If you don’t know what elective you might want to take next school year or next semester, you’ve come to the right place! On the Brea Junior High website, there is a packet that gives a brief overview for  each elective here at Brea Junior High. But here you'll find in-depth explanations and student interviews about all the electives and why you should take them.

Brea Junior High: Distinguished

AVID 7-AVID 8

AVID is a year-long elective course with different classes for seventh and eighth-grade students. This elective prepares students for college and a successful future. In this class, students collaborate with other students to improve and support their academic growth. Students take a field trip to a college each semester to get familiar with what a real college campus looks like. They will also participate in weekly student-led study groups to improve their communication skills with their peers. Students will also learn to take organized notes and conduct research to gain a better understanding of college and to introduce them to different career options.

Financial Literacy

Financial Literacy is a semester-long elective that is designed to teach students about money and how to use it effectively. It teaches you saving methods such as the 50/30/20, how to be presentable while giving presentations, and even gives you experience with sales and sales pitches in the Bobcat Market, where you can sell products to Bobcats and earn some money to keep for yourself. This class helps students save money, spend it wisely, explore colleges and careers, and write business letters. It consists of courses to teach about financial decision-making, how to detect a scam, and also group slideshows to research what you can do with your money.

Leadership 101

Leadership is a class that does exactly what it says on the tin. In one semester, it teaches students how to lead effectively and efficiently. Students will make a portfolio specifically for the class that will hold their assignments and projects for the class. They will also have spirit wear days be a grade for them, as they must be an example for the other students. The class consists mostly of activities designed to increase leadership skills, such as icebreakers, communication, and problem-solving worksheets. 

Student Government/ASB

ASB is a year-long elective where students get to be student leaders on campus. Students will use their social skills to help welcome students, plan events, and make the school a better and happier place. Students will help make the school community better for all on campus! Throughout the year, they will welcome new students and even host Korean exchange students to show them what school life is like at Brea. ASB is a great way to get involved at your school and make your community feel more welcoming and open to everyone.

Building and Construction: Builder

Basic Industrial Arts

Basic Industrial is a great class for those who like to work with their hands. The class is focused on learning how to create things from raw material. Students begin by making their own tools, such as the vise guards they’ll use for the rest of the year and a pocket screwdriver that’s portable and easily accessible. After those two, they’ll move to the wood shop, where they’ll create their own pen holder and begin work on the cutting board. It’s a semester-long elective that requires taking a safety test and wearing eye protection and closed-toe shoes. But overall, the experience is one-of-a-kind, with some students saying the best part is Mr. Ordlock. His personality, relatable anecdotes, and way of teaching have been known to make the class unforgettable.

Advanced Industrial Arts

Advanced Industrial Arts is the next step up from Basic. In Advanced, students learn more complicated ways to shape material. They begin by remaking their vice guards, but immediately begin with what is by far the most complicated project in the class: The Hacksaw. The students begin with the hacksaw block, which connects all the other pieces of the hacksaw. Next, they move on to the shaft, which holds the blade. They connect the shaft to the hacksaw block by WELDING THEM TOGETHER BY MELTING BRASS WITH A BLOWTORCH, which is objectively the coolest part of the process. They then make the two-inch piece, which connects the other end of the blade to the handle. Finally, they create the handle and assemble the whole thing. They also create a foundry mold, which is also pretty cool. It’s made of aluminum and polished by the students.

BITA 1

BITA 1, otherwise known as the Foundation of Residential and Commercial Construction, is a year-long class and is only offered to eighth-grade students. This course is designed to teach students basic construction trade skills using projects that will greatly increase their interest in math. Students will learn the basics of construction math, consisting of reading blueprints, measurement, and scale. Students will also learn the safety procedures for the use of hand and power tools.

Health, Science, and Medical Tech: Healer

Exploring Medical Careers

Exploring Medical Careers is a semester-long elective where students will learn about personal, consumer, and community health; safety; nutrition; individual growth and development; communicable and chronic diseases; medical terminology and abbreviations; body systems; legal and ethical topics; and socioeconomic issues. Students will be introduced to the many careers that are part of the medical/dental/health field. This class also helps students prepare for the beginning pathway at the high school called the Patient Care Pathway.

Forensic Science

Forensic Science is a class for people who want to learn how to solve crimes, identify suspects, and pay attention to detail. This class is aimed at teaching students how to use isolated evidence, such as blood splatters, hairs, and fibers, etc., at a crime scene to determine what exactly happened, like where a victim was hit with an object, who the victim was, and where the suspect and victim were during the scene.

