Electives Pique Interest

Post date: Mar 01, 2016 12:1:25 AM

Adding in classes of personal interest allows student creativity and discoveries of passions, which is one of the Electives Fair’s greatest strengths. Instructors and upper level students offer insights to the variety of courses available.

Taking them on field trips to locales, such as Sturgis Coffee Company, provides Culinary Arts students opportunities to learn more about food service from business owners. photo by Coleen Keffeler

Madison Pankratz, staff

On Mar. 8, 2016, students and staff will be participating in the seventh annual Electives Fair, which will be held in the West gym, and in order to attend the event, students will be released periodically throughout the course of the day.

Each year students are tasked with choosing the courses they would like to participate. In order to aid in that decision, instructor Sage Robinson-Miller organizes the Electives Fair, allowing students to discover all of the course opportunities available before they decide upon the electives they would like to sign up for. Participants from various electives will be recruiting new students to join their selected classes.

In order to organize the event, Robinson-Miller sent out emails to all of the elective course instructors a few weeks in advance, reserved the gym, talked to the custodians and made sure that everything is in order.

“I think the Electives Fair is an awesome experience for the lower-classmen,” Hannah Rambow (10) said, “because they can find new classes that they never knew were available. It also gives them the opportunity to find the courses they never thought they would be interested in. Personally, the electives fair has helped me find many classes that I am interested in. It has helped me figure out what route I want to take in high school, and helped me choose the path that benefits me the most. The Electives Fair is great for finding new experiences and new paths to take.”

“The Electives Fair has helped give me insight on which classes our school has to offer and has shaped my high school experience by making me aware of things I didn’t know I may be interested in,” Heidi Schulz (11) said.

“The electives fair gives students opportunities to be exposed to the different classes, and helps them choose what classes they would like to take based upon their interests,” instructor Brett Monson said.

Not only are the students benefitted, but so are the staff. Instructors for the various electives have the opportunity to promote their classes and encourage students to sign up.

“As a teacher, it is a way to promote your program,” Robinson-Miller said. “As a student, it is a way to find something new to try, as well as a good motivator to pass your classes so that you have more room in your schedule to take these fun courses.”

“I think that it is good for our classes, because it gives students an idea of what a class is like before they take it. It’s a great opportunity for previous students to talk to future students,” instructor Jennifer Mallett said. “It seems that students are more prepared for classes after their friends have conveyed information and advice about the class.”

Although getting advice from friends can be beneficial, there are other reasons to consider the courses.

Assistant Principal Chad Hedderman said, “I would like to see more students taking classes they’re interested in opposed to taking classes just because their friends are taking those classes.”

Some of the electives to be featured at this year’s fair include Fitness/Weight Lifting, Aerobics, Independent Living, Child Development, Exploratory Music, Journalism, Drama, Industrial Technology, Automotive, Welding, Creative Writing, Culinary Arts, Machining, Welding, Agriculture, Psychology, Cabinet Making, Art and Photo, Spanish as well as possible new courses to be offered.

In order for an class to be considered an elective course, it must not be required and a minimum of fifteen students must be enrolled. Fortunately, the electives fair helps students become interested in different courses. That way, instructors can create coursework and build lessons in order to help provide a variety of electives.

With the opportunity to participate in different electives, students are capable of discovering new aspects about themselves and possibly finding their true passions.

“The electives fair has benefitted me in the past by opening up my options. It has shaped my high school experience by helping me find what I want to do and helping me prepare for my future career,” Tayler Eixenberger (10) said.

“I think a lot of students don’t realize what’s out there, and the classes that are offered,” Hedderman said. “It gives the teachers and students an opportunity to see the awesome programs we have. Students can see what they are doing within each course and they can decide if they want to take the class.”

For more information, contact Robinson-Miller and be sure to attend the fair on March 8.