Electives

AVID stands for Achievement Via Individual Determination. The AVID elective targets 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in the academic middle who have the desire to go to college and the motivation to work hard. These are students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but may not realizing their full academic potential. AVID is a full-year class where students practice organizational and time management skills, work on critical thinking and questioning techniques, get academic guidance from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities all within a college bound framework. Academic performance, determination, and other qualifying factors make a student eligible for the AVID program. Usually, the AVID Coordinator will contact students and their families directly to participate in the program. Once accepted to AVID, students are encouraged to remain in the class throughout the duration of middle school.

Career Technical Education provides students with career-oriented experiences and opportunities to strengthen technology skills. 

Career Technical Electives

This dynamic elective creates a positive writing experience for students who love to write and are interested in exploring different types of creative writing. Students experiment with various literary forms such as personal narratives, long and short fiction, and poetry. This writer’s workshop gives students the opportunity to discuss and revise their writing in an atmosphere that is both fun and safe. The class is designed to build a community of writer’s who honor each other’s attempts to capture their world (and other worlds!) in words.

Prerequisite: Application with Recommendation Grade 8 Semester

The Leadership class is designed to provide students the opportunity to help create and organize student activities at Greene. Students will be expected to spend time beyond the class period and outside the school day to perform these activities.

Leadership students will analyze important leadership skills throughout the semester. Students will practice organization and planning skills as they work in committees and organize activities. They will examine group dynamics and gain skills in time and stress management, activity planning, public speaking, and self awareness.

Grades 7, 8 Semester

Students will learn about saving money, budgeting, and investing. Students will complete projects involving budgeting, currency, scams, credit, purchasing a car, insurance, taxes, career and college. Students will play the minimum wage game, participate in a bank simulation, take part in a state-wide stock market competition, complete comparison shopping activities and other finance-related projects. All assignments will be tracked and managed via spreadsheets. Most coursework will be completed during class.

Prerequisite: Completed Permission Slip Grades 7, 8 Semester

Students who choose the school service elective provide assistance for teachers and other school staff. This elective provides an initial experience in job skills. Students learn about the importance of confidentiality, following directions, public relations, and assisting others. They experience some of the duties and functions educators perform as they provide learning opportunities for students. Students may be placed in a variety of helping positions; i.e. library aide, tutor, attendance assistant, classroom assistant, student buddy, etc. Students may participate in this elective two semesters during 7th and 8th grades.

In Visual and Performing Arts, students have the opportunity to explore music, theater, and various art forms. Students learn through active practice and performance of their work and strengthen their creative skills.

VAPA Electives

Students of Mandarin Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish will develop growing proficiency in four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and gain understanding of the structure of the language appropriate to the level of instruction. 

World Language Electives

Prerequisite: Application with teacher and counselor approval Grades 7, 8 Full Year

This class is designed for highly motivated students who wish to contribute to creating our school yearbook as a journalist and member of a collaborative staff. The majority of the class will focus on the design and content of the yearbook. Students will develop skills in digital photography, Web-based design, layout, and other 21st century skills applicable to the real world. Students exhibit individual responsibility by keeping track of multiple assignments and various deadlines, and devoting time outside of class in order to cover the entire Greene community. Students will also have the opportunity to apply for leadership positions in the staff. Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior commensurate with a member of the press.