Marine Biology

Ever wanted to learn more about the biology of a fish, how to stop pollution from accumulating in the sea, and other cool things about our ocean and its impact on our planet? This semester-long elective offers promising insights into the sea, with lessons ranging from the sea before the dinosaurs to modern-day problems involving the sea and human impact on it. Marine biology is an extremely fun elective, with fun activities like dissecting a shark, making realistic fish prints with squid ink, and much more. No application is required to get into this elective, and with no homework assignments an, tests; it’s a fun class for you and your friends! When you finish this class, you will know everything about the ocean and its inhabitants. Marine biology is a class that’s for everyone, but if you’re hoping to participate in fun activities, make sure you behave!!!!!

Brea Junior High: Influential

Korean Language

The Korean Language class is a year-long elective that you can use to get a head start on learning a new language or to further your understanding of the culture! In Korean class, you participate in fun activities that also help you learn to speak the basics of Korean, and you can participate in partner worksheets for you to practice one-on-one. This class also does interesting readings in Korean that test your knowledge of what you have learned, while also learning new cultures. Understanding the culture is crucial to truly understanding the 

Korean language, and in this class, you can learn the culture and language through hands-on activities that are super fun. Finally, in Korean 1, you also do special activities to celebrate Korean culture holidays while learning all about the culture and background of these events! 

Spanish Language

The Spanish World Language class is a year-long elective that you can use to get a head start on learning a new language! In Spanish class, you participate in fun activities that also help you learn to speak mostly fluent Spanish, and you can participate in partner worksheets for you to practice one-on-one. This class also does interesting readings in Spanish that test your knowledge of what you have learned, while also learning new cultures. Understanding the culture is crucial to truly understanding the Spanish language, and in this class, you are able to learn the culture and the language with hands-on activities that are super fun. Finally, in Spanish 1, Spanish 1 you also do special activities to celebrate Spanish holidays while learning all about the culture and background of these events! 

Video Broadcasting

Video Broadcasting, also known as BCTV, is a year-long elective offered to both seventh and eighth graders. An application form is needed to take the class. This class produces videos for our school, giving us a weekly news update such as promoting events the school is hosting, funny skits, recaps of a function, and interviews of student and staff opinions. Video Broadcasting teaches students photography and videography skills, how to use camera equipment, and how to interview students on a topic. The class also helps students improve speaking on camera, video editing on Adobe Premiere, and how to take professional-level shots. Video Broadcasting is looking for students with prior editing experience, outgoing students, and those who are willing to sacrifice their mornings, snacktimes, lunchtimes, afterschool times, etc. Examples of methods taught in this class are the Rule of Thirds, WALLDO, and taking wide, medium, and tight shots. If you take the course in seventh grade, you can continue in eighth grade and take Advanced Video Broadcasting, exclusively offered as a year-long course.

Yearbook

Yearbook is a year-long elective where students will collaborate to create our school’s yearbook for students to purchase during the second semester. Students collaborate to come up with themes, photo ideas, and interview questions to put together the perfect yearbook for all students to enjoy. This helps capture all the excitement that happened this school year while working together on the yearbook staff. Outgoing students will photograph events, classes, activities, sports, and more, creating an unforgettable yearbook. Students must fill out an application to be part of this class.

Mystery Fiction

Mystery Fiction is a semester-long elective where students learn how mystery works through books and stories. This helps enrich students with amazing literary skills for reading, writing, understanding books, and so much more. Students will read texts that will teach them how to piece together a story with a great plot. They will learn how to better support their claims about novels using evidence from the text. This class is a great opportunity to have a connection through reading, and you can heavily improve your literary skills to be the best writer you can be.

Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a misleading name for this elective. Yes, there is the option of working on projects about telling stories in creative manners, but the real purpose of this elective is to run the school newspaper, which you are currently reading. The newspaper has many roles to maximise quality and efficiency in the class. The process starts with writers who, obviously, write the articles. From there, the writers send their articles to their chosen editor, who goes over the article and corrects grammar and spelling mistakes. The editors then send the article to the website upkeep, who puts the article on the website and does any last-minute fixing. They also add in pictures from photographers or art from artists. Finally, the editors-in-chief take care of logging grades and monitoring the students. They will usually be handpicked by the former editors-in-chief for qualities such as a good work ethic, integrity, grit, and the like. We also have other roles, such as videographers and game designers.

Engineering and Architecture: Maker

PTLW Design & Modeling

PTLW Design and Modeling is a semester-long class that both eighth and seventh-grade students can take. This class introduces students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, also known as STEM. Students will learn about systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. They will also learn to code using VEXcode V5. Students will work together to design and build real-world objects such as traffic lights and tool booths using the VEX Robotics platform.

