Great Falls Central Catholic High School helps grow in each student a faith foundation based on Catholic Identity, morals, social responsibility and service. A commitment to Academic Excellence develops problem-solving, effective communication and critical thinking skills. Discipline and safety create a Structured Environment focused on learning and productivity.
Great Falls Central Catholic High School partners with families, integrating an academic curriculum with religious truth and values. Students engage in learning and living the Catholic faith through experiences of message, worship, community and service. Faculty, staff, parents and students bring faith to life and life to faith through information and formation opportunities. Encountering Christ’s presence in scripture, sacrament and community, we transform and are transformed.
Vocabulary, Speech, Grammar, Writing and Literature.
FRESHMAN ENGLISH
The Freshman classes are based on an even emphasis of vocabulary, grammar, writing, and literature. All students will cover an array of literature genres in order to develop a broader appreciation and awareness of the literature available. Assessment will include both a mix of essays, hands on learning activities, and class discussions. There is also an emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling. Students will practice writing in different modes (descriptive, expository, and persuasive, and research) as well as organizational and critical thinking skills. Writing, vocabulary, reading, and grammar assignments will occur regularly throughout the year.
SOPHOMORE ENGLISH
The Sophomore classes are based on an even emphasis of vocabulary, grammar, writing, and literature. All students will cover an array of literature genres in order to develop a broader appreciation and awareness of the literature available. Assessment will include both a mix of essays, hands on learning activities, and class discussions. There is also an emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling. Students will practice writing in different modes (descriptive, expository, and persuasive, and research) as well as organizational and critical thinking skills. Writing, vocabulary, reading, and grammar assignments will occur regularly throughout the year.
JUNIOR ENGLISH
English 11 is based on an even emphasis on vocabulary, speech, grammar, writing and literature. In terms of literature, the junior year of English is devoted to a semi-chronological study of American literature. Formal essays will be used as critical responses to literature, as well as research-oriented writing, and will be structured to enhance organizational and analytic thinking skills. Writing, vocabulary and grammar assignments will occur regularly throughout the year. Each quarter students will be assigned non-fiction and fiction free reading as well as individual novels and class sets.
SENIOR ENGLISH
English 12 is based on an even emphasis on vocabulary, speech, grammar, writing and literature. In terms of literature, the senior year of English is devoted to a semi-chronological study of British and world literature. Formal essays will be used as critical responses to literature, as well as research-oriented writing, and will be structured to enhance organizational and analytic thinking skills. Writing, vocabulary and grammar assignments will occur regularly throughout the year. Each quarter students will be assigned non-fiction and fiction free reading as well as individual novels and class sets.
SENIOR HONORS ENGLISH
Senior Honors English 12 is a dual credit college course encompassing the Montana University System required courses for the English Language Arts basic core required of all college freshmen. In the first semester, students will practice writing skills in class then take an 8 week on-line course from Great Falls College-MSU in writing for 3 credits. In the second semester students will study British and world literature then take an 8 week on-line course from Great Falls College-MSU in literature for 3 credits. Students must be recommended for this course by their English teacher, score a XX or better on the ACT English section, or pass an Accuplacer test. Substantial reading and writing is required for this course. Students must apply for this course at the end of the junior year with parent permission. Late enrollment is not permitted. Final high school grades for this course are 50/50 combined campus and college final grade. College grades are based solely on the college coursework.
Art, Graphic Design & 3D-Art
ART 1 AND 2
When taking Art 1 students will learn about the basic art principles this includes beginning techniques in drawing and painting. Students will become familiar with principles and elements of design while completing a variety of assigned projects and experimenting with different media and processes. In addition to art production, students will be introduced to art history, art criticism and aesthetics. In Art 2 students will continue on with the basics and continue to grow within the principles and elements of design and use a similar format but continue on with a more guided options approach. They will also include some of the familiar techniques designing their own pieces at the next level.
Band, Choir, Guitar & Piano
BAND
This class is open to all band students with previous band experience. Theory, scales, rhythm exercises, and sight reading will be emphasized. Performance experience will consist of jazz, pep, and concert band music. Participation in solo and ensemble district music festival is a part of this course.
