Fostering the growth of students, Oak Lawn Community High School has arisen once more as a fundamental power in education.
This advancement is due to a rise in population within OLCHS’s walls, where many classes were created to accommodate the larger student population.
The classes stem from multiple subjects; some are sciences, some are mathematics, and others are businesses. These courses come in varied levels, such as advanced and regular placement.
Advanced Placement Environmental Science is a newly offered course that hard-working science students highly requested. Along with AP environmental, AP Cybersecurity is one of three mathematics classes that were requested. Cybersecurity will allow computer science students to pursue their major while in high school.
Along with these two advanced placement courses, there is one course that students and teachers are both equally excited about.
The Education Internship course will accommodate curious students in thriving in the teaching environment. It will allow students to receive a head start on their teaching careers by learning the behind-the-scenes of teaching.
Aside from these newly gestated courses, four courses will be modified. The previous Pre-Calculas Honors will be offered as AP Pre-Calculas, an improvement that students are enthusiastic about.
AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, and AP Art History will continue to be offered. However, they will not be active if not enough students apply to take them.
Eileen Sears, a counselor at OLCHS, was asked why these new courses were being offered, especially on such high levels; Sears explained, “We are looking for how to best prepare you for when you leave here.“
These courses will be the road to success as their availability encourages students who haven’t thought about college to grasp the hint of higher learning in advanced placement and thought-provoking classes.
Sears exclaimed, “We’re building Spartans who are college curious” and especially college ready. Previously, students could turn in assignments late as long as they turned them in before the unit was over.
As this did not prepare the Spartans for college, the teachers agreed to change the assignment deadline. In the present year, assignments have a two-day grace period once the assignment’s original deadline passes.
Once the two-day grace period ends, students can no longer turn in the assignment. This change in deadline is correlated to a rise in student productivity.
Many students reported more success in their classes, such as Sophomore Muhammad Abuelhawa, an honors and AP student, who stated, ” The two-day deadline motivates us to do our work on time instead of playing around. It forces us not to procrastinate, as when there is a due date, you know it’s serious. You know not to wait till the last minute to do your work”.
This opinion is heavily shared by many Spartans and teachers. Patrick DiFlippo, teacher of AP United States History and World History, added, “The world is ever-changing. We must make sure that we are changing with it.”
Oak Lawn Community High School has succeeded in changing with the modern era as it currently holds many programs and courses that are not yet available in neighboring schools. With excellent leadership within its walls, OLCHS leads the way inside and outside.
