West Ridge School

Complementary Programs:

Purpose:

At West Ridge School, we offer a variety of complementary programs. These programs are designed to help young adolescents explore a variety of experiences. Students will explore many programs in grade 5 and 6 where they will learn about themselves and areas of interest. As they move into grade 7 to 9 they will be able to select their own courses and delve more deeply into areas of passion.

Student Choice:

Students select from a variety of programs based on their conversation with parents and teachers and by applying knowledge of themselves as a learner. Please be aware that some courses may be cancelled due to demand, timetable constraints, expertise, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Exploratory:

The complementary program allows students to try different courses and experiences. By providing a variety of courses within any given area, students are able to delve into areas of passion, or experiment with up to eight different complementary courses over the course of the year.

Grade 5 and 6 Complementary Program

Grade 5 students all take the same complementary courses. These include a full year of Fine Arts (art and drama modules), a full year of French, and a semester each of CTF (Career and Technology Foundations) and Music.

Grade 6 students take the same complementary courses described above with the exception that they have the option to take band. Band is a full-year course and students who select band will not take music and will take only one semester of the Fine Arts.

Grade Seven to Nine Complementary Programs

Students select up to eight complementary programs. All courses are one semester in duration except for band and French which are full year.

Choose Wisely!

Please read through the attached descriptions before selecting courses. We will do our best to place you into as many of your top choices as possible!

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Grade 5/6 Complementary Programs

Music 5

Students will explore different genres and enhance their appreciation of music. This will include the study of classical music to the popular music of today. Students will learn about different rhythmic patterns and study the basic concepts of music theory. This will include some singing, djembes (African drum), recorder, African marimba and baritone ukulele.

Fine Arts – Art 5

Students will have an opportunity to focus on techniques in a variety of media including sketching, painting, working with clay, alternative mediums, and mixed media. Each student will participate in a variety of projects that will allow them to refine their artistic skills and participate in the self-assessment of their work. In term 2, students will begin to focus on the art medium and styles of their choosing to help create and complete projects, which will allow them to present their understanding of topics being studied in other subject areas.

Fine Arts – Drama 5

Students will explore the different aspects of speaking, moving, and the combining of those skills to help tell a story. Students will begin to explore a variety of drama games, improvisation skills, and specific movement techniques, all in an environment where the focus will be on participation and not perfection.

Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) 5/6

Students will work with digital technologies to develop an understanding of computer coding, robot programming, and 3-D design & fabrication. Students will use programs such as Scratch to gain familiarity with common coding commands and procedures. Visual programming apps, such as Ozoblockly, may be used to explore simple robotics through West Ridge’s tiny Ozobots. Students will use Tinkercad (or a similar program) to advance their knowledge and skill of designing objects using CAD (computer-aided design) programs. Students will have the opportunity to apply their coding, visual programing and design skills to solve real world problems using digital technology.

French as a Second Language 5/6

Students use their life experiences, knowledge, skills and attitudes as a basis for developing their second language communicative abilities for real-life purposes; that is, students comprehend oral and written French, and they express and negotiate meaning, orally and in written form, in French.

Since language is embedded in culture, students will also acquire cultural knowledge in order to gain a better understanding of French culture and their own. The themes to be covered are:

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Grade 5:o My Elementary School o Our Friends – The

Animals

o Clothes o My Home o Holidays and Celebrations

Grade 6:

o My Health and Well Being

o My Neighborhood

o Alberta My Province o The Environment o Holidays and Celebrations

Band 6

Grade 6 band allows students the opportunity to play a wind instrument. These include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, baritone, and trumpet. Students will focus on proper playing positions, instrument care and maintenance, and the fundamentals of music.

Music 6

Students will explore different genres and enhance their appreciation of music. This will include the study of classical music to the popular music of today. They will learn about different rhythmic patterns and begin to deepen their understanding of music theory. Instruments of focus will be percussion (djembe and other auxiliary percussion), recorder, baritone ukulele, African marimba and electronic musical resources.

Fine Arts – Art 6

Students will continue to build on the foundational skills and techniques acquired in grade 5. Students will continue to explore a variety of mediums including painting, sketching, printmaking, working with clay and more. Students will learn to use art as a means to convey or express thoughts, feelings, messages or ideas. Students will look at different art forms and begin to develop their own appreciation for art and be able to judge whether the art is ‘good’ or not. By working on a variety of projects using a variety of mediums, students will begin to understand themselves as artists and where their passions lie.