CHOIR
This class is open to all choir students with some or no previous choral experience. Theory, proper tone production, and sight-singing are an integral part of this course. Students will perform a varied repertoire of literature including gospel, classical, and world music. Participation in solo and ensemble district music festival is a part of this course.
GUITAR
This is a beginner class for those who want to learn to play the guitar. Basic music theory and composition are covered as well as proper playing technique. Students will learn to read notes as well as tablature (for the guitar). This is not a performance based course.
MUSIC THEORY/MUSIC APPRECIATION
This class is open to all students. In this class we study the history of music, listening to music, analyzing music and learning about the great composers of each time period. The music theory portion of the class will study basic music theory concepts and aural skills.
PE, Weight Training & Med Prep
FRESHMAN HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The health curriculum incorporates the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of a wellness model. Students are faced with important health issues, critical thinking skills, and responsible decision making. Topics include personal safety and accident prevention, basic first aid, maintenance and nutrition, chemical awareness and self esteem, suicide, family health, relationships, violence, reproduction and heredity, pregnancy and birth, STD’s and AIDS. Freshmen boys and girl will be introduced to a variety of activities throughout the year. Emphasis will be place on participation and the development of basic skills. The main goal is to improve the health system, flexibility, endurance, strength, and percent of body fat.
ADVANCED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Various activities are utilized to develop skills, improve knowledge of rules and regulations of activities, game strategies, and the courtesy involved in each activity. Activities emphasize lifetime sports on a recreational rather than competitive basis.
ELECTIVES IN HEALTH ENHANCEMENT
Electives in HPE are offered as demand allows. Electives may be in coaching and refereeing credentials or exercise science.
Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus
ALGEBRA I
Algebra is a course which utilizes all the arithmetic skills encountered in grade school to introduce the students to the development of an abstract system. Rather than deal with specific values (21 + 35 = 56) the students deal with variable relations (3x + 5x = 56.) After reviewing the fundamental operations with whole numbers and integers, students are introduced to the rational and real number system. The course also concerns itself with manipulating polynomial, radical and rational expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, graphing, and implementation of the above concepts in solving practical application problems.
ALGEBRA II
Second year Algebra reviews many topics from Algebra I and then explores them in greater depth. Students have their first experience with many concepts including imaginary numbers, conic sections, logarithms, and matrix determinants. Graphing calculators are used extensively in the development of a wider mathematical scope of understanding.
GEOMETRY
This course provides students one of the best observations of the development of a structured mathematical system. By starting with a set of terms and a few accepted facts, a complete, logical set of relations is unfolded about points, lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygonal regions. The student will become familiar with both the deductive process and the indirect proof method. These provide a person with a fundamental problem solving approach and open the door to more critical thinking.
PRE-CALCULUS
This course reviews concepts from Algebra and Geometry, takes them deeper, and moves beyond. The first unit covers relations, functions, and graphs using algebraic methods, matrices and technology. Unit two is trigonometry and builds on the skills and knowledge gained in Algebra 2 and Geometry. The third unit covers advanced functions and includes polar coordinates. Discrete Mathematics, the fourth unit, covers sequences and series, probability, and statistics. The final unit is an introduction to calculus.
HONORS PRE-CALCULUS
Honors pre-calculus is a dual credit course. The first semester is devoted to a 16 week on-line course from Great Falls College-MSU in college algebra for 3 credits. This course fulfills the requirements for basic mathematics in the Montana State University College core curriculum. The second semester is devoted to concepts from Algebra and Geometry, takes them deeper, and moves beyond. Entrance to this course is based on teacher recommendation and is open to sophomores through seniors. Students must pass an Accuplacer test. Substantial out of course homework is required for this class. Students must apply for this course at the end of the prior year with parent permission. Late enrollment is not permitted. First semester high school grades are taken from the college course grade. Second semester grades are based on on campus coursework.
CALCULUS
Students expand on their knowledge of limits and differentiation from Pre- Calculus. They also learn the theory behind and how to take integrals as well as differential equations.
