Berkeley Preparatory Tampa
Berkeley Preparatory offers summer academic and review courses. Read more about this independent school program. Ask your school counselor for more information!
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Berkeley
Ethics (June 10 – June 28 or July 8 – July 26);

Health (June 3 – June 21 and July 8 – July 26) Online

World Religions (June 10 – June 28 or July 8 – July 26);

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Algebra 1 covers the subject matter traditionally included in a rigorous first-year course of algebra. Emphasis is placed on the development of manipulative skills, algebraic structure, and solutions of verbal problems. Topics covered include: operations with real numbers, rational and irrational algebraic expressions, and polynomials; solving linear, rational and quadratic equations, solving systems of linear equations and inequalities, and solving word problems related to each type of equation studied; factoring algebraic expressions, an introduction to functions and several types of variation. A graphing calculator and a laptop computer are used for classroom demonstrations, discovery activities, and as an aid in problem solving.

This is an online review class.

**This online course could also be customized to meet the review needs for any high school math course, not just Algebra 1. For further details, please contact the Summer Programs Office at (813) 885-1673 Ext. 2239.**

Weeks 2-7: June 10 – July 26

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The purpose of American Government is to give the student an understanding of how government works and why the system is as it is. The American Government course includes discussion of the U.S. Constitution, structure and function of the national government, the concept of federalism, as well as political parties and elections. Students should also develop an awareness of currents events in the areas being studied.

Economics addresses the following fundamental economic concepts: production, prices and costs; production possibilities and the factors of production; supply/demand theory and the achievement of market equilibrium; savings and investment; the continuum from pure competition to monopoly; business firms and business funding; the dual economic goals of growth and stability; the flow of goods and services; the measurement of economic activity; the role that banks, businesses, government and other organizations play in the determination of policy to achieve economic goals. Time permitting at the end of the course, an investigation into the intricacies of the stock market will be undertaken.

This online course requires the completion of a major research paper. Additionally, students must be present on campus for the final exam at the end of July.

PREREQUISITE: World History

Weeks 2-7: June 10 – July 26

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This is a summer version of the in-year Beginning Guitar course. Students can expect to learn the same material at an accelerated pace, six hours a day for three weeks. Students should expect to play regularly in this class, but not every lesson will involve playing, and may instead involve reading music or discussing music theory concepts and key figures in guitar-based music. The objective of this course is to give students a baseline competency in playing acoustic guitar, as well as some basic general musician skills. This will involve knowing and playing simple and complex chords, sight reading music, learning to understand and read the different ways guitar music is written (tablature, chord sheets, and sheet music), and learning about the history of guitar-based music in American and world cultures. The class will culminate in a student-choice project, where students will select, learn, and perform a song for the class.

Ninth through twelfth grade students

Weeks: 1-3 (June 3-21)

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (On campus)

About the Instructor: Jack Eppink has a B.S. in English Education and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida State University. He has three years teaching experience, two of which are at Berkeley. Eppink is self-taught in guitar and has been playing guitar for 10 years. He has played both recreationally and professionally, with six years of live performance experience on a variety of stages with a variety of musical genres. He is also a published musician and songwriter. He is primarily an English teacher, but has taught guitar lessons in the past and is excited to launch this exciting summer offering.

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The Summer Biology course is based on a conceptual and laboratory approach to understanding the nature of living things. The course opens with an introduction to the scientific method and basic chemistry. Subsequent units cover all of the major aspects of the cell and cell theory, including structure and function, photosynthesis and respiration, meiosis and mitosis, the cell cycle, nucleic acids and protein production. Students are also given an introduction to genetics and heredity, including Mendelian genetics. The second half of the course is devoted to classification and a survey of all of the major kingdoms of living organisms with an emphasis on humans. This course will be taught entirely online. Students will be required to participate in weekly to biweekly labs with materials supplied in a returnable lab kit as well as common items from home. In lieu of a final exam, students will submit a cumulative research project.

Ninth and tenth grade students

Weeks 2-7: June 10 – July 26

About the Instructor: Maria Cardona has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a master’s degree in Secondary Science Education from the University of South Florida. She has 13 years teaching experience teaching middle and high school science. She has taught a variety of science topics including Astronomy, Biology, and Environmental Science.

