Superintendent’s Update: Curriculum Revisions and Course Proposals

1.27.25

Agenda

New FHS Course Proposal

• Hybrid Introduction to Sports Officiating

New RMS Course Proposals

• 2-D Art
• 3-D Art
• Advanced PE

Course Title Revisions

• RMS Boys’/Girs’ PE 7 and PE 8 revised to Boys’/Girls’ PE which can be taken twice
• Computer Lit 7 revised to Computer Lit and will be available to both 7th and 8th graders

FHS - Hybrid Introduction to Sports Officiating

Rationale

To provide Fraser High School students with an opportunity to get trained and certified as officials in 3 MHSAA sports and immediately gain employment opportunities upon completion of the certifications.

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Training and certifying our students helps the educational community as it can build up a depleting officiating pool for youth sports and connect them to extracurricular and community events.

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Additionally, officiating can be a lucrative, wage-earning career. All higher-level officials first gained their experience and practice working youth sports and moved up. This course can provide a jump start to our students interested in this field.

Course Description

This course trains students in knowledge, skills, and mechanics necessary to become a certified sports official in three different sports. Through digital and teacher-led training, along with live practice, students will know what it is to be an official and call a game. The class will end each sports unit with the licensure exam to become an actual MHSAA official and be able to immediately start officiating games through the MHSAA.

Course Details

• One semester course that trains students in 3 sports via a blended model that utilizes online training as well as practice simulations in the classroom.
• The course will utilize RefReps which is an established online training model used by numerous schools throughout the country - locally, Chippewa Valley and Lake Orion.
• Students will take the state licensure exam during the course after each training. The fee to take this exam is waived via MHSAA’s agreement with RefReps.
• There is no pre-requisite or co-requisite for this course
• One section will be offered in 25-26 as a pilot
• The cost per student is $135 which covers the RefReps seat license for 3 sports. Paid out of general fund or Title IV
• Offered to 10-12th grade students

Potential Areas of Study

• Football
• Basketball**
• Lacrosse
• Hockey
• Baseball
• Volleyball**
• Soccer
• Swim & Dive
• Softball
• Wrestling
• Track and Field
• Flag Football

**For the pilot, students will cover basketball and volleyball and then the students will vote on the third sport.

Student Benefits

• Develop a skill set that can immediately transfer into a paid position and entry level career opportunity
• Assist youth sports by developing additional energetic, vested officiating staff
• Provide a flexible employment opportunity that keeps students interacting with the community and builds social skills

RMS 2-D Art

Rationale

To provide Richards Middle School students with an art experience that is accessible to any student with any level of art background. This course will create a strong basis for general art skills, composition, and creative thinking. Further, this course will support cultural connections as students will explore traditions around the globe.

Course Description

Discover the fundamentals of 2D art in this creative middle school course! Students will explore drawing, painting, collage, and printmaking while learning techniques in line, shape, color, texture, and composition. Through hands-on projects,experiment with a variety of materials and methods to express creativity and develop artistic skills. No prior experience is needed—just bring your imagination!

Course Details

• Course can be taken in 7th and 8th grade. Students who have already taken it once will be able to further their understanding and produce new pieces of art within the same themes.
• Minimal equipment needed. Students would only need a sketchbook.
• Course will run for one semester
• There are no prerequisites or corequisites

Potential Areas of Study

• Students will explore drawing, painting, collage, and printmaking while highlighting the following themes: lines, shapes, colors, texture, and composition.

Student Benefits

• Provides an entry level introduction into art thinking and skills.
• Provides an opportunity for students to be creative and express themselves.
• Provides a low-stress, engaging course option.
• Provides an opportunity for students to continue to develop by allowing it to be taken each year.
• Provides schedule flexibility to assist in increasing the chance students get classes they selected as well as with balancing class sizes.

RMS 3-D Art

Rationale

To provide Richards Middle School students with an art experience that is accessible to any student with any level of art background. 3-D art challenges students to think about art principles in a way that 2-D art does not. This course will create a strong basis for general art skills, composition, and creative thinking. Further, this course will support cultural connections as students will explore traditions around the globe.

Course Description

In this one semester course, students in the 3D Art course will explore the exciting world of sculpture through both additive and subtractive techniques. Using diverse materials such as clay, fibers, plaster, wood, wire, and more, students will bring their creative visions to life. The course includes the study of renowned artists known for their 3D works, blending hands-on art production with engaging lessons in art history, criticism, and aesthetics. This highly experimental class encourages innovation and will occasionally require students to provide some of their own materials.

Course Details

• Course can be taken in 7th and 8th grade. Students who have already taken it once will be able to further their understanding and produce new pieces of art within the same themes.
• Minimal equipment needed. Students would only need a sketchbook.
• Course will run for one semester
• There are no prerequisites or corequisites

Potential Areas of Study

• Students will explore sculpture through additive and subtractive techniques.
• Projects will span cultures and traditions
• Historical artists in the field will be studied
• Students will utilize clay, fibers, plaster, wood, and wire.

Student Benefits

• Provides an entry level introduction into art thinking and skills.
• Provides an opportunity for students to be creative and express themselves.
• Provides a low-stress, engaging course option.
• Provides an opportunity for students to continue to develop by allowing it to be taken each year.
• Provides schedule flexibility to assist in increasing the chance students get classes they selected as well as with balancing class sizes.

RMS Advanced PE

Rationale

The current Physical Education program focuses on foundational skills and is team sport-based. Many students have expressed interest in more challenging physical activities and opportunities. Our goal is to provide these students with the avenue to learn and practice advanced techniques as they relate to sports and advanced physical activity.

Course Description

The Advanced Physical Education class focuses on two main areas: fitness and the development/refinement of sports skills. The fitness component emphasizes building muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical wellness. Students will learn proper form and safety techniques to develop lifelong healthy habits.

The sports skills component allows students to explore a variety of team sports and learn more in-depth fundamentals and techniques. Through drills, practice sessions, and gameplay, students will enhance their skills and understanding of strategies unique to each sport.

Course Details

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• Emphasis will be put on skill development, proper training, collaboration, communication, and leadership.
• This course has a prerequisite of B or higher in the Boys’/Girls’ PE course
• This is an 8th grade elective

Potential Areas of Study (not inclusive)

• Strength training
• Basketball
• Flag Football
• Baseball/Softball
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Pickleball
• FitnessGram Testing

Student Benefits

• Provides students an opportunity to study advanced health and fitness concepts.
• Provides students an opportunity to compete with others interested in advanced athletics.
• Provides schedule flexibility to assist in increasing the chance students get classes they selected as well as with balancing class sizes.

RMS Course Title Revisions

Boys/Girls PE 7 and PE 8

• We are changing the course titles to Boys’ PE and Girls’ PE. By modifying the names, we can have 7th and 8th graders take the course together which allows for more flexibility in scheduling and reflects how the high school has a grade-blended PE course.
• We are allowing students to be able to take this course in 7th grade and 8th grade. Again, this will help with scheduling, but also allow students who need physical activity breaks in their day to be able to do so - especially since this is a transition building from elementary to high school.

Computer Lit 7

• We are changing the course title to Computer Lit. This will allow us to schedule both 7th and 8th graders into the course and provide flexibility with scheduling.