SPRING ELECTIVES – 2011-2012
ARTS DEPARTMENT
Fine and Studio Arts
Painting (Mr. Schofield)
Drawing I and Drawing II develop mastery of the first four, two-dimensional elements of art: line, shape, value, and texture. Painting is the study of the fifth element: color. Color involves aspects of all the previous elements. As such, it is strongly suggested, but not required, that students take at least Drawing I prior to taking Painting. Various media and techniques will be explored, as will the history of painting across cultures. Emphasis will be placed on composition and concept development. Student work is assessed by project with a rubric based on effort, craft, composition and the student’s demonstration of mastery of that week’s special focus topic. Students also receive one-on-one feedback and group critique feedback.
Photography III (Mr. Schofield) Prerequisite: Photo I or II and permission of instructor
Photo III introduces no new technical skills, but focuses on developing more complex strategies for using established skills for artistic or non-verbal communication purposes. Students will continue to raise the sophistication and subtlety of analysis and argument in the critique process. Students will be able to develop and execute complex themes across multiple artworks and use appropriate strategies for achieving clear conceptual goals. In addition, traditional photography will be explored, especially alternative processes such as the digital pinhole. Student work is assessed by project with a rubric based on effort, craft, composition and the student’s demonstration of mastery of that week’s special focus topic. Students also receive one-on-one feedback and group critique feedback.
Sculpture III (Mr. Runyon)
Sculpture III will offer a concentrated study of three dimensional concepts in a collaboration between student and teacher. We will have the opportunity to incorporate previously used materials while also adding metals, including but not limited to: steel, aluminum, copper, and brass. Students will be challenged to evaluate their own process through their chosen materials to define their artistic vision. More individual freedom will be given, yet students will be required to show greater personal ownership of their final work. We will be conducting both individual and class critiques of works in progress and completed assignments. Throughout the trimester we will also be working through the actual process of planning, proposing, and creating a public piece of art for installation in the new VAB. Sculpture III will focus on defining each student’s personal aesthetic, a responsible work ethic, and the ability to complete viable three-dimensional work. Students will be assessed based upon their understanding of three-dimensional design theory, their ability to work more independently, and the successful completion of assignments.
Music
Classical Ensemble (Mr. Flores)
This course is open to musicians with low-intermediate and advanced performance skills in Woodwind, Brass, String, and Keyboard instruments. Auditions required. The Classical Ensemble is a performance-based course designed for students seeking to explore music from the standard repertoire of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century Eras. The development of technical, musical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are stressed as a means to achieving excellence of performance in a non-competitive atmosphere. Historical and cultural contexts are discussed with critical evaluation to enhance and broaden the performance experience. The Classical Ensemble combo will rehearse separately during the academic day schedule and then one evening, Monday between 6:30 – 7:45 p.m., in which musicians from the school community join members of this class to form the Classical Society’s Community Orchestra.
Chamber Chorus (Mr. Flores)
The Chamber Chorus is a performance-based course specializing in vocal chamber music of all periods and from many cultures. The repertoire includes works from the standard repertoire, modern masterpieces, sacred and secular, American and international, contemporary and historical. Ensemble type and voicing may vary due to enrollment. Students will also develop basic musical skills such as sight-reading, vocal production, and performance technique. Performances will occur in the three major concerts of the year, as well as recitals, outreach concerts, competitions, other field trips and festivals.
Jazz Rock Combo (Mr. Flores)
Open to musicians with low-intermediate to advanced skills in Wind and Rhythm instruments as well as voice. Wind students are expected to have at least introductory music-reading skills. Rhythm section players with only sheet-reading skills are OK and encouraged to enroll. No auditions.
Course Description: The Jazz Rock Combo is a performance-based course designed for students seeking to further develop their performance skills in the various music styles that define “Jazz” and “Rock,” including Swing, Blues, Bebop, Latin-jazz, Ballads, Rock standards and rock-jazz fusion. The development of technical, musical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are stressed as a means to achieving excellence of performance in a non-competitive atmosphere. The focus of this class will be development of advanced individual and ensemble Jazz skills.
Advanced Music Lab (Mr. Flores) Enrollment limited to Juniors and Seniors – permission required
The Music Lab is designed to:
- properly and sufficiently prepare musicians looking to pursue music in college through guidance, support and selected repertoire;
- develop leaders and provide leadership opportunities for the development of set skills and a knowledge base specific to roles and responsibilities for performers;
- create a mentorship program between senior musicians and younger performers;
- ensure that advanced musicians are provided with performance opportunities that challenge and further develop their musicianship and technical skills and ability to perform works with correct historical interpretation;
- enhance the current ensemble’s accompanist experience and develop skills within the context of classical and jazz accompanying styles;
- provide a supportive environment for strong professional and personal bonds.
Each student is responsible and required to complete a variety of tasks and projects, including but not limited to: Resume (following a provided Music Guideline), Repertoire, College List, Audition Dates and Repertoire, Recordings (Critique, Feedback), College Visit Report, and Serve as Leaders in Appointed Groups. Please note: The college-related work completed in the Music Lab is in direct communication with the College Counselor and intended to support the student’s hopes for future college work.
