NHS Distance Learning Program

VIRGINIA ON-LINE

VIRTUAL ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOOL

(VAPS)

The Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School offers online AP (Advanced Placement) and foreign language courses to students across the state and nation.  Each course contains video segments, audio clips, online discussions as well as text.  Teachers will be available for telephone conversations with students throughout the school day.  VAPS classes offer a flexible learning style.

The Early College Scholars program allows eligible high school students to earn at least 15 hours of transferable college credit while completing the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma.  The result is a more productive senior year and a substantial reduction in college tuition.  Students earning a college degree in seven semesters instead of eight can save an average of $5,000 in expenses.  Participating students sign an Early College Scholars Agreement, which is also signed by the student’s parents or guardians, principal, and school counselor.

There is no charge for Virginia students participating in the Early College Scholars (ECS) program. Tuition and AP exam fees are paid for all ECS students by the Department of Education. School divisions are reimbursed for the AP exam fees for Virginia Early College Scholar students who are enrolled in a VAPS class. There is a tuition charge for non-ECS students enrolled in AP courses of $375 times the Local Composite Index (between $75 and $300). There is no tuition charged for foreign language courses for Virginia public school students.

Prerequisite for all courses offered – Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better for previous years of high school; students must have two written recommendations from current teachers indicating their ability, motivation, and independent work habits prior to enrollment; students should have been absent no more than 10 days in each previous year; students should expect to do no less than an hour of homework each night. 

Advanced Placement Distance Learning Programs:

 Advanced Placement Calculus: (3177)

Prerequisite (set by The College Board):  Students should complete four years of secondary mathematics designed for college-bound students. Courses should include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, and elementary functions.  In particular, before studying calculus, students must be familiar with the properties of functions, the algebra of functions, and the graphs of functions. An understanding of the language of functions is required, as well as the values of trigonometric functions of common angles.

Course Description:  This course is designed to provide a rewarding, stimulating, and challenging program of studies for the student of high mathematical ability

and interest. A traditional course in calculus is presented including limits, continuity, differentiation, integration and applications. The logic and intuitive reasoning of calculus is emphasized. Students should be aware of the demands of this course in terms of time and dedication. Students can earn college credit for this course by scoring from 3 to 5 on The College Board Examination. The AP exam is given in May and the cost of the exam is free. 

Advanced Placement U.S. History: (2319)

            Prerequisite: Students enrolling in AP U.S. History should exhibit above average knowledge concerning historical subjects and should have performed above average in lower level history courses and related fields.

            Course Description: AP U.S. History is designed to develop the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and issues concerning the history of the United States. The class prepares students for intermediate college courses by demanding skills equivalent to those acquired in a full-year introductory college program. Students will learn to assess historical material according to relevance, reliability, and importance by weighing the evidence presented I historical scholarship. AP U.S. History develops the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions based on informed judgment and the ability to present evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. This course includes materials from discovery and settlement to present day America. Students are required to take the AP test in May and the cost of the exam is free.

 Advanced Placement English 12: (1195)

            Prerequisite:  Students enrolling in AP English 12 should exhibit above average reading and writing skills and have performed well in lower level English courses and related fields.

            Course Description: AP English is designed to challenge the student’s ability to think critically, to synthesize literature and to write effectively.  The course will emphasize British Literature but will include literary works from many countries. AP English will refine and improve writing skills. During the first semester, special attention will center on personal and critical essays. The course’s writing unit design will focus on the following areas: thesis statements, proof paragraphs, transitions, epiphanies, parallelism, paragraph unity and coherence, and mechanical errors. The student will analyze literature independently and will correlate concepts with literary backgrounds. In addition, each student will prepare a research paper. The AP course will prepare students for the College Board AP Placement Exam through curriculum and similar procedures.

 Advanced Placement Statistics: (3190)

            Prerequisite:  Stude4nts should exhibit above average skills in math and analysis and have successfully completed a vigorous course in Algebra II, each, and have a least a grade of C.

            Course Description:  This will be a college-level, non-calculus based course in introductory statistics. The syllabus includes: Exploring data: observing patterns and departures from patterns; Planning a study: deciding what or how to measure; Anticipating patterns in advance: introducing probability and simulation: and Statistical inference: confirming models. 

Foreign Languages (Japanese and Latin) Distance Learning Programs:

 Japanese I: (5910) Suggested for grades 9 through 12

            Prerequisite:  Students wishing to take Japanese or Latin MUST submit ay least two letters of recommendation from teachers attesting to student’s potential to work independently, as well as confirming their good study.

            Course Description:  Students begin to acquire skills in understanding speaking the Japanese language. Basic grammar and vocabulary used in daily living, practical conversations, and discussions of Japanese culture are studied. Hiragana, the Japanese syllabary writing system, and Katakana, the Japanese syllabary for foreign words, are taught. A limited number of Kanji, Chinese characters, are also introduced. Through the language, students study History, Geography, culture, and customs of the country.  The role of Japan in the international economy is also explored.

Japanese II: (5920) Suggested for grades 9 through 12

            Prerequisite:  Completion of Japanese I with at least a “B” average and a desire to become more proficient in the language.

            Course Description:  Students increase their knowledge in skills, understanding, speaking, reading and writing Japanese. The Hiragana and Katakana writing systems are reinforced. Approximately 100 Kanji characters are taught. Students are introduced to additional vocabulary and grammar in order to engage in more complex conversation. Through the language students learn more about the history, geography, culture, and customs of Japan. 

Japanese III: (5930) Suggested for grades 9 through 12

            Prerequisite:  Completion of Japanese II with at least a “B” average and a desire to become more proficient in the language.

            Course Description:  Students increase their knowledge and skills of understanding, speaking, reading and writing Japanese. The Hiragana and Katakana writing systems are reinforced. Approximately 100 Kanji characters are reinforced. Students are introduced to additional vocabulary and grammar in order to engage in more complex conversation. Through the language students learn more about History, Geography, culture and customs of Japan. 

Latin I:  (5310) Suggested for grades 7 through 12

            Prerequisite:  Faculty recommendation and an overall GPA of at least a “B” average is required.

            Course Description:  Students begin to develop the cultural understanding linguistic performance skills necessary to experience the culture and classical world. Students will gain greater perspective of the present b examining the culture and language of the Romans in areas such as government, literature, art, architecture, philosophy, and religion. As students begin to understand the impact of Ancient Rome on the present, English vocabulary skills and an understanding of the structure of language begin to develop. Students are encouraged to find examples of Roman culture, mythology, and language still being used in our modern culture.  

Latin II:  (5320) Suggested for grades 9 through 12

            Prerequisite:  Successful completion of English 7, English 8, and middle/high school Latin I, an overall GPA of at least a “B” and have a desire to continue the study of Latin in the classical world.

            Course Description:  Students continue to develop cultural understanding and linguistic performance skills. This study increases awareness of contribution of the Roman civilization to our western civilization, increases the knowledge of the Roman way of life, builds Latin and English vocabularies, improves reading skills, and improves mastery of the structure of both the English and Latin languages. As students learn, they gain a broader perspective of the influence of the past on today’s life and language.

 Latin III:  (5330) Suggested for grades 9 through 12

            Prerequisite:  Successful completion of English 7, English 8, and middle/high school Latin I and II and have a desire to continue the study of Latin and the classical world.

            Course Description:  The formal study of Latin grammar will be completed and at least one grading period will focus on reading actual Latin texts from a variety of authors. Readings will be integrated with the study of cultural and historical topics ranging from Roman pastimes and religious customs and the history of Rome, from the fall of the Republic through the collapse of the Participate in the West.