Independent Learning Time

Students have the opportunity to benefit greatly from Independent Learning Time. With this privilege, students are given the opportunity to:

Learn time management and other life skills
Learn to focus on the process of learning and just not the end goal
Understand material on a deeper level versus simply regurgitating information for a test
Have the flexibility to learn at their own pace
Develop resourcefulness
Self-critique more effectively
Achieve internal satisfaction

Credit Flexibility

Students wishing to design, develop and implement their own independent study course should see their counselor.
Independent Study Time

The time is taken to fill an empty AP® block.
Independent Study Time

The time is taken to fill an unused full academic block.
Honors Independent Study of Engineering
(year; meets outside of classes, often during Activity Blocks. Students will also have periodic work/competition days which can occur during regular class both on and off campus.)

Honors Independent Study Engineering may be taken as a standard letter grade, A-F or Pass/Fail. Students wishing to take the course P/F are required to complete the Pass/Fail Waiver and inform the teacher that they would like to take the course P/F within the first two weeks of the course. Please note: Honors credit cannot be awarded when a course is taken P/F.

Big Ideas: Honors Independent Study of Engineering is provided for students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing one or more engineering content areas in greater depth. It is designed to provide the materials and resources for success in engineering competitions that promote a deeper understanding of STEAM fields. The teacher will act as a facilitator and heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and experimentation. Requirements include travel and time commitments outside of the regular school day. Students in independent study will focus on one or more projects/competitions (constrained by enrollment and interest), which may include, but are not limited to:
- VEX Robotics
- Lexus Eco Challenge
- Design project based on student interest
Independent Study: Ministry Leadership

Prerequisite: Theology 9 and students will be required to take a grade-level theology course in addition to this elective.
Big Ideas: Study the details of prayer and worship in a liturgical context and beyond. This projects-based course will explore the elements necessary to write prayers, plan prayer services and liturgies for the Saint Joseph Academy community while developing a deeper understanding of the liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church. Students will have the opportunity to learn, plan and lead a variety of prayer services for their peers and the entire Saint Joseph Academy community. This course will be offered in conjunction with a study hall. Students will meet two or three times a week dependent on the liturgical schedule.
Independent Study: Ministry Leadership may be taken as a standard letter grade, A-F or Pass/Fail (P/F). Students wishing to take the course P/F are required to complete the Pass/Fail Waiver and inform the teacher that they would like to take the course P/F within the first two weeks of the course.
Independent Study: Ceramics III
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Ceramics I, II a grade of A- or higher and teacher approval.
Big Ideas: Provides for students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing one or more Ceramics content areas in greater depth. The teacher will act as a facilitator and heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and experimentation. Requirements include travel and time commitments outside of the regular school day in addition to daily scheduled class time. Students in Independent Study will focus on one or more projects/ competitions, which may include, but are not limited to:
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition
- Other juried exhibitions that change on an annual basis
AP® Latin: Julius Caesar and Vergil
Prerequisite: Prerequisite 85% or higher in Honors Latin III and teacher approval.
Requirement: The AP^® Latin course will develop the ability to read, translate, understand, analyze and interpret in Latin portions of Books 1, 2, 4, and 6 of Vergil’s Aeneid and portions of Books 1, 4, 5, and 6 in Julius Caesar’s Gallic War. The course will also develop the ability to read, understand, analyze and interpret in English Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 in Vergil’s Aeneid, and Books 1, 4 and 6 in Julius Caesar’s Gallic War. The College Board AP^® Latin syllabus “includes readings in Latin and English from Vergil's Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic War. Reading in English helps students identify significant themes, central characters, and key ideas in the Latin passages” (College Board). Students will analyze Latin and English syllabus readings through historical, social, cultural and political lenses. Students will also examine passages by other authors periodically throughout the course to build at-sight reading skills. “Recommended prose authors include Nepos, Cicero (excepting his letters), Livy, Pliny the Younger and Seneca the Younger … Recommended verse authors include Ovid, Martial, Tibullus, and Catullus ...” (College Board).
- AP syllabus selected passages from Caesar’s De Bello Gallico and Vergil’s Aeneid
- Grammatical structures and vocabulary
- Literary technique of poetry and prose
- Cultural, social and political context of the works of Caesar, Vergil and other contemporaries
Independent Study: Model United Nations

