Physics Applications – Engineering

This course is the second term of 9th-grade science following the Physics Foundations course. It offers students an opportunity to further their understanding of physics principles through engineering. Throughout this course, students delve into the practical application of physics, specifically focusing on engineering principles such as design, fabrication, and iteration. Students engage in hands-on exploration and experimentation, applying data analysis and feedback to inform their engineering designs. Topics covered include electricity and circuitry, providing a foundation for understanding how these concepts drive engineering innovation. Prerequisites: Physics Foundations. Honors level offered only with departmental permission.

Photography

This course spans photographic processes from the first camera to the darkroom, to the DSLR, to digital post-production Adobe Tools. As photographers, students will learn to observe light, color, and composition to better understand how to make a photograph. Reflecting, discussing, and thinking critically about the world of photography will lead to deeper ideas. Prerequisites: Visual Art Foundations or by the recommendation from the Visual Arts Department Head.

Student Directed Project – SDP

A Student-Directed Project empowers students to do an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest throughout the term.

The student designs, plans, and leads their research project in collaboration and with the guidance and support of a coach (faculty advisor). It allows students to delve deeper into their passion and to be the designer of their own learning. There is a wide range of Student-Directed Projects; they are multi-disciplinary, non-linear, and most importantly, student-created and led.

That’s what makes them so interesting.

Here are some examples of past projects:

• Creating an architectural model using 3D architectural software
• Through their eyes: Photo and interview series of veterans
• Robosub electromagnetic linear accelerator
• Acoustic pinger for Robosub
• Virtual Reality game for visually-impaired persons
• Creating a concept album
• Dispute: Landlord-tenant board game
• Multimedia journalism: Producing a podcast series
• Perplex: English and Theater Study
• Sensors and fiber optics: Building a fiber optic dress
• Haptic technologies: Force-Feedback Virtual Reality
• Applications of integrals to analytical continuation of functions

Beatmaking and Electronic Music

This course is for students who are interested in creating electronic music and is open to both beginners and those with experience in music production. Through a series of independent projects, students will utilize these tools to create their own beats and express their own artistic vision. In addition to creating their own music, students will gain an understanding of the origins and cultural impact of pivotal electronic music throughout the term including hip-hop and house music. The class will cover various facets of digital music, focusing on recording and editing in Abelton Live, and the science and technology behind electronic music production. Students will also have opportunities to share, discuss, and analyze electronic music that they choose themselves. No music experience is necessary. This course can be taken more than once and at the Honors level with permission from the instructor. One Term Course No prerequisite

Beginning Guitar/Piano

Have you always wanted to learn how to play the guitar or piano? Did you teach yourself how to play a few chords, but want to take the next step? This practical, non-performance-based course is designed for students with little to no previous guitar/piano experience. After choosing to focus on either piano or guitar, essential skills are taught in a fun, supportive setting that allows students to develop at their own pace. The idea is to get you playing right away. Chord-reading and note-reading are taught to both pianists and guitarists so you can work with chord charts or written sheet music. By the end of the course, you will be able to play simple popular pieces, including songs that you choose yourself. This course can be taken more than once. One Term Course No prerequisite

3D

Learn the foundational process to explore your ideas in three dimensions. Instruction will cover a range of materials, tools, and techniques in the intersection of design, craft, and building things you can use. This includes introductions to ceramics, plaster, resin, woodworking, and 3D scanning/printing.  Regular discussion of The World of Art and Art History will provide context for our work. Critiques, documentation, and presentation will be essential elements of the class to help your skills. Prerequisites:  Visual Arts Foundations or by the recommendation from the Visual Arts Department Head.

2D

This course dives into the materials and methods used by two-dimensional artists. We will explore the techniques needed for drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, and digital art and learn how artists develop ideas for their work. Working with a wide range of subject matter, by the end of the term, you will have a good sense of your interests in art and be able to design your own project.  Prerequisites: Visual Arts Foundations or by the recommendation from the Visual Arts Department Head.

Choreography Foundations

This studio style course takes a look at how we create movement in dance and some of the tools used to build cohesive choreography. Students will experiment with movement using a range of dance elements, movement techniques and concepts. Over the duration of the course, this practice of building a movement vocabulary and “toolkit” will develop a greater sense of body awareness, self confidence, and skills to support their creative process. There will be opportunities to present original student compositions throughout the year. Prior dance experience is not required. This course can be taken more than once and at the Honors level with permission from the instructor. Students interested in taking more than one art class should reach out to the registrar or the Head of Performing Arts to discuss possible options. Depending on sign ups it could meet in E block, 3 terms OR in the rotation, 2 terms. No Prerequisite Required.

BVR 101

BVR101 provides the necessary information for 9th graders as they become familiar with all things Upper School. Through this program, students will learn about the opportunities, resources, and adults who are available to them in the Upper School. Every 9th-grade student will meet one-on-one with an Upper School counselor and a Hiatt Center representative as part of this program. Furthermore, students will be equipped with fundamental skills, ranging from computational skills to time management, to get them launched in the Upper School. BVR101 will take place during E-blocks from Tuesday through Thursday.

