Elective Schedule
Mon./Wed. Electives
Tue./Thu. Electives
Curriculum
Purpose: To enhance interest in specific fields of science and to prepare to compete in the annual Science Olympiad competition
Activities: Students will select events, conduct research, prepare projects, and study material in preparation for the annual Science Olympiad contest.
Enrollment Notes: Any student may enroll.
Scheduling:
Science Olympiad 5/6 = Tuesdays and Thursdays
Science Olympiad 7/8 = Mondays and Wednesdays
Purpose: To give students a fulfilling experience in which they can apply math, science, technology, programming, engineering, and creativity through challenging tasks.
Activities: Students will learn to read and write programs to experiment with a robot they build. They will learn to program their robot to interact with the environment and conduct labs to experiment with their robot.
Enrollment Notes: Class size is limited. Students are required to use their own iPad to run programs they write for their robot. The software required for download is, “EV3 Programmer”. Students who have taken the course in the past cannot enroll in the course again.
Scheduling: Mondays and Wednesdays
Purpose: To acquire and strengthen computer programming skills and knowledge. Students will work with the object-oriented programming language known as Java.
Activities: Students will learn the fundamentals of the Java programming language. They will write basic and complex Java programs to develop high-quality, working software that solves real problems.
Enrollment Notes: Any student in grades 6, 7, or 8 may enroll.
Scheduling: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: to challenge students who excel in mathematics through preparation and participation in the Math League, Math Olympiad, Perennial Math, and AMC 8 mathematics competitions.
Activities: Students will learn and practice advanced math techniques, work collaboratively and independently on previous competition questions, and compete in the listed competitions.
Enrollment Notes: Students must have scored in the top 20% on their latest NWEA MAP Mathematics test and must have earned an A- or above in their previous or current math course.
Scheduling:
Advanced Math 5/6 = Mondays and Wednesdays
Advanced Math 7/8 = Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: to provide additional practice and support in alignment with the standards addressed in students’ regular math class.
Activities: Students will reinforce previously learned math skills through the guided completion of Spectrum Math workbooks. The teacher will allocate a portion of the class towards helping students to complete their daily math homework.
Enrollment Notes: Any student may enroll. Students identified as struggling in math class may be recommended to enroll in Extended Math.
Scheduling: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: To provide students with an opportunity to strengthen their creative and structured ELA skills. In Advanced ELA, students cover similar material covered in their ELA courses but at an accelerated pace and in greater depth. Students are required to increase their use of critical thinking skills through the analysis of different texts and are expected to read independently after school hours. The goals of the course are to foster independent learning, develop students' skills in literary analysis and interpretation, and encourage in-depth exploration of the content through writing and discussion.
Activities: Students will participate in a range of activities that promote positive class discussions and focus on literary analysis. Students will be required to effectively voice their thoughts orally and will also have the opportunity to fine-tune their writing skills through reflective writing. Students will work as a whole class, in small groups, and independently.
Enrollment Notes: Only 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students may enroll. Students must have scored 225 or higher on their latest NWEA MAP Reading test and must have earned an A- or above in their previous or current ELA course.
Scheduling: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: To strengthen students’ reading and writing skills and to support development in alignment with their regular ELA class.
Activities: Students will engage in a variety of reading comprehension, writing, and grammar and mechanics activities to strengthen skills taught in ELA class. Students may use a portion of the class to complete ELA homework under the guidance of their teacher.
Enrollment Notes: Any student may enroll. Students identified as struggling in ELA may be automatically enrolled in Extended ELA.
Scheduling: Mondays and Wednesdays
Purpose: To apply creative dramatics such as storytelling, puppetry, and performance to develop students' creative imaginations, self-expression, self-knowledge, and social relatedness.
Activities: Through active participation in different improvised dramatic activities, students with all ages will become storytellers, they will comfortably and uniquely express themselves and will enjoy performing themselves.
Enrollment Notes: Any student may enroll.
Scheduling:
Section A: Mondays and Wednesdays
Section B: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: To learn how to read, write, and speak the Arabic or Turkish language, while also learning about countries' cultures and customs.
Activities: Students will engage in various activities related to vocabulary acquisition, reading comprehension, live dialogue, and cultural projects.
Enrollment Notes: This courses are designed for native speakers. A placement assessment may be required upon enrollment to determine a student’s eligibility.
Scheduling:
5th/6th grade sections on Mondays and Wednesdays
7th/8th grade sections on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: To provide students with additional time, resources, and instruction to enhance and grow their artistic abilities.
Activities: Students will explore different studio art mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpting and some graphic design techniques. They will analyze and distinguish two dimensional and three dimensional art. Students will create works of art pertaining to self expression, realism and pop culture.
Enrollment Notes: Any middle school student may enroll.
Scheduling: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Purpose: To provide students with additional time, resources, and instruction to enhance and grow their instrumental and vocal talents.
Activities: Students will engage in multiple musical activities: - Creative musical activities, Instrumental/Vocal practice, ensemble formations, experimental music & music technology, providing opportunities to progress and learn advanced musicianship skills.
Enrollment Notes: Any middle school student may enroll.
Scheduling: Tuesdays and Thursdays