AP PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The primary function of the Advanced Placement Program is to offer students the experience of rigorous academic training equitable to that of introductory college courses in order to better prepare them for success at the college level.  In addition, a strong emphasis of the courses will be placed on preparing students for the AP subject exams administered in May.

AP Course Offerings:

Staunton River High School currently offers the following AP courses:

AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP English Language (11)
AP English Literature (12)
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP French
AP Government
AP Music Theory
AP Psychology (on-line)
AP Spanish
AP Statistics
AP United States History

VASS Grant for AP Math, Science, and English Courses:

Staunton River High School is currently in the third year of a five year grant provided by Virginia Advanced Study Strategies (VASS) and funded by the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI).  The generous funding provided by the sponsors of this grant, has strengthened the AP program at SRHS by providing numerous opportunities and benefits to students who take on the challenge and rigor of AP coursework, including:  covering the cost of the exam for students in math, science, and English, rewarding all students who receive a qualifying score of 3 or above on their exam(s) with $100, providing AP Saturday prep sessions, extensive AP training for teachers, state of the art technology, lab materials, textbooks, and other classroom supplies to the school for use in AP classroom(s). 

Saturday Prep Sessions:

Research indicates that students who attend Saturday Prep Sessions for each of their AP courses are more successful on their exams.  Students at SRHS are expected to participate in these prep sessions in return for the expense that has been invested in them through provision of the cost of the exam, as well as the $100 award for qualifying scores.  In addition, students who participate in these sessions will also be awarded “significant” incentives for their attendance in the corresponding AP course.

 Transportation from SRHS to the designated Saturday prep sessions will be provided, as well as lunch, materials, and door prizes.  Students must have a parent complete a permission slip to attend.

AP ENGLISH

AP English Language (11) and AP English Literature (12) courses have been designed to strengthen students’ skills in reading, writing, and critical thinking through intensive research and exposure to classic and modern literary works.  Extensive literary analysis, with an emphasis on non-fiction readings (essays, journalistic articles, political writings, scientific writings, environmental writings, diaries, and histories), rhetorical devices for argumentation, and practice essays (both timed and un-timed) will be an integral component of the AP Language (11) course; extensive literary analysis of poetry and fiction will be the primary focus in AP English Literature (12). In addition, students will develop their own abilities to write non-fiction prose, for a variety of audiences and purposes, read and analyze critically, and apply fundamental research skills effectively. 

 *Because the SRHS AP English Language (11) course has been locally designated to be taught during the eleventh grade year, it has been designed to meet the dual standards of both the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Standards of Learning requirements for the 11^th Grade EOC SOL tests and high school graduation, and the AP COLLEGE BOARD’S AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature course requirements in preparation for the AP Examinations in May of each year.

For AP Language (11),  Ms. Thomas' Class: 
My tutoring time is 3:15 - 4:15 on Thursday afternoon.

AP Math

 AP Calculus

This course emphasizes a multi-representational approach to calculus, with concepts, results, and problems expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally.  In order to be successful in this course you need the proper foundation--that is, knowledge of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, and elementary functions.  You must be very familiar with the basic families of functions--with all of their transformations, and be able to carry out certain computational tasks using knowledge and skills from algebra and trigonometry with efficiency and accuracy.

 This is a rigorous college course. Its curriculum and pace are intense, and all enrolled students are required to take the AP exam--which will be paid for by the grant Bedford County received from Virginia Advanced Study Strategies (VASS).   There will be three Saturday AP Math Prep Sessions sponsored by VASS which you are expected to attend.  They are January 29, March 19, and April 2.   There will also be structured tutorial sessions just for calculus students held once a week after school, which you are encouraged to attend. These tutorials will be Tuesday morning from 7:45-8:20 and Tuesday afternoon from 3:20-4:00 (this is subject to change and adjusted for test dates).  Since this is a college course, you can expect to spend approximately 1-2 hours completing homework or studying for every hour that you are in class learning.