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Design and Technical Theatre is a practical course in theatrical set construction, painting, installation, special effects, lighting, sound, and back-stage management. Emphasis is given to the reading of plans, the use of tools, and safe and efficient practice in the theater. All students enrolled in this course will be required to work with different entities while assisting with on-campus summer productions.

Ninth through twelfth grade students

Weeks: 5-7 (July 8-26)

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (On campus)

Location: The Lykes Center for the Arts

About the Instructors:

Shayna Goodman is a proud Berkeley alumna who is thrilled to now be the Lower Division Theatre Teacher. Goodman earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Florida State University and a M.S. in Education from John’s Hopkins University. She is so happy to be able to combine her passion for the arts with her love for childhood development and education. She is dedicated to providing a rich and engaging experience for all participants and helping students foster their artistic and intellectual growth.

Chris Cook has been the Production Technical Director at Berkeley for eight years. Prior to that, he had his own production company and produced live events for five years. Overall, he has been working in live production for 23 years as an audio tech, lighting tech, and a video tech with mapping projections, as well as a camera operator and switch operator for live streaming. Mr. Cook also has eight years of experience with set design and construction.

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In this course, students explore the philosophical understanding of moral philosophy. Moral Philosophy or Ethics strives to guide our ideas and behaviors about our society and the world. As the culmination of the Upper Division’s religious studies curriculum, this course encourages students to synthesize and apply what has already been established to hone decision-making skills in contemporary life. Students will engage in debate and learn how to articulate their moral ideas based on the ideas of philosophers such as Socrates, Locke, Kant, and Bentham. Moral dilemmas are discussed, and the use of sophisticated theories spanning religion to Greek philosophy provide the ethical foundation for developing the skills required of a young man or woman to present valid moral arguments. Evaluating the ideas developed in western civilization while developing the analytical skills necessary to navigate a complex modern world. Independent thinking is encouraged with all students required to support their ethical reasoning in the form of written analysis, presentation and informal debate. There is a final exam at the end of the semester and grades are comprised of regular homework assignments, unit tests, and in-class activities. This course earns ½ credit toward Upper Division graduation requirement, and grades contribute to students’ GPA.

This class is offered twice over the summer: June 10-28 and July 8-26 (incoming eleventh and twelfth graders)

About the Instructors:

Dr. Kevin Douglas Kuswa is the co-author of Argumentation and Critical Thought: An Introduction to Advocacy, Reasoning, and Rhetorical Analysis, a textbook used in debate classes at the collegiate level. Dr. Kuswa’s students have been successful at every stage, winning virtually every debate tournament in the country on the high school and collegiate levels. He has been teaching and coaching debate for 25 years at institutions such as the University of Richmond, California State University, the University of South Carolina, and Dartmouth College (where his team won the National Debate Championship). Dr. Kuswa himself won the National Championship debating for Georgetown University, where he received a degree from the School of Foreign Service. Earning his Ph.D. in Communication Studies with a specialty in Rhetoric from the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Kuswa has presented his scholarship at numerous conferences and published pieces in the top journals in the field such as the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric and Public Affairs, and Argumentation and Advocacy. Teaching has long been Dr. Kuswa’s passion, and he is ecstatic to be serving as the Head Debate Coach and Upper Division History and Religious Studies faculty member at Berkeley.

Mr. Kurt Wahlgren earned a master’s degree in U.S. and Transnational History from Central Michigan University. After completing his graduate work, he became an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina Sumter. He has 15 years of experience teaching numerous history and political science courses. Mr. Wahlgren has taught at Pacific American School in Taiwan, George Washington Academy in Morocco, and Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mr. Wahlgren is a faculty member in the Upper Division History and Religious Studies Department at Berkeley.

