Encores
Read about all of the great programs we offer at Belding Middle School.
Art
Tim Patrick
Art I Grade Six
Art I Grade Six is a basic introductory course designed to introduce the student to the elements and principles of design through work with a variety of media and techniques, and to develop the student’s abilities to make critical judgments about art and to understand and appreciate the influences of art from other times and cultures.
Art II Grade Seven
Art II Grade Seven is an intermediate course designed to build upon and increase the student’s knowledge of the elements and principles of design and familiarity with drawing and paining. A continued emphasis on critical judgment is accompanied by an increased focus on two-dimensional expression.
Art III Grade Eight
Art III Grade Eight is a more advanced course designed to expand the student’s knowledge, abilities and critical judgment, to introduce new media and skills, and to emphasize art appreciation and art history.
Health
Lynn Mason
Health Course Session 1
Primarily composed of 6th and some 7th grade students. Session 1 Health is a 12-week class that covers the following areas:
* Safety
* Tobacco
* Alcohol
* Stress
* Hygiene
* In touch With Teens
* Decision making
* Bullying
* Nutrition
* Growing to maturity (reproductive health)
* One week CPR course
Health Course Session 2
Primarily composed of 8th grade students and some 7th grade students. Session 2 Health is a 12-week class that covers the following areas:
* Tobacco
* Alcohol
* Goals/Careers in the health science field
* STI/STD/HIV
* Sports and drugs
* Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth, Ecstasy and Steroids
* Gambling
* In touch with teens
* Eating disorders
* Sleep
* Body Systems
* Growth and development
* Common and noncommunicable diseases
* Environmental Health
Music
George Reusseau
6th Grade
Woodwind/Percussion Class
This class is a year long and is open to students that have signed up for Band. This group consists of students that play the flute, clarinet, saxophone, and percussion. Students must rent or purchase an instrument to use for the class. Written and playing test along with weekly practice reports will serve as criteria for grades.
Brass/Percussion Class
This class is a year long and is open to students that have signed up for Band. This group consists of students that play the trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and percussion. Students must rent or purchase an instrument to use for the class. Written and playing test along with weekly practice reports will serve as criteria for grades.
7th Grade
Band
Band is a full year course in 7th grade. The band will be divided into two groups for the first and second trimester. In the third trimester the two bands will join to prepare for the spring concerts and intro to marching.
Choir
Choir is only offered in the third trimester to any student wishing to learn proper techniques of voice range, support and volume. Basic note reading and composition will be introduced.
8th Grade
Band
Band is a full year course in 8th grade. The band will focus on being a performance-based ensemble with performances approximately every two months. Students will also be encouraged to perform in Honors Bands and District Solo and Ensemble festivals.
Choir
Choir is only offered in the first trimester to any student wishing to learn proper techniques of voice range, support and volume. There will be an increased emphasis on basic note reading and harmonization.
Guitar Class
This class is one trimester in length and is open to any student wishing to learn how to play the guitar. Students will be given a guitar to use for the class. All students will study chord symbols, note reading and tablature. Further study will enhance the students ability to listen and figure out music that they would like to play. The grade is mainly based on participation within the classroom and following directions.
Music Activities at BMS
Tri-M
Tri-M is a National Music Honor Society offered to any student that meets the following criteria:
* Must be enrolled in a music class at Belding Middle School.
* Achieve and maintain a C+ or better grade in all non-music classes.
* Achieve and maintain a B+ or better grade in all music courses.
Tri-M is a service organization that will decide on projects to work on for the enrichment of the Belding Area Schools.
American Issues
John Carlson
The American Issues class at Belding Middle School is an encore class that is offered for one 12-week trimester. It is a social studies class that focuses on important social issues in the United States today.
The main topics covered in the course include:
* The foundational documents that influenced the founding fathers
* The Constitution of the U.S.
* The U.S. Supreme Court
* Civil law
* Criminal law
* International trade and trade agreements
* Violence in the Middle East (Israel, Palestine and Iraqi)
* Global warming
Guided Acadmics
Olga Albert
The Guided Academics class is designed to boost student reading, writing and math skills through supplemental (extra time outside their core subject time) help. The class will use the “Six Traits Writing” strategies to assist students to increase their writing skills. In addition, extra support will be given in this class to encourage students to read books at their level from the Accelerated Reader Program by offering extra time, individual questioning and individual incentives during this class. Hands on and problem solving activities will be used to strengthen mathematical skills. Students will also receive individual assistance in understanding mathematical and other core subject concepts as they work on homework from their core classes. Students will remain in this class for as long as necessary.
Computer Applications
Heidi Armock
6th Grade Computer Applications I
6th graders complete a keyboarding course using the program “Type to Learn 3.” By the end of 6th grade, according to standards set by the State of Michigan, students should be able to type 20 words per minute with 90 percent accuracy. Most students will meet or exceed this goal by the end of the marking period.
