SCHOOL MEETING
School meetings are just as good as the people in them. It’s the only time everyone gets together to find out what’s going on. It’s the only time everyone brings out his or her complaints about the school. It’s finding out what people think about things, what they want, and what they think will improve the school.

MATH
Do what you need to do if you’re ever going to add up to anything.

TURN AND BURN
Are all good writers off the deep end of reality? We will explore the connection between creative writing and mental illness, and question whether the writing process has healed or compounded authors’ pain. Trace the lives of these artists and ponder the meaning of, “ I’m Nobody! Who are you?” -E.D.

PHONIC TONIC
An examination of the world of words: their history, meaning and
function. Words are power.

READY TO GO
To college, that is. How do you know if you should even go to college? What will college be like when you get there? Answers to these questions and more will be addressed in class.

AUTOS
It’s your life. In this class, we’ll write about our lives.

WOMEN IN THEIR BODIES
“In our culture, many women learn to live outside their bodies, not in them (Scott & Derry 2005).” This course is designed to address the objectification of women’s bodies and the effects on our thought processes and lives. We will use physical activity, journaling, and a selection of readings to explore how we can live in our bodies. This class requires participation in physical activities (possibilities include yoga, snow shoeing, rock climbing, running).

HOT TOPICS
Learn the skills of logical thinking and empathizing with others’ perspectives as we discuss current issues in the news. Students will supply many of the debate topics as we work toward being critical readers of emotionally charged subjects.
“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence.” – R.F.

SPIRITS
2-3 An examination of spirituality and its role in our lives.

LIZARD'S LUNCH
Hey you! Put down the ramen and forget about that microwave dinner. It’s time you learn the basics to make yourself sufficient in the kitchen. We will explore healthy eating, and yes, you will have to try new things. So roll up your sleeves and pick up a spatula. Just don’t burn the garlic!

DREAMS
We no longer need Freud and Perls. We’ll spend the entire time sharing and interpreting our dreams.

DIVERSITY OF LIFE
This class will start with the beginning of life on earth and move through the classification of the unique and unbelievable forms of life on earth. Much of the class will focus on the characteristics of the kingdoms of organisms and how these characteristics allow the species to survive.

WINDOWS
How do you see the world? More important is how you would like the world to see you. We will be creating our own windows of ourselves in three dimensions and installing them in a gallery. These windows will allow others into our experiences and reveal a bit of ourselves in the process. This is a project-based class. We will be focusing all of our attention on one masterpiece.

PORTRAITS
You will learn some basic techniques for drawing portraits. Most of class will be spent practicing our skills by drawing a diverse mix of people and ourselves. You do not need to be a great artist to take the class. You only need to be willing to try something new and be open to seeing people in a different light.

REVIEWERS
Students who have a real appreciation for cinema are welcome to join “Reviewers.” This class will analyze classic feature length movies along with a lesser known short film. Please keep in mind this class will require some writing!

AARTVARK
We live in a community of high-density art possibilities in which there are numerous museums. In these museums, one can find a plethora of artistic installations that explore concepts of identity. Join us in sampling some of these creations while experimenting in our own artistic identities.

THAI BOXING
Otherwise known as “Muay Thai,” Thai boxing is the national sport of Thailand. It is known for its conditioning, safe training methods, and effectiveness in the ring. We’ll use focus mitts and Thai pads to create a total-body workout, while learning to deliver and defend blows including punches, knees, elbows, and kicks. The wisdom in Thai boxing is learned through sweat—there is no other way! Bring gym shorts or sweat pants, and be willing to work hard.

GENETICS
In this class we will explore the science of heredity: how traits are passed from parents to offspring. We will look at heredity on multiple levels: genes, chromosomes, cells, the whole person, and populations. We will also study the related topics of stem cell research and cloning. Time will be spent researching our own traits and how our genetics affect who we are and our lives. We will also discuss and reflect on ethical issues that arise from these topics.