Connections

The Connections courses offered at WJMS are:

• Band

Band offers students the opportunity to learn woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments. The objective is to equip students with the necessary skills to further their growth as performers. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to showcase their musical talents in front of an audience.

• Physical Education and Weight Lifting

Students will engage in a range of activities to improve their health-related fitness levels and develop physical competence in movement. They will also gain an understanding of the emotional, mental, physical, and social benefits of regular exercise. Additionally, students will learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play. They will be taught proper lifting techniques and encouraged to prioritize safety in the weight room.

• Robotify

The goal of the Robotify program is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of robotics and programming concepts. It is designed to equip learners with the coding skills to create and operate robots.

• Social Skills

This course aims to enhance participants' social skills through interactive activities and practical exercises. Topics covered include effective communication, active listening, conflict resolution, and building positive relationships. Participants will engage in interactive activities to facilitate their learning and growth.

• STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Lab

The STEAM Lab program aims to address content standards in science, technology, engineering, art, and math in an incorporated, practical, real-world context. Creativity and communication will be critically integrated throughout each lesson. A portion of the curriculum will include elemental mastery of: 

Kodu, Scratch, Tinkercad (3D Printing), VEX Robot Coding, Open Rocket, and other programs in which creative problem-solving teaches students the technical skills, independence, leadership, cooperation/teamwork, organization, time management, and how to “sell” their solutions.

• Visual Arts

Our visual arts course is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills acquired by students in their prior visual arts courses. It involves a comprehensive study of art creation, presentation, and response, while also establishing connections between the art world and other domains of learning and personal pursuits.