High School Course

This class is policy style progressive Lincoln Douglas debate for students who want to compete on the national circuit. This class would be best suited for students who are interested in competitive debate, want a topic that changes every two months, and prefer one on one debating. Lincoln Douglas is research heavy. To be successful at LD, students will be evaluated based on their depth of understanding of the topic, and their ability to provide extensive evidence. In this class students will learn how to research, they will deepen their knowledge base, learn how to understand multiple perspectives on issues, deal with ethical questions, and develop their note taking and reading skills.

When taking this class, students will be given the opportunity to compete in local and national competitions.

Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy roleplaying game where students pretend to be characters inspired by fiction like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson. The University of Melbourne reported in 2019 that students who play role playing games like this “have higher cognitive abilities than the average population…[including] comprehension, spelling, attention span, and critical thinking.” Philosophy and DND adds a layer of ethical thought experiments to the game, where students will first play the game and then discuss the real-life implications and philosophical basis for the challenges they encountered in the game.

In this debate class, students will learn public forum debate. The students will learn how to work with a partner to construct a case and debate. In public forum debate, every two months there is a new debate topic, so the students will go in depth with each topic, enhancing their abilities to do deep research as well as critical thinking. Taking this class will help students learn how to analyze and respond to arguments, listen more effectively, take better notes, and develop their reading and speaking skills.

When taking this class, students will get the opportunity to participate in in-class and external competitions.

In this year-long course, students will learn both micro and macro economics. This class helps students get an in-depth understanding of economics in order to prepare them for their AP test at the end of the school year. We have a very high pass rate for the students in the course.

This class is for students who are interested in team debate and current events. In parli debate, debaters will get a new topic every time they debate, which over time earns them a wide array of knowledge on current events. Parli debate helps students learn how to work together to construct a case, how to listen well and engage in cross examination, as well as using logic to defend their arguments. In this class students will develop research skills, quick critical thinking, writing, note taking, speaking skills, and extemporaneous speaking skills.

When taking this class, students will get the opportunity to participate in in-class and external competitions.
When taking this class, students will get the opportunity to participate in in-class and external competitions.

This class is policy style progressive Lincoln Douglas debate for students who want to compete on the national circuit. This class would be best suited for students who are interested in competitive debate, want a topic that changes every two months, and prefer one on one debating. Lincoln Douglas is research heavy. To be successful at LD, students will be evaluated based on their depth of understanding of the topic, and their ability to provide extensive evidence. In this class students will learn how to research, they will deepen their knowledge base, learn how to understand multiple perspectives on issues, deal with ethical questions, and develop their note taking and reading skills.

When taking this class, students will be given the opportunity to compete in local and national competitions.
When taking this class, students will be given the opportunity to compete in local and national competitions.

This class is a foundational class that any student with no experience in speech and debate can take! Students will learn skills in four fundamental categories- limited preparation speaking, research based speaking, acting, and debate. This class is great for students who are just starting out, are trying to build their confidence, or refine their speaking skills. This class can be taken multiple times for students to develop proficiency. Our students love this class because it is a fun way to help them develop their writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.

When taking this class, students get the opportunity to participate in in-class competition and external competition.

Intermediate MUN is for experienced students who are competition focused. In MUN, students act as representatives of real countries to solve real-world problems like global hunger, climate change, pandemic preparedness and many more. Unlike debate, this highly competitive event emphasizes a cooperative model rather than an adversarial one. In this class, students will write research papers and learn the details of public policy. Students will develop advanced research writing, public speaking and leadership skills.

Digital Communications will focus on media literacy and how to navigate different media platforms. From digital journalism and research to Instagram, Youtube and podcasting, this class will show students how to keep up in an increasingly digital world. This class will have professional guest speakers, and will teach a variety of real world applicable skills such as: how to make a youtube channel, introductory podcast creation, basics of social media management and algorithm metrics, and identifying credible news sources.

Our congress nationals team is a small group of students who are focused on a competitive, high level development of skills and events that get personal attention from our coaches. On the nationals team, students learn how to write speeches, how to develop a variety of skills, and take those skills to competitions across the United States. On the nationals team, students will work with coaches to create arguments, advance their speeches, and develop their speaking skills. Students who join the nationals team will develop their speaking, writing, research, peer review, and listening skills, as well as enhance their ability to work as a team.

When joining the nationals team, students are encouraged to compete in local and national tournaments.

This class is for students who are interested in team debate and current events. The intermediate level is for students who have experience in Parli debate and who want to compete.

In parli debate, debaters will get a new topic every time they debate, which over time earns them a wide array of knowledge on current events. Parli debate helps students learn how to work together to construct a case, how to listen well and engage in cross examination, as well as using logic to defend their arguments. In this class students will develop research skills, quick critical thinking, writing, note taking, speaking skills, and extemporaneous speaking skills.

Our nationals team is a small group of students who are focused on a competitive, high level development of skills and events that get personal attention from our coaches. On the nationals team, students learn how to write speeches, how to develop a variety of events, and take those events to competitions across the United States. On the nationals team, students learn how to do all events, but can choose to focus on the events they are most interested in. These students will work with coaches to create arguments, advance their speeches, and develop their speaking skills. Students who join the nationals team will develop their speaking, writing, research, peer review, and listening skills, as well as enhance their ability to work as a team.

When joining the nationals team, students are encouraged to compete in local and national tournaments. We cover limited preparation speaking, public address, and interpretation.