General Electives

Freshmen Success (9th Grade Success) is a required course that helps ninth graders develop connections to their new school and community. The goal is for freshmen to connect in a personal way through positive relationships with other students and school staff. Students develop their skills to contribute to school culture, find ways to get involved at school through academics and extracurricular activities, develop academic skills, progress toward graduation and a viable post-secondary plan.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: 0-1 hours

Introduction to Leadership - ELE104

Introduction to Leadership is for ninth and tenth graders who are current class officers or who want to be active in leadership in future years. It is recommended for aspiring Bear Crew leaders, Leadership Retreat leaders, class officers, club officers, sports captains and students who plan to enroll in the upperclassman Leadership Class. Students explore personal character development and learn various concepts of leadership by inclusion, inspiration and example. There is not much traditional homework, but there are community service requirements, helping to put on and clean up after events like homecoming, assemblies, service projects, etc. 

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-10 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: None

Bridge to Leadership - ELE114

This course follows Intro to Leadership in the Leadership course progression. 10th graders who have taken Intro and would like to continue with Leadership are encouraged to take Bridge to Leadership. This course builds on the foundational learning from Intro to Leadership, will work closely with Bear Crew supporting school culture, and bridging the skills needed for Advanced Leadership. Future Ready Skills embedded in this course are being a Collaborative Teammate, an Effective Communicator, and a Community Contributor. Coursework will include team building, project planning/work in and outside of class, and improving communication skills. Students in this course are expected to promote and support a positive school culture that aligns with the Tahoma Way. 

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 10-11 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: 0-4 hours

Leadership 1 - ELE250/251

Leadership 1 is a full-year course helping students to grow and develop leadership skills. The course focuses on individual and group processes such as membership, service, goal-setting and facilitation. The class also gives students the opportunity to enhance their skills in public speaking, problem-solving, decision-making and project management. Participation inside and outside of class is essential. Reflection on class activities and the effect they have had on the student is a regular part of the class. Evaluation is based on participation, personal growth, involvement in student activities and projects turned in. This course is repeatable for credit.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 11-12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Leadership Application from Registration Website

Homework hours per week: 5-20+ during busy periods such as Homecoming hours

Stagecraft - ELE107

Stagecraft is a semester-long course that includes a brief history of theatrical stages and operations. Students learn the functions of the creative team, production staff, technicians and stage crew. Basic elements of scenic construction, design, theatrical lighting, sound technologies and stage management are introduced and assessed through practical application. This course is repeatable for credit.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: None - course enrollment requires some hours of support for events happening in the THS PAC. Events occur after school hours and on weekends. Please talk with the instructor early in course you have a barrier to participation in after school hour events.

Advanced Stagecraft - ELE117

Advanced stagecraft is a semester-long course that includes learning the process for set design, lighting design, sound design and prop design. We will examine a script for design elements and create a set model, lighting cues, sound cues/effects and props for a show. Students will be assessed through practical application. This course is repeatable for credit.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Stagecraft Homework hours per week: 2 hours +  course enrollment requires some hours of support for events happening in the THS PAC. Events occur after school hours and on weekends. Please talk with the instructor early in course you have a barrier to participation in after school hour events. 

SAT and ACT Preparation Course - ELE304

SAT and ACT Preparation Course prepares students to take the SAT and ACT exam for college entrance by performing a diagnostic exam; identifying areas of weakness; and providing practice for both Math and Verbal portions of the exam, including the optional essay. Students learn test-taking and knowledge-building strategies for the skills applicable to the SAT.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 11 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: None

Freshman Connections - ELE159/160

Freshman Connections is a general education class designed to support students' development of decision making, communication and goal setting skills through full class lessons, regular one on one mentor meetings and additional exploration of career pathways for their post-secondary plan. The class will focus on supporting students in getting familiar with the structures of our school, connecting to adults in the building and learning how to access the support we have in place for the students to be successful. Connections classes will benefit from partnerships between instructional teams and specialists in the building tasked with supporting students. Daily lessons will be supported through guest lessons delivered by: Administration, Student Wellness Advocates, Future Ready Specialists, Alpha School Counselors and Guest Speakers.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 9 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Placement by School Staff Homework hours per week: 0.5-1 hours

Sophomore Connections - ELE259/260

Sophomore Connections is designed to be the same thing as Freshmen Connections for students. Sophomores will be supported in further development of decision making, communication and goal setting skills through full class lessons, regular one on one mentor meetings and additional exploration of career pathways for their post-secondary plan. Sophomore Connections provides additional support in showing students how to apply the HS Diploma graduation requirements to their four year plan and how their plan is impacted by the decisions they make related to attendance, behavior and grades. Some students in this class may access APEX online learning credit retrieval in semester two if they fell behind in credits their 9th grade year. Connections classes will benefit from partnerships between instructional teams and specialists in the building tasked with supporting students. Daily lessons will be supported through guest lessons delivered by: Administration, Student Wellness Advocates, Future Ready Specialists, Alpha School Counselors and Guest Speakers. Connections classes may also travel offsite for field trip experiences to support curriculum goals. 

