"Perhaps what has opened my mind the most at Northpoint has been the intensives. Songwriting in particular has opened a new facet in my life that will influence my life forever – Thanks Northpoint."
"I love Northpoint! My class is like my family!"
"Circle up everyone!"
"I have had an incredible experience with the people at this school. They all want the same thing, an education that prepares them for the future."
NELA Intensives
At the end of each term, students will participate in intensives, which are extended periods of time dedicated to the study of one topic, subject or may involve assistance in making-up and reaching learning targets not met in the previous term. Northpoint intensives have come to be recognized as exciting, high quality educational pursuits in the area of elective studies.
INTENSIVES JANUARY 2009
Are you part of the problem?
Recycling is a series of activities that includes recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, and manufacturing raw materials into new products. Recycling in Prescott has been going on for many years, but is it really working well? We will study the general process of recycling, and focus on how the process is implemented in Prescott and neighboring communities. This will entail trips to Flagstaff, Snowflake, Phoenix and any other identified nearby facilities. The goal of this intensive will be to fully understand the process of recycling, and implement a sustainable program at Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy. Not eligible for credit recovery. Taught by Mr. Pettit.
Investigating The Granite Creek Watershed
If you were to jump in a time machine and see what Prescott’s creeks looked like 200 years ago, what would you see? How has human behavior changed the creeks over time? Are they in a “healthy” condition? If so why, or why not? What does the current condition of the watershed tell us about our community? In this intensive students will have the opportunity to explore beautiful places within the Granite Creek Watershed and participate in real scientific research that will have an impact on their community. This course will introduce a variety of different methods to investigate the current condition of the watershed including, the testing of various chemicals, macro-invertebrate monitoring, community demographic, and the presence of trash. In this course students will gain the necessary background knowledge about the watershed in order to become a place-based educator working with elementary school students in a May intensive. Eligible for general science credit recovery (.5). Offered by Mr. Haggerty.
Exploring Eastern Philosophy: Eat, Pray, Love
This intensive is for students curious about Eastern culture and philosophy with a focus on holistic health and dietary improvements. Under the guidance of Kelly Grey, advanced yoga and ayurveda practitioner, students will be introduced to Eastern culture and spirituality, meditation, multiple forms of yoga and life-improving dietary practices, including cooking. Interwoven into this intensive will be a two-day stay in Phoenix including visits to dietician Dr. Neil Mackay, a Scottsdale Community College and ASU instructor, Erma Pounds, Eastern spirituality expert and the Ekta Mandir Unity Temple. In addition, we will tour the Garchen Buddhist Institute, located in Chino Valley. Not eligible for credit recovery. Led by Mr. Dermer.
One that loved wisely but not too well…
This intensive will enhance your media literacy by looking at film and creative choices in terms of color, sound, lighting, and frame. Our main focus will be on the play, and screen adaptations of Hamlet and Othello. We will attend a Southwest Shakespeare performance down in Mesa. Our final product will be a series of remakes of well-known Shakespearean scenes. Students will write, design, enact, film (or rehearse), and present original scenes at our Expo night celebration. Please note: some of the modern film versions of Shakespeare’s work are rated R. All films will be intensively reviewed by instructor, and a clear account of which films or film excerpts have been selected for the course, and when available, why the film earned its R rating, will be available before the students sign up for intensives. Also Othello is a sexy play with some violence (as most of Shakespeare’s work is), and I cannot preview that before we see it, so please be aware of what your child will be seeing. Eligible for Fine Arts credit recovery (.5). Taught by Ms. Wagoner.
Ghost towns, ghost stories: researching setting to create a guidebook/ storybook to Arizona ghost towns
Students in this intensive will meet local authors to discuss elements and ideas of short stories. In addition, students will travel to “haunts” and ghost towns in Northern Arizona. Each student will research one location by reading historical accounts, interviews, and common folklore to create a chapter of the guidebook. Students will also write a ghost story that takes place in the town they research. This intensive will focus on writing and reading short stories, researching, interviewing, compiling information, and putting together a book. Eligible for General Language Arts credit recovery (.5). Led by Mrs. Habeck.
Food For Thought
We will explore all aspects of the culinary arts including food presentation, preparation, preservations and purveyance. From writing food budgets, visiting local farms, the work of a chef is complex and dynamic. We will explore local farms, businesses and warehouses in order to fully understand the “job” of a professional chef and culinary artist. Hands-on food preparation will be included, as will several day trips. All students will be required to obtain a food handlers card from Yavapai County while participating in the course. This course will incur a $40.00 fee and will require daily packed lunches, appropriate attire and closed toe shoes. Eligible for Fine Arts credit recovery (.5). Offered by Mrs. Colaianni.
A Short History of Alcohol in America
You will not find it in most high school history textbooks, but you will find it in this exciting and surprising American history intensive. While many Americans believe that our relationship with alcohol is destructive, they will also say that its fun and an integral part of our national identity. What many of these people are unable to express is exactly how we came to have this love/hate relationship with alcohol. A Short History of Alcohol in America will hope to answer this intriguing and powerful question. This intensive will meet the needs of the history enthusiast as well as the student in need of making up social studies course credit. Eligible for General Social Studies credit recovery (.5). Taught by Mr. Mentken.
