How it Works

The Process

Each year, incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade students request elective choices for the upcoming school year. Each year, students talk over elective and math (for incoming 8th graders) options for thecoming school year.

A form is given to the students to be completed by the parents. These signed forms are brought to the PC Lab on the scheduled day. Stickers are attached and students enter the requests into PowerSchool.

Forms are collected after students complete the Student School Site Council Survey. Students who are absent may turn in their forms to the ESMS office into Ms. Maye's box for processing.

A list of students qualifying for classes with entrance requirements will be provided to the administrators prior to summer break for aide in placement. If you need an any additional forms, please print one from the PDF links below.

Students who lose their forms will NOT be able to request classes during the regularly scheduled times and will be put at the bottom of the request list for the fall.

STUDENTS - Please complete the Site Council Survey on the Daily Bulletin in PowerSchool during your registration time in the PC LA B

SCHEDULING OVERVIEW WITH CURRENT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

FORMS

 

Course Descriptions

Beginning Band

Course Title:
Beginning Band
Department:
Fine Arts-Music
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:

Beginning Band is a music class designed for students who have little or no musical training on a wind instrument including flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, euphonium, or tuba. 

 

Daily rehearsals in class and daily practice outside of class are some of the requirements for the course. Mandatory performances are traditionally held in late fall/early winter and early/late spring.  Curriculum is based on the Standards of Excellence Series - Red Book and selected literature that is aligned with California state standards.  

 

Upon completion of this course, musician will be able to play and perform basic major scales including B flat, E flat, F, A flat and the chromatic scale.  Additionally, musician will be able to demonstrate and perform a solo in the style of Bach.

Intermediate Band - “The Wave”

Course Title:
Intermediate Band
Department:
Fine Arts-Music
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:
Intermediate Band is a music class designed for students who have limited musical training (at least one year) on a wind instrument including flute, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, euphonium, or tuba.
 
 Daily rehearsals in class and daily practice outside of class are some of the requirements for the course. Mandatory performances are traditionally held in late fall/early winter and early/late spring.  Curriculum is based on the Standards of Excellence Series - Blue Book and selected literature that is aligned with California state standards.  
 
Upon completion of this course, musician will be able to play and perform basic major scales and their corresponding minor scales including B flat, E flat, F, A flat and the chromatic scale - in two octaves.  Additionally, musician will be able to demonstrate and perform a solo in the style of Bach and/or an All-State level solo.  Typically musicians will compete in one band competition in late spring.

Advanced Band - “Aqua Tunes”

Course Title:
Advanced Band
Department:
Fine Arts-Music
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:
Advanced Band is a music class designed for students who have at least two years of formal training on a wind instrument including flute, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, euphonium, or tuba
 
 Daily rehearsals in class and daily practice outside of class are some of the requirements for the course. Mandatory performances are traditionally held in late fall/early winter and early/late spring.  Curriculum is based on the Standards of Excellence Series - Green Book and selected literature that is aligned with California state standards. 
 
Upon completion of this course, musician will be able to play and perform basic major scales and their corresponding minor scales including B flat, E flat, F, A flat and the chromatic scale - in two octaves, as well as related but lesser played scales.  Musician will be able to demonstrate and perform a solo in the style of Bach and/or an All-State level solo.  Typically musicians will compete in one band competition in late spring.

GARAGE BAND UNITED/Computer Applications

 
Department:
Electives/Fine Arts
Grade Level:
7-8 only
Course Description:
Tired of listening to the same old thing over and over? Want to learn a new way to study and express your creativity at the same time? Join this semester long class and learn the ins and outs of producing sound for a purpose including podcasts, original songs, and a bit of video editing as well. This class will be shared with a Beginning Classical Guitar class (see below) in which students will be able to learn to play the classical guitar and have the opportunity to compose music as well as using the application Garage Band. 

 

You will be working with clients to produce pieces for use in projects both inside and outside of ESMS, learn to collaborate with students around the world on projects, and along the way, learn to play guitar. This course will be using Garage Band and Audacity to create public service announcements, original songs, soundtracks for movies and segments for both Bulldog Radio, Bulldogs R Us (the new video magazine produced approximately once a month), as well as segments for the upcoming digital yearbook supplement. ($15 lab fee for instructional materials)

 

Beginning Classical Guitar & Introduction to Musical Composition

 
Department:
Fine Arts-Performing Arts
Grade Level:
7-8
Course Description:
 

Have you always wanted to learn to play guitar?  Start learning now with this fun and informative course.  This semester long class serves as an introduction to playing classical guitar and learning how to compose music.  The music composition side of the course will be presented in conjunction with Garage Band United/Computer Applications (see above). 

Musicians will explore parts of the instrument, string designations, tuning, elements of rhythm, music styles (folk, bass line, strumming, blues, classical, and rock) and chord progressions.  Students will learn how to read music and compose music for the instrument.  This is a fee-based course.  Instruments will not be provided.  Each student must purchase his/her own guitar. ($15 lab fee for instructional materials)

MS Choir

Course Title:
Choir-Beginning and Performance
Department:
Fine Arts-Performing Arts
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:
  Choir is a performing arts class designed for students who have little or no training in music vocal production coupled with music history and written expression. 
 
