ELECTIVES

A peek at the elective courses available for students to take

FILM AND LITERATURE

BY AVARY HEWETT     January 2020

There are so many electives around MKMS, but what classes should you take? If you like watching and discussing movies, then maybe you should join Film and Literature with Mrs. Stahl.

Film and Literature is a class where you watch different types and genres of movies, talk about them, and write notes about it. The different types of movie genres you will be watching include animation, thriller, action, and musical. In the class you write notes on angles, shots, and many more interesting things relating to the world of film! At the end of the semester, as a nine weeks final project, you get to direct your very own movie with a group of classmates.

Amelia Blake, a 7th grader who took this class last semester, expressed that she took this class because "it was something new for me, and I wanted to see what it was like to learn about different films, and how they were filmed. My favorite thing was you got to learn about how different film scenes were filmed and watch movies you wouldn't normally watch."

As you can see film class is a very fun class and it's an option for both 7th and 8th graders. By the end of the semester you will be a film genius on different movies, types of genres, lighting, angles, and shots.


YEARBOOK

BY AVARY HEWETT     November 2019

If writing and photography catch your attention, you should apply for yearbook next year. Yearbook is an elective that is only for 7th and 8th graders but 6th graders, don't worry, you can still get a paper to apply for it next year. To apply you must go to the front office and ask for a yearbook application paper. On the paper it asks you questions to make sure you are ready and qualified for yearbook. Mrs. Solomon is the teacher that hosts yearbook. Yearbook is a class that is 4th period every day except for Thursdays.


I interviewed a 7th grader that is in yearbook, Genesis Hatcher, "What do you like most about yearbook?" She responded with, "I like how we can put our own little touch in different pages to make them better." I also asked her, "What have you done in yearbook so far?" Genesis replied with "We've picked the theme, picked book pages, and laid out some of our pages for the actual yearbook." The last question I asked her was "What are you doing right now in yearbook?" and she said, "Right now we are putting up advertisement posters for our early bird special."

If yearbook sounds interesting to you can go to the office and apply for it today!

BAND

BY ALICE WEBBER     November 2019

To join the band elective at Markham Woods, you need persistence, commitment and a strong work ethic. Mr. Slone is the band director, and this will be his 4th year in that position. If you are thinking about joining band you should take a quick look at the variety of levels available to join. The levels are: Beginning, Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz. Once you join a group you will have to choose an instrument. Luckily you have a wide variety to pick from. You can pick from:  flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French Horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion.

Mr. Slone's  favorite thing about teaching students here at Markham is watching students grow as musicians and developing a love for music.

According to Joy Tunee, there are many benefits of learning a new instrument. One of them including that "... children display long-term positive results from playing musical instruments.  Music has been shown to reduce stress, increase productivity, develop creativity, and build confidence."

Desiree Rosado, a 6th grader who is learning to play the trumpet with the help of Mr. Slone and is delighted to be playing the trumpet so far this year. Desiree enjoys the class because "Mr. Slone conducts himself with a good character including the way he dresses, speaks and teaches other students, and he has a good attitude toward his students."

Payton Stever, an 8th grader who plays the French horn, said band is a fun elective because "I have met a lot of nice people and I have a lot of good friends there. Mr. Slone teaches you so that you can understand everything and so you know exactly what to do."



VIRTUAL LAB

BY ALICE WEBBER       November 2019

If you are thinking about joining Virtual Lab, then you should consider the following:

1) Does it have the class that you are thinking about joining?

2) Do you have enough time and effort to keep with the pace?

3) Are you going to work hard each day in class?

Virtual Lab is an online class that you take on the computer. At the beginning of the semester you can choose from the very large variety of classes to take. Once you choose a class you start the program. You must work hard but at your own pace.

Not everyone in the class will be doing the same class as you. There will be many students in the class taking different classes, but you will work in the same room. If you need assistance in the class you are taking, you can contact your teacher. The teacher will be online so if you have a phone you will be allowed to use it for contacting the teacher ONLY. The teacher has a 12-hour response time for answering your questions.

If you are struggling to decide what class to take, here are some of the many options:

Business Keyboarding - if you are wanting to finish you writing essay before your friends!

Career Research - if you would like ideas of what to do as your occupation.

Spanish - if you want to learn a new language!



SINGERS TAKE TO THE STAGE

Black and Silver Singers Perform at Carnegie Hall!


BY VRITI SHAH     May 2019

   Chorus is an elective available to all students. There are three levels of choirs: Beginners, Concert, and Black and Silver. The Black and Silver Singers got to perform in New York City's Carnegie Hall earlier this month.  Mrs. Antmann, the chorus director, and the Black and Silver Singers practiced for months to prepare for this perfomance.

    "The Black and Silver Singers were selected to sing a concert with other choirs from all around the United States at Carnegie Hall," explained Mrs. Antmann.  "The title of the concert is Fresh Sounds: The Music of Russel Robinson. In addition to participating in half day rehearsals with other choirs, our students will be sightseeing while in New York."

    Mrs. Antmann went on to say, "While many of our students travel regularly with their families, we also have many students who have never been out of the state, much less to New York City.  The honor of singing at Carnegie Hall is really amazing.  It is one of the premier performance venues in the country."

     Although the purpose of the trip was to perform, students also got to visit several of the city's landmarks.  Mrs. Antmann shared that "while the majority of the trip focuses on the rehearsal and performance experience, students will also be introduced to multiple cultural experiences that are unique to New York City. On the trip, they will visit historically significant sites like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, cultural sites like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a Broadway production of My Fair Lady, and they'll get the behind the scenes look at how a theater operates at Radio City Music Hall."

     Make sure you ask your Black and Silver friends or Mrs. Antmann about their trip! They represented our school and had so much fun!

This is one of the 3-D printers on campus.
This is one of the 3-D printers on campus.

GLOBAL SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIONS

BY VRITI SHAH     February 2019 

     Markham has a variety of electives for all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. This month we will be focusing on the 6th grade biomechatronics class called Global Solutions and Innovations.

     In case you weren't sure what Biomechatronics (BMT) is, Mr. Fields, a teacher in biomechatronics program, helped us better understand what the class is all about. "Biomechatronics is the use of robotics and other technology to improve or enhance body functions," said Mr. Fields. "This can be for things like prosthetic limbs, or even bionic devices like pacemakers and cochlear implants. Biomechatronics brings together biology, mechanics, and electronics to help people." Students learn about problems in this world and learn technological ways to fix them now or later on in life

     Mr. Fields shared what types of activities and assignments take place in his class. "[Students] learn different design processes for developing solutions. Right now, for example, we're working on identifying, understanding, and creating solutions to campus problems, such as littering, skipping class, and boring lessons. We use student survey data to understand the problems thoroughly to ensure our proposed solutions have the best chance at working."
"Later in the semester," continued Mr. Fields, "we'll learn about digital design and 3-D printing. This was most students' favorite parts of the class last semester because there really is no limitation to what you can create. Some of the students' designs even get printed!"

     Students in the class seem to be enjoying the newly created elective. Claudia Hernandez-Cruz, a 6th grader in Global Solutions and Innovations, was asked "What is your favorite activity or thing about Biomechatronics?" She responded saying, "My favorite thing about Biomechatronics is the projects that require teamwork and presentations."

     Caprice Rodriguez, also a 6th grader, was asked the same questions and she answered with, "the hands on activities and getting to work with others" is what I like the best. In Biomechatronics there is a mix of hands on learning, working with technology, and working with friends.

The Golden Horseshoe
A newspaper written by students for students.
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