Swing into Dancing: Fun, Fitness, Creativity and Service
Have an absolute ball with one of the greatest activities in the world – Partner Dancing. We will learn and perform everybody’s favorite up-beat dance – Swing. A show routine will be developed that will include group parts and individual couple parts. This routine will be performed for Northpoint and also for the residents of some retirement villages that we will visit. After we perform at these villages, we will dance with the members of the audience in a style that is appropriate for their age - the Waltz. This slower and elegant style will also be taught during this Intensive. After dancing with these senior citizens, we will have the opportunity to interview them on what their lives were like when they were teenagers. You will be pleasantly surprised! Not so long ago, they were a lot like you and you will have a great time getting to know them better. Join us for this fun and exciting venture into the world of partner dancing. Eligible for Fine Arts credit recovery (.5). Led by Mr. Smith.
Alternative Fuels: Fueling AZ Without Petroleum
Can you run a car on algae or heat a house with methane? Alternative fuel sources are becoming more popular as we turn our attention to creating sustainability in our environment. AZ is creating biofuel from many unlikely sources, which reduce our carbon footprint and promote a healthier environment. Come tour sites in AZ that are working to make a difference through alternative fueling. Then think of creative ways to design your own alternative energy system. Overnight trips may include Phoenix and Snowflake, AZ. Fees collected will be minimal and will help cover fuel and food. This is a science-based intensive that qualifies as a credit recovery course if needed. Eligible for General Science credit recovery(.5). Directed by Ms. Shepherd.
Horsemanship, Leadership and Exploratory Writing
Students will live and work together at Chauncey Ranch in Mayer, Arizona for ten days. This co-ed program will combine the best practices of adventure education, relational horsemanship, and independent living skills, and offers students the opportunity to work with horses to explore their own personal values, strengths and leadership abilities. Ground-based and mounted activities with horses, short essays and guided personal reflections encourage students to explore what it means for them to be the leader they want to be for their horse as well as in their own life. The Oxford Youth Leadership Program is integrated into the curriculum, and students conclude their experience by creating an action plan for transferring their growth and learning back to their home and school. Students will stay in the historic Stone House where the likes of John Wayne and Roy Rogers have laid their heads, and will cook all meals together after their herd of horses have been fed! The fee for this wonderful opportunity could be $200 (interested students will have time to fundraise). Eligible for General Language Arts credit recovery (.5). Open to all grades. Led by Ms. Edelmann.
Junior Journey: Horsemanship, Leadership and Exploratory Writing
Junior graduates of last year’s Horsemanship Intensive have the opportunity to return to Chauncey Ranch as Teacher Assistant, earning new credit and learning essential leadership skills. Students will meet prior to the Intensive with Prescott College Program Manager, Melissa Carey to work on group facilitation skills and fund raising. Junior students that are accepted into the program will experience Horsemanship, Leadership and Exploratory Writing through the brand new lens of a trained and skilled facilitator. Once on course, T.A.’s will be assigned to lead group initiatives, help lead portions of the Oxford Leadership Program, and be role models for new students in natural horsemanship. At the end of the Intensive, students will be invited to represent Northpoint at an international Oxford Leadership Program in Phoenix, AZ. Not eligible for credit recovery as the participants must have good academic standing and complete an application process. Offered by Ms. Edelmann.
Creating an Intentional Community through Urban Gardening – El Jardinero Urbano
Why create Urban Gardens in Prescott? The simple act of planting a garden and creating open green space can create positive environmental, economic, and social impacts on a neighborhood. Community gardens foster cultural understanding and an awareness of the environment around us. During this course students will dive into the foundations of Permaculture Design, traditional agriculture, and Intentional Communities. This course will look at design for living, including our food, our healing systems, relationships with people, plants, animals and the earth. We will be traveling, by foot and bike, a large majority of the time, to various current garden projects in and around Prescott, Chino Valley, and will be traveling to Arcosanti for a service learning project and overnight trip. Not only will we be studying the principles of Permaculture Design, this course is also about identifying the values and ethics and above all about the sense of personal responsibility that we all have for the care of the earth and each other through community action. This course can also be credit for Spanish 1 credit recovery, 1st semester. If you are interested in Urban Planning and Development, Farming, Architecture, Art, Permaculture, Sociology or Psychology, this is a course that will provide insight into these fields. The purpose of this course is to create a long lasting and powerful impact on our community. Eligible for a Conversational Spanish credit recovery (.5). Taught by Mrs. Zych.
From Mr. Michael Buss:
"I wanted to let you know about my observation of the intensive that Mr. Smith's students did. I originally thought of how this could have been a disaster mixing young kids and old adults together. I couldn't have been more wrong. These students were like a beacon for Northpoint. They were well mannered, well prepared, and very respectful to their audiences. As the students were dancing beautifully, I could see the gleam in the eyes of these white and gray haired people, whether they were astonished on how well these kids were performing or reflecting on their younger days and how they loved to dance. I know the kids made some of this older generation's day just by the look in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. When they were asked to participate with the students at first they were a little hesitant (kind of like us verses them mentality), but as they started to intermingle it was as if there was no age difference, just a partner to dance with. The kids did so great with them even if they were in a wheelchair or weren't very mobile. When it came time to interview this forgotten generation, I found that some of the questions asked were quite thoughtful as well as some of the answers given to the students. More importantly I saw young and old communicating and understanding each other with acceptance without age difference. I thought to myself, what a better world this would be if we all took the time talk and listen without prejudices or age differences."
