Variety of Electives Offered at NHS 

As February break comes to an end, it’s time for the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes to choose what electives they will be taking next year. There are a variety of electives here at Norwood High School, and here is a small look into a few of these electives.

Robotics

The Robotics elective is taught by Dr. Crowley and is open for the junior class, at the honors and college level, assuming the student has taken Intro to Technology and Engineering or an equivalent science. Throughout this course, students can expect to learn about diabetes and its causes, as Crowley explains that our school’s robotics elective “focuses on medical robotics.” 

As students will be working in a lab, Crowley assures, “safety is important for any lab setting, every course begins with a unit on safety. Students must get a 100 on the safety test to move forward in the course.”

A few projects students may look forward to doing by joining this elective are: designing a diabetic pump and the Capstone project, a vehicle designed to go one mile in distance. Crowley expresses, “I’m an engineer by trade,” and that Robotics is an extension off of engineering, but the main difference is that engineering is team-orientated, but through robotics, as Crowley explains, “It’s your device, your invention,” it’s near the complete opposite of engineering.

Students taking this elective will be expected to be “self-starters, very motivated, and ready to work every day” as the projects are very rigorous, Crowley explains. “A major emphasis is problem-solving.”

Crowley emphasizes, “I think [Robotics] is an excellent course, it’s very challenging.”

Forensics

Forensics is taught by Ms. Romaine and is open to the senior class. This elective requires the student to have taken Biology prior. Romaine explains, “Forensic science is a science elective that shows how crime scene investigators work. We look at various types of evidence crime scene investigators would look at while at a crime scene and evaluate the importance of it.”

A project students can look forward to by joining this elective is what Romaine explains as a “term long, group project where you will create your own crime, create the evidence found and labs the ‘investigators’ (aka the other groups in class) will do in order to solve your crime!”

As with every class, Forensics has expectations for taking this class. Students must come ready to learn every day, they must be  willing to participate in group labs, as well as projects and activities, putting in 100% effort into their work. Romaine adds, “It is a very hands-on class where the expectation is that you will be doing labs at least once a week. This makes it fun and interactive, but also challenging if you are one who does not enjoy labs.”

Some topics that are covered are going over fingerprints, blood spatter, DNA, and analyzing hair and fibers, as well as bones and bugs to help learn information about the “crime.” Romaine enthusiastically elaborates on Forensics, “I definitely think it’s fun! We do many labs and it's very hands-on. It is important that students have a foundation in Biology, Chemistry, and even a little Physics to do well in class”, but addresses, “by no means do I think it is easy.”

Romaine enthusiastically finishes, “I really enjoy teaching this class! We have fun and the more engaged about the topic you are, the more fun the class will be! Hope to see you next year!”

Journalism

Journalism is taught by Mrs. Colahan. This elective is new as of 2019-2020 and is welcoming new members from all grade levels, for both honors and college level. There are no requirements to join this elective. Colahan assures, “no, absolutely no requirements--you can come in not completely sure about anything in journalism.” 

Journalism is an English elective where students learn to be smart and savvy media consumers, but more importantly, learn how to write as well as keep up the digital news website called the Mustang Gazette. 

This elective is what Colahan describes as, “both [fun and easy]... but it has its challenges like any other class. Students are learning different topics.” Journalism has a few expectations including a weekly playlist. Colahan elaborates: “A weekly playlist is an evolving document, students get a list of work that they must complete by a certain deadline.” 

Colahan expresses that Journalism is a very special elective because “the really special thing is the group of students that take it. We are made up of all different grades, it’s a lot of fun. This elective is special and this year we created a digital website from scrap.”

Overall, Colahan hopes students learn a lot in this elective, as well as become stronger writers and that students will become more grateful and well informed about the events happening in the world around them.

Students will be heading down, soon, to guidance to choose their electives. This is only a small insight into the many electives offered here at NHS. Descriptions of the other electives offered can be found in your email from the weekly guidance update.