Preschool - High School

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High School

We believe that the end goal of an education is to prepare young people with the skills and tools needed to become independent, capable adults who can act with integrity and judgment in the pursuit of their goals and dreams.

Our purpose is to help students master their academics and gain the skills and abilities they need to go anywhere. We provide a safe space with wide-ranging and gradually increasing challenges from which students learn and grow on their educational journey to adulthood.

In addition to rounding out their academic studies in literature, mathematics, writing, science, history and government, High School students get practical understanding and experience in the subjects of leadership, integrity, and logic, as well as in management and organizational structure.

Practical Application

The founding concept of our practical program is to encourage students to use the subject they are learning, while they are learning it.

The ability to use what one is learning in real life gives students the confidence and freedom to build a limitless future for themselves. Practical application can include conducting experiments, participating in activities, and completing a variety of hands-on projects.

Students Take The Lead

Each student’s academic program is personalized for their strengths, weaknesses and interests. Rather than learn just from teachers, our students learn from our curriculum and the world around them as well, with practical application of the subject they are studying.

We believe that with the right study tools, students can be their own best teachers, learning at their own best pace.

In order to achieve this, The Delphi Schools developed its curriculum with student independence as a primary goal. Our teachers, called academic supervisors, are the expert guides, always there to assist, support and encourage our students as they work to complete the graduation requirements for each level of our program. This approach has allowed students to learn for themselves how the subject applies to their lives and empowers them to be successful in their future endeavors.

Individualized Academic Program

High School students work with their academic supervisor to create a customized “program” – a list of courses they will study on their educational journey to achieving the abilities we expect from each student, as laid out in our graduation requirements.

Creating this program begins with the academic supervisor and the student having an honest conversation about the student’s strengths, weaknesses and interests. These are taken into account, along with the graduation requirements.

Giving each student personalized, individual attention is not an add-on, but a requirement.

Forms, Not Grades

At Delphi, we do not run on a year-by-year grade-level basis. Instead each student moves through their own individualized program at their own optimum pace, taking more time when needed and moving more rapidly whenever possible.

In many schools utilizing the grade levels system, children move through their materials based on time rather than understanding. This model leaves many children stranded with educational holes. Delphi’s approach is just the opposite, where learning is the constant and time is the variable as students work towards achieving our graduation requirements.

The curriculum encourages students to apply the knowledge they’re gaining to real life situations, building critical thinking and problem-solving skills, rather than emphasizing memorization of facts or time spent in class. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in each course of study before moving on to the next course or subject.

This allows us to recognize each student as an individual, regardless of age, with the right to reason, to think creatively, to look at the world independently and to evaluate information for its relative importance and usefulness.

Broadening Views Through Literature

The purpose of Delphian’s robust literature program is to provide students with exposure to a wide range of literary works, broadening their views and their understanding of the world’s cultures and civilizations.

Each level of the reading program builds upon the earlier level, encompassing a wide array of subjects including philosophy, art, history, biography and science.

Accompanying writing assignments are specifically designed to have no “right or wrong” answer; instead students are challenged to evaluate and develop their own ideas and viewpoints compared against the historical, social and political period, and discuss them rationally and logically, supported by their own understanding of the book, personal experiences and research.

Study Technology

We have found the only reason students fail to learn is because they have never been taught how to learn. Every Delphi student is taught how to successfully learn any subject.

Reading/Literature

Level 1

Upon completion of this reading level, students will have developed a comprehensive vocabulary and will be comfortable reading a variety of literary works. They will read an average of 5-10 books per month, selected from a list which includes biographies, autobiographies, fiction, historical fiction and nonfiction. In addition, there is a core of required books, including Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth, as well as various works on Greek mythology.

Literature Seminars covering The Odyssey and Julius Caesar (or Romeo and Juliet) ensure students delve more deeply into these classic texts and are able to integrate the materials with their studies of history, government and philosophy.

Level 2 & 3

Students continue the Literature Program covering literary works that embrace philosophy, art, history, biography and science. Prior to reading each book, students engage in background research of that historical period, including relevant social and political issues, putting each novel, play or epic poem in proper context.

Extensive writing assignments while reading the book focus on evaluating the ideas and viewpoints expressed in the literary work against the historical, social and political period, as well as against one’s own experiences.

Literature Seminars focus on David Copperfield, The Merchant of Venice, Oedipus Rex, The Republic and Hamlet, as well as poetry by Shakespeare, Keats, Shelley, Frost and others.

Level 2 Literary Works

  • Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
  • Sea Wolf by Jack London
  • Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
  • I, Claudius by Robert Graves
  • The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
  • The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
  • Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
  • Autobiography by Ben Franklin

Level 3 Literary Works

  • Selected Dialogues of Plato by Plato
  • Candide by Voltaire
  • Common Sense (selections) by Thomas Paine
  • Rights of Man (selections) by Thomas Paine
  • Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville
  • A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
  • Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
  • Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller
  • Antigone by Sophocles

Projects

Each High School Level has a required student-proposed project of minimum length twenty-five hours for Freshmen up to one hundred hours for Seniors. These projects can be in areas aligned with student interests and purposes, or in areas where students could benefit from increased interaction with the environment around them. It is through these projects specifically that students are expected to demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a vital part of the High School students’ programs. With all the emphasis placed on the importance of application to what they are studying, apprenticeships offer students an opportunity to gain both experience and exposure in areas of interest. The program allows the student to “test” possible career choices in a real world environment, while at the same time learning skills and knowledge from professionals in the field.

Examples of typical apprenticeships include working with companies and/or individual professionals in veterinary medicine, law enforcement, software development, film production, music production, politics and wildlife management.

Graduation

The flexibility of the Delphi High School Program easily accommodates personalization of study toward a student’s future goal. College preparatory level courses are available. Delphi prepares students with PSAT/SAT prep and optional college dual enrollment programs.

