For Choate Students
Overview of programs, dates and tuitions for current Choate students.
Recognizing the need to assist students and families in planning their high school career and preparing for college, the Choate Rosemary Hall Summer Programs offers the opportunity for both Term and Immersion courses during its five-week summer session; for Choate students, Summer Programs also offers courses that fulfill graduation requirements.
Although a Summer Programs course does not appear on the student's Choate Rosemary Hall transcript, and hence is not factored into a student's grade point average, there are several advantages in taking a course during the summer:
- A Summer Programs course may satisfy a Choate graduation requirement, with the approval of the Choate Rosemary Hall department head and the Dean of Academic Affairs.
- Successful completion of a Summer Programs course may allow a student to accelerate within a department's sequence of courses.
- A student who is weak in a discipline can gain exposure to course material he or she might find difficult to master in the following academic school year.
A note about transcripts and Choate students who attend Choate Summer Programs: The Summer Programs Office will send summer transcripts to the Registrar’s Office for all known current and matriculating students who attend Choate Summer Programs. If a course taken in the Choate Summer Programs fulfills a graduation requirement, the course will not appear on the Choate transcript; however, the Summer Programs transcript will become a permanent part of the student’s Academic Record.
All other transcripts will be kept on file while the student is at Choate but will not become a permanent part of that student’s Choate Academic record. The College Counseling Office has access to the files in the Registrar’s Office and will use them as needed during a student’s college application process.
Term Courses
The following courses allow students who have participated in an international study program, as well as students who will be entering Choate in the fall, to either complete required or desired courses or, in some cases, fulfill winter school requirements. These courses include:
Mathematics
MA39 Trigonometry
In this course, students will thoroughly examine the six trigonometric functions and their graphs. They learn how trigonometric expressions are evaluated, using not only a calculator, but also reference angle computations. They also review the concept of an inverse function and learn to evaluate and graph inverse trigonometric functions. In addition, trigonometric identities are derived and verified, and students learn a variety of techniques for solving trigonometric equations. The course concludes with a study of right triangle trigonometry and the laws of sines and cosines.
Prerequisite: Algebra II
MA40 Precalculus
This course is fundamentally a study of functions. In addition to gaining a better conceptual understanding of functions in general, students extend their knowledge of polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions. Graphing technology enables students to fully investigate and understand the relationship between families of functions and their graphs. A variety of applications, including growth and decay models, provide students with the opportunity to use mathematics to examine real world phenomena. Depending upon the needs of the students in the class, the course will also draw from such topics as parametric equations, vectors, sequences and series, and limits.This course does not include a study of trigonometric functions.
Prerequisite: Algebra II
History and Social Sciences
HS41 American Government and Politics
(Equivalent to American Political Institutions)
In this foundation course the Constitution and federalism are viewed through the lens of contemporary politics. Students learn how the offices of the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court operate in theory and reality. This course focuses on topics of current interest and major political candidates and their respective party platforms.
Primarily for students enrolled in The John F. Kennedy Institute in Government.
Immersion Courses
Upon successful completion of the course, Choate students will be placed into the next course sequence and may be eligible for placement in an honors course in that discipline. Placement is determined by the academic department.
The admission process is as follows:
Both current and matriculating Choate students are provisionally accepted although they must complete the Summer Programs application Form A and demonstrate proficiency on the subject placement test.
For current Choate students, final acceptance is based on the recommendations of the current subject teacher, department head and form dean.
For matriculating Choate students, final acceptance is based on review of the regular school application materials and review of the subject placement test.
The school's policy is that summer course work supplements the academic program that a student undertakes during the school year and may not be used to obtain a reduction in the school's minimum course load requirement of five courses per term.
In general, Choate recommends the following Immersion Courses:
Algebra I (MA100)
This elementary algebra course focuses on the development of precise and accurate habits of mathematical expression and the application of the tools of algebra to problem solving. The material includes an emphasis on solving and graphing linear equations and inequalities, working with functions, systems of equations, and radical and quadratic equations. Properties of exponents, radicals, informal geometry, probability, data analysis, and matrices are also introduced
- For matriculating Choate students who are strong Pre-Algebra students or who feel their background in Algebra I is adequate but not thorough.
Geometry ( MA200)
A survey of geometry, this full-year course examines the fundamental concepts of Euclidean geometry. Students explore and discover concepts that relate geometry to the real world and other mathematical topics. Connections to algebra help students review and strengthen their problem solving skills. The Geometer’s Sketchpad, a dynamic software package, is used to highlight important topics. After gaining experience making conjectures and testing hypotheses, students progress to writing formal deductive proofs, using flow charts and paragraphs as well as the two-column format.
- For matriculating Choate students who have completed Algera I.
- For current Choate students who have completed Algebra I.
Precaluclus (Precal I) and Trigonometry (Precal II)
Beginning with the study of trigonometric functions, including graphs and some applications, topics also covered include the laws of sines and cosines, trigonometric identities, inverse trigonometric functions, and trigonometric equations. Precalculus topics include polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions with particular emphasis on their graphs and applications. Sequences and series are studied in a formal manner in this course. Quadratic relations in two variables and their graphs are also studied. This course is designed to give the student a thorough background for further study in mathematics, especially calculus.
- For matriculating Choate students with a strong Algera II background.
- For current Choate students in regular or honors Algebra II.
- Students planning to go abroad or who wish to accelerate their math program should consider this course, but only after discussing the matter with Elisa Currie, the Mathematics Department Head.
Conceptual Physics (PH200)
A survey of physics, this full-year course emphasizes a conceptual understanding of fundamental principles governing the universe. Mathematics is used, and exposure to an introduction in Algebra I is expected. The course explores motion, forces, energy, waves, light, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear physics. An evening lab period is planned for Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Note: This course does not replace the physical science graduation requirement for Choate students, but may allow students to advance in their course placement.
- For matriculating 4th form students who have not taken Conceptual Physics but would like to enroll in non-honors Chemistry in the fall.
Languages
First Year French (FR100)
The emphasis in this course is on grammar, oral, aural comprehension, correct pronunciation, and the ability to read and write simple idiomatic French.
First Year Latin (LA100)
This course, using the inductive method, concentrates on bringing students quickly to the stage of reading Latin with confidence. It also provides students with some insight into life in the early Roman empire and provides a coherent word study sequence to improve skills in English vocabulary and grammar.
First Year Spanish (SP100)
This course presents an accelerated introduction to the basic elements of the language and to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Emphasis is on basic language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The acquisition of basic fluency and accurate pronunciation is promoted through the use of a video immersion program .
- For matriculating students who may have had limited or no exposure to the language.
- Especially recommended for students who may have had some exposure (particularly at the middle school level where instruction was mainly in English) to the language. All Choate language courses are taught in the foreign language.