school year, honors classes are open enrollment, and students who wish to take an honors class do not need to meet any criteria to do so. As a junior, either regents or Advanced Placement English Language and Composition can be taken. Finally in a student's senior year, they may take Advanced Placement Literature and Composition. During a student's freshman year, they must take Freshman Writing Seminar to graduate. This is a course designed to improve individual writing and learning abilities. The Pelham Mathematics Department has undergone changes as a result of the Board of Regents restructuring its standardized exams. The department presently offers regents, honors, and advanced placement courses. Qualified eighth grade students are given the opportunity to take Integrated Algebra Honors to put them on the accelerated track. The Integrated Algebra regents exam is required to graduate. Following this same sequence, students take Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus AB/BC. The Geometry regents is offered at the end of the course, and students who complete Algebra II/Trigonometry may take the Algebra II/Trigonometry regents if they so choose, but this regents exam is now optional, as of the 2016–17 school year. Students who wish to take the Algebra II/Trigonometry regents exam must take a supplementary zero period class in the second semester, as the new curriculum and the regents exam now focus on different aspects of algebra and trigonometry. Also offered to juniors and seniors is AP Statistics. During the 2011–12 school year, a Science Research pilot program was offered, allowing students to improve their statistical abilities for competition. There is an alternative two-year sequence of algebra which can be taken as well, typically in 9th and 10th grade. The Music Department no longer offers AP Music Theory, but Music Theory 1 will be returning at the start of the 2017–18 school year. Band, Chorus, or Orchestra can be taken during zero period, from 7:32 - 8:12 am. Marching Band is mandatory for all band students, and a select Jazz Ensemble course is offered during seventh period every other day (formerly known as Stage Band). Students usually have to audition for this ensemble. Chorus also has a smaller ensemble, Chamber Chorus, held during seventh period every other day, which students must audition to enter. Chamber Chorus participates in NYSSMA Majors each spring, as does the Orchestra. The Orchestra received a gold with honors distinction, the highest award possible, in