Family & Consumer Science Classes

Life Readiness

***NOT OFFERED IN 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR***

• 9th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

• Some sections will be offered as online learning: Blended Class

When offered, this course focuses on the importance of establishing a healthy self to interact with others in the family, community, and workplace, is the leading theme of this class. This course will focus on communication skills, conflict resolution, community resources, workplace skills, and relationship building as the foundation to encouraging healthy interactions.  Students will learn how to develop interpersonal skills to use within family, friends, and career settings.  Upon completion, students in this class will create, develop, and present one or more events showcasing their learning from class.  Students interested in the areas of human services such as social work, counseling, and public relations.

Career Discovery:  Focus on Health Careers

***NOT OFFERED IN 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR***

• 9th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

When offered, this course explores career areas in health sciences and assists in planning for a career after high school.  The course includes goal-setting, problem-solving techniques, decision making, personality profiles, and communication activities. Students will be introduced to several career areas and will complete self-assessments designed to help better understand the self, abilities, and aptitudes/interests.  Students will learn and practice soft/hard work skills, as well as complete a resume and interview.  Upon completion, students will be given the opportunity to job shadow in at least one career of their choosing.

Child Development

• 9th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

This course gives students an opportunity to gain knowledge in the development of children ages one through twelve.  Throughout the course, students will develop an understanding of the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development during this stage of life.  Students will gain skills that will help understand how to interact with children, and gain an understanding of how the brain develops in regards to learning.  Students should be willing to interact with preschoolers as well as young and upper elementary age children.  Skills are taught through simulation, observation, and interaction with children and caregivers. Students interested in the areas of education, child care, health care.

Parenting the Young Child

• 9th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

The general theme is that parenting skills can be learned, and the skills used for parenting are transferable to many career choices where interacting with children is expected.  Students are asked to analyze the effects of the family environment on the development of a child and through their adult life.  This course also emphasizes the importance of parental health and challenges of pregnancy/becoming a parent.  Upon completion, students will participate in an infant/parenting simulator project.  Students are taught through simulation, interaction with community, hands on activities, guest speakers, and guided observation skills.  Students interested in the areas of human services such as social work, counseling, education, health care.

Culinary Basic Skills 

• 9th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

Culinary Basics, is an introduction to the relationship between wellness and eating choices.  Class instruction will concentrate on: how to select, prepare and store food to obtain optimal nutritional value, and at the same time learn and practice food safety and sanitation procedures.  A variety of laboratory assignments give students hands on experience with culinary skills and food preparation principles. This course is designed for students interested in culinary careers, dietetics, food preparation.

Advanced Culinary Skills

• Required background course:  Culinary Basic Skills with a minimum C- AND instructor approval OR passing required skills test with instructor.

• 9th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

• This course meets .5 credit toward VPAA graduation requirements.

This course will take students’ food preparation skills to the next level.  Units of study will concentrate on the skills needed to effectively become a proficient cook, catering skills, and meal preparation.  At the same time, students will learn the skills by practicing and developing products related to cake/cookie decorating, bread making, and pasta, just to name a few.  Advanced Culinary Skills will give students the skills they need for meal management and creating new recipes. This course is especially designed for students interested in hospitality, culinary, and food preparation careers.

Fashion Design for You and Others

• 10th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

• This course counts for .5 credit toward VPAA graduation requirements.

• Students wishing to advance their skills may take this course again as an advanced course - projects, targets, and assessments will be different

Students gain skills in designing and the elements of design.  A design element portfolio will be created as a resource for their portfolio.  Emphasis on construction techniques to complete projects is the second half of the semester.  Students will construct fashions for themselves, as well as others (children, home, and charity). A drawing portfolio with 20 original designs in a variety of categories will be a long term project.  A look at possible careers within the fashion industry completes this course.  Students interested in design, clothing construction, fashion industry.

Innovative Fashion Design

• Required background course:  Fashion Design for You and Others with passing grade OR passing required skills test with instructor.

• 10th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

• Students wishing to advance their skills may take this course again as an advanced course - projects, targets, and assessments will be different

This course is designed for those wanting further study in the fashion/sewing field through the theme of creative sewing, and ending with the students creating their own garments.  Also highlighted in the course are clothing repurposing/alterations, fashion displays, fashion history, the presentation of a fashion show, and a textile study.  The semester long drawing portfolio will include original designs influenced by an inspiration piece and illustrated through accessories and clothing for a variety of audiences.  Students interested in design, creative construction, fashion industry.

Home and Interior Design

• This course meets .5 credit toward VPAA graduation requirements.

• 10th-12th grades

• Elective

• One Semester

This course begins with studying about different stages of the family life cycle and different types of housing choices.  In addition, students will learn about historical American housing styles.  Students will gain the skills needed for planning, evaluating, and designing a life space.  Moving into the interior, students will concentrate on the elements, principles, and goals of design in relationship to home interiors.  The course includes techniques for presenting design ideas for floor plans, elevations, renderings, and 3-dimentional design.  Students interested in architecture, space planning, interior design, realtor.

Adulting 101

• 12th grade, 4th year students

• Elective

• One Semester: some sections may be offered as a virtual course

This course deals with the challenges every young adult will face when venturing into independent living. It is designed to enable young people to gain confidence and skill in dealing with everyday life situations.  The class includes: banking accounts, budgets, decision making, rental agreements, moving out, foods and nutrition, car care, clothing care, credit, career selection, and creative project.

Art of Teaching

• 11th-12th grade

• Elective

• One Semester: Only offered in the fall.

• VPAA credit

The Art of Teaching, a one-semester interdisciplinary elective, is open to students who are interested in a career within the field of education.  The course will explore the components of healthy learning communities; the relationships between culture, identity, and learning; the components of engaging educational experiences; and inclusive teaching practices. Students learn the theory in class and see it in practice during weekly observations in a PreK-8 classroom. This course also includes a significant participation/speaking component. After successfully completing this course and earning your degree in teaching from an accredited college or university, WOHS will guarantee you a first round interview for any position within the district for which you are certified to teach! 

Practicum of Teaching

• 11th-12th grade

• Elective

• One Semester: Only offered in the Spring.

• VPAA credit

• Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of Art of Teaching with a B- or better. (This class may be taken more than once with teacher approval)

The Practicum of Teaching, a one-semester interdisciplinary elective, is open to students who are interested in a career within the field of education. Students taking this course will spend half of their time in the classroom learning about current issues in education, including equity, motivation, technology, safety, and debated educational topics. The other half of class is spent in a PreK-8 classroom placement in which students assist a mentor teacher. After successfully completing this course and earning your degree in teaching from an accredited college or university, WOHS will guarantee you a first round interview for any position within the district for which you are certified to teach!