Departments

English
Social Studies
Mathematics
Science
Physical Education
Career & Technology
    Business & Technology
    Trade & Industial
Foreign Language
Fine Arts
    Art Gallery
Special Education





English

The English team is proud of offering a curriculum that attempts to meet the needs of all students and ensure the success of each of those students.

The English department offers both the traditional English curriculum for those students preparing for the world of work and the college preparatory curriculum for those students pursuing a college degree. Within the college preparatory curriculum there are advanced classes available for students when they reach the 11th and 12th grades. A student may take either CP English 11 or Honors English 11 in his or her junior year and CP English 12, PVCC English Composition (a class for which both high school and college credit is received), or Advanced Placement English as a senior. Students are encouraged to take any classes that they would like, and students may switch in and out of the two curriculums as they see fit. Both curriculums prepare students to be successful on the English Writing and Reading SOL tests given in the 11th grade.

The English department also offers several exciting electives that are very popular among students at FCHS. Classes such as Creative Writing, African-American Literature, Mythology, Mass Media, and Speech and Public Speaking are open to all students, and a Research/SAT Review class is open to juniors.

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Social Studies

The Social Studies Department will have many great activities and experiences for students in 2006-07. The classes will visit the General Assembly in Richmond and various government buildings in Washington, D.C. Some of the incoming ninth graders will begin their work in World History and through Governor's school. Hopefully, all World History students will hear speakers regarding major world issues. US and VA History students may again visit the Holocaust Museum as part of their study of World War II. Sociology students will hold a mock wedding ceremony as part of a study of cultural diversity. The Teacher Cadet Program will continue to expose students to teaching as a career while cadets assist students in schools throughout the county. In addition to the course in Practical Law/Economics, the department will continue to offer a class called "Law Enforcement."

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Mathematics

The math department offers Algebra I in the math lab to help students work at their own pace. Students can take Algebra I in one, two, three, or four semesters. All students can be successful in algebra if given enough time to learn the material. Students also have the option to take Algebra Part 1 and Part 2 in a traditional classroom.

Algebra II and Geometry are offered in a traditional classroom or in the math lab. This is a student choice. Algebra II and Geometry are offered as one or two semester courses. Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry, Pre-calculus, Computer Math, Probability/Statistics, and Calculus are offered after the students have been successful in the previous classes.

Math tutoring is offered after school and SOL camp is offered just before SOL tests in the summer to help students review for SOL tests.

If you would like to contact Angie Blevins or other math teachers, call 589-3666 voice mail 1630. This number rings into the math lab.

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Science

Earth Science:
Discusses and investigates four major areas: geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, mineral rock classification, mapping the earth's surface and interior, past and recent weather disasters (Hurricane Isabel), latest astronomical discoveries, (recent Martian finding and the "tenth planet" - Sedna), scientific method, plate tectonics, water and rock cycles, water and wind and how they shaped the climate and weather patterns of earth

Chemistry:
Discusses and investigates the physical and chemical properties of atomic and macroscopic matter, chemical demonstrations of thermicity, matter classification and chemical transformation labs to measure reaction properties, identify chemical reactants and products, pool findings among students groups and classes, exposure to advanced, college level and "cutting-edge" topics such as nanotechnology, new materials and industrial chemical processes.

Biology:
Discussion and investigation in these major areas: ecology, evolutionary theory, classification of organisms, biodiversity, cell biology, human anatomy and physiology, genetics - use in biotechnology labs to demonstrate concepts in the major areas listed above: osmosis in a chicken egg, milk-0-motion to demonstrate the scientific method, transpiration in a celery stalk, flower dissection, frog dissection, peppered moth lab, Compound Light Microscope labs - letter "e" and Elodea and Cheek cells, Berry full of DNA.

Internet lessons:
Biomes around the world, Cells Alive!, Mitosis and Meiosis

Hands-On in the classroom:
Woolyboogers and their adaptations, Pamisham creatures - dichotomous keys, Paper plate "cells", Cut n Paste leaf cross-section classifying sports gear, phylogeny of candy current events to connect classroom to real world.

Ecology:
Discussion and investigation of ecosystems, biomes, populations, pollutions; use of technology to study and research biomes: students use of power point to present research on pollution in biomes and sick-building syndrome use of current events relating to local, state, national and international ecological issues.

