incoming 8th Grade scheduling

Students will explore their favorite art media, and will work with two-dimensional and three-dimensional art forms such as drawing and painting, printmaking, photography, design and sculpture! Students will be introduced to the types of art classes offered at the 9th grade level and begin to make career connections. Students will explore their individual artistic style and become a part of an exciting creative team. This course deos not meet the middle school NYS art requirement. If students do not take Art in 7th grade, when they enter 8th grade they may register for both the required 20-week art class and Creative Studio.

This course is designed to introduce students to basic concepts related to maintaining and growing a garden for food production. Through participation in garden based activities, students will learn about the agricultural science concepts, as well as the care and management of a garden. Students will explore food production, gaining an understanding as to the source of the products we consume. Students will apply the principles of sustainable organic farming practices while taking advantage of our greenhouse and available resources off-campus. Connections will be made with local farmers and industries that supply food to our community.

This is an introductory computer science course that empowers students to create authentic artifacts and engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun.

Intro to Sculpture will introduce students to three-dimensional artmaking through exploration of materials and processes (clay, wire, papier-mache, found-object assemblage, basic wood/cardboard construction). Students will learn 3-D design vocabulary (form, mass, balance, texture, scale), technical skills, and the basic steps of the creative process (sketch-model-critique-revise), from preliminary ideas to final projects and displays. Class lessons will emphasize creative risk-taking, collaborative problem-solving, and maker habits.

Music II will build on the skills acquired in Music I and will take students to a further level of sophistication. The course will include more developed projects in composition and electronic music. Students enrolled in Music II must have taken and completed Music I and obtained the music teacher's recommendation.

Students will be introduced to the destructive forces of nature and the impact they have on humans. The focus of this course will be to introduce students to the various geological, meteorological, and astronomical disasters that mankind faces today. Topics will include, but are not limited to: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, avalanches, tornadoes, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms/lightning, meteor and asteroid impacts, mudslides, droughts, and pollution.

This project-based course introduces young learners to the exciting world of robotics and artificial intelligence. The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, teamwork, and computational thinking, preparing students to become creators of technology. By learning to program motors and sensors, students will work in teams to design, build, and program autonomous robots to move and react to their environment. Through creative challenges, they will also explore simple AI concepts, such as pattern recognition and decision-making, in fun and engaging ways.

This exploratory Science Research course is designed to nurture students who are highly motivated and  intellectually curious about scientific processes and observable phenomena. Students will be introduced to the skills essential to science including experimental design, effective use of technology, meeting of deadlines, ethics, data analysis, and communication skills. Opportunities for students interested in Science Olympiad activities will be provided. Students will be encouraged to explore topics and ideas that interest them and focus on taking one long-term project from inception to presentation. The course will also provide opportunities for students to learn about the local, regional, and national science competitions. Students will be evaluated on both the process and results of their efforts on projects and research.