This is a list of all the classes we have offered in the past. If you are looking for the currently proposed classes for the 2008-09 school year, please Click Here

apologetics discussion - brown bag lunch

A lead teacher will help students articulate and defend the divine origin and authority of Christianity especially how it relates to our postmodern culture.  Students will receive aid through conversation and discourse on how to think critically about the current popular worldview, and how to live consistently with their own.

art I & II

The first semester will consist of a series of drawing exercises using the right side of the brain.  These exercises enhance drawing ability.  The students will utilize these technical skills to create more detailed drawings. The second semester will focus on art history and use of color.  Students will learn basic watercolor technique, chalk pastels and one sculpture project.  Class is limited to 15 students. All art lessons are subject to change to better suit the artists needs.

art III

The first semester will consist of advanced detailed drawings in pencil, charcoal, and oil pastel emphasizing highlight and shadow. The second semester will focus on an advanced sculpture project and a canvas acrylic painting with art history. Students must be in high school and have had at least one year of art before entering art III. Class is limited to 15 students.

ballroom dance

This one semester course will introduce the basic steps and movements of recreational dance that students can enjoy in a formal and informal setting.  The basics of ballroom, line and folk will be covered.

beginning guitar I

Students will learn proper techniques involving finger style and rhythmic strumming. An  introduction to the various ways guitar music is notated will be covered as well as guitar maintenance.

beginning guitar II

A continuation of guitar I, this course includes basic music theory for guitar as well as a deeper knowledge of common Western styles. Students will learn basic rhythm and lead for such styles as folk, country, pop rock and blues.beginning

percussion group This class is designed for students with limited or no experience playing the drums or percussion instruments.  Students will be introduced to fundamental techniques for playing the snare drum, xylophone, timpani and drumset as well as auxiliary percussion instruments.  Students will need to supply their own pair of snare sticks and xylophone mallets.  Information on this will be provided in the first class meeting.

computer skills

This course will introduce students to Microsoft Publisher, PowerPoint, Word and Excel on laptop computers.  Keyboarding is a prerequisite.

concert band

Students may join if they have played one year on their chosen instruments. They will learn to play in a mixed ensemble, increase proficiency on their individual instruments and be exposed to several different styles of music during the year.

creative writing intensive

This class will introduce students to the creative writing process. We will address methods for enhancing and developing one's writing style, as well as ways to stimulate creative thought in the storytelling process. We will cover the various elements involved in writing a story (plot, characters, dialogue, descriptive action, etc). We will work within various frameworks, including short stories, novels, poetry (to an extent), and screenplays (NOTE: This is NOT a "film writing" course, but we will touch on this style - Video Production students are highly encouraged to take this class as it will be a great addition to the course). Though we will primarily focus on narrative fiction, we will address how one can take personal experiences/observations/thoughts and manipulate them into the context of a fictitious tale. All genres are fair game in this course, so come expecting diversity. There will be take home readings and assignments. Students will be writing their own works throughout the course, though they will not be penning anything the length of a whole novel or feature screenplay (small scale!). There will be many in-class writing exercises/games to develop the techniques. Students will be expected to keep up with the writing assignments on a regular basis, though. While the works students write will be read by, commented on, and graded by instructor, there WILL be instances where certain assignments will be read aloud to the class by everyone.

drama

This class is designed to be an in-depth study of acting and technical theatre that will create a sense of community among students and enable them to find a safe form of expression.  The class will help build confidence and overall self-esteem.  Students will study the roots of acting and learn to develop a commitment for dynamic performances.

etiquette etc. brown bag lunch

It's lunch with a purpose!  Etiquette shows respect for yourself and others so join us as we look at manners from all angles every other week: from the cafeteria to the formal meal, to attending funerals, talking on cell phones, caring for our flag and working with people with disabilities and more.  On the weeks that etiquette is not presented during class, we will enjoy various clubs including knitting/needlework, chess, and sign language.

gardening 101

In this one semester class students will learn the basics of gardening.  Topics will include: when and how to plant, knowing whether a plant is edible or usable, understanding life above and below the ground, watering, composting, recycling as well as how worms, snakes and butterflies affect the garden.