Fine Arts – Drama 6

The drama portion of Fine Arts is intended to help students to develop an understanding and appreciation of drama, as well as the ability to create works using the forms, concepts, elements and conventions of the discipline. Through exploring drama, students will develop an understanding of the art form, themselves, and others, and will learn about the lives of people in different times, places, and cultures. In addition to role playing, students will use their growing understanding of drama forms, conventions and elements to explore issues through improvisation or develop or interpret scenes. Drama provides many opportunities for students to practise communicating with different audiences for a variety of purposes, through moving, speaking and writing in role.

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Grade 7-9 Offerings

The Fine Arts

The Fine Arts includes art, drama and music. In each area there are common outcomes - the student is involved as creator, performer, historian, critic and consumer.

Art

Art 2D - 7, 8, 9

This course will give students an opportunity to explore a range of two dimensional projects using a variety of mediums. Each project given will allow students to explore their creativity through an art challenge as they work through the design process from planning to final art piece. Mediums students will be able to work with include pencil, charcoal, pastel, paint, ink, collage and print making.

Art 3D - 7, 8, 9

In this course students will be using both traditional and non-traditional three-dimensional materials that could include papier-mâché, clay, metal, textiles and mixed media. Emphasis will be on basic design elements, creativity and craftsmanship. The process of art-making with these mediums will be emphasized through a series of art challenges. The course will provide an opportunity for exploration and discussion of sculptural practices.

Drama

Drama Performance 7, 8, 9

Students will develop skills in acting, improvisation, movement and speaking as well as learn the history and context of theatre. Interesting areas of study will be stage fighting, monologues, short scenes, drama games, tableaux, and so much more! Be prepared for lots of fun!

Performing Arts 8, 9

Do you love to sing, dance and act on stage for an engaged audience? Then this course is for you! Students in this course have the opportunity to act in a number of performance opportunities including: musical theatre numbers, haunted house, pantomime, dance and more! Students will learn the techniques of interactive performance, developing characters and sharpen their singing and dancing skills.

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Drama - Technical 7, 8, 9

Students will study the elements of drama and theatre, specifically the many aspects that go into staging a successful production, such as sound and lighting design, makeup, visual media, set and prop construction, and stage management. This class is full of hands-on learning and creating!

Music Grade 7 Band

Grade 7 band allows students the opportunity to play a wind instrument, and explore more exciting and challenging music throughout the year. Instruments included will be flute, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, baritone, French horn, trumpet, and tuba. They will also have access to the percussion instruments, at the discretion of the band director. Students focus on proper playing positions, skill development, and basic musical concepts. There will be a variety of performance opportunities throughout the year.

Grade 8 Band

Grade 8 band will continue to develop wind instrument skills. They will also have access to the percussion instruments, at the discretion of the band director. They will explore more exciting and challenging music, including popular songs and movie music. Students will learn music history and more complex music theory. There will be a variety of performance opportunities throughout the year.

Grade 9 Band

Students will continue to develop their musical skills and knowledge. Music will become more challenging and cover a wide variety of musical genres. Students will be taking a more in depth look at music history and theory. Instruments included will be all wind instruments (brass and woodwinds) as well as percussion. There will be a variety of performance opportunities throughout the year.

Career and Technology Foundations

Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) provides project-based learning experiences designed to help students explore their talents related to occupation-specific knowledge and skills related to five career clusters: business, communication, resources, technology and health/human services.

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CTF - Business

Business Leadership 7, 8, 9

Students will have an opportunity to explore the process of becoming successful in the world of business. They will begin to understand basic business principles and then apply these to the operation of the school store and other aspects of school life.

Students will examine various business concepts which may include:

entrepreneurship [setting up a new business] marketing and sales [how to sell products] logistics [ordering products, managing inventory] résumé writing Service Learning financial literacy – both business and personal communication [verbal and written] team work and problem solving customer service

altruism

CTF - Communication

Digital Photography 7, 8, 9

Students will improve their technical knowledge and learn techniques to use digital cameras in a variety of projects. They will learn elements of photograph composition, portrait taking, how to best photograph landscapes, and a variety of effects. Photography effects we will work with include practical effects, in-camera effects and

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digital manipulations. As students develop skills from one grade to the next, the program focus shifts more towards gaining experience with the many functions of Photoshop and the creativity that it facilitates. Students will also create portfolios and learn to display their work in various forms. Photography skills may have the opportunity to be published in the yearbook.

Film Studies 7, 8, 9

Students will develop the ability to think critically about films in terms of content and context, filming techniques and theme through analysis and evaluation. Students will also explore film creation and editing techniques using cameras and video editing software.

