Choral Music I
½ Credit – 2 Semesters
Required course for 9th grade
Choral Music II
½ Credit – 2 Semesters
Required course for 10th grade
These courses consist of group singing of a variety of styles in choral literature. Students audition to determine voice placement of Soprano I, Soprano II or Alto. The student is first introduced to the basic concepts of music and vocal production, in order to assist in choral performance. To receive credit for the course, the student is required to participate fully in rehearsals, and she must perform in both the Christmas and Spring Concerts.
The student is required to wear a black skirt at knee length or longer, a white dress shirt and black dress shoes for the concerts. A fee is charged to the student for choral music and other needs.
Tower Chorus
½ Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective course for 11th & 12th grades
Prerequisite: Audition or Participated in Choral Music I and II.
Tower Chorus is a chorus for juniors and seniors. A member is required to maintain a standard of excellence in performances. Performances are varied, such as school concerts and functions, and various types of community functions. Students are expected to grasp the concepts needed to perform according to the standards of excellence in music for which she will be periodically tested. This chorus meets during the school day. Members are required to pay a fee to cover music and other needs.
Academy Choir
Credit – None
Elective activity for 9th & 10th grades
Prerequisite: Audition and enrollment in Choral Music I and/or II.
Members will concentrate on increasing their musical knowledge and their singing abilities. Academy Choir will rehearse once a week after school for one hour. Students are required to attend regularly in order to maintain membership. Performances include the Christmas and Spring Concerts. The dress for this choir is the same as Choral Music I.
Prezettes
Credit – None
Elective activity for 10th, 11th & 12th grades
Prerequisite: Audition, currently enrolled in Choral Music II, or Tower Chorus
Prezettes is a select, auditioned group for sophomores, junior and seniors. A member is required to maintain a standard of excellence in performances. Performances are varied, such as school concerts and functions, KMEA Festival, and various types of community functions. Students are expected to grasp the concepts needed to perform according to the standards of excellence in music for which she will be periodically tested. Members are required to purchase a choral dress and black character shoes. This choir rehearses weekly after school for two hours.
Theatre Arts
½ Credit – 1 Semester
Elective for 10th, 11th & 12th grades
Prerequisite: English I
This course covers many of the aspects of theatre including performance, production, history, and analysis. Students will be able to do the following: understand and analyze dramatic texts and characters, detail important periods of Theatre history, understand elements of technical theatre (including design, practice, and theory), and explore aspects of acting. Students will be exposed to a number of sources in instruction including live performances, guest speakers, videos, active research, individual performances, and design work. Students will be asked to perform a number of activities including acting in a performance, designing a set for a play, watching and analyzing live theater, researching a period of theater history, and collaborating with other students in group activities.
Introduction to Art
1 Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective for 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
This course is a basic art class that introduces and reviews the elements and principles of art through the use of several different types of art media. Students explore the different sections of art offered at Presentation, which include: drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpture. Studio projects are designed to incorporate student-driven ideas and creativity as well as the elements and principles of art and/or art history. Other areas explored in this class include a small number of gallery critiques.
2D Art: Drawing/Painting
1 Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective for 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art or pass Portfolio Review; Art Teacher’s Signature
During the first semester, students enhance their technical skills in drawing by exploring different types of media, such as: pencil, charcoal, ink, pastels, etc. Students learn a variety of advanced and alternative methods in drawing as well. During the second semester, students enhance their technical skills in painting by exploring different types of media, such as: watercolor, acrylics, and oils. Students learn a variety of painting techniques during this course: glazing, impasto, and other blending styles. Advanced and alternative methods are also learned. All studio projects are designed to incorporate student-driven ideas and creativity as well as the elements and principles of art and/or art history. Other areas of advanced art are explored in this class, including gallery critiques, class and self critiques, and keeping an active sketchbook.
3D Art: Ceramics & Sculpture
1 Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective for 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art or pass Portfolio Review; Art Teacher’s Signature
During the first semester, students enhance their technical skills at hand-building and ceramic construction by exploring different types of three-dimensional forms as opposed to two-dimensional ones. Students explore clay as an art by learning how to control the clay through a variety of techniques, and advanced methods are also learned, along with the process of glazing and firing the kiln. During the second semester, students enhance their technical skills in sculpture by exploring different types of media, such as: wood, foam, found objects, paper, etc. Students learn a variety of advanced and alternative methods and techniques in addition to the basic modeling, carving, construction, and casting. Studio projects are designed to incorporate student-driven ideas and creativity as well as the elements and principles of art and/or art history. Other areas of advanced art are explored in this class, including gallery critiques, class and self critiques, and keeping an active sketchbook.
Computer & Communication Skills
½ Credit – 1 Semester
Required course for 9th grade
In this computer/communications course students get “hands-on” computer experience using Microsoft 2007. Students are taught to use and integrate data between Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Power Point presentations and Publisher. Students will also learn how to scan in documents, use a variety of search engines and manage images. The course will also cover the principles of active listening, conflict resolution, and public speaking. Speaking styles will include demonstration, persuasive, informative, and performance speeches.
Graphic Design &Web Design
1 Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective for 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
Prerequisite: Freshman Computer Skills
Students will use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop Elements software to create original pieces of commercial art, such as business stationery, book or CD covers, and restaurant menus. Students will also learn to create functional, professional-looking web pages and multi-page sites for a variety of audiences. Students will learn to use HTML code, as well as Macromedia Studio applications and in addition to technical skills, they will learn to use text, graphics and color effectively to convey meaning in their work.
Digital Photography
1 Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective for 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
Prerequisite: Freshman Computer Skills
In this course, students enhance their technical skills in digital photography by learning the basic principles regarding resolution, storage, file formats, photo composition, lighting, etc. Students learn a variety of photo-taking techniques during this course and will use Adobe Photoshop Elements software to manipulate images they have captured with digital cameras. Advanced and alternative methods are also learned. Studio projects are designed to incorporate student-driven ideas and creativity as well as the elements and principles of art and/or photo history. Other areas of advanced art are explored in this class, including gallery critiques, class and self critiques, and keeping an active camera through blog posts.
Yearbook
1 Credit – 2 Semesters
Elective course for 12th grade
Prerequisite: Student interview, Teacher signature
This course works to develop skills in copywriting, editing, layout, and design of the printed page. Awareness of lighting and focus in photography is developed. The student is expected to be involved in the planning and production of all phases of the yearbook, The Tower.
Portfolio Review Option (Placement Option)
Prerequisite: Passing Portfolio Review, Art teacher’s signature
Students who wish to take art at the advanced level (2D Art: Drawing/Painting or 3D” Ceramics/Sculpture) but have not yet taken Introduction to Art, may go through Portfolio Review. Students must submit a portfolio containing each of the above areas listed, 2-D work and 3-D work as well as give written critiques and/or descriptions about their work. Students who are interested must see the art teacher for a portfolio packet/checklist to complete and obtain the teacher’s signature for entrance into an advanced art class.