Electives

Description of Elective Classes for 2024-2025

Fine Arts

Exploring Music: What comes to mind when you hear the word “music”?  Do you think about your favorite band or artist?  In this class, you’ll learn about how we hear music, how music affects our lives, essential elements of music like rhythm, pitch, and harmony, different musical genres, singing and your voice, various instruments, music composition, and the history and culture of music over the years.  Come learn and explore the elements and pieces of music which makes up parts of our world!

Guitar 1: Guitar 1 is intended for middle school beginners who are just beginning their guitar studies. The class is to introduce the fundamentals of music and guitar playing. The instruction will introduce a variety of musical styles as well as solo and ensemble repertoire.  Instruction will take into account students who have a variety of musical backgrounds.  Class is designed so that each student will progress from each student’s own level over the course of the year.  You may use your own acoustic guitar or check out one of the school’s guitars!  The class will be using the book “Essential Elements for Guitar”, Book 1 from Hal Leonard Publishing.  Supplemental material will be provided by the instructor and students’ internet.    

Guitar 2-3: Guitar 2-3 is a combined class of intermediate (2) and advanced (3) guitar students.  The class will guide students to further explore and expand upon acoustic guitar playing skill, tablature, and music reading skills introduced in the Guitar 1 class.  The class is primarily performance-based.  Class periods will be spent learning, applying and practicing the skills learned.  The class will be using “H.O.T. Hands-On Training” from Class Guitar Resources.  Supplemental material will be provided by the instructor and the students’ internet.  Students may use your own guitar or check out one of the school’s guitars!

Chorus 1: Beginning Chorus 1 is made up of students who have a beginning level of choir experience and are interested in learning about the voice and singing.  It is a yearlong class that will rehearse during the regular school day.  Students should expect to explore a variety of choral repertoire throughout the semester and perform both as an individual choir and occasionally with Chorus 2-3. This is a performance based class.  A strong emphasis will be placed on music reading using Kodaly Solfege, musical notation and elements, musical vocabulary, musical time periods, performance practices, and topics related to songs studied in class.  Our performances will be for our CMS community for December, MPA in March, and in the spring, our musical “Matilda”.  There are also enrichment activities which are optional including honor choirs as well as special performances such as singing the “Star Spangled Banner” for a NBA Magic game!

Chorus 2-3: Chorus 2-3 is made up of students who have previous choir experience, demonstrate strong musicianship skills, and are ready to perform music literature at an advanced level.  There is no audition required for this ensemble.  Students will explore singing through a variety of quality choral repertoire and gain a more in-depth appreciation for music.  This choir will rehearse primarily during the regular school day and may need after school rehearsal time for enrichment activities if a student elects to participate as well as is selected such as honor choirs, solo and ensemble, Magic performance and community performances for CMS.  This is a performance based class and grades will be included as part of the class grade.  Our performances will be for our CMS community for December, MPA in March, and in the spring, our musical “Matilda”.  As in Chorus 1, there is a strong emphasis on music readying using the Kodaly Solfege as well as the musical fundamentals in beginning and advanced music.

Jazz Band (1 and 2 - 7th and 8th graders only):  Current jazz & concert band members are able to sign up for jazz band. All students who are interested in taking Jazz Band must also be signed up for a concert band as well.  Students who play guitar/piano/bass will talk with Ms. Lopez before signing up for jazz band.

Band (1, 2 and 3):  Students will learn how to play a band instrument and how to read music – we have band for all ability and grade levels! Students will learn everything you need to know in their Band Class, no prior experience necessary. .

Orchestra (1, 2 and 3):  Students will learn how to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass and how to read music – we have orchestra classes for all ability and all grade levels! Students will learn everything you need to know in their Orchestra Class, no prior experience necessary.  

Intro to Spanish:  The purpose of this course is to enable non-Spanish speaking students to begin to acquire proficiency in Spanish. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Spanish I & II (High School credit):  The purpose of this course is to enable non-Spanish speaking students to continue to acquire proficiency in Spanish. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.  Students must have taken Intro to Spanish to take this class.

Art 1:  This class explores many different materials and subject matter.  Students will learn drawing, painting, collage, and clay techniques.  A student’s best effort is expected and appreciated!  Great artists only get better through practice!

Art – Advanced 2 and 3:  These classes are the advanced level art courses.  Students will be building a cumulative portfolio of quality artwork and get a leg up for enrollment in advanced high school art courses.  Students in these classes will be expected to exhibit the artistic talents and focus on specific mediums.  Students will use higher quality art materials and be expected to create original quality artwork.  Advanced 2 requires at least one year of art and Advanced 3 requires two years of art.     

STEM Classes

Design & Modeling (Project Lead the Way - 7th grade only):  In this course, students apply the design process to solve problems and understand the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. Students in teams to design a playground and furniture, capturing research and ideas in their engineering notebooks. Using Autodesk® design software, students create a virtual image of their designs and produce a portfolio to showcase their innovative solutions. .  The class is offered to seventh and eighth graders and will last for 18 weeks (offered each semester).

Coding Fundamentals:  This course includes but is not limited to foundational knowledge and skills related to computer coding and software development. Instruction and learning activities are provided in a laboratory setting using hands-on experiences with the equipment, materials and technology appropriate to the course content.

Information and Communication Technology 1 and 2:  This course will help you to use the computer as a tool and not a toy. ICT 1 covers the inside of a computer, computer peripherals, digital citizenship, word processing, presentations, email and computer graphics. ICT 2 expands on computer safety and cybersecurity, Microsoft Excel, database concepts, web design and audio and video production (ICT 1 prerequisite).

Magic of Electrons (Project Lead the Way - 8th grade only): In this course, emphasis is on hands-on projects to explore electricity, the behavior and parts of atoms, electrical and electronic circuits, and sensing devices.  Students learn knowledge and skills in basic circuitry design, solve problems, and examine the impact of electricity on the world around them.  The class is offered to sixth graders and will last for 18 weeks (offered each semester).

Science of Technology (Project Lead the Way - 6th grade only): In this course, students study how science impacts the technology of yesterday, today, and the future. Students apply the concepts of physics, chemistry, and nanotechnology to STEM activities and projects.

Flight and Space (Project Lead the Way - 7th grade only): In this course, students trace the history, development, and influence of flight and space, as they learn how things fly, and travelling to space. Through the use of a variety of STEM activities.

Automation and Robotics (Project Lead the Way - 8th grade only): In this course, students trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, and program real-world objects such as traffic lights, toll booths, and robotic arms.

Other Electives

 

Learning Strategies The purpose of this course is to enable students with disabilities to acquire and generalize skills related to self management and interpersonal relationships in educational, home, and community settings to achieve annual goals based on assessed needs and the student's IEP. 

 

Yearbook (by Application): This class is devoted to creating all aspects of the yearbook; from cover design, to page layout to writing copy and captions to taking and selecting the perfect pictures. Class works under strict deadlines in order to produce a high quality yearbook that students will treasure as a live-long memory.

Fundamentals of Visual and Performing Arts (Digital Video Production): This class is devoted to creating and producing the daily announcements. Students will learn about broadcast terminology, creating scripts, capturing video, editing video, and how to use iMovie and Final Cut Express.

Engaged Citizenship through Community Service: Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities to study concepts of citizenship and leadership to include their applications to everyday life. This course includes additional, rigorous standards from middle school Social Studies, Civics, Math, and Language Arts curriculum. In addition, the structure of the class is loosely based on concepts of leadership derived from Pre-NJROTC as a preparation to any ROTC or high school leadership programs.