AP® Primers and Starting the College Essay
Rising ninth through twelfth grade students, Berkeley Summer Programs has some amazing summer courses to help you kick-start your next academic year
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This 30-hour asynchronous course is designed to provide students who are considering taking AP Art & Design with information about the course outline, College Board expectations, course content (the big ideas), scoring guidelines, and College Board art terminology. Students will learn the inquiry process by making a work of art and discussing it with peers in comments and providing feedback online that is intended to teach practice, experimentation, and revision and help students begin to understand the synthesis of ideas, materials, and process.

Week 2: June 17-28

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructor: Carrie O’Donoghue is currently teaching AP® Art & Design, Advanced Art, Intermediate Art, Drawing 2, Drawing I, and Media (a foundational art course introducing students to a variety of materials and processes) at Berkeley Preparatory School. She has a master’s in Fine Art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a bachelor’s in Fine Art from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her experiences include working in a variety of positions in education over the past 20 years as a Secondary Art Teacher, K-12 Art Teacher, Art Instructor (college) and Program Coordinator for International Studies. She has taught in Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis, Tampa, and Malaysia. Mrs. O’Donoghue is the faculty sponsor for the Berkeley Chapter of the National Art Honor Society. The group volunteers at arts organizations, creates community art service projects, installs exhibitions, fundraises, and paints murals with local elementary schools. She has been showing work locally and internationally since 1992. Mrs. O’Donoghue believes everyone is born with an innate creative ability and that art is a process of exploration and discovery.

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The AP® Calculus AB summer enrichment program will review all necessary Precalculus topics in order to ease the transition into an AP® Calculus AB math course. The course will include but not be limited to the following topics: algebraic, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions; conic sections; sequences and series; polar coordinates; graphing; introduction to limits and other elementary concepts of calculus. Students enrolled in this program are required to have graphing calculators for classroom and assignment activities.

Week 1: June 3-14

Week 2: June 17-28

Week 3: July 8-19

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

The course will be instructed by an experienced member of the Berkeley Preparatory School mathematics department.

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Are you unsure if AP® Chinese is right for you? Would you like to get oriented to the course with a seasoned instructor who has an inside look on the exam? Look no further! The AP® Chinese Language and Culture summer enrichment program is for you! This course is designed to support students who want to ensure a smooth transition into the Advanced Placement language course. This course also provides direct instruction and practice with all the tasks involved in the Advanced Placement exam. Students will explore the six themes of the curriculum, including sample sub-themes and core vocabulary, as well as advanced language functions. Additionally, test-taking strategies for the multiple-choice interpretive portion of the exam will be reinforced using the thinking skills that are used by the College Board when creating the exams. Significant attention will be given to rubric criteria for the Email Response, the Story Narration, the Simulated Conversation and the Cultural Presentation questions. Strategies for the multiple choice section will also be reviewed. Students will complete the course with a comprehensive understanding of how their examples will be scored and what needs to be accomplished in order to earn a passing score (three or higher) on the AP® Exam. They will also receive specific and individualized feedback by an experienced AP® teacher and reader in order to maximize their potential and bring their language skills to the next level. Students will receive support and guidance to complete additional summer work if assigned by their school/teacher.

Week 1: June 3-14

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructor: The course is taught by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Mandarin Chinese Language Teacher, Daniel Allegri, who is passionate about the subject and has taught AP® Chinese Language and Culture for more than 10 years. Additionally, the instructor has served as an AP® reader for the College Board for the past three years and has served on the AP® Chinese Language and Culture Development Committee for the past four years, in addition to his work at Berkeley. At present, the instructor serves as the high school co-chair for the AP® Chinese Development Committee.

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Are you unsure if AP® Computer Science A is right for you? Would you like to get oriented to the course with a seasoned instructor who has an inside look at the exam? The AP® Computer Science A summer enrichment program is designed to support students who want to ensure a smooth transition into the Advanced Placement Computer Science A course. This course provides direct instruction and practice with all the tasks involved in the Advanced Placement Exam. Students will learn all the necessary skills to be successful in this course. AP® Computer Science A is taught in the Java programming language, so this course will introduce students to all the main topics of Java that are covered on the AP® Exam. We will look at many examples of how the AP® Exam is constructed and students will have the opportunity to practice both multiple choice and free response style questions. Students will complete the course with a comprehensive understanding of how their free response questions will be scored and what needs to be accomplished in order to earn a passing score (three or higher) on the AP® Exam.

