Band, Choir, and GATE are all yearlong courses. If you select a yearlong class you will be able to select two other semester long courses.

This class is for 6th grade beginning band students AND those 7th and/or 8th grade students who have not played an instrument before.  Students will learn to play an instrument from the beginning. There will be no percussionists in Beginning Band, if a student is interested in playing percussion s/he should choose a different instrument for 6th grade and then possibly switch in 7th/8th grade.

This class is for 7th/8th grade students who have played an instrument before. If Mr. Brown feels that a student is not ready for the rigor of Intermediate Band he will have the student go back to Beginning Band.

The Percussion Ensemble will consist of new and returning percussionists. It is open to 7th and 8th grade students who will play percussion pieces AND learn the percussion parts for the Intermediate Band pieces.

In the 6th grade choir, students will learn the basics of sight reading, performance behaviors and choral singing.  A variety of musical styles and periods are taught and performed. There are at least four evening performances in which students are required to participate as well as several more advanced activities.

This choir will be for 7th & 8th grade students who are currently taking private voice or piano lessons (documentation will need to be provided if I do not know the student) or have sung in elementary honor choirs or other choirs previous to joining Equus at CMS. We will continue to develop and learn about vocal techniques, health, music theory and vocabulary. We will also explore the history of choral music and it’s early beginnings. While part of this choir your student will possibly sing for various community events and travel to various festivals.

MUST be previously enrolled in GATE program

This class is geared towards students who are identified for the GATE program.  This course is designed to further enrich students in areas in which they have been identified as gifted and talented.

You may select up to four semester long course, UNLESS you have signed up for a yearlong elective class.

Art I (Semester): An introductory course, in which we will explore various artistic mediums and techniques. Students will demonstrate the elements and principles of design, describe historical and cultural art works, and discover various painting, drawing, and ceramic hand-building techniques.

Art II (Semester Long): An intermediate course, in which we will explore various artistic mediums and techniques. Students will incorporate the elements and principles of design, evaluate historical and cultural art works, and apply various painting, drawing, printmaking, and ceramic sculpture techniques.

Art III (Semester Long): An advanced course, in which students will choose to explore specific 2D/3D artistic mediums and techniques incorporating the elements/principles of design and art history references.

Computers Intro (Semester):  Computer students will learn the use of computers for projects, presentations and coding.  Students will also learn about Digital Citizenship.

A strong emphasis on developing and practicing Digital Citizenship and collaboration through feedback and editing.  Students will choose a course of focus from programming and robotics; 3D printing and software development; website creations in Weebly and Google, Music Creations; filming and  Adobe programs.

This is the first course in the Agricultural and Environmental Systems career field. It introduces students to the pathways that are offered in the Agricultural and Environmental Systems career field. Students will obtain fundamental knowledge and skills in animal science & management, soils science, and research in agriculture. Students will be introduced to the FFA organization and begin development of their leadership skills. Specific units to be taught include: soils science, team building/leadership through FFA, parliamentary law, supervised agricultural experiences development and record keeping, research in agriculture, animal sciences and livestock science, shop safety and wood construction. Students will be current on agricultural issues.

Guitar Intro (Semester):  This class is for those students who have not played guitar before OR have limited proficiency on the guitar.  This class will follow a guitar book curriculum with added playing opportunities.  Students will explore the basics of music theory with such topics as scales, triads, power chords, and fingering.

This class is for students who have successfully completed the Guitar Intro class OR have had experience playing the guitar in the past (there may be a playing ‘quiz’ to check if this class is appropriate for the student). Although there will be a curriculum to guide the class, there will be more individualized projects/playing.

Pathways to Tomorrow (CTE) (Semester):  Ready for high school? How about your first job?  In this class you will explore career paths that correspond to Cody High School’s career technical education programs (CTE). In this class, you will learn about money management, savings, resumes, and other personal finance topics. This course includes taking field trips to CHS to see these courses in action throughout the semester.

STEM I (Semester): Introduction to STEM- STEM I introduces students to four STEM topics: robotics, electricity and circuits, programmable controllers (Arduinos), and 3D design and printing with TinkerCAD. Sprinkled in with these topic areas are other STEM related activities and competitions - like learning how to count in binary, making your own capacitor and slow car competition.

STEM Focus Study (Semester): This year STEM Focus Study will be broken into two classes. Please sign up for STEM Focus Study and Mr. Conaway will determine which class you will fit into:

STEM II (**Prior completion of STEM I required) (Semester)- Advanced STEM- This class is only for students that have successfully completed STEM I. This course builds upon the introduction topics. Students will go further into depth with these topics: computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) using Fusion 360, the shop’s CNS equipment, and 3D printers; a robotics competition using either LEGO EV3 or VEX Cortex platforms; and manufacturing autonomous devices using our manufacturing tools alongside Arduinos and/or Raspberry Pis.

STEM III (**Prior completion of STEM II required) (Semester)- Makerspace- This class is only for students who have successfully completed  both STEM I and STEM II. Students will explore STEM through three ongoing projects. The first project will have students design and manufacture a product that incorporates CAD design, CAM manufacturing and automation. The second project will allow students to design and create a capstone passion project of their choice. The third project asks students to explore a STEM-related career.

Spanish Intro (Semester): Will offer language and cultural awareness to students that are taking foreign language for the first time.  They will learn the alphabet, numbers; identify objects, colors, greetings and goodbyes, and basic conversation tasks by learning and using verbs in Spanish. Students will also be exposed to different cultures within the Spanish world.

Students will review and expand on the alphabet, numbers; identifying objects, colors, greetings and goodbyes, family, house, and basic conversation tasks with verbs in Spanish. Students will also learn clothing, school supplies, school subjects, and telling time.

Students will review all the material covered in Spanish Intro and Spanish level B. In addition, students will learn vocabulary related to foods, shopping for food, restaurants,, sports, and travel. Students who complete all three levels of Spanish are eligible to take Spanish 2 at Cody High School and be eligible for the Hathaway scholarships.

Please let us know if you will be enrolling in any of our year long classes, which is Beginning Band, Singin' Colts (Beginning Choir), or GATE (Gifted and Talented Education).  You do not have to choose any of these classes, we just need to know this information to determine what other electives you will receive.