Beginning Band
Grades: 6-12 Length: Full Year
If students have never played an instrument, or are looking to learn a new instrument, this band is for them! All HS and MS students are welcome to join. Students learn the fundamentals of music making and music reading through performance of diverse repertoire, composition, and improvisation. Small group pull out lessons occur about 2 times per month for all Beginning Band members. There are 3 required concerts throughout the year. Band is a yearlong class and students must commit to it for the entire year. Come experience the magic of music making!
Symphonic Band
Grades: 6-12 Length: Full Year
This ensemble is for more advanced HS or MS players, or students with 2+ years of experience on their instrument. We begin to refine our individual skills and deepen our understanding of ensemble performance through challenging and diverse repertoire. Students continue to explore the fundamentals of music theory, improvisation, and composition. Small group pull out lessons will be required of middle school students only. There are 3 required concerts throughout the year. Symphonic Band Members also have the opportunity to participate in the TCA Pep Band at basketball and volleyball games throughout the season. Band is a yearlong class and students must commit to it for the entire year. Come flex your musical muscles!
Concert Band
Grades: 6-12 Length: Full Year
This is the top performing band at TCA, open to advanced HS or MS players with 2+ years of experience. Concert Band Members apply their skills to challenging and diverse repertoire. Students continue to explore the fundamentals of music theory, improvisation, and composition. Small group pull out lessons will be required of middle school students only. There are 3 required concerts throughout the year. Concert Band Members also have the opportunity to participate in the TCA Pep Band at basketball and volleyball games throughout the season. Band is a yearlong class and students must commit to it for the entire year. Come showcase your musical talent!
Orchestra
Grades: 6-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit)
If you are interested in learning (or already play) a stringed instrument like Violin, Viola, Cello or Bass, this is the course for you. Throughout this course, students will learn the basics of holding their instrument, using the bow, and fundamental rhythms and notes.
Media Studies
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
This elective is designed to introduce and develop media literacy. Media literacy is the ability to question, understand, interpret, analyze, and evaluate the content, intent, strategies, and effects of the mass media. Being media literate means that you control the interpretation of the media instead of it controlling you. Students become aware of principles, myths, and techniques in advertising, social media, news sources, magazines, television, movies and video games.
Science Fiction
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
The genre of science fiction explores potential and exciting technological and scientific advancements through literature. Some science fiction has even predicted technology we have today. In this class students will engage in research, analysis, and debate about the possibilities, accuracy, and implications of these futuristic tales.
As part of your elective rotation, all students will automatically take MS Art. There is no need to sign up for this course, it will be automatically assigned for you.
Acting MS
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
This is an introductory course on acting theory and practice. Students learn how to use their bodies, voices, and imaginations to become a strong, multifaceted character. Students act individually, in pairs, and in groups.
Life Skills
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
This course is designed to teach skills that will be needed outside of the classroom and after you graduate. There are a wide range of topics covered, including but not limited to: Money, investment, taxes, household tasks, budgeting, food, workplace skills, voting, applying to college, tool use, finding a job, and keeping a job.
As part of your elective rotation, all students will automatically take MS PE & Health. There is no need to sign up for this course, it will be automatically assigned for you.
MS Social-Emotional Wellness
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
Social and emotional wellness includes learning to be aware of and manage emotions, work well with others, and persevere when faced with challenges. This course introduces students to the topic of mental health and the ways in which they can implement coping strategies to manage their own challenging thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Cultural Studies
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
In this class, we do a deep dive into what culture is and what contributes to a culture. At first, we focus on the broad overview and look at specific ancient cultures from the past. Then we look at some key concepts in American culture such as race, poverty, gender, and environment. As a class, we look at the history of each, focusing specifically on America, and how that has resulted in what culture we have today. The last part of this course is identity. Students put together all they have learned and try to navigate where they think their identity lies within American culture.
Psychology MS
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
In this elective course be prepared to discover how the brain functions and why humans behave in different ways. We will cover a variety of topics such as different parts of the brain, human functioning such as sleeping, child development, feelings/emotions, motivational sciences, group behavior, and mental illness. In this course we will reflect on our own behavior, investigate case studies with examples of different behavior, and learn to better understand ourselves and those around us. Expect weekly journals reflecting about ourselves, short articles reading about the topic covered, and short projects to further advance our understanding of the topic. Topics in psychology will expand your knowledge on yourself and others, be prepared to think, and have an open mind.
STEM Engineering
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
If students like to solve problems, be creative and build things, then they want to sign up for Fundamentals of Engineering! In this semester long class, students are engineers and get the opportunity to design and build unique structures and solve interesting problems.
STEM Marine Biology
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
Learn about life in the ocean, human effects on the environment, evolution, biomes, and other life science concepts.
Dark Side of Science
Grades: 6-8 Length: One Semester
This course is designed to explore important aspects of science that are often overlooked due to being uncomfortable in nature. As a class, we will investigate disease and pandemics, explore how and why people die as well as what happens to us when we do. We will look at the differences between living people and dead people. We will also discuss the importance of scientific oversight, ethics, and informed consent by understand the harm that can be caused by not doing so.
Spanish IA
Grades: 6-7 Length: Full Year
Spanish IA is a fun and interactive beginning level course suitable for students with little to no Spanish experience. Students learn to understand basic written and spoken Spanish by focusing on frequently used structures and grammar patterns in the target language. Students build confidence and fluency through a variety of activities including storytelling, songs, and cultural readings.
Spanish IB
Grades: 6-8 Length: Full Year Prerequisite: Spanish IA
Spanish IB is designed to build upon and reinforce vocabulary and grammar structures learned in IA. Students continue to develop their proficiency in the target language through a variety of communicative activities. Students are expected to employ strategies learned in IA in order to comprehend written and spoken Spanish with increasing independence.
Spanish II
Grades: 6-8 Length: Full Year Prerequisite: Spanish IA & IB
Spanish II is designed to build upon and reinforce vocabulary and grammar structures learned in Spanish IA and IB. Students continue to develop their proficiency in the target language through a variety of communicative activities – while the focus on the class is still comprehension of language, more output (speaking and writing) is introduced in Spanish II. Students should be comfortable communicating in present tense, and will become more comfortable understanding past tense language.
Spanish III
Grades: 6-8 Length: Full Year Prerequisite: Spanish II
Spanish III is designed to build upon the foundation of language built in the students’ first 2+ years. Students continue to develop their proficiency in the target language through a variety of communicative activities – there is a greater expectation of speaking and writing in Spanish. Students read novels, tell stories, and work with various language tenses.
French I
Grades: 6-8 Length: Full Year
Students practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French, with the understanding that they are likely to be able to understand more than they are able to produce. By the end of the course, students are able to read/listen at or above the Intermediate Low level and speak/write at or above the Novice High level. Themes include introducing yourself, school, friends, family, weather and geography, daily routines, clothing, food, and stories.