MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Mixed Media Art (Grades 6-8)
Course Fees: $50
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Mixed Media Art Course Description: In this class students will learn how to express themselves through art. They will explore the basic principles and elements of art including color theory, value, form, and line. This class will help students observe and understand the beauty of God’s creation through a variety of class projects. Students will also study great works of art from master artists. They will gain an understanding of the techniques and media used by the artists and create their own works of art with that influence as a foundation.
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Graphic Design (Grades 8-12) Not offered in 2025-2026
Mr. Ron Noel
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Course Description:
In this course students will be introduced to the fundamentals of graphic design and the graphic design industry. They will learn what designers do, and what graphic design is (it’s more than just creating pretty pictures). Students will learn to create thumbnail sketches, rough sketches, and comprehensive design, the building blocks of the design process. Students will discover the fundamentals of 2D design, the foundation of visual communication: points, lines, planes, shape, balance, rhythm, unity, and color. Students will learn and practice the design process—the process designers use to find solutions to visual problems. Students will be introduced to basic typography and learn how type is a powerful communication tool. Students will create designs based on what they learn in class. The class will be fun and enjoyable and will be a great starting point for all creative students and especially those interested in pursuing graphic design as a career.
Curriculum will be provided by the instructor. Students will be responsible for miscellaneous art supplies.
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Middle School Spanish 1 (Grades 7-8)
Course Fees: $25
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Course Description: This class is perfect for the student who wants to get a feel for the Spanish language and have a strong foundation for High School Spanish 1. Students will build foundations in vocabulary, verb conjugation,
pronunciation, syntax, and grammar usage, and they will have fun while doing it! After completing this class, students will be able to:
• Meet and greet someone, talk about themselves, and ask others about themselves.
• Say, write, and understand full sentences using vocabulary, verbs, and grammar concepts within the context of themes
• Ask and answer questions in full sentences
• Have short conversations about various topics
• Write or tell short stories with a theme
• Conjugate and use verbs in context as well as figure out how to conjugate new verbs based on what they know
• Give and follow instructions and participate in games and activities using only Spanish
• Pronounce with skill
Students will also get to work at home on learning correct pronunciation as they listen to audios of the vocabulary being pronounced by a native speaker. This class is designed to be highly interactive; therefore, grading will be based on class participation (repeating after the teacher, completing oral exercises, participating in the in-class activities) and completion of assigned weekly homework.
Parental Involvement: Parents will need to hold students accountable for completing the weekly homework assignments. Parents (or the student, if parent chooses so) will also need to grade the homework every week (answer key will be provided). Students will need to come to class prepared to show the graded homework and to discuss any questions they may have.
Required Curriculum: Spanish for You! Mi Vida Student Textbook for Grades 7-8
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Middle School Spanish 2 (Grade 7-8)
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Course Fees: $25
Course Description:
This unique “Verbs” theme builds a strong language foundation while introducing present tense verbs, reflexive verbs and past tense—no experience needed! Through five engaging units—School Things, Numbers 1-25, Personal Things, Pets, and Wild Animals—students develop real-world listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Unrelated topics come together in a clever way, making learning fun, useful, and relevant to daily life! This class is a great way to prepare for High School level Spanish.
Spanish 1 course is suggested but not required.
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Required Curriculum: Spanish for you Verbos
https://spanish-for-you.com/product/spanish-for-you-verbos-extra-book/
Students will also need 3x5 index cards and a notebook or binder
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Brain Boosters and Study Skills (Grade 6 & 7)
Mrs. Shannon Sonsky
Course Fees: $50
Course Description: Learn how to learn! Exercise the mind! Delight in the journey! This class will be HEED’s entry
critical thinking class including a 10-week study skills class. This exciting and entertaining class
period of thinking games and mind-challenging activities will give your child’s brain a workout!
Teaching critical thinking raises IQs and boosts inventiveness. Critical thinking comprises a
number of different skills that help us learn to make decisions. It is the ability to evaluate
information to determine whether it is right or wrong. To think critically about an issue or a
problem means to be open-minded and consider alternative ways of looking at solutions. Through
riddles, puzzles, and hands-on group activities, students learn to think, analyze, use spatial
reasoning, study deductive and inductive reasoning, all while having fun. Memory techniques will
also be implemented.
