Students are taught how to study the Bible for themselves. They are also introduced to Theology in the areas of Scripture, God and the Church. One quarter is spent on prophecy, particularly the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Finally, students explore several areas of apologetics including cults, reconciling science and Scripture, and the problem of evil.

Students make further development in personal Bible study skills. In their theological studies they cover the topics of man, sin, and the future. There is a one quarter study in the Book of John. And finally, they pursue the topics of the existence of God, miracles, and criticisms of the Bible.

Students do a study in the Book of Romans. They spend one quarter on developing a Biblical world view and comparing it with competing views. One quarter is spent on Christian history since the first century and missions. Lastly, students interact Biblically with several contemporary issues raised by the class.

Students do a study in the Book of James. They look at what the Bible has to say about practical issues they are facing like choosing a career, finances, and marriage and family. They will read and react to the biography of a Christian figure and develop a presentation of their own testimonies as they prepare for the senior missions trip.

Students begin the course by studying and analyzing the different components of a short story (plot, setting, theme, point of view, character) and identifying different literary genres. Students also study the different elements of drama by reading one of Shakespeare’s plays. Speech preparation and delivery is also learned. Throughout the course, students will analyze and evaluate literature and characters’ actions based on a Biblical worldview.

This course expands on what was taught in ninth grade by studying various modes of literature including allusion, symbolism, irony and allegory. Students also continue to study and identify major literary genres such as biography, short fiction, poetry, drama and personal essay. A play by William Shakespeare is also read and studied. Different types of essays are constructed and students conclude the year by writing a MLA research paper on a topic of their choice. Students learn the importance and skill of analyzing literature from a Biblical worldview.

This course is designed to evaluate the connection between history and culture and the literature of a time period. American literature from the time of the Native Americans to contemporary authors is studied within a Biblical framework. Students write several different types of essays, including a research paper and a literary analysis. Classic American novels are also read and studied.

The focus of this course is British literature from the time of the Anglo-Saxons to the present. Shakespeare is studied and analyzed in depth. Students write literary analysis essays and a MLA style research paper and special attention is given to teaching students to write college level material. Throughout the course, students analyze literature through a Biblical worldview and compare and contrast the worldviews presented in literature with the Bible.

This module prepares student to take either the ACT or SAT tests. Students receive an overview of the tests and their components. Different test taking tactics are learned as well as strategies to increase reading speed and comprehension. Each student takes a diagnostic exam at the beginning of the year to discover what aspects of the test most need to be studied for each individual student. Practice tests are also taken throughout the course for additional practice.

A unique module designed to encourage students to be creative in writing expression. Students have the opportunity to write short stories and poetry. Different elements of poetry and short stories are discussed. Students share their stories and poems with the class for feedback and constructive criticism.

Elements of fantasy are discussed along with what makes a good fantasy. A Christian view of fantasy is also studied. Fantasy literature is read and analyzed through a biblical worldview.

A module designed to explore the lives of famous and influential Christians throughout history. Believers from early Church history through modern times will be studied. Several biographies and autobiographies will be utilized. Students will also glean spiritual lessons for their own lives from this course.

Reading Community allows students to discuss a high-interest novel with others in the class. Students are also given the opportunity to choose a book and share the basic plot and issues the book raises. Different genres of novels are studied.

Students will study Shakespeare’s comedies, tragedies and sonnets. The class not only reads the plays and sonnets but also acts and designs scenes for themselves. A study of Shakespeare’s life and times is also included.

A module intended to teach students life-long study habits and good research practices. Students learn to distinguish good sources from bad or biased sources and to cite sources correctly using the MLA format. The class also learns how to effectively study a textbook or novel, and each individual discovers his or her personal learning style.

This one-year course is divided topically into two parts.  The first semester provides an introductory understanding of the principles of American government and of civic responsibilities.  The second semester begins the exploration of world history, concentrating primarily on ancient and non-western cultures, and emphasizing the development of important social studies skills, such as map and graph reading, analyzing sources, and drawing reasonable conclusions.

This one-year course outlines the major political, social, and cultural developments of our world, and particularly of Western civilization, beginning with Creation, and continuing to the present.  Students are encouraged to examine cause-and-effect relationships, and to continue honing other analytical skills, as they explore the cultures of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean, Europe through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation, and the increasing globalization of the modern world.

Required for graduation, this is a one-year overview of the history of our nation from the Colonial period to the present, using a primarily chronological approach.  Emphasis is placed on the political, social, and historical developments that have shaped our nation today.  The course is designed to encourage thoughtful analysis of current policy challenges within the context of lessons that can be learned from our past national experiences.  Classroom work is supplemented with, debates, research, and a primary source analysis project.

A one-semester course exploring the development and operation of our American government, with primary emphasis on the national government. The course begins by outlining the functions and interrelationships of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of our government, and the importance of the political parties in the formation and execution of domestic and foreign policy. Major emphasis is also given to understanding civil rights and liberties, and the role Christians can and should play as citizens. Learning activities include simulation, supplementary readings and reports, research, and debate. The course includes the U.S. and Illinois Constitution tests, and is required for graduation.

A one-semester course on the principles of the market system. Beginning with the interaction of the factors of production and the laws of supply and demand, students explore the basic principles of the American economic system, including the various forms of business organization, money and banking, and the financial markets. They also explore the role of government in the economy as the Congress and the Federal Reserve formulate and apply fiscal and monetary policies, and respond to the challenges of a global economy.

The study of the individual as created in God’s image using the scientific method. The course covers modern methods of research, study of the brain, consciousness, learning, memory, intelligence and language. The course also investigates disorders of the mind, adolescent development, theories of personality and the flaws of such theories. The practical side of testing and therapy is explored. The course includes the Biblical view of man, including the impact of the man’s fall into sin, as the foundation to the study of the individual.

Using primary and secondary sources the students will chart the progression of European societies in the Exploration of the Americas. This module also focuses on the development of conquered nations in Central and South America prior to European Contact.

Students will chart the progression of European society from the fall of Rome through the rise of nations and the different periods of the middle ages. Students will also evaluate primary sources connected to the time period.

An introduction to the history of the Native American people in present day United States. The Student will describe and evaluate the actions of both the Americans and Native Americans from Colonization through the reservations of the late 1800’s.

This module introduces the change in society from the Middle Ages to the modern age. It also teaches the decline of the medieval Catholic Church and the rise of Protestant Reformers. The students will evaluate the writings of the Reformers compared to scripture.

This module chronicles the major turning points of modern history including the Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Enlightenment (including the American and French Revolutions), Industrial Revolution, Communist Revolution and Non-Violence Movement of the Twentieth Century. Students will also recognize the cause and effect relationship between each of these revolutions.

Students will learn the mythological structures of the major civilizations throughout history including Early Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome, Norse, Hindu, Chinese, and native tribes in Africa, America and Australia.

By the end of this course, students will be able to cite the causes of the World Wars, Major people and battles and evaluate the effects of the World Wars that are still felt today.

The course advances the student in working with unknowns in addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. The student works with graphs in linear and linear inequalities, and furthers his skills with matrices, probability and statistics, transformation, exponents, polynomials and the quadratic functions. This course prepares the student for advanced algebra and geometry.

The geometry course topics include plane and solid geometry, properties of congruence, similarity, ratio and proportion, area, perimeter, and volume of basic figures. The student will write and make constructions of inductive, deductive, and indirect proofs.

The course covers equations and functions, matrices, systems of equations, quadratic functions, polynomial functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, rations functions, binomial theorem, and discrete mathematical concepts.

Trigonometry topics include trigonometric functions and their graphs, identities, trigonometric equations, complex numbers, conic sections, and practical applications. The students’ prerequisites are geometry and algebra II. Calculus topics include problem solving with equations, functions, polynomials, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, law of sines, law of cosines, trigonometric identities and equations, systems of equations and inequalities, parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas, sequences and series, mathematical induction, and the binomial theorem.

Calculus is a course that incorporates many different math subjects together to solve a variety of problems. It also introduces a new method of analyzing functions. By the end of the course, students will find the limits, derivatives and integrals of various functions. They will also apply derivatives and integrals in word problems, physics applications, and area and volume of curves. Students will also be proficient at graphing various functions in the coordinate and polar systems as well as applying advanced mathematical theorems such as binomial expansion and the chain rule of derivations.

A one-semester course required for graduation. Christian stewardship in the areas of time and money are the primary themes of this course. Basic consumer skills such as budgeting, buying a car, buying/renting a house, choosing the right types of insurance and managing investments, are included.

Logic I studies the beginning laws of rational thought, the Syllogism, Venn Diagrams and informal fallacies. Both Logic I & II have the student apply the process to everyday situations around them.