Fashion Studies 7, 8 and 9

Students will learn sewing and pressing techniques, about the selection and care of fabric, and how to use a variety of sewing equipment. Students will be encouraged to determine their own personal style in designing and deciding on the types of projects they will create based on their skill level. Students will also have the opportunity to explore knitting, crocheting, quilting, making soft toys, making clothing, bags and other accessories. Students will be able to look at the role of the fashion industry historically, sociologically and economically on our world and the increased use of technology both in the making of textiles and directly in the garments themselves.

Project Runway 8, 9

This course will involve students participating in two modules during the semester in the CTF program of studies. Students will divide their time between Fashion Studies and Drama Tech. In Fashion Studies, students working in a small team, will explore the role of a fashion designer in being able to create, problem solve and utilize the technical skills needed to develop fashion pieces culminating with a live fashion show towards the end of the semester. In Drama Tech, students will be exploring the role of a makeup artist in being able to visualize, create using technical skills, and identify appropriate make up techniques to bring together a cohesive look that relates to the fashion pieces created by teams.

Publishing (Yearbook) 7/8

Students will engage in the digital design process and learn how to navigate an online publishing program with the end goal of creating West Ridge’s yearbook. Students are assigned specific yearbook pages and work collaboratively to craft page layouts that appeal to the eye, showcase school photographs with the strongest composition, and tell the story of our school year in a thematic way. Students also engage deeply in the editing process by self-editing their assigned pages and those of their peers, as a means of modeling the actual publishing process.

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CTF – Human Services

Food Basics 7

Students will create basic meals from recipes that can be easily made at home; and that are both quick and nutritious. Students learn safe and sanitary food handling procedures, equipment care, comprehension of recipes, and the importance of efficient cleaning habits. Students also work with basic knife skills and handling of raw meat.

Baking Basics 7

Students will develop and demonstrate an understanding of traditional and contemporary baking. Focus will be on basic measuring techniques, preparation methods, role of ingredients, proper use of equipment for baked goods, and efficient cleaning habits. Lab activities are selected to provide students with the opportunity to prepare a variety of baked goods at the basic level.

Snacks & Appetizers 8

Students will work to create a variety of snacks and appetizers that are centered around social events. They will learn more about the presentation of food, how to make food visually appealing, and cooking for large scale events. Students will ultimately learn how to make a variety of artistic garnishes that look and taste amazing.

Cultural Foods 8

Students in this class will create dishes from various countries that they study in Grade 8 Humanities (Italy, Japan, Mexico). We will be doing an in-depth study of ingredients and cooking techniques that are at the core of each country's cuisine. Students will have the opportunity to work with a variety of unique and exotic ingredients with origins to these countries and regions. If you are adventurous and like trying new and unusual ingredients and recipes, this class is for you!

Advanced Foods 9

Students will be working on three major components in this course: the five Mother Sauces, rice dishes, and preparing a 3-course meal. They will demonstrate their level of creativity and precision by making common variations of each Mother Sauce and by creating their own unique rice dish. Lastly, students will learn advanced cooking techniques and recipes that prepare them for the culminating "Iron Chef" competition.

Advanced Baking 9

Students will continue to develop and demonstrate an understanding of traditional and baking with various crusts, doughs, and cakes. After our introductory unit on pies, students will then learn about decorative toppings and piping techniques for cookies, cupcakes, and doughnuts. Finally, we end with our cake unit and the ultimate test for students to demonstrate their learning with the "Cake War" competition.

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Travel & Tourism 7 Do you ever wonder what happens behind the scenes of big events? This option will take a look at the 4 sectors of tourism through recreation and larger scale events. Learning about how sports, festivals, concerts and large events like the Stampede impact the tourism sector. Students will become familiar with occupations within the industry, why certain events are more successful than others, and how local, national and international locations prepare for tourists. Travel & Tourism 8 Arts & culture influence tourism locally, nationally and internationally. This option will explore the 4 sectors of tourism while focusing on a traveler’s interest in a country; specifically, the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, (history, art, music, architecture, etc.) that helped shape their way of life. We will explore how cultural districts help promote tourism in certain areas and the career opportunities that support these industries.

Travel & Tourism 9

Polar bear safaris, northern lights expeditions, the hiking of Cabot Trail and Ecotours in BC are just a sample of some of the opportunities available within the ecotourism industry. During this option, students will study the 4 sectors of tourism through this lens. We will explore careers within the ecotourism while investigating how this industry promotes cultural and environmental awareness, creates positive impacts for locals and travelers, and finances conservation efforts; all while developing new adventures for travelers! Students will have an opportunity to explore and create their own unique travel adventure!