Theater and Drama
Film Reflections (A Global Journey) (Ms. Haman)
Students electing this course will take a cinematic journey around the world, and will be exposed to a wide variety of film genres that deal with subjects and issues involving the human condition. Geographic areas in these films range from Africa, to different locations in the Middle East, to Europe, and to both the East and West coasts of the United States. Subjects will include war, colonial oppression, music athletics and much more. Students will engage the work of outstanding film directors – their visions as well as their filming techniques. We will view documentaries, films of real-life historical significance, and fictional drama. Students of cinema will be expected to hone their aesthetic sensibilities, affording them a wider choice in movie selection. Assessment: The students in this course will be evaluated on their analysis and discussions of the film via class participation and “papers of critique” on the films.
Advanced Acting (Ms. Haman)
This independent study course is being offered to a group of students who have had several years of experience on the stage. The students electing this course have an interest in acting in one or, hopefully, two plays by Anton Chekhov. This course will offer those students who really love acting an opportunity to experience the particular humor and drama that is Chekhov. Evaluation and assessment for this course will be based on a combination of the student’s commitment, attendance, character development and performance.
Creative Explorations (Ms. Tolman)
This is an arts elective (offered A block) for those students who would like to do an independent study on an interesting topic if you had the time. You will be brainstorming and developing your idea and then writing a proposal. You will create a reading list, set a schedule, and decide on what form – writing, visual art, performance, etc. – your final product(s) will take.
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Eng. 12: Spring (Mr. Walters)
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
When Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,
And smale fowles maken melodye,
That slepen al the night with open ye,
(So priketh hem nature in hir corages)
Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages--
Translation
So maybe you get to April after all, and the rain comes down like a curtain on your vacation, maybe you've just flown in from Arizona on a favorable tailwind, you get back to find the maple sap all boiled down to syrup and the whole verdurous-virtuous woods smelling like a sugaring house with its every door thrown open; and sure, maybe tomorrow the sun will come trotting out from behind its clouds like a sheared sheep, but for now you just want to know what birds those are that flew in on the tailwind with you, and even though your flight was a red-eye, you can't sleep, you want to know the birds by sight and by voice, your skin's all pins and needles, and you go walking in the dawn like some heartstruck, heatstroked apparition, a pilgrim, a zombie in love, the sap's up in all your arteries and you can taste the blood on your tongue, your mouth is filled with devotions and petals, he-loves-me, no, she-loves-me-not, and against all laws, natural and divine, you find you're equal to the spring, you behold it from outside and yet are held within it, you watch it happening and yet it happens to you, no, you are happening, springing, in words, in poems, in sight and in sound and in deed, from here on out. (You will be asked to read natural history, personal narrative and poetry and respond in kind.)
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
Nuclear Issues (Ms. Doenmez)
One of the most difficult and dangerous set of issues in the contemporary world centers on nuclear technology in both civilian and militarized forms. Our nation has taken steps to reduce our nuclear arsenal; meanwhile, fears about the spread of nuclear weapons poses our thorniest international relations problems. How have we reacted to North Korea, India and Pakistan? How should we react to Iran? Similarly nuclear energy is contentious. Is it the solution to climate change? Or the greatest risk to public safety on the planet? What do we do about nuclear waste? All these questions are argued often with more passion than knowledge. This course will explore these and related questions by studying the history of the atomic world from Fat Man to mini-nukes. Learning will be demonstrated by reflective writing and formal essays, challenges and projects.
Gender and American Pop Culture (Ms. Hammond)
What does it mean to be male or female in American society? What do the dominant forms of media in our culture tell us about femininity and masculinity? How do we, as consumers of advertising, television, film, print media and the internet react to the products we come into contact with on a daily basis? In this course we will utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to establish a critical lens through which we can “see” gender. We will hone our abilities to read, evaluate and synthesize various forms of media to establish a keener understanding of the role pop culture plays in constructing and transmitting ideas about gender in our society. In addition to regular class discussion and reflective writing, assessments for this course will include analytical essays and a creative project.
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
“The sky is falling,” An Introduction to Meteorology (Mr. Johnson/Mr. Talley)
This course focuses on introducing the student to basic concepts involved in the analysis of weather phenomena on a global and local scale. Major topics include heat balance, atmospheric stability, precipitation processes, severe weather, weather analysis, and very basic weather forecasting techniques. Students will also investigate the meteorological impacts of air pollution and climate change. Students will be evaluated by their performance on in-class assessments, field and laboratory experiments, and 2-3 laboratory reports. There will be a Final Exam covering a culmination of the information studied throughout the term.
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Flash Animation (Mr. Cox)
Flash Animation is a course to introduce students to creating eye-catching multimedia on the web and offline presentation. Some of the most common applications of Flash include advertisements, interactive web tools, and dynamic presentations. The major goal of this course is to be able to effectively disseminate information and ideas visually. The course is project based and students should expect critique in both mechanical and artistic areas of their work.
C# Programming (Mr. Cox)
C# Programming is the second level computer programming elective. Students should have taken one of Programming I, Applied Programming, or Web Design, or otherwise demonstrate some proficiency in basic computer programming concepts. This course will prepare students for the third level programming courses, including Game Programming, offered next year. C# Programming involves learning the rudiments of Windows programming in the Visual Studio 2010 programming environment. This course will introduce data structures and more advanced logical structures and object oriented concepts as well as Windows Forms Applications. Grading is project based, and is heavily reliant on class participation.
Application Development (Mr. Cox)
Open to all students who have demonstrated proficiency in computer programming. This class will tackle a real world programming problem and produce a working solution. This year, we will build a Point of Service application for the school store. The class will work as a team with Mr. Cox as the coordinator. This is a simulated contract job experience, and therefore students will be graded based on their completion of their role in the contract. New programming skills will include working with Databases and advanced data structures in the C# programming language.