Students will revisit the enchanting stories of their childhoods. From Brothers Grimm to Lewis Carroll, from Mary Poppins to Shrek, this elective class will examine the social and psychological implications of the hidden power of children’s literature. Students will use the knowledge gained to create a new children’s story.

Students will write a series of essays in a style and format that will prepare them for college writing. Each essay will focus on some aspect of the student’s personal experience; together, the essays will create the student’s memoir. Throughout the writing process, students will learn and incorporate creative nonfiction writing techniques to enhance the quality of their essays. Students will examine and practice various techniques of creative expression through journal writing and presentations as part of the writing experience.

Although characters search for the elusive American dream of prosperity and happiness, often economic and social conditions impede this ideal. What happens when a major industry leaves town? How does it affect the inhabitants? Do immigrants want a different American dream? Although America is the land of opportunity, why do so many people struggle to attain their dream? Novels like Empire Falls; and short stories like The Interpreter of Maladies depict the numerous struggles that Americans and immigrants face in modern times. In this seminar course, students are expected to take a leading role in discussion of psychological, sociological issues reflected in contemporary literature.

Students will explore their interests in creative writing as they compile a portfolio of work that includes poetry, short fiction, dramatic writing, humor, and creative non-fiction. The class will function as a writing seminar, examining contemporary models and students' own work in a supportive, enthusiastic environment.  Students will be encouraged to submit writing to contests and publications outside of school.

Students enrolled in this advanced class are expected to be equipped with a strong foundation in all Hebrew skills. In order to prepare the senior class for the trip to Israel, the students will learn the everyday terminology that is necessary to communicate in Israeli life. Students will learn how to invite and apologize to others, express their opinions, compliment and register complaints. Drills are based on conversations among students, debates, question-and-answer sessions, and group work, with audio-visual aids playing an integral part of our instruction.

In the senior year, students study Hebrew at an advanced level with the ultimate goal of preparing the students for their class trip to Israel. The course will place a strong emphasis on the continued advancement of the students’ conversational skills. The students will improve their reading comprehension by reading Hebrew literature. Writing will also be emphasized and advanced topics in Hebrew grammar will be studied. The class will prepare for a rich integration with modern Israeli life via the use of current events, movies, music, and other forms of media.

History of Zionism and Israel

The primary foci of the 12th grade Jewish history curriculum are the origins and evolution of Zionism and the tumultuous history of the present-day State of Israel. The course begins with an overview of the current state of affairs in Israel. It then focuses on the waves of Jewish immigration to Ottoman and British Palestine and the social, political and economic tensions of the pre-State period. It surveys Israeli history, with particular attention to wars, negotiations, and crises, an understanding of which deepens students' comprehension of the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict. The last part of the course concentrates on Israeli society and culture, analyzing Israeli internal debates on such topics as the role of religion in the State, and Ashkenazi/Sephardi relations.

This course involves text study and analysis of the tractate of Talmud covered in class to prepare students for more advanced Talmud study.  Students will learn additional commentaries as well as the halachic development of the topics covered by the Talmud. Special emphasis will be on halachic application of texts studied.

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH ISSUES

Judaism Hit the Road

This course will enable our students to reflect on all they have learned in the classroom and take it “on the road.”  We will examine media images that surround us every day and discuss the values they project.  We will use our Jewish lens to interpret those messages. We will also have practical “on the road” explorations beyond the walls of BT. Through this experience, we will discuss how we can become future Jewish leaders on college campuses and beyond.

This 12th grade course will cover first year calculus topics not covered on the AB Exam along with topics of second year calculus covered on the BC Exam. Integration is revisited with additional techniques in addition to such topics as sequences and series and polar coordinates.

Fundamentals of Trigonometry is a 12th grade course that stresses the application of the trigonometric ratios to triangles. Students learn how to solve for the missing parts of right and oblique triangles in order to apply these skills to solving real world problems using indirect measurement.

This course is offered to 12th graders who have completed both College Algebra and Trigonometry. Emphasis is on limits and differentiation with an introduction to integration. Limits and derivatives of linear, polynomial, and rational functions are the major focus, with some exposure to transcendental functions.

Honors College Algebra provides 11th and 12th graders with the opportunity to focus on the study of functions and their properties. Algebraic functions are studied in greater depth and two new transcendental functions are introduced. Special emphasis is place on algebraic techniques used in the study of calculus. Students are required to apply the skills they learn to unfamiliar situations and real world problems.

In this 12th grade course, Trigonometry is taught from both the triangle and function perspectives. Major topics include solving right and oblique triangle, graphing the trigonometric functions, verifying identities and solving trigonometric equations.

This upper level course is the final offering in the French program and will encourage students to communicate with a more sophisticated and spontaneous use of the language. With a focus on France as well as the culture and literature of the world’s Francophone countries, more complex grammar and vocabulary will be presented as students strive to master some of the subtleties of the target language. In addition, practical travel information will be discussed in preparation for a week-long seminar in Paris, France.

AP Biology is a demanding course equivalent to a two-semester college introductory biology course normally taken by science majors during their first year of college. Content will be covered in depth, with emphasis placed on the interpretation and analysis of information, including statistical analysis of data and modeling of concepts. The four main themes of this course encompass evolution as the driver of diversity and unity of life, the utilization of free energy in cellular processes, genetics and information transfer, and the complex interactions among biological systems.