Encounter the living Word of God
FRESHMAN RELIGION
2nd Semester: The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture
The purpose of this course is to give students a general knowledge and appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures. Through their study of the Bible they will come to encounter the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. In the course they will learn about the Bible, authored by God through Inspiration, and its value to people throughout the world. If they have not been taught this earlier, they will learn how to read the Bible and will become familiar with the major sections of the Bible and the books included in each section. The students will pay particular attention to the Gospels, where they may grow to know and love Jesus Christ more personally.
SOPHOMORE RELIGION
2nd Semester: Jesus Christs’ Mission Continues in the Church
The purpose of this course is to help the students understand that in and through the Church they encounter the living Jesus Christ. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by him through the Holy Spirit. The students will come to know that the Church is the living Body of Christ today. This Body has both divine and human elements. In this course, students will learn not so much about events in the life of the Church but about the sacred nature of the Church.
JUNIOR RELIGION
History of the Catholic Church
The purpose of this course is to supply the students with a general knowledge of the Church’s history from apostolic times to the present. They will be introduced to the fact that the Church was founded by Christ through the Apostles and is sustained by him throughout history through the Holy Spirit. In this course, students will learn about the Church’s 2,000 years of history and about how the Church is led and governed by the successors of the Apostles.
SENIOR RELIGION
2nd Semester: Special Topics
Students will apply what they learned first semester studying Catholic morality to the study of theology of the body, ethical medical choices, and social justice issues. In addition, they will dive into deeper study of special topics of interest such as ecumenism and the Trinity.
Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry & Physics
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
This course is designed to be an advanced study of the human body for students with an interest in pursuing a career in a health-related field. Anatomy and physiology is a discussion and laboratory based study of the human body. Topics anatomical structures, and body systems & functions. Dissection of animals and other appropriate organs will complement course work. Students will apply the principle of physiology to human health and well-being and evaluate the applications and career implications of physiology and anatomy principles.
GENERAL BIOLOGY
Biology is devoted to the study of living things and their processes. Throughout the year this course provides opportunities for students to develop scientific process skills, laboratory techniques, and an understanding of the fundamental principles of living organisms. Students will explore biological science as a process, cell structure and function, genetics and heredity, evolution and classification, diversity of living organisms and their ecological roles, and an introduction to animal structure and function.
ADVANCED BIOLOGY
This year-long laboratory based course is broken up into two themes: environmental science and zoology. Environmental Science will show the connection of a variety of scientific disciplines including biology, chemistry, and earth science as they manifest in our environment. Students will focus on populations, natural resources, and ecosystem dynamics as they relate to water, forest and agricultural ecosystems to become a better-informed citizen and decision-maker. The aim of this course to increase students knowledge of the environmental challenges of today, while continuing to cultivate scientific critical thinking skills. Zoology will do a comparative anatomy and physiology of the 12 major animal phyla. During this portion of the class, we will perform a number of dissections as well a behavioral studies on each phyla.
AP BIOLOGY
The AP Biology course is designed to enable you to develop advanced inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting concepts in and across domains. The result will be readiness for the study of advanced topics in subsequent college courses. AP Biology includes those topics regularly covered in a college introductory biology course and differs significantly from the general high school biology course with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the kind of laboratory work performed by students, and the time and effort required of the students. This course is designed to prepare students for the Biology College Board Advanced Placement Exam.
CHEMISTRY
Chemistry is the study of the structure of matter, its properties and reaction, atomic theory and structure, periodic properties, ionic and covalent bonding, nuclear chemistry, energy, chemical change and a brief introduction to quantitative analysis; one of the major purposes of the class is to show how these concepts relate to the world around us. Laboratory experiments will be used to support lecture material.
AP CHEMISTRY
AP Chemistry dives deeper into chemistry topics building on the foundation they gained in the first year. They will explore thermodynamics, acids and bases, electrochemistry, Kinetics, equilibrium and intermolecular forces through labs, lecture and practice problems. Labs make up a minimum of 25% of the course. This course is designed around the 6 Big Ideas put forth by College Board. AP Chemistry is open to all students who have taken a full year of chemistry or with instructor approval and completion of summer work.
