Advanced Upper School Orchestra Full Year (Two Semesters) Prerequisites: Upper School Orchestra OR Creative and Performing Arts Department recommendation This course is open to students who have previously participated in Upper School Orchestra and wish to further their experiences and responsibilities in a string ensemble. In addition to the regular requirements, the student will be encouraged to prepare and perform a solo or ensemble at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Solo and Ensemble Festival. Advanced Orchestra students will assume added responsibilities which may include section leader, student conductor, music librarian, advanced octet member, and extra concert preparation.
Public Speaking: Beyond the TED Talk One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: None
Early work in this course will establish the foundations for public speaking through the study of traditional techniques in speech presentation. These techniques will be advanced to extend into new media, podcasting, and other technology-based explorations. This course is technology based and limited to nine students.
Rock Music History One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: None
This course explores the evolution of rock music from its roots in the late 1940s and 1950s to its diverse forms and cultural impact in the present day. Students will examine the major movements and key albums that shaped the genre, from early music pioneers, influential artists, outlaws, and visionaries. The course will also explore the rise of subgenres from rockabilly, pop, funk, metal, and beyond, while considering rock’s social, political, and cultural influences across different decades. By the end of the course, students will have a deepened appreciation for rock music, its diverse sounds, and its lasting legacy on modern music and culture. The Players The Liggett Players present two main stage theatrical productions ranging from popular Broadway musicals to tense dramas. In addition, they produce a student- directed production each spring. The Players production company features leadership roles for our students and they are involved in every aspect of the productions, both on stage and behind the scenes. As a result of the program in the classroom and on the stage, the Liggett Players have been consistently recognized at the state and national level for excellence in high school theater.
Photography One Semester (Offered First Semester) Prerequisites: None
This course explores the fundamentals of black and white photography. Emphasis is placed on photography as a technical medium with attention given to design and compositional elements. Students study film development, printing techniques, and camera operations in the course. The history of photography and its impact on the world will also be investigated. Students are required to have a 35mm SLR manual film camera, with a working light meter. The school has a limited amount of cameras available to loan. Students will be required to pay for their film ($6.00 per roll, up to 6 rolls a semester) but textbooks are provided. Text: Short Course in Photography (8th edition) by Barbara London and Jim Stone (ISBN 0-13-193380-9) Advanced Photography One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: Photography OR Creative and Performing Arts Department recommendation This course is an extension of the Photography class. Using film and darkroom techniques, students create a portfolio that can be presented to colleges for admissions consideration. The class expands special techniques, and further explores personal sensibilities. Piano Lab One Semester (Offered First and Second Semesters) Prerequisites: None This course is designed for students who desire to develop basic piano skills, or for those who wish to expand their existing piano skills. Students will spend time playing independently and receive individualized instruction. Students will perform a piano recital at the conclusion of course.
English
The Upper School English program follows a scope and sequence that supports student skill development in reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary. All students in the Upper School complete Core 1 in the ninth grade and Core 2 in the tenth grade. These classes include an introduction to Modern Language Association (MLA) requirements for writing and extensive practice with reading closely, annotating, and writing analytical and other types of papers. In the eleventh and twelfth grades, students choose from a slate of semester-long elective offerings. The seminar method is used in literature classes, which emphasize reading rich and complex texts and writing analytical papers. Writing electives taught on a regular basis include Craft of Writing, which reinforces basic skills and emphasizes the art of the essay, Creative Writing, which contributes (along with independent submissions) to our award-winning literary magazine, and Nonfiction Writing, our journalism class that produces articles for the school’s student newspaper.
2026-2027 ULS Curriculum Guide
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