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Harvard‑Westlake School is divided into a middle school (grades 7, 8, and 9) and an upper school (10, 11, and 12). The academic year is organized into two semesters. The athletic and physical education calendar is organized into three trimesters to approximate the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) seasons. Each semester, students in the upper school are expected to carry no fewer than five academic subjects chosen from the English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, or History and Social Studies departments. In addition, all students are required to participate in the cocurricular and extracurricular programs of the school by attending assemblies and grade-level meetings and by completing their Fine Arts, Physical Education, Community Service, School Internship, and Health and Human Development requirements. Good academic standing and a commitment to honor are essential to promote the school’s community of trust. REQUIREMENTS The following are diploma requirements in grades 10–12: English—three years (required each year) History and Social Studies—two years, through eleventh grade Mathematics—two years, through eleventh grade; three years strongly recommended Foreign Language—two years each of any two languages; the completion of study of one language through level III strongly recommended Science—two years of laboratory sciences, usually taken in grades 10 and 11 Fine Arts (Visual and/or Performing Arts)—one year Physical Education—five trimesters Choices and Challenges (Health and Human Development)—one semester in grade 10 Community Service—required each year School Internship—one period per week for one semester in both grades 10 and 11 Students electing to take multiple Advanced Placement or Honors courses will be counseled by their deans to carefully consider their extracurricular and total work commitments. Courses marked as “two independent semesters” may be taken more than once. Courses marked as “two identical semesters” may not be taken more than once. STUDY SKILLS The following guidelines are intended to serve as a starting point for students as they develop a personalized approach to studying. Students should refer to the guidelines any time they need a quick review of how to begin to organize their work. In the upper school program, suggested study habits, such as reading and note-taking, vary by discipline. Students should always check with their teachers for advice. Harvard-Westlake Study Skills Guideline Control your study time. — Use your planner to schedule study periods. Control your study space. —Create a study environment in which you can concentrate and study effectively without distractions. Listen and take notes in class. —Have note-taking materials ready at the beginning of class. —Listen to all parts of what the speaker and your classmates have to say. —Revise and review notes soon after taking them. Read with attention and without distractions. —Notice what kind of material you are reading; adjust your reading style to the text and the course. —Read and reread. Use varied reading techniques: survey, question, read, recite, and review your text. Review class material at the end of each week. —Prepare daily; review weekly WRITING STANDARDS The following standards were adopted as a means of helping students to produce their finest written work. Students should refer to the writing standards guidelines whenever called upon to record their best thinking in their classes at Harvard‑Westlake. Harvard-Westlake Writing Standards Guideline In all academic disciplines, the following standards apply: Write with purpose. Have a point. Write with clarity. Be specific. Avoid vagueness and generalities. Write logically. Make sense. Write with precision. Make every word count. Avoid repetition. Write within the rules. Craft correct, complete sentences. Write what you are asked to write. Address the given task in the required format, whether a lab report, a term paper, or an essay. Write in stages. Remember: your first thought is not always your best thought. Revise your early drafts to meet the above criteria. Proofread your final draft. Write your own paper. All ideas and wording must be your own. Cite any and all sources that you consult. (from the 2008-2009 Curriculum Guide)