Logic II takes the student through conditional arguments, truth tables, and the theorems used in valid arguments. Both Logic I & II have the student apply the process to everyday situations around them.

This module will describe famous mathematicians through history, the development of math in various cultures and how math is seen in nature and universe. It will focus on common patterns in math as well as some unique mathematical properties.

This course serves as a foundation for the full year courses of chemistry and physics. Students learn the basic foundational principles of matter and energy and the relationships between. Practical hands on learning and everyday experiences demonstrate the

This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic, fundamental concepts of biology. The course of study includes the history biological science, the scientific method, basic chemistry, cytology, genetics, origins, and an examination of all five kingdoms. All material is taught and presented from the philosophy that true science seeks to glorify God and is in agreement with the Bible.

This course is a full high school physics utilizing math skills developed in Algebra. This course covers mechanics, forces, properties of matter, energy, heat, sound and light, electricity and magnetism, and the make up of atoms. Physics underlies all the other sciences and is foundational to understanding chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy.

The chemistry course is inorganic chemistry, which covers the standards of high school chemistry. The topics in this class include atomic structure, periodic table, electron configuration, chemical bonding, chemical formulas, stoichiometry, chemical equations, phases of matter, solutions, chemical kinetics, acid-base reactions just to name a few topics. The object is to prepare the student for college chemistry.

Botany is the study of plants from algae to the flowering plants. This will include identification techniques, soil conditions, and environment. The details of the plants are studied which includes hormones, cell structure, chemical reactions, and response to light. This course includes field identification, grafting, cuttings, and other methods of cultivation. The course provides the student tools to enjoy gardening or preparation for further study in college.

Students will learn the alphabet and will be able to greet and apply simple sentences on weather, school, home, family, and travel. Students will also memorize simple bible verses and learn songs.

Students will learn to apply prior year’s knowledge of vocabulary and sentence structure. Students will learn past tense and future tense. Memorization of bible verses and prayers will be learned, also students will learn about Latin American countries and their cultures.

Students will be learning conversational Spanish. Students will be reading stories (Spanish Literature) and writing stories. Students will be listening to and memorizing Spanish praise music and will be learning about the different festivities throughout Latin America.

Students will build upon the foundation of the last three years of study. Students will continue developing their ability in conversational Spanish. Students will be reading, writing and translating Spanish. Students will continue listening to and memorizing Spanish praise music and learning more about the culture throughout Latin America.

Qualified Westlake and home school students in grades four and up may take the music aptitude test to determine readiness for our Beginning Band program. Beginning Band is for students in their first year of playing a band instrument and placement into this band is based on ability. Students typically receive one 30 minute group lesson and one full band rehearsal per week, held during the school day. Students in Beginning Band finish the first year by performing in a Spring Beginning Band Concert.

Qualified Westlake and home school students in their second year of band participation who have successfully demonstrated skills above the Beginning Band level make up the Intermediate Band. Students typically receive one 30 minute group lesson and one full band rehearsal per week, held during the school day. The Intermediate Band performs at the Christmas and Spring Concerts. Qualified students may perform at solo and ensemble contests held in the spring semester.

Concert Band is for students having acquired the skills necessary to play music at an upper junior high to senior high school level, as determined by the director. Students through 8th grade will typically receive one group lesson per week. The full band currently rehearses three mornings per week as part of this program.

Using a wide variety of musical styles from traditional to contemporary, students in our Choir and various small ensembles develop their vocal skills while glorifying Christ and representing Westlake at school concerts and in a number of church and community activities.

Westlake seeks to provide opportunities for students to express their love for Christ and to develop Christian leadership skills while ministering to fellow believers. Members of this class learn and practice these skills while regularly leading worship in our weekly Upper School chapels.

Students learn composition through the use of the Elements of Art (color, line, shape, value and texture) as well as the Principles of Design (balance, repetition, space, and variety).

Students learn to draw through simple and gradual skill-building assignments, and learn to express themselves by drawing. The drawing techniques taught provide students with a wide variety of skills and methods of working. Students are exposed to: blind contour drawing, self-portrait drawing, still-life drawing, and perspective drawing. They use a variety of media including but not limited to: pencil, colored pencil, pen, ink, and charcoal.

Qualified students may continue onto further levels of Drawing. These students continue to develop the skills and techniques they learned in Drawing I. Students work independently under the supervision of the teacher.

Students develop an understanding of painting, its materials and applications. They explore through painting the interrelated discipline of drawing and design and learn to understand color harmony, balance, and form. The course also encourages the development of objective painting as a means of personal expression.