For ten weeks during the spring semester, we will complete the Victus Study System as a
component of this class. The Rainbow Resources Center for homeschool curriculum describes it:
“Taken from Latin meaning way of life, the Victus Study System aims ‘to equip the student for
success in academics and in life. Students have a role in their own success. By understanding
specific steps and strategies, developing specific skills, and utilizing tools, they increase the
ability and likelihood of using these daily. The lessons move students through evaluating where
they are now (current study habits and learning strengths), exploring where they want to be
(mission and goal setting), and determining how to get there (time management, organization,
PQRST Preview Question Read State Test, listening, note taking, and test taking). Lessons
combine teacher-led content and student workbook exercises.’
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Publisher's Description of Victus Study Skills System, Level 3 Student Workbook
“Students may want to study more efficiently but seldom are taught how to study. The Student
Workbook teaches students the three foundational cornerstones of the Victus Study Skills
System as well as goal setting, time management, test taking, note taking, and reading skills.
Students ultimately will study smarter, not harder.”
Homework: Minimal, about 45 minutes a week. Homework will consist of weekly reading from the
textbooks below and a couple of puzzle pages.
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Parent Participation: Parents will be expected to check for completion of The Thinking Toolbox
workbook and weekly puzzle worksheets. There will be no grading.
Materials Required:
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1. The Thinking Toolbox: Thirty-Five Lessons That Will Build Your Reasoning Skills
2nd Workbook ed. Edition; Written by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn; ISBN 978-
0974531588
2. Victus Study Skills System,
Level 3 Student Workbook
ISBN #9781623413040 (Do NOT purchase the DIY Student Notebook.
Creative Expression
Mrs. Shannon Sonsky
Course Fees: $50
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“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” -James Humes-
Let’s build leaders and strong communicators! Students can strengthen their communication skills during this class using various forms of communication while having fun. The students will also build confidence, engage their creativity, work cooperatively, and develop friendships in a caring and encouraging environment.
Our activities will include the following:
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Practice the art of being an effective communicator through the “Communication Lab,” teaching skills such as eye contact, body language, tone, listening, etc…
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Improv
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Storytelling
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Non-verbal communication games
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Skits
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Partner Project: Write and perform a skit to communicate a Biblical principle
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Create an advertisement in a poster or video
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As a class, publish a newspaper as if in Bible times; no intensive writing; striving for clever, inventive writing
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Practice effective group communication skills
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Reader’s Theater
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Puppetry
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Sign language song
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Drama games
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Team-building games
Homework Requirements: This class will have a maximum of 60 minutes of homework each week. Assignments will consist of prepping for skits, practicing communication skills, reading a brief section from one of our textbooks, or completing a written and art assignment for our newspaper and advertisement projects. The writing is minimal. No memorization of scripts is required.
Parent Involvement: Parents are only expected to note the completion of activities on Toolbox. There is no need to grade any work as assignments are very open-ended.
Grading: This class will be graded solely on class and homework participation.
Required Books:
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Listen Up: Knowing When and When Not to Speak (Communicating With Confidence); Author – Greg Roza; ISBN 9781448855162 (Available at Rainbow Resources)
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Nonverbal Communication: The Art of Body Language (Communicating With Confidence); Author – Liz Sonneborn; ISBN 9781448856299 (Available at Rainbow Resources)
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Bible Stories for Modern Teens; Authors – DreamDrift Publishing and Gerard Ecker; ISBN 979-8398844504(Available at Amazon)
Critical Thinking Skills and Brain Games (grades 7-8 )
Course Fees: $50
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Course Description:
Our critical thinking class is not just a favorite among students, but also a powerful tool for enhancing their cognitive abilities. This engaging class, filled with thinking games and mind-challenging activities, is designed to sharpen your
child’s brain. The curriculum has proven to transform the way our students think, leading to improved test scores and increased inventiveness. Critical thinking, a set of skills that aid in decision-making, involves the evaluation of information to
determine right or wrong. To think critically about an issue or a problem is to be open-minded and consider alternative solutions. Through riddles, puzzles, and hands-on group activities, students learn to think, analyze, create categories,
identify relevant information, reason and construct arguments, test hypotheses, recognize fallacies, and analyze evidence, all while having fun. This hands-on learning experience will help your student build critical thinking skills in preparation for high school logic and/or geometry. Students taking the critical thinking class must be in pre-algebra math or higher to handle the math work in this class.