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 10 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Placement by School Staff Homework hours per week: 0.5-1 hours

Junior Connections - ELE359/360

Junior Connections provides support in further development of decision making, communication and goal setting skills through full class lessons, regular one on one mentor meetings and additional exploration of career pathways for their post-secondary plan. Junior Connections provides additional support in showing students how to apply the HS Diploma graduation requirements to their four year plan and how their plan is impacted by the decisions they make related to attendance, behavior and grades. Students in this class will access APEX online learning credit retrieval all year to address the deficit of credits they may have from past academic behaviors. Connections classes will benefit from partnerships between instructional teams and specialists in the building tasked with supporting students. Daily lessons will be supported through guest lessons delivered by: Administration, Student Wellness Advocates, Future Ready Specialists, Alpha School Counselors and Guest Speakers. Connections classes may also travel offsite for field trip experiences to support curriculum goals. 

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 11 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Placement by School Staff Homework hours per week: 0.5-1 hours

Senior Connections - ELE459/460

Senior Connections provides support in further development of decision making, communication and goal setting skills through full class lessons, regular one on one mentor meetings and additional exploration of career pathways for their post-secondary plan. Senior Connections provides additional support in showing students how to apply the HS Diploma graduation requirements to their post high school plan and how to revise their plans when things are impacted by the decisions they make related to attendance, behavior and grades. Students in this class will access APEX online learning credit retrieval all year to address the deficit of credits they may have from past academic behaviors. Connections classes will benefit from partnerships between instructional teams and specialists in the building tasked with supporting students. Daily lessons will be supported through guest lessons delivered by: Administration, Student Wellness Advocates, Future Ready Specialists, Alpha School Counselors and Guest Speakers. Connections classes may also travel offsite for field trip experiences to support curriculum goals. 

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Placement by School Staff Homework hours per week: 0.5-1 hours

ELD 1 - ELD251/252

English Language Development (ELD) 1 is a two-semester course designed for multilingual learners who are just starting their English language journey. Students will learn basic vocabulary, grammar, and everyday language to build a foundation in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This class aims to build students' confidence and language skills at their proficiency level. This course is repeatable for credit.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: WIDA screener/ACCESS and ELD Teacher Recommendation      

Homework hours per week: 0 hours

ELD 2 - ELD253/254

English Language Development (ELD) 2 is a two-semester course to support multilingual learners' development of academic writing skills, reading comprehension, and discussion skills. This course emphasizes academic vocabulary development to support students' understanding of concepts and communication of ideas across various subjects. This course is repeatable for credit.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 10-12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: WIDA screener/ACCESS and ELD Teacher Recommendation      

Homework hours per week: 0 hours

New Visions - ELV450/451

New Visions is available as a scheduled class for students in need of credit retrieval. Students needing to make up credits will be placed in this course by their school counselor. This class offers semester credits and retrieval credits for work completed. When students complete their assigned independent study they receive their credit. As a result, students may earn more than one half credit per semester in this class. Motivation and effort are essential for success. This course is repeatable for credit.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 10-12 Credit: Elective Prerequisites: Permission of Counseling Department Homework hours per week: 2-3 hours

Puget Sound Skills Center - PSC300/301

Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) is an off-campus vocational experience. Students must be in grades 11 and 12 and have appropriate credits.  Students attend morning classes at THS and the Tahoma School District provides transportation for students enrolled in the afternoon session; however, return transportation back to THS may not be in time to catch buses departing from THS. Students that attend PSSC earn less credits than the normal 8.0 credits per year. There are several PSSC programs available. A full listing can be accessed online at https://pssc.highlineschools.org/ 

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 11-12 Credit: CTE Prerequisites: Application Acceptance by PSSC - cleared by school staff

Homework hours per week: None

Teacher Assistant - TAS300