2023-2024 Middle School Electives
St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School rising middle school students and their parents should complete this elective survey together by February 28, 2023. Selections will be reviewed and students will be placed into electives based on class requirements and class sizes. Each middle school student is guaranteed one elective track for the 2023-2024 school year, but are not guaranteed their first choice. Class options are subject to change once the course selections are reviewed.
Course descriptions for quarterly and year-long electives can be found below.
Course descriptions for quarterly and year-long electives can be found below.
YEAR-LONG ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Theatre Production: The class will cover dance basics, advanced acting techniques, character development, vocal technique, and technical theater elements. Students in the class will work towards developing their theatrical skills for an in school production. Students must be approved to take this class. This class meets daily all year long. (Taught by Mrs. Budd)
Advanced Art: Advanced Art is a studio course in which students should already have an established skillset and passion for art, with a STRONG work ethic. Students will increase technical skills, develop a more sophisticated approach to process and subject matter, and create a portfolio of individual work. In addition to classroom assignments, advanced students will contribute to school-wide art projects such as set design, murals, and other collaborative art needs of the school. Students must be approved to take this class. This class meets daily all year long. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Beginning Band: Beginning Band is the first level of the band program at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. In this class, students will have the opportunity to choose and learn a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument and continue with that chosen instrument in a group setting. The specific aim of the band program is to give the students the skills to read and perform music effectively gaging the students from level 1 to level 2. At level 2, the students will be ready and able to perform with a more intermediate group. Students must be approved to take this class. This class meets daily all year long. (Taught by Mr. Passmore)
High Performance Sports: This class will focus on strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and skills that relate to the sport of soccer. Students must be approved for this class by having previously shown the ability to do the following:
Theatre Production: The class will cover dance basics, advanced acting techniques, character development, vocal technique, and technical theater elements. Students in the class will work towards developing their theatrical skills for an in school production. Students must be approved to take this class. This class meets daily all year long. (Taught by Mrs. Budd)
Advanced Art: Advanced Art is a studio course in which students should already have an established skillset and passion for art, with a STRONG work ethic. Students will increase technical skills, develop a more sophisticated approach to process and subject matter, and create a portfolio of individual work. In addition to classroom assignments, advanced students will contribute to school-wide art projects such as set design, murals, and other collaborative art needs of the school. Students must be approved to take this class. This class meets daily all year long. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Beginning Band: Beginning Band is the first level of the band program at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. In this class, students will have the opportunity to choose and learn a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument and continue with that chosen instrument in a group setting. The specific aim of the band program is to give the students the skills to read and perform music effectively gaging the students from level 1 to level 2. At level 2, the students will be ready and able to perform with a more intermediate group. Students must be approved to take this class. This class meets daily all year long. (Taught by Mr. Passmore)
High Performance Sports: This class will focus on strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and skills that relate to the sport of soccer. Students must be approved for this class by having previously shown the ability to do the following:
- Follow instructions and maintain maturity in both a highly structured environment, following sets and reps in a weight room or less structured environment, individual skill work on the field;
- Set both short term and long term goals, especially as it relates to sport performance, injury prevention and the sport of soccer.
QUARTERLY ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Theatre Production: The class will cover dance basics, advanced acting techniques, character development, vocal technique, and technical theater elements. Students in the class will work towards developing their theatrical skills, while preparing an in school production. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mrs. Budd)
Music Appreciation: The Music Appreciation class will develop student's creative skills through music activities. Topics will include, but are not limited to: music history, music theory, and sacred choral music. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mrs. Budd)
Piano Lab: This course is designed to stimulate student growth in piano through the use of performance, basic theory, listening to piano performance and history of piano performance. Students will develop basic piano skills and techniques through study of various styles of music. Students will also complete work in music theory and history to learn the knowledge necessary to form a lifelong enjoyment of music.This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mr. Passmore)
Percussion Ensemble: The Percussion Ensemble is designed to enhance and develop the musical attributes and education of the performing percussionist within a chamber music setting. Through performances of contemporary literature, classical transcriptions, jazz pieces, world music, and novelty works, the student will be subjected to a thorough cross- section of percussion ensemble literature. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mr. Passmore)
Intro to TV Production: Students will enjoy learning what a camera is and all of the many functions of the camera. Students will learn how to record on the camera including setting the camera up. They will learn how to use a tripod. Also, they will learn how to interview people. There will be some shooting assignments along with some note taking in the early stages. This class will prepare them for the future of taking high school Mass Media courses as well. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mr. Hayes)
Painting 101: Students will learn the basics of working with watercolor, acrylics, and tempera paints; including choosing brushes, preparing canvases for painting, and using different painting styles and techniques. Instruction in color mixing, composition and depth enable the student to begin creating individual works of art. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Art Appreciation: Students will be introduced to the visual arts, media, techniques, and history. The course is designed to create a deeper appreciation of the creative processes involved in the visual arts and cultural relevance of art. Students will be introduced to iconic works of art with opportunities to create reflective original works using different mediums. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Ceramics: Students will develop a basic knowledge of ceramics and hand building techniques. This class encompasses all ceramics related skills. Activities will be individualized according to the ability level of each student. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
