Speech and Debate:
Speech and Debate students
prepare for speech and theater
contests that occur throughout
the school year. They will
participate in at least one
Parliamentary, Cross X, or
Lincoln Douglass debate, learn
at least one declamation, and
choose either a prose, poetry,
reading selection, or reader's
theater to perform. Last June,
the Hamilton Speech and Debate
Team attended the National
Championship.
Robotics:
Robots are no longer a thing
of the future, they are
becoming more a part of our
everyday use. Hamilton
students work in teams to
solve challenging problems by
building and programming
robots using the LEGO
Mindstorms Robotics Invention
System with Robolab software
and MIT Handy Board with
Interactive C software. In
addition to having fun,
participants learn about
mechanical engineering
principals, software design,
language of the discipline,
computer simulation, project
management and teamwork
skills.
Technology Applications:
General Requirements:
This course is recommended for
students in Grades 6-8 and
should be one credit.
Description:
An overview course designed to
increase the student’s
understanding of the
development and use of
technology. The course
provides an introduction to
technology in the areas of
bio-related technology,
communication, computer
applications, construction,
energy, power, transportation,
and manufacturing. Using
hands-on problem solving and
creative activities, students
develop an understanding of
technology and its impacts.
Activities in this course may
include designing and making
products, assessing
technology, constructing
models of buildings, using
computers, investigating solar
energy, and using tools and
machines.
Art:
Surprise yourself with an
art ability you did not know
you had. Or take the
opportunity to advance your
art skills. Learn to draw,
mix your own colors, create
modern designs, and
participate in various
contests.
Spanish: “¿Habla
Español?” This twelve
week-course is designed to
introduce, maintain, and
expand student’s Spanish
language skills. The emphasis
of the class will be
vocabulary development, simple
grammar, and cultural
explorations. Students will
be involved in a variety of
lessons, games, and
activities, that will build
their vocabulary and grammar
skills in Spanish.
Students who meet criteria
take Spanish at the 7th grade
level for two consecutive
years to earn one high school
credit. All four foreign
language skills are
reinforced: listening,
speaking, reading, and
writing. This is a rigorous
course that addresses the five
c's of language education;
communication, cultures,
connections, comparisons, and
communities.
Choral Music:
This class is open to any
student on campus no matter
what their ability or level.
They will learn the
fundamentals in vocal
technique from proper support
to vowel formations. There
will be an emphasis on
Classical, Pop, and Jazz.
Students will be exploring
Show Choir concepts, including
dancing and stage
presentation. We will perform
regular concerts for the
school, parents, at least two
festivals, and school plays.
There will be a $20.00
activity fee per year.
Concerts and home practice
makes up the majority of the
grade.
Band:
The Hamilton Band has a long
and illustrious history
reaching back to the opening
of the school nearly 85
years ago. Today it has an
enrollment of 176 students
in three levels of band
instruction. The students
play a variety of music
ranging from Classical to
Modern. At the HISD Concert
and Sight Reading Contest,
the Advanced Band
consistently receives top
ratings for their
outstanding performances."
The Hamilton Band is
directed by Mr. Clyde
Daniel. Mr. Daniel
earned a Bachelor of Music
from the University of
Houston with minors in
Science and British
Literature. His
favorite composer is Aaron
Copeland. He has been
a director since 1977.
Mr. Daniel has directed at
Drew Junior High and
Eisenhower High School in
the Aldine I.S.D., Hogg
Middle School, Long Middle
School and most recently was
a Fine Arts Specialist with
Project GRAD in the
Davis/Marshall feeder.
His principal instrument is
the trumpet.
Theater Arts:
C.O.L.O.R.E.S. Performance
Entourage is the name of
Hamilton's Theatre Arts
Department.
C.O.L.O.R.E.S. stands for:
Cultivate
Outstanding
Lives
through
Orchestrated
Rigor
and
Effort
for
Success
We are
performance entourage that
specializes in the use of
various genres of literature
as performance material. The
students run this
performance entourage, as
their primary responsibility
is to read, analyze,
interpret script, and adapt
this interpretation to the
stage. To date, we have used
Shakespeare Sonnets, "The
House on Mango Street" by
Sandra Cisneros, and Shel
Silverstein Poetry. We also
performed our first musical,
the Wiz in the Spring of
2004. Our next endeavor will
be West Side Story!
Creative Writing:
Imagine switching places
with someone else, just for a
few hours! How would life be
different? How might you act
knowing you had such newness?
Next, imagine you are a famous
newspaper columnist, or the
person who writes speeches for
the President of the United
States. Continue to think of
such scenarios, leaving only
your imagination to limit
you. A class called Creative
Writing will be able to bring
all of this to you… and MORE!
The students will focus on the
writing process, by doing such
things as brainstorming
possibilities, writing drafts,
peer-editing work, revising
drafts, and sharing work with
the rest of the class.
Students will not only be
learning “HOW” to write, but
they will also be challenged
with the amazing capability of
“LIKING” to write. As Collin
McCarty once wrote, “Increase
the chances of reaching your
goals by working at them
gradually.” This class will
be an excellent place to try.
Journalism:
The
ultimate aim of the journalism
course is to produce students
who can write articles fit for
publication in a
newspaper/periodic
publication. This means that
students will learn to write
for the purpose of
disseminating information
responsibly and efficiently ,
write for a specific
audience/readership, gather
information for articles from
a variety of sources,
understand newspaper
administration and roles, and
meet publication deadlines.
Multi-Media:
Students will investigate and
increase their understanding
of graphic design. They will
create and manipulate digital
graphics using photo-editing
software. These graphics will
be integrated with MS
PowerPoint to produce advanced
animation techniques.
Habitat for Hamilton:
The students in the
course design a habitat for
the Hamilton community.
Projects include a small pond,
gardening, landscaping, study
of natural plants, and more.
If you have a love for the
outdoors and appreciate nature
or wish to learn, this is the
class for you!