MIDDLE SCHOOL FEBRUARY FOCUS WEEK

The theater course will practice and perform a complete play. Along the way, students will learn about vocal projection, staging, character role play, and working with props and costumes. The week will culminate in a performance for our school community. If you enjoy acting and making stories come alive, then theater is the group for you!

Using everyday materials, specialty paints, and hand tools, students will dive into techniques and media they may not otherwise use in a school art class. We will begin by choosing projects from a menu of ideas with prepared samples and written instructions. As work progresses, new ideas are frequently spawned for how to use the materials to create unique decorative, useful, or wearable projects. Experimentation and curiosity strongly encouraged!

Wrestling is an ancient sport with deep classical roots. In classical Greece and Rome, it was a foundational part of training and education. Plato himself was renowned for his skill as a wrestler. In this course, we'll explore the ancient origins of wrestling while also focusing on fundamental techniques of the sport, with special emphasis on the physical conditioning required to endure a wrestling match. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in live wrestling practice to develop their skills. This course will be physically demanding and will require a change into athletic clothing.

Are you interested in computer hardware? During this module we’ll take a look at practical aspects of electronics and technology. Through a series of exploratory exercises (taking things apart) students will be introduced to component level computer hardware with the aim of learning how to work with, upgrade, and replace/fix hardware. Planned exercises include disassembling a hard drive, taking apart a computer and identifying parts, introduction to basic soldering techniques, removing components from circuit boards, disassembling a laptop, and working with commercial server hardware.

This course will teach students about history through the painting of miniature soldiers. Students will paint realistic 28mm-scale miniatures while learning about the historical periods they represent by examining dress, weapons, and tactics. Students will also recreate a battle by making use of the miniature soldiers they have painted. This year, we will be studying World War II.

Learn the basics of 3D modeling and additive manufacturing as you design and print your own project(s). This hands-on course requires creativity, problem-solving, and patience. Students will use beginner-friendly CAD software to create functional designs while exploring fundamental principles of physical and practical design.

In addition to printing their own creations, students will see real-world applications during a visit to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ, where they will observe additive manufacturing in action and discover how 3D printing supports modern aircraft systems.

This course will introduce students to the basics of writing a compelling short story, including character development, plot pacing, imagery, tone, and more. The course will cover a variety of genres of short stories, spanning from classics by Arthur Conan Doyle and Ray Bradbury to modern selections by Amy Tan. We will spend significant time in one-on-one sessions, polishing the work into a complete short story.

Do you like building crazy machines? Do you like playing active games? Then the Rube Goldberg / Fun and Games class is for you! Half of each day you will get to bring in any materials you want to build your own Rube Goldberg machine. The other half of the day you will learn about, and play a new team game every day (Ultimate Frisbee, Team Handball, Flag Football, Capture the Flag).