Course Offerings

Schools exist to help each person gain some control over his or her own destiny, to transmit cultural heritage and to improve the social order. 

The art program assists the school toward achieving these goals through personal response and expression in art, awareness of the artistic heritage, and awareness of the role of art in society. Through art students learn to explore and to create, to take risks, and to make important connections between themselves and their world. Art enhances perceptive, imaginative, and communicative skills. Learning through art provides a balance in the curriculum and leads to the development of the whole person.

Band and Jazz Band courses provide students with comprehensive instruction in  traditional concert band repertoire and the exciting world of jazz performance. Students will develop technical proficiency on their chosen instrument while exploring a diverse range of musical styles and genres.

Band Repertoire: Students study and perform a variety of traditional concert band repertoire, including classical, contemporary, and multicultural pieces. Emphasis will be placed on ensemble playing, intonation, dynamics, and musical expression.

Jazz Band: In the jazz band portion, students will delve into the rich tradition of jazz music, including swing, bebop, Latin jazz, fusion, and more. They will learn to improvise solos, interpret jazz standards, and develop a strong sense of rhythm and groove.

Technique and Fundamentals: Regardless of ensemble, students will receive instruction in instrumental technique, music theory, sight-reading, and ear training. Individual practice and group rehearsals will focus on refining skills and mastering challenging passages.

Performance Opportunities: Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in various performances, including concerts, competitions, festivals, and community events. These performances will serve as both a culmination of their hard work and a chance to share their passion for music with others.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Participation in a concert band or jazz band requires strong teamwork and collaboration. Students will learn to listen to each other, blend their sounds, and support one another to create a cohesive musical experience. Leadership skills will also be cultivated as students take on roles such as section leaders or soloists.

Music Appreciation: In addition to performing music, students will study the history and cultural significance of the pieces they play. They will learn about influential composers, arrangers, and performers in both the classical and jazz traditions, gaining a deeper appreciation for the art form.

The Band and Jazz Band courses offer students a dynamic and rewarding musical experience. Whether they aspire to pursue music professionally or simply enjoy playing for personal enrichment, students will develop valuable skills, forge lasting friendships, and create beautiful music together in these engaging and inspiring courses.

The Delano High School Business Education Department will provide students a top-quality business and technology learning experience. Through a variety of course offerings, students will learn necessary business and technology skills that will prepare them for a successful future in today’s world. Whatever a student’s future plans, and career goals are, business and technology skills will surely give them a great opportunity to succeed.

Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) is a modern take on the Home Economics discipline. In FACS classes, students learn about life at all stages through active learning. Learners build soft and hard skills for the workplace. FACS courses introduce young people to career pathways from interior design to culinary management to preschool education. Skills built in FACS will help students succeed in the home, the workplace, and in everyday life. 

In the late 1800s, before women could vote or attend most universities in the United States, American women pioneered a new discipline: Home Economics. The discipline initially focused on approaching the work of managing a home in a scientific manner. As the discipline grew, Home Economics innovators advocated for food safety legislation and labeling, so consumers were informed about the goods they purchased. They helped build programs that ensured families learned how to safely handle and store food at home. Home Economists helped immensely with the emerging field of nutrition. Home Economics specialists were instrumental in monumental changes such as helping food fortification become industry standard to prevent birth defects and diseases of deficiency, and passing the School Lunch Act. The federal Bureau of Home Economics helped Americans with safe food preservation, thrifty shopping, and conservation during challenging times like the Great Depression and WWII. Home Economists even designed the first astronaut food!

A core group of experienced teachers help students develop a strong foundation in thinking and problem-solving skills. Course offerings range from integrated math to CIS Calculus I and II and CIS Statistics. Both a standard track and an advanced track are offered.  All students must successfully complete three courses of math from grades 9-12 through Algebra 2. College-bound students are encouraged to complete a minimum of four courses. 

The answers to the fundamental questions concerning the workings of the world have and will continue to yield to reasoning directed by the scientific method. Science coursework involves learning those logical skills in addition to examining what concepts have already been elucidated.

The guiding philosophy of the Science Department directs students to make observations about the workings of the natural world and then to develop hypotheses about these observations. The courses offered extend beyond the traditional science curriculum to give students opportunities to explore diverse subjects.

External Student Learning Sites:

• Solar Energy Dashboard

The Delano High School Social Studies Department is committed to developing well informed, critical thinkers who will actively participate in and serve to better their community and country. Through their coursework, students will analyze the political, geographic, economic, legal and social issues of our contemporary and historical world. We aim to provide students with a deep understanding of the past, present, and future, as well as to provide the necessary tools to create engaged citizens in our rapidly changing world.
 

MISSION
To provide rigorous and engaging instruction to develop students’ critical thinking skills. 

• To increase content literacy by having students view complex issues through an interdisciplinary lens.  

• To prepare students to meaningfully participate in the democratic process and to contribute positively to their communities both locally and globally.

• To inspire students to explore their interests and become lifelong learners.

Special Education Statement of Philosophy
The Delano High School special education department is dedicated to meeting the challenging educational needs and challenging the abilities of each individual. Through the teaching/learning process, all students can master essential basic skills, demonstrated responsibility and personal decisions and in social interaction in preparation for independent living.

Delano High School Special Education Instructional Focus
The focus of a balanced special education program is on the learner. The student’s educational development toward the school’s goals is the central concern of the department. All students with differing abilities get proper service as determined by a partnership of parents, regular education teachers and special educators to meet the student’s needs in the most appropriate setting.

The high school special education department emphasizes student accountability. Students are expected to share responsibility for maximizing their learning experience and potential.

Open the doors to a world of opportunities with our World Language courses! Whether for leisure or career advancement, mastering a global language is essential. Colleges increasingly require at least two years of language study, recognizing its significance in today's interconnected world. Our courses offer a pathway to fluency and cultural understanding. With modern communication bridging distances, proficiency in a world language is your ticket to global engagement. Enroll now and embark on a journey of linguistic and personal growth!