2014/2015 Mini Courses

BUDGET Our budget for mini-courses was $2,000. We came in around $1,750. Following is an explanation of the mini- course process, course description, course cost and recommendations for next year.

TIMELINE October: we presented the 6th grade students with an interest survey. (See attached) In addition to circling their top five interests, we asked the students to number their top three. They also had an opportunity to write in any other suggestions.

January: Begin procurement of mini-courses.

Week before Spring Break: Pass out sign-up sheets and have them returned with parents signature.

Friday before Mini-Courses start: hand out class assignments.

Hold onto sign up sheets incase there are any issues. Also compile lists for each 6th grade teacher and each instructor. Also make a master list of all students (when and where) for Reed in front office for dismissals and Mrs. Galloway.

Based on the results from the survey, the courses that received the most interest were:

Military 55 Go Karts 52 Cooking 28 Project Runway 26 Minute to Win It 25 Robotics 25 Photography 24 Gaming 24 Babysitting 16 Geocaching/outdoor Adventures 16

Ping pong was written in with 14 people interested.

MILITARY: This is a popular and inexpensive class. Coach Cence does a fantastic job leading it. You can find a substitute for him to assist Ms. Sokol through the Physical Ed. Liaison. The class can be held both weeks to accommodate the interest. Up to 20 kids can attend each class but 14 or 16 ensures everyone has time to climb the high ropes. An even number helps since many of the games are comprised of competitive teams. The activities include: obstacle course (Coach Cence develops this), capture the flag, "Search and Rescue" find toy soldiers that Coach Cence has hidden and "Unbroken" game devised by Coach Cence with hoola hoops and nerf balls. One day each week Mr. Hedrick takes the class to climb the high ropes. Ask Mrs. Galloway Galloway which days are best to schedule that. Schedule military speakers on the days the class plays "Unbroken" and the obstacle course as these activities do not require a full period. Past speakers have included Mr. Dearman, parents of CBS students, MB police department with military background and asking the recruiting offices directly. The class begins with the talks lasting about 15 minutes with an additional 5/10 minute question and answer. Topics include personal experience and career opportunities etc. Then the students head to the field for their activity. This class meets in Mrs. Fuentes room as there is quick access to

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RECOMMENDATIONS: Popular, easy and inexpensive. Cost only for soldiers and Popsicles for kids ($50) Check with Coach Cence because he should have bucket of 2,000 soldiers from this year.

GO KARTS: Michael Smith from the tool rental department of Home Depot store on 280 has the order form from this course. Although they give us a discount, this is the most expensive class and uses the majority of the budget so we felt it was fair to charge 15.00 per student for the course. Students are notified on the sign up sheet before choosing the class and letters are sent to the students who are ultimately chosen for the class. The PTO bookkeeper tracks the checks. The class can be offered both weeks with a max of 10 students each class. The wheels should be ordered online through Caster Connections. They also have our order listed under Cherokee Bend Elementary. Get a tax exemption letter from the school bookkeeper which also helps significantly with these purchases. Students are to bring their own duct tape for decorating their Karts. They will also need to bring a bike helmet for safety on the days they ride. The schedule is as follows: Michael Smith and associate work with the students on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday a parent volunteer works with the students on attaching the seat and rope steering. The kids can begin decorating while they await their turn. Thursday the students finish decorating and ride their karts around campus. (Hill by the playground track has proven to be the most fun) On Friday schedule a speaker from Barber Motorsports to speak. Most race car drivers began as go Kart riders and they bring in an electric go kart for the kids to see. Kelly Stewart 702-8729 arranged for Lee Clark and Mitch Cobb to speak. You will need to have an aide in the class Mon, Tues and Friday. The class meets and stores their karts in the WOW room but all work should be completed outside in the amphitheater. Directions for go Kart are in folder and can be found online at stormthecastle.com.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is an expensive class ( $1,200) but the kids love it. Stress to Michael not to rush on Monday and Tuesday. It is best for Barber Motorsports to come on Friday but you can rearrange schedule to accommodate. If work has to be done inside due to rain a tarp MUST be used to ensure the carpet stays clean. If you can think of another woodworking project that is more cost effective and can include more students, you may want to consider.