This course is designed to provide students with scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies necessary to comprehend the relationships abundant within the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate relative risks associated with these identified problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing similar problems facing the global environment.

This dynamic program provides students with real‑world learning and hands‑on experience. Students interested in engineering, robotics, aeronautics, and other applied math and science arenas will benefit from this course’s unique approach. Field trips enable students to learn how engineering concepts are applied in research facilities and construction sites.

This course is designed to provide an exploratory overview of the field of neuroscience, from synaptic transmission to the structure and function of the human brain, delving into such concepts as sensory perception, motor control, sleep and consciousness, and learning and memory. Students will explore not only normal brain function, but also what our current understanding is of the neurobiological basis of drug addiction, ADHD, learning disabilities, stroke, depression, as well as many other brain-based disorders.

This team-based course, which can be taken for Honors credit, provides students with hands’-on experience in the design and construction of 2- and 4-legged robots. Students interested in engineering, robotics, aeronautics, and other applied math and science fields will benefit from this course which culminates in the annual interscholastic Robot Challenge Competition.

Twelfth graders have the option of choosing physical education as an elective.  Students who elect to enroll in physical education class are allowed to choose between the strength training class and the aerobics course.

Lift weights and get strong! Class size is very limited, and those students who participate in athletics may get priority.

This is a "craft variety" class, which will potentially include ceramics, woodburning, mosaics, decoupage, and maybe...just maybe...glass bead blowing.

Utilizing both digital cameras and various other digital devices (iPads, tablets, etc.), students will not only learn how to compose photographs, but also how to utilize shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focus, depth of field and sharpness while taking photos. We will also use various apps and programs to manipulate our captures in order to create a professional, modern photographs.

This is a course where students can create individual art projects at their own pace while utilizing various media and a plethora of potential projects, including (but not limited too) painting, woodburning, collage, and drawing.

Be a part of BT's dance troupe! The focus will be on creating full choreographed performance pieces. This course will culminate in a year-end performance and may also include performing at other events, both on campus and elsewhere.

Focusing on producing and designing a dance from start to finish, including choreography, costume design, lighting design, music selection, etc. This course will culminate in a year-end performance!

Learn the basics and background of filmmaking, and the use of basic filmmaking equipment while creating episodes of BT-TV, including but not limited to scripting segments, conducting and filming interviews, and reporting on sports and other BT events. Prior filmmaking experience is not needed but is preferred.

This course will focus on editing, after effects and other post-production techniques needed to finalize and finish various film creations.

Investigate the overarching themes found in the world of cinema. We will have one overarching theme that will be found in the film that we watch, and we will also analyze the other themes found in those films. Class is only open to Grade 11 & 12.

Students will broadcast music, weather, sports and BT news to the world via the internet. Students will design the format and structure of their particular broadcast. Computers, iPads, and other broadcasting equipment will be utilized in order to help you realize your vision.

This is a performance ensemble that will be looking to perform music of the pop, rock, jazz and Israeli variety. The ability to play an instrument is a must, and the ability to read music is a plus. An audition may be required. Please see Mr. Kirk for more details.

This is a performance choir that sings traditional holiday songs, along with Israeli and American pop music in an a capella style. By audition only. If interested, sign up and then contact Ms. Benedek to schedule an audition.

This course will focus on the study of various time periods in music history and understanding the music's social contect, as well as on creating musical compositions. iPads will be our main tool of musical creation, utilizing apps such as Auxy and GarageBand, althous we may expand our technological pallet as the year goes on.

Classes focus on preparing their respective publications. Classes are limited in size.

Improve upon your set construction skills by constructing and deconstructing set pieces. Power tools WILL be used! Course size is limited!

The goal of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of economics, serving to prepare student for the AP exam. In addition to the study of basic microeconomic concepts, such as the price system, supply and demand, and elasticity, the course places particular emphasis on the study of macroeconomic concepts, such as GDP, fiscal and monetary policies, economic performance measures, economic growth, and international economics.

Explore our evolving understanding of human behavior through the lens of this course, a college-level course designed to examine the major ideas and enduring principles at the very heart of psychology. Some of the units covered include: the biology of the brain, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, personality and psychological disorders. This course is intended to prepare students to take the AP exam in the spring of the senior year.

This is a laboratory-based course integrating the fundamental concepts of the life and physical sciences with the technical skills needed for postsecondary education and work in a modern laboratory. Biotechnology addresses the various techniques that utilize the properties of living things to make products or provide services and deals with biological and chemical content at the molecular level. The course focuses on basic lab methods, critical thinking, and communication skills currently used in the biotechnology industry.

This honors-level course explores and analyzes various historical eras and themes. At the conclusion of these analyses, movies will be shown that reflect on those specific historical events. Finally, the class will discuss the quality of the film in terms of its faithfulness to the actual events. Possible films may include Lawrence of Arabia, Blood Diamond and The Killing Fields.

This honors-level course is designed to analyze the ways in which our sports have been “created” by our American Culture; as well as how sports have, in kind, acted to shape our culture. Students will explore selected readings that will focus their academic attention on the impact of our economic, social, political and legal institutions on sports in our country. Some major themes will include the rise of team sports; the role of race and gender in sports; the delineation between professional and amateur sports; the impact of media on sports; and, the relationship between sports and our legal system.