EARTH SCIENCE
This course is a study of the Earth and the universe around it. A unit on introductory chemistry is included. Topics specific to earth science include earth materials, earth processes (weathering and erosion) map reading, meteorology, oceanography and astronomy.
PHYSICS
In this course students learn the concepts of motion, mechanics, electricity, magnetism, sound, light and waves through laboratory work demonstrations and discussion. Data is gathered and analyzed. Mathematical calculations of quantitative data is stressed. Pre-calculus or Algebra 2 is necessary. Lab work is extensive.
HEALTH CARE OCCUPATIONS
Exploration of health care occupations and opportunities available within the healthcare industry (e.g., such as nursing, therapy, dental care, administrative services, and lab technology). This course provides experiences in several of these occupational clusters, along with information and knowledge related to the healthcare industry as a whole.
U.S. History, U.S. Government, World History
U.S. HISTORY
This course will cover Historical events in American history beginning with Colonial America and concluding with recent history. Major topics will include America’s British colonial experience, the Revolution, Writing of the Constitution, Western Expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the American West, Industrialization, America’s emergence as a World Power, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Turbulent 60’s, Vietnam and Recent Historical Political Issues.
U.S. GOVERNMENT
Government is designed to help seniors understand the working of all levels of government. It contains units covering the foundation of American government, the Constitution, interest groups, political parties and national government structures. Related topics will include current political events and some information about comparative political systems.
HONORS U.S. GOVERNMENT
Honors U.S. Government is a dual credit college course encompassing the Montana University System required courses for the basic core required of all college freshmen. In the first semester, students will learn advanced government concepts and receive their grade from the campus course. The first half of second semester students will take an 8 week on-line course from Great Falls College-MSU in government for 3 credits. The semester will wrap up with advanced study of government on campus. Students must be recommended for this course by their English or history teacher. Substantial reading and writing is required for this course. Students must apply for this course at the end of the junior year with parent permission. Late enrollment is not permitted. Final high school grades for this course are 50/50 combined campus and college final grade in second semester. College grades are based solely on the college coursework.
WORLD HISTORY
This course will include a survey of the following areas of study. The rise of Western Civilization, the Middle Ages, Civilizations beyond Europe, transitions to modern times, Revolution and Nationalism in the Western World, Medieval History, Ancient History, Anthropology, Political and Economic History, and the Age of Imperialism. Reading comprehension, writing and thinking skills are stressed.
MONTANA HISTORY
Montana History explores the political, social, cultural, and economic history of Montana within the context of the larger western United States. The course will provide an overview of pre-history to modern Montana, addressing multiple perspectives including American Indian life and culture. Students will be challenged to see how a variety of internal and external forces helped shape the state of Montana as we know it today, and how a knowledge of the past can help inform their understanding of today’s Montana.
PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is the study of the human mind and human behavior. This one-semester course covers topics such as history, research, biopsychology, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning, memory, intelligence, personality, psychopathology, and therapy. Coursework integrates multicultural approaches and themes to make psychology meaningful to students of diverse backgrounds.
Spanish 1, 2, 3 & 4
SPANISH I
Students will begin to acquire skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking Spanish and be exposed to taped material in order to improve their listening comprehension skills. Beginning Spanish students will begin to read at increasing levels of difficulty in order to perfect command of vocabulary and grammar. Students will begin to write simple compositions on various subjects depending on the unit studied and will focus on the areas of communication, cultural appreciation and behavior as they pertain to language learning within the context of a Catholic education.
SPANISH II
Spanish II will expose students to more advance Spanish vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and pronunciation in order to continue building a solid language base along with four skills; reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students will be able to expand the language base created in Spanish I to continue building fluency and knowledge. Through activities such as videos, reading, and projects, students will continue learning about Latin American and Spanish cultures, their people, customs, and beliefs. Students will also develop a more specific knowledge base on particular Spanish speaking countries. Spanish II will focus on the areas of communication cultural appreciation, and behavior as they relate to language learning in the scheme of a Catholic educations. Students will be able to write compositions using present and past tenses, as well as communicate orally past and present tenses to describe daily life situations Students will also be able to listen and participate in group discussions.
Find Your Passion
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