Individual programming from Freshman year through a student’s Senior year permits students to complete their entire High School Program in as little as 29 months. This speed of progress is normal when a student demonstrates excellent application of Study Technology, excellent attendance and a firm mastery of the reading program.

Whether students envision themselves as doctors, engineers, chefs, artists, teachers, business owners, or anything else, Delphi prepares them for success in their next educational step.

The Curriculum

Mathematics & Technology

Fundamentals in High School mathematics are the focus here along with a stress on the usability of the subject data in real-world applications.

Algebra

Algebra I is the initial level of mathematics required in High School. (A firm foundation in pre-algebra is required and remedial study is done prior to Algebra I if needed.) Students will not only gain a thorough understanding of basic algebraic concepts and nomenclature but will become adept at practical application of these concepts in a variety of settings.

Algebra II allows students to gain a more advanced understanding of algebraic concepts and applications, including more complex systems of linear equations and inequalities, quadratic equations, translation between functions of conic sections and their graphs, complex numbers, exponential and logarithmic functions, rational algebraic functions and irrational algebraic functions.

Geometry

Geometry covers both plane and solid geometry, with an emphasis on an ability to use the data to solve real-world situations and problems. Students address the nomenclature, measurements of area and volume of 2D and 3D shapes, construction, proofs of fundamental principles, three-view drawings and calculating curved surfaces.

Advanced Math

Students interested in pursuing a career in any of the STEM fields are encouraged to enhance their Delphi Program by taking many of our advanced math courses in geometry, calculus, and trigonometry.

Science

An understanding of science comes about through student participation in activities exploring the diverse areas and aspects of science. Each student studies three different sciences: biology, chemistry, and physics.

Biology

The emphasis is on practical application and a thorough understanding of basic principles. These include the component of cells, organs, and systems, environment and ecosystems.

Chemistry

Courses are designed for a practical understanding of basic chemistry principles, laboratory techniques, investigations into matter, atomic structure, chemical reactions and balancing equations.

Physics

Through investigations, students get a working knowledge of the basic physics principles including energy, radiation, electricity, mechanics, light and sound waves.

Writing

Extensive writing is required, and great attention is paid to full application of writing basics, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. Students are expected to write a minimum amount per month, with good structure and very few errors.

Students are introduced to successful writing techniques on which to base the development of an excellent, vigorous, highly communicative personal writing style. Formal techniques for documented research in which students learn the skills needed to develop a thesis, search online and use more advanced library references round out the writing program.

Public Speaking

Students will also do a course on communication skills, which is designed to aid in clear and commanding oral expression. Seniors take a course on public speaking, covering the basics of both developing and delivering a public address and requiring students to deliver several lengthy formal presentations. In another course covering communication skills, students learn how to improve situations and personal relations through good communication.

History, Government & Current Events

Being able to trace influential ideas through time and see the relationship between historic and current events constitutes the emphasis in this subject area.

American History

American history is covered in a series of four sections, beginning with the pre-Columbian period and continuing through modern day. Focus is placed on enabling students to understand the geographical and historical context of national current events.

World History

The world history course is broken up into three sections: ancient Egypt through the fall of the Roman Empire; the Middle Ages through the American Revolution; and the French Revolution through present day. Again, emphasis is placed on evaluating major world events in modern times with an understanding of their historical roots. As with American history, students participate in weekly current events seminars requiring individual research along with group discussion.

World Geography

Students learn to analyze and interpret geographic data in order to better evaluate current world events and predict future world events.

Current Events

The purpose of the Current Events Program is to raise the students’ awareness and activity regarding their relationships with their country and the world. The end result is students with an interest in improving the survival potential of humankind and an improved orientation to their world and the ideas that shape it.

Current events seminars are held weekly, often supplemented with guest speakers. Students participate in research and discussion on significant issues of the day.

Applied Philosophy & Logic

The development of critical thinking skills is emphasized.

The Logic Series

Students are introduced to logic basics for application, which teaches students to evaluate facts and to use reliable information to make effective decisions and implement correct solutions.

At the next level, students learn to properly trace down the basic cause of problems and implement realistic solutions based on thorough logical analysis.

With the advanced section of the Logic Series, students begin to refine their investigatory abilities, learning how to discover the correct reason for a decline or failure.

Leadership

One of the most important senior level sections in the Delphi Program is on leadership. In this area, students learn the difference between good and bad leadership, how to be an effective leader and the relation of ethics to leadership.

Involvement in activities such as Student Council and Community Service gives students practical experience in leadership and its accompanying responsibilities.

Life Skills, Ethics & Integrity

Focus is on ethics and the value of living a moral life while developing a very high sense of integrity. Through courses like Integrity and The Code of Honor, students learn the impact of applying or not applying these concepts in their own lives.

Business

Practical Math for Business Majors

As part of students’ initial study of mathematics in the High School, a special section in practical math is included in every student’s program. Practical math primarily addresses personal finances—calculating interest rates, taxes, budgeting, etc.

Additional Study

A wide variety of topics is offered to students interested in pursuing additional study in business. They include: the Basics of Organization; Financial Planning, Management by Statistics and Economics.

The Arts

Although art, music, and theater courses are not required in the High School, all High School students are encouraged to participate in arts-related electives and the school has a tradition of high-level participation in the arts on the part of nearly all its students.

Art offerings include courses in drawing, painting, and sculpture.

Sports

The High School program prides itself on hard work, discipline, sportsmanship, team spirit, and fun. Throughout the year daily sports classes perfect the basics, focus on more advanced strength and conditioning exercises, drill team strategies and develop and hone leadership skills. Seasonal activities include volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Delphi plays competitively in various leagues with other private schools.

High School Photos


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