COMMUNICATIONS

Focus of SCCS Middle School Communications

Throughout their remaining school years – and into their adult lives - our young people will be called upon to make oral presentations and to work cooperatively in small groups. The aim of the SCCS Communications program is to prepare students for as many communication situations as possible by teaching presentation and cooperation skills. We approach communication with great respect and dignity for the human person. We communicate with others in a positive manner, with a clear purpose and to the best of our God-given ability.

The program presents preparation, presentation, technical and creative challenges to the students. The skills become increasingly more challenging as students mature. 

Our goals for SCCS Middle School graduates:

1. Work in cooperation with others to accomplish communication goals;

2. Gain skills in preparing for an oral presentation;

3. Confidently and effectively deliver oral presentations and perform in theatrical presentations;

4. Learn special skills of persuasion and improvisation that can be applied to performances or real-life situations;

5. Learn valuable video production skills; and

6. Create many fun memories!

The SCCS Middle School Communications courses give students the opportunity to become proficient and confident communicators – and they have fun doing it!

Subject: Communications

Embedded subjects: News writing

Frequency of class: Every day for 1 trimester, approximately 45 minutes

Grade: 6^th grade

Textbook(s):

Methods of Assessment: Individual presentations and group plays

Course Content:

• Introduction to theatre
• Oral Presentations and storytelling
• Small group production teams prepare: sets, costumes, publicity, and props
• Prepare and present a one-act play to the school
• Introduction to news writing communications
• Write an issue of the Middle School Newsletter

Subject: Communications

Embedded subjects: News writing

Frequency of class: Every day for 1 trimester, approximately 45 minutes

Grade: 7^th grade

Textbook(s):

Methods of Assessment: Play, Speech evaluation, video production, and tests

Course Content:

Expand theatre skills

• Learn persuasion techniques and give a persuasive presentation
• Small group production teams prepare: sets, costumes, publicity, and props
• Prepare and present a longer one-act play to the school
• Learn improvisation, which builds on-stage confidence
• Write an issue of the middle school newsletter
• Learn video production skills
• Basics of video script writing
• Presentation skills for camera
• Basic technical production skills

Embedded subjects: News writing

Frequency of class: Every day for 1 trimester, approximately 45 minutes

Grade: 8^th grade

Textbook(s):

Methods of Assessment: Play and playwright test

Course Content:

• Expand theatre skills
• Introduced to one of the world’s most famous playwrights, William Shakespeare. As a part of this introduction, students read out loud an edited version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Small group production teams prepare sets, costumes, publicity, and props
• Eighth Grade students prepare and present an hour-long play to the school
• Learn improvisation, which builds on-stage confidence
• Write an issue of the middle school newsletter