Vistamar School

Vistamar School is a private, co-educational college-preparatory high school in El Segundo in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

The dean of students is Oscar Chavarria. Vistamar School opened in September 2005, following almost four years of research, planning, fund raising and personnel recruitment. The school has a 76,000-square-foot (7,100 m²) building at 737 Hawaii Street in El Segundo and has remodeled approximately half the space for student use. Enrollment in 2012-13 was about 270 students. Over the next few years, Vistamar plans to expand to an anticipated enrollment of 380 students in grades 9 through 12.

Courses

Vistamar offers a wide array of courses to the student body.

Mathematics

• Math 1 - A culmination of algebra and geometry.
• Math 2 - A culmination of geometry and some algebra.
• Math 3 - A class focused on algebra, often equated to algebra 2.
• Math 3 honors - Same as math 3, but at an accelerated pace.
• Math 4 - Often equated to pre-calculus.
• Math 4 honors - Same as math 4, but at an accelerated pace.
• Advanced Placement Statistics
• Advanced Placement Calculus AB
• Advanced Placement Calculus BC

Humanities
This is the study of English and history.

• Global studies - 9
• Civilization studies - 10
• Contemporary world history -12
• American literature
• Advanced Placement Human Geography social studies - 12
• Advanced Placement English language - 11
• Advanced Placement English literature - 12
• United States history -11
• English - 12
• Introduction to linguistics - 9
• Introduction to economics - 9
• Introduction to forensics speech and debate - 10

Languages
Vistamar has two language programs and a program of Spanish for heritage/native speakers:

• Spanish for heritage or native speakers - with emphasis on fostering an educated bilingualism and developing existing abilities in Spanish to the level of their abilities in English.
  • Spanish for heritage/native speakers III
  • Spanish for heritage/native speakers IV
  • AP Spanish literature
• Spanish language - with emphasis on oral proficiency and communication.
  • Spanish I
  • Spanish II
  • Spanish III
  • Spanish IV
  • AP Spanish language
  • AP Spanish literature
• Mandarin Chinese - with emphasis on oral proficiency and communication.
  • Level I
  • Level II
  • Level III
  • Level IV
  • AP Chinese Language and Culture

Sciences

• Modular science I, II and III is offered in a rotation between chemistry, physics and biology for one trimester each.
• Advanced topics in science
• Advanced Placement Biology
• Advanced Placement Chemistry
• Advanced Placement Physics C

Technology

• Computer literacy one trimester long class
• Introduction to computer programming

Arts
These are art electives that last one trimester.

• 2-D art
  • Drawing
  • Painting
  • Mixed media
• 3-D art
  • Hand building
  • Sculpture
  • Wheel
• Media art
  • Digital photography
  • Graphic design
  • Video production
• Drama acting workshop
  • I, II, III
• Music
  • Theory
  • Composition
  • Performance
  • Advanced Placement music theory

Year long classes are:

• Studio art - This course is offered to juniors who show interest in the arts, but choose not to enroll in the AP class. It is a studio course in preparation for AP studio art.

In addition, the school has offered a photography course, and has put on numerous school plays. The following were directed by Chris Kent:

• Metamorphoses based on a poem by Ovid
• Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
• Rumors by Neil Simon
• One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
• The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project
• Guys and Dolls by Frank Loesser

The following were directed by Kevin Shaw:

• Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
• Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman

The following were directed by Mickey Blaine:

• Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Urinetown by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis

The school has active school choir, string ensemble and jazz band.

Advanced Placement selections

Vistamar offers Advance Placement courses: English language and composition, English literature and composition, statistics, calculus AB, Spanish language, Spanish literature, Chinese language and culture, environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, studio art and Advanced Placement Human Geography.

External links

• Official website