Biotechnology:
Study same SOL's as biology but incorporation of biotechnology into the curriculum and is a yearlong course (meets each day for both semesters)

Field trips:
Biotech symposium at Eastern Mennonite University, Wintergreen Nature Foundation, Smithsonian Museum, Nelson County High School - Crime Scene Investigation (Forensic science), Frye Springs to meet with other BRVGS schools and present data on Arabidopis research - a transgenic plant used to study GMO's

Projects:
Wanted Posters: Diseases; Genetics role playing - skits on Genetic diseases and disorders; Arabidopis - grow and study this genetically modified organism funded by Virginia Tech and National Science Foundation, Portfolio of a Scientist
Video Conferences: Rwanda: GIV/AIDS, Epidemiology - CDC, 2025: A Genetic Odyssey, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with VA TECH, link-ups with other BRVHS schools to parents and discuss skits, books, labs

Labs:
VA TECH labs: Arabidopis, ELISA, Column Chromotography and also do the labs that are done in the biology class

Books:
Biotechnology Unzipped, The Hot Zone, The Double Helix and also read articles that are posted on the BRVGS Blackboard Web Site

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Physical Education

     We believe that in order to have a healthy mind you have to have a healthy body.  Students have nine weeks physical education where they are learning how to keep their bodies in shape.  Then students have nine weeks of Health class where we discuss how to stay mentally healthy and how to avoid making decisions that will affect our health in adverse ways.  We offer classes for 9th through 12th grade in order to keep our students active.  These classes include Weight Training and Life Skills P.E.  These classes focus on teaching students ways to stay active long after high school.

Career & Technology

Business & Technology

The primary aim of the business department is to provide students with a skill that will lead to employment after completion of the program.
The Business and Information Technology Department consists of two classrooms equipped with industry standard computers, printers, scanners, digital still and video cameras. Students take Keyboarding, which is a pre-requisite for the majority of the other business classes. Emphasis is placed on the Microsoft Office Suite which consists of Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. Students learn enough about the software that they could take the MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) certification tests.


Trade & Industrial

Construction Technology

This class will utilize both classroom instruction and hands on experience to teach students some of the basics skills necessary to become successful in the field of construction. Students will study such topics as:
Technical Drawing and Design

This is a computer aided design class. Students will learn how to design and prepare technical drawings with Autocad (This a software package widely used in the fields of Engineering and Architecture). The course will cover the following topics:


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Foreign Language

The foreign language department offers a range of classes in French and Spanish, as well as Japanese and Latin via satellite.  There are four levels of French and six levels of Spanish.  Students working for the advanced diploma are encouraged to take at least three years of one language, or two years of two languages. 

All classes focus on the principle areas of foreign language acquisition: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing, and culture.  A variety of teaching methods is used to promote proficiency and to help students reach a certain comfort level for use of the target language.  In order to improve the ear more quickly, our goal is to use as little English as possible in the classroom.  There are always oral tests and oral questions on written tests.  In addition, students practice speaking with each other using different contextual, communicative activities so that they can use the target language in practical situations.  Finally, there is the ever popular tool for learning about culture and language by incorporating art and music into the curriculum.


Fine Arts

We believe the fine arts are as basic to education as: A(rt), B(and), C(hoir), and D(rama). FCHS offers a wide variety of experience for Fluvanna's young creative minds. All types of visual art, from computer graphics to traditional drawing and painting, are available. Every art student gets to participate in the Annual Art Show and Sale at the end of the year. Our growing band program has received excellent ratings at many of their competitions, as has drum line and color guard. The choral department offers opportunities for those who enjoy performing with several concerts each year, and for those who just enjoy music with appreciation and theory classes. If theatre or TV is your calling the drama and broadcasting classes have what you need. There are the District One-Acts, the spring play, In The Know, and The Fluco Show. Keep your creative juices flowing with the Fine Arts Department!

Click here to go to the art gallery.

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Special Education

The Special Education Department has seen several transitions this year. We are starting the year with three new teachers, who are quickly getting into the swing of things. They are eager to teach and not afraid to ask questions. The department will continue to offer newly created classes. Driver's Education classes and Office Specialist I and II classes are continuing to be offered. These classes teach of students skills they can use after graduation. In addition, the department continues to offer principles of finance to prepare the students for financial matters after graduation and Education for Employment I and II to let students explore career options and to learn the skills needed to obtain and maintain a job. We also take several field trips during the year to supplement what the students are learning.

Our work study program has been successful this year. Ms. Barbara Black has placed our students in various jobs in the community and in the school building. We have students helping teach physical education classes at other schools in the area, helping in the office at Central Elementary School, and working at a daycare center in the area. Several students have been offered jobs by these businesses. Mr. Peake and his staff have done an amazing job of integrating their students into the school and the community. Previously several of students visited the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain ID cards. All of our teachers and our aids have been working hard to help our students be successful in the classroom and on the SOL's as well as teach them skills they can utilize in their community.