New Benicia High School courses awaiting School Board approval for next year include yoga, construction and building trade, into to medical careers, physics of the universe and more. (File Photo)

New Benicia High School courses are among the many items on the agenda for the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District’s Thursday meeting.

There are seven new courses that are being considered for implementation at Benicia High School for its 2017-18 school year.These course outlines will be presented by Dr. Leslie Beatson, assistant superintendent of educational services, and Brianna Kleinschmidt, Benicia High principal, at Thursday’s meeting.

Of these seven courses, two will be required. The first is titled “physics of the universe,” and it will be a required science course for 9th graders, replacing physical science. Like its predecessor, physics of the universe will be an introductory course to physics, but it will also include elements of geology.

According to its course outline, physics of the universe “…teaches students principles of physics and Earth/space science through laboratory investigations and engineering practices. Classic physics principles of forces, motion, waves, energy conversion, and nuclear processes will be explored both through Earth and space science phenomena such as plate tectonics, electromagnetic radiation, evidence for Earth’s geologic history, and the composition and life cycle of stars.”

The class will also provide or assist students with writing, analytical, research and problem-solving skills.

The other new required course is “Get Focused: College & Career,” a yearlong course for freshmen that aims to help students learn skills to prepare them for college and careers. Course topics include thinking critically about one’s future, personal profiles, determining life goals, financial costs of those goals, healthy living, determining ideal careers, researching those careers, making decisions, setting goals, job hunting and creating a 10-year plan. Students will work on hands-on projects including job simulations, speeches, online portfolios and more.

“Get Focused” is intended as a replacement for the current semesterlong health class and also can be used to satisfy five elective credits for a UC or CSU.

The other five courses are all electives:

*Advanced engineering design, which builds on skills learned in intro to engineering & architecture, computer science principles and robotics.

* Basic welding and automotive, which introduces the fundamentals of welding and goes over the theory, maintenance and repair of automobiles.

* Construction & Building Trades 1, which gives students hands-on skills in the construction of all aspects of a structure’s foundation, including electrical, plumbing and framing.

* Introduction to medical careers, which prepares students for work in the health care industry.

* Yoga, which incorporates breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation techniques that are part of the principles of yoga.

Yoga can be used to satisfy a second year physical education requirement or an elective. The other four courses can be used to satisfy a career technical education elective. All the courses will need to be approved by the school board before being implemented.

In other business, the board will be holding separate public hearings on the Local Control Accountability Plan’s annual update and the 2017-18 BUSD budget. The board will also discuss the initial sunshine agreement proposal for negotiations between the district and the Benicia Teachers Association. The board will also be highlighting honors for Benicia High and Benicia Middle School’s Gold Ribbon Awards, Solano County Educators of the Year by County Supervisor Monica Brown and Benicia High science teacher Brad Upton by the Benicia Tree Foundation.

The board will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 1 in the Benicia Unified School District Board Room at the district building on 350 East K Street. There will be an earlier closed session at 5 p.m.

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