Academics

8th Grade Art and Design

Art and Design is a year-long elective for students who love art and want to develop their technical and creative skills. This course covers a variety of areas, including drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, and graphic design, with a focus on techniques to enhance artistic ability. Through engaging projects, students will explore self-expression and learn design principles essential for creating impactful visual work. They will also gain experience with both traditional and digital tools, building a strong foundation for advanced art opportunities in high school.

7th grade band

If your child was enrolled in Band as a sixth grader, he/she may continue in Band as a seventh grader. In 7th Grade Band, students will build upon the skills learned in Beginning Band and have more opportunities to perform publicly (i.e. Fine Arts Festival, Solo & Ensemble Festival, etc). This course requires performances and rehearsals that take place outside of regular school hours.

If your child was not in 6th Grade Band but would like to explore joining as a 7th grader, please contact the band directors at your middle school as soon as possible.

8th grade band

Students in 8th Grade Band will work on advanced middle school band concepts as they prepare for the opportunities that await them in high school. 8th Grade Band meets as a full ensemble every day and will have additional performances throughout the year. This course requires rehearsals and performances that take place outside of regular school hours.

7th & 8th Choir

Choir is a performance class open to any 7th or 8th grade student who likes to sing. This class offers basic practice and support of fundamental singing techniques. Other skills learned include music theory, music reading, and both ensemble and solo singing. This course requires performances that take place outside of regular school hours.

7th & 8th Grade Exploratory Rotation A - Overview

The 7th/8th Grade Exploratory Rotation deepens students' exploration of diverse disciplines through hands-on, collaborative, and creative projects. Across four unique nine-week courses, students will engage in health sciences, trades, art, and music production, building practical skills and discovering potential career pathways.

Art

Students will explore their creativity through a series of dynamic projects. They will begin with expressive portraits using grid techniques, design a campaign of striking posters and buttons, and finish by crafting unique clay sculptures with hand-building techniques. This course encourages students to discover fresh ways to express their artistic voice and refine their skills.

Health Sciences

Students will step into the role of real-life medical detectives, solving medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs. They will learn to measure and interpret vital signs, investigate how body systems work together to maintain health, and analyze evidence from a mysterious "outbreak." This course also introduces students to various health science careers, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills through immersive activities and labs.

METT (Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades)

Focusing on the "Trades" aspect of METT, this course allows students to safely operate tools and equipment while creating a woodworking project. Building on their 6th-grade experience, students will apply the design process to bring their ideas to life. This hands-on course develops technical skills and provides an exciting introduction to careers in manufacturing and the trades.

Music Production

Students will dive into the world of digital music creation, starting with the basics of recording, multi-tracking, and adding effects. Using MIDI keyboards, they will create melodies and harmonies, experiment with different song forms, and learn to mix and master their tracks. By the end of the course, students will copyright their original compositions, gaining valuable skills in music production and ownership.
 

PLTW Design & Modeling/Automation & Robotics

In the Fall, students will learn the basic techniques for design drafting, beginning with simple orthographic projections hand drawn on paper and moving up to fully dimensioned and animated assembly drawings using Autodesk Inventor software. Students have the opportunity to be creative using the design process. In the Spring, students will be using VEX robotic kits including basic gears, chain drives, sprockets, rack and pinions, and worm and wheel gears. This course allows for creativity and group collaboration opportunities.

French B (8th grade)

This course is the second portion of a two-year introduction to the French language and culture in which students learn to read, write, speak, and understand language at a novice level. Themes of study include self, leisure activities, family, teen life, school, personal care, weather, clothing, and shopping. Successful completion of 7th grade French A and 8th grade French B will result in placement in French 2 or French 2 Honors in high school.

Spanish B (8th grade)

This course is the second portion of a two-year introduction to the Spanish language and culture in which students learn to read, write, speak, and understand language at a novice level. Themes of study include self, leisure activities, family, teen life, school, personal care, weather, clothing, and shopping. Successful completion of 7th grade Spanish A and 8th grade Spanish B will result in placement in French 2 or French 2 Honors in high school.

The Heritage Spanish B (8th grade)

This course is designed for heritage Spanish speakers to develop their reading and writing skills while exploring Hispanic cultures. Students will enhance their communication skills through the study of identity, youth, pastimes, food, nature, families, immigration, and technology. The course is conducted entirely in Spanish. Successful completion of 8th grade Heritage Spanish B will result in placement in Spanish for Heritage Speakers 3 or 3 Honors in high school.