ROBOTICS: This is an easy, fun and inexpensive course. Mr. Salvant from MB Jr. High put the class together, supplied the robots and came on Monday to introduce the class. The PAGE teacher can lead the class for the rest of the week. The class is held in her room.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This class is free! The only negative is that only 8 kids can participate. When assigning kids to classes, I signed up Non PAGE students first since the PAGE kids study an entire unit on robots.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Year after year this class is a hit! Alison Gault who no longer has kids at CBS agreed to return to teach the class. She prefers a small class. 15 is absolute maximum but 10 is ideal. Only sign up kids who marked it as their first choice. Need a parent or aid to assist the entire week so that Alison can concentrate on teaching. The class can meet in a 6th grade classroom each day with the art gallery in the library on the final day. Check with Alison on special notes she likes sent to the parents of the students before the class begins.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Check sooner rather than later with Alison. In case she is unavailable, you can find another instructor. Cost is about $100 for supplies (sharpies, double sided tape, 8 by 5.5 multi colored card stock and photo processing, food for art show) Check PTO cabinet for left over card stock.

GAMING: Mr. Salvant organized the content for this class and introduced it on Monday. It was very difficult to find an instructor for the class. The class was self led/taught so Mr. Haller graciously agreed to monitor. It was held in the computer lab.

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RECOMMENDATIONS: This class showed high interest in the survey but only about 8-10 students during sign up. I would recommend combining this class with coding next year. Begin early locating a teacher. It is a great choice if the interest is there because it doesn't have a cost associated with it and can fit up to 20 students in the class. Make sure you offer opposite week of Robotics as Mr. Salvant introduces both classes.

GEOCACHING: Initially we worked on offering a babysitting course but couldn't find the time or instructors to certify the students on skills or CPR. The logistics made it too difficult. So our back up plan was Earthapalooza. On Monday and Tuesday we had an individual from Ruffner Mountain (Mandy Nobles) teach geocaching, on Wednesday we had Taylor Steele ( 414-3962) from Botanical gardens talk about pollinators, on Thursday we had Conrad Blunck from Jones Valley farm ([email protected]) talk about "seed to plate" and construct herb gardens and on Friday we had a Mom, Emily Christian, teach yoga outdoors and make bath salts. You will need an aide or parent volunteer with the class Monday thru Thursday. It was held in the science lab classroom.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Ruffner cost $50 and Jones Valley Farms cost $50 for his visit. $114.85 for herb garden supplies for 13 students. 12 max for this class. I was a little disappointed with Geocaching. This is Mandy's third year with us yet a majority of the kids are still waiting around on Tuesday to geocache. I recommend working out a plan beforehand such as bringing more volunteers and/or involving the aide on day 2 so that all groups are hiding caches for first half of class, then finding them second half. Or Mandy can hide them on Monday for all to search on Tuesday. I would also have Conrad teach his class outside as filling the herb gardens with soil was a little messy.

PING PONG: We secured the tables through Brooke Gibbons at the junior high. Mrs. Galloway wrote a work order for them to be delivered. We had Bumper Nets lead the class the first three days and members from the MBHS Ping Pong Club lead on Thursday and Friday. We had 4 students per four tables. Obviously this was held in the gym. The students loved the music playing and ending the days with round robin contests. We supplied ping pong balls. They are being stored in the PTO cabinet. An aide or parent will need to supervise the entire week.

RECOMMENDATIONS: If given as an option on the interest survey, you may get enough interest to offer two weeks. The cost for the exhibition from Bumper Nets was $175 and Coach Joe Xie (987-2222) volunteered to teach Tuesday andWednesday. I was disappointed with the exhibition. I was under the impression members from the Alabama ping pong team would be present and it would be a lively demonstration. However, Homer the owner and Joe were the only two people that hosted the show. Homer spent most of his time plugging Bumper Nets which I wouldn't have had a problem with if they had volunteered their time. I recommend scratching the exhibition and negotiating $150 (Joe usually charges $50 per hour) for Joes services for three days. Joe is an amazing Coach!

