AP/IB Boosters Newsletter, July 14, 2003


July 14, 2003

Hello AP/IB Boosters!

Newsletter Contents

  • AP Economics: Macro and Micro
  • Sammamish High School Master Schedule
  • UW Summer Stretch
  • Olympic Community College


AP Economics: Macro and Micro

AP Economics is not offered at this time at Jackson HS or any of the EPS high schools. In California, a one semester Economics course is a graduation requirement for all high school students. The AP Economics courses meet this requirement.The following is a sample AP Macroeconomics Exam Free-Response question:



Assume that the economy is in a recession.

(A) Explain each of the following:
(i) Monetary and fiscal policies advocated by monetarists to eliminate the recession.
(ii) Monetary and fiscal policies advocated by Keynesians to eliminate the recession.



More details on AP Economics can be found at the College Board.http://apcentral.collegeboard.com 


Sammamish High School Master Schedule

Sammamish High School, in the Bellevue School District, is an interesting school to compare to Jackson High School. The 2002/2003 Sammamish Master Schedule can be reviewed at http://www.apibboosters.org/GuideMasterSchedule2002_2003Sammamish.html


Sammamish is on the 4x4 schedule. It has 500 fewer students than JHS, It has 4 times the Free and Reduced Lunch percentage (20% as opposed to Jackson’s 5%). It has many more ESL (English as a Second Language) students than JHS. But Sammamish has many more courses for students to choose. Sammamish also has: many more AP courses (not all scheduled for the same period), offers yearlong band courses, and does not combine English and History into single limiting combo courses. Sammamish also offers Chinese Language courses – especially important since we live on the Pacific Rim.  One of the changes we want to see at Jackson HS is more choices for students such as what Sammamish HS provides.


UW Summer Stretch

Much of the following was drawn from the Summer Stretch Brochure and web site
http://depts.washington.edu/cscy/summer/ss.shtml

Summer Stretch, at the University of Washington’s Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars, offers a challenging 5-week academic program to advanced students currently in 7th through 10th grade. This is NOT an enrichment program, students must be prepared to commit to daily attendance and substantial amounts of homework.

The following courses, now midway through their sessions, were offered this summer:

Argument & Debate, Biology, Chemistry, Humanities – Artists of the 20th Century, Robotic Physics, Essay Writing, Mathematics – Integrated I, Integrated II, Integrated III, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry I,II, Pre-Calculus, Shakespeare’s Comedies.

As an example of the rigor of these courses, the following describes some of the aspects of this year’s Pre-Calculus course:

5 week course
3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
The class meets from 9 AM to 2:30 PM.
One full chapter is completed each day.
Each morning a chapter test is given. For each chapter, approximately 40-50 problems are assigned.

Programs such as UW Summer Stretch, help bridge the gap between the long 8-13 months (Example: Spanish, Math, etc.) lapse between Jackson HS’s 4x4 semesters.  How much Spanish do JHS Spanish 1 students retain after a 13 month sabbatical before they begin Spanish 2?  How much material is covered at the end of JHS Spanish 2 course vs Kamiak Spanish 2?  Good question I think . . we will look into it.

Students must qualify for these courses based on SAT I or ACT tests. Each course cost $600.00.  Financial aid is available.


Olympic Community College

Olympic Community College, located in Bremerton Washington, grants credit and placement for many AP courses.

The following list describes the:

AP Exam Title

AP Exam Score Range

Olympic Community College Credit

Equivalent Olympic Community College Course


Art History
3 - 5
5
ART 101 OR 102

Biology
3 - 5
5
BIOL 201*

Calculus AB
3 - 4
5
MATH 124

Calculus AB
5
10
MATH 124+125

Calculus BC
3 - 4
5
MATH 124

Calculus BC
5
10
MATH 124+125

Computer Sci A
3 - 5
10
CMPTR 110+120

Computer Sci AB
3 - 5
10
CMPTR 110+120

Chemistry
3 - 4
5
CHEM 140*

Chemistry
5
10
CHEM 140*+150*

English Lit/Comp
3 - 5
5
ENGL 101 OR 140

European History
3 - 5
5
HIST 101

French Language
3 - 4
5
FLFRN 101

French Language
5
10
FLFRN 101+102

German Language
3 - 4
5
FLGRM 101

German Language
5
10
FLGRM 101+102

Govt & Politics, U.S.
3 - 5
5
POLS 101

Govt & Politics, Comparative
3 - 5
5
POLS 198

Micro Economics
3 - 5
5
BSEC 202

Macro Economics
3 - 5
5
BSEC 201

Physics B
3 - 5
12
PHYS 114*+115*

Physics C - Mech
3 - 5
6
PHYS 114*

Psychology
3 - 5
5
PSYCH 101

Spanish Language
3 - 4
5
FLSPN 101

Spanish Language
5
10
FLSPN 101+102

U S History
3 - 5
5
HIST 104 OR 105

Links to Olympic Community College and other Washington colleges’ AP Credit information can be found at
http://www.apibboosters.org/WashingtonCollegeAdmissions.html


Link to AP/IB Boosters Scholarly Events listing
http://www.apibboosters.org/events/Events.html


Link to latest JHS PTSA newsletter
http://www.jhsptsa.org/news.html
 

Thank you,

Todd Aagard
Chairperson
AP/IB Boosters

Advanced Placement Opportunities for All Students

www.apibboosters.org

info@apibboosters.org