Physics Applications – Engineering

This course is the second term of 9th-grade science following the Physics Foundations course. It offers students an opportunity to further their understanding of physics principles through engineering. Throughout this course, students delve into the practical application of physics, specifically focusing on engineering principles such as design, fabrication, and iteration. Students engage in hands-on exploration and experimentation, applying data analysis and feedback to inform their engineering designs. Topics covered include electricity and circuitry, providing a foundation for understanding how these concepts drive engineering innovation. Prerequisites: Physics Foundations. Honors level offered only with departmental permission.

Physics Applications – Sustainable Energy

This course explores the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, with a focus on understanding climate change and its implications for sustainable energy solutions. This interdisciplinary course delves into the intricate relationship between energy, environment, and society. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students analyze Earth's energy budget and the mechanisms driving climate change, evaluating the scientific evidence behind global warming and its consequences. They delve into various sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy, investigating the physics principles underlying each source and assessing their environmental impact and scalability. By examining real-world case studies, students gain insights into the practical applications of sustainable energy systems and the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Through collaborative projects and presentations, students develop critical thinking skills and propose innovative solutions to enhance energy sustainability and address the impacts of climate change on a local and global scale.  Prerequisites: Chemistry Foundations.

Installation Art

How does place affect and define our sense of being? How can we intentionally and artistically alter these places? This course pulls from a history of artists changing our surroundings indoors/outdoors and in physical community space and virtual spaces. You’ll work collaboratively to create these installations/interventions and collaborate with the participants/audience. Regular discussion of The World of Art and Art History will provide context for our work. Critiques, documentation, and presentation will be essential elements of the class, with an emphasis on both process and product. Prerequisites: Sculpture or by the recommendation from the Visual Arts Department Head.

Student Directed Project – SDP

A Student-Directed Project empowers students to do an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest throughout the term.

The student designs, plans, and leads their research project in collaboration and with the guidance and support of a coach (faculty advisor). It allows students to delve deeper into their passion and to be the designer of their own learning. There is a wide range of Student-Directed Projects; they are multi-disciplinary, non-linear, and most importantly, student-created and led.

That’s what makes them so interesting.

Here are some examples of past projects:

• Creating an architectural model using 3D architectural software
• Through their eyes: Photo and interview series of veterans
• Robosub electromagnetic linear accelerator
• Acoustic pinger for Robosub
• Virtual Reality game for visually-impaired persons
• Creating a concept album
• Dispute: Landlord-tenant board game
• Multimedia journalism: Producing a podcast series
• Perplex: English and Theater Study
• Sensors and fiber optics: Building a fiber optic dress
• Haptic technologies: Force-Feedback Virtual Reality
• Applications of integrals to analytical continuation of functions

Advanced Design & Tech (Honors)

Advanced Design & Tech is a one-term, process-to-production course designed to prepare students for 2 public performances at Beaver. The course begins by focusing on script analysis and design, and then students work as theater technicians and designers to bring the play to fruition with the Advanced Theater Acting and Advanced Costume Design classes. Technical theater roles encompass areas such as stage management, set, light, and sound design as well as technical direction and engineering. Students entering this class should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. This course involves two weeks of rehearsal outside of the regular school day at the end of the process so that the play can be performed in its entirety while adding technical elements and costumes. Recent productions include She Kills Monsters and Exit, Pursued by a Bear. One Term Course: Winter Term  Prerequisites: Design & Tech Studio or permission of the instructor.

Engineering Applications – Robotics

Inspired by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, this robotics course challenges students to design, build, and justify a robotic system under real-world constraints. Students learn not just how to build robots, but how engineers think—balancing budgets, managing risk, learning from failure, and communicating technical ideas. The course emphasizes problem-solving, resilience, and collaboration, culminating in a mission-style final challenge that mirrors how real space missions are designed and executed. Do not take this course if you plan to attend NuVu. Prerequisites: Physics Applications: Engineering or departmental permission.

Advanced Engineering Design – Project Studio (Honors)

This course is intended to give students a more challenging and demanding environment to apply the skills they learned in either Engineering Applications: Robotics (formerly Engineering Design Foundations) or at NuVu and allow them to continue to wrestle and build on solutions to real problems. This course is largely project-based, and students are expected to use class time to research and design solutions to engineering design challenges. All projects are teacher guided but student led, with the goal of learning and using the tools and approaches of the engineering mindset. Prerequisites: Engineering Applications: Robotics or NuVu. Departmental permission required. Offered at the Honors level only.

Design & Tech Studio

Design & Tech Studio is a course for students interested in Technical Theater and/or Theatrical Design. Drawing from many disciplines and utilizing a variety of skills and technology, students will learn to research and communicate their ideas through a series of student-driven individual projects and mainstage shows, allowing them to learn and utilize design and production tools as well as carpentry, scenic painting, props, lighting, and sound. Students will explore how theater artists use these tools for creative problem solving and to communicate with audience members. The successful student would gain an understanding of shop and theater safe working practices, basic construction skills, knowledge of lighting and sound instrumentation and rigging, as well as how communication, planning, and collaboration are central to the health of a theater production. This course can be taken more than once and at the Honors level with permission from the instructor. Students interested in taking more than one art class should reach out to the registrar or the Head of Performing Arts to discuss possible options. Three Term Course No Prerequisites.

Integrated Math 2: Algebra, Geometry, and Data Science

Integrated Math 2 students expand their algebraic reasoning and understanding of mathematical models including quadratic equations and exponential functions. Students also explore probability and build upon their knowledge of transformations, congruence, and similarity while developing logic skills through conjecture, argument, and proof. Investigations in this course build connections between all topics covered. Prerequisites: Integrated Math 1 or Algebra 1. Offered at the Honors and Standard levels. Honors level requires departmental recommendation.

Entrepreneurship with a Purpose

Can entrepreneurship be the response to local and global challenges? Can it serve a purpose beyond being just a money-making endeavor? In this class, you will learn about how businesses are created and why some thrive and others fail. You will also design ideas to start your own business with empathy and a purpose in mind; business ideas that can have a meaningful, positive impact on others. This social entrepreneurship course will look at the change-making potential of people to pursue ideas, solutions, philanthropy and advocacy. You will hear from experts; analyze how businesses operate; explore Boston's thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem; and brainstorm your own startup idea. This class will allow you to present your ideas to investors and organizations that look for purposeful social entrepreneurs to make a difference.

Calculus – Derivatives & Integrals

The Derivatives course includes all of the topics of an introductory Calculus course including limits, derivatives and their applications. The Integrals course includes all of the topics of an introductory Calculus course including definite integrals, indefinite integrals and their applications. Prerequisite: Precalculus. Offered at the Honors and Standard levels. Honors level requires departmental recommendation.

Advanced Math Topics (Honors)

In this course, students will be asked to grapple with a range of topics that extend beyond fundamental calculus topics. Topics covered may include but are not limited to l’Hospital’s rule, linear approximations, differentials, Newton’s Method of Approximation, center of mass, arc length, surface area, and differential equations. Students will be asked to think creatively and apply their knowledge to complex real-world problems and extend their knowledge of fundamental calculus topics. Students taking Advanced Calculus or others with a strong interest in pursuing advanced mathematics at the college level are strongly encouraged. Class offered at the Honors level only Prerequisites: Advanced Calculus or departmental permission