Arts-Centred Learning at Willow Park School

Arts-Centred Learning at Willow Park School
     Grade 8 Parent / Guardian Authorized Complementary Course Form
                                     2018-2019

As a learning-in-and-through the arts school, our complementary courses
provide opportunities for you to take up your work as you “think like an
artist”. You should be able to identify what “thinking like an artist” looks like
for you when choosing your complementary course this year.

To sign up for Complementary Courses, students must complete both:

   ● ONLINE REGISTRATION

   ● PARENT / GUARDIAN AUTHORIZED COMPLEMENTARY COURSE
     FORM (with parent signature and returned to the office)

Students will take three or four complementary courses, depending upon whether
they are enrolled in Band (full year).

Please follow all of the instructions below to ensure that your child is enrolled in
complementary courses for next year. We require a completed Parent
Authorization Complementary Course form to finalize your child’s registration.

   1. Please read each of the complementary course descriptions on the attached
      sheet carefully.
   2. INDICATE your choices on the reverse of this form and then register online
      (must be the same choices). Online Registration needs to be completed by
      clicking the link on the Online Complementary Course Registration Link
      found our WPS website.
   3. Make your selections based on personal interest and educational value
   4. Rank all complementary courses in order from most interested to least
      interested
   5. Parent and student must sign and date the Parent Authorized
      Complementary form.
   6. Return (signed) to the Main Office by Friday, May 18th, 2018.

We will attempt to give students their highest priority of complementary courses
when possible. Students requesting Band or French as one of their top 4
requests will be placed in that complementary course. Final allocations and
course offerings will depend upon factors such as prompt return of Parent
Authorized Complementary Course form, equitable class size, safety, staff
allotment to the school, and the availability of staff and facilities. The Parent
Authorized Complementary Course Form will be used if there is a discrepancy with
online registration or when considering any requests by the student for course
changes throughout the school year of 2018-2019. Students must remain in
selected complementary courses for one week before filling out a Complementary
Change form, signed by parents and returned by Thursday, September 20th, 2018.

Student last and first name: _________________________________ Current Home Room ______
                                            (Please Print)

                 Willow Park School Arts-Centred Learning
                 Grade 8 Parent Authorized Complementary Course Form
                                       2018-2019

Please indicate your interest in the following courses by ranking them from 1 (most
interested) to 15 (least interested). All courses must be ranked. If you would like
Band it must be in your top 5. Use a number only once. Form will be returned to
student if not complete. Parent / Guardian signatures must be in ink.

#               Choice                    #              Choice                       #           Choice
       Art – First Semester                      Art - Second Semester                      Band (full year)
       Drama - Character                         Drama - Story                              Dance
       (first semester)                          (second semester)
       Excellence in Sports                      Fashion                                    Foods
       French                                    Guitar and Digital Music                   Leadership
       Multimedia                                Robotics                                   Yoga
       Outdoor Education
                PLEASE USE ONLY BLUE OR BLACK INK (NO PENCIL for signatures)

Student’s Signature: __________________________________                                                Date: _______

Parent / Guardian Signature: ____________________________ Date: _______
____We have filled out the online registration    ____My child needs to fill out the online registration at school

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY- Do not fill this section in – the office will do this section.

                                                                   COMPLEMENTARY COURSES

       SEMESTER 1

       SEMESTER 2

Willow Park School Arts-Centred Learning
                  Grade 8 Complementary Course Selection Form
                                  2018-2019
Art First Semester
During this semester, students will complete a number of great projects! You will create
two sculptural projects; one with clay, and the other with wire. These will be either glazed
or painted. Each student will create a stunning scratchboard artwork. These are usually
a big hit with both students and parents, and are often framed or given as gifts. Students
will learn the two-point perspective drawing technique and apply it to a project. Students
can request to take both Art courses.

Art B Semester One
Students will continue to expand on their knowledge of art skills and mediums through a
variety of two and three dimensional art activities emphasizing the elements and
principles of art and design. Art history and criticism will also be explored through their
own art and the art of others. Projects will be different each term. Students can request
to take both Art courses.

Drama Character Development (first semester)
This course will be more focused on working with different forms of physical theatre as a
major process to develop character. Both Drama 8 classes will start the year with a script
challenge to test their skills to understand, analyze and bring to life a collection of lines
from several scripts. Students then will switch gears by applying Laban’s method to
categorize movement to bring strong physical and emotional characters to life from short
comedy scripts in the Scene Study Unit. Then they will became immersed in various
techniques for developing and maintaining character, to support their physicalization of
Commedia Dell’arte characters. Students will improvise shows from the traditional
framework of Commedia summarized scripts. To perform Commedia Dell’arte characters
students will have to be okay with being 100% engaged and committed to their
characters, physically, vocally and emotionally. At the end of the term students will
explore unarmed stage combat. Students can request to take both Drama courses.

