Biology
This course will cover topics in ecology, the cell and cell processes, genetics, evolution, and diversity of life. This course requires extensive and technical reading; therefore, strong reading comprehension skills are recommended.
Physical Science
This physical science course covers basic topics in chemistry and physics. Students will be introduced to scientific thought in these areas and perform labs to enrich their learning.
Patrick Dodd ’93
What is your current title and organization? Describe what you do. I run my own residential real estate business, OMD! Realty, powered by Urban Nest Realty, here in Las Vegas, NV. What is it you love about your work? Well, I never thought I’d do anything other than sing and entertain, but you get older
AP Calculus (PACE)
AP Calculus (PACE) is equivalent to first and second semester college calculus courses and includes the study of limits, derivatives, integrals, and series. This course will prepare students to take the AP Calculus BC exam for possible college credit. Students in this course may register for dual credit through Southeast Community College or Nebraska Wesleyan
AP Calculus
This course covers the topics of first-semester, college Calculus and also includes a review of Pre-Calculus. Students will learn the concepts, rules, and applications of limits, derivatives and integrals. Students may choose to take the AP Calculus AB exam or check with their college regarding the potential to start in the second semester of college
Advanced Math
Advanced Math is offered to seniors who would like an additional year of math following Algebra II or Algebra II Fundamentals. The course reviews concepts from Algebra II and progress into trigonometry, statistics, probability, logic, discrete math, matrices, and consumer math. Daily homework should be expected.
Pre-Calculus
Pre-Calculus is the study of trigonometric, linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions and provides the fundamentals for Calculus. Conic sections, right and non-right triangle trigonometry, and exponential growth/decay are also studied. Graphing calculators are a tool to help analyze functions in the course. This course is recommended for students who plan to major
Trigonometry and Statistics
Students in the first semester of this course will study right-triangle trigonometry, progress into non-right triangle trigonometry, and then cover the unit circle as well as all of the properties, identities, graphs and applications of the six trigonometric functions. The second semester of the course will be an introduction to statistics, data collection, and data
AP Statistics
This course introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data with the goal of understanding the fundamental concepts of statistics. Practical applications are emphasized. Students will design, conduct, and report on their own studies. The AP Statistics exam will be offered in May. Daily homework should be
Differentiated Algebra II
Differentiated Algebra II offers an in-depth continuation of the traditional first year algebra course and progresses into the study or functions, complex numbers, polynomials, radicals, exponentials, logarithms, sequences, series, and matrices. With permission, sophomores may take Differentiated Algebra II concurrently with Differentiated Geometry. Differentiated Algebra II is strongly recommended for college-bound students. Daily homework should
Algebra II
Algebra II is designed for students who successfully completed Geometry or Differentiated Geometry and need more practice in their Algebra skills. Algebra II offers a continuation of the traditional first year algebra course and progresses into the study or functions, complex numbers, polynomials, radicals, exponentials, and logarithms. Daily homework should be expected.
Differentiated Geometry
Differentiated Geometry is concerned about “how” and “why” you arrive at answers to problems, along with “what” the answer is. This step-by-step thinking process is applicable to the problem solving and in depth thinking processes required in everyday applications. This more rigorous course includes constructions and proofs as well as the study of the properties
Geometry
Geometry is a course designed for students who successfully completed Algebra I or for those students who struggled in Differentiated Algebra I. The goal of Geometry is to offer students essential Geometry content and introduce the step-by-step thinking process. Geometry includes constructions and proofs as well as the study of the properties of circles, triangles,
Differentiated Algebra I
The goal of Differentiated Algebra I is to offer traditional algebra content as a foundation for advanced math courses. It will provide students with a more rigorous transition from the concrete elementary mathematics to the abstract thinking of algebra and will engage students in problem-solving strategies at a deeper level. Differentiated Algebra I will enable
Algebra I
The goal of Algebra I is to offer students traditional algebra content. It will provide students with a transition from the concrete elementary mathematics to the abstract thinking of algebra and will engage students in practice and problem-solving strategies. Algebra I will expose students to factoring, rational and polynomial expressions, operations with radicals, solving linear
Algebra Essentials
Algebra Essentials is designed to be taken along with Algebra I. It will cover basic skills required to be successful in all high school math courses, along with providing extra practice of skills learned in Algebra I. Topics covered will include fractions, operations with integers, simplifying algebraic expressions, solving basic equations and inequalities, graphing, decimals,
Academic Decathlon
If this course is successfully completed during the 11th or 12th grade, it may satisfy 5 credits of English electives.
Yearbook
Students in the Yearbook class will be responsible for putting together the yearbook for Pius. Work will include creating a visual and written record that reflects the nature of our school. Students will design individual pages and will be required to attend extra-curricular events to take photographs. The course requires students to be self-motivated and
Journalism II
This course is intended for the serious journalism student who wishes to receive additional instruction and practice in this particular area of study. Journalism II students may be eligible for editorial/leadership positions and may work on more in-depth projects. This class is highly recommended for students who are preparing portfolios for admission to a college
Journalism I
Students in Journalism I will learn the processes involved in print and video journalism, such as news writing, feature writing, sports writing, editorial writing, interviewing, editing, photography, graphic design, and videography. Students will be responsible for regularly publishing the Pius Xchange, Pius’ official student publication. Students will choose newsworthy subjects, interview people, write and edit
AP English Literature
This course is designed to mimic the rigor and style of a college level English course. It is organized around the theme of The Other, using various critical lenses such as Post-colonialism, Gender, Historical, Futuristic, etc. to examine the ways in which Otherness and privilege are prominent in both literature and society and are impacted
Classic Literature II
This course continues reading “the best that has been thought and said” throughout the centuries. Emphasis is placed on texts written from 1700-present day. The class is discussion based, with writing as the primary form of assessment, though students should expect the usual forms of assessments, i.e. quizzes, tests and creative projects. By reading and
Classic Literature I
This course introduces students to the best that has been thought and said throughout the centuries. Students will read texts from the ancient Greeks up to selections from contemporary literature. The class is discussion based, with writing as the primary form of assessment. By reading and discussing the great books, students will learn how to
Creative Writing
This course aims to help students refine their writing and critical thinking skills, while providing an opportunity to learn literary techniques that will enhance their natural creativity. Students will write in a variety of genres, and will be graded on the Six Traits of Good Writing (a nationally accepted standard for writing), as well as
