FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS

Art

This course gives the students an opportunity to further develop their skills in understanding and creating art projects. Students will express their ideas in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking and ceramics. Concepts in drawing, design and art history will be studied through these various media.

To be successful in this course, artistic ability is not as important as an interest in the subject and a willingness to try. Art 8 is a good background for this course but it is not a prerequisite. Art 9 is an excellent background for students who may be interested in Art 10 and some CTS modules.

Band
Orchestra

Subject to the approval of the music teachers, students may choose one or both of these two electives.  It is recommended that, once begun, instrumental instruction be continued throughout Junior High School. Montrose has sufficient music students that each grade level has its own band or orchestra.  However in most cases, the Grade 8 and 9 Bands and the Grade 8 and 9 Orchestras are combined for concert purposes.

In addition to regular classroom instruction, public performance and festival participation are part of the course.  In general, instruments are the responsibility of individual students.

Choral Music

The Montrose choral program has provided an excellent musical and social experience for many students over the past few years.  The Montrose choir has been tops in the area for the past two year.  This course is designed for students who are interested in and enjoy singing.  Festival participation and public performance at school concerts are required as part of the course.

Drama 

Self-expression and individual awareness and growth will be enhanced through an exposure to the creative arts.  Students will perform in areas of movement, voice, improvisation, and acting. Critical analysis of the performing arts will be encouraged through the use of video tapes, films and play analysis.  Students will also complete a unit in technical theatre focussing on a behind the scenes aspect of drama.  Performance for peers and other members of the community will be encouraged.

SECOND LANGUAGES

French 9

Mission: The new School District program is based on students completing six years of French as a Second Language from grade 4-9.  This will allow successful students to progress to French in high school.

French nine is an academic option that requires serious commitment on the part of the student in order to be successful.  The grade 9 course is a continuation of the grade 7 & 8 French courses and should not be chosen by a student who was not successful in or committed to French 7 & 8.

The course will include a variety of oral and written activities in the following units.

1. Housing
2. Sports and Exercise
3. Community

CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY STUDIES

Communication Technology 8/9

This integrated course gives students the opportunity to learn techniques to create presentation using various media.

Students will spend half of the year completing graphic communications related modules (photography and graphic design) and the other half of the year completing visual media modules (animation and other related video projects.)

The course will include modules in:

• Photography, film and digital
• Video, use of cameras (analog/digital) and editing software
• Graphic design through Printmaking, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and other graphic mediums.

Construction Technology

This course will start with a review of the safety and drafting processes learned in previous years which will then be applied to the projects throughout the year.

Con 1010 – Basic Tools and Materials. Students will learn how to effectively use common tools and materials for construction.

Con1130 – Solid Stock Construction.  Students will build a project using different methods of construction as well as a variety of different power tools.

Con 1140 – Turning Operations.  Students use woodturning tools and techniques to create a spindle type project from solid or built up stock.

Food and Fashion

In grade 9 the students will complete 2 modules in sewing and 2 modules in cooking.

Module 1 – Creating Accessories

Students will briefly review skills learned in grade 7 & 8 and complete 4 samplers.  Students will make an apron.  Approximate cost is $20.00 Please bring the supplies for the first day of class.

Supplies:

• 2 m of cotton or broadcloth pre-washed and dried
• 2 spools of matching gutterman thread
• Quilters pins
• Seam ripper
• Seam gauge
• Marking chalk/marker

Module 2 – Meal Planning for Enjoyment

This module will help students develop an understanding of eating and meal requirements for healthy eating.  Labs may include: breakfast, bagged lunch, hot lunch, dinner, and special occasion meal.

Module 3 – Creative Yarns and Textiles

Students will learn about various yarn and textile projects.  Students will complete 2 placemats - they will need to purchase the supplies with an approximate cost of $15.00.  The second project is cross- stitch - the supplies are provided.

Module 4 – Canadian heritage Foods

Students will become aware of how food in Canada today reflects our country’s history and origins by examining different cultures and preparing foods from these cultures.  Cultures that may be examined include:  Mexican, German, First Nations, French, Chinese, and Ukrainian.

Business 

The goal of Business Nine is to create a learning environment where students have an opportunity to learn the basic functions of business by combining classroom learning with practical experience.  Students who take the business option at Montrose will be exposed to retail store management, marketing, financial management and venture planning. Modules will be presented using the school canteen as a model. The emphasis of the course is on store management, money/finance, ventures, and entrepreneurs.

Students will give up time at noon to run the store.

Forestry and Wildlife (formerly Outdoor Education)

Module 1  Why Forestry?

With the economy of Grande Prairie so integrally involved with the Forest Industry, this module is of particular interest.  It features an investigation into the economic, social and environmental significance of forests, concentrating on the Boreal forest.  Field trips to such local forest industry companies (e.g., Weyerhaeuser, Canfor, Risley, etc.) are also planned.

Module 2  First Aid

Students will receive training in basic first aid.  Those who pass the course may possibly obtain the St. John Ambulance basic first aid certification which can be a valuable asset in many ways including job hunting.

Module 3 &  4  Fishing and Aquatic Environment

This course will investigate the role of recreational fishing in the management and conservation of fish resources.  We will use the Alberta Fishing Education Program as basis for the course.  There is a possible ice fishing trip upon invitation from the instructor.  Some costs to cover transportation will be added.

Information Processing  9

This project based course is designed for students who want to learn and enhance their Web design skills.  Design elements, proper use of colour and graphics manipulation, HTML coding and multimedia integration will be covered.  The students will build their own web sites and publish them on the Web if possible. 

LOCALLY DEVELOPED OPTIONS

Leadership

The purpose of this course is to help students to develop the leadership skills of the students.  Units on: self confidence, communication, goal setting and famous leaders will be covered.  Students also have an opportunity to develop their skills in a practical setting.  Students are responsible for the planning and running the intramural program.  Students organize and run the famous Montrose homeroom competitions.  This course is best suited to those who enjoy working with others and are willing to work hard to make Montrose a great place to be.  Students in this class will be required to give up some lunch breaks