DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL

ART (0501): This course teaches students an introduction to more advanced art techniques.  This course offers students the opportunity to connect their projects directly back to careers in the arts including animation, character design, nail art, bakery decoration, and more! These hands-on projects will develop creative and higher-order thinking skills. Students also have opportunities to have work on display and/or sent to art shows!

ART MEDIA (0501): This course offers an opportunity for each student to explore the wonderful world of film and media production. In this class, we study film making techniques, the history of cinema, and the introduction of new genres to the mainstream. Then, it's your turn to create! You become the director, producer, editor, or actor for your own films!  This class examines the evolution of media from Charlie Chaplin and the silent film, all the way to the videos you watch on your phone! This class is one semester you won't forget!

CTI / CAREER TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS (M9253): This semester class provides exposures to technologies used in different career pathways. These technologies are organized into different modules. This class can be taken more than once to cover all available modules. Students have hands-on opportunities in making projects using equipment such as the 3D printer, CNC mill, heat press, robotics kits, etc. Students also learn to use professional software such as Adobe CC, Mastercam, and Solidworks. The list of modules offered each year may change with resource availability and updates. This course is the entryway to College and Career pathway classes throughout high school and college.

INTRO TO CULINARY ARTS (M6351): This course introduces students to essential cooking, nutrition, and food safety skills while exploring global cuisines and real-world applications. Students gain hands-on kitchen experience, learn how food impacts health and sustainability, and builds practical skills for everyday life and future careers.

STAGECRAFT (M1875): This semester-long class introduces students to the technical and design elements of theater production. Students will learn about costume design and construction, lighting and sound design, marketing, makeup design, and set design. They will explore how these elements contribute to a performance and develop practical skills through hands-on projects. Students are encouraged to volunteer for crew on after-school productions to further practice their skills.

THEATRE ARTS I (0541): This semester class will focus on the craft and art of acting. Through this "workshop" style class, students will learn through performing partnered scenes and experimenting with voice and movement. Students will learn to analyze acting through observation and how to critique their own performances, as well as those done by their peers. Students will also study the history of theater, basic acting skills, theater terminology, and improvisation. A critique unit will be included, where students evaluate theatrical performances.

*All courses are subject to staffing and availability.

 

ADVANCED ART (0502): In this year long course, students will use the mediums of pencil,

paint, oil pastel,ink, printing, chalk pastel, and papier mache to create projects that are expressive and can be connected back to careers in the arts industry. Students will increase their understanding of art terminology and skills while developing

creative expression. Special effort is made to help each student to understand the value of his or her experience and develop an awareness of his or her aesthetic abilities. This class is fast-paced, so prior art experience is necessary.  Application is required

ASB / ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY (9193): ASB is an elective class that serves the school as the student council, providing representation and activities for the entire student body. The program instructs students on planning techniques, decision-making skills, problem solving, organizational skills, group dynamics, principles of communication, budgeting, and issues of public relations. It focuses on skill building, planning, implementation, evaluation and experiential learning for the purpose of growing the individual students in the areas of respect, responsibility, service and initiative. An outgrowth of the program is the promotion and enhancement of a positive school climate. ASB is one part of DJAMS Student Leadership Team. As part of this team ASB will support other groups on campus. Responsibilities include planning lunch time activities, dances, fundraising, recognition programs, special events, and helping with the various programs of the school. Students selected for the program must be willing to give up portions of their time, including lunches, to serve the other students of the school. Being elected or appointed to ASB comes with many responsibilities and behavior expectations. ASB students serve as ambassadors to and representatives of all students.  Application is required. The application can be accessed from the Canvas global announcement.