hand bells

Students entering this class must have two years of experience in some type of musical setting.  Class size is limited.  Students will learn basic handbell ringing techniques, gain experience in performing with a musical ensemble, and be exposed to a variety of musical styles.

praise band

Students may join by audition only. Emphasis will be on playing together as a band: creating their sound; learning to play by ear; understanding stage presence, listening to each other; playing fills, rhythms and leads as well as harmonizing. A variety of styles of Christian music and/or secular music with a predominantly Christian theme will be performed.

self-defense

This one semester introductory martial arts class will cover strategies to avoid unpleasant encounters as well as equipping the student with practical tools to defend himself.

singers

Emphasis will be on producing a tight choral sound and general vocal music knowledge, which will include learning to read rhythms, dynamic levels and musical notation.  A variety of songs and music styles will be presented such as spirituals, folk tunes and appropriate secular and Christian songs.  Songs will be performed with musical accompaniment.  Students must be at least 11 years old and   should be able to read notes on the treble or bass clef staff, depending on their voice part.

songwriting seminar - brown bag lunch

Study of contemporary style songwriting.  Students will learn the "rules" of lyric writing, melody writing and construction of music accompaniment.

speech

This course provides an introductory survey of public speaking principles and forms.  Students are afforded several opportunities to deliver speeches to the class.  Students will practice storytelling and will give impromptu, demonstration, informative, persuasive, dramatic interpretation and humorous interpretation speeches over the course of the year.

video production and theory I

This class is an introduction to the movie making process.  Students will learn the basics of scriptwriting, directing and various aspects of the creative process of production. As a class they will learn how to view films with a critical eye, and analyze what is going on beyond the screen: why filmmakers choose certain shots, stylistic decisions, etc.  Students will learn to think not as an audience member, but how to elicit a response from others through their work and apply what they learn from the film analyses.   Projects will include short exercises, film criticisms and a final short movie to be produced by the class.

video production and theory III

This course will take the skills learned throughout Video I and II and up the ante significantly. The skeletal concept of the course remains the same: critically analyzing cinema as an artform as well as hands-on development through the various stages of production - writing, pre-production, principal photography (involving cinematography and direction), to final cut. As in Video II, the students' films will be more structured on an "actual film crew" basis rather than Video I's group-free-for-all approach. Students will nominate and elect themselves and fellow peers as candidates for each position, including screenwriter, director, director of photography, assistant director, producer, sound, lighting, effects, and of course actors. Projects will be bigger and more complex (NOTE: Projects are to be geared in this class as non-amateurish. This means no movies involving action figures/toys, or anything that would be the fun videos everyone makes with their friends as kids around the house). The class and its projects are intended to challenge and provoke/stir creative thought/imagination. There will be tests and essays from the lectures and course materials, as well as some take home work (including readings, and lots of production preparation). Students will also give pitches for their film ideas (we will delve into the business aspect of independent film more this time around). Email communication will be crucial between myself and the rest of the students (yay for mass emails!). We will cover familiar material more intricately as well as bring some new topics to the classroom, including the post-production and editing process (which will be covered through lectures and video examples - we do not have the means for equipment to facilitate hands-on experience here, I'm sorry). Film clips and video segments will be shown in class and discussed, and we will close class with a film trailer. There will also be out-of-class film screenings, which will shown unedited. Permission waivers will go out before each screening - these are encouraged as they are a greatly beneficial enhancement to the class (and a lot of fun), but are not required, as everyone has busy schedules. Come prepared to hit the set hard this year - the meek need not apply! And guys - if you haven't already, you should start thinking of film ideas NOW!l

vocal performance

Students may join by auditioning with and being accepted by the instructor of this class. Students must be a minimum age of 12 - 13 years old and be able to read music.  Class size is limited to seven students.  This group will continue to hone singing skills with more emphasis on performance of solos, duets and ensembles with or without musical accompaniment.

website design

Course consists of basic html coding using a text editor and later using a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) software program, basic design principles for electronic media, Internet security tools, privacy concerns and copyright issues on the Internet.  Typing 30 wpm and successful completion of Computer class are the prerequisites for this class.