In the Park Academy High School Program, students are able to choose between the following elective courses. All elective courses can count toward standard high school diploma credit requirements in the form of general electives or specific subject area requirements. The frequency and scheduling of courses are subject to change based on staffing and student needs. Although we make every effort, we are not always able to accommodate first choices based on those schedules.
The following electives are currently offered:
Art (Gena Fields)
High School Art develops organization through works of art. Students focus on the creative process as they express themselves through their own work and an exploration of the works of others. They experiment and develop skills through a variety of mediums, techniques and reflective processes. Students who have had art experience in the past may be placed in advanced art based on teacher recommendation.
Requirement Category: The Arts
Careers (Chris Devers)
This class focuses on life and job readiness through career exploration, interview process, resumes, and skill development.
Requirement Category: Careers & Technical Education
Global Leadership Studies (Chris Morrison)
In this class students study the characteristics of people, past and present, and scrutinize whether their traits, be they virtues or faults, so that we may analyse the best and worst aspects of decision making and leadership throughout human history.
Requirement Category: General Elective
Math Support (Dierdre Plaster)
This class will provide additional support to students in their effort to meet the standards of more rigorous and relevant mathematics courses. This course will be taught concurrently with a student’s regular math class, giving extra time and utilizing a variety of strategies to help students build a stronger foundation for success in their current and future mathematics courses.
Requirement Category: General Elective
Music
Students learn about the science and art of music composition and performance through active participation.
Requirement Category: The Arts
Music Production and Podcasting
Students use a program called Soundtrap, to learn skills needed for music production and podcasting. For music production students will use loops to create songs and learn about song form. Students will also learn to use MIDI keyboard to create songs from scratch. For podcasting students will learn editing and recording skills to create their own podcasts. Students will learn about different podcast formats such as interview, documentary, investigative, monologue, and co-hosted.
Requirement Category: The Arts & Technical Education
Robotics (Charles Geier)
Students learn the basics of robotics including construction, physics and coding in a fun, engaging course which involves building robots and competing against peers.
Requirement Category: Careers & Technical Education
Stage Production and Writing (Alisha Christiansen)
Student learn about and develop the craft of stage production through hands-on work with the various elements of theatre including costumes, scenery, props, sound design, lighting design, special effects, playwriting, and projections.
Requirement Category: The Arts
Theater (Alisha Christiansen)
Students develop their performer’s instrument (voice and body) through work with articulation, breathing, physical warm-ups, games, activities, and through various performance assignments including scenes, poems, improv, and plays.
Requirement Category: The Arts
Sometimes electives change and evolve based on student needs and staff training. Although not offered every year, Culinary Arts, Coding, Communications, Philosophy and Videography are often available as High School Electives.