Bluegrass United Academic Center Electives

Fellowship Hour: Noon-1 P.M.   

First Hour: 1-2 P.M. 

Stop-Motion Art

Teacher: Alfredo Escobar

Class Fee: $10

Students in this class will learn a brief history of how stop-motion art began and what it has become, and will create several of their own projects at various levels of complexity. Students need to have a smartphone to use in this class.

King's Quest

Teacher: Richard Carter

Class Fee: None

Do you love adventure? Are you an explorer at heart?  Do you yearn for a life filled with purpose and nonstop action? 

If this sounds like you, then we have just the thing for you. 

What is it? A mission? Not quite. 

A trek? Sort of. 

An adventure? Definitely.  

We're talking about a QUEST! 

A King has left clues to a treasure greater than the imagination can comprehend. The key is contained with in an ancient document that has been handed down over the generations (Proverbs 25:2). It has the secrets to life here and now and for eternity. He incorporated special blessings for all that are up to the Quest! 

The Quest: A 16 week Bible study that unveils the circumstances behind a mysterious and unusual death of the King, and follow the clues to reveal the TRUTH. It?s a captivating study that will lead into the adventure of a lifetime. 

Investigators will learn how to follow the clues using:

?Inductive bible skills.

(Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How)

?Inspections of Historical Facts.

(Learn to view & read ancient maps)

?Interview eye witnesses accounts. (Learn the art of asking questions)

?Introduction to context. (1st century foreign lands, languages and cultures) 

American Contra-dance

Teacher: Jennifer Escobar

Class Fee: $10

This modern-ish folk dance style involves lots of spinning, swinging, twisting and turning, and it's super popular across the USA and beyond. This class will equip you to show up at a contra dance out in the world and be able to jump right in. Wear comfortable shoes - preferably flat-soled.

Yearbook

Teacher: Melia Schmidt

Class Fee: None

The yearbook class is responsible for producing a yearbook that memorializes Bluegrass United for the 2022-2023 school year. This will include individual student photos, teachers, socials, sporting events, and graduation. Students in this class will use Picaboo!, an online yearbook site, to design, layout, and produce the yearbook. We will learn how to use the design software, the fundamentals of good design, how to select and edit photos, and more. The class will also be promoting yearbook sales.

Bringing a laptop to class is highly recommended. Students will be assigned sections to design/edit and gain more hands-on experience if they have their own computers in class. The rest of the class will work collectively as a group on pages in class. Possession of a quality camera and some photography experience is also beneficial but not required.

If you?re ready to work hard and also learn some new skills, this is the class for you.

Hospitality and Events

Teacher: Cindy Fawcett

Class Fee: $10

This class will be a crash course in event and party planning. It will include lectures, guest speakers and many hands-on activities such as making table arrangements, posters, invitations and more. Students will develop leadership skills and learn to work together as a team. Additionally, students will:

·       develop a plan and timeline

·       create and manage a budget

·       write menus and understand the principles of food preparation

·       learn effective fundraising

·       marketing and promotion

·       develop a theme and décor

·       work with vendors and venues

The class will be involved in fund raising for BU activities and will practice the concepts learned in class by actively participating in the planning of BU socials and dances.

Second Hour: 2-3 P.M. 

Operation Citizen

Teacher: Sarah Russell

Class Fee: $5

In this class we will learn what we can do, even as teenagers, to change our community for the betterment of all. We will have class speakers from different community service organizations and careers come and talk to us about what we can do now and how we can make a difference. 

Creative Writing

Teacher: Cindy Fawcett

Class Fee: None

Writing can be fun! This class will focus on the creative writing process. We will write stories, narratives, sales pitches, blog articles, and poetry without anguish or anxiety in a positive environment. All writing will take place in class (no homework). This class is open to all students whether you have written award winning essays or tremble at the thought of writing a paragraph. No text required. 

Pottery II

Teacher: Tina Cornett

Class Fee: $25 for clay and glazes to be shared by the class
Pre-requisite: Pottery I
For the student that enjoys creating with clay, this class will continue to build upon skills learned in Pottery I.   

Class supplies:

* 2 small boxes (shoe box or cardboard works well) that can fit the project they are working on

*1 small container that can hold liquid without leaking, about 2-3 inches tall

(small tupperware or sour cream container)

*I will have tools for them to use in class, they may want to purchase some to

use at home but they can also use household items (toothpicks, plastic forks,

sponges, etc.) to achieve great results.

Graphic Art

Teacher: Alfredo Escobar

Class Fee: $20

Students in this class will learn about the history of graphic design, from cave drawings to smartphone icons, and they will also go through the process of creating their own designs. The final project will be designing a personal logo that will be screenprinted on a T-shirt that they can wear with pride for the rest of their lives.

$20 fee

Dulcimer

Teacher:  Jennifer Escobar

Class Fee:  $10

Kentucky's official state instrument, the Appalachian Dulcimer, is actually really easy to play. Whether you've played an instrument before or not, you'll catch right on in this class, where we'll learn basic stringed instrument techniques while playing traditional tunes. We'll graduate from playing melody to harmony, then to chords, and then to creating and arranging our own pieces on this simple but versatile instrument.   Dulcimers will be provided for classtime use.

Musical Theater Performance

Teachers: BUPAC staff

Class Fee: $50

Students in Musical Theater Performance will work together to stage a full-length, Broadway-style musical. This year?s musical is Rogers and Hammerstein?s Oklahoma!, a story about the farmers and cowboys who settled the Western U.S. Indian territories at the turn of the 20th century. The cast for this musical was selected through previously-held auditions, but there are still openings available for boys who would like to be members of the chorus. No musical experience is required. If you are a member of the pre-selected cast for Oklahoma! or a male student who would like to be a member of the chorus, you are invited to register for this class.

Third Hour: 3-4 P.M.

CS Lewis and the World of Narnia

Teacher: Jamie Groover

Class Fee: None

In this class, we will discuss the seven novels of the classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia, looking at the life and times of it author CS Lewis, as well as his influences and philosophy toward both fantasy writing and life. We will also discuss interpretations and meaning of the series? iconic characters and stories, and maybe even come to a consensus on what is the ?right? reading order.

Lively Logic

Teacher: Cindy West

Class Fee: $10

This active class will stretch your brain with logic puzzles, games, hands-on logic activities, and mysteries! We'll learn about things like syllogisms, inferences, truth statements, logical fallacies, and so much more. It should be tons of fun!

They Did What???

Teacher: Sarah Russell

Class Fee: $5

Want to wow and amaze your friends with strange, but true, facts? In this class we will learn about real, hard-to-believe, crazy events and eccentric people from history. History does not have to be boring; it can actually be entertaining!

Pottery I:  Methods and Techniques of Hand building

Teacher: Tina Cornett

Class fee: $25 for clay and glazes to be shared by the class

This class will focus on teaching multiple hand building techniques. The students will be taught a technique and then will use that to create a piece of artwork. The student will have creative control over what they want to make using the given technique. This will allow them to challenge their creative processes as far as they would like while learning hand building fundamentals. Students will need to do some work at home to complete projects

in time to be fired. The amount of time needed will depend on the complexity of the student?s design.
Class supplies:

* 2 small boxes (shoe box or cardboard works well) that can fit the project they are working on

*1 small container that can hold liquid without leaking, about 2-3 inches tall

(small tupperware or sour cream container)

*I will have tools for them to use in class, they may want to purchase some to

use at home but they can also use household items (toothpicks, plastic forks,

sponges, etc.) to achieve great results.

~Priority in this class will be given to the waitlist from fall semester.

Musical Theater Performance

Teachers: BUPAC staff

Class Fee: (paid in 2nd hour)

Students in Musical Theater Performance will work together to stage a full-length, Broadway-style musical. This year?s musical is Rogers and Hammerstein?s Oklahoma!, a story about the farmers and cowboys who settled the Western U.S. Indian territories at the turn of the 20th century. The cast for this musical was selected through previously-held auditions, but there are still openings available for boys who would like to be members of the chorus. No musical experience is required. If you are a member of the pre-selected cast for Oklahoma! or a male student who would like to be a member of the chorus, you are invited to register for this class.