• Spanish

    Spanish is an elective, and a high school credit course. Learning a foreign language at middle school is a good idea, because scholars are younger, and are more receptive to new information, making it more likely to become a lifelong skill. Did you know that about 600 million people around the world speak Spanish and that approximately 13% of people in America speak Spanish? There are many benefits to learning a foreign language. For example, it can boost your short- and long-term memory; excel at multitasking; perform better at math, reading, and standardized testing such as FAST testing; learning new vocabulary and grammar rules, will enhance a better understanding of the English language; and most importantly, it adds an extra edge Pro Tip: bilingual professionals are currently in demand in healthcare, business education, banking, government tourism, and more! Plus, don’t forget, learning a language will also help you understand the diverse world we live in. It is an amazing opportunity to have!

    The following field trips will be offered during the school year: 

    The Dali Museum

    International Day (county competition for world language learners)

    St. Petersburg International Folk Fair (SPIFFS)

    Chorus

    Field Trips -

     Matinée performance at the Straz Center 

     UF in Gainesville (tentative) 

     Gibbs High School to collaborate with Matt Clear 

     vocal workshops at Disney

     Advanced Chorus to High Point Elementary

    Performances 

     All County Chorus

     MPA (Music Performance Assessment) 

     Winter Concert November 20 (tentative) 

     Spring Concert April 2 or April 7 (tentative)

    Band&Orchestra

    Solo and Ensemble All County Auditions

    Concert for Beginners Winter Concert Spring Concert

    Music Performance Assessment

    Middle School Night Florida Orchestra Concert

    Airport performance St. Pete Pier's performance

    Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure

    USF band rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center

    Pinellas County Performing Arts activities

     

    Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics)

    In this hands-on, project-based course

    Students will: Learn to cook safely and creatively in the kitchen

     Explore money management and smart consumer habits

     Design functional and stylish living spaces

     Practice basic sewing and clothing care

     Understanding child development and family dynamics

     Discover career options in hospitality, design, and human service 

     

    Introduction to Business Information and Communication Technology

    The content of this class will revolve around the skills and knowledge needed to pass the industry certification in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, while pairing the content with research and using our field trip to guide us through learning how to use the software. 

    Field Trips:

    -Amalie Arena or Raymond James to tour the business side of sports

    -USF Business Program

    -Spectrum

    -Baynew9 

    -ABC News

     

    Amazon Future Engineer: Essentials – Middle School Syllabus Summary

    Course Overview:

    The AFE Essentials program introduces middle school students to computer science fundamentals, promoting problem-solving, creativity, and real-world applications of technology. Through engaging, age-appropriate lessons and hands-on coding, students build foundational skills in programming, algorithms, and digital literacy.

    Key Units & Topics:

    1. Introduction to Computer Science
      • What is computer science?
      • Careers in tech and real-world applications
      • Digital citizenship and ethics
    2. Coding Basics
      • Understanding algorithms and sequencing
      • Block-based coding (e.g., Scratch or Blockly)
      • Introduction to text-based coding (Python or JavaScript)
    3. Programming with Purpose
      • Creating animations and games
      • Debugging and improving code
      • Project-based learning
    4. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
      • Basics of AI and how it's used
      • Exploring data and smart technologies
    5. Engineering Design Process
      • Planning, testing, and improving tech projects
      • Working in teams to solve real-world challenges
    6. Capstone Project
      • Scholars design and present a final coding or tech project that reflects their learning and interests.

    Skills Gained:

    • Basic coding and computational thinking
    • Creative problem-solving
    • Digital communication and collaboration
    • Understanding of future careers in tech

    Assessment:

    • Participation and engagement
    • Completed coding assignments and quizzes
    • Peer collaboration
    • Final capstone presentation

    Tools & Platforms:

    • Code.org, Scratch, or Tynker
    • Amazon’s platform resources
    • Virtual guest speakers and tech challenges