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Geometry is an integrated course in plane and solid geometry that includes the following topics: geometry in the coordinate plane, line and angle properties, properties of polygons, circles, Pythagorean Theorem, area, volume, similarity, right triangle trigonometry, and geometric proof. Students will investigate concepts and build conceptual understanding while continuing to develop, reinforce, and master computational skills. Students should maintain a comprehensive notebook consisting of definitions, conjectures, investigations, and constructions. A graphing calculator and a laptop computer are used in this course. This course is offered during the summer to students who need to retake the course for credit. The summer course will NOT be used to move from Algebra 1 to Algebra 2 without specific permission from the Math Department Chair. If a student has earned a grade of 95 for the year in our Honors Algebra 1, then this Geometry course over the summer will make way for a move to our Honors Algebra 2 in their ninth grade year.

PREREQUISITE: Admission requires successful completion of Algebra 1 (with a score of 95 or above and with departmental approval).

Weeks 2-7: June 10 – July 26

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This online class meets only half the requirement of the Personal Fitness/Health course. Students are still obligated to take one semester of Personal Fitness in ninth grade.

The health class will be taught online (June 3-21 or July 8-26). For the June session, there will be a required Microsoft Teams meeting at 11:30 a.m. on June 3. For the July session, there will be a required Microsoft Teams meeting at 8:30 a.m. on July 8.

Registration for this class opens in April.

Incoming ninth graders

About the Instructor:

Coach Sean Davidson began participating in Adventure Education activities 25 years ago and loves that it can challenge everyone from the most novice climber to the most advanced. In addition to teaching Physical Education and Health at Berkeley, he also is the Adventure Education Coordinator, leads the Experiential Module of the Leadership Academy at Berkeley, and coaches JV Basketball.

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Summer Lifetime Recreation will be a hybrid class that covers a variety of physical activities that students will be able to participate in for their entire lives. Additionally, they will learn about how they can use fitness and nutrition to supplement their health and wellbeing as well as achieve their personal goals.

Ninth through twelfth grade students

Weeks 2-4 (June 10-28)

Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location: Straz Family Field House

About the Instructor:Coach Joe Maldonado has been a personal and group trainer for over a decade. With a master’s in Sport Coaching, he also interned at the NSCA Headquarters in Colorado Springs, where he worked with U.S. and foreign national athletes, first responders, and youth athletes. Prior to becoming an Elementary P.E. teacher, he achieved status as a Master Trainer at the Harbour Island Athletic Club, while also leading the staff education program. He has obtained training certificates including: NSCA CSCS, NASM CPT, USA Track & Field Level 1, CrossFit Level 1 / Olympic Weightlifting / Kids, and a GMB Fitness Apprenticeship.

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Orientation English is available to rising sixth graders, especially those needing some additional help. This course is a two-week, 30-hour academic program tailored to support the intellectual and social development of students entering middle school. Students will complete the sixth grade core summer reading requirement together as a class, and develop additional vocabulary, writing, and grammar skills. Students will get an introduction to the sixth grade and a jump start on the 2024-2025 curriculum.

Weeks 1-2: June 3-14 (Mrs. Bristol)

Weeks 5-6: July 8-19 (Mrs. Pendleton)

About the Instructors:

Destin Bristol is a Middle Division English Teacher with 10 years of classroom experience in both Middle Division and Upper Division classes. Mrs. Bristol received her B.A. in English at Iowa State University and her M.S. in Learning Design and Technology at the University of South Florida. Mrs. Bristol has been a part of the Berkeley family for seven years.

Melanie Pendleton is a Middle Division English teacher with 20 years of classroom experience in both elementary and middle school. She is a middle grade writer and member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

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This course is designed to prepare students for the beginning of sixth grade at Berkeley, especially those needing some math remediation. Concepts covered in this class include decimals, fractions, percents, one and two-step equations, sales tax and discount, basic geometric skills, and word problems involving all of these concepts. Please note that this is a review class; taking this class will not officially move a child ahead in a math class.

(Online) Weeks 2-4: June 10-28

(In the Classroom) Weeks 5-7: July 8-19 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; two weeks only)

About the Instructor: Mrs. Cole has been teaching for four years with three of those being in Berkeley’s Middle Division. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from Eckerd College. She teaches Advanced Sixth Grade Math and Honors Pre-Algebra at Berkeley and runs the Sixth/Seventh Grade Math Club.

