Upper School Academics
Course Catalog
Freshman Courses
Sophomore Courses
Junior Courses
Senior Courses
College Courses
THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Lacordaire Academy offers a strong college preparatory curriculum providing courses which satisfy the requirements for admission to the most selective colleges and universities. As a school committed to the education of young women, the programs offered are sensitive not only to the issues of gender in the curriculum, but also to the issues of leadership in both our school and the world at large.
Our program is a well-rounded one which concentrates not only on the need to think, speak, and write clearly but also emphasizes the importance of logical analysis and technological understanding.
HONORS COURSES
The Honors Courses are one of the means to this end. The Honors Courses require work above the regular college preparatory curriculum. Lacordaire Academy has developed a curriculum which stimulates intellectual curiosity and challenges the student's abilities. Incumbent upon the student engaged in these courses is to make intelligent use of her time and energy.
ONLINE COURSES
If a student expresses an interest in a discipline not offered in our curriculum, an online course may be arranged. Online courses allow us to expand out curriculum, thus enabling us to offer a larger selection of courses.
COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES
Students may enroll in college credit courses offered by Seton Hall University and/or Caldwell College. These courses are offered at Lacordaire Academy and taught by teachers holding at least a Masters degree and accepted as adjunct teachers by the colleges. Some examples of these courses are Human Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, Education, French, Criminal Law, Statistics, and Literary Types.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
Advanced placement courses are offered in French, Spanish, Calculus, Literature and Composition, and Language and Composition.
College Courses
(In Affiliation with Seton Hall University and Caldwell College)
AP Literature and Composition "This senior elective is designed to teach college level writing and analysis throught the fundamentals of literary and rhetorical theory. This course follows the curricular requirements described in the AP English course description. The goal is to provide a solid foundation in analytical discussion, extended written arguments, and critical reading. Class discussion will focus on the readings and require close scrutiny of major elements in the text including theme, structure, style, language, symbolism and other literary devises. Students are expected to develop a thorough understanding of types and purposes of literary criticism.
HUMAN ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY I
(4 credits)
Introduction to the function of organ systems and their integration by the nervous and endocrine systems. Elements of structure as a basis for understanding function. Emphasis on the mechanisms of regulation of body processes that maintain life in the face of environmental changes.
HUMAN ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY II
(4 Credits)
Continuation of the fall semester.
INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION
(3 Credits)
Begins the process of introduction into the teaching profession, acquaints the students with the daily realities, issues and aspirations of teaching; explores the classroom as a unique social context, develops a sense of commitment.
INTERMEDIATE FRENCH I
(3 Credits)
Review of the essentials of grammar, vocabulary building, conversation, and composition. Reading of modern prose.
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
(3 Credits)
Collection and presentation of data; descriptive measures; sets; probabiltu theory; random variables; mathematical expectations; discrete and continuous probability distributions, including Binomial, Poisson and Normal; sampling distributions; introduction to regression and correlations.
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
(3 Credits)
Explores the basis for American Law by examining various theories of jurisprudence, or philosophies of law, and the goals and objectives of law. Distinguishes law from other forms of social control, and looks at the impact of law on society.
INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY
(3 Credits)
Survey of the major content areas of psychology including physiology, perception, motivation, learning, cognition, personality, developmental, abnormal and social.
College Guidance
The Academy has been very successful over the years in placing our students in some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation. Our students have been accepted in the following schools; University of Pennsylvania, Boston College, Boston University, Fordham University, New York University, Villanova University, Loyola University, Drew University, Providence College, The College of New Jersey, Parsons New School for Design, Rensselaer Institute of Technology, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art , the University of Rochester, The George Washington University, Bryn Mawr College, the University of Chicago, Bucknell University and Georgetown University.
Click here to read more about our Guidance Office and college placement. Remember that we are happy to help in any way to ensure that the process is smooth and pleasant.
