Welcome to the 2010-2011 Pre-AP Physics class! I am very happy that you have signed up for this course. This is a class that will prepare you for the college level physics you will be taking next year either here at Whitehouse or in college.

If you are a Junior you really ought to seriously consider taking AP Physics next year. Here are the top ten reasons why you should seriously consider taking AP Physics at Whitehouse next year:

1. In college physics your grade is your class rank, which tells you how much physics you know relative to your classmates; in high school physics your grade is an indicator of how well you know the physics, which tells you how prepared you are for the AP test.

2. In college physics the tests are curved according to the highest grade, this means that you are competing with your classmates; in high school physics tests are curved on the square-root times ten scale, this means that you are competing with yourself.

3. In college you will be taking the Physics with a room full of strangers who you may or may not feel comfortable approaching seeking help; in high school you will be taking the Physics with classmates you know well and with people who live where you live making group study sessions easy to arrange.

4. In college, access to your teacher is limited by the office hours set by the teacher and you are competing with hundreds of other students for the limited time available; at Whitehouse you have nearly unlimited access to the teacher and the limitations are more likely to be set by the student rather than the teacher, in addition, you are competing with only a dozen or so other students for the time.

5. A teacher whose first language is not English teaches many college physics courses; at Whitehouse the physics is taught by a teacher whose first language is English.

6. Graduate students who have no teaching experience teach most college freshmen college physics courses; an experienced professional teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience teaches AP Physics at Whitehouse.

7. Most freshmen college physics courses are taught in groups of 300; AP Physics at Whitehouse will likely have less than 20 students

8. In a class of 300 it is easy to get lost in the crowd, in a class of less than 20 your teacher will be able to keep track of your progress and spot trouble before it becomes irreparable.

9. In a class of 300 classmates it is difficult, if not impossible, to ask questions; in a class of less than 20 asking questions is easy and enthusiastically encouraged.

10. AP Physics is a college level course and you can receive college credit for your work in high school. This could save you thousands of dollars in college expenses.

If you are a senior do not panic about the future of your physics career! If you do what I ask you to do in this class and if you are willing to work very hard you will be ready for whatever the College of your choice hands to you. At least you will have a solid foundation to get you through the first couple of weeks of class.

I am anxious to get started! Come to class with lots of questions, an open mind, a willing and trusting spirit, and be ready to work hard with a teacher who will help you every step of the way.