Parental Involvement: Homework will be a maximum of 60 minutes per week. Homework will include weekly reading from two high-interest books, mental math practice, and a weekly puzzle. Parents are required to check the student’s work
for completion and enter the student’s grade into Toolbox. Additionally, parents are invited to assist in the class any week and to compete against the students at our end-of-the-year Students vs. Parents Puzzle Day!
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Required Curriculum: Although most of the curriculum is provided to the students, there are two required books you will need to purchase. The Basics of Critical Thinking Workbook – Lessons and Activities (Grades 4-9); Written by Michael Baker; ISBN 978-1601445070
The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning, Paperback; Written by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn; ISBN 978- 0974531571
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Prerequisites: Students must be enrolled in Pre-Algebra or higher.
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Introduction to Worldview (Grades 6-8) (Offered 2025-2026)
Course Fees: $25​
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Course Description: In this exhilarating course (part of the Christian foundations track), students will embark on a thriling advenure into the foundational biblical principles of the Christian worldview. Get ready to unlock the mysteries of biblical principles that shape our understanding of God, the universe, humanity, truth and morality. Join us on a journey in which hands-on investigations lead to a deeper comprehension of life’s profound questions as you compare biblical responses to life’s questions with those of other major worldviews.
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Required Curriculum:
1. WALKING IN TRUTH-GRADE 6 STUDENT TEXTBOOK ISBN 13: 9781733025614 $25.95
https://store.summit.org/WIT-Grade-6-Student-Textbook
2. WALKING IN TRUTH-GRADE 6 STUDENT WORKBOOK ISBN 13: 9781733025607 $20.95
https://store.summit.org/Walking-in-Truth-Grade-6-Student-Workbook
3. BIBLE (NIV preferred)
​Course Description:
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BIBLE: (FaithQuest: Unleashing Epic Adventures in Faith Fundamentals) (Not Offered in 2025-2026)
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Course Fees $40
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Course Description: 
Prepare yourself for an exhilarating journey with "FaithQuest where we will unleash epic adventures in faith fundamentals.
This interactive Bible class for middle school students goes beyond the traditional sit-and-listen Bible study. Rather, students will delve into the foundations of their Christian faith, discover how it applies to their lives today, and develop habits and practices that will nurture their faith. All of this will be accomplished alongside their peers, fostering an environment where they can sharpen one another, just as iron sharpens iron. These 30 weeks will bring about life-changing experiences, reinforcing truths, and instilling habits that will compel our students to seek everything that God has in store for them, rather than seeking validation from our culture.

Join us as we embark on thrilling quests to unveil the Word of God, understand who He is, and discover our own identities and destinies.


FaithQuest will:
- Empower students with practical skills for a fulfilling daily quiet time with God.
- Engage students in dynamic group discussions, exhilarating challenges, and captivating games.
- Unleash creativity through interactive activities that make learning about the Bible enjoyable.
- Uncover hidden gems of wisdom and applying them to real-life situations.
- Team up peers to create an atmosphere of fun, friendship, and faith.
- Help students form deep bonds that will extend beyond the course, turning classmates into friends on their faith journeys together.
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Curriculum: Kingdom Quest Ages 11-13 by Tony Evans ISBN 978-1-58997-808-9
Developing a Quiet Time Youth level by Not Consumed Ministries
https://store.notconsumed.com/products/developing-a-quiet-time?_pos=1&_sid=1374664c5&_ss=r&variant=32755040485472
A journal (any notebook would do), Markers and/or coloring pencils, Bible (NIRV, NIV, ESV OR NASB
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