Advanced Art is designed for individuals who have clearly demonstrated an interest and motivation for pursuing instruction in art. Students will continue to use the elements/principles of art in a variety of mediums, however, they will develop their portfolio in a more independent format and build critical thinking and analysis skills when looking at their work and the works of others. Prerequisite: Students must successfully complete Intermediate Art. 

Advanced Theater 8 is a year-long class for students interested in building stronger skills in Theater production. Students must either audition (performance) or interview (tech) for a spot in this class. The curriculum is production based. In the fall the students will rehearse and perform the fall production and take the play to Virginia Theater Association's Middle School competition. Students will also study Shakespeare History, Stanislavski Acting Method, Playwriting (Students write and direct original one-act plays), Stage Makeup, Stage Combat, Theater Marketing, and Acting for the Camera. Students must apply and be selected in order to participate in Advanced Theater Arts.

Students explore science as it relates to agriculture and develop an understanding of human relations, communication, the importance of agriculture to the economy, and key scientific terms related to the field of agriculture.  

Students continue to gain an appreciation for art, its history, aesthetics and criticism. Using a variety of art media and techniques, students will create and explore artistic expression. Students will explore art vocabulary, visual literacy and cultural art. 

Creative Writing explores different genres of writing, through both reading and writing, as well as the other necessary elements needed to improve writing and composition skills.  This course is designed with the goal of inspiring students to develop original pieces and ideas. Writing genres covered are autobiographies, family storytelling, fairy tales, fantasies, short stories, and journals.

Students will learn how to create, format, edit, and design a variety of word processing, desktop publishing, and slide presentations using Microsoft Office software. In addition, students will work to improve their touch typing skills and define/practice Workplace Readiness Skills.  

Students will explore technological systems through hands-on activities. The class will explore occupational areas for technology-oriented careers. In addition, students will learn about technological systems and their impact on humans. Topics included for discussion involve production, construction, and transportation with technological systems and improving life through biotechnology. 

Students will practice expressing themselves through creative dramatics, improvisations and role playing. In addition, students will also explore various theater arts such as program design, set building, lighting and creating props. Students will participate in a school theater production. 

Beginning Band is for students in their first year of playing an instrument. Activities include playing at the Winter and Spring Band Concerts. Students select from a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. We have fun learning to play an instrument and making music together! 

The Concert Band is generally made up of students who are in their second year of playing.  Concert Band students perform in both the Winter and Spring concerts.  They also have the opportunity to audition for honor bands throughout the year. Additional activities may include a Spring trip to Music in the Parks, participation in pep band, and other exciting performance opportunities. Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed Beginning Band.

Students will develop observation and accuracy skills as they progress through a variety of classroom assignments such as still life drawings, perspective drawings, portraiture, figure drawing, and landscape paintings.  A wide range of drawing and painting media may be used including: graphite, charcoal, pastels, oil pastels, colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic, and tempera paint.

French Part B
This foreign language course will introduce students to culture, elementary grammar, conversational skill development, and introductory reading and writing language. Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed French I Part A in 7th grade.  Completing both French I Part A and French I Part B will result in one high school credit for foreign language. 

French I
French I introduces students to the culture of countries that speak the language, elementary grammar, conversational skill development, and introductory reading and writing language. This elective is a high school credit course. 

Students will explore the importance of plant and animal agriculture, scientific principles, agricultural mechanics, natural resources management, and career opportunities related to agriculture, agriscience, and agribusiness. 

Lion Choir will consist of both 7th and 8th graders.  Students will sing a wide variety of music, and will focus on quality tone production, vowels, sight reading, and will be geared toward performances such as Music in the Parks, Veterans Day Celebration, and seasonal choral concerts. 

This is a year-long opportunity for students to mentor and work with kindergarten through fifth grade students at New Kent Elementary School. Students are paired with an elementary school teacher and assist with planning for and implementing various classroom activities. Although not a requirement, this is an excellent opportunity for students that have an interest in pursuing a career in education. Students must apply and be selected in order to participate in the Lion Helpers program. 

Students will focus on the process of collecting, writing, editing video-based news.  Students may participate in an on-going activity of creating a school-wide news program. Students will also have an opportunity to learn the craft of videotaping and digital editing. Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed Multimedia Journalism I in order to take Multimedia Journalism II.

Spanish Part B
This foreign language course will introduce students to culture, elementary grammar, conversational skill development, and introductory reading and writing language. Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed Spanish I Part A in 7th grade.  Completing both Spanish I Part A and Spanish I Part B will result in one high school credit for foreign language. 

Spanish I
Spanish I introduces students to the culture of countries that speak the language, elementary grammar, conversational skill development, and introductory reading and writing language.  This elective is a high school credit course. 

Symphonic Band is our most advanced Band course opportunity. This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Concert Band. Students who are excelling in Beginning Band may also audition for Symphonic Band. Additional activities for Symphonic Band students may include a Spring trip to Music in the Parks, participation in pep band, and other exciting performance opportunities. Students must audition and be selected in order to participate in Symphonic Band.

Vox Anima is an audition-only group, made up of both 7th and 8th graders.  Students will perform more challenging musical selections and will perform in front of multiple audiences, at events such as the Grand Illumination, seasonal Choir concerts, singing the National Anthem at school sporting events, and competing at District Assessment to represent the New Kent Middle School Choirs.  Students in Vox Anima may also be expected to attend after school rehearsals to prepare for their expanded performance opportunities and more challenging music.  Students must audition and be selected in order to participate in Vox Anima.

In this course, students will gain skills in one or more of the following areas: marketing, sales, page design, advanced publishing techniques, copywriting, editing and photography while producing a creative, innovative yearbook which records school memories and events. There is an emphasis on journalism skills in this class. Participants gain useful, real world skills in time management, marketing, teamwork, and design principles. Students must apply and be selected in order to take Yearbook Production.

This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to make good personal physical activity choices. Students will assess their present level of physical fitness, set realistic and appropriate goals and develop and manage a plan to reach those goals. Students will realize the benefits of developing their own unique exercise plan and be able to explain the relationship between sleep, exercise, nutrition, self-esteem, academic performance and avoidance of substance abuse to achieving and maintaining good physical fitness. 

Through classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory activities, students will explore the fields of agriculture, food, and natural resources, to include: global agriculture; new and emerging technologies; agricultural mechanics; and careers in agribusiness; animal systems; environmental services; food products and processing; natural resources systems; plant systems; and power, structural, and technical systems. Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed Introduction to Agriscience.