Elective/ Specialized Courses
Individuals and Societies is a personal empowerment class inspired by the International Baccalaureate learner profile that builds strong 21st Century Skills. Students will explore how individuals simultaneously shape, and are shaped by, diverse societies in creative project based lessons which build academic, personal, social-emotional, practical, and technological readiness. Students are equipped in a challenging and supportive environment to become successful and confident, both personally and as leaders, through establishing a creative, clear thinking, confident and open-minded approach to real life applications and opportunities to play a positive role in our global society.
Exploration in Technology uses project based learning to program computers to create video games, Android applications, and robotic solutions. Students then learn how to create/edit digital music/photos/videos, and how to use Microsoft Office apps like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Finally, students select paths of interest in HTML/web-page development, cyber-security, networking/wi-fi, Java programming, or career research.
In this course students will gain skills in one or more of the following areas: page design, copy writing, editing, photography, social media, and marketing while producing a creative, innovative yearbook which records school memories and events. Participants gain useful, real world skills in time management, marketing, teamwork, and design principles.
Note: Yearbook requires in class and out of class work, including attending school activities. In addition, we will have after school sessions during which we will be able to spend extended periods of time finalizing deadlines. These "deadline crunches" will be announced throughout the course of production of the yearbook.
This course provides the student with the skills needed to produce an audience-directed publication. The course emphasizes the research, writing and publishing of a variety of high-interest material for a specific audience. Students will learn about journalistic writing, editorials, news, opinions, features, advertising, and publishing to create their own Mesa newspaper.
The MESA Schools Program fosters early interest in math and science and prepares California middle and high school students for college in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors. MESA provides a unique combination of enrichment activities, hands-on competitions, academic support, industry involvement and a supportive community environment. MESA is nationally recognized for its innovative and effective academic development program for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
Yoga is not just about working out, it’s about a healthy lifestyle and encourages overall health and wellness. The practice of yoga allows students to be still in a world consumed with chaos. This course will teach students the basic postures of yoga, proper alignment, basic anatomy, and proper breathing in yoga. Additionally, students will be taught how to develop their own yoga sequence, which can be practiced at home or anywhere, as a life time fitness tool. Basic health education will also be incorporated into the curriculum.
