In addition to the courses required to obtain a High School Diploma, the courses listed below are recommended for pursuing a career in the Arts.
Creative Writing
Prerequisite(s): None
Photography
Prerequisite(s): None
Chorus
Prerequisite(s): None
Concert Band
Prerequisite(s): None
Art Studio
College Credit Available
Prerequisite(s): None
Art Studio is designed to provide a foundation for art and will satisfy ART REQUIREMENT for Graduation. Emphasis is placed on understanding the Elements of Art and Principles of Design as a basis for composition. Students will explore a variety of artists, art processes and materials such as drawing, painting, two -dimensional design, and digital art. Student artwork will reflect aesthetics & cultural and historical contexts. Willingness to get involved in the creative process is a more important requirement than the student’s talent or previous experience.
AP Studio Art & Drawing
College Credit Available
Prerequisite(s): Teacher Recommendation
This is a rigorous college level studio course offered to highly motivated Juniors and Seniors who have taken Art Studio and have achieved an above 90 average for the year. Coursework is designed to build mastery in technique, composition/design, research, experimentation, and creative problem solving. Critical thinking, objective analysis of artwork, and the ability to communicate in the language of art will be developed and used throughout the course. Developing meaningful peer relationships and self-motivation is necessary. Students must be willing to devote several hours per week of outside time to art production, research, and self-improvement. Maintaining an active art journal/sketchbook is a critical course requirement. The “exam portfolio” requires at least 24 high quality artworks to be completed and submitted to the College Board in May; students will declare their choice of portfolio early in the year: 2-D, or Drawing, and work in and out of the classroom toward fulfilling the requirements. Summer work is assigned and must be completed in order to be successful in this course.
Exploring Dance
Prerequisite(s): None
Exploring Dance provides students with the opportunity to learn general history, dance form, and techniques about dance genres. Through viewing videos and artifacts, students will be able to achieve art credit through exploring genre-specific dance steps, the history/origin of dance forms, and analyze choreographic choices/artistic expression based on social, economical, and historical time of specific pieces of movement. By the end of this class, students will be able to create a short-choreographed piece through the use of staging, artistic expression, and exploration. Students will leave having a broader perspective on the world around them and how dance and movement impact and mirrors life around them.
Dance Performance
Prerequisite(s): Exploring Dance and/or a background in Dance
Students will explore set and self-choreographed phrase work. Through collaboration with each other, students will explore choreographic devices, structures, and genre-specific material in order to explore choreography and create their own. Students will learn how costumes, lights, and other environments impact the meaning of a dance. By the end of the class, students will have created a dance piece by learning set choreography, costuming, and staging.
Music Technology
Prerequisite(s): None
Students who enjoy computers and music can take a class in music technology. Although no prior musical expertise is required, basic computer abilities (such as copy/paste, navigating websites, basic keyboard and mouse use, and downloading files) are essential. You'll learn how to make your own digital music, record sounds, and edit them into songs to perform at our end-of-year record release party in this session. It is a course requirement that you engage in the end-of-year record release. In addition, students must attend the winter concert as audience members (band and chorus) in order to complete a "listening log."
Culinary Arts
Prerequisite(s): None
This course will introduce students to safe practices when cooking and baking. Throughout the year, students will explore information needed to prepare a recipe including measurement equipment, costs of ingredients and preparing a market order. Students will be encouraged to make real-world connections and explore their own interests, skills, and career goals.
International Foods
Prerequisite(s): Culinary Arts
This course is for students who want to learn how to cook a variety of foods from around the world. North America, Latin America, Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Middle East, among other places of the world, will be covered. As part of the seminar, several preparation techniques reflecting unique ethnic cooking styles will be demonstrated. Students will study patterns of family meals, current customs and food habits, cooking techniques and equipment unique to those countries. This course will also include an overview of the nutrients required for optimum health, as well as information on food and food service management vocations.