Course selection season rolls around
It’s almost course selection season for Olney High School students, who will begin the process of choosing classes for next school year. Courtney Wells, OHS guidance counselor, shared important upcoming dates for students to remember, as well as her advice to students who will be picking their courses.
“Starting next week I will be meeting with sophomores and juniors in English class to go over graduation requirements, transcripts, and course selections for next year,” Wells said.
Current sophomores who are taking on-level classes will meet with Wells on Tuesday, Jan. 21, during their world history periods. Sophomores taking advanced classes will meet with Wells on Monday, Jan. 27, in their Pre AP English II classes.
The same goes for juniors. Those taking on level classes will see Wells on Thursday, Jan. 23, during their English III classes; and those taking advanced classes will meet with Wells on Monday, Jan. 27, in their AP English III classes. Rising freshmen and current eighth graders will have their own meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the auditorium as well.
Current freshmen will discuss with Wells on Friday, Jan. 31, in their World Geography periods.
Students from all grades are strongly encouraged to attend the parent meetings on Feb. 13. There will be two separate meetings, one for students in on-level classes and one for students in advanced classes.
“On Thursday, Feb. 13, from 5:30 to 6, I’ll be having a mandatory parent meeting in the auditorium for all 9-11 grade students to go over the course selection process and get questions answered for the students who are not in advanced classes,” Wells said. “Then from 6-7 pm, we’ll have another meeting for all students who are and plan to take an AP/PreAP/Dual Credit course next year. Teachers will be there to talk about their specific class. It isn’t necessary to attend the pre-meeting if you are attending the advanced academic meeting.”
For the actual course selection submission, students will meet oneon- one with Wells. The meetings will be separated by grade level: juniors have their meetings Feb. 18-20, sophomores on Feb. 21, 24, and 26, and freshmen on Feb. 27-28, and March 3.
“Students will be emailed a Google invite to attend their individual meeting to submit their classes, and students will be pulled during an elective class,” Wells said. “Parents are welcome to attend these meetings! They should last less than 15 minutes each and will review credits, GPA, post secondary plans, and course submission.”
Students have said that the course selection process starts pretty early in the second semester, but Wells says she has a good reason for it.
“Honestly, it’s because spring is busy and with so many activities it’s best to get the course selection process started early,” Wells said. “Staff is hired and materials are purchased in advance based on the number of students requesting a class so it’s important that students take that process seriously and submit it early so they have more of a chance to get the class they want.”
Wells says her goal is for all course requests to be granted, but since that’s not always the case, students are given other options.
“The only allowable changes after the May 15 deadline are program changes like extracurricular commitments such as athletics or band, and AP/Advanced drops after the first six weeks of school or at semester,” Wells said. “But all course requests can be changed at any time before May 15.”
Wells has advice for students in all grades who are picking their classes, like choosing classes based on your own strengths and interests, and making sure required classes are completed by junior year.
“Try to avoid making decisions just based on what your friends and peers are doing,” Wells said. “Also, it’s best to try and stay in the same career and technology education class all 4 years of high school because it can show your consistent interest in a field to colleges. Your decisions and the extracurricular classes you take should focus on your post-graduation plans, even if those change.”