Electives

ASB Leadership is an elective class that is only offered to 8th graders first semester. About 30 students participate in Leadership and are committed to being helpful and spirited to make the school a better place for all the students attending Quimby.

ASB officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Historian) are automatically included in this elective class.

Leadership class holds many activities for our students. Spirit rallies, noontime activities, fundraisers, special events days, sports ticket sales, and dances are provided for all students in good standing.

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.

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!

Taking the idea of ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ writers will explore the connections between photography and art to capture moments and tell stories that in turn inspire a whole host of interpretations and responses. Background knowledge will be built around photography and other images to enable their inclusion in our work. Drawing on current events, history, and art writers will unpack context, make connections, discuss interpretations, and formulate responses that turn an image into a thousand words.

The world is an ever changing busy place full of headlines and hidden stories. Finding the time to process it all, manage the variety and quality of input, and respond is the work of a lifetime. Poetry, spoken word, protest music, petitions, letters, stories, films, and other media are all outlets to express ourselves as well as enter the dialogue of our world. Your work can be a part of changing headlines to be more representative or it can help to bring hidden stories that should be more known to light. Open mic night has room on the stage for the many ways you might respond to our world.

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 workshop with us.

Students will design and create the Quimby Oak Middle School yearbook. Course topics will include principles of creating content, publishing, editing, editorials, production, marketing problems, distribution methods, and impact of content within the Quimby and Evergreen communities. Students will also develop leadership and social skills needed to work in a highly collaborative classroom environment.

*yearlong elective

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 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.

Students will learn dance routines, steps, and movements set to hip-hop music. There is no experience necessary to participate in this course, just an interest in dance and a love of hip-hop music! The class is differentiated into two levels of choreography so that beginning and experienced dancers can participate together! The goal of the course is to use the power of dance to build endurance and cardiovascular fitness.

Do you have a love for volleyball? This course is designed around building the techniques, skills, and strategies to increase success on the court and at the net! Students will participate in scrimmages and volleyball tournaments. The goal is to increase knowledge about the game and the overall skills to be a confident competitor. No experience required, just a passion for having fun and a drive to learn more about volleyball as a sport!

This class is intended to teach students how to use “free weights” and weight machines correctly to enhance strength, physical fitness, decrease body fat, increase lean muscle mass and mental discipline through weight training. This course is designed for students who wish to learn about this area of fitness. It will also help all students to gain a better understanding of equipment used in order to become more knowledgeable and safer in a weight room and gym type setting. Experience isn’t required.

Through a series of app design challenges, you will learn how to better understand the needs of users while developing solutions to real world problems. You will work in groups to create apps and physical prototypes of your solutions.

Engineering projects include:

• Prototype, develop, and test a solution to a real world problem.

• Participate in a design challenge that utilizes the same hardware inputs and outputs that you see in smart devices, looking at how a simple rough prototype can lead to a finished product.

• Students will be using Adafruit’s Circuit Playground to build the prototypes. It reacts to light, sound, or temperature and acts like a simple smart device.

In Coding 1, students create their own video games, web pages, and interactive greeting cards. This class is for beginners with little or no experience with coding. In fact, 75% of the students in our Fall 2022 class had little or no prior experience with coding. Throughout the semester they learn basic programming concepts using Javascript, HTML, and CSS. Each student chose the piece or work they were proudest of, and we are happy to share it with you here: Coding 1 Fall 2022

Do you love programming? Join us and expand your skills! Topics may include AI & Machine Learning, Circuit Board Design, and Python Programming. This class is for students who have taken Coding 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.

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 been auditioned or met the requirements from previous enrollment based on teacher recommendation. This ensemble travels for local music festivals and receives consistent 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 GarageBand. No music experience necessary.

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. Music experience is suggested. This is a semester-long, technology based music class with an emphasis in PBL and individual creative projects using GarageBand, SoundTrap, and more.

Current interests in literature, music, arts, and entertainment provide a wealth of influences on each of us. In turn where we place our interests, time, and money impacts the world around us as those interests are shared, improved upon and expanded. This course will focus on project work that examines the intersections of creative writing, the arts, and culture (popular and historical).

ASB Leadership is an elective class that is only offered to 8th graders first semester. About 30 students participate in Leadership and are committed to being helpful and spirited to make the school a better place for all the students attending Quimby.

ASB officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Historian) are automatically included in this elective class.

Leadership class holds many activities for our students. Spirit rallies, noontime activities, fundraisers, special events days, sports ticket sales, and dances are provided for all students in good standing.

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.

Students will design and create the Quimby Oak Middle School yearbook. Course topics will include principles of creating content, publishing, editing, editorials, production, marketing problems, distribution methods, and impact of content within the Quimby and Evergreen communities. Students will also develop leadership and social skills needed to work in a highly collaborative classroom environment.

*yearlong elective

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 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.

Through a series of app design challenges, you will learn how to better understand the needs of users while developing solutions to real world problems. You will work in groups to create apps and physical prototypes of your solutions.

Engineering projects include:

• Prototype, develop, and test a solution to a real world problem.

• Participate in a design challenge that utilizes the same hardware inputs and outputs that you see in smart devices, looking at how a simple rough prototype can lead to a finished product.

• Students will be using Adafruit’s Circuit Playground to build the prototypes. It reacts to light, sound, or temperature and acts like a simple smart device.

Create your own video game and web page! This class is for beginners with little or no experience with coding. We will learn basic programming concepts using Javascript, HTML, and CSS.

Do you love programming? Join us and expand your skills! Topics may include AI & Machine Learning, Circuit Board Design, and Python Programming. This class is for students who have taken Coding 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.

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 been auditioned or met the requirements from previous enrollment based on teacher recommendation. This ensemble travels for local music festivals and receives consistent 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 impact of content within the LSI community. Students will also develop leadership and social skills needed to work in a highly collaborative classroom environment.