Arts

Prerequisite: Arts Magnet Program student or approval of instructor

Advanced Dance Production is a Fine Arts course for the student dancer who desires to pursue a career in professional dance production. These students aspire to be teachers, choreographers and directors. In this course the students will be guided through producing two dance productions, full-length dance concerts, within the length of an academic year.

Responsibilities of the student will include but not be limited to: writing a budget, reserving facilities for concerts, designing all press materials (press releases, posters, tickets, programs), establishing a running order for each production, and organizing volunteers for each event.

Students in this course will also have to choreograph alone, not in a collaborative sense, works for fellow dancers, design costumes, learn basic stage lighting skills and learn rudimentary sound design and sound engineering for each concert. The responsibilities of the artistic versus the executive director in a non-profit, performance company context, grant writing and fund raising, will also be studied and discussed.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• Co-requisite: Dance 4

Prerequisite: Completion of Theatre II and teacher approval through an audition

This course is designed to enable the student to explore a particular theatrical form in more detail and in depth. Advanced Theatre may be taken up to three times as the curriculum is designed for a three-year cycle of topics: theatrical production, advanced theatre theory, and actor’s repertory. The class emphasizes production, performance, stage technique, voice, stage design, costuming properties, and theater history as applied to the year’s topic. The course also emphasizes polishing talent, building confidence for professional or apprentice auditions, and gaining experience in public performances.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Audition required and teacher approval

This ensemble is created specifically for the cultivation and exploration of the female vocal instrument and its use in the performance of sophisticated solo and choral literature. Each student will master concepts in choral styles and languages. This group performs at many adjudicated festivals, competitions and Mass throughout the year.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: 2+ years of participation in Music Department choral or instrumental ensembles or instructor approval

This advanced level music course is open to choral or instrumental students who have participated for at least two years in intermediate or advanced level ensembles. Additionally, students must be concurrently enrolled in another Music Department performance course. The AP Music Theory course corresponds to two semesters of a typical introductory college music theory course that covers topics such as musicianship, theory, musical materials, and procedures. Musicianship skills including dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of the course. Through the course, students develop the ability to recognize, understand, and describe basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. Development of aural skills is a primary objective. Performance is also part of the learning process. Students understand basic concepts and terminology by listening to and performing a wide variety of music. Notational skills, speed, and fluency with basic materials are emphasized.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• Co-requisite: Students must simultaneously be enrolled in an intermediate or advanced Music Department performance course

Prerequisite: Audition required and teacher approval

This class is designed for students who wish to be challenged vocally, musically and intellectually. As the premier vocal ensemble at JSerra Catholic High School, students will be held to the highest standards of musicianship and professionalism, and will perform competitively. The choral literature performed is of the same level as most universities and is drawn from the early Renaissance to Contemporary music, including liturgical praise and worship. Languages in which the students will be expected to sing include Italian, German, French, Russian, Japanese and English.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Audition on a woodwind, brass, percussion, or string instrument.

This advanced-level instrumental music course is open by audition to students who play a woodwind, brass, percussion, or string instrument. In this course, students further develop their musical skills through the rehearsal and performance of music written for full orchestra. Students are expected to attend small and large group rehearsals outside of the school day and participate in concerts and other special events. The Chamber Orchestra frequently combines with Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra to form the JSerra Symphony Orchestra. Though there are a limited number of instruments the school can loan, students are generally expected to provide their own instrument. Students are encouraged to reenroll in Chamber Orchestra multiple times.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

This is the ideal class to learn how to sing! This is a non-auditioned ensemble that will introduce basic to intermediate singing techniques. Posture, breath support, vowel production, tone color, and style will be introduced and developed. Music Theory and sight reading will be introduced as music is explored through many languages, cultures and styles. As an intro-level performance class students in this class are required to participate, as a group, in the Fall and Christmas concerts as well as the Pop Concert and Farewell Concert. Other performances opportunities will be discussed together as a group.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

This Fine Arts/PE course is designed for the student who wants to expand their knowledge of various styles of dance. The class will focus on jazz, modern, ballet, musical theater dance, creating choreography, and dance as art through emotional expression. Artistic expression will be emphasized through the use of choreographic projects. Discussions will also take place regarding dance history. The students will be evaluated on their participation, classwork, homework, and participation in a performance at the end of each semester.