Foundations of Design/Tech Theater

In this introductory course, students will begin the year using design projects and games, practical activities and scene work to develop storytelling skills. Students will learn about the design and production aspects of theater and specific script analysis tools. Practical hands-on stagecraft is taught in the various theaters and theater-related spaces such as the scene shop and control booth. This course meets with the Foundations of Theater class, and it is meant to give students an overview of the major components of theater including acting, technical theater, public speaking, and script analysis. Students interested in taking more than one art class should reach out to the registrar or the Head of Performing Arts to discuss possible options.

Two Term Course

This course is a recommended course for students entering the Upper School Theater Program.

Arts Activities

Spring Musical: The musical is a one-term mainstage, process-to-production experience. Students are cast through acting, dancing and singing auditions. The cast works throughout the rehearsal process to bring the play to fruition using music, dance and character development to tell the story, alongside the technical theater and costuming students. Placing equal focus on the process as well as the product, students build collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills as well as performance skills. Students entering this process should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment.  Rehearsals are each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Past shows have included In The Heights, Hairspray, Rent, and Dreamgirls. This activity counts towards the fitness requirement. Participation in the play will be confirmed following auditions. Spring Musical - Technical Theater: Spring Tech Theater is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice Technical Theater skills related to the public performance of the Spring Musical Activity at Beaver. This activity is open to both experienced and inexperienced technicians; it includes on-the-job training which prepares students to take on necessary challenges. Technical theater roles may include stage management, run crew, set, props, lighting, projection, and sound production. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. Spring Tech Theater offers dedicated students a chance to build essential skills such as effective communication, problem solving, organization, iteration, and leadership. Past shows have included flown scenery, turntables, projection mapping, sculpture, prop building, and textured scenic painting techniques.  Spring Tech meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Based on the size of the crew and production needs of the play, participation will be confirmed during the first week of the term. Spring Musical - Costume Construction and Design: Spring Costume Construction and Design is a one-term, production-based activity related to the public performance of the Spring Musical Activity at Beaver. The term begins by focusing on script and character analysis to inform the design and construction process and then students bring the play to fruition alongside the performers and technical theater students. Past projects have included pattern making, construction, fabric painting, jewelry making, and hair and make-up design and execution. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment.  Spring Costume Construction and Design meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances.  Visual Art Workshop: Visual Arts Workshop is a place for all student artists to explore their own creativity and find new ideas and techniques. Through instruction and peer feedback, students will hone their existing artistic skills while being introduced to a range of themes and concepts. There will be opportunities for directed peer critique for those that are ready for intense constructive dialogue. Students will also have an option to formally display their work on campus. Meets in the McElwain Studio, Monday through Friday 3:45 - 5:00 pm.

Arts Activities

Winter Play - Experimental Theater Project: The Experimental Theater Project is a workshop style, student-driven process, exploring various theater styles and immersing students in the experience of creating a piece of theater. Recent topics have included Theater of The Oppressed, Comedia del Arte, Neofuturist, Immersion Theater and Radio Plays. In this unique theatrical experience, plays may be devised or taken from source material. The term culminates in three public performances. Placing equal focus on the process as well as the product, students build collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills as well as performance skills. Students entering this process should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment and collaboration.  Rehearsals are each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Past projects have included The Boal Project, 30 plays in 60 minutes and The Arte of Comedy. Participation in the play will be confirmed following auditions. Advanced Theater - Technical Theater: Winter Tech Theater is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice Technical Theater skills while working on the Advanced Theater Production. This activity is open to both experienced and inexperienced technicians; it includes on-the-job training which prepares students to take on design, production, and devising challenges. Technical theater roles may include stage management, run crew, set, props, lighting, projection, and sound production. Winter Tech Theater offers dedicated students a chance to build essential skills such as effective communication, problem solving, organization, iteration, and leadership. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. Winter Tech meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Based on the size of the crew and production needs of the play, participation will be confirmed during the first week of the term. Advanced Theater & Winter Musical - Costume Construction and Design: This is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice costume design and construction skills while working on the Advanced Theater Play and the Middle School Musical. The term begins by focusing on script and character analysis to inform the design and construction process and then students bring the play to fruition alongside the performers and technical theater students. Past projects have included pattern making, construction, fabric painting, jewelry making, and hair and make-up design and execution. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment.  This activity meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances.  Dance: This activity is open to all students, from the novice to the advanced dancer, who are interested in exploring dance through a variety of styles including (but not limited to) Jazz, Funk, Musical Theater, Modern, and Latin dance. In this workshop-style class, dance skills will be practiced and key performance concepts will be discussed. The daily routine will include warm-up and stretch and movement drills with a focus on improving coordination, balance, efficiency, strength, flexibility and rhythm. Performance routines will be developed over the course of the term. This activity meets daily from 3:45pm-5pm and counts towards the fitness requirement. Visual Art Workshop: Visual Arts Workshop is a place for all student artists to explore their own creativity and find new ideas and techniques. Through instruction and peer feedback, students will hone their existing artistic skills while being introduced to a range of themes and concepts. There will be opportunities for directed peer critique for those that are ready for intense constructive dialogue. Students will also have an option to formally display their work on campus. Meets in the McElwain Studio, Monday through Friday 3:45 - 5:00 pm.