Elective Classes

Athletics - Web Site

Doctor physical IS required This course is for students who want to participate in UIL sanctioned sports. If a student does not make a team in season, they will be in the off-season program. This course is not recommended for students who are unable to run on a daily basis.

PMS Band - Web Site

Students will learn the fundamentals of instrumental music while performing in a variety of situations. Band students will perform at football games, contests, and festivals throughout the year.

Choir

Students will learn to read and perform choral music. Students will learn how to use their voices as instruments. Each class begins with a mini-voice lesson and includes instruction in reading music. Students gain confindence by performing in concerts and competitions throughout the year.

Art - Web site

Students will gain experience and scratch board techniques, mirror etching, sand art, design, plaster wrap, and clay sculpture. They will also learn drawing skills, shading techniques and two-point perspectives. Students will work in a sketchbook to further develop their creativity and imagination.

Theater Arts

This course is designed for students to learn basic acting skills such as improvisation, characterization, preparing a role in stage movement. They are guided through the production process from rehearsal to backstage crews including making the scenery.

Spanish

Spanish I — This constitutes a high school credit. This course provides an introduction to the five "C"s: communication, connections, comparisons, culture, and communities. All students will take a mid-term and final exam that counts 20% of their total grade.

Conversational Spanish — This is an academic course, which focuses on daily Spanish vocabulary used in home, school, and travel. This is a good course to take to experience the learning of a foreign language. This course is also strongly recommended for students who do not have a strong spanish-speaking background and plan to take Spanish I in high school.

AP Spanish - This course prepares students for the AP Spanish Language Examination, and all students entering the course will be expected to take it (if the students are in the 8th grade). Students develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish. The course requires students to read and analyze fiction and non-fiction texts, write compositions, watch and listen to Spanish programming, prepare presentations, practice formal conversation, and expand vocabulary. The course will broaden students’ understanding of Hispanic culture and foster interest in continuing the study of Spanish in college. This course is equivalent to a fifth and sixth semester college course in Advanced Spanish.

Technology Applications

Web Mastering — This constitutes a high school credit. This course will focus on the planning, designing, development, evaulation, and maintenance of web pages. Students will use software application tools from Microsoft and Adobe. Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks will be used to create images, movies, and animations. Digital photos, digital video, and scanned images will be used to further enhance student web pages. All students will take a mid-term and final exam that counts 20% of their total grade.

See http://www.mybookmarks.com/public/kchunter for sites that will be used in this class.

Video Tech — This constitutes a high school credit for 8th graders. The study of technology applications including: video production and editing as well as daily broadcast of school announcements.

See http://www.mybookmarks.com/public/bullard for sites that will be used in this class.

Computer Applications

Students will learn computer applications and foundations including technology-related terms, concepts, and keyboarding skills. Programs utilized will include Microsoft Office Suite 2003, Lego Mindstorms Robotics, and PhotoStory 3.

See http://www.mybookmarks.com/public/bullard OR http://www.mybookmarks.com/public/kchunter.

Physical Education

Physical Education is an elective open to 6th and 7th grade students. Activities include team sports, lifetime activities, rhythmics, outdoor education, fitness, wellness and nutrition.

Expectations for Physical Education Classes: PE INFO SHEET

Fitnessgram Testing 2007-2008

During the 80th Legislative Session, Senate Bill 530 was passed, which requires fitness assessment for all students in grades 3 to 12 starting in the 2007-2008 school year. After a thorough review the Texas Education Agency (TEA) identified FITNESSGRAM as the assessment tool to be used by all districts throughout the state.

Pflugerville Middle School is in the process of fulfilling this requirement. Testing has begun in the physical education classes before spring break.

Parents/Guardians will receive results of their student's physical assessment with their child's final report card.

To learn more about the physical fitness assessment program, visit the FITNESSGRAM website at www.fitnessgram.net. or Frequently Asked Questions.

Health

The health classes are the same as the high school health class curriculum; therefore, students who pass this class will receive the 1/2 credit necessary for high school graduation. The health class is taught in the fall semester, and the fitness class is taught in the spring semester. The fitness class, if passed, will give the student 1/2 credit to be used for PE or as an elective at the student's discretion.

Topics covered in the Health class include: Introduction to Health and Wellness, Self-Esteem, Decision Making, Peer Pressure, and Stress and Stress Management, Mental Health, Violence Prevention, Substance Use and Abuse, Sexuality, Nutrition, Diet Analysis, Disease Prevention, and Environmental and Community Health.The students will also be certified in CPR/AED and receive some training in First Aid.In the Foundations of Fitness class, the students will learn more detailed nutrition facts and more about the body systems, and will learn and practice weight training and aerobic exercises.