Middle School Electives

Similar to a book club format, books will be read and reflected upon with classmates. May be taken as often as desired.

An opportunity to learn a variety of cooking skills. Students make and serve treats during the Christmas and Spring music programs. May be taken only once.

The basics of home financing and the stock market are covered in this practical, life skill-building class.

Students will work on units such as running, yoga, and circuit workouts.

This elective is required once a semester and features various physical activities.

Students will learn the use of iMovie to create unique projects including commercials and travel videos with the use of green screen.

Students are introduced to basic knitting-cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch, and how to read a pattern.

Students learn and develop programming skills based on lego builds and then program their builds to complete tasks.

• Songwriting & Production: Students learn songwriting techniques and music production.
• Instrumental: Students learn about a variety of instruments and genres of music.
• Vocal: Students will sing in 2-4 part harmony; they will sing at school masses.
• Advanced Rock Band: Tryouts only – additional class. Class would be during Monday&Wednesday Study Halls.

The school newspaper offers students an opportunity to learn about the foundations of journalistic practice, and to produce the St. Dennis newspaper. Students will work independently as well as in groups to produce both in print and online formats with students developing their abilities in interviewing, writing, reporting, editing and publication skills to keep our school community up to date with current events.

At least two projects are completed during a semester as students learn the basics of sewing.

Students will learn to read, write, and speak Spanish, while also learning about the Spanish speaking cultures. If students complete Spanish 3, he/she will have the opportunity of taking Spanish 2 at the high school level as a freshman.

Students will learn how to organize and present different types of speeches to help boost their confidence and improve public speaking skills.

• Students will work in small groups to solve problems and complete hands-on experiments in at least two of the following areas each week – science, technology, engineering, religion, art, and mathematics.
• Advanced: Students who have previously taken a STREAM class may sign up for Advanced STREAM.  This class offered in the Spring Semester uses the skills learned in STREAM to build a Rube Goldberg contraption.  Teams will work together and enter their contraptions in the annual Contrapt Wisconsin Competition held in late spring in the Milwaukee or Madison area.  There is a $10 fee for this course.
  
  

Students are invited to this class, typically taken as extra support to assist in building academic skills.