The Career and Technology Education Department offers courses in the following areas: Business/Finance and Information Technologies, Medical Careers/Human Development, Culinary Careers/Food Preparation, Environmental Technology, Integrated Construction, and Graphic Arts/ Publishing. The Career and Technology Education Department offers courses which allow students to explore occupational fields which will influence their educational and employment decisions.Enrollment in these courses offers opportunities for students who will pursue post-secondary education at either the 2 or 4-year level as well as students who will enter employment or the military upon graduation. In addition to providing valuable career information and experiences, courses in Career and Technology Information are intended to provide transferable skills which are useful in both personal and employment situations.The emphasis on technology in these courses, programs, and pathways is intended to reflect transferable skills, competencies and technological advancements which are important components of all career fields. The Career and Technology Education Department is committed to the integration of technology into all of its offerings.

 

 

The English Language Arts Department is responsible for developing, assessing, and supporting effective learning in reading, writing, speaking and listening.   The K-8 Language Arts program emphasizes explicit instruction in strategies that are critical for effective reading, writing and language use across the curriculum.  Literacy specialists in each elementary school provide reading, writing and language support to students and teachers.  

 

 

 

The Mathematics Department is responsible for all aspects of the mathematics program in grades K-12. The department oversees the teaching and learning of mathematics, program review and implementation, curriculum development, assessments, and professional development. The goal of our mathematics program is to meet the needs of all learners so that they become critical problem solvers and reflective thinkers in a diverse evolving global and technological society.

 

 

 

 

This department provides students with curriculum in Physical Education for grades K-8, Health Education for grades 7-8, and Health and Fitness for grades 9 -12. From elementary through high school, students are presented with skills that are appropriate for their level of maturity and development. In Physical Education, students follow the developmental sequence from body management competence to fundamental skills to specialized skills, while simultaneously addressing physical fitness and social skills.  In 7-8 Health, students learn critical skills (e.g. communication, media literacy, resistance, decision-making) through content areas such as substance awareness, violence prevention, mental health, human sexuality, and nutrition.  The high school level offers a required course, Integrated Health and Fitness, for students in grade 9.  Students in grades 10-12 select courses that enable them to acquire skills in activities so that they can continue to make healthy choices and engage in phsyical activity throughout life.  

 

 

 

The Performing Arts Department is comprised of three allied arts: Dance, Drama and Music. Each K-8 school has music instruction for all students in Grades 1-8. Students receive drama instruction in some schools. Elective band, orchestra and choral ensembles begin in grade 5. The Performing Arts Department at the High School has courses in Dance, Drama, and Music. Learning in grades K-8 focuses on the development of those skills and concepts that are centralto making music and performing plays, and on experiencing music and dramatic productions to their fullest. Students are presented with problems that promote artistic thinking and understanding. In music, student learn to sing, play instruments, listen to and describe music, compose music, and critically think about their work and the music of others. In drama, students learn to act, write scripts, analyze and describe dramatic productions, and critique their work. The assessment ofstudent learning and growth is based on performance. As students develop their skill and understanding, they are continually asked to demonstrated their achievement through real life tasks that reflect society's values in the arts. At the High School, the arts experience is viewed as essential for every student's complete development and education. The Performing Arts Department believes that all students can experience the joy of creating and the self-confidence that comes from thedevelopment of skills and the process of performance. The Performing Arts Department is committed to guiding students to apply what they have experienced and learned through the arts to other aspects of their lives.

 

 

 

 

The preK-8 Science/Engineering Department's responsibilities include curriculum development, professional learning for staff, purchasing and disseminating materials, teacher evaluation, and integrating with other curriculum areas.  The goal of the program is to provide engaging, hands-on inquiry curriculum that engages students in their own learning in authentic and relevant ways.  Science and engineering practices are integrated with all content areas, as well as with the Nature of Science (who are scientists/engineers and how do they work?).  The curriculum is designed based on intriguing questions, meaningful story lines, and learning that builds throughout the preK-8 curriculum.  Strong connections are made to literacy in the curriculum via talk, reading (following hands-on inquiry), and writing (with a focus on making claims based on evidence). The High School Science Department serves all students by presenting a well-rounded, sequential and content-rich program in a stimulating and challenging manner.  Each course is designed to have students learn about the physical world in which they live. Skills involving observation, critical thinking, effective verbal and written communication, manipulation of equipment, and applying technology are woven throughout the curricular fabric.

 

 

  

 

The K-8 Social Studies Department creates, supports, and supervises the implementation of curriculum, student learning, and staff development for social studies in grades K-8, particularly regarding new teachers. The High School Social Studies Department teaches a curriculum of required and elective courses whose fundamental purpose is the preparation of young people to live in a democratic society and interdependent world.

 

 

 

 

The Visual Arts Department provides the students in Grades K-12 with a curriculum that allows students to develop personal expression, engage their imaginations, follow their intuition, make choices, and reflect on the outcomes through visual imagery. Students develop artistic skills, observational skills, critical thinking skills, as well as an appreciation of the arts and their importance in all cultures.

 

 

The World Language Department is responsible for coordinating the planning, implementation, management, articulation, and evaluation of the grades K-12 language program. This includes curriculum development, staff development, dissemination of critical and current information regarding the teaching and learning of the World Languages, materials purchased, and where possible, the integration with other discipline areas.