7th and 8th Grade Elective Classes

Year Long Electives

Concert Band (0751)

Concert Band is designed for 6th-7th grade band students who have had at least one year of experience on their instrument.  Students work on various genres including symphonic, movie, and popular music. They will develop ensemble playing skills and teamwork along with instrument tuning, sight-reading, music history, and theory in accordance with the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework.  Students may enroll in this class to begin a wind or percussion instrument if they have some experience reading music. The class includes 4 performances. Students may be promoted to Symphonic Band for the next school year based on their end of the year audition results. Students may use their own instrument, rent, or borrow one from the school if available.

Symphonic Band (0759)

Symphonic Band is an advanced level class for 8th grade students who have had two to three years of experience on wind or percussion instrument and perform at a high caliber.  It is also open to advanced 7th and 6th grade students by audition.  Students learn advanced skills in sight-reading, musicianship, music history, and theory in accordance with the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework while working on advanced literature.  Throughout the year, students may have additional opportunities such as the district honor orchestra, all southern and all state honor groups and field trips. Students may use their own instrument, rent, or borrow one from the school if available.

Chorus  (0775)

This is  a yearlong, non-auditioned class. Students will perform a wide variety of music styles including pop, show, traditional, classical  and folk. Music theory, sight- reading, proper vocal technique musicianship and music history are taught and assessed throughout the year.This is in accordance with the Californica Visual and Performing Arts Framework. Movement. Drama activities and the opportunity for solos and small ensembles will also be included during the year.  There will be a mandatory evening concert each trimester. Students must be enrolled in this class if they plan to audition for the district middle school honor choir.

String Orchestra (0761)

The String Orchestra is a year-long course comprised of students who have beginning and intermediate experience on a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or string bass). This orchestra is for the musician who has music experience on the instrument they wish to play in the class. In Concert Orchestra, students will continue to work towards mastering string skills such as tuning, shifting, and learning vibrato. More advanced bowing articulations and rhythmic patterns will be introduced. A wide variety of repertoire and concepts will be learned and performed in accordance with the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework.

Symphonic Orchestra (0764)

The Symphonic Orchestra is a year-long course comprised of advanced musicians who play violin, viola, cello, or string bass. This orchestra is for the dedicated musician, interested in excelling in their art form. Entrance into symphonic orchestra is by audition only. A wide variety of repertoire and concepts will be learned and performed in accordance with the California Visual and Performing Arts Frameworks.

Advanced Technology (0814)

This is a two-trimester long course that explores how we use technology and coding to solve real-world problems.  Students will learn and use various coding languages in their design thinking to complete robotic tasks and challenges.  Skills may include learning to code in Ch, designing and creating 3D objects through Tinkercad, 3D printing, programming Dash and Dot, Makey Makey, Ozobot, Linkbots, Arduino, building robots through mBot and VEX Robotics.  Students will have the opportunity to participate in engineering based competitions such as OC Maker Challenge, RoboPlay Competition, UCI Rescue Robotics, Google Science Fair, and VEX Involution Competition. No prerequisite required, but successful completion in Exploring Technology course is highly recommended.

Leadership (0994)

Students in this class meet during an elective period, before/after school (periodically), and during lunch periods to plan, organize student activities, and assist ASB leaders for the school year in assemblies, spirit activities, and dances

Yearbook (0954)

Students enrolled in the Yearbook elective will create, design and produce our school’s yearbook, including video production. They will learn skills associated with layout and design, digital imaging, photo composition, journalism, film and video editing, and most importantly, collaboration and cooperation. Yearbook participants are expected to spend time outside of school hours completing required assignments. Students looking for a challenging, honors-level opportunity should consider the Yearbook class. Students who sign up for Yearbook must be dependable, organized, and creative. Students should have a good record of homework completion, attendance, and consistently produce quality work on time. A teacher recommendation will be required to be considered.

Video Production (0715)

Students in this class will learn the basics of video production, including the operation of digital video cameras and editing programs such as Adobe Premier and Photoshop. Students will learn to compose common film shots, storyboard, and write scripts. They will work collaboratively in groups on projects.Students will analyze, critique and construct meaning from film, television and electronic media production as a way to develop their own media literacy and awareness.

Trimester Electives 

Life Skill

Problem Solving

Intro To Spanish

Art

Visual Arts (0700)

In the Fundamentals of Art exploratory, students look at various artists and their contribution to the art world. Students will study some of the basic principal elements in the artist designs. Those elements include color, perspective, fundamental drawing concepts and compositional elements portraiture. By using a variety of materials, students will apply the information to a series of art studio assignments.

Technology

Digital Media

Social Media and Digital Citizenship