Non-Departmental Course Offerings

Click on the name of the course to go directly to its description.

F/S = Semester Course (+) = Honors Point (*) = Possible Course

LEADERSHIP

Term: Yearlong  |   Level: High School Credit (HS)

The Leadership course is a study of the basic concepts of leadership skills. This course is required both semesters for any student holding an ASB position (elected positions or appointed positions).  
Activities and events outside the regular hours of a normal school day are an integral, co-curricular part of this course and participation in them is required for successful completion of the course.

Skills and Assessment: Students will be able to…

  • Communicate and collaborate with other students, faculty, parents, and the community, through meetings, written communication, interviewing, and public speaking.
  • Solve problems and issues through creative thinking, developing vision, and evaluation.
  • Plan and implement a variety of programs and events that address school and community goals, utilizing business skills such as marketing, budgeting, and customer service.
  • Demonstrate developing personal and social skills such as self-esteem, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and group dynamics.

California Education Code section 51228.2; 5 CCR section 1700 Notice of Course Repeat: 
Please note that this course has been designed to be taken more than once even though your student may have previously completed the course and received a grade determined by the District to be sufficient to satisfy the minimum requirements for high school graduation and/or to satisfy the requirements for admission to the California public institutions of postsecondary education.
 

Prerequisite: Election or appointment to Associated Student Body government.

 


BEGINNING JOURNALISM

Term: Yearlong  |   Level: College Prep (CP)   |  UC/CSU "g" requirement

This course offers an introduction to the field of print and journalism with students starting as contributing writers to the Woodbridge High School quarterly student newsmagazine, the Golden Arrow. Students will have the opportunity to compete at local and national levels in write-off competitions and learn from professionals currently working in the field of journalism. This course gives students elective credit towards graduation.

 

Skills and Assessments: Students will be able to...

  • Write professional news stories for print in journalistic style (using leads and the inverted pyramid format) and meet strict time deadlines.
  • Adjust writing style for different sections of the newspaper, including: News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, In-Depth, Opinion and Sports, and make sure all stories adhere to AP style.
  • Use techniques such as interviewing, note taking, photography and credible research to produce factually sound and interesting stories.
  • Use appropriate technology to research, produce and edit stories.

Prerequisite: Grade of B or higher in previous year’s English course or teacher recommendation.


ADVANCED JOURNALISM

Term: Yearlong  |   Level: College Prep (CP)   |  UC/CSU "g" requirement

This course is for advanced writers with a strong grasp in journalistic writing from Beginning Journalism and advanced photographers who will be covering events on campus. The majority of the students in this course will hold leadership roles as Editors for the Woodbridge High School quarterly student newsmagazine, the Golden Arrow. Students will have the opportunity to compete in local and national levels in write-off competitions and learn from professionals currently working in the field of journalism. This course satisfies the “g” elective requirement for admission into a UC/CSU school.

Skills and Assessments: Students will be able to...

  • Write articulately and independently revise and edit their own stories and the stories of others.
  • Write professional news stories for print under strict time deadlines, conduct professional interviews, and proofread articles for mistakes in grammar, spelling and AP style.
  • Use InDesign and/or Photoshop software (depending on leadership role) to layout and design pages or edit photos.
  • Use appropriate technology to research and produce stories, as well as provide continuous feedback to beginning journalists and communicate professionally with others.
  • Instruct beginning journalism students on best prac- tices and guide them through the process of writing for each section of the paper and taking photographs.

 

Prerequisite: Beginning Journalism or Journalism Adviser approval; portfolio and interview for photographers.

 


FALL COMMUNITY WORK EXPERIENCE/
SPRING COMMUNITY WORK EXPERIENCE

Term: Semester  |   Level: Variable

Community Work Experience is a program combining a systematic plan of student part-time employment with school supervision. The part-time job held by the student need not be related to the occupational goal of the pupil. Community Experience is a district program, requiring independent, reliable work habits of the students. Students are allowed regular work permit hours, but not extended hours.

 

Skills and Assessments: Students will be able to...

  • Credits for the program are determined by comple- tion of the related instruction and number of hours worked. Variable credit may be issued to students, with a maximum of ten credits per semester.
  • Students in Community Experience are also required to do related instruction assignments.

Prerequisite: Student must be in 12th grade and at least 16 years of age. The maximum number of allowable credits is ten per semester. No more than 20 credits of Community Work Experience are allowed toward graduation.

 


PEER TUTORing

Term: Semester  |   Level: High School Credit (HS)

This course will create positive interactions between students with and without disabilities. Students will support a student with an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) in both academic and social settings with adult supervision. Over the course of the school year, students will have opportunities to develop leadership skills, problem solving skills, and increase their diversity awareness. Opportunities for relationship building, self-advocacy, and positive behavior are supported.

 

Skills: Students will be able to...

  • Understand and motivate other students
  • Assist students with organization, time managements, and prioritizing
  • Teach test preparation and test taking skills
  • Explain/reteach new content in a new way
  • Identify sources of difficulty in student learning
  • Recognize complex tasks that can be broken into smaller steps
  • Recognize roadblocks in learning and building de- tours around them
  • Create mnemonics to improve automatic recall
  • Evaluate students’ understanding and provide supportive feedback

Prerequisite: Open to grades 10-12; A/B Average in courses or recommendation from counselor (advanced level courses recommended).Pursuant to Education Code Section 51228.1; 5 CCR section 1700, Peer Tutor does not contain educational content required for graduation from a California High School. Student will receive elective credit that counts towards total credits required for graduation. Please consult individual information from teachers and courses regarding this policy.

 


STUDENT ASSISTANT

Term: Quarter  |   Level: High School Credit (HS) up to 10 credits maximum

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to assist administration, counseling, teaching, or other certificated staff during a period of the school day. The student will provide daily support required by staff, but will not be expected to complete curricular assignments. Students are limited in enrollment to one period of aiding at any one time.

The student will adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Arrange his/her student assignment with a certificated staff member
  • Complete WHS student assistant application
  • Complete daily tasks as required
  • Be prompt and attend daily

Prerequisite: WHS student assistant application required; student must obtain permission to aid for chosen certificated staff member during a teaching period; 2.0 GPA or higher; final  approval from administrator. Pursuant to Education Code Section 51228.1; 5 CCR section 1700, Student Assistant does not contain educational content required for graduation from a California High School. Student will receive elective credit that counts towards total credits required for graduation. Please consult individual information from teachers and courses regarding this policy.


Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

Term: Yearlong     I      Level: Elective Credit    |    UC/CSU "f" requirement

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, helps future leaders toward college success and beyond. This course will prepare students for the rigors of college preparatory classes by providing study and organizational skills, as well as tutorial help from college mentors. Students are taught study skills, note-taking, time management, writing skills, and research skills, while being immersed in a college-going culture. The class also includes tutoring sessions that may be led by college students and provide support for success in the academically rigorous curriculum. Additionally, the AVID class provides access to information about colleges and universities through field trips, guest speakers, college tutors, scholarship opportunities, and college admission requirement information. 

Prerequisite: minimum 2.5 GPA, interview, teacher recommendation


Academic Seminar

Term: Semester or Yearlong    I    Level: Elective Credit   I    UC/CSU: N/A

Academic Seminar is a Tier III intervention designed for students in need  of organizational and motivational support, prompting and time for work completion, and additional guidance resources.  Students are selected by their academic counselor after Tier I and II interventions have been unsuccessful. Students are awarded a Pass/Fail mark based on their daily participation in activities designed to support their individual needs.