Middle School Electives Course Selection

It's time to choose your elective classes for the upcoming semester! Please select your top three choices for each elective period. 

Questions? Please email connect@mountainsage.org.

This form is due by December 7th. Thank you!

About Electives

There will be two elective periods per semester on your schedule next year:

• Elective A on Wednesdays, 45 minutes long
• Elective B on Fridays, 90 minutes long

Take a moment to read the descriptions for each class and then pick your top three. We'll do our best to get you your first or second choice, but you may get your third choice so be sure to pick classes you like. Please note that some classes have a prerequisite.

For easy viewing, click the link below the course descriptions to open them in a new window.

Elective A, Wednesdays from 2:35pm-3:20pm (45 minutes)

To view these course descriptions in a separate window, click here.

Choir

Teacher: Dr. Roberts
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes, may be taken both semesters

Ready to unleash your inner star? Join the most vibrant and musical part of your week—Middle School Choir—where creativity, connection, and joyful sound come alive! Whether you’ve been singing for years or just want to give it a try, everyone is welcome. We’ll dive into fun vocal warm-ups, play awesome music games, and prepare for epic performances that’ll light up the stage. You’ll build confidence, learn slick vocal techniques, and create memories that hit all the right notes. No experience necessary—just bring your energy, your voice, and your love for music. Let’s laugh, sing, and shine together. Come find your sound—we can’t wait to hear it! 

Creative Mindfulness

Teacher: Ms. Bandong
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: No, can only be taken for one semester

This elective blends together topics around mindfulness while also focusing on the importance of creativity. All students will present a favorite creative activity to the class, by offering a drawing prompt/activity or sharing a mindfulness technique (5-10 minute presentation). Mrs. Bandong will offer the application of a tuning fork while students independently draw. Creative Mindfulness is a space and time to unwind at the end of the day. 

Elementary Teacher’s Helper

Teacher: Maestra Bolton
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes, may be taken both semesters

Be a leader, educator and role model for the elementary students! If you are a middle school student interested in assisting younger students in handwork, on nature walks, in games class, as a tutor, as a peer mentor, or just a helper in various elementary classes, this is the elective for you! Middle school students interested in this class will have the chance to serve as student helpers in a variety of ways in grades K-5. Have fun, help out, and be a middle school student leader in our K-8 school community!

Outdoor Education

Teacher: Ms. Axman
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes, but only one semester per year

Welcome to an exciting elective where we dive into foraging, nature journaling, sustainability, and creativity in nature! Discover edible plants and natural treasures responsibly and safely. Sketch, write, and observe to connect deeply with the natural world. Learn practices to preserve biodiversity and care for our planet. Express yourself through nature inspired art. 

Performance Skills

Teacher: Mx. Thomas
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes, may be taken both semesters

Theatre teaches us the art of being human. In this elective, students will build their acting skills through theatre games, improvisation, script work, and other storytelling devices. They will learn about themselves, the oftentimes hilarious nature of being human, and how to become active storytellers through the art of performance.

 

To view these course descriptions in a separate window, click here.

Elective B, Fridays from 8:35-10:10am (90 minutes) 

To view these course descriptions in a separate window, click here.

Farm to Fork Level II

Teacher: Ms. Axman
Prerequisite Required: Yes, student must have taken a previous Farm to Fork Level I class
Repeats: No, this class will only be offered in semester 2

Students will harvest, prepare, and preserve produce from our school garden in this advanced cooking class. Students who have taken this class last year are invited to take the course again as this expanded block will allow us to dive deeper into recipe development,  cooking tips and tricks, and  group projects. Students will have the opportunity to develop their own recipes utilizing the bounty of the Fall harvest. This semester will review skills from Farm to Fork Level I and cover more advanced cooking techniques as we progress throughout the semester. Students must have taken Farm to Fork Level I.

Team Sports

Teacher: Mr. L
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes

This course will provide students with a learning experience that will help aid the development of basic skills in team sports. Sport activities that may be included are: volleyball, spikeball, basketball, flag football, ultimate frisbee, team handball, kickball, pickleball, badminton, tennis, and tchoukball. The goal is for students to acquire adequate skills and knowledge, that in turn will inspire and promote physical activity for a lifetime.   

Middle School Handwork: Sock/Slipper Knitting

Teacher: Ms. Anderson
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes

In this class, students will expand their knitting, crochet and/or sewing skills (hand and/or machine sewing). The focus of the 2nd Semester will be Sock/Slipper knitting! Students will build upon the knitting skills they learned in 5th grade to make a pair of slipper socks. Students new to knitting will make slippers. Students who finish projects early, if time allows, will work collectively on a school community project, a patchwork quilt for the health office. Students will be graded on work habits and projects.

Music Performance Ensemble

Teacher: Dr. Roberts
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes

Are you ready to be part of something bold, creative, and totally unforgettable? The Middle School Music Ensemble is your chance to grow as a musician, make great friends, and bring music to life in a powerful way! Whether you play an instrument, sing, or are just beginning your musical journey, this ensemble is open to all passionate performers. You’ll work closely with me, your teacher, to rehearse and perform at all-school assemblies, festivals, and special events—sharing the spotlight and shaping the sound. Together we’ll dive into exciting arrangements, explore a variety of styles, and even collaborate with the choir to create unforgettable musical experiences. Bring your voice, your instrument, your rhythm—whatever makes you you—and join a group where every sound matters. Let’s build something extraordinary together! 

Photojournalism/Yearbook

Teacher: Maestra Bolton
Prerequisite Required: No
Repeats: Yes

This year we are experimenting with a new class that combines Photography and Yearbook. We will practice deep observation of nature, ourselves and our school community, and learn how to use photographic techniques including focus, composition, and light to create amazing images that tell the story of our school. We will also create the yearbook in class, including both artistic and technical aspects of design, with options for interviewing, story writing and YOUR other great ideas. Join us to tell the story of 2025-2026 at Mountain Sage! This class can be taken for a semester or a full year. 

Pottery Level II

Teacher: Mrs. Bandong
Prerequisite Required: Yes, student must have taken a previous Pottery Level I class or be in 8th grade
Repeats: No, this class will only be offered in semester 2

This class will focus on creating 3-dimensional artworks while having fun together. Students will learn how to create artwork with clay by utilizing hand building techniques. Students will also enjoy the transformative process of glazing pottery artwork. Working with clay will be the focus of this elective, other 3-Dimensional projects will also be explored like creating with plaster cloth. Students need to have taken Level one or be in the 8th grade to take this class. Students must have taken Pottery Level I or be in 8th grade.

 

 To view these course descriptions in a separate window, click here.