AVID / ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (5441): AVID is an elective course that prepares students for success in high school, college, and future careers by teaching essential academic and life skills. Students learn how to organize their time and materials using agendas and binders, take effective notes, work in study groups, and understand how they learn best. AVID emphasizes writing, presenting, collaboration, and critical thinking skills that support success across all classes. In addition to academics, AVID focuses on building a positive, supportive peer community through fun team-building activities and collaborative learning. Students explore college and career options through research and participate in college field trips that help them begin to see future opportunities as achievable. AVID supports motivated students by building confidence, determination, and the habits needed for long-term success.   Application is required.

*All courses are subject to staffing and availability.

7th and 8th Grades - Year Long Courses, cont.

 

(ADVANCED) CHOIR (0533): Choir is made up of two performing groups; Beginning choir and Advanced Choir. In this performance oriented group for dedicated vocal musicians, students will study, sing, and perform a wide variety of music while learning basic musicianship, and rehearsal, vocal, and performance skills and technique. Students will have the opportunity to perform in four major school concerts during the year, perform in the community, and participate in a studio soundtrack recording session and the Disneyland Resort. Other performance opportunities may include caroling during the holidays, and occasional solo performance opportunities. Application and audition required

(BEGINNING) BAND (0510): This year-long class is offered to all grades. Beginning Band is offered to those students who have never played a musical instrument before or have had a year or less experience on their instrument. During this course students will continue to develop their skills on their instruments and prepare for multiple performances throughout the year. 

(INTERMEDIATE) BAND (0511): Intermediate Band is offered to those students who have three years or more experience on their specific instrument. This group will further their skills on their instruments, work on repertoire for competitive performances, and perform out in the community in local events. No audition necessary to be in Intermediate Band.

(ADVANCED) BAND (0512): This year-long class is offered to all grades. Advanced Band is offered, by audition only, to those students who have two years or more experience on their specific instrument. This group will further their skills on their instruments, work on repertoire for competitive performances, and perform out in the community in local events. 

(BEGINNING) ORCHESTRA (0520): This year-long class is offered to all grades and is taught alongside Intermediate Orchestra. Beginning Orchestra is offered to those students who have never played a musical instrument before or have had two years or less experience on their instrument. During this course students will continue to develop their skills on their instruments and prepare for multiple performances throughout the year. 

(INTERMEDIATE) ORCHESTRA (0521): This year-long class is offered to all grades and is taught alongside Beginning Orchestra. Intermediate Orchestra is offered to those students who have three years or more experience on their specific instrument. This group will further their skills on their instruments, work on repertoire for competitive performances, and perform out in the community in local events. No audition necessary to be in Intermediate Orchestra.

*All courses are subject to staffing and availability.

 

(ADVANCED) ORCHESTRA (0521): This year-long class is offered to all grades and is by application and audition required.  Advanced  Orchestra is offered to those students who have four years or more experience on their specific instrument and to those who take regular private lessons. This group will further their skills on their instruments, work on repertoire for competitive performances, and perform out in the community in local events such as community holiday performances and Disneyland concerts.

ADVANCED DRAMA (0542): This year-long class is for dedicated drama students who are serious about learning the dynamics of performance. Advanced Drama is a performance-based class and the majority of the auditions, practices, and rehearsals will be done during class. Students will study all aspects of theatre including, but not limited to, acting, technical theatre skills, stage management, script writing, dance, vocals, characterization, and pre/post production planning. Students will learn how to analyze and critique performances, in addition to reflecting upon their own performances and those of their peers. Advanced Drama students will perform scenes, improvisation, commercials, reader’s theatre, skits, as well as participate in one full-length play or musical and one Broadway Night Showcase for an audience at night. Rehearsals & performances in Advanced Drama will require a mandatory time commitment beyond the regular school day. Students must submit an application to be considered for this class. Application required. The application can be accessed from the Canvas global announcement. 

