Whitman Middle School

Whitman
Middle School
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Whitman Middle School/Resources/Elective Course Registration/Fun Facts About Electives

Fun Facts About Electives

Future 7th & 8th Graders

What it will look like as a 7th or 8th Grader?

Student Character overloaded with books
  • 6 Classes Daily
  • Core classes of English, Science and Social Studies will be selected for you
  • You must select 1 semester of PE or Partner PE
  • You will select your Elective classes
  • Electives are Yearlong or a Semester

Yearlong Electives

Text Bubbles: Hablo Espanol, Instruments
  • Music
  • Spanish

Semester Electives

Figure in the center with colorful arrows pointing outward
  • Student Government/Leadership
  • PE 7 & 8
  • Partner PE
  • Walking Class
  • STEM Innovation Lab
  • Ceramics & Visual Art
  • Yearbook

Yearlong Electives

Whitman Music

Class options: No experience needed: Introductory Band, Introductory Orchestra.
Experience Needed: Intermediate Band and Concert Orchestra.
By Audition Only: Concert Band

Band Instruments

Band and Orchestra Students
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • Saxophone
  • French Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Baritone & Tuba
  • Percussion (learn mallets + drums)

Orchestra Instruments

  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Bass
  • Piano & Harp by permission only (must be taking private lessons outside of school and talk to Ms. Gunn)

Things Our Students Say About Music

Band and Orchestra Students
  • “It’s a fun hobby that has a rewarding payoff”
  • “This is my favorite class of the day!”
  • “A life long skill I can always come back to”
  • “Now that I’ve started playing I can’t stop”
  • “Music is my second family”

Fast Facts

  • Play three concerts a year on our stage.
  • Learn to play music from movies, rock/pop, classical, fiddling, jazz, and music from other countries!
  • Our classes go on field trips to UW, Western Washington University, WildWaves, and more!
  • 40% of our music students started playing their instrument in middle school so it’s never too late!
  • Whitman has instruments to loan for free
  • Learn more on the Whitman Music Program page.

What about Jazz Band and Drumline? Jazz Band is a 0-Period class before school and is not included in the electives selection process. Please contact Ms. Gunn if you are interested in joining Jazz Band. Drumline is a club after school anyone is welcome to join.

Spanish 1 and 2

  • Spanish 1 in 7th or 8th grade
  • Spanish 2 in 8th grade (for those who took Spanish 1 in 7th grade)
  • Each year worth 1 high school credit (transfers to high school with grade)
  • Counts toward high school graduation requirement (2 credits of the same world language)
  • Students may take a placement test in the Spring to enter Spanish 2 without taking Spanish 1

Why Learn Spanish?

Colorful flag banner
  • After English, Spanish is the most common language spoken at home in the US.
  • Spanish is the official language in 20 different countries!
  • You can lean about tother cultures or diversity within your own!
  • You can travel and have access to different jobs
  • Language learning is fun!
  • We learn Spanish through: Music, Games, Books, Videos, and Group Work

Staff

  • Laura Howell
  • Katie Storrs
Laura Howell
Laura Howell
Katie Storrs
Katie Storrs

Semester Electives

Student Government/Leadership

Plan Events

  • Dances
  • Lunch activities
  • Pride Store

Build Confidence

  • Speaking in public
  • Leading others
  • Organization and completion

Having a voice

  • Policies
  • Fundraisers
  • Student Budget
collage of students speaking, dancing, in auditorium.

PE 7 & 8

Students kicking a ball, hitting a ball over a net and playing basketball.

In PE classes, students participate in activities that focus on 3 main areas.

  1. Increased personal fitness (cardio, muscle endurance, strength and flexibility)
  2. Improved motor skills (kicking, throwing, catching striking and many more
  3. Increased knowledge of health and fitness content (learning about body systems, nutrition, fitness concepts, goal setting, consumerism, safety and first aid and more)

Walking Class

YES! Just walking!

  • A new course each day
  • Walk and talk with your friends
  • Listen to music
  • Dress out or not!
Students walking outside.

STEM Innovation Lab

Robots Wild cat with virtual glasses on.

Open to 7th and 8th Graders (yes, you may may repeat this course!)

  • Create mobile apps and games using block coding with real-time testing on classroom iPads
  • Use MakeCode Arcade to program games for a virtual classroom arcade.
  • Use our coding skills to program virtual robots in challenging environments such as a coral reef, a castle, and randomized mazes
  • Build, test, and write block code for your own custom-designed robots, using state-of-the-art VEX Robotics equipment

Ceramics & Visual Art

Ceramics Collage. Students drinking out of mugs, Mushroom and other Mug ceramic items.

Whitman MS Ceramics & Visual Art
Instructor: Dever K. Dunnett

Students grow artistically in a a safe, fun, and creative environment as the artistic boundaries of imagination are pushed.

Learn more on the Ceramics & Virtual Art page.

Yearbook

Open School Yearbook

Students who choose Yearbook for a semester will be responsible for putting the Whitman Middle School Yearbook together.

Registering for Electives Overview

  • You get to choose between 4 semester Electives and 1 or 2 yearlong Electives
  • Select 2 Alternate Elective classes
  • Everyone will get an Elective Worksheet to fill out
  • Use your Elective Worksheet to help request your classes online
  • Turn in your Elective Worksheet to Advisor or Office

Questions?

  • Talk to your current grade level counselor if you have questions about electives or what electives you should sign up for the school year.
  • If you have questions about the online form or registration process, please contact the school registrar Elaine Llandover: elllandover@seattleschools.org or 206-252-1208.

As of Feb. 4, 2025