Summer
Summer School
The Milken Summer Session philosophy is to provide students with the following opportunities:
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to fulfill a graduation requirement, creating the opportunity for further elective exploration during the school year
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to fulfill a prerequisite for more advanced learning during the school year
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to explore an area of learning during the summer that otherwise would be too much of a course load during the school year
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to provide reinforcement and review in an area of struggle
This year, Milken Summer Session courses will be taught remotely.
Summer School is open to all students entering grades 9-12. Students who are enrolled at schools other than Milken are welcome.
Summer School is open to all students entering grades 9-12. Students who are enrolled at schools other than Milken are welcome.
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One Semester Course / One Session
List of 9 items.
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Acting I - FULL
Students study basic acting, exploring the essential question: How do you step into another person’s shoes: their circumstances, beliefs, bodies, and dreams? Students use games, exercises, and improvisation to develop essential acting skills. Acting is also a wonderful way to gain confidence in speaking and performing before others. When taken together with Acting II (see One Year courses below), this course can fulfill Milken's arts requirement and is CSU/UC approved as a visual/ performing art.Grades 9-12 -
Government - Session C
Students describe, analyze, and explain the American system of government at the federal, state, and local levels, in order to participate intelligently in that process as American citizens. Students analyze primary and secondary source material that addresses the American democratic system, its origins, and basic principles. Students are encouraged to participate in the electoral process through letter writing and involvement with a political party or issue. Research skills and current events are emphasized.
Open to students entering Grades 11-12. -
Health - FULL
The goal of optimum health is to achieve balance in three areas of one’s life: social, emotional and physical. Students explore definitions of personal wellness, and build and rehearse the skills necessary to make healthy and responsible choices. Major units include: nutrition and fitness, relationships, emotional health, human sexuality, and substance abuse prevention.
Open to students entering Grades 9-10.
Sessions A,B, and C are closed. -
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - FULL
Students explore the geo-political relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. Students learn and explore the origins and nature of these relationships using multiple perspectives. This is not an Israel advocacy course, but an academic course that will increase your understanding of the complexities underlying our topic. Israel-Palestinian Conflict is a vehicle for students to refine their ability to dissect arguments, develop media literacy and detect bias so that they are inspired to continue to learn about Israel and strengthen their personal connection to the Jewish state after they graduate. Primary and secondary source documents, Israeli literature and music, geography, demographics, and film promote thoughtful questions, dialogue, and informed debate among students.
Open to students entering Grades 11-12. -
Personal Finance - FULL
Jump start your financial life in just two weeks! We'll start this wild ride at the very beginning. What goes into building credit? Do we even need credit (spoiler alert - YES!)? What's a budget and how do I make one? How do I save? I'm so young, does retirement even matter now? What if I want to retire early? All of these questions (and more) will be answered. We'll also talk about why money matters and how to use it to have the happiest, fullest life possible, for you and for those around you.
Note: Students may combine Personal Finance with Intro to Investing in Session C. Only students who complete both sessions will be prepared to take Advanced Finance and Investing during the school year.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12. -
Personal Fitness - FULL
Personal Fitness will enable students to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness and to increase physical competence, self-esteem, and the motivation to pursue lifelong physical activity. Students will gain an understanding of the components of health-related fitness, training principles, and the benefits of being physically active. Students will participate in activities that will increase physical fitness levels and develop health practices that value physical activity and its contribution to lifelong fitness. The topics of study in physical fitness include wellness, health- related physical fitness, fitness terminology, training principles, components of fitness, fitness assessments, goal-setting, benefits of fitness, nutrition, skill-related fitness, and prevention and care of injuries related to physical activity. Students will pursue proficiency in one or more lifetime activities during this course and document their experience by keeping a daily journal. Through participation in various activity students will use a variety of basic and advanced motor skills, apply movement concepts and principles, and integrate performance strategies. Students will develop responsible personal and social behavior, respect for individual differences, self-control, cooperative skills and sportsmanship in a physical activity setting.
Open to students entering Grades 9-10.
