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Electives offer variety of opportunities
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Written by Angela Sims, Features Editor
As the school year winds down, students must make decisions about which electives they will choose. An elective assembly will be held on Feb. 22 to help students make choices on which electives will better fit their needs. Here is a bit about each of the choices:
Band
Band director Jimmie Exline said a reason to choose his program is that the band is the biggest spirit organization on campus.
“We support football, volleyball and basketball,” Exline said. “We’ve also been fortunate enough to have 15 UIL state championships. We’ve had 500 entries to state events in four years. We have also awarded over $25,000 in scholarships in that same time period.”
Video Tech
Digital interactive media teacher Katie Ray teaches three electives classes.
“Digital interactive media is learning a little bit about a lot of things,” Ray said. “It’s a multimedia class where we do Photoshop, Claymation and movies. People who are interested in going into the media or photography might consider this class. It’s for sophomores, juniors and seniors.”
Ray also teaches a class that creates senior review each year.
“The audio-video class is for seniors who might want to go into directing or video editing,” Ray said.
Ray’s first period class also does the announcements on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“ExSPEARience news is called principles of arts and A/V productions,” Ray said. “It’s for people who want to go into broadcast journalism and want the experience of the news. Anyone can take this class.”
Theater Arts
Theater Director Josh Harriman said students should join theater to build on-and-off-stage skills.
“Anyone interested in on-stage performance should join theater,” Harriman said. “It will give students the opportunity to perform in front of audiences. Studies have shown that students who participate in the arts test higher on standardized tests than those who don’t. Since theater is literature-based, it introduces us to worldwide problems. It doesn’t solve the problems, but it makes us aware of them.”
Art
Art teacher Brice Autry teaches Art I, ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting.
“In art you get to learn a lot about yourself, and therefore become a better person,” Autry said.
Speech
Speech and debate teacher Danny Stottlemyre offers a variety of speaking classes after taking the mandatory communications applications course that most freshmen take. They include debate, public speaking and oral interpretation.
“Students should join this class to become an effective speaker,” Stottlemyre said. “All successful people are effective speakers.”
Auto Tech
Auto mechanics teacher Tom Spence said students will gain hands-on experience in his classes. Course choices include principles of transportation, distribution and logistics; Autotechnology I; and Advanced Autotechnology II.
“Students who are interested in taking care of their vehicles or becoming an auto mechanic should take my class,” Spence said.
Cosmetology
In cosmetology, a student could acquire his or her license in cosmetology without extra schooling.
“We’re the only program at Seminole High School, and probably the state of Texas that can get you a license,” cosmetology teacher Shelly Touchstone said. “You’re work-ready when you leave here.”
Family Consumer Sciences
Family consumer sciences teacher Julie Jameson teaches classes including principles of human services; interpersonal studies, child development; and lifetime nutrition and wellness.
“They’re life skill classes,” Jameson said. “They’re good for everybody.”
Choir
Choir director Eric Hindman teaches four different choir classes including A Cappella, Jazz Brigade, Chorale and Singers.
“Music is the embodiment of all the disciplines,” Hindman said. “You will not only learn all of the technical aspects of music, but you will learn about creating emotion.”
Career Prep
Career Prep teacher Jana Fleming said taking career prep can allow students to see if they like certain jobs. It is for juniors and seniors and involves a class period at school and other class periods of work time.
“It gives kids the opportunity to get out of school early so they can have more time at their place of business,” Fleming said.
Industrial Arts
Industrial arts teacher Jerry Conner said his classes teach students a better view of the world. He offers classes in woods and metals.
“It teaches students a skill they might not always need, but they will always have,” Conner said.
Computer Maintenance
Junior Robbie Gillespie is currently in Lana Tabor’s computer maintenance class.
“We go through software programs and learn about computers,” Gillespie said. “In the beginning, we learned about hardware, and now we’re working through the textbook.”
Journalism
In journalism, students get involved in communication and media in a variety of electives: (beginning) Journalism I; Yearbook I, II, II; Newspaper I, II, II; desktop publishing; and photojournalism (photojournalism application required due to limited space).
“These courses train students with real-world skills to produce publications,” adviser Susan Williamson said. “Our yearbook, print and online versions of the newspaper compete on a state level and win, plus the skills a student learns prepare him or her for UIL contests and college journalism programs. Currently one of our graduates is editing for the Texas Tech University El Toreador newspaper which is a paid position.”
Agriculture
Ag teacher Joel Lanier said students will get good hands-on learning experience through a variety of courses ranging from landscaping to mechanics and metal technologies.
“We offer practical life skill training in various areas of animal and plant sciences,” Lanier said. “We have great opportunities for extracurricular activities.”
Health Science
Several choices also exist for health sciences including sports medicine, practicum in health science and medical terminology.
Sophomore Hannah Cagle was in the nursing course (practicum in health science) which met at the hospital last semester.
“I made new friends,” Cagle said. “I also liked how the peoples’ faces would light up every day when we walked in.
Students who are having trouble deciding on electives are encouraged to meet with individual teachers for more information and requirements for these electives.
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