three subcategories, low, mid, and high. Our Hebrew program is designed to advance students in three or four subcategories over the…
Read MoreContemporary Hebrew History & Literature (CHHL)
This course is designed for students at the Advanced to Superior levels of Hebrew language acquisition. Taught entirely in Hebrew, it explores the intersections of Israeli history, society, and literature by studying authentic texts, media, and historical sources. Students engage with a wide range of genres. Emphasis is placed on developing interpretive and presentational skills…
Read MoreHebrew Language & Culture (HLC)
Hebrew Language and Culture (HLC) is a course of study designed for students who struggle with language acquisition and are designed based on the needs of the students in each class. HLC classes use both English and Hebrew as the language of instruction and follow the program outlined above while progressing at a deliberate pace.…
Read MoreWorld History from Medieval to Modern Times
This course covers world history from the early medieval period through the end of World War II in the twentieth century. This is a significant amount of time, and therefore the course is taught primarily as a survey, focusing on major events and important themes. Students also have the opportunity to explore the content through…
Read MoreLiterature and Composition I
This course is designed to create a foundation for the study of English at the high school level. The curriculum emphasizes the study of classics from various genres, the skills of critical reading, and an intensive two-year writing program that continues through the tenth grade. Students learn the skills of annotating, outlining, and essay writing.…
Read MoreAdvanced Independent Science Research I
Independent Science Research (ISR) is a three- and-a-half-year program starting in freshman year, where students independently design and conduct original scientific research with the guidance of a professional scientist mentor. This research is usually conducted over the summer, or it may be conducted during the school year. Areas of potential study include the biological, behavioral,…
Read MoreIntroduction to Art Fundamentals
This course is designed for students who want to pursue art seriously all throughout high school. Each year is designed to build upon the previous year’s experience and knowledge to help build the students own artistic portfolio. During the fall semester, students are introduced to the fundamental elements and principles of art. They gain a…
Read MoreBand
Become a better musician while enjoying many opportunities to share your talent and passion with the entire Leffell School community. This class combines the exploration of contemporary wind band and modern rock/jazz band music and techniques, as well as in-depth study of music theory and composition. The Band is open to all concert and rock…
Read MoreString Ensemble
Share your talent and passion for orchestral music with the Leffell School community. The String Ensemble class will explore historical and contemporary orchestral and string quartet literature while developing individual and ensemble performance skills. In addition to preparing for multiple community performances, students will study music theory in depth. The String Ensemble is open to…
Read MoreChoir
Share your vocal talent with the Leffell School community! The Choir class explores styles of music from different cultures and artistic eras while developing strong vocal technique and ensemble singing skills. In addition to preparing music for community performances, students learn basic music literacy and aural skills. The Choir is open to all students interested…
Read MoreDrama
This course will cover improvisation, scene study, character study, voice and speech, musical numbers as the storytelling actor, method acting, monologue breakdown, ensemble work, audition prep, and more! The course is open to all students wanting to explore the world of theater and performing arts regardless of previous experience.
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