Core Curriculum

New/Returning Course descriptions 

Acting I – This course introduces students to various acting techniques and elements of theater.
Initial basic acting concepts are presented through improvisation and practical exercises, and
will progress towards monologue and formal scene work. Students will develop the tools
necessary to feel comfortable presenting on stage, and acquire essential skills to react
spontaneously and authentically for honest characterization. By the end of the class, students
will have acquired an understanding of theater terminology, know how to approach
improvisation, develop a character, prepare and perform a monologue, and will have a
foundation for script analysis. Open to all students.

Digital Photography – Students will add depth to the composition basics they learn in film
photography. Themed prompts will be given to add meaning to the photographs as we explore
different genres of photography. Students will learn to use photo editing software and how to
critique and select which photographs to keep. Prerequisite: Film Photography

Microeconomics– Microeconomics deals with the interactions between individual households
and business firms. The concepts of supply and demand will be studied; students will learn what
those concepts mean, how they operate, and how prices are determined. Market structure,
market failure and income distribution will also be considered. This course is meant to give
students insight into the dynamics of a market-based economy and how through this
mechanism scarce resources are allocated. The theoretical and actual role of the government in
this market system will also be addressed. The knowledge gained in the course will make
students better informed citizens and allow them to follow the debates over national economic
policy reported in the news media. The course will also provide a foundation for students who
may enter the fields of business, government or political science. Prerequisites: Sophomore –
Senior

Macroeconomics– Macroeconomics explores the fundamental economic ideas and the
operation of the economy on a national scale. Students will learn about production, distribution
and consumption of goods and services, the exchange process, the role of government, the
national income and its distribution, GDP, consumption function, savings function, investment
spending, the influence of government spending on income and output. The course will also
cover monetary policy, including the banking system and the Federal Reserve System.
Prerequisites: Sophomore – Senior

Painting II – This course is designed to teach students more advanced skills and techniques of
painting. An in-depth study of the transparent and opaque qualities of paint is explored as well
as the various methods of applying paint to a support. Painting II will focus on more advanced
assignments such as portrait, mastery of technique, and developing a theme throughout their
work. Students will apply these techniques in watercolor, acrylic, gauche, and mixed media.
Through the use of historical reference and exploration of different modes of painting such as
realistic, abstract, and nonobjective, students are encouraged to develop their own style of
painting.
Prerequisite: Sophomore – Senior

Principles of Law– The U.S. is a nation of Laws; whether it is a Constitutional discussion of the
Freedom of Speech, or a local regulation requiring a permit to burn leaves, the Law permeates
our lives. Principles of Law is a course designed to familiarize students with all the major
categories of Law and how they affect them. It is loosely structured around the list of courses
that every first-year law student is required to take. It will consist of an overview of
Constitutional, Contract, Criminal, Tort, Property, Business, and International Law. It will also
include an ongoing discussion of the relationship between the Christian faith and the U.S. legal
system. Law, like every Profession, has a unique vocabulary that lawyers use to communicate
complex concepts better. We will learn some of that vocabulary as a way to learn about law. We
will also use group projects, such as a mock criminal trial and a late-night cable product video
production, to apply legal principles. Ultimately, students will learn how to analyze information,
better identify and solve a problem, debate an issue, and think outside of the box.
Prerequisites: Junior – Senior

Videography (Formerly Digital Media) – This course is a study of the concepts, principles, and
terminology of digital image creation, animation, and videography. Students learn how to use
digital cameras and computer software to create, edit, animate, and caption still images and
videos in order to tell imaginative and compelling visual stories. Students will also work with
sound effects, music, and special effects. Use of a Windows or Macbook computer (not a
Chromebook) is recommended. Students who have taken Digital Media may not take this
course. Prerequisites: Technology Fundamentals; Sophomore – Senior

Online Elective Courses: Good Practice for College-Style Learning!

A one-semester of online learning is a requirement at WCHS.  Students can participate in Virtual High School Course or a Dual Enrollment Program through Gordon College or Cedarville University.

About Virtual High School
VHS is computer-based coursework for 9-12 graders, for full WCS credit, using self-paced learning within the framework of a week-to-week schedule. Courses are taught by trained and evaluated subject-certified teachers from the state, region, and nation–even across the world. WCS is a member of a consortium of schools across the country and the world offering a broad curriculum of online courses through The Virtual High School, headquartered in Maynard, MA.

VHS gives students the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of courses not offered at WCS. They can explore subject areas they are interested in, selecting from a full catalog of semester-length and full-year courses including elective standard, advanced placement (AP) and honors level courses. Please keep in mind that a student may not take a course of the identical subject and academic level (i.e. honors, AP, or standard) currently offered at WCHS.

How does it work?
VHS courses are taught using Desire2Learn®, a web-based learning platform. Desire2Learn® allows instructors to build and manage course content; administer tests, quizzes and assignments; report grades and deliver individual feedback to students; and provide an environment for students to study, collaborate and interact.

With VHS, students can “go to class” wherever and whenever they have internet access, be it at school, at home, or even at a bookstore or coffee shop! Because classes and lectures are not synchronous (held or delivered at any set time with all class members together), VHS work can be done at a time convenient to the individual student, offering great scheduling flexibility. A VHS school week runs on a Wednesday to Tuesday schedule. At WCHS, most VHS students use a study hall to work on their VHS course; however, they are not required to do so. They may choose to do all of their VHS class work outside of school hours. Although VHS students work independently, WCS Guidance monitors grades bi-weekly.

Which courses are available?
For a complete listing of courses offered through VHS, click here.