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
Jennifer DiSpirito
Lynn Mason
Health Course Session 1
6th Grade Content Area
* What is Health and Wellness? (Health triangle, social, emotional and physical health)
* Skills for a healthy life (decision making strategies, goal setting,building character)
* Alcohol Prevention
* Tobacco Prevention
* Violence Prevention
* Communicable and Non-communicable Disease(common cold, flu, cancer)
* Safety (dog, home, fire, environmental hazards)
* Growth and Development (hygiene, puberty, physical and emotional changes)
* Disease Prevention
* CPR
7th Grade Content Area
* Mental and Emotional Health (disorders, causes of stress, coping with loss)
* Mental and Emotional Problems (suicide prevention, seeking help)
* Relationships the Teen Years (friendships, communication skills, refusal skills)
* Conflict Resolution (you be the judge, letting off steam)
* Physical Fitness and Activity (BMI, fitness goals, aerobic and anaerobic exercise)
* Nutrition (food pyramid, calorie counting,planning meals and snacks)
* Tobacco Awareness
* Drug Awareness
* Goals
* Reproductive Health
8th Grade Content Area
* Promoting Social Health (Realting to community, family, communication skills)
* Conflict Resolution (T.A.L.K strategy, unnecessary roughness, handling anger)
* Violence Prevention (dealing with conflict, “I” messages, bullying and harassment)
* Body Image (eating disorders, pressure to be perfect, managing weight safely)
* Drugs (misuse and abuse, medicine safety, refusal skills)
* Personal Care and Consumer Choice
* Body Systems (skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive)
* HIV and AIDS Prevention
* Reproductive Health (cost of parenting, the LAW, disease prevention)
* Environmental Health
* Goal setting and Careers
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.
Compass Learning
Compass Learning is an encore class that uses the Compass Learning Odyssey program for math or English language arts. This online program provides innovative and personalized technology-delivered academic activities designed to accelerate learning in reading, writing, and mathematics. Each student will work on activities tailored to their own level by using diagnostics activities to determine where more help is needed. Each class will meet in a computer lab and will be monitored and led by a certified BMS teacher. Each class is limited to 20 students. Please visit compasslearning.com for more information on the Odyssey program.
Computer Applications
Diane Kuhn
6th Grade Computer Applications I (MAC Lab)
In Computer Applications I, (typically for sixth graders) students will work on a MAC computer platform. Students will explore creative ways to design, develop, publish and present multimedia projects using the technology resources available. They will be introduced to these MAC iLife Applications: iPhoto, iTunes, GarageBand, iMovie and iDVD. Students will complete a short course on Internet safety. They will also learn how to improve their research skills as well as their writing skills using technology. 6th graders will also work on developing proficient keyboarding skills using the program Edutyping. Most importantly, the students will use an online classroom called Chalkboard to access their daily work, take online quizzes, upload work to turn in and participate in discussion forms.
7th Grade Computer Applications II (MAC Lab)
In Computer Applications II, (typically for seventh graders), students will work on a MAC computer platform. Students will learn about the World Wide Web and how to create web pages. They will complete a short course on Internet safety, with an emphasis on social relationships online and cyberbullying. 7th grade students will also have a Gaggle email account to communicate with each other and other audiences specified by the teacher. 7th graders will continue to improve their keyboarding skills using Edutyping. They will also begin creating Educational Development Profiles (EDPs) which are documents created online using Career Cruising. The EDPs help each student choose a course of study, discover personal strengths and interests, develop employment skills and eventually choose a career path. Students will use an online classroom called Chalkboard to access their daily work, take online quizzes, turn work online and participate in discussion forms.
8th Grade Computer Applications III (MAC Lab)
In MAC Applications III, (typically for eighth graders), students will work on a MAC computer platform. Students will explore several creative aspects in producing videos using the MAC platform and iLife applications. Students will also explore advanced uses for Microsoft applications: Word, PowerPoint and Excel . After a short review of each program students will be expected to demonstrate their skills through research, writing and creative projects. 8th grade students will be expected to complete a short course on internet safety, with a particular emphasis on privacy issues and e-commerce. Students will work on their Educational Development Profiles (EDP’s) using Career Cruising. 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. Students will use the internet to access their daily work, online quizzes, and discussion forms posted on Chalkboard, our district’s online learning site.
Advance MAC Applications
In MAC Applications III, (typically for eighth graders), the curriculum will focus on designing, developing, and presenting video projects and school wide broadcasts using the MAC lab. The primary function and focus for this class will be producing a daily news broadcast. The students will communicate these curriculum concepts to audiences inside the school and outside the classroom on the district website. Students will learn all aspects of video production including scripting, filming and editing. The students will be responsible for completing weekly news assignments, short commercials, Public Service Announcements, interviews, and special reports. On a daily basis the student news team will have important deadlines to meet and will be responsible for the news airing on time each morning. Students will use the internet to access their daily work and resources. They will use the internet to collect research for news worthy events, and use Chalkboard, our districts online learning site, to take quizzes, download/upload work online and participate in discussion forums.
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
Jennifer DiSpirito
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.