In addition to keyboarding skills, 6th graders also build on skills from elementary school in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. They will also begin creating charts and graphs using the Microsoft Excel program.
Students complete a short course in Internet safety, with an emphasis on choosing safe screen names and deciding what information is safe to share online.
6th graders also explore research on the Internet and improve their writing skills using technology.
7th Grade Computer Applications II
7th graders continue to improve their keyboarding skills. The emphasis, however, is on skills in the Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel programs and Internet research skills.
7th graders also begin creating Educational Development Profiles (EDPs). These are documents created online that will help each student to choose a course of study, discover personal strengths and interests, develop employment skills and eventually choose a career path. These will be developed through the Career Cruising program.
Students also complete a short course in Internet safety, with an emphasis on social relationships online and cyberbullying.
7th graders will complete a major integrated project at the end of the marking period bringing together their computer application and research skills using websites and databases available through Michigan Electronic Library.
8th Grade Computer Applications III
8th graders are generally fairly proficient in the Microsoft Office programs. Therefore, they are treated as advanced users of Word, PowerPoint and Excel. There will be a short review of each program, and students will be expected to show their skills through research, writing and creative projects. Students will also work with databases available through Michigan Electronic Library.
8th graders will also complete a short course in Internet safety, with a particular emphasis on privacy issues and e-commerce.
Students will again work on their Educational Development Profiles (EDP’s). In addition to looking at various careers, 8th graders will also explore educational opportunities available in high school and beyond. As a culminating project at the end of the marking period, all students will complete an integrated research presentation on a college or tech school of his or her choice.
Mac Lab
Diane Hevel
8th Grade Video Production Class:
In Video Production class (typically for eighth graders) students will design, develop and present video projects using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. They will learn all aspects involved in video production including scripting, filming and editing. Included in this course is a short unit investigating careers in the Pathway of Business, Technology and Management. The students will use Career Cruising to locate, evaluate and collect information on a career in this pathway and do a 6-Traits informative essay describing the important aspects of this career. The students will also use the Internet to access their daily work posted on MOODLE, our online learning environment.
7th Grade Web & Graphic Design Class:
In Web & Graphic Design class, (typically for seventh graders), students will design, develop, and present a web design project using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. They will learn a basic programming language to create their own web page designs and they will also be responsible for designing some original graphics to be used in their web pages. The students will use the Internet to access their daily work posted on MOODLE, our online learning environment, and they will also use an school email account through GAGGLE to communicate with each other and other audiences specified by the teacher.
6th Grade Multimedia Production Class
In Multimedia Production class (typically for sixth graders) students will design, develop, publish and present multimedia projects using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. They will become proficient in these iLife Applications: iPhoto, iTunes, GarageBand, iMovie and iDVD. They will also use the Internet for a research project to locate, evaluate and collect information and ideas from a variety of sources. The students will use the Internet to access their daily work posted on MOODLE, our online learning environment.
Spanish
John Carlson
Spanish is an encore class at Belding Middle School. It is a one-trimester course that is 12-weeks long. The primary goal is to expose students to the Spanish language as well as the culture of many Spanish-speaking countries.
Any student can be in 6th or 7th grade Spanish. Eighth grade students need to be nominated by Mr. Carlson (or their parents can ask for them to be in the class). At the end of 8th grade Spanish, students can take a test (the high school midterm exam) to try to receive credit for semester 1A at Belding High School. Students will have the option to enroll in Spanish 1B if they pass the test with a grade of a C+. Students may still take Spanish 1A – even if they pass the high school midterm exam.
The primary topics that we cover in middle school Spanish in 6th and 7th grades:
* Greeting, introducing and saying goodbye to people
* Numbers from 0 – 100
* Days and dates
* Telling time
* Weather expressions
* Colors
* Rooms in a home
* Ordering food and menus
* Describing which sports and activities you like
The primary topics in 8th grade include allof the above material plus:
* ar verb endings
* er/ir verb endings
* the verbs estar, ser and tener
* adjective agreement
For more information contact Mr. Carlson at (616) 794-4476.
Physical Education
Lynn Mason
Physical Education is offered to all students at Belding Middle School. Each class runs for 12 weeks. Seventh and eighth graders must change for class each day and have the appropriate shoes. There is no time to shower since the class periods only last 45 minutes. Sixth graders do not change for class but must have clothes and shoes that are appropriate for activity.
All students are expected to try every activity that we do. They earn their grade based on such things as cooperation, sportsmanship, behavior, and effort. Activities include cooperative games, fitness tests, and sports, and more. Soccer, football, volleyball, and basketball are some examples of sports kids might get to try.
We can guarantee success in physical education to all students who cooperate, participate, and show respect.