Week 1: June 3-14

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructor

The course is instructed by Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Computer Science teacher, Mr. Vincent Cimmino, who teaches the AP® Computer Science A course at Berkeley, with a pass rate above 90%.

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This course will help students prepare for success in AP® Language by introducing them to the central concepts of the rhetorical situation and rhetorical strategies, as well as each of the three essay prompts on the AP® Language Exam. In addition, students will become familiar with types of questions that will be on the multiple-choice section of the exam. Students will receive feedback on the practice essays they write.

Week 1: June 3-14 (Mrs. Alexander)

Week 2: June 17-28 (Mr. Brandt)

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructors:

Susan Alexander has taught at Berkeley Preparatory School for 17 years, serving the last seven as the English Department Chair. Susan is a Columbia University Teachers’ College Klingenstein Fellow, holds an M.A. in English Education, and enjoys helping students develop confidence and skills in close reading and analytical writing. Last spring, Berkeley AP® students earned an average of 4.25 on the AP® English Language and Composition class. The state and global average was 2.85.

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.

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This course will help students prepare for success in AP® English Literature and Composition through instruction in literary analysis with a focus on close reading figurative language, thesis development and defense, and understanding theme and characterization within a sociopolitical context. Students will be introduced to each of the three FRQ essays on the AP® English Literature exam and learn the essential writing skills necessary for each one. In addition, students will become familiar with the types of questions that will be on the multiple-choice section of the exam. Students will receive feedback on the practice essays they write.

Last spring, Berkeley AP® students earned an average of 4.16 on the AP® English Literature and Composition exam. The state and global average was 3.26.

Week 1: June 3-14 (Mrs. Marcantuono-Polstra)

Week 2: June 17-28 (Mrs. Alexander)

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructors:

A member of the Upper Division English Department for over 17 years, Danielle Marcantuono-Polstra is passionate about helping students maximize their potential as writers, thinkers, and creative human beings. She has taught various courses from English nine and 10 to AP® English Literature and Composition, and an elective on the social and moral value of empathy. As the faculty coordinator for the Hoover Writing Center, she has helped Middle and Upper Division students develop important study, organizational, and writing skills. She has a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and Performance Studies from Muhlenberg College and a MAT with a concentration in Instructional Design from the University of Southern California. She is also a proud Berkeley parent!

Susan Alexander has taught at Berkeley Preparatory School for 17 years, serving the last seven as the English Department Chair. Susan is a Columbia University Teachers’ College Klingenstein Fellow, holds an M.A. in English Education, and enjoys helping students develop confidence and skills in close reading and analytical writing. Last spring, Berkeley AP® students earned an average of 4.25 on the AP® English Language and Composition class. The state and global average was 2.85.

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The AP® French Language and Culture summer enrichment program is designed to support students who want to ensure a smooth transition into the AP® French Language and Culture course, as well as provide direct instruction and practice with all the tasks involved in the AP® exam. Students will explore the six themes of the curriculum, including sample sub-themes and core vocabulary, as well as advanced language functions. Additionally, test-taking strategies for the multiple-choice interpretive portion of the exam will be reinforced using the thinking skills that are used by the College Board when creating the exams. Significant attention will be paid to rubric criteria for the E-mail Response, the Argumentative Essay, the Conversation, and the Cultural Comparison questions. Students will complete the course with a comprehensive understanding of how their examples will be scored and what needs to be accomplished in order to earn a passing score (three or higher) on the AP® Exam. They will also receive specific and individualized feedback by an experienced AP® teacher and reader in order to maximize their potential and bring their language skills to the next level. Students will receive support and guidance to complete additional summer work if assigned by their school/teacher.

