Electives

Visual Art is available to all grade levels. Art students will both begin and continue to broaden their understanding and experiences of visual expression. Students will be given opportunities to extend previous learning and deepen art knowledge by exploring a wide variety of media, expressing personal ideas, collaborating on group projects and relating art to social, historical and political ideas. Art as a means of self-expression will be of primary focus. Students will be encouraged to create expressive pieces through experimentation and individual and group problem solving. Curriculum will explore both the seven elements of art and the seven principles of design. Two and three-dimensional media will be studied including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and clay.

Band

Sixth Grade Band is a beginning level class that focuses on enjoyment of playing a musical instrument in ensemble. Students perform in the Winter and Spring Concerts. New students with no musical experience are always welcome.

Seventh Grade Band continues where sixth grade leaves off, offering a higher level of music literature to be learned, increase in playing range on instrument, and development of skills. Students perform in the Winter and Spring Concerts and the annual Apple Blossom Parade. New students with no musical experience are always welcome.

Eighth Grade Band expands student-playing opportunities.  Highlights of the year include the annual Music in the Park Festival and award ceremony. Students perform in the Winter and Spring Concerts and are the leaders of the marching band in the annual Apple Blossom Parade.

For all grades, Twin Hills can provide musical instruments if needed.

Choir

Sixth Grade Choir is a beginning level class that focuses on learning to sing in a group.  Students develop listening skills and are introduced to singing in parts. Students have several opportunities to perform, including the Winter and Spring Concerts.  No experience necessary. This is a fun, social class, and there is no homework.

Seventh Grade Choir focuses on developing students’ ability to sing in parts and increase singing range.  Students have the opportunity to sing in small groups and solo.  Highlights include our Winter and Spring Concerts, featuring a performance with the 8th grade choir. New students are always welcome.  

Eighth Grade Choir expands the level of performance, including a higher grade of music literature, and more opportunities to perform. Highlights include our Winter and Spring Concerts, and performances for the Apple Blossom Elementary students.  New students always welcome.                                                                                        

Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts is offered for 7th and 8th grade students. In this class students learn about the science of food, an understanding of diet, nutrition, kitchen safety, the properties of various ingredients and how they are used, and the chemistry of cooking. They also learn about the history and development of cooking, and of course, culinary techniques and how to build and follow a recipe.

Video Production

Video Production class teaches the art and technical skills needed to create videos: story structure, visual styles, advanced techniques - green screen, special effects and more. Using new equipment, students will learn how to frame and shoot matched action- cinema  style, and to tell their visual stories with dialogue and music using iMacs with industry standard Adobe Premiere Pro editing software, in a computer lab designed for video production.  All projects are viewed in class. Students working in small groups, will design project assignments and creating all steps in their video production process. Students will gain confidence and communication skills by creating videos, learning how to work with others in small groups and while gaining media literacy skills while creating their own projects, for themselves, for family, school, possible careers and more.

Yearbook

Yearbook Class focuses on the basics of design, layout, photography, publication, sales and journalism. By the end of the first few weeks, the yearbook staff members are expected to gain competence with the publishing program, confirm ad sales, and gain understanding of basic photography, writing, journalism and leadership values. Yearbook students are self motivated, detail oriented, and respect and understand the value of working as a team.  This class is only available to 8th grade students and is a year commitment.

Spanish

In conversational Spanish, we will cover a wide range of topics, focusing on Spanish vocabulary and basic grammar. The emphasis of this class is to get students speaking and enjoying Spanish and be better equipped to take Spanish in high school.  In class we will speak Spanish, learn to conjugate important verbs as well as many hands-on activities. 

Study Hall

Sixth Grade Study Hall offers extra time and guidance to track and complete assignments. Major goals are to facilitate improvement and success for each student. Practice to improve organization, time-management, and communication is provided. 

Seventh Grade Study Hall follows where sixth grade leaves off. It offers a quiet and productive environment, academic support, and practice of effective study habits. Students are encouraged to develop independence and initiative for communication with the teacher. 

Eighth Grade Study Hall also offers a quiet and productive environment, but expects students to develop their ability to work both independently and collaboratively, while showing initiative for communicating with teachers. Detailed assignment and homework calendar required.  

Study Hall is offered as a credit/no credit class.