Electives
Electives are part of a comprehensive middle school program. They are designed to broaden the school experience and introduce students to a variety of subjects, interests, and experiences. Students have the opportunity to participate in a range of electives during their three years at Westborough Middle School.
Electives are offered yearly but are based on availability, student interest, and staffing.
Electives other than the ones listed below are also offered periodically.
Band
Beginning and Intermediate Band
This class is open to students with previous band experience or those with little or no prior musical knowledge but who wish to learn the fundamentals of playing an instrument as part of a performance ensemble.
Students learn the fundamentals of reading and understanding music and focus on understanding all aspects of music notation, rhythm, tone production, intonation, and ensemble performance.
Students are required to own or rent an instrument for this class. Students who choose to borrow a school-owned instrument may not receive the exact instrument they prefer.
Students are also expected to own concert attire consisting of a white shirt or blouse, black dress slacks or skirts, and black dress shoes.
Intermediate band is a performance class, and attendance at all concerts is mandatory.
Both beginning and intermediate band are one period, year-long classes. Homework includes but is not limited to two hours of home practice per week.
Advanced Band
Students in this class will continue to focus on reading and understanding all aspects of music notation, rhythm, tone production, intonation, and ensemble performance. Admission to this class is based on ability, prior band experience, and teacher recommendation.
Students are required to own or rent an instrument for this class. Students who choose to borrow a school-owned instrument may not receive the exact instrument they prefer.
Students are also expected to own concert attire consisting of a white shirt or blouse, black dress slacks or skirts, and black dress shoes.
Advanced band is a performance class, and attendance at all concerts is mandatory.
Advanced band is a one period, year long class. Homework includes but is not limited to two hours of home practice per week.
Choir
In this class students learn the fundamentals of reading music notation, vocal production, and ensemble performance.
The class is open to all students, but choir is a performance class, and attendance at all concerts is mandatory.
Students are expected to own concert attire consisting of a white shirt or blouse, black dress slacks or skirts, and black dress shoes.
Computer Technology
In this semester-long class students develop digital literacy through the application of computer science and robotics.
The basic course introduces students to computers through projects incorporating Microsoft Office. More advanced courses may include coding using the Scratch programming language, game design, or engineering and robotics using Lego Simple Machines and Mechanisms or Mindstorms EV3.
Jazz Band
This class focuses on the different genres of the jazz idiom: swing, be-bop, funk, jazz-rock, Latin, Afro-Cuban, and ballads.
Jazz band is open only to advanced band students ,who are subject to audition and approval by the band director.
Jazz band meets daily during zero period before school.
Music Appreciation
This is a semester-long class in which students learn the fundamentals of reading and understanding music.
Students initially focus on reading and understanding all aspects of music notation, eventually learning how to write and perform music individually and in small groups using voice and rhythm and melodic instruments such as drums, recorders, or electronic keyboards.
Students must purchase a recorder and set of drumsticks (7A or 7AN) from a music store or the school.
Student Aide
Qualifying students may apply to work as office aides, library aides, CBI aides, or P.E. aides.
Office aides assist school employees by delivering messages, creating bulletin boards, greeting parents, and learning general office procedures such as copying, collating, and filing.
Library aides assist school employees through shelving, filing, book repair, inventory, computer maintenance, and other associated tasks.
P.E. aides assist teachers by helping to set up activities, monitor locker rooms, keep score, and other associated tasks.
Selection is based on grade point average (GPA), citizenship, and teacher recommendation. Applications are available at the main office.
Visual Art
Students exercise creativity and express themselves in this class using a variety of artistic mediums and techniques.
The course is designed to be fun and enjoyable for all; no artistic experience is necessary.
Students work with drawing pencils, colored pencils, construction paper, magazines, paint, clay, and more.