Programs

Art

We offer in depth study In the areas of music, visual arts and theaterbased on the Getty Model that includes; performance, history, aesthetics, and critique. Students in the Focus program take both of their elective classes in their focus area.

 

Dance

Students learn how to create, perform, and respond to dance.  Students will explore the history and culture of dance and choreography while receiving training in forms such as modern dance and jazz, hip-hop, ballet, improvisational dance, salsa, African and various choreographic styles.

Music

Students can participate in band, choir, or orchestra.  Music students perform, create, listen to and analyze music in both individual and ensemble settings. Comprehensive musicianship is also developed. Public performances are an integral part of the program.  7th and 8thgrade students in band also participate in marching band as part of band class and participate in a holiday parade.

Music Focus

Students perform, understand, describe, and create music in both individual and ensemble settings.  Students develop musicianship through performance, composition, analysis, and improvisation on instruments and in the electronic music lab.  Classroom seminars explore aesthetics, history, and ethnomusicology.  In addition, clinics with guest artists, festivals, field trips and attendance at local music performances are part of the curriculum.

Science

Students learn science by doing science through our inquiry-based curriculum.  They actively participate in a variety of data collection, analysis activities and laboratory experiments each week.  Our partnership with CU’s graduate student fellows (GK-12) allows students to experience real science and interact with scientists who are practicing in various scientific fields. Our new state-of-the-art science labs make all this possible.

Theater

Students explore the rigors of theatrical training including musical theater, play analysis, character work, exposure to various acting techniques, play and film production, reader’s theater and theater vocabulary.  Younger students focus on the fundamental skills of performance.  Theater games and activities are used to help students understand the basics of objectives, conflict, character development, audience relationships and the collaborative nature of play production.  Students bring texts to life through monologues and extensive scene work.

Visual Arts

Students have opportunities to develop explicit skills, explore the artistic process, nurture creative expression, learn about different art forms, artists, and art history. This program offers drawing, painting, design, sculpture, and pottery.  There is also an emphasis on art appreciation and multicultural contributions to the world of art.  Our young artists are consistently celebrated and recognized through this distinctive program.

Social Studies

Class activities focus on critical thinking and analysis, research utilizing a variety of traditional and non-traditional sources, understanding the causes of and connections between historical events, uncovering historical fallacies and the influences of bias

and power in historical records.  Teachers use real world examples and hands-on activities to maximize student interest, understanding, and internalization of concepts.  Integration of technology through research, the use of wikis, and presentations

Technology

All 6th grade students take a quarter long technology course that focuses on keyboarding skills, learning to use various programs such as Excel and Powerpoint, and web-based research. 7th and 8th grade students can choose Multimedia as one of their elective courses.  Students in this course build critical thinking, problem solving, and design skills.  Students develop a variety of computer skills including graphic illustration and design, web design, image manipulation and other skills to produce artistic images.  Students also design and produce multimedia presentations that incorporate texts, graphics, sound and animation.

Gifted and Talented

Manhattan is one of two TAG lab schools that BVSD offers. BVSD created TAG lab schools in order to build capacity and replicable models that address the academic and social-emotional needs of TAG students.  As a TAG lab school, we provide affective support for our TAG students,  and use cluster grouping, accelerated and advanced courses (LA) for instruction.  7th and 8th grade students can also apply to participate in the TAG seminar class, a guided, independent study course in which students can study in depth an area of particular interest.

Language Arts

Students focus on the development of knowledge and skills based on the Colorado Common Core Standards.  Class activities focus on reading and writing, speaking and listening. Creative, technical and research-based writing are included in all grades.  Genres of study include; poetry, biography, fiction, short story, and drama with an emphasis on the Socratic process.  In 8th grade, students use class sets of Netbooks to complete multi-genre projects, and publish and analyze writing on wikis. Students in grades 7 and 8 can apply to participate in Advanced Language Arts classes. 

Math

At Manhattan, we teach courses in 6th through 10th grade math on site. Based on teacher recommendation, math placement assessment, and CSAP scores, students are placed in a course that will provide them with content appropriate to their knowledge and skill level.  The 6th through 8th grade courses are taught using the Connected Mathematics curriculum and is organized around appealing and engaging problems.  In these courses, students observe and generalize patterns and relationships, a process vital to acquiring a solid understanding of mathematical ideas, will be introduced to Algebra, study similarity, ratio, proportion and percent, integers, linear relationships, three dimensional measurement, probability, and number sense.  Algebra 1 Advanced and Geometry Advanced are high school courses taught at Manhattan and are available to students who have completed the pre-requisite courses, have a history of being accelerated in mathematics, and are ready for the depth and pace of a high school level course.

Tall Ships

Students in 7th and 8th grade have an opportunity unique to Manhattan Middle School to participate in a 5-day marine biology study trip to the Channel Islands in California.  Students board the Tole Mour in Long Beach and learn under the guidance of their teachers and the Tole Mour’s expert staff to sail the ship, sing sea shanties, study the biology of the area, snorkel, swim with sea lions, and learn about concepts like bioluminescence, fish adaptation, marine mammals, and kelp ecosystems.

Physical Education

Students experience a wide variety of sports and activities in a fun and supportive environment.  All activities focus on skill and social development as well as physical fitness and the development of a healthy lifestyle.  Class activities include: archery, running, fitness, lacrosse, hockey, badminton, kickball table tennis, recreational games, track and field, wrestling, flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, multicultural games, ropes course and traverse climbing wall. 7th and 8th grade students spend one quarter in Health class learning knowledge and skills for making safe and healthy lifestyle choices.

English as a Second Language

Students learning English as a Second Language comprise approximately 15% of our student population.  We currently have students from Mexico, Korea, China, Germany, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Russia. Students receive instruction in the general education classroom in addition to extra language and literacy classes as needed. 

Athletics

Every middle school in BVSD offers the same extra-curricular athletic program.  Intramural sports include: basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, and track. Interscholastic sports include: football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, track.  Team practices are held after school every day during each sport’s season.  Games are also held after school either in single game or tournament structure.  Transportation is provided for students to away games.

Spanish

Students in 6-8th grades can choose to take Spanish as one of their electives.  We offer levels 1A, 1B, and 2 on site.  In addition, Manhattan offers Spanish Language Arts for English and Spanish speakers who have completed an elementary bilingual program or Spanish speakers who have not participated in a bilingual program. this course develops reading, writing, mechanics, speaking, understanding, skills and cultural knowledge at grade level.  The course is taught entirely in Spanish.

Special Education

Students on Individual Education Plans receive support through co-taught instructional environments, academic support classes as appropriate, and consultation with a Special Education case manager and/or school psychologist. At the end of 5th grade, families of students on IEPs meet with Manhattan Special Education teachers to make the transition to middle school as smooth as possible.


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