Drama Story Development (second semester)
This course will be more focused on developing the actor’s voice and understanding of
story in both improvisation as well as in Shakespeare. Both Drama 8 classes will start
the year with a script challenge to test their skills to understand, analyze and bring to life
a collection of lines from several scripts. Students will begin working with Shakespeare,
through various scenes that focus on a power imbalance between characters. This
Shakespeare unit is meant to connect to their humanities based Romeo and Juliet
projects. Students will also work with understanding and developing accents and perform
a short scene in a student chosen accent. Then students will experience Improvisation in
both Theatre Sports and Long Form formats. Students can request to take both Drama
courses.

Band 8 (full year)
Band is all about making music, having fun, and building confidence in the world of
instruments! A large selection of instruments is offered for students to enjoy. Some
experience playing instruments and reading music is highly recommended. Students will
be given the opportunity to inquire about, discover, arrange and create music in several
genres. Instruments can be rented from the CBE for the year. The band activity fee
helps to pay for music events and clinics.

Guitar and Digital Music 8
Have you ever wanted to play the acoustic guitar and record your own music? In this
class, students will be given the opportunity to learn introductory guitar skills and
techniques along with both TAB & chord-based music. They will collaborate with other
players to create unique songs, sounds and eventually digitally record some music over
the course of the term. No prior experience on any instrument is necessary – just come
ready to jam!

Dance 8
In this exciting class, students will get the opportunity to study 2 units of dance that may
include: Jazz, Hip-hop, Lyrical, Latin, Modern, Bollywood or African. Students will learn
technique specific to the styles of dance they are studying and then use the technique
that they have learned to choreograph their own routines. There will be opportunities to
see both recorded and live performances of dance and learn what elements contribute to
a well-performed dance. Students will explore the rich history of dance through a
research project. A positive attitude and willingness to participate will ensure success in
the class. It should be noted that performance is a mandatory element of this class.

Yoga 8
This will be one of the most relaxing and beneficial classes you will ever take. Through a
variety of activities you will experience the many benefits of yoga and mindfulness. As we
work through the physical poses, you will experience greater strength and flexibility,
create and work towards personal goals, learn strategies to help with sleep and pain, and
achieve overall greater general health. Through breathing and mindfulness exercises you
will learn strategies to cope with stress and anxiety, develop greater focus and attention
and learn how to self-regulate. This course will also help to increase body and self-
awareness and improve self-esteem. You will be given time for self-reflection and will
learn to develop a yoga practice that suits your needs. There will be opportunity to work
with partners or small groups to build community and make new friends. There is no
experience necessary - all students will be warmly welcomed. Namaste!

Leadership 8
This inspiring, challenging and life-enhancing course helps develop important leadership
skills that are valuable for acquiring success in our society. Students will gain experience
volunteering in our school and community and will be expected to complete at least 15
hours of volunteer work. This course is an excellent opportunity for each student to feel
empowered to make a positive impact on student life in our school and our world.

Multi-Media 8
Multimedia offers students a diverse experience in areas like: photography, animation
and video production. You will use a variety of software programs in the production of
your multimedia projects. The focus on foundational knowledge and skill building will help
students communicate their ideas through many areas.

French 8
This course aims to develop your knowledge of French language and culture, from
beginner to advanced, through artistic exploration. Through the use of conversation,
movement, and visual media, movies, food and cooking, students will explore and
experience French art, artists, film, and drama while developing their use of French
language. Some units include: Cuisine, Animals, Artist studies and more!

 Robotics 8
This course will offer an in-depth experience with robotics, but no experience is needed.
Students will explore the history of robotics and applications. Students will build robots to
specifications and focus on the design process. Once students are comfortable, they will
design robots that will solve simple to complex problems and consider the greater
implications of how robotics may be utilized to improve the quality of life in developing
and developed countries. Lastly, students will engage with some of the philosophical
questions surrounding artificial intelligence.

Foods 8
The students will be taking an inquiry-based approach to foods this year. Their guiding
questions for the project will be: “How do people celebrate? What makes a celebration?
What foods are common to certain celebrations? How do people prepare for special
events?” Food is a constant in celebrations around the world. Students will become event
planners and design a celebration. They will research different types of celebrations and
the food involved in the celebrations. Students will: design and create celebration/party,
create menus, create/prepare food dishes, reflect on their process and products of
creating their celebration and cooking the foods from it.

Fashion 8
The students will be taking an inquiry-based approach to fashion this year. Students
research options for reusing textiles and preventing clothing and other fabric items from
ending up in landfills. Using researched information and their own creativity they design
and create an item that is at least 50% reused textiles that would otherwise have been
thrown away. They will also create a project that involves studying a brand and creating a
fashion item (a piece of clothing, an accessory, or a home décor item) that incorporates
the student’s own brand or logo.

Excellence in Sports 8
This course will help students develop their understanding of the human body as it
relates to improving sports performance. This class will comprise both theoretical and
practical components, including anatomy/physiology, cardiovascular fitness, muscular
strengthening and conditioning, nutrition, injuries and prevention as well as flexibility.
Students will have the opportunity to improve specific skills in specific sports.