PAL / PEER ASSISTANT LEADERS (1383): This community service-based class is dedicated to helping others. It is the mission of Peer Assistant Leaders to make a difference in our school and in our community and to reach out and make other people’s lives better. This class is designed for students who have hearts filled with compassion and kindness who want to devote their year to building a better world. Some of the projects and services that PALs have overseen are: Monthly PBIS Videos, The Bronco Buck Store, Teacher Assistance, Elementary School Mentorship, Recycling Program, Character Counts Assemblies, New Student Tours, New Student Ice Cream Social, Back to School Night Guidance, Red Ribbon Week, Holiday Food Drive, Toys for Tots, March Tabness, Earth Week, Career Week, 5th Grade Tours, Staff Appreciation Day, and many other events in between. PAL is a class that everyone can benefit from, but is geared towards students who are unselfish and giving and who will dedicate their time to the benefits of others. These PALs are responsible for enacting these projects with responsibility and enthusiasm; they are also required to be positive role models for their peers. Application is required. The application can be accessed from the Canvas global announcement.

*All courses are subject to staffing and availability.

 

YEARBOOK (9173): Yearbook is a class where staff members learn photography, graphic design, and writing. This is a student-led class where staff members are solely responsible for the creation of the Yearbook. Through the hard work of the staff members, each year this class produces a printed book that captures photos and writing, everything that happened on campus. This class provides real-world learning opportunities and responsibility. Students who are interested in photography, graphic design, and publishing will enjoy the hands-on learning that takes place. Because of the nature of this class, students must be driven, be able to work on a deadline, be able to work with teams and individually, be responsible, and be trustworthy. Application is required. The application can be accessed from the Canvas global announcement.

(1st and 2nd semester grades go on high school transcripts)

YEAR LONG (7TH GRADE ONLY) – SPANISH 1A (8901): **This class is in high demand and spots are extremely limited.  This year-long class focuses on speaking, reading, writing and culture of the Spanish language. Students will begin with greetings, farewells, weather, numbers, dates and time. They will learn how to describe themselves and others, talk about activities, their likes and dislikes, and discuss what they eat, drink and share for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Students will use headsets with mics to record for speaking/listening assessments. Technology used: Quizlet, Kahoot, Blooket and Edpuzzle. We also have 4 “fiestas” (cultural potlucks) a year. Must have a grade average of B or better to move on to Spanish 1B (8871) as an 8th grader. 

YEAR LONG (8TH GRADE ONLY) - SPANISH I (SP1): This year-long class focuses on speaking, reading, writing and culture of the Spanish language. Students will begin with greetings, farewells, weather, numbers, dates and time. They will learn how to describe themselves and others, talk about activities they like and do not like to do and discuss what they eat, drink and share for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They will learn how to tell future plans, discuss sports, extracurricular activities, family, physical descriptions, describe a home and household items, chores, commands and verb conjugations. Students will use headsets with mics to record for speaking/listening assessments. Technology used: Quizlet, Kahoot, Blooket and Edpuzzle. We also have 4 “fiestas” (cultural potlucks) a year. Must have a minimum B+ average or better to move on to Spanish 2 in high school. **This class is in high demand and selection will begin with students who put this as first choice and meet grade requirements.

*All courses are subject to staffing and availability.

AVID is an elective course that prepares students for success in high school, college, and future careers by teaching essential academic and life skills. Students learn how to organize their time and materials using agendas and binders, take effective notes, work in study groups, and understand how they learn best. AVID emphasizes writing, presenting, collaboration, and critical thinking skills that support success across all classes. In addition to academics, AVID focuses on building a positive, supportive peer community through fun team-building activities and collaborative learning. Students explore college and career options through research and participate in college field trips that help them begin to see future opportunities as achievable. AVID supports motivated students by building confidence, determination, and the habits needed for long-term success.   Application is required.

 

This semester class provides exposures to technologies used in different career pathways. These technologies are organized into different modules. This class can be taken more than once to cover all available modules. Students have hands-on opportunities in making projects using equipment such as the 3D printer, CNC mill, heat press, robotics kits, etc. Students also learn to use professional software such as Adobe CC, Mastercam, and Solidworks. The list of modules offered each year may change with resource availability and updates. This course is the entryway to College and Career pathway classes throughout high school and college.

