Electives

Quimby Leadership is an elective class that is primarily for 8th graders during the first semester and 7th graders can join during the second semester with teacher recommendation. About 40 students participate in Leadership and work with Lobo Leaders to become spirited agents to create a warm, inclusive, and familial climate for all Quimby Oak students.

Each year, there are ASB elections where 7th-grade students are elected to be ASB officers: president, vice president, secretary, historian, and treasurer.

Leadership class holds many activities for our students: spirit rallies, noontime activities, fundraisers, connection weeks, grams, special events days, and dances are provided for all students in good standing.

Semester 1: 8th Grade Only

Semester 2: 7th & 8th Grades

Lobo Leadership is an elective class offered for 7th graders during the first semester. It focuses on the relationships between students, their school, and their community. Students in leadership learn how to develop responsibility, initiative, creativity, and school pride. Students will plan, manage, and participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities such as noon events, assemblies, and dances.

This elective encourages positive student/faculty connections, teaches students about the internal administration of the school, and develops government and school community concepts. Students are taught how to identify community needs, select projects that are meaningful to them, apply practical skills, reflect on their learning experiences, and behave responsibly as a service provider.

Students will be empowered to be a positive influence in their community and at school by designing and conducting a service-learning project where they contribute to a greater good. Students wishing to take this elective must secure teacher and administrator approval. Students in this class must maintain good academic standing and model positive behavior.

Semester 1: 7th-grade only

Semester 2: 7th & 8th grade

Prepare yourself for the future by learning how to collaborate with others, improve your digital citizenship, and build your character by participating in a life simulation project. The goal of this course is to provide you with all the necessary life skills to help you to become a better citizen and individual. Successful students will learn coping skills, peer pressure resistance skills, and peaceful conflict resolution skills. All projects in this course are designed to prepare you for the real world!

This is a one semester class.

Students will learn how to use the elements of art and the principles of design. They will also learn about how art has evolved throughout history and explore multicultural arts. Students with little to no art background will develop a foundation in art such as drawing, painting, design, and technique. Culture and content awareness in the arts will be emphasized to develop a deeper understanding of the arts. Students will be exposed to problem-solving techniques and obstacles through a deliberate artistic process and purposeful application. Application of the creative process to develop portfolio-quality artwork.

This is a one semester class.

In this course writers will determine the parameters of the world that their characters are shaped by and work to solve their problems within. From real-world concerns to galaxies far, far away writers determine the scope of where your characters can and cannot go. Making use of a wide variety of technology, hands-on materials, games, challenges, and discussions writers will workshop toward a showcase of their creative products.

This is a one semester class.

Writers, can you keep us from spotting the answer to your mystery in a way that challenges and delights us? Can you navigate your protagonist from danger to mortal peril and back again keeping readers on the edge of their seats? If strong characters, dilemmas, red herrings, rabbit holes, atmosphere and foreshadowing interest you, then come work with us.

This is one semester class.

Almost half of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will require some background in STEAM. Innovation comes directly from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. With Art and Design added into the mix, this will transform our economy in the 21st century like science and technology changed the last. Science: utilize the scientific method to generate and explore lab experiments Technology: utilize technology to expand access to appropriate information and enhance communication Engineering: invent, construct, and refine solutions to various real-world problems Art: develop creative solutions to proposed problems and use various media to communicate understanding Math: functional math used in everyday science will be used regularly to aid in understanding the math application found in daily life.

This is a one semester class.

This isn’t your grandparents' Home Ec class - we’re “hacking” it to fit the needs of the 21st Century student! In this introductory class, students will be provided with new and engaging opportunities to build life skills needed to prepare them for their future. Students will learn skills in using cooking equipment and utensils safely, as well as basic food preparation skills. Through planning, preparing, and serving simple foods, students learn about nutrition, table setting, manners, and habits of orderliness. They will also be engaging in projects that include 21st Century life skills, finance, marketing, design, prototyping, language development, business, communications, and more. Developing pride in accomplishments and taking responsibility for specific jobs is emphasized and encouraged in this highly engaging and interactive, hands-on class.

This is a one semester class.

