by Esther Lu, staff writer
Last year as students signed up for their classes, their most personal interaction was with their computer. But this year, changes in class selection will be affecting Cal High students.
Starting next fall, many half-year classes will be full year classes, meaning less flexibility in students’ schedules. In order to assist with this transition, counselors will be meeting one-on-one with students during their course selection process.
“I struggled with signing up for my classes. I didn’t know what classes would benefit my future career in psychology.” said junior Christine Legrama. The increased involvement is due to the elimination of half-year classes, which leaves students with fewer choices in terms of switching out of a class at the beginning of a semester.
These full year classes will make it more difficult for students to switch out. Consequently, this will make their initial course selection more important.
When it comes to choosing their courses, students should know that there will only be two classes, Work Experience and Mock Trial that are half year classes. For freshman, Health and World Geography are still half year courses.
As for seniors, Government and Economics are also half year courses. All other courses are now a full year.
“We are moving to yearlong classes since it provides more stability for our students,” said assistant principal Jennifer Tilton. “It’s more advantageous as it keeps the school year seamless because there is no transition, it’s also giving them a more in-depth look at their classes.”
However, some students worry that this will limit their opportunities in what they want to accomplish in high school.
“For me, high school is figuring out what I want to do in college,” said sophomore Alex Dami.
This change has many doubting the effects on a student’s learning environment.
“As far as curriculum and continuity, I think it’s a good idea,” said Kathy Tussy, a ceramics teacher.
For some, not being able to switch out of a class at the semester factor into GPA.
“I feel like if it is a full year, I wouldn’t do as well,” said junior Chika Asakawa. “With a new semester I could have a fresh start and to try to get my grades up.”
But for students that drop their class midway through for whatever reason, they will not be eligible to take a new class second semester. Students will have to drop in as a TA.
Even with this option, counselors encourage people that have a half semester of, for example, P.E., to take it through the whole year because the extra credits would go towards their electives.
Administrators hope that this new change will bring smoother transitions into a student’s high school career, according to Tilton.
Counselors plan to meet with freshmen, sophomores and juniors to complete each student’s online registration.
“People are indecisive about when they change their classes and they don’t research their classes,” said sophomore Mitchell Srimongkol.
Some agree that full year electives will make the class move more progressively.
“I could care less, you have to get it done, you might as well get it all done,” said freshman Nicole Schofield.
