Honors Vocal Ensemble (.5 credit)

Honors Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned group within the larger High School Concert Choir and meets during zero hour every other day. Emphasis is placed on a cappella singing, which builds vocal independence and self-confidence.

Prerequisite

Audition and concurrent enrollment in concert choir

Special Purchases

Concert outfit (formal dress for girls/tuxedos for boys) ranges from $80 for dresses to $160 for tuxedos

Homework Estimate

Occasional lyrics quizzes or music practice as concert time approaches

Mandatory before-school or after-school participation

All performances are mandatory (about ten per year, some during school hours and others outside school hours) plus two Saturday dress rehearsals for the NRCA on-campus concerts in December and April. Choir tours every other year during Winter or Spring breaks are mandatory.

Major Concepts Covered

This course covers the following: vocal production, part-singing, sight-reading, and musical independence.

Insider Information

This group is for singers who already have a strong background in vocal musicianship and want to push themselves to the next level of excellence. Students work hard and fast to learn a wide variety of repertoire to perform for many events. Students need to be motivated and willing to work hard for the common good of the group and must be enrolled in Concert Choir to be eligible.

Vocal warm-ups are an important part of the start to class, so students need to be able to arrive on time for a 7:00 a.m. class.

Honors Vocal Ensemble meets every other day for .5 honors credit. Students can take Honors Directing & Performance/ Honors Acting in conjunction with Honors Vocal Ensemble to receive a full honors credit. Choir Tour will occur every other year, beginning with the 2024 tour.

Grades 9th-12th

Journalism takes students on a deep dive into reporting and nonfiction storytelling. Media literacy and ethics are foundational topics for the course, which examines the cultural role of media as well as the responsibilities of individual reporters to cover news with accuracy and integrity. Students learn to identify newsworthy topics, interview sources, research details, and write articles that always inform and sometimes entertain. Both independent and collaborative assignments teach students excellence in writing and editing that transfers to other academic settings.

Prerequisite

None

Special

Mandatory before-school or after-school participation

Students produce 3-5 articles of varying lengths and types each quarter. Information-gathering for stories requires event attendance and out-of-class in-person interviews.

Major Concepts Covered

News writing and feature writing are basic skills. Workshops on AP Style, headlines, captions, Search Engine Optimization, and other print and digital media topics are covered throughout the year. First semester focuses on writing and editing foundations. Second semester is project-based and explores additional types of journalistic writing and media.

Insider Information

While the course begins with a rigorous journalism-basics curriculum, as the year goes on, students shift to project-based learning that requires a high level of collaboration. Excellent time management, initiative, and “teachability” are essential. For experienced, skilled writers who show writing excellence, initiative, and leadership ability, the opportunity to serve as an editor is available after a review process.