Middle-School Electives.

Chinese-Mandarin II
Mrs. Rachel Yang - Instructor Mrs. Yang is an experienced Chinese language teacher who also teaches Mandarin at UCSD. She is a seasoned educator who has taught language to Middle School students for over ten years in the US and China. This is a critical language and culture course and offers the opportunity to learn the language of the future and have an edge in our global economy. The course includes geography, language, and culture of China, and the dynamics of international politics and trade with the east. Students have the chance to have a Chinese student as a pen pal. How exciting!

Leadership
Dr. Linda Kelley - Instructor Dr. Kelley studied leadership at Harvard under the tutelage of the greatest minds in this field. Many of the authors of Leadership books were her professors at Harvard. Not all leaders are the same but all leaders have similar characteristics. Learn what it takes to be a leader and create opportunities in your life to step into a leadership role. Take charge as you find out how to run for office, win elections, speak in public, and develop agendas as you organize and lead important meetings.

Science Math AP Prep
E2K Mrs. Pat Paluso - Instructor This is an enrichment program for students who are talented, interested and motivated in mathematics and science. Designed to stimulate excellence, enhance knowledge and improve skills, the curriculum is integrative, problem centered and inquiry based. Mathematics and science are integrated to develop problem solving strategies and new ways of thinking. The next unit Sky Rocketing into Space introduces students to the world of spaceflight and was chosen by the current participants.

Money Doesn't Grow on Trees - Economics
Mrs. Kristine Schneid - Instructor The math elective, Surviving on Minimum Wage in Scripps Ranch, is a project-based class based on Barbara Ehrenreich's experiment in her novel "Nickel and Dimed" in which she attempted to survive on minimum wage in various cities in the U.S. Students simulate her experiment in Scripps Ranch, the location of our school. The goals of the project are for students to learn the value of education, to experience the life of a minimum wage worker, to see first-hand how mathematical concepts and skills are used in everyday life, and whether or not it is possible to survive on minimum in the Scripps Ranch area. This class is designed for the motivated math learner.

Tech Exploratory Club
Mr. Lyford Rome - Instructor In this course, students get to push the limits of their tech knowledge! Here they learn the secrets of software stardom! Do not fear - they are trained on using their newly acquired super powers for good instead of evil!

Successmaker Math
Mrs. Brosnan - Instructor Success...accomplishment, attainment, breakthrough, fulfillment, excellence, joy.... Maker... enabler, creator, builder, discoverer, motivator, achiever, catalyst. Each student has a learning program continuously tailored to personal needs; all students progress at their own level and pace and are free to achieve within the security of their own private learning space.

Advanced Judaics - Talmud
Rabbi D. Smoller - Instructor Talmud is the traditional legal analysis of halacha (Jewish law). Talmud class students build critical thinking, debating skills, and a deeper understanding of Jewish court proceedings. The subject matter is from the tractate of Bava Kamma, which deals with damages, personal injury, theft, and robbery. The classical commentaries Rashi and Tosfos are used to enhance the subject matter. Talmud is an honors class and for motivated learners desiring to sharpen their analytical skills.

Jewish Philosophy and Psychology
Rabbi Motte - Instructor This course offers a glimpse into classic, authentic Jewish texts on philosophy and psychology, including The Tanya, The Kuzari, and Rambam (Maimonides).

Arts
Woodworking
Taught by craftsmen Bill Kelley and Simcha Silverstein In 2005, Mr. Silverstein’s woodworking class built a fully upholstered sofa from scratch that was auctioned at our gala for over $2,500.00 Mr. Bill Kelley is a highly regarded woodwright who spent a year and a half as apprentice to master woodwright Doug Lamont in the mountains of Billings, MT. This is a very hands on and interactive project based class that covers project planning, crafting skills through installation. This quarter’s project is to design, scale and build a child-sized synagogue for preschool students.

Glass Fusion
Ilanit Shalev is a well- versed artist who works in the field of jewelry making and glass fusion. Ilanit has her own line of jewelry and has been teaching glass fusion and art for over 8 years While residing in Portland, OR, she studied at the “World Center” and perfected her craft in transparent and opaque glass. Her influences vary from Judaic history, a passionate study of colors and the knowledge of crocheting. Eastern and Western World influences have played a major part in her creations and her work can be found in various galleries across the west coast and Israel. Her unique and one of a kind jewelry consists of materials such as crochet with gold/gold filled/silver wire, gemstones, fused glass and beads. What does fused glass mean? Students learn how to cut glass using different techniques.Students create a colorful tile that they design themselves and then begin work on a larger project. The theme is the Jewish holidays. In this stage students learn the design process starting with sketching their ideas on paper then moving on to full production, including firing and the kiln.

Athletics
Coach Austin Olsen - Instructor This elective is for students who like playing team sports. This class places a heavy emphasis on preparing students for interscholastic competition against other schools. Sports include: soccer, basketball, baseball, football and hockey.

Bar Mitzvah Club
A step-by-step program will help prepare young boys for this rite of passage into manhood. It includes exciting, hands-on activities, Shabbatons, Judaism for all levels, as well as workshops on Jewish heritage and Torah reading. Please call (858) 547-0076 to register.

Bat Mitzva Club
Open to all Jewish girls ages 11-to-13 years, this club teaches girls the joys and responsibilities of Jewish womanhood. One of the many values is how to cultivate a sense of inner and outer beauty. Students tell us it has been the source of many new friendships and the inspiration for fantastic Bat Mitzvah speeches at its many activities that include weekend Shabbatones. The free class is available every Tuesday, from 3:45 to 5 p.m. One-on-one tutorials for older women are also offered.

Rosh Chodesh Club
Each new Jewish month is celebrated in a unique way so that students associate fun and learning to Jewish culture. The month of Adar - for example - is connected with the symbol of fish. So students connect to create sushi as a way to enjoy the new month. Every month has a different, creative way for students to connect.

Give and Get Club
This club teaches middle schools students to value mitzvahs or good deeds by connecting it to fun or relevant activities. For example, students send packages regularly to American soldiers in Iraq or members of the Israeli Defense Force. Students also have fun helping others as when they made special Purim packages for the Children's Hospital wards. But after they "give," students also "get" with special bi-monthly events such as pizza parties or tours to the Jewish section of Los Angeles.

Birthday Club
Middle school students create special packages to celebrate every student's Hebrew birthday. These include psalms special for each month, some money for tzedakah, hand-made mugs as well as candy, paper horns and balloons.

Special Days Club
This club teaches students about the "smaller" or lesser-known Jewish holidays such as TuBeshvat, or the festival of the trees, and Purim "ha-katan," which happens when the Jewish year has a leap year, with an extra month of Adar. Activities include making packages, gift bags and creating presentations.

Aleph Club
This weekly club is for all Jewish children in grades K through 3. It is a fun introduction to Judaism. Weekly workshops ensure that children have a positive Jewish experience they will never forget. It is offered Wednesdays, from 4 to 6 p.m. Please call (858) 547-0076 to register.