3D Design: Students will learn how to design, experiment, and create original, 3D art using recycled materials, found objects, and clay. Students will also work collaboratively to create micro installation sculptures. Students will learn how to design, experiment, and create original sculptures. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Drawing 101: Students will focus on building fundamental drawing skills. Students will learn basic techniques such as shading, controlling tones, composition, and drawing methods. Additionally, students will learn how to see with an artist's eye and capture what we see on paper. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Body Conditioning: Students will focus on low impact exercises such as outdoor fitness walking, body weight exercises, and jogging to increase fitness levels and maintain physical and mental health. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Outdoor Games: Students will develop a basic knowledge of many outdoor PE games. Some examples may include Wiffle ball, Kickball, Cricket, Four Square. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Sport Discovery: Students will be introduced to sport games that are student led and organized under a broad set of rules. Equipment will be used to create skills that can help lead to a lifetime of physical fitness. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Fall Sports: Students will explore sports that are played during the fall season, with an emphasis on Basketball. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Winter Sports: Students will explore sports that are played during the winter season, with an emphasis on Volleyball and Flag Football. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Spring Sports: Students will explore sports that are played during the spring season, with an emphasis on Slow Pitch Baseball and Softball. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Theatre Production: The class will cover dance basics, advanced acting techniques, character development, vocal technique, and technical theater elements. Students in the class will work towards developing their theatrical skills, while preparing an in school production. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mrs. Budd)
Music Appreciation: The Music Appreciation class will develop student's creative skills through music activities. Topics will include, but are not limited to: music history, music theory, and sacred choral music. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mrs. Budd)
Piano Lab: This course is designed to stimulate student growth in piano through the use of performance, basic theory, listening to piano performance and history of piano performance. Students will develop basic piano skills and techniques through study of various styles of music. Students will also complete work in music theory and history to learn the knowledge necessary to form a lifelong enjoyment of music.This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mr. Passmore)
Percussion Ensemble: The Percussion Ensemble is designed to enhance and develop the musical attributes and education of the performing percussionist within a chamber music setting. Through performances of contemporary literature, classical transcriptions, jazz pieces, world music, and novelty works, the student will be subjected to a thorough cross- section of percussion ensemble literature. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mr. Passmore)
Intro to TV Production: Students will enjoy learning what a camera is and all of the many functions of the camera. Students will learn how to record on the camera including setting the camera up. They will learn how to use a tripod. Also, they will learn how to interview people. There will be some shooting assignments along with some note taking in the early stages. This class will prepare them for the future of taking high school Mass Media courses as well. This class meets daily for two consecutive quarters. (Taught by Mr. Hayes)
Painting 101: Students will learn the basics of working with watercolor, acrylics, and tempera paints; including choosing brushes, preparing canvases for painting, and using different painting styles and techniques. Instruction in color mixing, composition and depth enable the student to begin creating individual works of art. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Art Appreciation: Students will be introduced to the visual arts, media, techniques, and history. The course is designed to create a deeper appreciation of the creative processes involved in the visual arts and cultural relevance of art. Students will be introduced to iconic works of art with opportunities to create reflective original works using different mediums. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Ceramics: Students will develop a basic knowledge of ceramics and hand building techniques. This class encompasses all ceramics related skills. Activities will be individualized according to the ability level of each student. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
3D Design: Students will learn how to design, experiment, and create original, 3D art using recycled materials, found objects, and clay. Students will also work collaboratively to create micro installation sculptures. Students will learn how to design, experiment, and create original sculptures. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Drawing 101: Students will focus on building fundamental drawing skills. Students will learn basic techniques such as shading, controlling tones, composition, and drawing methods. Additionally, students will learn how to see with an artist's eye and capture what we see on paper. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Ms. Thigpen)
Body Conditioning: Students will focus on low impact exercises such as outdoor fitness walking, body weight exercises, and jogging to increase fitness levels and maintain physical and mental health. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Outdoor Games: Students will develop a basic knowledge of many outdoor PE games. Some examples may include Wiffle ball, Kickball, Cricket, Four Square. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Sport Discovery: Students will be introduced to sport games that are student led and organized under a broad set of rules. Equipment will be used to create skills that can help lead to a lifetime of physical fitness. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Fall Sports: Students will explore sports that are played during the fall season, with an emphasis on Basketball. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Winter Sports: Students will explore sports that are played during the winter season, with an emphasis on Volleyball and Flag Football. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)
Spring Sports: Students will explore sports that are played during the spring season, with an emphasis on Slow Pitch Baseball and Softball. This class meets daily for one quarter. (Taught by Coach Corcoran)