Core Plus Department

One of the most important things middle schools are charged with today is getting students high school, college and career ready. One of the ways we do that is by exposing our students to an array of elective type classes that offer our students the opportunity to explore various disciplines such as - Art, Computer Science, Physical Education, World Languages, Music and STEM.

Physical Education

Our Physical Education Curriculum utilizes the Michigan Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum - MI-EPEC, developed and supported by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports.

Your child is involved in a physical education program that is not only comprehensive, but also grade level specific. The children are guided to goals, objectives, and benchmarks which are designed for their grade level.

Our students are provided with subject knowledge, fitness attitude, and a good mix of fun through quality physical education which will last them for the rest of their lives.

Physical Education provides skills that will last a lifetime

S.T.E.M

T. L. Handy now has STEM classes as part of our Explores Department. STEM stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics. We are excited to welcome Mrs. Particka, who is the new STEM teacher. In these classes, students will learn collaboration skills and technical skills related to STEM through the many hands-on projects they complete throughout the year. Various technology will be used.  Topics in these classes will range from testing water quality to computer engineering. Students taking this class will learn to complete objectives and solve problems that happen in our everyday life.

World Languages

Ms. Schubert - Spanish language instructor

Mrs. Elder - German language instructor

Our World Language Curriculum introduces the Spanish and German languages and cultures our students. Emphasis is placed on holistic language development, which integrates the skills of listening, speaking, writing and reading with exposure to other cultures. Your child will become familiar with important national holidays and celebrations relevant to the language they are studying. As a result of this program, your child gains an understanding of other cultures in relationship to his/her own. Because of this, foreign language study promotes cultural diversity and encourages global-minded thinking.

As a result of this course, your child will improve his/her ability to:

  • Follow directions in a foreign language
  • Respond appropriately to questions in a foreign language
  • Respond to oral and visual prompts
  • Identify vocabulary related to thematic units
  • Comprehend thematic vocabulary in readings
  • Label items
  • Copy familiar words and phrases
  • Construct teacher-directed projects
  • Recognize cultural differences
Art

The visual arts enrich life and are essential to practical and creative decisions. Art is an integral part of the general education curriculum as well. Through Art instruction students progressively learn about:

  • Creating Art - Students will progressively learn and apply the elements of art (line, shape, color, texture, space, form, value) and principles of design (movement, pattern, contrast, emphasis, balance, proportion, variety, unity) to their work. They will experiment with a variety of manipulative skills and techniques, and explore ways to incorporate these new skills to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings in their art. .
  • Art Media - Students will use a variety of art media including but not limited to: DRAWING MATERIALS - pencils, pastels, chalk, crayons, markers , PAINTS- acrylic, tempera, watercolor, 3-D, printmaking inks, 3- DIMENTIONAL MATERIALS- clay, plaster, paper mache, fibers/yarn, found materials, craft materials, and COMPUTERS- art web sites, art programs to create art.
  • Art Appreciation - Students will create and learn about art of different styles, cultures, societies, and time periods. Master artists and their masterpieces will be studied and emulated in student work. Students will find and study connections between the disciplines of mathematics, social studies, language arts, science, music, technology, and art.

The HMS art instructor is Ms. Seal.

Music: Choir

Our music programs provide classroom and performance skills that are designed to help students grow musically, intellectually and socially. Students are introduced to concepts such as pitch, rhythm, timbre, form, beat, dynamics and style.

The Bay City Public Schools' Music Curriculum was created by Bay County Music Instructors through the BAISD and contains standards addressing:

  • Performing
  • Creating
  • Analyzing in Context
  • Appreciation in Context
  • Making Connections between the Arts and Other Areas
Music: Band

Band is a three trimester course.  Performing in all concerts is manditory.

Music is on this earth for people to enjoy. Learning to play an instrument can be very challenging and enjoyable. In order for one to be able to enjoy making music in a band setting, he/she must first learn to read the language. One of our goals for a student involved in band at the middle school level is to be able to read and understand musical notation. There is also an artistic side to music. Music, like art or poetry, is used as a means of expression. Like many great musicians have said, "Learning to play the right notes at the right time does not make music. Music must come from the heart."

Our music programs provide classroom and performance skills that are designed to help students grow musically, intellectually, and socially. Students are introduced to such concepts as pitch, rhythm, timbre, form, beat, dynamics, and style.

The Bay City Public Schools' music curriculum was created by the Bay County music instructors through the BAISD, and contains standards addressing:

  • Performing
  • Creating
  • Analyzing in Context
  • Appreciation in Context
  • Making Connections between the Arts and Other Areas

HMS Music Department instructors include Mr. Vanderveer, Ms. Keenan, and Ms. Hughes.

Drama

Drama emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. Areas covered in depth include: theatre vocabulary, roles in the theatre, movement, acting, the reading of plays, theatre design and tech, and viewing theatre performances. Students will be creating projects throughout the year in groups just as they would encounter in the professional theatre world.