Create your own video game, web page, and interactive greeting card. Students will learn basic programming concepts using Javascript, HTML, and CSS. This class is for beginners. In fact, 77% of the students in our Fall 2023 class had little or no prior experience with coding. To get an idea of what you will be working on, you can see former student projects here: Coding 1 Fall 2022

This is a one semester class.

This class is for students who have taken Programming 1 or have equivalent experience in any programming language. Before taking this class, students should be comfortable with basic programming concepts, including variables and conditionals. Topics include Python, AI/Machine learning, and a circuit board design challenge.

This is a one semester class.

Symphonic Band is an intermediate/advanced level group and is for those 7th and 8th-grade students who have mastered their first method book or beyond. Students enrolled in this class have either auditioned or met the requirements from previous enrollment based on teacher recommendation. This ensemble travels for local music festivals and receives consistently high marks in festival performance, having received Unanimous Superior and Excellent ratings the past two years. The goal of this class is high school preparation, honing ensemble performance skills, and continued development of individual instrumental technique and musical knowledge. The ensemble performs in two concerts a year in addition to performing at many school functions, including Spirit Rallies, Elementary Visits, School Carnival, and more. Students are expected to engage in outreach and mentorship with our feeder elementary bands and community. Students in this ensemble may also wish to audition for California All-State and regional Honor groups.

*yearlong elective course

Concert Band is a beginning/intermediate level group, though no prior experience is necessary. New members join this band on a yearly basis with recent or no experience and leave seasoned and ready for the more advanced Symphonic Band. Membership is for 7th and 8th graders with a strong interest in learning a wind instrument, growing their performance skills, and learning more about music through the band curriculum. Students learn how to read music, play an instrument to an intermediate level, and perform in several concerts throughout the year. Students gain the performing ability necessary to play music at a level difficult enough for preparation and performance in school concerts and to audition into the Symphonic Band. The ensemble performs in our two big concerts, the big Elementary Concert in May, and other special events throughout the year.

*yearlong elective course

This is a semester-long, technology based music class with an emphasis in PBL and cross-curricular learning segments. Students learn the foundations of music and electronic music production in a creative and fun group environment, including: beginning music literacy skills, basic piano knowledge, and  an introduction to Digital Audio Workstations such as Soundtrap and/or Garageband. Stepping off where SBS 1 leaves off, students learn the foundations of recording sound and dive deeper into projects. While basic skills are revisited, this class aims to push student skills towards personal expression. This is a semester-long, technology based music class with an emphasis in PBL and individual creative projects using GarageBand, SoundTrap, and more.  No music experience necessary for this one semester elective class.

Are you ready to let your creativity shine and become a star on the stage? In this class, we're going to explore the exciting world of theater and stage performance. We'll start with the basics of acting on stage and gradually build acting skills and confidence. Throughout the semester, we'll dive into scripts to analyze characters and discover how to bring them to life through voice and movement. You'll have plenty of opportunities to practice scenes, monologues, improvisation, and role-playing.  You will work with the rest of the class to perform your scenes for an audience. This is a one semester elective class. Please note: This class is not offered in the 2025-2026 school year.

Not wanting to act on stage, but still interested in theater? In this class, you will get an introduction to the behind-the-scenes workings of a theatrical production. You will learn about the different design elements used in a theater, such as scenery, props, costumes, and more. You will explore how these elements work together to create a magical experience for the audience. Throughout the course, you will get to choose a theatrical production of your choice, analyze its script, and learn how to turn it into a production design plan. You will get to draw sketches, make paper models, and use your creativity to bring your ideas to life. Please note: This class is not offered in the 2025-2026 school year.

In this class, students do not need prior experience. Membership is for both 7th and 8th grade students, and we accept students at all levels and capabilities. Choir is for students who feel a strong desire to open themselves to new experiences while also learning to gain the confidence to sing in a group setting. This semester based class is expected to perform at school events/concerts, and will develop the skills of: reading sheet music, singing with proper form and posture, singing with Solfege, and blending within a group.

This class is offered as an option for any student interested in learning about music across a broad spectrum of topics. Students in this class will NOT be required to play an instrument. However, students may still end up learning the very basic foundations on how to perform, count, sing, or play an instrument.

In this class, students will learn about the following topics within music: music history, spanning both Western and non-Western timelines, musical composers, arrangers, and singers, different eras in modern music, film/video game music, music copyright and the influence/impact of AI in music, and musical form/analysis of music. 

