Elective courses offered

Art

Art is for students of ALL artistic abilities and backgrounds. Students will create original works of art while gaining hands-on experience with various art mediums, such as clay, pastels, watercolors and acrylic paint, just to name a few. Artists will also learn The Elements of Art and Principles of Design through their various projects throughout the course. Students are graded on their work-ethic and ability to follow instructions as their hard work leads to incredible skills! Student artists are provided with opportunities to display their artwork both within the school and out and are encouraged to enter their masterpieces in competitions (some, we've had grand prize winners).

Family & Consumer Science

This comprehensive laboratory course is designed to address a broad range of knowledge and skills related to personal development, interpersonal skills, decision-making, and promotion of family strengths.

Health

The PMS Health Program focuses on students developing healthy habits in relation to nutrition. Students will learn good communication skills and how develop good working relationships. Students will learn how to analyze their well-being and how to develop a higher sense of self esteem and self image. Students will learn how to balance their health triangle in the areas of physical, mental, and social well being, in addition, they will learn the effects of an unbalanced health triangle . This class focuses on a student as an individual and what they can do to live a good life and maintain their health for the rest of their life. Students will engage with one another and work both together and individually so they can develop health literacy skills.

Band

Band is for students at all levels of performance ability, no experience necessary! Sixth grade students start in Beginning Band where they will choose an instrument to study for the entire school year. Second and third year players participate in the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and/or Jazz Bands, depending on ability. Band students will perform in concerts throughout the school year at Picacho MS and other venues. Students are able to participate in the Music Performance Assessment Band Festival, the Onate Jazz Festival, All-City Band, and Solo and Ensemble.

Choir

Choir is intended for those who enjoying singing, students are expected to develop vocal techniques, and participate in performances.

Orchestra

No previous experience is necessary. Instruction is offered on the bowed string instruments: violin, viola, cello and string bass. The fundamentals of string playing and note reading are studied in detail. Students will perform in at least one concert each semester. All kinds and styles of music from Bach to Rock are explored. Technology is incorporated in the class through the use of exciting music software. Students are asked to supply their own violins, violas and cellos; however, there are school instruments that can be assigned for a nominal fee.

Creative Writing

Physical Education

Our physical education (PE) courses focus on four areas; team sports, dual sports, individual sports, and personal fitness. Some of the activities we will be participating in include basketball, soccer, flag football, weight training, badminton, and running.

Dance

Students may take dance as a PE credit. Students will learn technique in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance as the basis of other dance forms. They will also learn about various cultural dances like flamenco, country partner dancing, hip hop, etc. Students will explore movement through improvisation and learn how to sequence movements together to create choreography as an 8th grader. There will be two shows for the students to present what they have learned.

STEM

Based on engineering, students explore ideas through project based learning.

Media

Picacho Middle School has a wonderful media program. There is one class of students who produce a daily television news show, called Scorpion Pride Television aka SPTV. They produce our radio show, K-STG Radio and create video clips for the show. They also participate and compete in the Desert Light Film Festival at Alamogordo NMSU Campus.

In addition to this class, we offer an all year long 6th and 7th grade Introduction to Multimedia Class where students are exposed to all the fundamentals of radio and television production. In this class, students are in charge of the radio station and rolling announcements via the flat screen television monitors in every classroom. They also learn and are responsible for creating the announcements that are played on our electronic LED marquee. Students have the opportunity to refine their media skills and may participate in the media program for all three years at Picacho Middle School. We welcome all students who have an interest in cameras, video production and radio to try our program.

FFA/AG

PMS is the only Middle School in Las Cruces that offers this program. The program focuses on leadership, community projects and preparing for competition.

Theatre

Beginning Theater class is an introduction to theater arts and drama for 6-8 grade. This class explores puppetry, basic acting, make up, set design, costume design, improve games and Greek theater. During the year we have fun performing plays for the school and family. Beginning theatre does 1 performance a year, and advanced does 2. This class is for any student who would like to learn about theater. Break a leg!

6th Grade Course Selection

7th Grade Course Selection