Dance I students will improve and expand and improve their abilities in all dance techniques. Artistic expression will be explored through opportunities for self-choreography.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of Dance I or approval of instructor

Dance II will focus on dance performance in all dance genres: Jazz, modern, contemporary dance, musical theater, ballet, and liturgical dance. Dance II will also enable students to choreograph group pieces for themselves and for their peers. The students will be evaluated on their daily participation, classwork, homework, and participation in numerous performances throughout the semester as well as a performance at the end of each semester.

Dance II students will become confident performers, displaying intermediate dance technique, emotional/artistic expression in performance, and professional work habits in the context of performance.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of Dance II or approval of instructor

This Fine Arts/PE course is for the experienced dancer and audition is required for entry into this class. Dancers in this course are expected to work at an advanced dance level in both artistic and technical aspects of dance. This group will anchor all dance performances and will be included in collaborative performances with the choral and instrumental music departments. All performances are required and graded. Dancers will also be given opportunities to discover dance in their community by attending local performances and meeting industry professionals.

Dance III students will be able to hone their artistic, performance skills while being expected to perform at a high level of technical ability.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of Dance III or approval of instructor

This Fine Arts/PE course is for the experienced dancer and audition is required for entry into this class. Dancers in this course are expected to work at an advanced dance level in both artistic and technical aspects of dance. This class will also include a writing element which will include the study of dance current events, history, and an extended research paper will be assigned. Two text books will be required for this course. This group, with Dance 3, will anchor all dance performances and will be included in collaborative performances with the choral and instrumental music departments. All performances are required and graded. Dancers will also be given opportunities to discover dance in their community by attending local performances and meeting industry professionals. Dancers in Dance IV will be expected to fulfill an internship requirement by acting as an assistant to an instructor at a local dance studio.

The goal of this course is to train the most well-rounded dancer in both technical and academic aspects of dance. Additionally, pedagogy will be introduced in order to prepare dancers for careers in dance instruction.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prequisite: Audition

In Fall Play, students rehearse and produce a faculty-directed theatrical production. Student roles include acting, stage managing, designing, and tech. The class meets after school from 3:00-5:00pm as scheduled by the director and includes additional required rehearsals and performances. Fall Play may be taken multiple times.

• Semester
• 2.5 Credits

This entry-level instrumental music course is open to students with no previous experience on the guitar or those who have dabbled a bit on the instrument but need more solid footing in the basics. Students will learn to play open and barre chords, strum and fingerpick, read tablature and standard notation on the guitar, and play and improvise melodies. Projects include individual performance, ensemble or band playing, song analysis, cover arranging, and song writing. Each student is expected to provide his or her own acoustic-electric guitar.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of the Beginning Guitar course or at least two years of previous experience playing guitar and the ability to freely switch between at least 15 open chords, play at least two barre chord shapes, play simple fingerpicking patterns, and read tablature.

This intermediate/advanced level instrumental music course is open to students who have completed the Beginning Guitar course or have significant experience with the instrument. Students in Guitar Workshop will continue to develop their technique on the instrument through repertoire-oriented instruction. Projects include individual performance, ensemble or band playing, song analysis, cover arranging, and song writing. Each student is expected to provide his or her own acoustic-electric guitar. Students may re-enroll in Guitar Workshop multiple times.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

A fun, intro level music performance course for those that want to learn about music. This course provides the skills of learning to read music, coordination of musical performance, dexterity and ensemble musicianship through the use of five octaves of handbells, exploration of the art form in a variety of musical styles including pop and classical as well as the liturgical use of handbells. Three to four performances per year with the possibility of a tour.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• This class requires a minimum enrollment.

Prerequisite: Arts Magnet Program

History of the Arts introduces students to the great artistic works of human history in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, theatre, and film. Connections between different art forms are emphasized as the course seeks to provide many new sources of inspiration for students, regardless of their principal discipline. This course explores the creative process through many different historical and cultural contexts as students further develop their own identity as creative artists in relationship to their own culture and time period. Students frequently respond to historic art works through critical analysis or creative projects.

• Year
• 10 Credits

Prerequisite: The completion of Theatre I or Theatre II. Audition required.