COOKING: The challenge of this class is to cook without the use of the school kitchen. A different instructor taught each day. The Jr League Mobile Kitchen came Monday and baked healthy snacks. Ann & Brad Russell (no longer at CBS) taught Sushi rolling with a variety of sushi tastes. Brandi Hodges taught on Wednesday and made dirt cakes. Shindigs Mac Russell taught Chocolate Mousse(?) on Thursday. Susan Green of Birmingham Bake and Cook taught pot stickers on Friday. It is an equipment intense class but is free is instructors don’t charge for materials. These did not. It was taught in the 6th grade Science Room. There was plenty of power and sinks.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Have kids help the instructor set up, prep and clean. Depending on what is being prepared, time can by go fast.

PROJECT RUNWAY: This idea was taken from the actual show. No sewing machines were used. This was an all girl class. The first day of class was an actual Project Runway Season 13 (Sandhya Garg/ moved to Boston) contestant coming to speak to us about her experience on the show, her interests and career. At the end of our

Page 3 of 4 speaker, the first challenge was issued. This gives the girls time at home to work on their design. The girls worked in pairs and had to pick a different partner each day. The 70 minute class structure was 45 minutes to construct, 15 minutes to Runway (girls alternated), 10 minutes to clean up and issue next challenge. Mrs Bell and a guest of her choice came at 2:30 each day to judge. Awards were computer generated place ribbons consisting of a Blue Coat Hanger (First Place), a Red Coat Hanger (second place), a Yellow Coat Hanger (third place) and a Green Coat Hanger (Honorable Mention). Day 2 Challenge – Newspaper Dress. Day 3 – Black garbage Bag Formal attire. Day 4 – Aluminum Foil Beach Wear. Day 5 – Duct Tape Shirt. A parent/aide helper is needed all week. Each day I gave them the item that they could use to create their outfit and let them bring one item from home to use. I found that they do better with constraints. During the Runway, “the designer talked and the model walked.”

RECOMMENDATIONS: This class cost about $100. I bought supplies each morning based on how the students used their supplies from the previous day. We played music each day and used music for the Runway. I used the school’s bullhorn.

MINUTE TO WIN IT: This idea came from the actual show. The premise is that each competitor performs a specific challenge in a minute with ordinary household objects. Each student (they performed the challenges in pairs for the sake of time but they were not competing with each other) does a challenge in 60 seconds. We made it through 3 – 4 challenges per class. Examples of what we did were: Blow a bubble from a bubble wand and then blow THAT bubble with your breath through a hula hoop (suspended from the ceiling) 15 feet away in a minute. OR Drop quarters into a 5 gallon bucket of water and get 3 quarters into a small cup in the bottom of that bucket in a minute. Challenges can be found on YouTube or the internet. Very specific instructions about the challenge have to be given before each challenge. A parent/aide is needed all week. Timer on iphone is used for timing. Preparation is key.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This course cost about $50. Preparation is key. I gathered materials for each challenge the night before. What I didn’t have at my house, I bought. I tried them out on my family to know what is achievable in one minute of time.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

- Teachers are not to instruct the courses unless last resort and confirmed with Mrs. Galloway - Reserve rooms in January and Aides with Mrs. Galloway (first check with Mini Course committee for helpers) - Allow Thank Yous ( MB Gold cards) in budget for instructors that are from the community and did not receive pay ( Taylor, Alison, Michael etc.) - Need to be present everyday of mini courses. Nice to have the help of school ambassadors show instructors to their rooms.

–email [email protected] if you want original forms to work from.

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Dear Sixth Grade Students,

It’s APRIL!!!! Mini courses are right around the corner! We took all of your requests from January into consideration and are excited about the courses being offered. We hope you are too! Mini courses will be held the weeks of May 4th and May 11th. Please review the courses below along with the descriptions and mark your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice for each week then return to your home room teacher by Friday April 10th.

Any questions please contact Deb Shunnarah at [email protected] or Nancy Jernigan at [email protected].

Week of May 4th Week of May 11th

___Robotics ___Gaming 101 ___Military ___Military ___Go Karts ___Go Karts ___Photography ___Project Runway ___Earth-a-palooza ___Cooking ___Minute to Win It ___Ping Pong

Student Name

Student Signature

Parent Signature !!! Mini-courses !!!

Dear 6th Grader,

Please take a moment to CIRCLE 3 of the mini-course IDEAS that interest you most. This information will help us develop and offer opportunities you find to be most exciting. Also feel free to share with us at the bottom of the list any topics not listed that would be of interest to you. Thank you for your input in determining the various interests!

