Curriculum

The History Department empowers students to be historians who question the evolution of cultures. Students begin their work with a survey of world civilization which provides them the knowledge to recognize and interpret patterns and themes of the past. Students have the opportunity to study African, Asian, and Western cultures, looking at events that include war and exploration, as well as systems of justice and inventions. Using differentiated instruction, the curriculum makes the content accessible, relevant, and engaging to students at every level.

The Mathematics Department believes in fostering a challenging and nurturing learning environment where students reinforce foundational math skills, engage in challenging work and bridge theory to various real-world applications. At every level, students review past material, build upon previously learned material, and investigate new material. When students delve deeply into mathematics, they gain knowledge of and experience with various approaches and techniques to solve problems.

The Science Department encourages students to develop a scientific mindset, one where they simultaneously keep an open mind and maintain a healthy level of skepticism. Students become systematic problem solvers both as individuals and as group members as they use the scientific method in their work in the classroom, the laboratories and even the outdoors or the campus greenhouse. All Science classes prepare for the Science Expo, an annual school-wide celebration of science and discovery.

The Skills and Academic Strategies program (SAS) offers a very specific and unique approach to learning. The focus of each class is not on the completion of work but on the development of skills and the ability to complete work. Students use their regular assignments to practice skills and strategies that will ultimately enable them to be independent learners. SAS is an optional program that comes with an additional fee.

The Visual and Performing Arts Department awakens and nourishes the creative process in every student. The Department offers a selection of courses in musical arts, photography, digital art, ceramics, sculpture, art history, and studio art. The curriculum promotes creativity, original thinking, perseverance, resourcefulness, personal exploration, and safe risk-taking. Students have the opportunity to curate and show work in gallery spaces, develop a portfolio throughout their CH-CH career, participate in musical performances, work with industry-level design programs, and collaborate on projects with students as well as visiting artists.

All international students take a full schedule of integrated classes with native-English speakers. Many will enroll in English Language Learner English and History courses, full-year, credit-bearing courses taught by a trained ELL instructor where students strengthen their skills in active reading, research techniques, written expression, vocabulary, and class discussion. These courses are designed to maximize learning by emphasizing process, communication, and interactive strategies in the classroom. These courses are graded on an A-F scale. 

Other students will enroll in English Language Learner Workshop, a full-year, credit-bearing course taught by an ELL instructor where students maximize learning by emphasizing process, communication, and interactive strategies that can be applied to their other classes. Students also receive support in meeting American educational expectations, time management, planning, and prioritizing as they adapt to the culture of CH-CH. This course is graded as Pass/Fail.

All students for whom English is not their primary language may elect to be graded on a pass/fail basis for those classes that are challenging due to particular language demands for their first trimester at the school.