This year-long class delves into the history and performance of musical theatre. This class is a survey of the influential artists who produce, write, direct, and perform on America's musical stages from the 1860's to today. Students will also perform concurrently with the musical theatre styles that are analyzed in the units of study.

• Year
• 10 Credits

This beginning-level instrumental music course is open to all students with or without previous experience playing the piano. Note reading, music theory and beginning level piano skills will be taught.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisites: Completion of the Beginning Piano course or the ability to play pieces equivalent to J.S. Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook, Clementi’s Sonatinas (Opus 36), or Burgmuller’s 25 Progressive Pieces for the Piano (Opus 100) and play triads and scales in C, G, D, A, E, B, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db major. Must be willing to practice a minimum of 45 minutes to 1 hour per day.

Advanced students may use this class to develop their skills further. Students will have in class performance opportunities including a recital each semester.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

PREREQUISITE: Audition on voice, guitar, bass, drum set, keyboard, or horn.

Rock Band is an intermediate performance-based music class in which students learn to collaborate musically in a variety of combinations with one another. Through supervised rehearsals, classes will cover performance techniques utilized in contemporary musical idioms including rock, pop, blues, hip-hop, funk, punk, and metal. Students will gain experience in performing both old, current, and original material. Emphasis will be placed on stylistic integrity, as well as melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic accuracy. Rock Band meets two hours per week before or after school as scheduled by the teacher and performs at school events. Rock Band may be taken multiple times for credit.

• Year
• 5 Credits

PREREQUISITE: Audition on voice, guitar, bass, drum set, keyboard, or horn.

Rock Ensemble is an advanced performance-based music class in which students learn to collaborate musically in a variety of combinations with one another. Through supervised rehearsals, classes will cover performance techniques utilized in contemporary musical idioms including rock, pop, blues, hip-hop, funk, punk, and metal. Students will gain experience in performing both old, current, and original material. Emphasis will be placed on stylistic integrity, as well as melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic accuracy. Students will listen critically to a wide variety of both professional and amateur recordings, applying musical vocabulary learned in the course to analyze and constructively criticize what they hear. Students will learn processes for arranging existing songs, improvising expressive solos over standard chord progressions, and writing their own original songs. Students will research the historical and cultural context of the ensemble's performance repertoire and prepare presentations for the class. Rock Ensemble meets four hours per week as a full-credit class during "zero" period and performs frequently at school events. Rock Ensemble may be taken multiple times for credit.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Audition

In Spring Musical, students rehearse and produce a faculty-directed musical production. Student roles include acting, stage managing, designing, and tech. The class meets after school from 3:00-5:00 p.m. as scheduled by the director and includes additional required rehearsals and performances. Spring Musical may be taken multiple times.

• Semester
• 2.5 Credits

Prerequisite: Two or more years of previous experience playing violin, viola, cello, or bass.

This intermediate-level instrumental music course is open to students who have played a string instrument for at least two years. In this course, students further develop their musical skills through the rehearsal and performance of music written for full orchestra. Students are expected to attend small and large group rehearsals outside of the school day and participate in concerts and other special events. The String Orchestra frequently combines with Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra to form the JSerra Symphony Orchestra. Though there are a limited number of instruments the school can loan, students are generally expected to provide their own instrument. AT the end of the year, students are encouraged to audition for Chamber Orchestra or re-enroll in String Orchestra multiple times.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

This is a year-long course that is designed to introduce the student to the fundamentals of theater and acting. Students will delve into the history and various aspects of theater and will explore improvisation, character development, stage combat, monologues and scene work, and visualization. Students will study a variety of acting styles, play writers, and musical theater performances. Students will participate in one production by the end of the year. An outside commitment of a few hours over three days is all that is required.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisites: Theater I and audition

Theater II is a year-long course designed for those students who have successfully completed the Theater I course. Theater II continues to emphasize acting styles and broadens knowledge of directional techniques. This course further provides the student with the opportunity to develop the actor/director/character relationship by writing and performing in a one-act play. The dramatization of this one-act play, with all production aspects, will be emphasized. Various theater techniques will also be emphasized, including improvisation, memorization, preparation, blocking, articulation, and stage presence. An introduction of theater history and acting styles will be discussed.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Two or more years of previous experience playing flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, or percussion.