1. Sewing – learn to sew and 11. Minute to Win it + other create your own garment thinking TV game shows

2. Drawing and Painting – 12. Project Runway – creative pencil drawing and painting hands on fashion and runway experience 3. Aces – learn card games 13. Gaming 101-make your own 4. Go Karts -Build and race video game your own 14. Geocaching/Outdoor 5. Robotics – learn how to Adventures – use GPS to hide design and use robots and seek hidden containers

6. Military-FOAC and Capture 15. Science – space and rocket the Flag exploration

7. Photography Shop – learn 16. Stop Motion Animation- use expert photography skills scale figures, computers and paper to create your own 8. Cooking – learn fun, tasty cartoon. and healthy cooking 17. Magic – learn the secrets 9. Babysitting/CPR/First Aid of magicians.

10. Duct Tapeology- make cool 18. projects with duct tape

19. Military: Our most highly requested mini course! Learn what it takes to serve our country while listening first hand from actual enlisted personnel including our very own Mr. Dearman, Vice Principal at the MBJH. Test your physical stamina as you partake in an obstacle course designed by Coach Cence, fine tune your mental strength as you compete in "Search and Rescue" and "Capture the Flag" and develop your perseverance as you conquer the FOAC high ropes and play a game of "Unbroken" !

Photography: Back by popular demand! Mrs. Alison Gault has kindly agreed to teach this amazing course again! Learn general tips of photography then advance into in depth instruction of landscape, macro and portrait picture taking. Exploring the school and its campus through your lens will give you a new perspective on your everyday surroundings. Your week will commence with a showcase of your best work! IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN DIGITAL CAMERA AND MEMORY CARD ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. YOU WILL BE LEAVING YOUR MEMORY CARD WITH THE INSTRUCTOR FOR PROCESSING.

Go Karts: Develop the lost art of woodworking while constructing your very own go kart! You will learn about the materials and tools needed to complete this project from skilled Home Depot Volunteers. You will not only have the chance to test drive your new set of wheels but you will hear from a Barber Motor Sports Guest speaker on how most Race Car Drivers began their career as go Kart racers! IMPORTANT: THIS CLASS WILL HAVE A $25 FEE DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF MATERIALS. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DUCT TAPE TO DECORATE YOUR KART AS WELL AS YOUR BIKE HELMET FOR SAFETY DURING TEST DRIVES.

Earth-a-palooza: unplug and enjoy what mother Earth has to offer! Begin your week learning about modern day treasure hunts, otherwise known as geocaching, from a Ruffner Mountain naturalist. Learn the importance of pollinators from our friends at Botanical Gardens as you draw and dissect examples in our environment. plant your own herb garden as we hear from an Jones Urban Farms educator on the importance of "seed to plate". Last but not least, end your week becoming one with nature as you learn and practice outdoor yoga. After learning how to relax your mind, make an all natural salt scrub to relax your tired muscles!

Ping Pong: you asked for it! We got it! This is not your everyday ping pong course. We will have a special guest appearance, exhibition and instruction from the 2015 Alabama State Table Tennis Team. Practice makes Perfect so lucky for you You will also have the opportunity to play with some of the Memebers of the MBHS ping pong club!

Robotics: why Robotics? It is the mother of all subjects! our very own project Lead the Way teacher from MBJH, Mr. Salvant will kick off this exciting course. Mrs. Saia, our PAGE teacher will continue to lead the class as you design, create and operate your own robot!

Gaming 101: sure… you play video games but have you ever thought about making one? Video game developers can make a very lucrative career out of doing just that. Mr. Salvant will introduce the SCrATCh program to you as you are given the chance to create the next big hit!

Cooking: It’s baaaack! A mini course that you can actually taste! In this course, you will be making something different each day and EATING IT! From healthy snacks to something a bit sweet, learn something NEW and eat something you may have never eaten before.

Minute to Win It: If you’ve ever watched TV before, this will be the same fun game doing a series of 60-second challenges that use objects that are commonly available around the house. It will be crazy. It will be fun. It might even be crazy fun but it is guaranteed to challenge you with the simplest tasks while racing against the clock.

