{"id":309,"date":"2021-05-23T16:39:32","date_gmt":"2021-05-23T16:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acaciawaldorfschool.com\/2020\/?page_id=309"},"modified":"2021-06-25T04:40:05","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T04:40:05","slug":"upper-school","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/acaciawaldorfschool.com\/2020\/programs\/upper-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Upper School"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students learn how to take an active role in their own education. \u201cUpper School Students actively take up a search for Truth. Maths and Science subjects such as Permutations and Probability, Algebra, Optics, and Zoology provide necessary understanding about the tangible world and foster the mental acuity needed for this exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStudies of Art History, History Through Music, and History Through Architecture offer opportunities for students to study timeless beauty and works of lasting artistic significance, in the context of human history. In the study of Parsifal, the role of moral responsibility is explored. Victor Jugo\u2019s classic novel Les Miserables<\/em> explores the possibility of human transformation as viewed through the character of Jean Valjean.\u201d<\/p>\n

The search for truth is a personal quest for each Student. This is why teenagers begin to question adults rather than simply ask questions. Upper School Teachers help Students to develop the habits of considering issues from various points of view. A search for truth inevitably requires both Students and Adults to suspend personal beliefs for an extended period of time and entertain other points of view.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Concepts, inquiry, observations, and criticism lead towards individual judgments and are explored in class discussions, hands-on activities, and conversations.\u00a0 Practical, artistic, and academic subjects give a Student a wide experience from which to choose future study or work. Problem-solving and communication skills are practiced, and the curriculum allows a student to develop into a resilient, independent, and clear thinker, and a balanced, capable, and morally responsible young adult.<\/p>\n

Upper School Main Lessons, Skills, Practice, and Subject classes are taught by different Specialists and Subject Teachers, who enliven a Student\u2019s intellect in a rigorous curriculum that builds on the imaginative thinking of the earlier years and supports a Student\u2019s free-thinking, individuality, initiative and interest in the world.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Class Sponsor<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A Class Sponsor is an Upper School Teacher who guides the same Upper School class from Class 9 up to Class 12. \u00a0\u00a0He or she takes on the class\u2019s pastoral care, fosters the well-being of the class, and liaises with class Parents. \u00a0\u00a0The consistent affiliation of a Class Sponsor to the same class fosters a deep bond of understanding between a Teacher, a Student, and a Student\u2019s family.\u00a0 The teacher gets to know a student and a Student\u2019s family through the years.<\/p>\n

When a Teacher forms a relationship with Students and Parents over an extended period of time, as is done in a Waldorf Steiner school, we share both the joys and the sorrows of life.\u00a0 In moments of crises big or small, and especially as a Student enters puberty and young adulthood, one finds a valuable gift in the unconditional acceptance of a Teacher, a steadfast adult who has known the student closely. More importantly, a Teacher embodies authenticity thus encouraging her students to be true to themselves.<\/p>\n

In challenging times, Waldorf Steiner Teachers turn to the same sources that people have turned to all over the world for centuries.\u00a0 Inspiring stories and music, inspirational poems and verses, a time for silent reflection can provide comfort and solace, as well as the right mood to allow Upper School Students to find their own answers to life\u2019s mysteries.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Curriculum Guide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Main Lessons and Subject Classes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Class 9:\u00a0 Polarities<\/strong><\/h4>\n

(15 years)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cClass 9 marks a new beginning for an Upper School Student, with new teachers, new subjects and new ways of working.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Class 9 curriculum focuses on polarities and reflects an adolescent\u2019s need to swing from one extreme to the other.\u00a0 Studies in oppositions in Comedy and Tragedy, Revolutions, Chemistry, and Physics, mirror the inner struggles of opposition that a student feels. The intellect starts to dominate and builds from the imaginative thinking of the earlier years. A Class 9 Student moves on to conceptual thinking and forming judgments.\u00a0 Judgments based on feeling move on to judgments based on observation and understanding.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Main Lesson Blocks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • English: Realism in Literature<\/li>\n
  • English: History of Theater: Comedy and Tragedy<\/li>\n
  • Humanities: History Through Art<\/li>\n
  • Social Sciences: Revolutions<\/li>\n
  • Social Sciences: Philippine History<\/li>\n
  • Biology, Physical Science: Physiology<\/li>\n
  • Chemistry, Physical Science: Organic Chemistry<\/li>\n
  • Physics, Physical Science: Thermodynamics<\/li>\n
  • Mathematics: Algebra, Probabilities<\/li>\n
  • Mathematics: Conic Sections\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Skills Classes<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Maths<\/li>\n
    • English<\/li>\n
    • Science<\/li>\n
    • Research<\/li>\n
    • Computer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Electives<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Creative Writing<\/li>\n
      • French<\/li>\n
      • Marketing<\/li>\n
      • Woodwork, Carpentry<\/li>\n
      • Farming, Gardening<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Subject Classes<\/strong><\/p>\n

