Class Scheduling

[Moonlucent]

(OOC):

Just curious if there is a place to find a common Schedule to work from when making one of my own, or even a list of all available classes offered by Saint Josephs.

If there is one, and I missed it, you will have to pardon my asking for a posting on where to find, however I have had a devil of a time to locate it.

[Moonlucent]

(OOC):

To be more clear, I mean things such as:

"How many classes a day?"

"What kind of breaks between, for lunch and passing?"

"Do classes switch over on off days?"

[Mercy Strike]

Some of the information is definitely buried, but I dug up a couple of links that seemed relevant.

This post and this post too might be helpful. This question in the FAQ is brief, but useful too.

hopefully somebody else can find some other "agreed upon" canon references but a shorter answer might be - make something up and ask around to see if it totally contradicts anything else that's been used as the ubiquitous common knowledge. If you read the Ask Mimi thread in its entirety too, it's got a lot of tidbits in it about various topics - it also mentions the pool you were asking about!

[Lagomorph]

We don't really have a list of all available classes. That's one of the many things we leave fairly open-ended so that players have flexibility. Any normal high school class would be offered. If you're interested in a specific class that seems like it might not normally be found at a high school though, just ask and we can figure it out.

With respect to the daily schedule -- how many classes a day, when are breaks, lunch, etc. I'm not really sure. That's a level of detail I haven't really seen established by anyone, I don't think. Does anyone have any comments on this? Has anyone seen anything established?

[Moonlucent]

(OOC):

Appreciate your tracking those down, Mercy Strike.

Those helped.

[Mercy Strike]

my search-fu brings all the boys to the yard.

/grins

[Moonlucent]

(OOC):

I worked up something basic. No idea if it falls into the canon.

The following is based on the Quarters, which Saint Joseph is graded in, and spans a Full Year term. I am not sure how many or what kind of a Credit System Saint Joseph works on, so I've used one in its place for the time being based off my own experience in High School, modified to the Quarters terms.

Quarter I (Fall):

• Geometry #231 (1 Credit)
  Hebrew Scriptures #914 (.5 Credit)
  Speech #163 (.5 Credit)
  Applied Physics of Metahuman Society #112 (1 Credit)
  The Holocaust and Genocide in the Modern World #518 (.5 Credit)
  20th Century World #516 (.5 Credit)

Quarter II (Winter):

• Geometry #231 (1 Credit)
  Proper Etiquette of Women to Be #034 (.5 Credit)
  Psychology for Life #545 (.5 Credit)
  Applied Physics of Metahuman Society #112 (1 Credit)
  Home Economics #314 (.5 Credit)
  Sacraments #924 (.5 Credit)

Quarter III (Spring):

• British Literature/Composition #131 (1 Credit)
  Physical Science #429 (1 Credit)
  Physical Education/Health I (women) #816 (.5 Credit)
  Russian II #343 (1 Credit)
  Concert Choir #024 (1 Credit)
  Catholic Philosophy #945 (.5 Credit)

Quarter IV (Summer):

• British Literature/Composition #131 (1 Credit)
  Physical Science II #429 (1 Credit)
  Catholic Social Justice #935 (.5 Credit)
  Russian II #343 (1 Credit)
  Concert Choir #024 (1 Credit)
  Councilor/Student Conference (special)

[Laurel Fitte]

What the hell kind of high school did you go to?

"Proper Etiquette of Women to Be"? Sorry, I don't think so. It's a Catholic School yes, but it's not a Catholic School in Victorian England.

Most of the other courses you have listed seem more appropriate for college or university than high school. Try "Math", "English", "Biology" and "Physical Education (aka Gym)".

I think you'll find that this level of detail isn't necessary for your RP experience anyway. Too much detail is restrictive. Our members don't spend a lot of time talking about classes anyway.

[Mikael Geniusovich]

I agree that some of the classes are out there a little bit but most of them are exactly what you name with Fancy names. Which they really would have.

• Geometry #231 (1 Credit) <---- math
  Hebrew Scriptures #914 (.5 Credit) <------ Religion/History
  Speech #163 (.5 Credit) <----- English
  Applied Physics of Metahuman Society #112 (1 Credit) <----- Science/Biology
  The Holocaust and Genocide in the Modern World #518 (.5 Credit) <---- History/Polotics
  20th Century World #516 (.5 Credit) <------- History
  Geometry #231 (1 Credit) <--------- Math
  Psychology for Life #545 (.5 Credit) <--------- Social Science
  Home Economics #314 (.5 Credit) <----------- Economics
  Sacraments #924 (.5 Credit) <----------- Religion
  British Literature/Composition #131 (1 Credit) <-------- English
  Physical Science #429 (1 Credit) <----------- Science
  Physical Education/Health I (women) #816 (.5 Credit) <--------- Gym
  Russian II #343 (1 Credit) <------- Foriegn Languages
  Concert Choir #024 (1 Credit) <-------------- Music
  Catholic Philosophy #945 (.5 Credit) <------------ Religion
  Councilor/Student Conference (special) <------ kinda says it all

I say if she wants a outline of her schedule. More power to her. It's her RP that will be restricted by it not any one elses. If she wishes to restrict herself so be it.

[Moonlucent]

Our members don't spend a lot of time talking about classes anyway.

(OOC):

Seems odd, for a High School, to not.

Many of the class titles used are taken from a pamphlet for a Private Catholic High School in New York.