This intermediate-level instrumental music course is open to students who have played a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument for at least two years. In this course, students further develop their musical skills through the rehearsal and performance of music written for full orchestra. Students are expected to attend small and large group rehearsals outside of the school day and participate in concerts and other special events. The Wind Ensemble frequently combines with String Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra to form the JSerra Symphony Orchestra. Though there are a limited number of instruments the school can loan, students are generally expected to provide their own instrument. AT the end of the year, students are encouraged to audition for Chamber Orchestra or reenroll in String Orchestra multiple times.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Drawing and Painting 1

Adobe Creative Suite is an upper-division course introducing traditional drawing and painting students to the world of computer-generated art. The student will focus on the artistic skills necessary to create complex works of digital art in four powerful Adobe software programs within the Apple/Macintosh platform: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Flash. As an extension of traditional drawing and painting, the student will concentrate on utilizing these software programs to not only enhance their abilities to create original pieces of digital artwork, but also to prepare them for a possible career in the visual arts and the technology required to sell their work.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisites: A grade of B+ in all semesters of Drawing & Painting I and Drawing & Painting II

This course is designed to give the advanced art student a more specific overview of academic art training including graphite, charcoal and oil techniques, using the elements and principles of design in the process. The students will explore these techniques on a higher level and the subject matters will include, master copies, site-size techniques, the figure, still life and portraiture. Students will continue to be provided with the common core of instruction of the elements and techniques of painting and its related vocabulary. Focus will be on the use of opaque materials and techniques.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Intro to TV Broadcast Journalism or Intro to Film I or II and Instructor approval. Enrollment is limited.

This course teaches students advanced skills in TV Production and Broadcast Journalism with an emphasis on producing a variety of projects in sports coverage, broadcast news, entertainment reports, and commercial production. Students will develop advanced skills in producing projects from concept to completion including pre-production, production and post-production activities, including script writing and editing on industry standard Adobe Suite software. Students will learn about the production Industry in the fields of news and sports, along with industry practices and standards and ethics in reporting. Students will be introduced to what the Broadcast Industry requires in terms of skills and training for potential future employment. (Purchasing of media items such as an External Storage Drive, Flash Drive, and SD Cards is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. This class also requires student’s availability after school hours and on weekends.)

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Students must have earned a grade of A- or better in both semesters of their previous History and English courses; teacher approval and summer assignment required. A minimum enrollment is required for this class.

This is a year-long course that prepares the student for the AP College Board exam in May. Students review the art history from eras beginning at pre-historic man to the 20th century. Students will be expected to do heavy reading on the subject matter, learn and identify slides, learn how to critique and analyze art work explored during the course of the year, and do a research paper pertaining to one of the art history eras.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of two out of three of the following courses: Drawing & Painting 1, Drawing & Painting 2, Advanced Drawing & Painting, Graphic Design 1, Graphic Design 2 with a grade of A- or better each semester. Teacher approval and summer assignments are required.

AP Studio Art is intended for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. Through the creation of up to 28 pieces of art over the course of the year, students will submit a portfolio to the College Board for evaluation in May in either 2-Dimensional Design or Drawing. The portfolio requires the student to show a fundamental competence and range of understanding of visual concerns and methods in the three areas: Concentration, Breadth and Quality. Breadth consists of twelve works that show the student's depth of experience with a variety of media, subjects and approaches. Quality will represent five of the student’s best work, and Concentration consists of twelve works that explore a theme chosen by the student. Students will experience a broad exploration of artistic concepts and media use.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of Digital Photography 1 and 2 with a grade of A- or better each semester. Teacher Approval and Summer Assignment required.

AP Studio Art (Photography) provides the motivated photography student with the opportunity to develop a three-part portfolio that is personal to their individual talents and interests, while demonstrating mastery of 2-D design principles as they pertain to photography. Through the creation of up to 28 images over the course of the year, students will submit a portfolio to the College Board for evaluation in May. The portfolio requires the student to show a fundamental competence and range of understanding of visual concerns and methods in three areas: Concentration, Breadth and Quality. Breadth consists of twelve works that show the student's depth of experience with a variety of subjects and approaches. Quality represents five of the student’s best work, and Concentration consists of twelve works that explore a theme chosen by the student.