This is a one semester class.

Do you think about money--how to earn it, how to spend it? This course will give you insight and financial intelligence about the relationship between you and your cash. You will explore units looking at career, education, and lifestyle; debt and prosperity; and run games and simulations that give you practice at handling money before you begin adulting. Financial literacy is a must, and this class will put you ahead of the curve. This is a one semester elective class.

Study Skills is a class in which students learn how to share information about themselves with classmates, get to know each other, find commonalities among classmates, and develop self-control while discovering coping skills. Topics typically covered include time management, outlining, note-taking, organization, active listening, research methods, and test-taking strategies. Students will engage in activities while working harmoniously with each other, apply their learning to new situations in and out of the classroom, and learn to advocate for themselves in preparation for the world beyond middle school. Participation in the class is by invitation only from school administration or teachers.

Quimby Leadership is an elective class that is primarily for 8th graders during the first semester and 7th graders can join during the second semester with teacher recommendation. About 40 students participate in Leadership and work with Lobo Leaders to become spirited agents to create a warm, inclusive, and familial climate for all Quimby Oak students.

Each year, there are ASB elections where 7th-grade students are elected to be ASB officers: president, vice president, secretary, historian, and treasurer.

Leadership class holds many activities for our students: spirit rallies, noontime activities, fundraisers, connection weeks, grams, special events days, and dances are provided for all students in good standing.

Semester 1: 8th Grade Only

Semester 2: 7th & 8th Grades

Lobo Leadership is an elective class offered for 7th graders during the first semester. It focuses on the relationships between students, their school, and their community. Students in leadership learn how to develop responsibility, initiative, creativity, and school pride. Students will plan, manage, and participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities such as noon events, assemblies, and dances.

This elective encourages positive student/faculty connections, teaches students about the internal administration of the school, and develops government and school community concepts. Students are taught how to identify community needs, select projects that are meaningful to them, apply practical skills, reflect on their learning experiences, and behave responsibly as a service provider.

Students will be empowered to be a positive influence in their community and at school by designing and conducting a service-learning project where they contribute to a greater good. Students wishing to take this elective must secure teacher and administrator approval. Students in this class must maintain good academic standing and model positive behavior.

Semester 1: 7th-grade only

Semester 2: 7th & 8th grade

Almost half of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will require some background in STEAM. Innovation comes directly from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. With Art and Design added into the mix, this will transform our economy in the 21st century like science and technology changed the last. Science: utilize the scientific method to generate and explore lab experiments Technology: utilize technology to expand access to appropriate information and enhance communication Engineering: invent, construct, and refine solutions to various real-world problems Art: develop creative solutions to proposed problems and use various media to communicate understanding Math: functional math used in everyday science will be used regularly to aid in understanding the math application found in daily life.

This is a one semester class.

This isn’t your grandparents' Home Ec class - we’re “hacking” it to fit the needs of the 21st Century student! In this introductory class, students will be provided with new and engaging opportunities to build life skills needed to prepare them for their future. Students will learn skills in using cooking equipment and utensils safely, as well as basic food preparation skills. Through planning, preparing, and serving simple foods, students learn about nutrition, table setting, manners, and habits of orderliness. They will also be engaging in projects that include 21st Century life skills, finance, marketing, design, prototyping, language development, business, communications, and more. Developing pride in accomplishments and taking responsibility for specific jobs is emphasized and encouraged in this highly engaging and interactive, hands-on class.

This is a one semester elective class.

Create your own video game, web page, and interactive greeting card. Students will learn basic programming concepts using Javascript, HTML, and CSS. This class is for beginners. In fact, 77% of the students in our Fall 2023 class had little or no prior experience with coding. To get an idea of what you will be working on, you can see former student projects here: Coding 1 Fall 2022

This is a one semester class.

This class is for students who have taken Programming 1 or have equivalent experience in any programming language. Before taking this class, students should be comfortable with basic programming concepts, including variables and conditionals. Topics include Python, AI/Machine learning, and a circuit board design challenge.

This is a one semester class.

