Elective Course Descriptions
Music Program - Year Round
BAND - The Cunha Instrumental Department, led by Maria Portello-Swagel consists of three levels: Beginning Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. The Beginning Band is for students who have studied one year or less on their instrument and is mostly made up of 6th graders. The Concert Band is an intermediate group and Symphonic Band is an advanced group for students from 6th to 8th grade with appropriate musical skills. All Bands perform three major concerts each year.
Exploratory Wheel 6th & 7th and 8th Grade Electives
The 6th and 7th grade wheel electives are similar to the 8th grade electives with a more basic content. The exploratory wheel consists of 6 electives that are each 8 weeks long.
ART - In this class, we will do art projects in a variety of mediums. These will include: oil pastels, water colors, art pencils and scratch board art. We will also do a number of crafts including: clay, mosaics, sugar skulls and collaged rocks. We will devote time each quarter to study different artists from the past and present. The eighth grade art course is a semester long class.
SHOP - This course is a basic woodshop class. We cover shop safety, hand-tool and power tool use and learn to build several projects. In this class you will learn to safely operate jig-saws, sanders, drill press and the lathe. After completing some assigned skill development projects you will have the opportunity to design and build your own project. Our students commonly build fine jewelry boxes, small cabinets, tables, chairs and many other fun projects.
MULTIMEDIA (Journalism and Yearbook 8th grade) - You will use digital cameras to take digital photos for use in the Cunha Voice newspaper and the Yearbook/Memory Video. You will make digital movies, earn a press, research news stories and document Cunha happenings from sports to Leadership activities. We work in the Tech Center where you will have access to computers to create your work using a variety of programs including Word, Powerpoint, and Google Earth.
COMPUTERS (6th-7th grade) - Students will learn applications and skills designed to support school performance and prepare them for the digital world.
HOME EC - Home Economics teaches the basics of planning and cooking meals as well as a sewing project. Students will have a Home Meal project where they plan, shop and cook for their families.
MUSIC APPRECIATION - Music Appreciation is a six-week guitar course. Students will learn six basic chords, twelve basic songs, and the notes on the first and second strings of the guitar. Students will examine likes and dislikes of different musical styles, and learn to identify the musical factors that affect those preferences. Students will also learn very basic note and rhythm reading. The guitars remain at Cunha, though students are encouraged to practice at home if they have a home guitar. There is no homework in this course.
DRAMA - The sixth and seventh grade drama wheel class is an elective in which students explore some the many aspects of theater and produce a short performance piece (if time allows). The session may include drama games and improvisation, pantomime, theater history and appreciation, monologue and scene study, as well as offering students the opportunity to evaluate the presentations of others. In addition to all of the above, students may perform for students here at Cunha and may travel to the elementary schools to perform for younger students.
Spanish Immersion
The Spanish Immersion program is a continuation of the program at Hatch so all students in it have been in the program since Kindergarten. The focus here is on more advanced reading and writing of Spanish as well as fluency skills. All the students in the program have been studying Spanish together for seven years.
More 8th Grade Electives
AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination is an elective class designed to introduce and prepare students for entry and success in a four-year college or university. Students will learn the value of an education, organization and time management skills, personal learning styles, the Cornell note-taking system, goal setting skills, as well as reading, writin,g and test taking tips. Students will examine college entrance requirements, financial aid information, and learn how to choose a college or career that is right for them. Furthermore, students will visit three Bay Area universities and hear local business men and women speak to the class about their educational choices and careers.
MUSIC - These students have been involved in the Music Program since Beginning Band in 6th grade and will continue with Concert Band or Symphonic, depending on their skill level.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY - Have fun using technology to produce properly formatted word documents, graphs from data, meaningful audio-visual stories or movies, animations, world-wide travel ideas, cartoons, fun graphics, video games and program robots. A robotics section will be included. You will use Google Earth/Sky/Ocean, Paint, Inspiration, Excel, MS Word, Power Point, Movie Maker, Mindstorms, Stagecast and the Internet.
LEADERSHIP - Leadership is a class offered in the 8th grade. These students host the Friday activities, the dances, make morning announcements, sell dance tickets and do many other activities related to the "fun" things we offer here at Cunha. The class requires a written application. There are spots for about 65 students and well over a hundred apply every year.
Leadership class is described to students as " ..the toughest job you'll ever love..." by their instructor Tom Cox. The Leadership"team" is divided into committees that are responsible for student announcements over the PA system, special events including talent performances and spirit activities, Student of the Month display, intramural competitions, and special "Friday activities." The class offers its students a lot of freedom while working independently and in groups, and requires a lot of responsibility and dedication from the students.