Week 1: June 3-14

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam. The course will be conducted entirely in French.

About the Instructor: The course is instructed by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division French Language Teacher, Madame Harb, who is passionate about the subject and has taught AP® French Language and Culture for the past 12 years with a consistent pass rate above 95% and an average score of 4.5.

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The AP® Latin summer enrichment program is designed to support students who want to ensure a smooth transition into this course, as well as provide direct instruction and practice with all the tasks involved on the AP® exam. Students will explore the epic poems that inspired Virgil’s “Aeneid,” as well as background information for Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in his “De Bello Gallico.” A comprehensive review of grammar, stylistic devices, and metrical scansion of poetry will also be provided. Additionally, test-taking strategies for the multiple-choice portion of the exam will be reinforced, with particular emphasis on the development of sight-reading skills. Significant attention will be given to the rubric criteria for both the translation section (using the “chunking” grading system) and the long essay, including how to write an effective thesis statement and cite Latin evidence. Students will complete the course with a comprehensive understanding of how their work will be scored and what needs to be accomplished to earn a passing score (three or higher) on the AP® exam. They will also receive specific and individualized feedback from an experienced AP® teacher to maximize their potential and bring their skills to the next level. As part of this course, students will also be able to complete and receive support for additional summer work if assigned by their school/teacher.

Week 2: June 17-28

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructor: The course is instructed by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Latin Language Teacher, Ms. Sarah McDaniels, who is passionate about the subject and has taught AP® Latin for the past nine years with a consistent pass rate of 100% and an average score of 4.9.

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This 10-day AP® Physics Primer is a course designed to help students master the essentials, providing a robust foundation in key concepts and skills to excel on the AP® exam. Students will learn what to expect on the exam. Algebra skills will be assessed and shored up with a solid mathematical base, like rearranging equations and working with vectors—vital for topics such as forces and motion. Additionally, the course covers the specific language and keywords used in AP® Physics exams, preparing students for the types of questions they will encounter. Practical applications form the core of the second week, with sessions on graphical analysis and linearization of data, experimental errors, and lab equipment familiarization. Additionally, students will learn about the lab equipment they will need to be familiar with on the AP® exam. Through this hands-on approach, students will not only prepare for AP® Physics but also gain a deeper appreciation for the subject, setting a strong foundation for their future studies.

Week 1: June 3-14

Week 2: June 17-28

Week 3: July 8-19

The first and last days of instruction will be in person, on Berkeley’s campus, while the rest of the days will be online via Microsoft Teams.

About the Instructor: The course is instructed by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Physics Teacher, Andrew Vandenberg, who has taught AP® Physics 1, AP® Physics 2, and AP® Physics C for the past 10 years, with a consistent pass rate above 90%. Additionally, the instructor has served as an AP® grader for the College Board for the past five years. The instructor has a master’s degree in Physics on the topic of quantum spin exchange.

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The AP® Spanish Language and Culture summer enrichment program is designed to support students who want to ensure a smooth transition into the AP® course, as well as provide direct instruction and practice with all the tasks involved in the AP® Exam. Students will explore the six themes of the curriculum, including sample sub-themes and core vocabulary as well as advanced language functions. Additionally, test-taking strategies for the multiple-choice interpretive portion of the exam will be reinforced using the thinking skills that are used by the College Board when creating the exams. Significant attention will be paid to rubric criteria for the E-mail Response, the Argumentative Essay, the Conversation, and the Cultural Comparison questions. Students will complete the course with a comprehensive understanding of how their examples will be scored and what needs to be accomplished in order to earn a passing score (three or higher) on the AP® Exam. They will also receive specific and individualized feedback by an experienced AP® teacher and reader in order to maximize their potential and bring their language skills to the next level. Students will receive support and guidance to complete additional summer work if assigned by their school/teacher.

Week 1: June 3-14 (Señora Luz Marina Engel-Peñaloza)

Week 2: June 17-28 (Señora Luz Marina Engel-Peñaloza)

Week 3: July 8-19 (Señora Victoria Álvarez)

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam. The course will be conducted entirely in Spanish.