Qualified students may continue onto further levels of Painting. These students continue to develop the skills and techniques they learned in Painting I. Students work independently under the supervision of the teacher.

Fine Arts I examines the relationships between major philosophical movements in Western Civilization (such as the Enlightenment) and their expression in the arts, both visual and aural, from a Biblical worldview. Fine Arts I begins with Europe in the late Middle Ages and concludes at the transition from the Classical to the Romantic periods, about 1800. The course provides an overview of each main movement or period, with major examples from the arts of the same period, examined through an understanding of Scripture and broader historical context.

Fine Arts II continues the study of the relationships between philosophical movements in Western Civilization and their expression in the arts. Fine Arts II begins with the Romantic period and concludes with contemporary artistic expression, examined from a Biblical worldview. There is no prerequisite for this course; students may take Fine Arts II with or without having taken Fine Arts I.

Music Theory I introduces students to note reading, keys and key relationships, intervals, basic triadic harmony, and introductory formal analysis. Students interested in pursuing music study or students who want to deepen their understanding of the music they already play and sing would be interested in taking this course.

This module continues where Music Theory I finishes, focusing especially on harmony and part-writing, voice leading, and further studies in formal analysis.

An introduction to word processing, using Microsoft Word®. Students learn basic formatting and editing skills, work with styles and themes, and practice enhancing documents with columns, art, text boxes, clip art, and photographs.

The basic structure and functions of spreadsheets are presented in this module using Microsoft Excel®. Students learn basic spreadsheet formulas, and how to construct PivotTables and Graphs to analyze and summarize data for presentation. Students also learn about the use of forms for more efficient and accurate data-entry.

Using Microsoft Access®, students learn about referential databases. They create tables and forms for data entry and storage, and construct queries and reports to analyze and present data. The module also includes a brief introduction of Visual Basic for Applications.

Students create and produce presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint®. This introductory module teaches students to organize their ideas for presentation, and to illustrate them using pictures, graphs, tables, and multimedia. Public speaking skills are also covered.

This module introduces basic techniques used in creating and modifying images using Corel Paint Shop Pro®. Students master various graphics tools while creating, enhancing, and manipulating free-hand images and photographs in this project-based course.

Using computer software, students learn the basics of three-dimensional CAD while constructing a model of a mechanical device. The course introduces many of the principles of mechanical drawing, and reinforces concepts of plane and solid geometry.

Using computer software, students learn the basics of architectural CAD while constructing a model of a house from a plan. Students incorporate pre-made symbols to create attractive presentation drawings similar to those produced by architectural firms for clients. The course introduces many of the principles of mechanical drawing, and reinforces concepts of plane and solid geometry.

Webpage Design is for the student to understand and manipulate the HTML code used for internet purposes and developing website pages. The student learns a user end programming language which can lead into other programming languages.

The high school physical education course is scheduled in the ninth grade. The course is designed to meet various needs of the students at this age as follows: physical fitness development, social interaction, and various other physical, mental, and psychological needs. To do this the course will include a variety of activities such as physical fitness testing, team sports and games, and various lifetime sports and activities. All of these are geared toward encouraging cardiovascular and respiratory improvement, improved fitness level, teamwork, competition, motivation, and rule knowledge.

This course is offered in the ninth grade for one semester. The course is designed to train students in areas of total health: spiritual, mental, physical, and social. These include the life cycle of growth, development, heredity, environmental health issues, diseases, substance abuse, safety, fitness, nutrition, and sexual abstinence education. Some basic anatomy will be covered as it related to these topics. Also covered are methods of maintaining fitness levels to produce healthy cardiovascular and respiratory levels.

This module covers seasonal fitness activities as well as fitness testing. Team and individual sports, rule knowledge, lifetime fitness and game development are a few of the areas covered.

Being a teacher or office aide allows students to view school “on the other side” using a hands-on approach by actually working under the supervision of a teacher or office staff member in a work environment. Students might be given a wide variety of duties which may include copying, grading papers, answering the phones, running errands, etc. Teacher or office aides are very valuable to our teaching faculty and our administrative offices. In addition to the responsibilities a student will daily log or journal the work they have done. At the end of each week their supervisor will review and initial their log. This aide opportunity requires a high level of confidentiality and trust. Students who choose this elective, along with their parents, will be required to sign a statement of understanding, expectations and confidentiality.