Business Essentials

This is a core course designed to give students an overview of the business, marketing and finance career cluster occupations.  Students will develop an understanding of how academic skills in mathematics, economics, and written and oral communications are integral components of success in these occupations.  Students will examine current events to determine their impact on business and industry and legal and ethical behavior, acquire knowledge of safe and secure goals, and identify employability and personal skills needed to obtain a career and be successful in the workplace.  As students learn about different types of business ownership, they will interpret industry laws and regulations to ensure compliance, identify principles of business management, and analyze business practices to determine ethics and social responsibilities.  

Accounting

Accounting courses introduce and expand upon the fundamental accounting principles and procedures used in businesses.  Course content typically includes the full accounting cycle, payroll, taxes, debts, depreciation, ledger and journal techniques, and periodic adjustments.  Students may learn how to apply standards auditing principles and to prepare budgets and final records. Calculators, electronic spreadsheets, or other automated tools are usually used.  Advanced topics may include elementary principles of partnership and corporate accounting and the managerial uses of control systems and the accounting process.  

Personal Finance

Consumer Economics/Personal Finance courses provide students with an understanding of the concepts and principles involved in managing one’s personal finances. Topics may include savings and investing, credit, insurance, taxes and social security, spending patterns and budget planning, contracts, and consumer protection. These courses may also provide an overview of the American economy.

Art Department

Kay Stimatze

Art

Art I is a comprehensive course that provides students with the foundation knowledge and opportunity to explore different art media and to create individual works of art. This course may also provide an exploration of career opportunities in the art world. Initial course covers the language, materials, and processes of a particular art form and the design elements and principles supporting a work of art. Although the Art 1 course focuses on the introduction of different art forms and mediums, it will include the study of major artists, art movements and styles.   

Art II

Prerequisite: Art I with a C average along with teacher approval.  

Art II is a comprehensive course that continues the foundation skills built in the Art I course; with a greater emphasis on refining skills and students are encouraged to develop their own artistic styles. Students will typically work two-dimensionally with several media but with emphasis in the painting mediums. 

Advanced Art

Prerequisite: Art I and Art II with a C average along with teacher approval.  You cannot be in Advanced Art class independently during an Art 1 class unless you have an A average in Art II because you cannot work independently.  

Advanced Art is a course designed for students with a serious interest in art to refine their skill and create artistic works. The course typically emphasizes quality of work, and to offer students the opportunity to create art that reflects their personal style and talent using various mediums. 

Graphic Design

Graphic Design Fundamentals is an introductory course designed to expose students to the areas of Graphic Design using Photoshop. This course will help students examine the various areas in design and visual arts and allow students to develop, nurture and strengthen their creative and artistic talents. Students will be engaged in 2D and 3D fine art, typography, photo manipulation, magazine cover design and layout, digital photography, and portfolio development. This hands-on program will help students develop and strengthen their creative, communication, research, problem-solving and conceptualization skills.

Music Department

Preston Thomas

Band

This course is designed to give the student an enriching and diverse instrumental music education. This class provides a number of performance opportunities for the student in a variety of settings. The daily objective of the course is to foster and promote musical growth through the playing of an instrument by the student. As a member of the band program, group effort and cooperation is necessary to a successful program. Band is a skilled effort in which each student is expected to show technical and musical growth throughout this course.

Choir

The Choral program is designed to enhance the musical, creative and expressive qualities of all students.  Musical opportunities are provided for every child to learn the basic skills of singing and reading music, developing song repertoire, broadening listening skills, and experiencing the interrelated nature of music with other cultures and content areas. Students will continue to develop an understanding and appreciation of the differences in music from other cultures and the connections music brings to people, places and time.  The topics in this class will provide a strong basis for the continuation of their music skills as the student continues on their path to becoming a life-long participant of music

Spanish I

Designed to introduce students to Spanish language and culture, Spanish I courses emphasize basic grammar and syntax, simple vocabulary, and the spoken accent so that students can read, write, speak, and understand the language at a basic level within predictable areas of need, using customary courtesies and conventions.  Spanish culture is introduced through the art, literature, customs, and history of Spanish-speaking people. 

Spanish II

Spanish II courses build upon skills developed in Spanish I, extending students’ ability to understand and express themselves in Spanish and increasing their vocabulary.  Typically, students learn how to engage in discourse for informative or social purposes, write expressions or passages that show understanding of sentence construction and the rules of grammar, and comprehend the language when spoken slowly.  Students usually explore the customs, history, and art forms of Spanish-speaking people to deepen their understanding of the cultur

Spanish III

Students are only able to enroll in Spanish III after completing both Spanish I and II and with teacher approval.

Computer Applications

In Computer Applications courses, students acquire knowledge of and experience in the proper and efficient use of previously written software packages. These courses explore a wide range of applications, including (but not limited to) word-processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and database programs, and they may also cover the use of electronic mail and desktop publishing.

CAD

Drafting-General Courses, usually offered as a sequence of courses, introduce students to the technical craft of drawing illustrations to represent and/or analyze design specifications and then refine the skills necessary for this craft.  Drafting-General courses use exercises from a variety of applications to provide students with the knowledge and experience to develop the ability to perform freehand sketching, lettering, geometric construction, and multiview projections and to produce various types of drawings.  Computer-aided drafting (CAD) systems are typically introduced and used to fulfill course objectives. 