About the Instructors:

Two sessions are taught by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Spanish Language Teacher, Señora Luz Marina Engel-Peñaloza, who is passionate about the subject and has taught AP® Spanish Language and Culture for the past 12 years with a consistent pass rate above 95% and an average score of 4.5. Additionally, the instructor has served as an AP® reader for the College Board for the past five years.

One session is taught by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Spanish Language Teacher and Chair of the World Languages Department, Señora Victoria Álvarez, who is passionate about the subject and has taught AP® Spanish Literature and Culture for the past four years with a consistent pass rate of 100% and an average score of 4.8.

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The AP® Spanish Literature and Culture summer enrichment program is designed to support students who want to ensure a smooth transition into the AP® course, as well as provide direct instruction and practice with all the tasks involved in the AP® Exam. Students will explore the eight literary movements that frame the course and the six themes of the curriculum, including sample sub-themes, as well as core literary devices. Additionally, test-taking strategies for the multiple-choice interpretive portion of the exam will be reinforced using the thinking skills that are used by the College Board when creating the exams. Significant attention will be paid to rubric criteria for both the Short Answer and the Essay questions. Students will complete the course with a comprehensive understanding of how their examples will be scored and what needs to be accomplished in order to earn a passing score (three or higher) on the AP® exam. They will also receive specific and individualized feedback by an experienced AP® teacher and reader in order to maximize their potential and bring their skills to the next level. As part of this course, students will be able to complete and receive support for additional summer work if assigned by their school/teacher.

Week 2: June 17-28 (Señora Victoria Álvarez)

This class will be taught strictly online via Microsoft Teams. Students will meet as a group and individually with the instructor, who will provide comprehensive and personalized feedback for each portion of the exam.

About the Instructor: The course is instructed by a Berkeley Preparatory School Upper Division Spanish Language Teacher and Chair of the World Languages Department, Señora Victoria Álvarez, who is passionate about the subject and has taught AP® Spanish Literature and Culture for the past four years with a consistent pass rate of 100% and an average score of 4.8.

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Writing the college essay is one of the most significant and stressful parts of applying to college. This workshop helps students eliminate anxiety and walk away with completed compositions, all before the senior year officially begins.

In this course, students will identify, understand, and practice the essential skills of the college application essay, including storytelling through description, editing for impact and concision, and developing a reflective voice. Students will learn how to read a prompt, develop a narrative with a clear line of reasoning, and read model essays to learn how to craft an essay that reveals important aspects of their character and social and emotional growth. Students will start multiple drafts of different essays over the course of the week and receive feedback on each essay, both on an individual basis from the instructor and through a workshop. All classes will be taught by current faculty in Berkeley’s Upper Division English Department. Participants will leave with a thoughtful and authentic application essay.

All participants must bring a notebook, along with a laptop or tablet to each session. Mobile devices will not suffice.

Weeks 5, 6, and 7: July 8-12, July 15-19, and July 22-26

About the Instructors:

A member of the Upper Division English Department for over 17 years, Danielle Marcantuono-Polstra is passionate about helping students maximize their potential as writers, thinkers, and creative human beings. She has taught various courses from English nine and 10 to AP® English Literature and Composition, and an elective on the social and moral value of empathy. As the faculty coordinator for the Hoover Writing Center, she has helped Middle and Upper Division students develop important study, organizational, and writing skills. She has a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and Performance Studies from Muhlenberg College and a MAT with a concentration in Instructional Design from the University of Southern California. She is also a proud Berkeley parent!

Tom Brandt has been working with Berkeley Summer Programs for the last 20 years, teaching various classes, including SAT Prep and Bridge Program, as well as supervising the beforecare and aftercare programs. He has taught at Berkeley for 20 years, and he currently teaches AP® Language and Ninth Grade English. He also serves as the Chair of the Honor Council and supervises the SAT/ACT Prep Program. Brandt has earned an MFA in Creative Writing, an M.A. in English Literature, and a B.A. in English Literature, and has served on the board of several national and regional writing center associations. He has also participated in the AP® Reading for the last 10 years.