(BEGINNING) BAND (0510): This year-long class is offered to all grades. Beginning Band is offered to those students who have never played a musical instrument before or have had a year or less experience on their instrument. During this course students will continue to develop their skills on their instruments and prepare for multiple performances throughout the year. 

(INTERMEDIATE) BAND (0511): Intermediate Band is offered to those students who have three years or more experience on their specific instrument. This group will further their skills on their instruments, work on repertoire for competitive performances, and perform out in the community in local events. No audition necessary to be in Intermediate Band.

(ADVANCED) BAND (0512): This year-long class is offered to all grades. Advanced Band is offered, by audition only, to those students who have two years or more experience on their specific instrument. This group will further their skills on their instruments, work on repertoire for competitive performances, and perform out in the community in local events. 

(BEGINNING) ORCHESTRA (0520): This year-long class is offered to all grades and is taught alongside Intermediate Orchestra. Beginning Orchestra is offered to those students who have never played a musical instrument before or have had two years or less experience on their instrument. During this course students will continue to develop their skills on their instruments and prepare for multiple performances throughout the year. 

PAL / PEER ASSISTANT LEADERS (1383): This community service-based class is dedicated to helping others. It is the mission of Peer Assistant Leaders to make a difference in our school and in our community and to reach out and make other people’s lives better. This class is designed for students who have hearts filled with compassion and kindness who want to devote their year to building a better world. Some of the projects and services that PALs have overseen are: Monthly PBIS Videos, The Bronco Buck Store, Teacher Assistance, Elementary School Mentorship, Recycling Program, Character Counts Assemblies, New Student Tours, New Student Ice Cream Social, Back to School Night Guidance, Red Ribbon Week, Holiday Food Drive, Toys for Tots, March Tabness, Earth Week, Career Week, 5th Grade Tours, Staff Appreciation Day, and many other events in between. PAL is a class that everyone can benefit from, but is geared towards students who are unselfish and giving and who will dedicate their time to the benefits of others. These PALs are responsible for enacting these projects with responsibility and enthusiasm; they are also required to be positive role models for their peers. Application is required. The application can be accessed from the Canvas global announcement.

(BEGINNING) CHOIR (0530): Choir is made up of two performing groups; Beginning choir and Advanced Choir. In this performance oriented group for dedicated vocal musicians, students will study, sing, and perform a wide variety of music while learning basic musicianship, and rehearsal, vocal, and performance skills and technique. Students will have the opportunity to perform in four major school concerts during the year, perform in the community, and participate in a studio soundtrack recording session and the Disneyland Resort. Other performance opportunities may include caroling during the holidays, and occasional solo performance opportunities. 

 

(ADVANCED) CHOIR (0533): Choir is made up of two performing groups; Beginning choir and Advanced Choir. In this performance oriented group for dedicated vocal musicians, students will study, sing, and perform a wide variety of music while learning basic musicianship, and rehearsal, vocal, and performance skills and technique. Students will have the opportunity to perform in four major school concerts during the year, perform in the community, and participate in a studio soundtrack recording session and the Disneyland Resort. Other performance opportunities may include caroling during the holidays, and occasional solo performance opportunities. Application and audition required

YEARBOOK (9173): Yearbook is a class where staff members learn photography, graphic design, and writing. This is a student-led class where staff members are solely responsible for the creation of the Yearbook. Through the hard work of the staff members, each year this class produces a printed book that captures photos and writing, everything that happened on campus. This class provides real-world learning opportunities and responsibility. Students who are interested in photography, graphic design, and publishing will enjoy the hands-on learning that takes place. Because of the nature of this class, students must be driven, be able to work on a deadline, be able to work with teams and individually, be responsible, and be trustworthy. Application is required. The application can be accessed from the Canvas global announcement.

*All courses are subject to staffing and availability.