Sessions will meet weekly at teacher’s discretion. Students can only earn credit for this course one time. If a student would like to continue after earning credit, she can join the Model United Nations Club. Independent Study Model United Nations may be taken as a standard letter grade, A-F or Pass/Fail. Students wishing to take the course P/F are required to complete the Pass/Fail Waiver and inform the teacher that they would like to take the course P/F within the first two weeks of the course.
Requirement: Participation in at least one Model United Nations competition is required and students are expected to fulfill academic expectations of conferences. The fee is contingent on the number of students enrolled in the class; however, it is estimated to be a minimum of $30. Further competitions may be available for those who choose to participate, at the student’s expense.
Big Ideas: Created to examine the primary functions of the United Nations and its diplomatic role with respect to the political, economic and cultural concerns of the global community. Through research, discussion, negotiation and debate, students will develop plausible solutions to contemporary global problems. These issues include, but are not limited to, human rights, protection of the environment, economic development, disarmament, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the complexities surrounding war and peace.
Independent Study: Creative Writing
This is an online course.
Big Ideas: Use the creative imagination in the process of writing. Students will submit writing assignments through Google Classroom, complete peer editing through Google Docs and use Schoology to post assignments, share materials and design discussion forums. This class is recommended for students with strong time management skills who enjoy writing. It is also recommended that only students who have a study hall enroll in the course. This is an independent study course, and students will only meet with the teacher during office hours or as needed.
- Write imaginatively on a daily basis in a journal or a blog
- Produce writing in each genre: the short story, drama, poetry and non-fiction
- Share and critique writing with peer writers
- Revise and rewrite for a Final Portfolio and for publication
Honors Independent Study: Advanced Creative Writing
Independent Study - Online Course
Prerequisite: The Creative Writing class and Department Chair approval
Big Ideas: This class is an online, independent study class for students who have already taken the Creative Writing class offered by the English Department. It is recommended that students with strong time management skills who enjoy creative writing take this class. It is also recommended that only students who have a study hall enroll in the course. This is an independent study course that is designed by the individual student who enrolls in the course and students will only meet with the teacher during office hours or as needed.
- Write imaginatively on a daily basis in a journal or a blog
- Produce writing in the genres of her choice
- Mentor a student in the Creative Writing course
- Submit her writing for publication and/or to local and national contests
- Revise and rewrite for a final portfolio
Honors Independent Study: Mandarin Chinese lV

Prerequisites: This Honors Independent Chinese IV course is offered for the Chinese heritage speakers whose language proficiency is beyond the Honors Chinese III offered at Saint Joseph Academy. Students who finished AP^® Chinese and wish to continue learning Chinese are also eligible for taking this course.
Big Ideas: In Honors Independent Chinese IV, students expand their knowledge and use of the language mainly in reading and writing. They will learn to complete interpretive tasks independently at their own pace. The topics covered in this course will be related to school, home and leisure activities as well as topics such as employment, current events, and matters of public and community interest. Course assignments will be posted weekly on the google classroom and the textbook Reading Into a New China (Volume 1) will be used as the reading and writing materials. Students will also set up in-person meetings with the teacher to discuss the assignments (the discussions will be conducted in Chinese).
Independent Study: Photography

Prerequisites: Completion of Photography I and II with a B or higher and/or teacher approval.
Big Ideas: Provides students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing the Photography content area in greater depth. The teacher will act as a facilitator but heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and visual problem-solving. Good time management and self-direction is a must. This class can be repeated with approval from the instructor.
Lexus Eco Challenge (Honors Independent Study: Engineering)

This course is offered under the name Honors Independent Study: Engineering. Completing the Lexus Eco Challenge is one of many options to receive credit for the Honors Independent Study: Engineering course. The full course can be found in the Pre-Engineering and Program section of the Course Guide book.

The Lexus Eco Challenge is a national environmental science competition in which teams of 8-10 students compete to study and promote environmental awareness. Students will choose an environmental topic to research, create an action plan for a project, complete their plan and spread awareness through media in an activity based approach to learning environmental science.
Independent Study: Graphic Design

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Graphic Design I and II with a B or higher. This class can be repeated with approval from the teacher.
Big Ideas: Provides students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing the graphic design content area in greater depth. The teacher will act as a facilitator but heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and visual problem-solving. Good time management and self-direction is a must.
Honors Independent Study: Spanish IV

In the case that a student is taking Honors Spanish IV after taking AP® Spanish, she may choose to take the class for a standard letter grade, A-F for honors credit or Pass/Fail. Students wishing to take the course P/F are required to complete the Pass/Fail Waiver and inform the teacher that they would like to take the course P/F within the first two weeks of the course. Please note, honors credit cannot be awarded when a course is taken P/F.
Prerequisite: Previous Spanish teacher and/or Department Chair Approval

Big Ideas: Includes an intensive online independent study of Spanish grammar and an in-person speaking and writing lab. The online component will include an in-depth emphasis on comprehension of key grammatical concepts while the lab is for students to practice speaking and writing the language and for the teacher to provide meaningful feedback to students. Due to the nature of the course, students must possess strong time-management skills. This course is intended to provide a bridge between the Honors Spanish III course and Advanced Placement Spanish and/or university-level Spanish. However, it is not a prerequisite for Advanced Placement Spanish.