High School Success Seminar

This seminar attempts to prove that learning and having fun are not mutually exclusive. Students may do both learn and have fun while students navigate the wonderful world of high school through exploring studying techniques, developing social skills, choosing extracurricular activities in order to prepare for high school success. For perspective, the film "Pursuit of Happiness" will be viewed to analyze the value of self determination, decision making and hard work in today's world. Participants are encouraged to enter the seminar with energy and prepared to think outside the box.

Workshop instructor: Mr. James Fairrow

Resumes, Interviews and Your Future Career

By the end of this workshop, students will create and learn how to update and format resumes, and write cover and followup letters, to be used for both job search and college applications. Students will also learn how to conduct and behave during an interview and answer even the toughest questions. Students will create a high school portfolio and do various career research and exploration activities, including personality and career assessments, to find out the career in which they would be most successful. This course is highly recommended for internship students. Internship students will be given consideration for the work completed in this course and may be exempt from specific seminars held during the normal school year.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Leslie Stroot

Study Skills

This course is designed to present students with strategies to improve their overall academic achievement in high school. Emphasis will be placed on note taking, test taking, organization, reading strategies, and time management . The course is highly recommended for incoming ninth grade and tenth grade students.

Workshop instructor: Ms. Judy Miller

Learn to Cook at the Brook

If you enjoy the Food Network, then you will enjoy this one-week course. This hands-on class will include the following topics: Decadent Desserts – (Chocolate, Chocolate and More), Meals In 30 – (How to make great meals fast), Snack Attack – (Say Goodbye to chips and dip), “Springbucks” - (Demystifying Starbucks), Almost Homemade – (It will be our little secret). At the end of this course you will be “Bamming “ with the best of them and you will have had a lot of fun eating the dishes you’ve prepared. Space is limited and there is an additional lab fee of $20.

Workshop instructor: Ms. Sheri Lowe

Broadway Beckons

Want to learn how to sing, dance and choreograph (the triple threat in show business)? Come and join the Show Choir Camp where you will learn how to put on a “Show” Broadway style. There will be vocal techniques and exercises, dance and movement warm ups and opportunities to choreograph. The class will present a mini-performance at the end of the one week course.

Workshop instructor: Ms. Norma Abdul Rahim

Everyone Can Play Jazz

The Jazz Workshop of the Summer Institute is a one-week intensive course of study in the field of Jazz. This course is designed to build fundamental concepts in jazz performance, improvisation, theory and history. It is open to all instruments and levels of musical ability. At the end of each day, students will end with a jam session to reinforce material learned from the day’s instruction. Students will participate in a concert at the conclusion of the 1 week program.

Courses Workshop Instructors:

Wyman Jones,
Director, Springbrook High School Instrumental Music Department

Tom Newman
Jazz Guitarist, Jazz Instructor Artley Music School

Eric McMillan
Director of Bands Duke Ellington School of the Arts, trumpet instructor

Adolph Wright
Jazz Percussionist Director of Band Bowie State University

Morgan Russell

Jazz Saxophonist Jazz Instructor Dale Music School

Allen Gardner
Jazz Trombonist Director of Bands Chaney State University

Dr. John Lamkin
Jazz Trumpet Director of Band Univ. Of Maryland Eastern Shore

Theatre Workshop

All the world’s a stage and this workshop will give students the opportunity to discuss and practice how an actor uses certain tools and skills to bring the art of theatre to life. Students will be encouraged to explore and develop their creativity, imagination, self-control, and cooperative, theatre games, monologues, and duet scenes. Make performing on the Springbrook stage part of summer fun experience. The class will present a mini-performance at the end of the one week course.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Liz O’Neill

Digital Photography

Enjoy the wonderful world of digital photography using your digital camera and Adobe Photoshop. Digital photography, a radically different technique in comparison with conventional photography, has changed the world of photography. Learn to enhance and create digitally manipulated photos of a variety of subjects while learning the essentials of digital photography and Photoshop. If you like computers and cameras, this course is for you. Students are encouraged to bring their own digital cameras for this class.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. LaRosa Jones-Arroyo

Flash Media

Learn the basics of Macromedia Flash 8. This program is the industry standard for adding motion to Web sites and creating 2- D animated cartoons and movies. Students will learn how to bring their own drawings to life as well as import photos and video into their own movies. By the end of the week, each student will create a short movie of their own.

Workshop Instructor: Mr. Chaz Foster

Creative Writing

Are you a budding poet, playwright, or novelist? Do you crack yourself and your friends up writing funny stuff? Do you have a story to tell? If so, this class is for YOU! In this interactive workshop, you will nurture your creativity and explore literary genres (poetry, fiction, and non-fiction) in a supportive, engaging, and FUN environment! You will read literary models from a variety of sources and then be guided through pre-writing activities to explore topic ideas and get your juices flowing! You will maintain an idea notebook, participate in mini-lessons, engage in smallgroup, partner, or whole-group peer conferencing and/or critiquing of works-inprogress. Lastly, you will publish your work, both in class and online! Get ready for a terrific creative writing experience!