Engineering 1

Engineering 1 is a semester-long class that students can take after taking PTLW Design & Modeling. This teaches students more advanced engineering concepts and more in-depth ways to design projects accurately. While taking this class, students will continue to use the design process with the help of the SketchUp software to help solve engineering challenges that humans have to face over time. Groups of students will collaborate on projects that include designing and building pyramids, bridges, catapults, cars, and rockets. This class helps lead students in the Brea High School’s pathway, the Engineering/Computer Science Pathway.

Exploring Computer Science

Exploring Computer Science is a year-long elective offered to both seventh and eighth-grade students. Students will explore and learn to solve real-world computing problems using this hands-on approach. They will explore web designs, programming, data analysis, and so much more. This elective course is the beginning of the Global Information Technology Pathway (GITA).

Advanced Computer Science/GITA 1

Advanced Computer Science is a year-long elective only offered to eighth graders who have taken Exploring Computer Science, but it will accept seventh-grade students coming from Falcon Academy after taking a quick survey. In this class, students are introduced to the Python language, JavaScript, and video game coding. This course challenges students' collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Advanced Computer Science will prepare students for GITA 1, which is only offered to eighth-graders. GITA is the next step in paving the way for a computer programming career. This elective course is designed for students to learn more about the Java language used to create graphical user interfaces, otherwise known as GUI.

PTLW Robotics

PTLW Robotics is a semester-long elective. This class is about engineering, grit, teamwork, and problem-solving. You will be working with gears, screws, and basic coding on VEXcode VR. Teamwork in this class is key; you have to collaborate, design, and program with your team or partner to achieve the needed task, for example, building a carnival or pull toy. And yes, there is math, science, and mostly group projects (you mostly get to choose!) involved (how lovely). You will be graded on participation, collaboration, and effort. After PTLW Robotics, you could take Advanced Robotics or Competition Robotics.

Advanced Robotics

Advanced Robotics is a semester-long elective that you can take for a full year. This class is all about teamwork, cooperation, and improvising through problems. In Advanced Robotics, you will be working on coding through VEX VR, and you will be designing digital models on Onshape. Teamwork is crucial because you will need to work together to build and design your robot to perfection. Furthermore, Advanced Robotics is very inclusive, and you get to work with your chosen team to build bots and win competitions! Towards the end of the year, Clawbot Chaos is held, where you will build a clawbot to score points for a specific course that’s incredibly fun to navigate. 

Competitive Robotics

Competition Robotics is a semester-long elective that you can take for a full year, just like Advanced Robotics. In order to take Competitive Robotics, you have to first take Advanced Robotics or have previous robotics experience. Similar to Advanced Robotics, this elective is filled with teamwork, cooperation, and engineering skills. Competitive Robotics is very enjoyable with coding aspects using VEX VR, building using screwdrivers and other tools, and you also utilize teamwork skills to complete obstacle courses in competitions. Additional various competitions with special courses per year are very fun to compete with customized robots. Once you’re done with VEX competitions, you can compete in the Clawbot Chaos just like in Advanced Robotics. 

Arts, Media & Entertainment: Visual and Performing Arts

Guitar

Guitar is a year-long class that you can take without any musical experience. This class is designed for students who have little to no guitar experience, so they can learn to play guitar. Students will learn to read and play music and chords, from finger picking, chord strumming, and some rock techniques will be taught in a wide variety of music. This class does not perform in any concerts and is used more as a learning class. This is a great way to learn and explore the great talent of playing guitar. If you want to join the BJH music family and be creative, this is the class for you.

Intermediate Band

Intermediate Band is a year-long class where students get the opportunity to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. To take this class, you need to have at least one year of experience with your instrument. This class picks up right where the elementary band left off, making it easy for 7th graders to continue their band journey. While taking the class, students learn how to read music, playing techniques, and will perform in multiple concerts for students to come watch them perform. This elective helps prepare students to play in the Brea Jr. High's Concert Band and the High School's band as well. This is a great way to join the BJH Instrumental music family.

Concert Band 

Concert Band is one of the most advanced music programs on campus. Students take this year-long class after completing the Intermediate band or auditioning for the class. This is a year-long class where students learn advanced music reading skills and playing techniques on a band instrument. They perform many times throughout the year and compete in the Southern California area, including an annual performance at Disneyland or Knott’s Barry Farm.

