Currently, there are 272 different courses available at EPHS, with 20 new classes added this year. There are popular new classes like Global Cuisine and there are niche new classes like Python and Animal Care and Nutrition. With the amount of courses added there is bound to be a class suited for every EPHS student. Here is some more information on a few of these classes from the EPHS staff.
Python was one of the new classes added to the course guide this year. Python is a versatile beginner friendly programming language that is used across many jobs in the technology industry. With this new class, students will get the chance to not only learn the language, but apply it to real life scenarios.
“People know, and they’re like, how come we don’t teach a Python class?,” answered Python teacher, Jessica Brent, when questioned on the reason behind her proposal.
Brent went on to explain that her proposal to add Python to the EPHS course list was accepted fairly quickly due to popular demand amongst students and parents. However, this could be undermined by the administration taking away the technology requirement for future years.
Brent expressed her thoughts, “I think that we were able to get more students into computer science with the technology credit.”
Brent proceeded to compare this situation with trying new foods: you would never have found your favorite foods if you weren’t forced to try them. The computer science team is now having to become more creative in how they market their classes towards the student body in order to make sure that they continue to get a consistent flow of students in their classes. However, this hiccup in class numbers has not stopped Python, with around 70 students signing up this year.
“No matter what you want to do with your job. Knowing coding knowing a little bit of coding is like literacy.” Brent answered.
Food Fundamentals has always been a well-loved class at EPHS. The class following Food Fundamentals used to be Gourmet Foods until it was broken up into Global Cuisine and Baking & Pastries. In Global Cuisine, they focus on different continents or regions around the world and cook food unique to that specific place. In total, the students make around 50 different recipes.
There is a lot of adaptability that comes along with teaching a new class. Teacher Brianna Kruschke shared the amount of trial and error she has already experienced in her class.
“Our first recipe of the quarter was trash. We tried to do frozen yogurt, and it didn’t harden, so it was just liquid yogurt,” says Kruschke.
Recipes not working are a pretty major hiccup, but she went on to explain how she does everything in her power to make sure the same mistake doesn’t happen again. This either means that she tweaks the recipe or gets rid of it entirely. However, these hiccups shouldn’t deter anyone from taking this class.
“Do you like to eat food? Do you like to try different foods from around the world? And as long as you aren’t going to burn our kitchens down, you’re good to take the class.”
Global Cuisine is a very popular new class, but Animal Care and Nutrition is a whole other story. As the name suggests, students learn how to take care and provide proper nutrition to a lot of different animal of many different sizes. Students learn how to properly work with animals and handle them. Towards the end of the course they do a lot of practice, which would help students that want to pursue a career as a vet tech or work in a vet office at any capacity.
“I really enjoy teaching Animal Care and Nutrition, because students are really excited about that content,” Jack Roessler explained.
Like Kruschke , Roessler has also had similar experiences when trying to navigate having to teach a new class. There are so many unknowns revolving around so many aspects of the class. One of the biggest difficulties mentioned was trying to figure out a curriculum that was educational while still making sure the students enjoy taking the class. Roessler is having to adjust in real time to any feedback or challenges that he faces in the classroom. Roessler has started writing things that he can improve for next time on post-it notes, so that he can make sure that the class can reach its full potential.
“It’s really practical, that a lot of students have pets at home, or they have an interest in becoming a vet someday,” Roessler answered when asked about why students sign up for his class.
The practicality of classes are almost as important as the enjoyment factor. Classes like Animal Care and Nutrition have a real world use, which pulls students into taking it over other nonessential courses.
All three of these classes are new to EPHS this year, each offering something unique and engaging. These are just a few of the exciting new courses available, and students should definitely keep an eye out for them when registration opens next year.