More general information about the college process and financial aid can also be found at the following sites:
www.collegeboard.com
www.FAFSA.ed.gov
www.collegeboard.com/profile
www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.fastweb.com
www.finaid.org
Please contact me with any further questions:
Megan Mannato - Director of Guidance
phone – 973-744-1156 Extension 17
e-mail - mmannato@lacordaire.net
At Lacordaire Academy in grades Pre K to 12, faculty use technology to engage students, to address all kinds of learning strategies and styles, and to prepare students for 21st Century classrooms and careers. Technology is used to promote critical thinking, problem solving, and global awareness. The Academy has close to twenty interactive Smart Boards, making this technology available to every grade and subject in the Academy. Last year Lacordaire received 16 iPad II's, and 10 iPad minis for our faculty to use in their classes. We began our iPad program by giving the iPads to the faculty and providing extensive professional development and one to one training and support so that they could become expert with the technology. Several schools have visited Lacordaire served as a model to several schools whose administration and faculty visited to learn from the Academy's pilot programs and use of technology in the classroom.
E-Library - Every student can receive a Montclair Public Library which guarantees them access to all books and ebooks at the Montclair Public Library, regardless in which town a student lives.
Books
Fiction
Harvard Classics
Nonfiction
Project Gutenberg
Magazines
Newsweek
Scientific American
Time Magazine
Journals
E-Journals (Password Needed)
References
All Words Dictionary
Bartlett's Quotations
American Heritage Dictionary
NY Times Navigator
Roget's Thesarus
One Look Dictionaries
World Factbook
Newspaper
World Newspapers
The New York Times
The National Catholic Reporter
The Catholic Advocate
Encyclopedias
Catholic Encyclopedia
Canadian Encyclopedia
Columbia Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of Psychology
Encyclopedia Smithsonian
Internet Encyclopedia
Seton Hall University Library
Project Acceleration Sites
(for Lacordaire Academy Participants Only)
Academic Search Premier
Contemporary Authors
Eric
Catholic Periodical and Literature Index
Facts on File
Literature Resource Center
PsycArticles
PsycINFO
University of Pennyslvania
The Online Books Page
General Purpose Book Collection
University of Virginia
E-Book Library
Research Manuals
MLA Style
APA Style
MLA Citations
APA Citations
Project Justice
Project Justice is a service internship completed by every senior during their final semester at the Academy. Through this course, students live the Dominican tradition of social justice and community service. Students complete 60 hours of service in two separate types of facilities. In addition, they research and complete an added 20 hours of independent community service at a facility of their choice.
Eleven local facilities participate in three categories. At the early childhood centers, our students experience the rapid growth and development of preschoolers. At elder-care facilities, they interact with residents at many different levels. Facilities for the handicapped provide exposure to the struggles and trials of coping with both mental and physical disabilities.
Students are closely monitored by both an on-site mentor and their faculty advisor. In addition, each student must complete a self-evaluation report, case study and reflection paper for each of the two rotations.
The administration and faculty of Lacordaire Academy encourage and support efforts to make the social dimension of the Christian faith come alive in caring service, creative education and principled action. Through their participation in Project Justice, students learn firsthand the value and importance of community service. The program is a life changing and enlightening experience for the students.
Intersession
Lacordaire Academy offers an intersession program which allows Upper School students insight into careers as part of their high school experience. Junior and seniors will shadow a professional in their business observing their day to day work activities, appropriate business dress and the professional conduct of a given occupation. The Academy has arranged for shadowing possibilities to include such professions as teachers, law enforcement detectives, retail buyers, attorneys, pharmacists, advertising executives, restaurant managers, nursing directors, meeting planners and doctors among others.
Freshmen and sophomores will explore careers through special programs held at the Academy. Students will be graded based on their participation and required to share their experiences with the entire student body during an assembly period. Programs offered include Forensic Sciencefor students interested in how finger prints, DNA and other clues are used to help law enforcement; an Art, Performance and Digital Media program for creative-minded students uses scripted material and live actors interacting with digital media to bring a story to life and French Cooking which demonstrates the creation of delicious French cuisine.
