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Academic Overview

Rooted in centuries of Jewish learning, Kehilla High School cultivates intellectual curiosity, creative thinking, and social responsibility within students of all faiths and backgrounds so that they may graduate with the humility, openness, and wisdom to make the world a better place.

Special Friday Curriculum

In addition to the regular curriculum, KHS students will participate in our special Friday curriculum:

8a - 10a

10a - 12p

12p - 2p

Athletics & Wellness at the JCC

Classes at Vanderbilt University

Social Action / Civic Leadership

Class Descriptions

OTHER COURSES:

Beit Midrash - Hebrew, Talmud, Chumash

Freshman Seminar 

Fine Arts - cinematography, computers, music, art

Physical Education - sports (after school) 

Foreign Language

Chesed Community Service 

Capstone Project

 

MATH

At KHS we believe everyone is a mathematician. Math appears throughout our lives. It is a fundamentally human endeavor and is more than just computation. To help our students see math in this way, we use a project-based learning curriculum that engages students in authentic mathematical activity. We teach math that matters to our students, and we collaborate with them to help them uncover their own math identities.

 

Integrated Math 1

Integrated Math 1 lays a foundation for high school math by introducing students to topics from algebra, geometry, and statistics from which they will build in future math classes. This course emphasizes linear and exponential expressions, equations, and functions, and students are also introduced to reasoning with equations by solving systems of equations in two variables. Students will learn about rigid motions and geometric congruence. Students will also continue their learning and understanding of categorical and interpret quantitative data using linear models.

 

Integrated Math 2

Integrated Math 2 builds upon concepts taught in Integrated Math 1. It expands students’ knowledge of algebra, geometry, and statistics and introduces topics in trigonometry and probability. This course emphasizes quadratic and polynomial expressions, equations, and functions and extends students’ previous knowledge of exponential properties to rational exponents. Students will interpret these functions and others from a real life context. They will also begin working with the complex number system. Students will also learn about geometric similarity, which will lead into the topic of right triangle trigonometry. Students will continue to summarize, represent, and interpret data on two categorical and quantitative variables, and they will be introduced to how to find the probability of compound events.

 

Integrated Math 3

Integrated Math 3 builds upon concepts taught in Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2. This course furthers students’ knowledge of topics in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and probability and has students merge their knowledge from the different topics covered to solve increasingly complex problems. In this course, students will continue their exploration of polynomial and rational expressions, equations, and functions. They will learn approaches for geometric modeling, come to understand properties of circles, and use algebra to prove geometric theorems. Students will also expand their knowledge of trigonometry through an introduction to basic trigonometric functions. They will also continue interpreting data and learn about making statistical inferences from the data.


 

ENGLISH

Freshman Literature: Searching for Meaning

How do we find and make meaning in life? People throughout history have been struggling with this question. Some have found meaning in religion, others in patriotism, and still others in family. In this course, students will read books that offer different ideas of what matters in life and push them to consider and develop an idea of what’s important to them and how to lead a life of meaning. In doing so, students will strengthen their literary analysis and writing skills by digging into the literature to formulate and share their thoughts and ideas.

Speaking My Mind

This course is designed to improve competency in public presentations ranging from informative to ceremonial. This course will also cover techniques in improvisational speaking, which mirrors a real life scenario in which you might be asked to speak publicly with little to no notice. Additionally, this class will work with students to build confidence, particularly when engaging in high-stakes situations like college and job interviews. Students will also be equipped with debate skills to feel comfortable defending their faith, worldview, and positions on various issues. Lastly, we will work on organizational skills when it comes to preparing for the above mentioned scenarios. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the competencies needed to present in front of large groups, while equally feeling comfortable in one on one conversations.

SCIENCE
 
Integrated Introductory Science & Research Methods

In this course, students will become scientists. They will be introduced to science research methods and develop scientific thinking. They will learn foundational topics in physics, chemistry, and biology to set the stage for their continued expansion of scientific knowledge throughout their time in high school. Students will conduct their own experiments and participate in labs to gain an understanding of the hidden and visible properties and systems that exist throughout our world.

 

Physics

In this course, students will be introduced to the foundational principles of physics. They will study motion, forces, energy, and waves and how physics impacts our daily lives. Throughout the course, students will participate in labs to deepen their understanding of the topics, develop their own ideas, and discover the manifestation of the laws of physics in our world. 

 

HISTORY

 

Sociology

Students will explore the ways sociologists view society and how they study the social world. Students will examine culture, socialization, deviance, and the structure and impact of institutions and organizations as well as selected social problems and how change impacts individuals and societies. (Description from TN Social Studies Standards, p. 167).

 

Students will reflect on their own identities and how the society in which they live has shaped them and continues to impact them. They will also consider how their actions impact others and what role they can play in positively influencing their communities.

 

Contemporary Issues

Students will use inquiry skills to examine the issues that impact the contemporary world. Students will analyze the historical, cultural, economic, and geographic factors that have elevated certain issues to levels of concern in the United States and around the globe. Students will engage in research and problem solving in order to better understand and assess significant current issues. (Description from TN Social Studies Standards, p. 139)

 

AP Human Geography

How have humans understood, used, and changed the surface of Earth? In this course, students will use the tools and thinking processes of geographers to examine patterns of human population, migration, and land use. They will look at data and other visual sources to learn about and discuss the spread of cultural practices, the political organization, and the development of agriculture, cities, and industry throughout the world. (Description adapted from College Board.)

BEIT MIDRASH

Inspired by the Idea School, the Beit Midrash program celebrates the concept of Shivim Panim La’Torah, the seventy unique perspectives that coexist within the scope of Torah. We believe that nurturing student perspectives and building a capacity to honor multiple narratives allow for the beautification and growth of Torah. Our program engages students from the full spectrum of Jewish backgrounds.

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