Drama

Students Interviewed: Hailee Willams (8th), Salem Crosby (7th), Joseph Mman (7th)

Get introduced to the art of theater, and learn to act on a stage in front of an audience. If you love performing, movies, acting, and have great creativity, this is the class for you. Drama puts on one play each semester that Brea Junior High students can attend and enjoy. You will start to participate and learn the basics of theater, and students even get to start writing their very own scripts. Students get to learn improv on stage and tech backstage. Drama is a great elective to take if you have a creative mind and enjoy performing for others on stage.

Play Production

Students Interviewed: Nanor (8th), Madelyn (7th), Christina (7th)

Play Production is the second level of drama, where students perform more complex plays while gaining a deeper understanding of the theatrical experience. Play Production is a great way to get to know people with similar interests to yours and to work as a community on the art of theater. Play Production is offered only in the second semester and is available only to students who have taken Drama in prior semesters. If you love to be creative on and off stage, while bonding with other theater lovers, this is the elective for you.

Beginning Orchestra

Beginning Orchestra is a year-long elective built for students with minimal to no experience in string instruments. These instruments include violin, viola, and cello. In this class, they will learn the basics of reading sheet music and playing their chosen instrument. They will also perform in concerts throughout the school year. The class prepares them for future performances in the Advanced Orchestra or in their future.

Advanced Orchestra

Advanced Orchestra is a year-long class and is the most advanced orchestra class here at Brea Junior High. Only students who have completed Beginning Orchestra or are recommended by the teacher can join this elective. Students will learn to read advanced music and different playing techniques on their instrument. Students will have the opportunity to perform at concert festivals and competitions across Southern California. This class will prepare students for high school orchestra if they choose to continue in the visual and performing arts.

Show Choir Express

Show Choir Express is a year-long elective that is designed to teach students to sing and dance as part of a competitive Advanced Mixed Show Choir. To take this class, a student will need a teacher's approval through an audition. Students will perform multiple times throughout the year, and the shows are put together with the high school choir. The Choir also travels around Southern California for competitions against other middle school choirs. This class is a great way to socialize with other students who love music and dance. This is an opportunity for students to collaborate with the high school and other choir programs.

Starlet Express

Starlet Express is a year-long elective that teaches students to sing and dance while being part of a competitive Intermediate Treble Show Choir. For students to take the class, they need to get the teacher's approval. Students perform in multiple concerts with our high school choirs, along with competing around Southern California. This class is a great way to learn to dance and sing with a group of students. It is also a great bonding opportunity for students to get to know others with the same interests and get to know each other through the love of music and dancing.

Introduction to Dance

Introduction to Dance is a semester-long elective where students get to learn the basics of all different dance cultures and dance styles. Students learn different dance movements from styles that include jazz, hip hop, ballet, and more. Students have the opportunity to make new friends and be part of a community that loves music and the art of dance.

Art 1

Art 1 is a semester-long elective, which you could advance into Art 2 once you pass the class. Learn a little bit of the history of art and a lot of techniques that could be applied to any artwork you’d make, such as basic color theory and basic proportions. You will practice using tools like pencils, brushes, charcoal, and more. Your grade is based on effort, so don’t worry about being the best in class; you don’t need prior art skills to join! This is a great elective if you don’t like working in groups (which only happens sometimes), express your creativity in drawing, painting, and sketching, and if you want to improve your skills as an artist.

Art 2

Art 2 is a semester-long elective. To take this class, you have to pass and take Art 1. While still learning techniques, like the prior class, in Art 2, you get to express your full creativity in things like symbolism, using a variety of media to learn more about the past and present visual arts in different cultures, and color. Concepts and techniques, like color theory, would be used here to make full-on artworks. This is a great elective if you want to further expand your art skills and make finished artworks with emotion and meaning.

Digital Photo

Digital Photo is a semester-long elective course. This class is offered to seventh and eighth-graders. Students will learn to enhance and edit photos using different forms of Photoshop. Students will not only learn how to take better photos, but they will also learn from photography basics to creating life-like fake photos. They will also learn about photo enhancements that make their way into Internet headlines weekly!

Advanced Photo

Advanced Photo is a semester-long elective course offered only in the second semester. This course is a continuation of Digital Photo, where students start using Adobe Premiere, an advanced editing software to edit videos, skits, commercials, and even movie trailers. The class lets you make your own storyboards and be creative with making them. This course helps enhance your photography skills by teaching you professional-level techniques, focusing the camera on a subject, and which angles to take shots of subjects. The class is looking for students with a prerequisite of Digital Photo, students who have the basics of photography and photo editing nailed down, and those who want to expand their knowledge of what they know about photography.

Written By: Emmaline Elmore,  Oliver Handoko, Linzy Park, Mason Oh, Madison Lester, Samantha Florez, and Emilio Gomez

Edited By John Stratton and Taylor Choe