Life Skills
Life Skills is an academic class with grade-level bench marks and homework requirements.
The class is designed for students to learn and process both concrete and abstract information with a goal of informed decision making.
From grades 6-8, Life Skills covers an impressive range of issues facing students in middle school, each addressed at age-appropriate levels. Some of the topics explored and discussed include core values, organization (executive functions, study skills, test-taking skills), decision-making strategies, puberty, human sexuality, media literacy, health and nutrition, substance abuse, teenage issues, high school preparation, mental and physical addictions.
Elective Courses
Recognizing the importance of academic choice at the middle school level, Blue Oak Middle School provides elective courses for its students.
E lectives are offered on a quarter basis and fall into three categories: academic, creative/artistic or athletic. Often elective courses will combine elements of all three. With choices as varied as An Introduction to Karate to Tessellations, from Guitar and Debate to Ceramics and Drama, elective courses are small and intimate classes that include students from grades 6, 7 and 8. Through the elective program, students are able to participate in activities they are excited about, experience different teaching styles and form new relationships.