The Sharon Academy

The elective program is offered with the intention of providing students the opportunity to explore aspects of education not necessarily covered in the core curriculum. Some electives may be compatible for academic credit—this is an important consideration for students who plan on participating in a semester or year-long program outside of TSA. The state of Vermont requires 4 years of English. Please meet with Kimberly Barnhart kbarnhart@sharonacademy.net if you have any questions regarding credits.

Students are encouraged to keep the big picture in mind when considering their options so that all requirements are anticipated, thus avoiding the "senior scramble" to collect studio art or physical education credits. Also important to note is that all electives, whether graded or pass/fail, will be included on a student's transcript. 

Below is the schedule of electives offered at TSA for the 2009-2010 school year.  This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

 

Category	MP I	MP II	MP III	MP IV
Art	Digital Photo*	Yearbook*	Drawing/Painting*	Comics*
	TASC Art*	Quilting*	Architecture*	Fashion*
	Intro to Art S*	Intro to Art S* Art		Sculpture*
Drama	Play Actors	Intro to Theater	One Act Play
Technology	TASC physics	Software Programming
	Tech Theater
Music	Play Band
Physical	Physical Fitness	Weight Training	Winter Recreation	Trail Running
		Get Out! Yurt	Backcountry Skiing	Soccer
				Fencing
Academic	Plato’s Republic	Elexhibition	Snowboarding	Garden
	Strategy Games	French Literature	Cultural Perspectives	Apocalypse through Film and Literature
	Driver’s Ed.	Bio Bus S Hayden	Bio Bus S	Poetry
	Astronomy		Financial Literacy	Driver’s Ed
			Medical Case Study	Fishing
			Model U.N.	Strategy Games
			SAT Prep	Automechanics
				Videography
				Performing Childhood

Below is a complilation of elective descriptions for the first marking period at TSA.

Third Marking Period High School Elective Choices:

Fees: Some electives have associated fees (marked by “$FEE$” after the title). Do not let a Fee be an obstacle!  Please contact Christa Wurm at cwurm@sharonacademy.net if you have issues or questions. 

 

 

·      *Beginning Architectural Design;   Instructor: Jim Wick

o   There will be three design projects (problems) in this class, requiring different amounts of time: a primitive classroom, a playhouse and a house in a 20 foot cube. The basic purpose of this class will be to concentrate on the aesthetics (visual qualities) of each problem.  This is not a class about drafting, computer graphics, building structure, construction practices, mechanical systems, or energy use; these are very important issues, but for another setting.  This class will be a chance to relax, have fun, and concentrate on the “Architecture” of architecture.  There may be light homework. Requirements: This class will have a prerequisite of Intro to Art next year, but has no pre-requisite this year.

·      *Drawing & Painting; Instructor: Laura Perry

o   Life drawing, observation drawing, perspective drawing and acrylic painting on board. 

·      One-Act Play;   Instructor: Charlie McMeekin

o   All students who sign up for this elective will be involved in the production of the one-act play. Auditions for lead roles will be held shortly before the beginning of the third quarter. Elective time is actual rehearsal time as we prepare to participate in the Vermont Drama Council's one-act play festivals. Requirement: Students are required to attend the festival on March 13^th.

·      Driver’s Ed

o   This will be offered 4^th Marking Period

·      BioBus;  Instuctors: Hayden Thomsen and Spike Carter

o   Its time to kick it green style and give TSA some sweet wheels.  TSA needs transportation and what could be better than a 15 passenger short bus that eats french fry grease!  This elective will involve fundraising, design and construction of the oil feeding system as well as the pre-use oil filtration system.  We also need to get the bus and give it some TSA style!  You don't need to know anything about anything for this elective.  If you're psyched, we’re psyched. Lets make this happen! 

·      Winter Recreation; Instructor: Kevin Wilcox

o   This elective will offer a sampling of outdoor winter sports. Activities will include winter hiking, snowshoeing, ski touring, winter mountaineering and an introduction to ice climbing. We will also delve into winter camping and survival skills. Ideally this class will incorporate an overnight camping trip. Students who sign up for this elective should be prepared to be physically active in cold weather. Requirements: Owning gear, like skis and snowshoes, is a plus but not a necessity. However, participants will absolutely need appropriate clothing, handwear and footwear.  Additionally, a signed permission slip will be required.  

