Balloting for next year’s classes is just the corner. With a wide range of classes and electives offered, it’s a good time for underclassmen to start the process of class selection and to review credits needed to graduate from high school.
Senior counselor, Mrs. Leeper said, “As we get into this season, think about long term goals, such as what you want to do after high school and select classes that might align with your goals. If you’re unsure, pick classes that might interest you or meet college requirements. Also, if you’ve been excelling in your academics, challenge yourself by taking an AP class or consider taking a class with Merced College.”
Here are some available courses and electives for students to choose from.
Journalism
Journalism students are responsible for the online school newspaper, PawPrint News. Some skills needed for this class include being good at conversing with people for interviews, good at having accurate information, and writing well .
“Journalism is a self-motivated class with the only difficult part being coming up with original story ideas. It’s a fun and creative class where students can write about anything that interests them,” said Mrs. McCullough.
Journalism is open to juniors and seniors.
Yearbook
This is a self-paced class that is creative because students get to build the pages of the yearbook by attending events, taking pictures, uploading them to the Jostens website, interviewing, and arranging this information into chosen templates. The class itself is not difficult, but the hardest part is meeting deadlines. Students have to be organized because there are lots of different elements that go into making a yearbook. Yearbook is open to juniors and seniors.
Foreign Language:
Would you like to complete your foreign language eligibility requirement for entering a four-year college (UC and CSU)?
Would you like to be able to speak the language of 21 different countries?
Would you like to know more about the Spanish-speaking world?
Would you like to better compete in this 21st century and global economy?
If you said “yes” to any of these questions, then make sure to include Spanish on your ballot for the upcoming school year!
Non-native speaker pathway:
Spanish 1
Spanish 2
Spanish 3
AP Spanish Language
AP Spanish Literature
Native speaker pathway:
Heritage A
Heritage B
AP Spanish Language
AP Spanish Literature
Choir:
Students will learn the fundamentals of singing in both a solo and group setting. No experience is needed to join. If you have experience singing then A Cappella Choir is the section to sign up for, and if you are new, sign up for Concert Choir. We perform several times a year for various district and school events. We are also a traveling and competitive choir program that goes and competes at various venues and events throughout the year. There are also opportunities to audition for world class honor ensembles where you can perform with some of the best conductors in the region. In 2023, the Regional Honor Choir had a song composed exclusively for them. This also leads into opportunities to perform at the All-State Level! We also travel to Southern California starting in Spring 2025, to perform at different locations every year. The Spring 2025 trip is planned to be Universal Studios. Choir is a place to forge lasting relationships, develop skills for singing and perform in world class venues. See Mr. Nelson in room 724 for more information.
AG Mechanics:
Here is a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig1ySFhYAqE
- Course Description
Ag. Mechanics I is designed for the first year Ag. Mechanics student with little or no shop experience. Units covered will present skills useful in an agriculture/ industrial technical career as well as home maintenance and serves as the prerequisite for the Ag.Mechanics II class at Los Banos High School. Each student is required to have a project that goes to the May Day Fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig1ySFhYAqE
Ag. Mechanics II is designed for students to learn how to Oxy –Acetylene weld, Arc weld, and MIG weld. Students will also learn how to use the Oxy-Acetylene torch. Each person must pass each weld before moving on to the next. Part of your grade for the course will be how many welds were completed throughout the quarter. This class is a prerequisite for the Ag. Mechanics III and IV class. Each student is required to have a project that goes to the May Day Fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig1ySFhYAqE
Ag. Mechanics III and IV is designed for those students to be able to get a job in a shop setting. These students will learn how to Oxy –Acetylene weld, Arc weld, MIG weld, and TIG weld. These students will also learn how to use the Oxy – Acetylene torch and Plasma Cutters. Each student is required to have a project that goes to the May Day Fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig1ySFhYAqE
AP Art History
Are you interested in this history of art but not creating art–join Mrs. Sagouspe for AP Art History in 2024-2025! Students in this AP course engage in visual and contextual analysis and critical thinking, learning to understand art within its historical and cultural contexts. Unlike other AP courses, Art History is usually composed of students who have not taken other courses within the discipline. An AP Art History student does not have to be someone who plans on taking art history in college; those who enjoy the humanities, history, or studio art are also good candidates for the course. AP Art History Students will be expected to use identification/attribution, visual analysis, contextual analysis to find meaning in art while exercising interdisciplinary awareness, writing and reading comprehension skills.
Science
AP Environmental Science (APES) may change the way you view the world. It will help you understand the consequences that human actions have on the environment. APES is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from biology, chemistry, environmental studies, geology, and geography. We will cover topics ranging from human populations, energy sources, wastewater treatment plants, invasive species, land/aquatic pollution, amongst many other topics.
The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide you with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Like all other AP courses, there will be a test in May which can earn you college credit if passed with a score of 3 or higher. Feel free to drop by Room 406 with any questions!
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NGg88b-kK7GBFiSXhSAt9Cu3siQsvgSFF2Ht13SjWEc/edit?usp=sharing
Court Games
Court Games is an activities class that implements the different court games we have here at school. Some of the sports are Basketball, Tennis, Pickleball, Volleyball. This is an elective class open to juniors and seniors.
There are many classes and electives offered. Take the time to review what interests you. If you have questions, see your counselor.