CAD II

Drafting-Architectural courses introduce students to and help them refine the technical craft of drawing illustrations to represent and/or analyze design specifications, using examples drawn from architectural applications.  These courses are intended to help students develop general drafting skills, but place a particular emphasis on interior and exterior residential (and light commercial) design, site orientation, floor plans, electrical plans, design sketches, and presentation drawings.  In addition, students may prepare scale models.  

CAD III

Drafting-Architectural courses introduce students to and help them refine the technical craft of drawing illustrations to represent and/or analyze design specifications, using examples drawn from architectural applications.  These courses are intended to help students develop general drafting skills, but place a particular emphasis on interior and exterior residential (and light commercial) design, site orientation, floor plans, electrical plans, design sketches, and presentation drawings.  In addition, students may prepare scale models.  

CAD IV

Drafting-Independent Study courses, often conducted with instructors as mentors, enable students to explore drafting-related topics of interest.  Independent Study courses may serve as an opportunity for students to expand their expertise in a particular application, to explore a topic in greater detail, or to develop more advanced skills. 

Principles of Technology I

Principles of Technology courses focus on the study of the forces and laws of nature and their application to modern technology.  Equilibrium, motion, momentum, energy conversion, electromagnetism, and optical phenomena are presented in the context of current, real-world applications.  Demonstrations, math labs, and applied laboratory experiments are an integral part if the Principles of Technology curriculum. These courses enable students to gain a solid foundation for careers in electronics, robotics, telecommunications, and other technological fields.  

Cabinetmaking

Woodworking courses introduce students to the various kinds of woods used in industry and offer experience in using selected woodworking tools.  Students design and construct one or more projects and may prepare a bill of materials. Correct and safe use of tools and equipment is emphasized.  As students advance, they focus on learning the terminology necessary to use power tools successfully, developing skills to safely use these tools in the workshop and becoming familiar with various kinds of wood-finishing materials.  Advanced students typically design a project, prepare bills of materials, construct, and finish proposed projects.

Residential Maintenance

This class will split into three - 6 week rotations including electricity, automotive and small engines, and basic home maintenance. Some of the concepts taught during this class will include electricity safety switches, tire changes, automotive repairs, drywall, plumbing, painting, roofing, laundry, and sewing. This class will be a pass/fail class. You must have an 80% participation.

Residential Construction

The construction class will be an introduction course to house and building construction layout and building as well as remodeling. The class could cover contents like dirt work and landscaping, concrete, building materials, wall layout, roof layout and covering, drywall and wall coverings, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. If it is possible a project will be worked on during this time.

Introduction to Agriscience

Introduction to Agriculture courses survey a wide array of topics within the agricultural industry, exposing students to the many and varied types of agriculture and livestock career opportunities and to those in related fields (such as natural resources).  These courses serve to introduce students to the agriculture field, providing them an opportunity to identify an area for continued study of to determine that their interest lies elsewhere. They often focus on developing communication skills, business principles, and leadership skills. 

Welding

Agriculture Welding courses provide students with the skills and knowledge that are specifically applicable to the tools and equipment used in the agricultural industry.  In learning to apply basic industrial knowledge and skills (engines, power, welding, and carpentry, among others), students may explore a broad range of topics, including the operation, mechanics, and care of farm tools and machines; the construction and repair of structures integral to farm operations; an introduction or review of electricity and power; and safety procedures.  

Advanced Welding

Agriculture Welding courses provide students with the skills and knowledge that are specifically applicable to the tools and equipment used in the agricultural industry.  In learning to apply further industrial knowledge and skills (engines, power, welding, and carpentry, among others), students may explore a broad range of topics, including the operation, mechanics, and care of farm tools and machines; the construction and repair of structures integral to farm operations; an introduction or review of electricity and power; and safety procedures.   

Natural Resource Management

Natural Resource Management courses combine the fields of ecology and conservation with planning for the efficient use and preservation of land, water, wildlife, and forests.  Within the general area of natural resources management, these courses usually cover specific topics and uses, such as hunting or fishing preserves, forest production and management, wildlife preservation, and human outdoor recreation.

Ag Food Science

Food Product Processing courses impart the knowledge and skills needed to produce and manufacture food products for the consumer market.  These courses focus on food products while covering a variety of topics, such as quality selection and preservation, equipment care and sanitation, government regulations, marketing, consumer trends, and product research and development.

Horticulture

This course is designed for students that would like to learn about plant propagation.  It will take place in the 12 x 24 greenhouse and classroom.  The student will be graded on material and also graded on participation and experiments. Students will learn about greenhouse operation, personal safety, plant taxonomy, soils, media, fertility and propagation. They will be growing plants from seed, cuttings, grafting and layering.  The class will meet 3 times per week and taught by Mr. Bjostad and Mr. Stull.  

Drivers Education

Driver’s Education is a course designed to teach the fundamentals of driving. This includes knowledge of laws and rules related to theoperation of a vehicle and State guidelines that control licensure and operational requirements for owning and operating a vehicle in the State of Kansas. Topics to be covered will include, but are not limited to; Vehicle checksprior to driving, Traffic environments, Challenges to vehicle control, vehicular emergencies, Student driver readiness, Social pressures, Drinking and Driving, and Basic vehicle control. Students must pass all aspects of the class with an 80% and also complete the Behind the Wheel(Driving) portion at a satisfactory level. (Are they safe on the Road) Very Important Side Note ***Current State Law requires that a student must pass an approved Drivers Education Course to get a Restricted License at age 15, after holding a Learners Permit for a period of 365 days. Without DriversEducation students may get a Restricted License at age 16. Currently there is a $2.00 fee for paperwork from the State.

ACT Preps - Language Arts, Math, Reading