CTF - Technology Construction 7, 8, 9

Students experience a skills-based approach to learning how to build a variety of projects. In this course students will develop appropriate tool safety as well as knowledge on how to best utilize a given tool. Students new to the program begin with hand tools. As they progress students have the opportunity to work with a full selection of power tools. Students personalize plans to align with their own interests and build skills towards developing their own projects from scratch. Some larger projects or specific materials could require an additional cost to students.

Robotics 7, 8, 9

Students learn how to design and build robots to complete a variety of tasks and challenges using LEGO-based kits and BBC Micro Bits. Additional concepts explored include engineering principles and planning strategies, effective troubleshooting and problem solving methods, and mechanical systems that complement a robot’s abilities. We discuss the role robots play in our daily life, where our relationship with technology is heading, and the increasing possibilities for automation in agriculture. We also look at case studies involving local examples of innovation in automation making change in the world.

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Environmental and Outdoor Education

EnvOE is an activity-based course that provides opportunities for in-depth practical studies and experiences. It is designed to give students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, build knowledge about environmental studies, and experience outdoor pursuits.

Environmental and Outdoor Education 7 – Introductory Skills In Grade 7 we will be focusing on introducing students to a variety of seasonally focused outdoor activities and developing their skills as outdoor enthusiasts and future leaders. Some of the topics we will be exploring are: bike mechanics, first-aid skills, rock climbing (top-rope & auto belay systems), trip preparation, orienteering, animal tracking, winter survival skills, leave no trace practices, and environmental footprints. This course will involve a variety of activities both on and off campus. The only prerequisites are having a positive attitude and showing a willingness to try new and exciting outdoor activities. Environmental and Outdoor Education 8 – Fundamental Skills In grade 8, we will focus on foundational skills that improve student awareness of natural environments, build outdoor leadership skills and support students in develop their own environmental perspectives. Some of the topics that we will be exploring are: wildlife safety, protected areas, standard first-aid, endangered species, rock climbing (top-rope & bouldering), fire-starting techniques, navigation, snowshoeing and winter shelters. This course will involve a variety of activities both on and off campus. The only prerequisites are having a positive attitude and showing a willingness to try new and exciting outdoor activities. Environmental and Outdoor Education 9 – Advanced Skills In grade 9 students will learn advanced skills that will allow them to have safe, comfortable, and active outdoor experiences while developing them as outdoor leaders. Grade 9’s will practice these skills on field trips and while exploring mountain biking, wilderness first-aid, trip preparation, meal planning, cooking with stoves, navigation skills, water sports (canoe/kayaking), knots & ropes, snowshoeing, avalanche awareness, and survival skills. This course will involve a variety of activities both on and off campus. The only prerequisites are having a positive attitude and showing a willingness to try new and exciting outdoor activities.

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Second Languages French 7 Students will explore and engage in the French language through a variety of diverse activities. Through the use of skits, presentations, brochures, videos, posters, etc., students will study the topics of weather, school, and people in the community. These activities will integrate listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will be exposed not only to language and grammar, but to culture and language learning strategies. French 8 Students will engage in projects that build on their previous French language experience. Students will learn about clothing, food, animals, and create projects to demonstrate their learning through the use of presentations, videos, scripts, posters, and brochures. In this interactive class, students will integrate listening, speaking, reading and writing, and be exposed to French culture throughout the term.

French 9

Students explore topics such as sports and sports injuries, home design, and communities (urban, rural, community businesses, services, and clubs). These units of study are covered in an interactive, hands-on environment that focuses on acquiring and perfecting language skills. Students will extend their knowledge of grammar, verb conjugations and tenses, as well as enhancing their vocabulary. French culture will continue to be a focus, as well as holidays and celebrations.

Locally Developed Courses

Power Up Your Learning 7, 8, 9

This class is ideal for students who require extra time and support to complete assignments from their core classes. In this class students will identify and strengthen the focus of their learning goals. They will learn how to use their learning preferences and strengths as a learner. Students will participate in small group and/or individual instruction of new strategies to support their personal learning style, including organizational skills, study strategies, remedial math, reading, and writing. Students will learn to evaluate their own work and make adjustments to improve understanding and performance. They may also find how to access assistive technologies that can support their learning. In addition to these skills, they will learn how to apply generic and subject-specific strategies to improve their learning across the curriculum.

Students will be given time for reading, studying, and polishing work from other classes. When appropriate, students will be provided opportunities for deeper exploration of goal setting and creating action plans that support their goals.