Project Runway: If you have ever watched TV before AND watched the Lifetime channel AND know who Heidi Klum is, than you have an idea about this mini course. We will be creating some wearable fashions each day and putting them on the runway. We will also have a famous person who has been on the show speak to us about the real Project Runway (not the mini course) and the experience of being on the show and also being in the fashion design industry. Guest Instructors Week 1 Monday May 4th Mini Course From Sandhya Garg Project Runway Project Runway Season 13 JLB Cooking Van Cooking Bham Jr League Home Depot Tuesday May 5th Home Depot

Wednesday May 6th Mac Russell Cooking Shindigs Home Depot Thursday May 7th Home Depot

Friday May 8th Mitch Cobb Go Karts Barber Motor Sports Lee Clark Go Karts Barber Motor Sports Susan Green Cooking Bham Bake & Cook

Week 2 Monday May 11th Mini Course From Mitch Cobb Go Karts Barber Motor Sports Lee Clark Go Karts Barber Motor Sports Earthapalooza Ruffner Mountain Tuesday May 12th Earthapalooza Ruffner Mountain Home Depot Wednesday May 13th Conrad Blunck Jones Valley Farm Home Depot Thursday May 14th Conrad Blunck Jones Valley Farm Home Depot Friday May 15th Home Depot

Ambassadors **Ambassadors to show all guests to the classrooms where they will be teaching. **Two ambassadors to manage Guest Parking at orange cones. John Will Adair Sarah Patton Butler Millie Martin Dorman Matthew Greene Mary Winston Hendry Hannah Kelley Caroline Koleszar Anna Lee Jim McPherson Ellie Meadows Sarah Kate Sanders Campbell Swing Minute 2 Win It Jernigan Photography Alison Gault Robotics Saia Week 2 Week 2 Week 2 Helper: Crommelin/Upshaw Helper: Tricia Pugh Helper: n/a Location: Cafeteria Location Computer Lab/Library Location: PAGE Room # of Students 20 # of Students 15 # of Students 8

Adair John Will Brown Riley Ferguson Charlie Bedingfield Pearson Crommelin Elizabeth Ann Gaiser John Christian Christian Janie Elliot Jane Ryland Koleszar Caroline Corley Catherine Feig Teddy Kuennert Jake Culhane Katie Fooshee Emma Long Garrett Dorman Mille Martin Hendry Mary Winston Pelham Henry Gilbert Lilly Hunt olivia Russell Emily Jones Peyton Jeffcoat Kate Wetzler Braxton Kelley Hannah Jernigan Lauren Lee Gardner Jones Mary Carlisle Moore Anne Neal Kracke Caroline Nichols James Reeves Maggie Riley Harris Russell Molly Sanders Sarah Kate Sldgde Marechal Scott Grayson Uncapher Gabe Stewart Michael Swing Campbell Vargas Chandler Vickers Sophie Wyatt Noah 2*

5/11‐12‐Ruffner‐Mandy Nobles 5/13‐14‐JV Farm‐Conrad 5/11‐Barber Blunck Hedrick‐M Go Karts 5/12‐15‐Home Depot Earthapalooza 5/15‐Emily Christian Military Cence‐T‐F Week 2 Week 2 Week 2

M‐ Jennifer Friday TW‐Joan Witherspoon Th‐Mr Holden Emily Christian Helper: F‐Mr Hirsberg Helper: Lee Ann Davidson‐W Helper: n/a Location: WOW/Amphi Location: Batts Location: Fuentes WEEK # of Students 10 # of Students 13 # of Students 14

Abele Charles Anderson Campbell Greene Matthew Davies Tripp Butler Sarah Patton Harris Will Hirsberg Cody Dennis Amelia Henley John Holden Brennan Lee Anna Hiddleston Garrett Hufham James Meadows Ellie Keller Molly McPherson James Parker Ella Katherine McCraney Caldwell Norris Carlitos Simpson George Medina Alonso Nyugen Trung Smith T Lindsay Moss Jordan Sapp Devon Walthall Helen Neimann Colton Sipes Harris Wedge Sophie Plummer Tanner Welch Lilly Corinne Pugh Blake Wyatt Kayleigh Reilly Ava Yeager Anna Kate Shunnarah Ethan Upshaw Perrin