At Canyon Hills, we have an array of electives. Students will either be part of what is called “the wheel” which give students the opportunity to experience three different electives throughout the year. Students have a new elective each trimester. For eighth grade students the wheel electives include : Art, Drama, and Life Skills. Seventh grade students involved in the wheel will take three of the following: Study Skills, Public Speaking, Introduction to Computers, Civic Literacy.

There are also a number of year long electives that students may take. Some of these electives require an interview or some prerequisite. The year long electives include: Yearbook, AVID, Renaissance, Leadership, Experiential Technology, and Band.

 

 

AVID is a year long elective that students apply and interview for the previous school year. AVID is for both seventh and eight grade students. In this elective students learn study and organization skills aimed at helping them to succeed academically and prepare them for college. Throughout the year the students go on various field trips, attend a leadership conference at Disneyland and do weekly critical thinking and group building activities. This elective is geared for self motivated students who want to excel in school.

Public Speaking is course designed to teach students how to critically think about current issues, to plan and present a variety of speeches
reflecting thought, use of technology, visual gimmicks, and command of the topic.  Speeches include but are not limited to the following:
Interview Speech, Demonstration Speech, Argumentative Speech, Advertisement, Historical Speech, such as Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream", and Family Tradition.  Debates, impromptu and analysis of
literary selections are also presentations given.

 

Students will gain confidence and practice at clearly communicating with clear enunciation and proper pronunciation, use  projection and proper inflection--a well-rounded communicator who creatively approaches expression.  Students collaborate with others and use time wisely to challenge themselves for extended learning that supports other disciplines, such as art, English Language Arts, history and science. Public Speaking is not just about giving speeches, but about how to view one's world in a broader sense that allows discourse and further growth.

Study Skills Class is designed to teach our seventh graders many skills they will use academically and socially in the junior high years and beyond.  Some of these skills are goal setting, time management, getting organized, note taking, test taking, memory techniques, reading strategies and collaboration/teamwork.  In addition, students will be introduced to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.

 

We have specially designed this course to meet the needs of students who may need extra assistance with organization, note-taking, self-monitoring, self-starting and other critical areas for academic and social success. We will be utilizing strategies such as peer tutors, weekly binder checks, daily agenda checks and a reward system to encourage independent learning.

The Canyon Hills Visual Arts program introduces students to the elements and principles of art in a creative and nurturing environment.  Students learn the skills requisite to express themselves visually through line, shape, space, texture, color, value, and form.  As the trimester progresses, the student artists blend these elements into the principles of art, creating works with contrast, movement, balance, unity, rhythm, pattern, and emphasis.  Drawing, painting, clay, pastels, collage and other media are explored.
Students learn about many great artists, eras, and movements, and, of course, create their own art along the way.

This course is designed to teach the skills necessary to produce the school yearbook, which offers a complete record of the entire school year.  Students will study journalism including layout and design techniques, writing and editing copy, headlines and picture captions.  This class provides the practice of gathering and analyzing information, computer skills, interviewing, note taking, photography, and teamwork.  Students learn good work habits, responsibility, accountability and the meaning of deadlines.  At times, deadlines require that staff members work after school.

The Canyon Hills JHS Choir is a place for any student who loves to sing and who would like to expand their musicianship.  Students in choir learn how to use their vocal instrument properly, and learn how to read music.  In addition, we sing pieces from a huge variety of choral genres, including but not limited to pop, classical, jazz, holiday, secular, spiritual, international, and patriotic genres.  Sometimes the pieces that our choir sings just cry out for some light choreography, so choir students learn to move to their singing. Choir performs in all three Canyon Hills Renaissance rallies, in the Canyon Hills Holiday concert in December and Spring Concert in May, and at district festivals.  The Canyon Hills Choir is also honored to be invited to sing in the Chino Hills Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Shoppes, and in several of the Ayala High School Choir concerts throughout the year, including a benefit concert which raises hundreds of dollars each year for a chosen charity.
 
Our Canyon Hills Choir students find choir to be a place of belonging and fun; a place where they can explore their gifts and talents, and love doing it!  Choir students also get to participate in several entertaining fieldtrips each year - - seeing a high-quality musical theatre presentation, and going to Knott's Berry Farm in May.  All in all, the Canyon Hills Choir is a happening place to be!