Animation
This course is broken into two semester-long units: Digital Cartooning in the Fall, and Digital Game Design and Programming in the Spring. All work will be done on computers, and after a series of exercises and tutorials, will get the opportunity to create their own original cartoons and video games. Most lessons are in a video format, stored on the classroom server, so all students can learn at their own pace, and review lessons as many times as they like. This is a highly technical artform, so students are strongly encouraged to complete Computer Foundations and Geometry prior to enrolling.
Desktop Publishing
A year long course that teaches students how to develop graphic design publications for print. Students will learn to use Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop to create print publications. That includes: Flyers, Yellow Page Ads, Newsletters, Logos, Magazine Ads, and Magazine Covers. Students will also be exposed to career resources while completing career related assignments. Students will also gain better organization, communication, and problem solving skills through completion of course requirements. Students interested in careers in business, marketing, or advertisement could benefit from this course. Students will also utilize Google Docs for collaborative purposes. An emphasis on project base learning will run through the entire course.
Environmental Studies
Sustainable Practices:
Students will investigate and comprehend the various concepts of a sustainable society and community. Through identifying sustainable practices they will gain an understanding of the importance and techniques to maintain a balance for a healthy life, healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet. Topics are taught through hands-on project-based activities, placed based learning, guest speakers and films.
Advanced Sustainable Practices:
Students will delve deeper into issues of Sustainability building upon their knowledge from prior years in the Environmental Studies Program at MHS. Students will investigate and comprehend the various concepts of a sustainable society and community. Through identifying sustainable practices they will gain an understanding of the importance and techniques to maintain a balance for a healthy life, healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet. Topics are taught through hands-on project-based activities, placed based learning, guest speakers and films.
Career Technical Education
Course Offerings
Business Department
EL (English Learner) Keyboarding (9th-12th)
A year long course for beginners to computer operations. Students start the year learning how to type. Correct fingering by touch and good techniques will receive primary emphasis; speed and accuracy will be given secondary emphasis. The student will demonstrate correct touch keyboarding techniques at the keyboard and use appropriate terminology to identify computer components. Students will demonstrate eyes on copy, correct fingering, good techniques, and appropriate posture while operating the keyboard. This course will also prepare students for the next course in the Business Pathway which is Computer Foundations. Students will be exposed to the Microsoft Office Suite. That includes, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Publisher, and using the Internet for class projects and research.
Career Technical Education Teachers
Business
Bao Alderson: balderson@srcs.k12.ca.us
Catherine Paine: cpaine@srcs.k12.ca.us
Green Construction
Zeke Gifford: zgifford@srcs.k12.ca.us
Animation
Chris Schloemp: cschloemp@srcs.k12.ca.us
Video Production
Steve Forrest: sforrest@srcs.k12.ca.us
Environmental Studies
Melissa Matson: mmatson@srcs.k12.ca.us
Video Production
Video Production is a project based course which introduces students to the basic principles of visual communication. Working both singly and in groups, students create a wide range of video projects, including profiles, public service announcements, commercials, news features, music videos, etc. Reliance on the professional workflow of preproduction, production, and postproduction is emphasized, with intensive experiences in planning and storyboarding, shooting, and editing. Students gain experience with camcorders, lighting and sound equipment, a variety of support devices, and pro level software, including Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Through the creation of video projects, students develop their skills, experience, and knowledge as these relate to excellence in visual communication and working with others.
Green Construction
Introduction to Green Construction
This course will combine hands-on activities such as woodworking, metalworking, framing, site work and landscaping with math and visualization skills such as drawing and modeling.
The goal is to give students a realistic view of what a career in the trades or a profession like architecture or engineering might look like. Early in the semester we will look at the hierarchy of construction, explore the various professions and trades and take part in activities that teach skills necessary for jobs within those fields. We will look at pay scales and requirements for pursuing a career in design, manufacturing or construction. Through projects, we will gain basic thinking and hands-on skills that are applicable to those jobs.
There will be an emphasis on developing safe efficient work habits. Good habits can last a life time. By the end of the year, students will be able to identify, understand and be able to safely operate each tool and piece of equipment in the shop. We will start by gaining proficiency with hand tools before moving on to machinery. We will also prioritize using recycled materials when ever possible. By the holiday break, students will be able to identify materials, know how to sort and re-use materials or where to take them for re-use or proper disposal. The Montgomery shop is a place where other people on campus come to borrow tools, get things fixed and get help building projects. Green Construction students take great pride in helping their peers with mechanical issues as well as building stage sets or furniture for other departments. We want to pursue these kind of authentic projects and even reach out into the community in the future.
Advanced Green Construction
Prerequisite: A passing grade in both semesters of Intro to Green Construction, or an A or B in one semester of Intro to Green Construction.
Students in Advanced Green Construction will explore the siting, design, construction operation and maintenance of green buildings, and other structures like roads. With these factors in mind students will design and build some small green buildings that we intend to sell in order to fund our consumable costs. With the goal of creating small, off-grid structures, Advanced Green Construction students be introduced to both passive solar as well as photovoltaic solar power. Skills attained in the introductory class will allow advanced students to work more independently and have the freedom to choose their own projects as time permits. More emphasis will be put on group work, oral presentations and visual communication including an introduction to Computer Aided Drafting ( C.A.D.)