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Personal Fitness/Health will provide information on the various components that make up one’s personal fitness and health, so students can make informed decisions. This course is divided into two components, one being the physical activity piece and the other being the health academic piece. The health component will be in an online class setting, and the physical activity component will be held on campus.

The health component is designed to provide the students with the knowledge and skills to obtain an optimal level of wellness. Students will be completing this part of the course online using myBerkeley and the class LibGuides to receive lessons and submit assignments. Students will not be meeting in person but rather through an online classroom, which students can access daily at their convenience. Topics will include but are not limited to fitness, nutrition, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, disease prevention, sexual and reproductive health.

The physical activity portion of this class will include an introduction to the weight room and a workout at the start of each class. The class will participate in the following units: cooperative Project Adventure activities, gatorball, pickleball, indoor soccer, football, team handball, basketball, hockey, rock climbing, water polo, high elements, and frisbee games. The sport/activities covered in the physical activity portion of the course directly relate to the classroom curriculum in order to fully support students in achieving an optimal level of wellness.

The activity portion of the class will run from June 3-21 from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday on campus.

Incoming ninth graders

Week 1-3: (June 3-21)

Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

*This is the full credit PF/H course offering*

Registration for this class opens in April.

About the Instructors:

Coach Sean Davidson began participating in Adventure Education activities 25 years ago and loves that it can challenge everyone from the most novice climber to the most advanced. In addition to teaching Physical Education and Health at Berkeley, he also is the Adventure Education Coordinator, leads the Experiential Module of the Leadership Academy at Berkeley, and coaches JV Basketball.

Coach Jamie Tedder is currently in her third year at Berkeley and 11th year of teaching. She was born and raised in South Carolina. Tedder attended and ran cross country at Spartanburg Methodist College, where she graduated with honors and earned the title of Academic All-American. She later received her B.S. in Physical Education from the University of South Carolina-Upstate. Tedder serves as a Physical Education Teacher in Middle Division at Berkeley, coaches Berkeley’s youngest swimmers in our Swim Strokes Program, and holds the position of Middle Division Swimming Coach. Her dedication to education and sports exemplifies her passion for fostering holistic development in her students.

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A student of Physics gains a conceptual introduction to the laws of the physical world. Subjects include motion analy­sis, forces, momentum, work, energy, heat, waves, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. Problem-solving methods of teaching physics are used. Students improve their applied quantitative skills by solving physics problems, thereby illustrating knowledge of fundamental physics concepts. The course also stresses development of laboratory skills through regularly scheduled laboratory sessions and special projects. Students are en­couraged to question, observe, collect data, analyze results, and reach conclusions on physical relationships. Indepen­dent creative thought and study are encouraged throughout the course.

PREREQUISITE: Biology

Weeks 2-7: June 10 – July 26 (12:30- 4 p.m. on campus)

About the Instructor: Cindi Bradley earned her B.A. in Physics Education from Brigham Young University. After teaching AP Physics 1, 2, and C in Oklahoma for five years, she received the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association – High School Science Teacher of the Year Award. Bradley has also served as a College Board AP Physics Reader for four years. In the summer of 2019, she moved here to join our Berkeley family. Since joining Berkeley, Bradley has taught AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, Honors Physics, Honors Engineering and Design, and College Prep Physics. She is the mother of four children and has been married for 27 years. In her spare time, she enjoys board games and bike riding.

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Students will practice test-specific strategies in a focused, intensive environment in order to maximize their scores on the SAT and ACT. The class will be taught by Berkeley English Teacher Tom Brandt and Berkeley Math Teacher Danny Fisher.

This is a one-week session. A hearty lunch provided by Sage Dining Services is an add-on option for this camp.

Weeks 1 and 7: June 3-7 or July 22-26

Time: (English 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Math 12:30-3:30 p.m.)

About the Instructors:

Tom Brandt has taught English at three independent schools, spending the last 20 at Berkeley Preparatory School. He has taught AP® Language for 10 years, and he has served as an AP® Reader for all of those years. He holds a B.A. in English Literature, an M.A. in English Literature, and an M.F.A. in poetry.