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Kearney Francis

IB English

Looking to get a head start on IB English 1? Sign up for a week of reading and analysis practice that will give you a jump on the skills needed to be successful on IB English Assessments. This course is designed for juniors entering the IB Diploma Program. This class fills up quickly and is limited to 20 students.

Workshop Instructor: Mr. Mark Griffiths

Journalism

Do you want to write for the newspaper and/or yearbook? Now's your chance! This course acts as the prerequisite for staff membership. Learn what it’s like to be a reporter; conduct interviews, write articles, design layouts and more. This class fills up quickly and is limited to 20 students. Priority is given to current 11th graders.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Wendy Borelli

Pre AP/IB French

This is a three-week accelerated course for strong language students who are recommended by their teacher to advance from Level 1 to Level 3 French, or from Level 2 to Level 3. It is also intended for students who would like to have a general review of French language structures in order to be well prepared for the next level, but it is not a remedial class. The content is based on the MCPS level 2-3 curriculum. Students will not receive high school credit for this course, but a recommendation for advancement to a higher level will be made at the end of the session depending upon the student's progress.

Workshop Instructor: Mr. Linus Ngide Course

Pre AP/IB Spanish

This is a three-week accelerated course for strong language students who are recommended by their teacher to take this intensive summer session in order to advance from Level 1 to Level 3 Spanish, or from Level 2 to Level 3 Spanish. The course is based on the MCPS Level 2 and 3 curriculum. Students will not receive high school credit for this course, but a recommendation for advancement to a higher level will be made at the end of the session depending upon the student's progress.

Workshop Instructors: Ms. Joyce Amatucci/Ms. Erin Crowley

Speaking of Writing (Public Speaking Seminar)

Learn to captivate and inspire listeners of all ages. In this course, students will learn techniques of speaking for all occasions. Students will write and deliver greetings, motivational messages, and short speeches for a variety of audiences. They will learn useful public speaking skills that will enhance their positions in life.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Sarah Kinard

Algebra Made Easy

Using graphing calculators, computer software, and hands-on activities students will strengthen and master the algebra skills needed for success in further mathematics studies and related fields. We will focus on techniques and short cuts that will make Algebra easier.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Kera Johnson

Fun with Functions/Bridge to Algebra 2

Students will develop the Algebra skills that are crucial to success in Algebra 2. There will be a special focus on functions. Participants will use the graphing calculators, computer software, and hands-on activities to strengthen and master the algebra skills needed for success in Algebra 2 and PreCalculus.

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Jeanni Kim

Hands-on Geometry

Here’s a chance for you to explore this fascinating field of math. Students will review elementary geometry topics and be introduced to advanced geometry topics. Material will be presented in a fun, handson style. The session is designed for students who have not yet completed geometry.

Prerequisite: Algebra

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Cynthia Harris

Calculus Connections

For those who have never taken calculus but love math, this course is for you. This session prepares students for calculus by using methods emphasizing technology, explorations, real-world applications, and student discovery to instill the concept that variables really vary. Critical concepts used in Precalculus, Algebra 2 and Geometry will be reviewed.

Workshop Instructor: Mr. Cyrus Ishikawa

Get Acquainted with Biology

This course will be an in-depth study on all of the systems of the body, such as the endocrine, circulatory, muscular, skeletal, reproductive, etc. and how they communicate to keep us alive. In this class, we will discover the evolutionary connections between the location and function of organs and organ systems within animals, more specifically humans. We will also study the effects of drugs on the circulatory system by testing different drugs on Daphnia. Daphnia are animals that lack hemoglobin. This makes these organisms have clear blood! Due to this characteristic, we will be able to put them under a microscope and actually count their heartbeats! We will also be able to see the female daphnia carry live babies on their backs. Awesome class!

Workshop Instructor: Ms. Serenity Moore

Java Games

Develop your own simple video game while learning the basics of programming. You will be guided through the software process in developing computer games and develop a simple game based on different templates. You will learn the basics of the Java language and get a sneak peek at Springbrook’s acclaimed computer science program. Join this class for a fun, relaxed, and basic introduction to the world of computer programming.

Workshop Instructor: Mr. Pat Yongpradit

Technology with a Twist

Apply your scientific, mathematical, and problem solving skills to this fascinating field. Learn about motion and propulsion. Use CAD to construct models of structures, floor plans, cars, hot air balloons and rockets and finally build your own working models.

Workshop Instructor: Mr. Hugo Harrison