Daily voice exercises in class and daily practice outside of class are some of the requirements for the beginning course. 
 
Mandatory assignments include the participation in schoolwide performances, and dramatic musicals paired with the El Segundo High School students also enrolled in choir. Advanced students compete across the states in music festivals and music in the parks activities.

Festival Choir

Course Title:
Festival Choir
Department:
Fine Arts-Performing Arts
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:
  Festival Show Choir is composed of a select group of auditioned 6th-8th graders who sing popular music, show tunes, and classical music on stage. The festival choir attends festivals in Los Angeles county and performs throughout the year in varies performances in El Segundo. The students audition by singing a song and completing a dance audition to be placed in festival choir. Festival choir is centered around singing and dancing at the same time. Music theory, ear training, composition, music history, and singing is the main focus of the choir. The choir moves at a fast pace and learns 4-6 festival songs per trimester. Any student is able to audition. Auditions are held in May and June of each school year. Incoming 6th graders interested can be auditioned through appointments.

Musical Theatre

Course Title:
Theatre Arts
Department:
Fine Arts-Performing Arts
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:
Take your performing to the next level! Students will learn basic music theatre skills while preparing for a musical theatre performance. 
 
Later in the year, students will write, produce and perform original plays.
There is no audition.

Art

Course Title:
Art
Department:
Fine Arts-visual Arts
Grade Level:
6-8
Course Description:
Art is a visual arts class designed for students who have little or no training in art production coupled with art history and written expression. Daily sketches in class and daily practice outside of class are some of the requirements for this course. Mandatory assignments include the use of several mediums including clay, chalk, paper, pencil, marker, watercolor, oil paints and photography. Each trimester the students also have to research projects that require the understanding of either an art period or the artist of choice.

 

Spanish 1 and Spanish 2

Course Title:
Spanish 1 and Spanish 2
Department:
Foreign Languages
Grade Level:
7-8
Course Description:
Spanish classes at the Middle School level are parallel to the programs offered at El Segundo High School in the year long program. Students who complete these courses are eligible for continuing on the next level if the course completion exam is passed. Students are given priority in to the year long course from 8 th grade on down to 6 th grade. .

Media Moguls (Computer Publishing on PowerSchool) - formerly Yearbook/Journalism/Computer Classes

Course Title:
Yearbook/Journalism
Department:
Information Technology
Grade Level:
7-8
Course Description:
Take your skills to the next level! You will manage the schools' online newspaper, prepare layouts and graphics for the yearbook, manage the ESMS podcast channel while advancing your computer skills. 
 

This class will equip students with the skills, knowledge and know-how in many areas of computer applications. From podcasting to capturing the year in a publishable form, from online game programming, to becoming an expert in word processing, spreadsheet-creating and presenting, students will learn how to share what they know with the world in a variety of ways. Students will debate real world issues in a courtroom setting, prepare for contests, and work with students around the world. This class encompasses three former electives into one -- journalism, yearbook and computer class.

 

Every student will learn computer basics, along with how to create, produce and publish media projects on a variety of topics. Students will produce a yearbook, start and maintain Bulldog Radio, and work on the inaugural Bulldog Magazine that will let the world know what is going on at ESMS. Students will work to help make the learning at ESMS available to all in a more public forum.

 

Students will learn how to write for broadcast and print journalism media, how to manage and put together graphically interesting pages, publish e-books, and work collaboratively and responsibly while observing all intellectual property laws.

Leadership

Department:
Electives
Grade Level:
7-8
Course Description:

The ESMS Leadership class is a year-long elective course designed for students who want to get involved in the planning and implementation of ESMS activities. Students enrolled in leadership will learn the following leadership skills: project planning and implementation, problem solving, public speaking, interpersonal communication, team building, working collaboratively, critical thinking, goal setting and time management.  Leadership students must exhibit an attitude and desire to participate in school activities and show concern for an improved school climate. This course is open to 7th and 8th grade students through an application process.

Global Explorations: 6th grade only

This class will offer enrichment activities for those learners interested in taking the lead and governing their own learning. It will be student-centered, project-based and will utilize collaboration along with communication to encourage creative, critical and innovative thinking. This year-long course will include a variety of projects in different subject areas. The basis behind this course is to allow students to question, create, analyze, debate, research and present information gathered while working with a group of students who are all accomplishing a common goal.  The idea is to give students projects which will focus on real-world application and information relevant to their lives.

 

Math Exploration: 6th grade only (teacher recommendation)

This year-long class is designed to promote success in Mathematics by enhancing and reinforcing the current curriculum. Teachers will strengthen student skills using collaboration, technology, problem solving and manipulatives. This class will assist in building a stronger foundation in the subject area of Mathematics before entering Pre-Algebra.

 

Language Arts Exploration: 6th grade only. (teacher recommendation)

This year-long class is designed to promote success in Language Arts by enhancing and reinforcing the current curriculum. Teachers will strengthen Language Arts skills using enrichment activities which will include collaborative groupings, critical thinking, supplemental materials and technology software. This class will assist in building a stronger foundation in the subject area of Language Arts with a smaller class-size setting.

Academics Topics