Middle School Electives
Hesby Oaks Middle School proudly offers a variety of academic, artistic and creative electives to augment the core academic programs for its young scholars. Click on one of the tabs below to read all about it!
Computer Science
The 7th/8th grade computer elective serves as a pathway course for those who want to take their computing to the next level. The students will focus on three main pillars of game design: coding (with Python scripting), artwork (with Inkscape and Piskel), and sound engineering. In the middle of the second semester, they will use what they’ve learned to band together into five-person teams and create their final project: a computer game. Built from the ground up, their games use no presets and no fill-in-the-blank code- every sound, image, and control in the game is created by the students.
This is a wonderful challenge for those students who are looking for something a little bit different and want to create something they can point to with pride and say, “I did that! I made that!”
Drama
The play is the thing!!! Whether you are new to the stage or have been performing your entire life, this drama class will awaken, enable, inspire, and energize the actor within you! This year long course spends the first semester learning improvisation, acting through monologues, scenes and one-acts, the history of theater, and mini-lessons in stage-craft (lighting, sound, directing, sets/scenery, costuming, make-up/hair, props, stage managing, and publicity). In second semester, all students will both act and produce a full-length play applying their craft and leadership into a spectacular production performed for the entire school, family, friends, and community!
Leadership
It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s fun and rewarding! We start with our school, then our community, then our country, and take it out to the world. Be the Change that you’d like to see in our world. …helping our school – Mix-it-Up Day, Dances, Spirit Days, Themed Lunches – anything you can dream up to help our friends and our school. Helping our community as Teacher Assistants or as volunteers for food drives, toys for the children’s hospital, clothing drives (Sock Hop), Books for students at other schools – and more. Helping our country and the world we live in – Raising money for cancer research, ALS, New Orleans flooding and supporting clean water resources, education, and jobs for others that need through Free the Children, with WE Schools…and more. Hesby’s Online and Social Media and all event advertising is up to us too. We need your creative, fun, excitement to lead us to even better ideas and help make them happen. Did I mention YEARBOOK? Yes, YEARBOOK – we’re doing that, too! Those of you interested in Leadership will be asked to fill out a short application as well. See your teacher for a copy.
STEAM
Do you like hands-on projects? Do you like art and technology? Do you enjoy puzzles and games? Do you like to work with your hands and build things? Then STEAM class is for you! In STEAM class (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) we do many different projects, IN CLASS, throughout the year. Projects will include, art, robotics, technology, construction, music, and games, to name a few. STEAM is also home to the Hesby Robotics Team who will compete in the Mulholland Robotics League against other local middle schools.
Marine Ecology
Flip-flops, snorkels, swimwear, sunscreen and sunglasses!!! Marine Science class is where you are! Explore the ocean! The ocean is a unique place, and Marine Science represents a special opportunity to learn about the least-explored place on Earth. Learn how sea life interacts with their environment. Come sail away with us as we explore the 7 seas! We will survey the ocean, study marine ecology and human impact on our finite ocean resources. Learn about the unusual creatures and monsters when you dive under the sea. Use technology like ROV’s (remote operated vehicles) as your tool to undercover the mysteries of the ocean and to present and communicate solutions to human impact on the marine environment. Get connected by joining competitions, marine causes and programs. Take care of the school recycling program and school garden. So stay fit and learn to swim, snorkel and dive! Get your feet wet and plunge to study oceanography and marine ecology!
Forensic Science
Flip-flops, snorkels, swimwear, sunscreen and sunglasses!!! Marine Science class is where you are! Explore the ocean! The ocean is a unique place, and Marine Science represents a special opportunity to learn about the least-explored place on Earth. Learn how sea life interacts with their environment. Come sail away with us as we explore the 7 seas! We will survey the ocean, study marine ecology and human impact on our finite ocean resources. Learn about the unusual creatures and monsters when you dive under the sea. Use technology like ROV’s (remote operated vehicles) as your tool to undercover the mysteries of the ocean and to present and communicate solutions to human impact on the marine environment. Get connected by joining competitions, marine causes and programs. Take care of the school recycling program and school garden. So stay fit and learn to swim, snorkel and dive! Get your feet wet and plunge to study oceanography and marine ecology!