·      Snowboarding $ FEE $; Instructor: Jeanine Meyer

o   The snowboard elective is a new and exciting way to get your physical education credit if you love to ride!  If you want to take this elective you must consider yourself an intermediate snowboarder (comfortable riding blue square trails) and be interested in bettering your ability and developing your knowledge of snowboarding as a competitive sport.  No one will be required to compete, but will learn and practice Freestyle, BoarderX racing and Slalom racing to the best of their individual ability. No one will ever be pushed to try something beyond their comfort level.  We will leave promptly at 12:45 every Tuesday and Thursday and remain at Whaleback Mountain until at least 3:15.  Students who have been on honor roll in the 2009-2010 school year may obtain a season pass for Whaleback for $99.  If not, $150 covers you for all the Tuesdays and Thursdays for the entire marking period, unless you already have a seasons pass and then you’re set! Requirements: All snowboard equipment, helmet; availability from 12:45 to after 3:15 (will not be back to Sharon at 3:15); additional payment for seasons pass/lift tickets ($99-$150); and a signed permission slip   

·      Back Country Skiing; Instructors: Ben Ryan, Steve Faccio

o   THIS IS ONLY FOR EXPERIENCED SKIERS/SNOWBOARDERS!  This is an elective for those advanced skiers tired of resort skiing who want to improve their skills by exploring backcountry “non-resort” skiing around TSA.  The course will be focusing on wilderness first aid, winter shelter building, avalanche safety and winter navigation.  We will be filming ourselves in action to analyze and critique our form and style in order to advance ourselves as skier/snowboarders.  As a group we will create our own ski video to be shown at Thursday Night Cafe for a final project.  Requirements: Everyone must wear a helmet and, if a teleskier, knee pads.  A signed permission slip is required.  THIS IS ONLY FOR EXPERIENCED SKIERS  OR SNOWBOARDERS!  

·      Model United Nations $ FEE $; Instructors: Seth Goodwin and Stephanie Gergely

o   Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations in which students become country delegates, serve on UN committees, and work to solve some of the most complicated issues facing today’s international community.  Our elective culminates at Dartmouth’s Model UN conference on April 9-11.  Students in this elective must be available to attend the entire conference.  The elective itself is preparation for the actual conference.  On the first day of the elective students will select a country and a UN committee and will thus become UN delegates.  Then, each student will research two topics that have been chosen by the Dartmouth conference organizers and will write a position paper about each topic from their country’s perspective (2-3 pages each).  These papers are then submitted to the Dartmouth organizers and form the foundation of the debate that takes place at the Dartmouth Model UN conference in April.  In the last two weeks of the elective, we make final preparations for the actual conference by running debate simulations, looking at how to write a resolution, and becoming familiar with UN debate protocols.  At the Dartmouth Model UN conference students step into the role of UN delegates and begin to debate the topics they researched during the elective.  While playing their roles as delegates, students make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, and resolve conflicts - all in the interest of mobilizing international cooperation to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world.  Requirements: $30 fee required to register for the Dartmouth Model UN conference.  Students in this elective must be available to attend the entire conference.

·      Cultural Perspectives $ FEE $; Instructor: Florence Tolbert

o   The themes we will cover are: the clash between tradition and modernity, World War II as seen through the eyes of children, and how people's lives can influence others.  The movies we will watch include The Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, Au Revoir Les Enfants, Life is Beautiful, Run Lola Run and Amelie. Expect to be graded on your research and on the presentations you will give to support the themes we will cover. Requirements: The approximate price of the required book is $5. If this is a hardship, please let Flo know. 

·      Topics in Healthcare:  From the Civil War to Grey's Anatomy; Instructor: Marcus Coxon

o   Interested in medicine, how doctors think, and what really goes on in hospitals?  In this elective, we will use patient case studies and self-guided learning to explore diseases and conditions, including infections and sports injuries.  Each week we plan to have a guest speaker or a field trip.  We will explore the history of medicine (Why was the Civil War important in the development of modern medical practice?), and what goes on in a modern hospital lab.   We will look into public health (How was smallpox eradicated?), and into how our pop culture views doctoring (Does Grey's Anatomy get it right....?!).  This elective will function as a tutorial group with up to eight students.  For each session, students will be finding information, and bringing it back to the group so that we all learn together.  Depending on group interest, we may close the quarter with a mini career day, and the chance to meet a medical student and people in different professions in healthcare. 

·      Study Hall; Instructor:  Louise Caldwell

o   This is a not for credit class.  Add four hours a week to your time to study in a quiet, supervised space. Requirements: Students who wish to take this class must submit a written outline detailing how the four hours weekly will be used to Louise. 

 

 

 

Questions?  Please email Christa Wurm.  To sign up for electives email cwurm@sharonacadem.net.