Program Overview

The English program is organized around the principle of spiraling skills, building on the skill set students learn in Middle School. All courses expect demanding reading, analytical discussion, and frequent composition, and emphasize literature's varied forms and universal themes. The school expects students to constantly improve their means of expression, both in style and in content. They should gain increasing control over language, leading toward the clear statement of increasingly complex relationships in the literature they read, and in describing and evaluating the complex world around them.

All courses also emphasize self-discovery — developing one’s own voice and values — and the basic cultural knowledge to prepare students for well-informed citizenship. In this pedagogical design, therefore, what varies from course to course is not the skills they practice, but the depth to which we expect students to have mastered them. Skills include the following areas: 1) literature 2) composition 3) grammar 4) vocabulary, and 5) critical thinking. Each course also includes instruction in the specific conventions of college-level academic writing – again, this builds on a set of increasingly complex research tasks initially introduced at the Middle School level. (All courses are UC certified and fulfill the English “b” requirement and all Advanced Placement classes are College Board certified.)

The goal of the Mathematics Department is to have all of its students analyze and communicate information in a mathematical context. All students are capable of reading, writing, listening, and speaking about ideas in a mathematical sense. They have the ability to solve unfamiliar problems; think and reason logically; think algorithmically; collect, organize, and analyze data; become mathematically adept in a technologically complex world; and communicate effectively in mathematical terms.

All students will have the capacity to develop the essential mathematical skills to live in today’s world. (All courses are UC certified and fulfill the Mathematics “c” requirement, but honors credit is given only to the pre-calculus honors class. All Advanced Placement classes are College Board certified.)

The High School science program encourages our students’ curiosity about the natural world while increasing their ability to reason scientifically. The primary goals are to develop a thorough understanding of the core disciplines, to train students to use the tools of science and technology, to prepare them for success in rigorous college courses, and to create the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of science. The scientific method is applied both to lab work and to analyses of science-related issues outside the classroom. (All courses are UC certified and fulfill the Laboratory Science “d” requirement, and all Advanced Placement classes are College Board certified.)

Broad exposure to different eras, cultures, and viewpoints is important to the history department. Therefore, we emphasize historical inquiry, geography skills, awareness of current affairs, and good written and oral communication skills in every class. 

All freshmen take World History, exploring significant cultures and civilizations in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Europe. Sophomores take Human Geography, in which they examine the patterns and processes that have shaped humanity’s understanding, use, and alteration of the physical world across time and geographic locations.

Students entering their junior year have the option of taking regular college-prep or AP U.S. History. Two elective courses are available to seniors: Advanced Topics in Art History and AP Microeconomics. All courses are UC certified and fulfill the History/Social Science "A" requirement, with the exception of AT Art History which fulfills the Visual/Performing Arts "F" requirement. (All Advanced Placement classes are College Board certified.)

The world language program aims to develop the four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), as well as develop understanding of cultural perspectives, practices, and products. It is based on the Proficiency Guidelines and the Standards for Foreign Language Learning, both of which were developed by the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) in cooperation with all the major national language organizations. (All courses are UC certified and fulfill the Language other than English “e” requirement, and all Advanced Placement classes are College Board certified.)

The computer science program trains students to understand the basics of programming and allows for deep, creative study at the highest level. The program begins with the introductory level AP Principles course which focuses on the central ideas of computer science and computational thinking and develops with AP Computer Science A, a Java based programming class. 

Advanced students culminate their studies in the unique Advanced Topics course with a curriculum that challenges students to use their programming skills to develop creative and inspiring original computer science applications. (Both AP courses are College Board, UC certified and fulfill the Compute Science “d” requirement. The AT course fulfills the Visual/Performing Arts "F" requirement and UC Honors.)

The physical education curriculum coordinates and facilitates the process of guiding students to lead healthier lifestyles. The content articulates the knowledge, skills, and confidence students need to maintain meaningful physical activity throughout their lifetime; and the course sequence allows for students to make a successful transition from the physical education instructional program to participation in physical activities during adulthood. 

The curriculum provides a framework that allows for individual responsibility and flexibility by having the students design their program with a variety of physical activities and sports that they enjoy and may wish to participate in for years to come. The classes are organized by semester. Besides taking physical education classes, students can complete their graduation requirement through participation on athletic teams and/or through the independent physical education program.

Students in Visual and Performing Arts classes develop an increased sense of perception, vocabulary, and techniques pertinent to each discipline through their study of music, art, and drama. Students are introduced to works from other cultures and historical periods as they develop skills, refine techniques, and experience the joy of creative expression and personal involvement in the arts. Visual and Performing Arts classes require creative problem-solving and reflective thinking in order for ideas to take form, be analyzed, evaluated, and then refined to create finished work. During the process of exploration and creation, students learn to see new possibilities, reflect upon their work, and continually explore new ideas and possibilities within each discipline. Overall, students develop an understanding and appreciation of the arts by forming criteria for arriving at personal artistic judgments and developing craftsmanship and discipline through the creation of visual art, both two and three dimensional; the performances of instrumental music; or the performance of plays, one-acts, and student written and directed work. (Classes with the VPA designation fulfill the UC visual-and-performing-arts “f” requirement.)

The yearlong Mock Trial program is designed to provide students with an education in the American judicial system. Students learn about the hierarchy of the various courts and become knowledgeable about the inner workings of a civil or criminal trial. Students work as a team to learn the facts of a realistic case file, analyzing the law pertinent to that file, and then conducting a mock trial by playing the roles of attorneys, witnesses, jurors, and court personnel. Students perform in a four-day Mock Trial competition in February and early March. The competition is held in the courtrooms at the Sacramento County Superior Court.

Our year long Journalism class is devoted to producing both The Octagon (the high-school print newspaper published 8 times annually) and The Octagon online (www.scdsoctagon.com). Staffers receive instruction in writing and editing news, features, sports, reviews, and editorials for both print and the Web. They also learn principles of page and Web design, effective use of technology, responsible leadership of their peers; and selling and handling advertising. Discussions concerning the role of the newspaper in both the school and society, including consideration of journalistic principles and ethics, are frequent. The staff attends local and national journalism conventions.

The Medallion, Country Day’s all-school yearbook, is produced by students in a year long VPA elective class. Students learn to choose a theme; design layouts; research, write, and edit stories; photograph students and events; and master advanced computer skills necessary to complete yearbook production. Under the guidance of student editors, the staff collaborates on ideas and strategies for covering 14 grade levels across three divisions in order to thoroughly, accurately, and creatively tell the story of a year at Country Day.

Digital Media is also a VPA elective class designed for students who are interested in exploring the real-world applications of the arts. The course focuses on design and how it pertains to a variety of creative techniques, including digital photography, desktop publishing, and the digital darkroom (Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator). Students develop skills in technology-based programs, problem-solving, communication, and time management that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills.