ART

In Christian art education, students study and produce works of art based on aesthetic and historical understanding. A comprehensive curriculum includes instruction in aesthetics, art heritage, art criticism, and art-making. In all levels, classroom handouts are the basis for personal art books reflecting the study of the various media, artists, and art history. Students are also responsible for an art report, sketchbook, quizzes, and tests. All students are encouraged to develop their God-given talents through the use of creative expression. All art classes are elective.

• Art 101
• Art 102
• Art 103
• Art 104
• Digital Photography

Business And Computers

The purpose of the Business Department is to prepare students to reflect Christianity in the way they make economic decisions affecting their personal and professional lives. Students also need basic skills to be productive in future endeavors, whether in the workplace or higher education.  COMPUTER APPLICATIONS is required. Other courses are electives.

• Accounting
• Business Management
• Business Computers
• Computer Applications
• Introduction to Business
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Financial Management

English

By nurturing the ability to communicate in words, the language arts celebrate one of God’s greatest gifts to us: that of expression. To make sense of God’s creation, we study various writers  interpretations of life regarding our world and culture, as well as response to others and to God Himself. God s people are also expected to communicate to the world His news of love and redemption. Accordingly, students are given opportunities to develop their communications skills in the classroom in a variety of ways: by responding to literature in journals, reading logs, papers, and discussion; by writing research papers; by reading a variety of literature; by studying the English language; and by writing and presenting speeches.  Eight trimesters of English are a requirement for graduation.

• English 9
• English 10
• English 11
• Honors English 11
• English 12
• Advanced Placement English 12
• Basic Drama
• Creative Writing
• Media Studies

FOREIGN LANGUAGE - SPANISH

By learning the language of another culture, we can begin to break down a barrier between others and ourselves, which in turn can lead to a respect for others, to understand them, and to support them. Improving relationships between peoples should be among our goals as Christians, and an attempt to achieve this can be made through communication with our neighbors and in service to them. In all courses, students will be exposed to the culture of Spanish-speaking people through various activities and attention to current events.
All Spanish classes are year-long and elective. However, students who plan to attend college are encouraged to take at least two years of Spanish. Some colleges require students to have taken two years of a foreign language in high school for admission; others may waive part or all of their language requirements depending on the courses students have taken in high school.

• Spanish 1
• Spanish 2
• Spanish 3
• Spanish 4

INDUSTRIAL ARTS

The Industrial Arts program includes subject areas that enable students to use a hands-on approach in their pursuit of understanding and appreciating God’s presence in an industrial and technological world.  All courses are elective.

• Industrial Technology
• Machine Woodworking
• Advanced Woodworking
• Mechanical CAD I
• Mechanical CAD II
• Architectural CAD I
• Architectural CAD II
• Independent Technology

MATHEMATICS

The Mathematics program at WMCHS encourages students to understand that the subject has its roots in God s orderly creation. The mathematical underpinnings of creation are so pervasive that they are readily accessible through everyday objects and experiences; thus students can use mathematics to better understand and evaluate both natural and social phenomena. Students are encouraged to develop their ability to distinguish the numerical and spatial properties of things, to represent them numerically or pictorially, and to generalize properties. In addition, they should be able to imagine never-ending processes, infinite classes of abstract objects, and consideration of the possible as well as the actual. Students have the opportunity to use physical models, pictorial representations, inductive and deductive methods, intuition, analogy, and comparison to discover the mathematical framework of our world.  Six trimesters (three  years) of mathematics are required. Many standardized tests, such as MEAP, PSAT, and ACT presuppose a student’s completion of Algebra and Geometry. Most four-year colleges expect students to have completed mathematics courses through  Algebra II. Calculus is offered in conjunction with Muskegon Community College.

• Basic Algebra
• Basic Geometry
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Algebra II
• Honors Pre-Calculus
• Calculus

MUSIC

Music is among the fine arts that can further spiritual growth, inspire further study of our world, and develop creativity and expression. Students develop skills to help them appreciate quality music, to provide aesthetic experiences, and, most important, to praise our God. The goals of the music department include nurturing four aspects for a balanced learning process: to grow in the craft of music and technical ability (to develop the body), to grow intellectually (to develop the mind), to inspire (to develop the soul), and to grow personally (to develop the heart).  All courses offered are elective full-year courses. Placement of students enrolling in performing groups requires the consent of the instructor.

• Concert Band
• Jazz Band
• Concert Choir
• Chamber Choir

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The overall focus of Physical Education is to give students knowledge that will help them to care for the bodies God has given them and to develop physical activities that will serve them for a lifetime. One trimester of Physical Education and one trimester of Health are required for graduation.

• Physical Education  9
• Physical Education  11
• Lifetime Sports Fitness
• Sports Culture
• Health

RELIGION

The primary emphasis of the religion curriculum is the integration of faith, church and family in the lives of its students. The aim of this department is to discover, disseminate, and disclose the Kingdom’s agenda to a world that has been separated by sin from the purpose and plan of God. Students will be challenged to move to the forefront of religious freedom and to become healthy, contributing members of the body of Christ. Five trimesters are required.

• Overview of the Bible
• Old Testament with an Emphasis on the Prophets
• New Testament with an Emphasis on the Gospels
• Church History with an Emphasis on Acts
• Bible 12 Ethics

SCIENCE

Science is the systematic study of everything that can be examined, tested or verified. The Christian study of science demands that we view this vast area through the lens of God s special revelation, His Word. Because different branches of science shape the way we understand our planet, other living things, and ourselves, we need to see all of these topics in a way that makes sense of God s creation. It is our goal that in studying all areas of science, students learn that God is the creator and sustainer of all of creation. This over-arching belief affects both existing knowledge and new discoveries. Students are encouraged to use a variety of discovery methods: research in the lab and in the field, reading and responding to the textbook and journals, written reports and analyses, and discussions with peers and instructors. Six trimesters of science are required.

• Freshman Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Advanced Chemistry
• Physics
• Environmental Science

SOCIAL STUDIES

The goal of the Social Studies curriculum is to prepare Christian citizens to serve in the world and to see the unfolding of God’s plan for the world and our role in that plan. The study of history gives a diverse view of culture; the study of Civics and United States History gives students knowledge and thinking skills to see and understand their responsibility as American citizens; and diverse cultures enables students to understand their responsibility as American citizens; the study of Sociology and Psychology gives students the opportunity to analyze ourselves and community.  Six trimesters of Social Studies are a requirement for graduation.

• World Cultures
• Western Civilization
• Civics
• United States History
• Economics
• Current Events
• Psychology
• Sociology