AVID - ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (AVID) (Application must be completed)
A program designed to prepare students to succeed on their path for admission to four-year universities and colleges by providing academic instruction and support.  AVID gives students college level entry skills, increases levels of career awareness, and motivates students to seek a college education.  AVID activities include learning with college tutors, developing success strategies, and visiting college campuses (counselor approval needed).

Design and Modeling
In this semester course students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.

Automation & Robotics
This semester course is paired with Design & Modeling to complete a year course of study in STEM.  Students will trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, and program real-world objects such as traffic lights, toll booths, and robotic arms.

FLIGHT AND SPACE
The exciting world of aerospace comes alive through Flight and Space. During this unit, students delve into the history of flight and space, discover the science behind aeronautics, and explore traveling and living in space. Students are then challenged to use their knowledge to design, build, and test an airfoil.

MAGIC OF ELECTRONS
Through hands-on projects, students explore electricity, the behavior and parts of atoms, and sensing devices. They learn knowledge and skills in basic circuitry design, and examine the impact of electricity on the world around them.

MEDICAL DETECTIVE/FORENSICS
In this year long course students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they collect and analyze medical data to diagnose disease. They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, measure and interpret vital signs, dissect a sheep brain, investigate disease outbreaks, and explore how a breakdown within the human body can lead to dysfunction.

This class is a media and broadcasting class designed to provide students with a groundwork in various forms of media, including writing, videography, broadcasting, or public speaking.  This course will have two focuses.  The first is to develop the skills necessary to run a news broadcast and will cover topics such as interviewing, videography, photography, and familiarity with U.S. and world news.  The second is to use editing software to create creative videos with a variety of topics, including a PSA and short film.  Students will have the opportunity to present their work to the student body via TV broadcast.

COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR INNOVATORS AND MAKERS
This unit will allow students to discover computer science concepts and skills by creating personally relevant, tangible, and shareable projects. Throughout the unit, students will learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development. They will design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation, or wearable, and plan and develop code for micro-controllers that bring their physical designs to life. Physical computing projects will promote student awareness of interactive systems, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and broaden their understanding of abstract computer science concepts through meaningful and authentic applications.

BEGINNING BAND
This class offers beginning musical instruction on wind band instruments such as the flute, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet.  Students will learn basic instrumental performance techniques, fundamentals of music and music reading, band music literature appropriate for their level, and working as a team in a performing ensemble.  Students will become acquainted with a variety of music genre and will be performing at school assemblies.

BEGINNING ORCHESTRA
If you have ever wanted to be a rock star, this is the place to start.  This class offers beginning musical instruction on string instruments like the violin, viola, cello, and bass. Students will learn basic instrumental music techniques, note reading, and rhythm studies.  

ADVANCE BAND (Teacher approval required; Mr. Ramirez in room 116)
This course develops skills that are applied to the performance of instrumental literature appropriate to this level.  Students in this course are continuing from Beginning Band and have a year or more experience playing a musical instrument.  Emphasis is placed on correct posture and advance playing technique, scales, and reading skills.  Basic music theory and history will be integrated into this course.

ADVANCE ORCHESTRA (Teacher approval required; Mr. Ramirez in room 116)
This course develops skills that are applied to the performance of orchestral literature appropriate to this level. Students in this course are continuing from Beginning Strings and have a year or more experience playing a string instrument.  Emphasis is placed on correct posture and playing technique, scales, finger patterns and reading skills. Basic music theory and history will be integrated into the course.

MARIACHI
This course will introduce music theory, fundamental techniques and the historical background necessary to read and Interpret Mariachi music in an authentic and culturally entertaining manner. The students will learn musical techniques and exercises that will develop an appreciation for the music, history and culture of Mexico. Through public performances, students will learn to participate in a group setting creating an ensemble environment that allows them to promote pride for Lathrop Intermediate School, their community and culture.

BEGINNING ART (3109U)
Students will focus on developing processes and skills including drawing, painting, and design, using a variety of media to communicate meaning and intent in original artworks.  The elements of art and principles of design will be emphasized in each project as well as cultural and historical connections.