Graphic Design is a year-long digital art class providing students a hands-on, working knowledge of a career in graphic design. Students will explore the role of the artist as a visual communicator — one who seeks bold simplicity of form. Utilizing two powerful software programs (Adobe Illustrator CS5 and Adobe Photoshop CS5), students will create vector-based (line) illustrations, business documents (logos, ads, brochures, etc.), and pixel-based photo manipulation. We will explore basic design elements (line, shape and space) as well as design principles (balance and emphasis). Mastery of the Mac operating system will further enhance the students' grasp of technology in the world of graphic design. The course has a limited enrollment.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Computer Graphic Design

Graphic Design II, the logical continuation of Graphic Design I, continues to provide students a hands-on, working understanding of a career in digital graphic design within the MacIntosh environment. As an extension of Graphic Design I, we will continue to explore the role of the artist as a mass communicator — one who seeks BOLD SIMPLICITY of form. Utilizing the powerful software programs, Adobe Illustrator CS6, and Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe InDesign CS6, and Adobe Animate, the student will create original vector-based (line) illustrations, pixel-based photographic enhancements, both aimed toward final assembly within a digital desktop publishing program. With dynamic composition as a goal, we will focus on the five elements of design: line, color, shape, space and texture…as well three significant design principles: balance, emphasis and unity. Each student will be treated as a working graphic designer under the guidance of an art director (teacher), with projects reflecting authentic design campaigns.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

PREQUISITE: Must possess a DSLR camera

This year-long course explores the digital photographic process. Course topics include: digital camera operation, camera manipulation, preproduction and postproduction techniques, image manipulation and restoration, and ethical issues surrounding digital manipulation. Students will gain an understanding in the element and principle of design, composition, black and white tonal scale, and color theory in relation to the photographic process. Using Adobe Photoshop, students will further explore combining digital techniques with historic and alternative photographic processes for greater artistic expression. Students will be required to compile a portfolio of work each semester evaluation. Students must possess a digital camera to take this course.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

PREREQUISITE: A GRADE OF B OR BETTER IN BOTH SEMESTERS OF DIGITAL PHOTO I; TEACHER APPROVAL REQUIRED. Students must possess a DSLR Camera.

Digital Photography II is an intermediate photography class for students with a working knowledge of digital photography and the creation of digital prints using Photoshop computer software. This year-long course is designed to continue to build student knowledge, further skill levels and to encourage the student to develop and explore learned digital camera and Photoshop techniques. The student will utilize these techniques to develop advanced artistic problem solving skills and to convert digital images into high quality photographs and artwork. Students will be required to compile a portfolio of work each semester evaluation.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Drawing and Painting is a year-long course that introduces students to the elements and principles of design, and how to implement those elements and principles in the creation of dynamic compositions using a variety of materials. The students will explore line, value, texture, shape, and color. Materials used will include pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, pastel, colored pencil, and a variety of paints including watercolor, acrylic and oil. Students will compile a portfolio of work by the end of the year.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: A grade of B or better in both semesters of Drawing & Painting I or a similar year long art course; teacher approval.

Drawing and Painting II is a year-long course, which continues the exploration and applications of the elements and principles of design. Students will create art projects that problem solve in a more complex manner. Students will work in oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, explore the human anatomy, and work in a more independent manner than in Drawing and Painting I. Students will compile a portfolio by the end of the semester.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

This exciting class is an introduction to "Film" production and the art of storytelling. Each student will learn the techniques of film making from script to screen. Students will get the opportunity to write, shoot and edit a series of exploratory film exercises. The primary emphasis is on telling a story visually, employing basic cinematography, lighting, editing, and sound recording. The object of the class at the end of each semester is to produce a 10 to 15 minute film. The goal for the class is to enter their film in local film festivals.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Film 1

Intermediate Film Production expands upon the lessons learned in the basics of Film 1. Lectures, demonstrations, film screenings, textbook readings, and classroom discussions help prepare students for hands-on exercises designed to develop a more mature, self-confident storytelling style. Topics such as the correct methods for shooting dialog scenes, safe and effective construction of an action sequence, basic approaches to location sound recording, and techniques for shooting interviews, will lay the groundwork for shooting fiction and non-fiction semester film projects. This course will also explore in-depth digital editing, post-production techniques, digital cinematography/lighting techniques and aesthetics used to create independent shorts and feature length films.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Arts Magnet Program