[Christian]

"Proper Etiquette of Women to Be"? Sorry, I don't think so. It's a Catholic School yes, but it's not a Catholic School in Victorian England.

Awww! Chris was just rearranging his schedule. Next year!!

To Moonlucent, give a look see at the school setting/supporting cast section.

Most people rather than quote a specific class are more likely to mention something like "Oh yeah that pop quiz in Bio with Mr. Brayder was brutal today!" It allows for other students around you to jump in and comment on what they thought of it without having to worry so much about which Biology class you happened to be taking at the time. Most end up just playing along, like yes.. there was a pop quiz today even though no one was there to play it out.

There are some students who will retell something that happened in the school day, but much beyond the above example are a bit of a stretch (from what I have seen). Given that "Class time" occurs entirely out of the game (sometimes on the forums) it doesn't receive quite the same focus as patrolling or social and personal relationships. Besides, I don't know about you but when I got out of class, it was the last thing I wanted to think about until 7 AM the next morning.

The class titles did seem a bit amped up for "Standard HS curriculum" I've always got the impression that SJS is more of a public school curriculum as it has to split its time between normal school work and adaptation and control with special abilities. I seem to remember there was a discussion a while back about just how many "Catholic" courses one has to take. But I don't remember which way it went... as many of the students who end up at SJS aren't from catholic upbringings and the school is more open to troubled youth with no where else to go.

*Edit to add* As far as breaks, lunches, study halls, 3 day a week classes vs 5 day a week, etc etc. I think its something we leave up to the individual player. Most know well enough not to take advantage saying "Yeah I get three lunches and 2 study halls" but as far as a rigid schedule I don't think there has ever been one. Like I mentioned earlier, most will play along with whatever you have going for your character. Some may toss themselves in the class with you, others may shudder and take note to avoid that class if possible next year or let you know how lucky they are they didn't get stuck with whatever teacher you just happened to mention.

How many classes a day? Likely enough for a full days schedule with enough time allotted for dealing with whatever brings you to SJS. For some people, they might only take 3 or 4 and spend much more time getting their ability under control, for others it might be 6 or 7.

What kind of breaks are there for lunches/etc? The breaks are long enough to do what you need, but not too long that they can be taken advantage of. If your schedule allows you a study hall type period, go for it. Some do, some don't.

[Mercy Strike]

Christian, you're scaring me, man.

from my perspective (worthless, but hey! never stopped me before), the more detail you wanna add in, the more material you've got to work with. stick that class schedule next to your computer, mention it lots and see who bites and decides they're in the same class as you. Or not, as the case may be, since I can't decide if taking Russian is an easy credit or a ticket to hell.

it's true that not many people get that detailed with their classes, leaving it vague and open ended during throw-away commentary during RP, but there's no reason to say your particular set up isn't exactly like that, Victorian England standards aside. i wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall for roleplaying THAT class, lemme tell you. Everyone runs on different rule-sets, and as long as yours don't conflict with anybody else's (ie, nobody gets to fisticuffs over whether Concert Choir is held at 10am or 11am in the mornings), I think a posted list of what you do "off camera" is great place to start with grounding in the scene.

re/how many Catholic courses one has to take - the answer is none. St. Joseph's is a Catholic school, run by nuns of the Order of St Cupertino, but they do not teach religion or catechism as part of the general curriculum. there's Mass on Sundays if you want to attend and I bet Easter is a fun time if you want to interrupt your English class by asking Sister Mary Agatha about what it all means. i've never figured Sir Winston or Gemini as particularly religious people, save as for the battlefield type. they embrace the precept of the Order and it's work in the school, but you don't need to believe in the Catholic God to do good work.

I digress constantly.

[Moonlucent]

(OOC):

Second thank you out to you, Mercy Strike.

I prefer to get into a great amount of details with my character, as I feel it helps in directing the thoughts and emotions in a general way, as well as (or more specifically) when the topic comes up. It is nice to be vague, in leaving options open, yes, however it is a stand point of my own personal preference to have a back flood to information to build the personality or actions on, instead of coming up with them on the spot. Save my improve for more common conversations about television programs and what he said to her the other day by the lockers.

About the classes having long archaic titles, I had approached them in a Private School paradigm, though it sounds Saint Joseph is more casual in a Public School sense.

About the religious classes, the same thought as above applies.

[Blitzen]

Four of my cousins go to Catholic School currently, (private school) so I pulled this from their school's website. I don't really follow anything set, I kind of go with the flow, and it really doesn't come up that often in RP, but I think this is a little more in line with what most people work with.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Level
FRESHMAN
+Religion
+English
Language Arts
+Algebra
+World Studies
+Physical Education
+Physical Science
+Keyboarding
+Introduction to Music, Band, Theatre

SOPHOMORE
+Religion
+English
Language Arts or World Lang.
+Geometry
+Biology
+Health
+Principles of Visual Design, Band, Chorus, Theatre
+Computer Applications

JUNIOR
+Religion
+English
+US History
+Physical Education
World Lang.
Int. Alg. I or Alg. II
Chemistry
Electives (2)

SENIOR
+Religion
+English
+Economics
+American Government
+Physical Education
Algebra II
Physics
Electives (2)

[Vesper Fiend]

My brother went to a private school. I'm pretty sure it was Catholic. Either way, from what I remember, his schedule was much closer to what Sam posted. Whether high schools have course numbers or complicated naming conventions, they don't often expose those to students, I expect usually even in private schools. There may be exceptions, though.