ART- ADVANCED (Teacher approval required; Ms. Esquivel in room 115)
In Art 2, Advanced Art, students will continue to learn about the Elements of Art, creative expression, and develop on their artistic skills. Students will be drawing, painting, designing, sculpting, using digital resources, and learning art history. Students will begin to learn how to draw realistically.

ARTS/MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT
Challenge both your creative and technical skills, while using cutting-edge technology that is used in today’s art and design world. Learn to communicate visually through a wide range of mediums and gain experience in teamwork and creative thinking.

BROADCAST MEDIA
Broadcast Technology explores the ever-changing world of television, radio, entertainment, and commercial video performance. Students gain valuable insight into the careers of broadcast journalism in news, sports, and entertainment. Students will gain industry experience by writing scripts, filming, editing, and producing original performances. Students will work in collaborative teams to produce video projects using relevant A/V equipment and editing software. Special emphasis is placed on creativity, writing, and the editing process.

Spanish I is a year-long course that focuses on active and practical communication in Spanish.  Listening, reading, writing, and speaking are developed in a meaningful way.  Students read, write, speak, and listen in Spanish about themes that are relevant in their own lives.  Lessons and activities help students improve their spelling, grammar and expression in Spanish through collaboration with classmates.

Speech and Debate exposes students to various types of speeches and argumentation in a basic and straightforward manner. In addition to preparing original speeches, you will learn to speak off-the-cuff and give prepared speeches.  You will learn speaking techniques and master how to make effective, persuasive class presentations, including PowerPoint, demonstrations, group discussions, and introductions. You will learn how to channel natural competitive energy into positive communication strategies, how to prepare a good speech, discover where to go to find sources and materials, learn how to begin and end a speech, and prepare speaker's notes. You will learn, from experience, how to analyze an audience, dress for success, and present yourself as an articulate speaker.

PAL - PEER ASSISTANT LEADERSHIP          
PAL is a peer-to-peer student program based on a philosophy of students helping students. The PAL program addresses underlying causes of violence, tobacco, alcohol, and drug use by youth. PAL encourages and provides opportunities for students to make healthy life decisions and create a supportive and safe school environment through leadership, mentoring, conflict resolution, peer tutoring, peer helping, service learning and prevention activities.  This course is for responsible seventh and eighth grade students who will be assisting in the main office, student services center, PE, and library.  This is a highly selective position, therefore students who apply for this position may NOT have “D’s” and “F’s” or “N’s” and “U’s” in citizenship.  

AVID - ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (AVID) (Application must be completed)
A program designed to prepare students to succeed on their path for admission to four-year universities and colleges by providing academic instruction and support.  AVID gives students college level entry skills, increases levels of career awareness, and motivates students to seek a college education.  AVID activities include learning with college tutors, developing success strategies, and visiting college campuses (counselor approval needed).

YEARBOOK
Students enrolled in this class will spend the year preparing the school yearbook. Students learn to understand and participate in every aspect of yearbook production, including photography, page design, writing in a journalistic style, and organizing work plans to meet deadlines. Student responsibility is essential in order to make deadlines.  The students are also responsible for creating something meaningful, yearbook advertising, and distribution. (teacher approval needed).

LEADERSHIP - ASB
Leadership students will have the responsibility to plan, organize and complete many of the school's major projects.  Students will be expected to spend time beyond the class period and outside the school day to perform many of these activities.  Students will also work on organizational skills, team building and responsibility in groups, setting and meeting goals, public speaking and how to effectively run meetings.  Students must have previously demonstrated trustworthy and reliable behavior (teacher approval needed).

ESPORTS (permission of teacher required. Application required)
Also known as electronic sports, esports is a form of competition that is facilitated through computer gaming. Most commonly, esports takes the form of organized, multiplayer online video game competitions. These competitions often incorporate live broadcasts with commentary and award prize money to competitors. Esports is also one of the fastest growing sports in the world. This class will teach students about all facets of the gaming industry, how to communicate and work as a team, and how to design games as a career.