Symphonic Band is an intermediate/advanced level group and is for those 7th and 8th-grade students who have mastered their first method book or beyond. Students enrolled in this class have either auditioned or met the requirements from previous enrollment based on teacher recommendation. This ensemble travels for local music festivals and receives consistently high marks in festival performance, having received Unanimous Superior and Excellent ratings the past two years. The goal of this class is high school preparation, honing ensemble performance skills, and continued development of individual instrumental technique and musical knowledge. The ensemble performs in two concerts a year in addition to performing at many school functions, including Spirit Rallies, Elementary Visits, School Carnival, and more. Students are expected to engage in outreach and mentorship with our feeder elementary bands and community. Students in this ensemble may also wish to audition for California All-State and regional Honor groups.

*yearlong elective course

Concert Band is a beginning/intermediate level group, though no prior experience is necessary. New members join this band on a yearly basis with recent or no experience and leave seasoned and ready for the more advanced Symphonic Band. Membership is for 7th and 8th graders with a strong interest in learning a wind instrument, growing their performance skills, and learning more about music through the band curriculum. Students learn how to read music, play an instrument to an intermediate level, and perform in several concerts throughout the year. Students gain the performing ability necessary to play music at a level difficult enough for preparation and performance in school concerts and to audition into the Symphonic Band. The ensemble performs in our two big concerts, the big Elementary Concert in May, and other special events throughout the year.

*yearlong elective course

Lighthouse focuses on the relationships between students, their school, and their community. Students will learn all about the New Tech Network and LSI’s five school-wide learning outcomes. Students will focus on activities that support LSI’s motto TRR: Trust, Respect, Responsibility. Students in Lighthouse learn how to develop responsibility, initiative, creativity, and school pride. Prepare yourself for the future by learning how to collaborate with others, improve your digital citizenship, and build your character by participating in a series of life simulation projects.

Students will design and create the LSI monthly newsletter and digital broadcast. Course topics will include principles of creating content, publishing, editing, editorials, production, marketing problems, distribution methods, and the impact of content within the LSI community. Students will also develop the leadership and social skills needed to work in a highly collaborative classroom environment.

This is a yearlong elective.

Lighthouse Crafting for a Cause is a one semester course where all projects require students to work on growing as a student and person as well as building up their community.  In our course we will be focusing on all aspects of crafting, such as crochet, knitting, embroidery, and other crafting skills. In Lighthouse, students will gain a deeper understanding of our LSI culture and will engage in projects that will help develop their personal growth as well as connections with teachers, peers, and community.

Study Skills is a class in which students learn how to share information about themselves with classmates, get to know each other, find commonalities among classmates, and develop self-control while discovering coping skills. Topics typically covered include time management, outlining, note-taking, organization, active listening, research methods, and test-taking strategies. Students will engage in activities while working harmoniously with each other, apply their learning to new situations in and out of the classroom, and learn to advocate for themselves in preparation for the world beyond middle school. Participation in the class is by invitation only from school administration or teachers.

Do you think about money--how to earn it, how to spend it? This course will give you insight and financial intelligence about the relationship between you and your cash. You will explore units looking at career, education, and lifestyle; debt and prosperity; and run games and simulations that give you practice at handling money before you begin adulting. Financial literacy is a must, and this class will put you ahead of the curve. This is a one semester elective class.

Are you ready to let your creativity shine and become a star on the stage? In this class, we're going to explore the exciting world of theater and stage performance. We'll start with the basics of acting on stage and gradually build acting skills and confidence. Throughout the semester, we'll dive into scripts to analyze characters and discover how to bring them to life through voice and movement. You'll have plenty of opportunities to practice scenes, monologues, improvisation, and role-playing.  You will work with the rest of the class to perform your scenes for an audience. This is a one semester elective class. Please note: This class is not offered in the 2025-2026 school year.

Not wanting to act on stage, but still interested in theater? In this class, you will get an introduction to the behind-the-scenes workings of a theatrical production. You will learn about the different design elements used in a theater, such as scenery, props, costumes, and more. You will explore how these elements work together to create a magical experience for the audience. Throughout the course, you will get to choose a theatrical production of your choice, analyze its script, and learn how to turn it into a production design plan. You will get to draw sketches, make paper models, and use your creativity to bring your ideas to life. Please note: This class is not offered in the 2025-2026 school year.