Sessions A and B are already closed. -
Positive Psychology - FULL
Students explore the academic field of positive psychology, the study of optimal human functioning. Positive psychology concentrates on building what is right in people by scientifically studying strengths and values. Students explore current research into the dimensions of happiness and subjective well-being, and acquire skills to implement positive psychology concepts in one’s life. Topics include happiness, self-esteem, empathy, friendship, love, achievement, creativity, music, spirituality, and humor.
Open to students entering Grades 10-12. -
Screenwriting I - FULL
Students learn idea generation, the elimination of writer's block, scene writing, story structure, plotting, screenplay format, specialized writing skills (character, dialogue, etc.), the process of writing the first draft, evaluation skills, and creative rewriting techniques. Students engage in a writer's boot camp building specific techniques and culminating in the creation of first acts and shorter pieces.
This course can be taken as Screenwriting I/II for two sessions over the summer. See below.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12. -
Writing About Literature - Session C
This course is designed to give students a rigorous foundation of the basic skills for writing multiple paragraphs descriptive, analytic, and argumentative essays. Students will be introduced to the basic conventions of the expository essay including: learning how to accurately respond to specific writing prompts and assignments, formulate a thesis, practice essential skills of paragraph organization, write a first draft, and then edit, and revise multiple final drafts of several types of expository essays. Students will also learn how to proofread their writing by identifying and correcting common errors in grammar and punctuation. In a writing workshop environment, students will be taught to critique their own and other students’ writing, while also exploring the multiple rhetorical strategies available to assist them to analyze and argue their own essays. While the focus of the course will be on developing students’ writing skills, the course will use several literary works as well as graphic organizers and in-class discussion to develop critical thinking skills that support and propel their writing.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12.
One Year Course / Two Sessions
List of 12 items.
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Acting I/II - FULL
Students study basic acting, exploring the essential question: How do you step into another person’s shoes: their circumstances, beliefs, bodies, and dreams? Students use games, exercises, and improvisation to develop essential acting skills. Acting is also a wonderful way to gain confidence in speaking and performing before others. In Acting II, students apply their skills toward preparing a role for performance. When taken together, Acting I & II fulfill Milken's arts requirement and is CSU/UC approved as a visual/ performing art.Grades 9-12 -
Chemistry - FULL
Students gain a fundamental understanding of chemistry, especially as it relates to their daily lives. Students learn to collect, record, and analyze scientific data in order to propose solutions to problems. Projects allow students to research and synthesize information in order to present findings to an audience in a variety of modalities. By engaging in hands-on laboratory experiments and projects, students increase their scientific reasoning skills and gain a greater understanding of the world around them.
Open to students entering Grades 10-12. -
Environmental Science - FULL
Students explore the environmental challenges of our expanding global society. Students examine the sources, consequences, and potential solutions for both natural- and human-created environmental problems. Students integrate aspects of biology, chemistry, earth science and government policy. Although this course will have a global approach, an emphasis will be placed on environmental concerns for Southern California and Los Angeles, in particular. Prerequisite: Biology and Chemistry.Open to students entering Grades 10-12 who have fulfilled the prerequisite. -
Honors Chemistry - FULL
Students gain a fundamental understanding of chemistry, as it relates to their daily lives. Students learn to collect, record, and analyze scientific data in order to propose solutions to problems. Projects allow students to research and synthesize information and present findings to an audience in a variety of modalities. By engaging in hands-on laboratory experiments and projects, students increase their scientific reasoning skills and gain a greater understanding of the world around them. Honors students must be entering Algebra II or higher.Open to students entering Grades 10-12 with department approval. -
Intro to Computer Science and Design - FULL
Students use today's technology to create their own products such as video games, apps, websites, and more. Students get hands- on experience building computer programming and computational thinking skills through working with languages and tools like visual drag- and-drop programming, Arduino, HTML, Python, C#, JavaScript, and Java. No prior experience with coding is necessary, only interest and enthusiasm.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12. -
Latin I - FULL