Danny Fisher has been teaching middle school mathematics for 27 years. Has taught sixth grade, seventh grade, Honors Pre-Algebra, Honors Algebra, Honors Geometry, various upper division math courses, logic and reasoning, and competitive math courses. Fisher has also been teaching SAT/ACT math prep for the past 10 years.

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God is revealed to different cultures in a variety of ways as this course explores the religions of the world. Traditionally the five major religions are considered: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Students will study the philosophical foundations and the historical contexts of these major religions, and their studies will include an understanding of the lives, characters and teachings of the leaders of these faiths. By studying the scriptures, beliefs and forms of worship, students gain an understanding of how indispensable religious life has been to humankind through the millennia with particular emphasis placed on an appreciation of cultural myths, epic stories and philosophical underpinnings that truly characterize these traditions, with holidays and forms of worship as important topics of class discussion. This course will also focus on the geography, history and practice of these religions as they worked to form the cultural identity of their specific geographic area. There is a final exam at the end of semester, and grades are comprised of regular homework assignments, unit tests, and in-class activities.

This course earns ½ credit toward Upper Division graduation requirement, and grades contribute to students’ GPA. World Religions is the prerequisite to the Ethics course and must be completed prior to the start of a student’s junior year.

Registration for this class opens in April.

This class is offered twice over the summer: June 10-28 and July 8-26 (incoming ninth through eleventh graders)

About the Instructor:

The Reverend Brandon Peete has served for the past six years as Chaplain at Berkeley. In that time, he has contributed on the school’s lead Administrative Team, sponsored many Spiritual Life clubs, taught various religion classes and electives in the Middle and Upper Divisions, coached basketball and baseball, and launched multiple weekly student-led prayer services on campus. This is his fourth year teaching World Religions in Summer Programs, after having taught various iterations of this course at four different Episcopal schools across the country. As an ordained priest in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, he also serves at the altar on Sundays at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg, Florida. Chaplain Brandon is especially excited for the upcoming summer, as we will have the opportunity to learn World Religions together in the new Berkeley Chapel.

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This course is broken into two parts: yoga movement and then mindfulness lessons and activities. Our class will begin each day with a morning stretch and then progress into various styles of yoga movement from 8-10 a.m. Students will learn Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Power yoga, Restorative yoga, Gentle yoga, and Yin yoga to increase stamina, flexibility, and balance.

The Mindfulness Class from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. will consist of lessons offering tools to help regulate our mind space and emotions. These tools such as breath work and meditation are proven antidotes to stress if practiced. Students will learn a brief history of yoga, the eight limbs, Pranayama (breath work such as Dirgha, Nadi Shodhana, and Ujjayi breath), the art of meditation, as well as have discussions on mindfulness-based topics. Also expect fun activities such as coloring mandalas and learning about our personality types during our Ayurveda at a glimpse lessons.

Mandatory reading of No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Hanh will be assigned for homework.

Ninth through twelfth grade students

Weeks: 5-7 (July 8-26)

Time: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (On campus)

Location: Straz Family Field House

Instructor: Joanna Miller

Email: millejoa@berkeleyprep.org

About the Instructor: Joanna Miller, E-RYT 500. Miller received her yoga teacher training from the Lotus Pond, graduating in 2013 and has since taught over 10 years in yoga studios and private classes. She has continued her education, receiving certificates in Restorative Yoga and Yoga for Scoliosis. She spent one year teaching P.E. Yoga at Farnell Middle school before beginning the Yoga and Mindfulness program with Ann Marie Hardy here at Berkeley, where she has continued to teach these past five years.

Holding a B.A. in Social Work from Villanova University, Miller, upon graduation, worked as an Intensive Case Manager providing community services and organizing support for teenage girls transitioning back to home and school from inpatient psychiatric care.

E-RYT 500 means that I am a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance Inc. and have over 3,000 hours of teaching experience after graduating from both a 200-hour and then advancing into a 300-hour yoga teacher training program at a registered yoga teacher training school such as the Lotus Pond.