        MUSIC<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Choral music: Songs from Around the World, Madrigals<\/li>\n
        • Singing Seasonal Songs<\/li>\n
        • Jazz Band<\/li>\n
        • Guitar, Drums<\/li>\n
        • Stringed Instruments, Orchestra or Ensemble<\/li>\n
        • Reading Music and Working with Rhythms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          MOVEMENT and SPATIAL DYNAMICS<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Rhythmic Precision Movement<\/li>\n
          • Team Sports and Games<\/li>\n
          • Folk Dance, Circus Arts<\/li>\n
          • Eurythmy, Bothmer Gymnastics<\/li>\n
          • Gymnastics<\/li>\n
          • Aikido<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            PRACTICAL and FINE ARTS WORKSHOPS<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Charcoal Drawing<\/li>\n
            • Black and White Watercolor Painting<\/li>\n
            • Printmaking<\/li>\n
            • Vignettes<\/li>\n
            • Basket Weaving<\/li>\n
            • Clay Sculpture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              FILIPINO LANGUAGE<\/p>\n

                \n
              • Oral and Written Learning Through Poetry, Stories, Songs, Crafts, Games<\/li>\n
              • Philippine History and Art<\/li>\n
              • Vocabulary, Reading, and Conversations, Writing, Grammar, Drills, Dictations, Oral Presentations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                TRIPS and WORK EXPERIENCE<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Class Nine Farm Experience<\/li>\n
                • Class Nine Philippine History and Geography Cultural Trip<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Class 10:\u00a0 Balance<\/strong><\/h4>\n

                  (16 years)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  A Class 10 Student has more capacity for reflection.\u00a0 He or she yearns to understand the world and one\u2019s own sense of purpose in it.\u00a0 Increased ability for clarity of thought and balanced judgments helps a Class 10 Student to extricate himself or herself from the unstable nature of his own feeling life and discover his own sense of inner freedom to determine his path in life.\u00a0 The Odyssey and Ancient Civilizations help a Class 10 Student answer inner questions in his or her soul.<\/p>\n

                  Main Lesson Blocks<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • English: Poetry<\/li>\n
                  • English: Odyssey<\/li>\n
                  • Social Sciences: Ancient Civilizations<\/li>\n
                  • Social Sciences: Nation Building<\/li>\n
                  • Biology, Earth and Life Science: Voyages in Development<\/li>\n
                  • Biology, Earth and Life Science: Biosphere and Ecology<\/li>\n
                  • Natural Sciences: Physics: Mechanics<\/li>\n
                  • Mathematics: Sequences and Series<\/li>\n
                  • Mathematics: Trigonometry<\/li>\n
                  • Class Play with an Audience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Skills Classes<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • Maths<\/li>\n
                    • English<\/li>\n
                    • Science<\/li>\n
                    • Research<\/li>\n
                    • Computer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Electives<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • Creative Writing<\/li>\n
                      • French<\/li>\n
                      • Marketing<\/li>\n
                      • Woodwork, Carpentry<\/li>\n
                      • Farming\/Gardening\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Subject Classes<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        MUSIC<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Choral music: Songs from Around The World, Madrigals<\/li>\n
                        • Singing Seasonal Songs<\/li>\n
                        • Jazz Band<\/li>\n
                        • Guitar, Drums<\/li>\n
                        • Stringed Instruments, Orchestra or Ensemble<\/li>\n
                        • Reading Music and Working With Rhythms<\/li>\n
                        • MOVEMENT and SPATIAL DYNAMICS<\/li>\n
                        • Rhythmic Precision Movement<\/li>\n
                        • Team Sports and Games<\/li>\n
                        • Dance<\/li>\n
                        • Eurythmy, Bothmer Gymnastics<\/li>\n
                        • Gymnastics<\/li>\n
                        • Aikido<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          PRACTICAL and FINE ARTS WORKSHOPS<\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • Pastel Colored Drawing<\/li>\n
                          • Watercolor Painting<\/li>\n
                          • Clay Sculpture<\/li>\n
                          • Joinery: Framing<\/li>\n
                          • Weaving<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            FILIPINO LANGUAGE<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Oral and Written Learning Through Poetry, Stories, Songs, Crafts, Games<\/li>\n
                            • Philippine History, Geography, and Art<\/li>\n
                            • Vocabulary, Reading, and Conversations, Writing, Grammar, Drills, Dictations, Oral Presentations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              TRIPS and WORK EXPERIENCE<\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • Class Ten Drama Production<\/li>\n
                              • Class Ten Philippine or Asian History and Geography Cultural Trip<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                 <\/p>\n

                                Class 11:\u00a0 Analysis<\/strong><\/h4>\n

                                (17 years)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                A Class 11 Student can argue the fine points of any point of view with delight!\u00a0 A Student\u2019s intellect now has an increased capacity to be more objective, analyze and understand the laws of the outer world in more detail without being at the mercy of one\u2019s inner feelings.\u00a0 It is also at this time that a Student may experience inner loneliness and question one\u2019s destiny and one\u2019s worth as a human being. The inner questions are answered by Parsifal lessons and Philosophical studies, where a Student can explore life questions that may not simply be answered by the intellect.<\/p>\n

                                COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WORK WEEKS<\/p>\n

                                A Class 11 Student completes 120 hours of community service and 120 hours of continuous apprentice work in a chosen profession during summer months or school breaks. The aims are for a Student to serve a community and gain professional work experience in a field of his or her choice, that will give him or her a view of a future path and career after Upper School.<\/p>\n

                                Main Lesson Blocks<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n