Students learn methods for comprehending increasingly challenging Latin passages through daily practice in reading, translation, and the study of Latin grammar fundamentals and vocabulary. Students study the complexities of Latin word order, noun declensions, verbal conjugations, and they develop a facility with translation and analysis of complex sentences. Frequent study of Latin derivations and cognates helps develop English vocabulary skills and strengthen each student’s understanding of English and other languages’ grammar. Latin allows each student to discover the debt that Western Civilization owes to Greco- Roman culture, strengthening and enriching their understanding of science and the humanities. Emphasis is placed on reading Latin aloud with proper intonation and pronunciation. Listening skills are developed through the dictation of Latin words, sentences and stories. Finally, daily life and culture are explored as students make their way through the chapter stories which center on a wealthy Roman living in the city of Pompeii during the first century C.E. Legend, mythology, and history focus on the founding of Rome and the ruling periods of the Monarchy and early Republic.Grades 9-12 -
Latin II - FULL
Students continue to learn Latin vocabulary and grammar through the 'reading' method, which helps students absorb grammar and vocabulary by reading several simple texts that present a new set of words or a new grammar item. This approach is supplemented with grammar oriented lessons, allowing students to recognize patterns in both Latin and English. In addition, students learn about the ancient Middle East and how historical events in the Roman empire still shape the modern world.Grades 9-12 -
Personal Finance and Introduction to Investing - FULL
Personal Finance - Session A
Jump start your financial life in just two weeks! We'll start this wild ride at the very beginning. What goes into building credit? Do we even need credit (spoiler alert - YES!)? What's a budget and how do I make one? How do I save? I'm so young, does retirement even matter now? What if I want to retire early? All of these questions (and more) will be answered. We'll also talk about why money matters and how to use it to have the happiest, fullest life possible, for you and for those around you.
Introduction to Investing - Session CThis class is the continuation of the Personal Finance course. But here, we'll actually learn the basics of investing in a variety of markets. What's a stock? What's a bond? Can I really invest in real estate while I am still a college student (spoiler alert - YES!)? What is cryptocurrency? How do all these things fit together in a balanced portfolio? How does our economy work? How does the global economy work? All of these simple questions (kidding) and more will be discussed at length. Saddle in, buckle up, and bring your helmet - this just might blow your mind, if you're into that sort of thing.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12. -
Physics - FULL
Physics is all around us. Any problem that deals with temperature, motion, force, position, shape or color involves physics. Students explore the physics behind everyday situations by building on their conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Physics students must be enrolled in Algebra II or higher.
Open to students entering Grades 10-12. -
Screenwriting I/II - FULL
Students learn idea generation, the elimination of writer's block, scene writing, story structure, plotting, screenplay format, specialized writing skills (character, dialogue, etc.), the process of writing the first draft, evaluation skills, and creative rewriting techniques. Students engage in a writer's boot camp building specific techniques and culminating in the creation of first acts and shorter pieces; students focus on producing a longer screenplay in level II.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12. -
Spanish I - FULL
Spanish I is the first level in a communication-based curriculum that integrates the development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Through the use of conversational and written activities, audio activities, videos, the Internet, songs, games, and projects, students learn to communicate meaningfully with peers from the Spanish-speaking world. Through thematically based units, vocabulary and grammar are integrated into all daily activities and assignments. Students complete the present tense. Students also learn about the diverse aspects of Hispanic culture. The World Language Department is guided by the belief that the acquisition of languages will promote students' understanding of human experience, history, culture and expression. Through the acquisition of languages, we strive to foster esteem for lifelong learning (Lishma), a sense of global community, and a strong tie to ameliorate the world (Tikkun Olam) through improved communication of a common vision.
Open to students entering Grades 9-12. -
US History - FULL
Students undertake a survey of US history with an emphasis on the 20th century. A thematic approach gives students a broad view of the development of democracy in the US and of the growing role of the US in world affairs. Focus is on themes of reaction and revolt, reform movements, national character, nationalism, and the many causes and consequences of American political, economic, and social change.
Open to students entering Grade 11.
Summer Sessions:
Session A: June 17 - Friday, July 3
Session A: June 17 - Friday, July 3
Session B: July 8 - Friday, July 24
Session C: July 29 - Friday, August 14Times:
9:00 AM - 1:00PM
Cost Per Session: $800
50% Discount available for students currently enrolled for 2020-2021 at Milken Community Schools.
Milken is a vibrant academic home for diverse students from across Los Angeles. What they find here is an environment that emphasizes critical thinking, prioritizes personal development and fosters a sense of cohesive community. We invite you to get to know us better.
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