Summer @ Saint Mary's

Summer Session 1 & 2: June 2 – August 1, 2025 

This course takes a "big picture" approach, beginning with the study of ecology and progressively narrowing focus to the microscopic level. Students explore ecosystems, biomes, and the dynamics of populations before delving into the molecular foundations of life. Emphasis is placed on understanding how organisms interact within their environments and how these interactions are rooted in cellular and molecular processes. Hands-on lab work, field studies, and collaborative projects foster critical thinking and analytical skills. Students will develop the skills and knowledge necessary for advanced environmental studies and biology coursework. This course is ideal for students passionate about biology in the world and seeking a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of life.

Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Physics or Chemistry.

Summer Session 1: June 2 - 27, 2025
Summer Session 2: July 7 - August 1, 2025

This summer intensive course provides a well-rounded approach to health and physical education, helping students build both knowledge and practical skills for lifelong well-being. The first session focuses on essential health topics such as mental and emotional well-being, healthy relationships, substance prevention, and nutrition. Students will engage in discussions, projects, and interactive activities that develop their ability to make informed health decisions and adopt positive lifestyle habits. The second session shifts to physical education, emphasizing motor skill development, fitness training, and the importance of regular physical activity. Students will participate in a variety of movement-based exercises that enhance cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility while also learning the value of teamwork, personal responsibility, and social engagement in physical activity settings.

Each session: one-half credit

Summer Session 1: June 2 – 27, 2025

This course focuses on the significant role of women in the Bible by examining their stories, historical context, ministries, and lessons in our daily lives. The course will highlight women from the Old and New Testaments, both big names and lesser known, exploring the specific themes of courage, hope, passion, and honesty. Who were these key women in the Bible? How can we understand the importance of their stories? What can the contemporary church learn from them?

Credit: one-half unit.

Summer Session 1: June 2 – 27, 2025

This course covers the basic components of music. Students will master basic music theory: rhythm, key and time signatures, notation, and scales. They will learn to sight read simple melodies and harmonies. Students will also explore broad elements of music history and the interpretation of music. The course will be virtual, both synchronous and asynchronous. There is no course pre-requisite and no previous music study is required.

Credit: one-half unit credit

June 16 - August 2
**This semester course runs in accordance with Marymount University’s summer session

This course introduces students to the content and scope of psychology as a behavioral science and explores topics such as development, language, memory, social influence, personality, and psychological disorders. Students will examine biological, social, and cultural influences on behavior and mental processes and learn to apply psychological principles to aspects of everyday life.

Credit: one-half unit.

Summer Session 2: July 7 - August 1, 2025 

This course provides the opportunity for students to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills using a variety of practical application. This one-semester course will run in partnership with District C, where students will have the opportunity to learn how to solve a complex problem for a real business with a diverse team. Students will also engage meaningfully with our college counseling team to prepare for the college application process, which will include support and guidance for writing effective college essays and short-answer responses. This course will satisfy the 11th grade second Semester seminar course.

Credit: one-half unit; Prerequisite: Seminar 10

Summer Session 2: July 7 - August 1, 2025

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that asks the practical question: What should we do? How do we distinguish between a good choice and a bad one? This course considers some of the most influential ethical schools of thought such as Kantian Ethics, natural law, and utilitarianism to improve the students’ ability to make ethical decisions in a complex world. It also introduces students to Eastern philosophical beliefs, such as Mohism and Confucianism. In addition, the course examines and applies ethical approaches to current events as well as well-documented historical dilemmas. This course will make students evaluate their own beliefs, values, principles, and norms in order to help them navigate their world at Saint Mary’s and beyond. The course also enhances communication skills, develops character and reason skills, and written argumentation.

Credit: one-half unit. Prerequisite: Ancient World History and Modern World History.

Summer Session 2: July 7 – August 1, 2025

The Business for Artists is designed for students who want to develop the professional skills needed to pursue a career in the arts. Through a combination of hands-on projects, discussions, and real-world applications, students will learn how to navigate the business side of being an artist. Topics will include: portfolio preparation, artist statements and bios, pricing your work, exhibit preparation, marketing and branding, selling art. The class will culminate in a project where students will apply their skills to showcase and promote their work and have the opportunity to sell their work.

Credit: one-half credit. Prerequisite: Advanced Art or teacher recommendation

Summer Session 1 & 2: June 10 – August 1, 2025

This course offers an introduction to Euclidean Geometry. Early on, students focus on points, lines, planes, angles, and congruence while working with parallel lines, perpendicular lines, and a variety of triangles. The course emphasizes the study of the conjecture system using deductive and inductive reasoning, and students learn to write formal and informal mathematical proofs. Other topics include transformations, similarity, right triangle trigonometry, and properties of circles. Algebraic principles are integrated throughout the course and technology is used to perform constructions and discover conjectures.

Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Algebra I

Summer Session 1 & 2: June 2 – August 1, 2025 

Spanish II is designed for students who have successfully completed Spanish I. Material from Spanish I is reviewed and expanded upon in order to reach the Novice High proficiency level. At this level, students are encouraged to speak as much as possible in the target language and are prompted to add something more to keep the conversation going. Students will demonstrate the ability to express thoughts in a single time frame, understand main ideas and combine and recombine learned words and phrases to foster communication. Through their engagement with authentic materials, students will continue to strengthen and build upon their listening, reading, and writing skills in the target language.

Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Spanish I.