electives

PUBLICATIONS

This course is designed to give students hands on experience with every facet of publishing a high school yearbook. Students will learn the fundamentals of journalism for yearbook, including writing, art and layout design, photography, group dynamics, desktop publishing, organizational skills and evaluating the needs of a given audience. Students must possess basic computer skills and a 3 mega pixel (minimum) digital camera.

JOURNALISM

This elective course is designed for the production of nine monthly editions of the school newspaper The Fairmont Times. The course is designed to add hands-on experience to the knowledge gained n Beginning Journalism. Students are expected to expand their expertise in interviewing, writing, layout and design, press law, planning and financial responsibility. Skills will be developed in time management, organization, group dynamics and decision making. Credit is awarded based on quality and consistency of attendance and performance. Students seeking editing positions must attend full-time.

CREATIVE WRITING

Students will develop their writing skills in a variety of genres, including personal narrative, children's literature, poetry, and short fiction.  Students will be responsible for every facet of production on the Literary Magazine, which highlights writing and artistic endeavors of Duchesne students.

ACADEMIC DECATHOLON

The Academic Decathlon is a competition involving a team ranging from six to nine students (plus alternates) from grades nine through twelve.  Team members take objective tests in the areas of economics, fine arts, language and literature, mathematics, science, and social science.  In addition, at state competition, each student must deliver both a planned and an impromptu speech, write an essay, and be involved in an interview.  Finally, each team is involved in a Super Quiz on a selected topic.

This one semester course prepares the students for the Academic Decathlon competition which takes place in January.  Students will focus their studies on each of the competitive areas.  Extensive research and peer- teaching will be emphasized.  Guest speakers will share expertise in a given area.  Since only six students compete on a regular team (along with six alternates), not all students who take this class will necessarily compete.  This course will appeal to those students who have a wide variety of interests and a desire to learn simply for the sake of learning.

SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES

This one semester course will be offered both semesters and is only open to juniors and seniors.  It counts as an elective credit.  Students will choose one of the following curriculums in the semester it is offered: We the People – the Citizen and the Constitution, Sociology, Art History (this class does not fulfill the Fine Arts requirement) or Child Psychology.  The class will be conducted as an independent study course.  Studies in each course will meet one block per week in a seminar setting.  Enrollment criteria: student must have displayed a wise use of freedom along with independent and consistent work habits.

BUSINESS

(One semester course - offered first sememster)

This course will survey major topics in business to help students understand the purpose of companies and how they function.  Fundamental concepts from marketing, operations, finance, and strategy will be explored.  These functional pieces will be used to develop business plans for entrepreneurial ideas.  Throughout the course students will develop skills in leadership, management of groups, negotiations, and business ethics.  Discussion, case studies and real problems solving projects will be used to explore the material.

Mr.Chad Krier

Publications

Mrs. Donna Harrison

Social Studies Electives

Mr. Eric Krakowski

Academic Decathlon

Mrs. Kate Sommer
Creative Writing

Journalism

Mrs. Margy Ford

Business