There are several opportunities to earn elective credits at Pathways.  Some electives are offered through traditional class instruction, Apex Learning Systems, independent study, or community service/work experience.  Below is a list of potential traditional class offerings as well as independent opportunities.  Speak with the guidance counselor if you want to take elective classes through the Apex Learning System.

 

This course is designated for students who want additional time and academic support. This class is tailored to meet the needs of all students at each individual student’s level. Teachers and students will target weak areas as indicated by classroom grade, MAP, SBA or HSGQE. Instructors will monitor study skills and establish communication between home and school. Students will also have time to work on current homework assignments and receive specialized tutoring. Student responsibility, self-advocacy and accountability will be stressed.

 

This course is designated for students who want additional time and academic support. This class is tailored to meet the needs of all students at each individual student’s level. Teachers and students will target weak areas as indicated by classroom grade, MAP, SBA or HSGQE. Instructors will monitor study skills and establish communication between home and school. Students will also have time to work on current homework assignments and receive specialized tutoring. Student responsibility, self-advocacy and accountability will be stressed.

 

This course helps students develop essential skills for making positive life choices. Research based programs are used. “Building Character in Ourselves and Our School” and “Managing Life in a Less-Than-Perfect World” promote the character traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, and citizenship. These programs help motivate students to demonstrate the traits. “CAST” establishes peer groups for a strengthened sense of community, teaches a skill set that involves goal-setting, decision-making, and personal control, addresses increased suicide risk factors and decreased protective factors. Training is strongly recommended for instructors of the CAST program. This course may be repeated for credit one time with instructor approval. 

 

The Communications Lab student will participate in reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities to demonstrate mastery of stated outcomes for English 1 and English 2. The target enrollment group is students who have not mastered outcomes in the standard required courses. 

 

This is a planned community service program that provides learning experience in the community under the supervision of the community service provider supervisor.  The community service criterion is: 

 

Students may earn up to 1 credit of community service (120 hours of approved service per .5 credit).  The hours of service performed do not need to be completed in the same school year, but must be completed before graduation.

 

Employability Orientation is a classroom course which is directly related to Integrated Work Experience. Students will be trained in the areas of applied math, reading for information, locating information, the process of securing employment, laws related to minor employment, responsibilities of an employee, and successfully sustaining employment in a changing job market. Students will explore their own interests and self-improvements as they related to the future of work.  

 

Educational travel is defined as a planned learning experience gained through participation in a travel/study tour.  Students who wish to receive credit for a shorter term of educational travel must present a proposal to the building principal outlining the instructional objectives to be accomplished and the documented evidence of successful completion.  Upon prior approval, a three-week tour program may receive ½ unit of credit and a six-week program may receive up to 1 unit of credit.  This course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 1 credit. 

 

Human Relations is an elective course that is a combination of life skills and self-awareness. The class utilizes the group process and focuses on the concept of choices and self-responsibility. The class provides a stable and safe environment for teenagers to explore a variety of topics. Some key concepts include: Developing interpersonal skills, communication skills, and active listening; developing and maintaining healthy relationships with self and others; anger management and conflict resolution; respect for self and others; stress management and coping strategies; learning from life experiences and understanding perspective; taking responsibility for self and reducing blame; eating disorders and depression; relating consequences to choices; problem solving; chemical dependency, addictive behavior, co-dependency, and abusive behavior; goal setting; and building self-esteem. This class may be repeated for credit with the recommendation and approval of the school counselor and the teacher. 

 

This is a program of vocational education in which students apply learned skills to on-the-job performance.  Students will participate in a work experience program that relates to the occupational goals of the prerequisite course, Employability Orientation.  Students apply and refine occupational skills, seek and secure employment using proper job search techniques, discover and practice proper work environment skills and participate in the safe work environment that follows State of Alaska Dept. of Labor regulations, Chapter 10-Employment of Children.  Students must work 120 hours of approved employment per semester for .5 credit.  Students will have bi-weekly evaluations by coordinators.   It is highly recommended that students take the course Customer Service in addition to the prerequisite, Employability Orientation. 

 

This course is designed to enhance student understanding and development of the employability skills of Punctuality & Attendance, Productive Attitude & Personal Qualities, and Time Management.  This is accomplished by providing assistance to the supervising faculty member within the school setting which may include classrooms, media center, office, guidance center or other approved locations.  This course will be graded pass or fail and can be repeated for a maximum of 2.0 credits. Use MSBSD Form 11 and Form 11A. 

 

This course requires the skills of creative writing, copy writing, interviewing, caption-writing, lay-out and design, darkroom black and white photography, advertising, sales, finances, bookkeeping, and recordkeeping. This class requires responsibility and the ability to conceptualize a project and take it to completion. Art, typing, computer skills, creative writing, and photographic abilities are recommended but not required.