2025 Full Course Descriptions

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Get ready for a week of creativity and fun! In this summer art class students will explore a variety of art forms, including sculpture, photography, textile art, cyanotype, and more. Each day offers hands-on activities that encourage self-expression and experimentation with different mediums!

This course is for enrichment only. Students who take this course will not receive credit/credit repair.

Instructor: Lesly Vazquez

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Interested in learning how to draw the human figure? In this class, students will learn the basics of figure drawing, including foundational techniques such as gesture drawing, proportions and value. This is an introductory course to figure drawing, so no prior experience is needed – you simply need the desire to learn how to draw people from life!

This course is for enrichment only. Students who take this course will not receive credit/credit repair.

Instructor: Lesly Vazquez 

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Want to learn how to create murals like a pro? In this class, students will learn the impact of murals from historical movements to modern street art. Through this hands-on experience, they will design and create a collaborative mural here at Mid-Pen. Students who would like a full-day experience can sign up for both morning and afternoon sessions. No experience needed—just creativity and a willingness to get messy!

This course is for enrichment only. Students who take this course will not receive credit/credit repair.

Instructor: Lesly Vazquez

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Each session will feature work on a single novel and/or other works of literature (poetry, short stories, biographies, etc.). Students will work on their reading comprehension, critical thinking skills, and literary analysis. They will produce a piece of writing by the end of each week, working on essay structure and analytic writing.

Students can take this course for English credit and/or for credit repair. Students seeking a semester of English credit or credit repair need to take four total English classes; the English/English Credit Repair course can be taken along with other English offerings.

Instructor: Gen Greer

 

Grade Levels: Rising 12th graders

Course Description: In this full-day, four-day course, seniors will write a solid draft of their personal statement, the primary essay required for applications to most private and out-of-state colleges. Students will also learn how to write essays for other prompts including supplemental essays and those required for the University of California application. As students complete their personal statements, they will begin writing drafts of other required application essays. The course begins with the assumption that students hold no prior knowledge or experience on the application process, and ends with each student learning the structure of the personal essay and what makes them effective, gaining a clearer grasp of the college application season, with an introduction to the best approach for writing supplemental essays. 

College Essay Writing is a full day, four-day course, including both morning and afternoon sessions. Students seeking credit/credit repair in English must take one week of College Essay Writing and two other English classes.

Instructors:

Week 1 & 2 - Shelley Willig

Week 4 - Tara Theobald-Anderson

Update: Week 1 is FULL 

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: A history of the Golden Age of Caribbean Piracy. Learn about such scalawags as Edward Teach, Black Caesar, Anne Bonny, and Bartholomew Roberts. Students will learn about the economics of piracy, the democratic system they developed and the moral ambiguities of the Caribbean world.

10th through 12th graders can take this course for History credit and/or for credit repair. Students seeking a semester of History credit or credit repair need to take four total History classes; this History course can be taken along with other History offerings. Rising 9th graders can take this course for enrichment, but will not earn credit.

Instructor: Alan Cameron

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: A look at the culture, economics and laws around TV. We will see students become masters of TV Literacy and culture. Main topics will include SitComs, the introduction of Cable, Police Shows, Social Commentary and Reality TV.

Rising 10th through 12th graders can take this course for History credit and/or for credit repair. Students seeking a semester of History credit or credit repair need to take four total History classes; this History course can be taken along with other History offerings. Rising 9th graders can take this course for enrichment, but will not earn credit.

Instructor: Alan Cameron

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: We all know that in 1492... but what about the previous 800 years of the Iberian Peninsula? In this course, we will learn about the Moors; the Muslims from Africa who dominated the region. We will learn about their vibrant culture, their intricate history and their indelible contributions to the Middle Ages.

10th through 12th graders can take this course for History credit and/or for credit repair. Students seeking a semester of History credit or credit repair need to take four total History classes; this History course can be taken along with other History offerings. Rising 9th graders can take this course for enrichment, but will not earn credit.

Instructor: Alan Cameron

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Get body slammed! Ok, not really. Learn about the economics, storytelling and culture of pro wrestling in the United States. See how wrestling has impacted pop culture, and has been impacted by American culture. We will analyze the territories, the wrestling boom, the attitude era, the dawn of “PG”, the Indies, and modern wrestling.

Rising 10th through 12th graders can take this course for History credit and/or for credit repair. Students seeking a semester of History credit or credit repair need to take four total History classes; this History course can be taken along with other History offerings. Rising 9th graders can take this course for enrichment, but will not earn credit.

Instructor: Alan Cameron

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Designed to help students develop a solid foundation in fundamental algebraic concepts, students will be equipped with the essential skills needed for success in Algebra 1. This course also offers an opportunity for students who recently took Algebra 1 to gain a deeper understanding of the material they saw. The main topics include solving one and two-step equations and inequalities, graphing on a number line, and graphing lines on an x-y coordinate system. In addition, there are opportunities to review fractions, decimals, and percentages; ratios and proportions; and basic statistics (mean/median/mode). Specific course content may vary depending on the needs of enrolled students.

This course is for enrichment only. Students who take this course will not receive credit/credit repair.

Instructor: Aja Fox

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Prepare for the next level of algebraic challenges. This course is designed to expand on foundational algebra concepts, introducing advanced topics such as functions, polynomials, and logarithms. Through a combination of clear instruction and practical exercises, students will enhance their problem-solving abilities, ensuring a strong grasp of Algebra ll principles.

This course is for enrichment only. Students who take this course will not receive credit/credit repair.

Instructor: Aja Fox

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Description: Is it a bird, is it a plane/drone/helicopter/autogyro? Ever wondered how those tonnes of metal soar through the sky and why birds flap their wings? Come to this class to answer all those questions, make paper and other flying objects, attempt to land at some of the world’s busiest airports, and see why careers in aviation are a wave of the future. There will be interactions with pilots and other professionals in the field along with potential virtual trips to Hiller Aviation Museum, the Air National Guard base at Moffett Field, and a local airport and/or flying club.

This course is for enrichment only. Students who take this course will not receive credit/credit repair.

Instructor: David Oliver

 

Grade Levels: Rising 9th graders through rising 12th graders

Course Descriptions:

Biology - Uncover the basic principles that underlie the living world. This introductory biology course will cover cell structure and function, evolution, and various organ systems of the human body. Hands-on laboratory experiments will guide students through the scientific method and solidify understanding of real-world applications.

Environmental Science - Understanding the relationship between humans and the environment is key to developing critical thinking skills regarding current resource management, environmental policy, and global climate change. Explore a broad array of topics essential to understanding this complex field, including global environmental challenges, economics, ecology, population dynamics, and renewable/non-renewable resources.

10th through 12th graders can take this course for Biological Science credit and/or for credit repair or Environmental Science credit and/or credit repair. Students seeking a semester of Biological Science credit or credit repair need to take all four Biology classes. Students seeking a semester of Environmental Science credit or credit repair need to take all four Environmental Science classes. Rising 9th graders can take this course for enrichment, but will not earn credit.

Instructor: David Oliver