History of the Arts introduces students to the great artistic works of human history in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, theatre, and film. Connections between different art forms are emphasized as the course seeks to provide many new sources of inspiration for students, regardless of their principal discipline. This course explores the creative process through many different historical and cultural contexts as students further develop their own identity as creative artists in relationship to their own culture and time period. Students frequently respond to historic art works through critical analysis or creative projects.

• Year
• 10 Credits

This course is a survey of early filmmaking through modern cinematography, focusing primarily on domestically produced films. The impact of film and cinematic literature on historical and current American culture will be discussed in depth. Also discussed will be the influence of the early studios (personalities such as Thalberg, Warner and Goldwyn will be covered) and cinematic developments through history. This course will also touch upon the basics of Film theory or cinema studies which is an academic discipline that aims to explore the essence of the cinema and provides conceptual frameworks for understanding film's relationship to reality, the other arts, individual viewers, and society at large.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• Pending UC Approval

Prerequisite: Instructor approval. Enrollment is limited.

This class teaches the fundamentals of TV Production and Broadcast Journalism. Students are taught the basics of producing, script writing, camera operation, audio, lighting, and video editing utilizing industry standard Adobe Suite computer software. Students will also learn the basics of live studio news show production. Students work individually, and in teams, to produce a variety of video projects including TV news segments, human interest stories, entertainment reports, sports coverage, and public service announcements. (Purchasing of media items such as an External Storage Drive, Flash Drive, and SD Cards is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. This class also requires student’s availability after school hours and on weekends.)

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Completion of either Graphic Design, Digital Photo or Middle School Yearbook; Teacher recommendation required. Overall GPA of 3.0.

Yearbook/Photojournalism is an art class, as well as a journalism class, providing students a hands-on, working understanding in the design and production of a high school yearbook. We will explore the role of the artist as a visual communicator—one who seeks bold simplicity of form. Utilizing three powerful software programs (Adobe In-Design CS6, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and Adobe Illustrator CS6) the student will create JSerra’s high school yearbook, "The Legacy." With dynamic composition as a goal, we will focus on the five design elements: line, color, shape, space and texture...and two significant design principles: balance and emphasis. Each student will be encouraged to find the curiosity and passion required to create his/her own unique pages; the yearbook is only as memorable as the effort put in by its staff. Adhering to deadlines will be crucial and will certainly affect your grade.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Overall GPA of 3.0 and teacher approval.

Journalism/School Newspaper provides the student a hands-on experience in planning, writing, editing, and producing the monthly JSerra school newspaper. This course is a one-year course focusing on how to effectively communicate with the greater JSerra community. The class emphasizes logical thinking, interviewing skills, accurate and concise journalistic composition, editorial writing, original photography, and layout. The newspaper will be produced digitally on the computer via Macintosh, utilizing a variety of software programs, and output as both an electronic file and as a traditional printed piece.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Students must have taken Intro to TV Broadcast Journalism as well as Advanced TV Broadcast Journalism, and earned a B+ or better each semester. In addition, each prospective student’s acceptance will be based on a personal one on one interview and video sample review.

TV Studio Production – “The Lion Report” class gives pre-selected, elite students the opportunity to produce JSerra’s Lion Report daily news broadcast. Students will be required to produce the daily school broadcast by participating in all aspects of the studio production. Students are required to participate and master all technical duties in the studio and control room, including on-camera reporting and news show hosting. Students will also be required to individually produce, shoot and edit a required number of news segments for the Lion Report each semester. Students will also be required to assist other students in producing segments for the daily broadcast. Segments for the Lion Report cover current topics and events happening at JSerra and the Community. Students utilize JSerra’s state-of-the-art TV Studio, control room and classroom with industry standard equipment and editing on Adobe Suite software. The course has a limited enrollment of 12 students per each class period. (Purchasing of media items such as an External Storage Drive, Flash Drive, and SD Cards is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. This class also requires student’s availability after school hours and on weekends.)

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved