April 5 - Polaris K

Polaris K-12 School
Spring Intensives
2016
March 8
Catalog available online
March 21-25
Intensive online registration window
April 5
Scholarship applications due
April 15
Intensive fees due
Strategy and the Art of War
Through a brief study of the classic work, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, we will gain a basic
understanding of the principles and practice of strategy throughout history. The use of simple and
complex games, role playing, a cast of leaders from the ancient and recent past, and mock battles
will teach us how strategy is a part of our daily lives. Guest speakers and debates will teach us how
we can best employ the principles of
strategic planning for personal success
today and in the future.
Teacher: Sarah Birmanns
Grades: 7-12 (6th with special permission)
Credit Type: Social Studies Elective
Fee: $40.00
Juggle, Juggle, Juggle!!!
Have you ever seen a performer on the street or in the circus
and thought, “I wish I could do that.” Well now is your
chance! In this intensive, you will be introduced to juggling
balls, juggling clubs, juggling rings, diabolos, unicycles, poi,
hoops, object balancing, and flower sticks (also called devil
sticks). We may also include slack rope walking, stilt walking,
prop construction, and more. This intensive is open to
complete beginners as well as anyone with any level of prior
experience.
Teacher: Christian Haich
Grades: 6-12 (5th with special permission)
Credit Type: Individual Rec. Activities - PE
Fee: $50
Special Note: Participants may want to bring their own
equipment to the intensive. For recommendations on
equipment, see Christian.
Polaris Writing Project
Composition 1 & II
Join Mindi, Joe, and Dick in the Polaris Writing
Project. In this intensive, will work through a
variety of compositions ranging from creative
pieces to technical writing. As a community of
writers we will explore story telling, research
based writing, and visual literacy focusing on
writing for authentic audiences. This will be an
intense writing experience. Students will be
expected to take a minimum of four compositions
through the writing process. Come ready to
write! Take this required credit in its finest form
as an intensive.
Teachers: Joe Seitz, Mindi Vogel, and Dick Emanuel
Grades: 10-12
Credit type: Composition I & II - APS approved
Fee: $0
College Boot Camp
Former Polarians will tell you, if you are in 11th grade, this Intensive is for you. The name of this
Intensive should really be, “Organize Your Post-Secondary Life!”
Develop a solid plan for your final year of high school and your first year of college or work. Get a
head start and a competitive edge on scholarships, admissions, and/or jobs. Work with your peers
to develop a professional quality digital scholarship portfolio and a personal action plan with your
goals and objectives listed by date. Hear from professional financial advisors, state financial aid
counselors, admissions counselors, and former Polarians that are currently attending schools all
over the country. This is the place ask the questions that you have about how it all works after
high school.
You will also be given the opportunity to take a practice SAT or ACT test with Frontier Tutoring
here at Polaris. They will provide you with a detailed score report that highlights trends and
patterns in your performance.
Single class enrollments at other schools will be accommodated for this Intensive. Please check in
with Allie as soon as possible if that applies to you.
Teacher: Allie Burris
Grades: 11th Grade
Credit Type: .25 elective, .25 LA elective
Fee: $15
10,000 Steps Plus+
A sedentary lifestyle can add up to only 1,000 –
3,000 steps a day. How far is 10,000 steps? On
average about 5 miles. Jump into summer with
this fitness-focused intensive that will help you find
new, engaging and FUN ways to achieve those
10,000 steps plus! Make the most of your
wearable fitness tracker and learn how to track
your progress against measurable personal goals
that will lead to a healthier and more active
lifestyle or keep you in peak condition during your athletic off-season. Activities will include hiking,
Frisbee golf, walking, swimming, yoga, biking, trampoline park and much more! We will also be
working on individual and group projects, including running a 10,000 Step Elementary Field Day and
possibly hosting our own community-wide 3K event!
Teacher: Damon Carey & Heidi Postishek
Grades: 6-12
Credit Type: PE
Fee: Cost of admission to various venues (i.e. swimming pool, Get Air, etc.) will be collected as
we go. We are not anticipating a total cost greater than $30.
Required Equipment: A wearable fitness tracker. This can be as simple as a $20 pedometer from
Sports Authority or learn to make the most of your more feature packed device and available
apps.
Zion
Siri and Bryan will host a 10-day trek
through Zion National Park. Ten
students will pack light and carry
shelter as we explore the high desert
and canyon lands of southern Utah.
Teacher: Siri Khalsa & Bryan Smith
Grades: 9-12
Credit Type: PE
Advanced Hiking
May is not normally a great time to go hiking in
SouthCentral Alaska, but this isn’t a normal year,
either. With the low snow pack we’ve had so far, the
trails may be dry and beautiful this Spring, so let’s go
hiking!
This course is primarily aimed at middle schoolers, so
many of whom have asked for it. High schoolers are
allowed with teacher’s permission.
We will do day hikes within the Anchorage bowl. We
do not plan any overnight or Out of District trips.
Many of these hikes are very steep. To take this
course, students should be in good shape, but not necessarily experienced hikers. If you can climb
Flattop up and down with little rest or fuss, you’re good to go. If not, this isn’t the intensive for
you.
Planned hikes include
Flattop
Bird Ridge
Turnagain Arm trail
Crow Pass, from Girdwood side to summit
Wolverine mtn.
Mt. Magnificent
Teacher: Mike Hellings
Grades: 6-8 (9-12 with special permission)
Credit Type: PE, Wilderness Adventure
Fee: $10
Polaris’ Kitchen
Aspiring young chefs are put to the ultimate challenge in Polaris’ Kitchen.
Students must learn and compete to provide their very best in the kitchen.
Each day will bring a new dish and new challenges including blindfolded
taste-tests, a special Chopped competition, and many more. The chefs
must always be on their toes, as they never know what surprises may be
coming.
Teacher: Alysha Edwards
Grades: 6-12
Credit Type: Elective
Fee: $60
The Lord of the Rings
In this intensive, we will take a three week trip to Arda, the world in which The Lord of the Rings,
The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion take place. There, we will learn about these tales, and other
stories, such as the Tale of Tinuviel and The Fall of Gondolin. We will also engage in a number of
related activities, such as trivia, games, and movie watching. These include learning some of the
Elven language, Quenya, and their writing system, the Feanorian Tengwar. We will also make foam
weaponry and engage in mock combat. This intensive is for anyone and everyone who loves The
Lord of the Rings! However, much of the course will pertain to the books, so read them if you can
(and why wouldn't you want to, anyways?)!
Teacher: Andrea Evans
Peer Teacher: Birch Boyer
Grades: 9-12; open to 6 - 8 by invitation
and/or request reviewed on an individual basis
Credit Type: 0.25 PE Elective and 0.25 LA
Elective
Fee: $30
Golf
Come and learn a new sport that can be a lifelong
hobby. Learn how to play golf with Dream and Larry
at the Dome. Lessons will be provided by golf pros
from First Tee Golf.
Focus will be on skill development, rules of the game,
and life skills that can be applied to your daily life.
Teacher: Dream Weaver & Larry Frick
Grades: 6-12
Credit Type: PE
Fee: $285
Teacher Aide Positions with Elementary
Please visit the teachers and get their signature if you would like to be an aide for one of the
elementary intensives.
Credit Type: Elective