If there’s anything you learn at Shawnee, it’s that getting involved and expressing your passion is more than promoted; it’s the path to success for student life. Beyond the more prominent modes of involvement– clubs, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), etc.– the courses offered at Shawnee allow students a chance to dive deeper into the fields that interest them, or to simply explore the many topics and classes that have been made available. Throughout the year, the school emphasizes the importance of utilizing those resources, offering numerous events so that all students, prospective and current, can have opportunities to learn outside of their regular course load. Shawnee’s Elective Fair, hosted for the last several years in November, is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about electives as students and staff enter the beginning of the marking period and the course selection process for the proceeding school year.
The Elective Fair is a time where teachers and students come together during the school day to provide current Shawnee underclassmen with a brief overview of each elective that they might express interest in. Classrooms scattered throughout the school provide insight into every area of study as well as every participating teacher, and the helpers within them ultimately cover any questions students may have regarding the class-scheduling process or getting involved. Most importantly, the fair focuses on learning beyond the required curriculum, encouraging students who would otherwise take a study hall to schedule more classes and enhance their knowledge.
How Do I Know if a Class is Good for Me?
While the answer varies depending on who you are and what you’re looking to learn, the consensus is this: take the course that aligns with your interests, provides a strong environment for your learning style, overall equips you with the tools to continue your education beyond high school, or is just something new you want to try. In relevance to Shawnee’s Elective Fair, you are allowed to walk from classroom to classroom and ask questions to students and teachers to determine if a subject is something they would like to pursue or if it’s something that they’re not as interested in. From this, your decisions for class selection can be narrowed down, while also making it so that you aren’t tied to a class before you fully commit. In essence, the event allows you to get a sense of the general environment and the attitudes of those who have taken the course before you, further aiding in choosing “good” classes that suit your academic capacity.
Why Should I Pick an Elective Over a Study Hall?
Again, the answer to this hypothetical question varies from person to person, but it should be stated that taking a study hall is not necessarily bad; if you take higher-level courses and you need extra time to decompress or finish classwork, then it is actually very beneficial. If, however, you’re taking a study hall and aren’t doing any actual studying, then considering taking a course, whether it be career-related (meaning taking business classes if you want to earn an MBA in the future) or just something for fun, can be helpful both in the short-term and the long-term. By trying new things, you can learn more about yourself and your interests
In short, getting involved in electives allows you to strengthen both your learning and your values as well as meet new students and teachers.
What Electives are Offered?
The selection of electives at Shawnee includes disciplines in art, business, English, math, Music, and so much more. Because of that broad scope, there’s an opportunity for any student to pursue their interests without being limited to certain classes or teachers. Though it’s difficult to list every course offered (there are just so many), you can check out the list of all classes, electives and core, on the Lenape Regional website or here.
*Not every course listed on the website is offered at Shawnee. Please contact your counselor or search through the programs during the Elective Fair to find out if the class you’re interested in is available. Some classes/areas at Shawnee are listed below:
Introduction to Business
A course that covers the basics of business; includes topics of marketing, advertising, international business, credit, and other business literacy. Many choose to take it due to its universal application in the real world.
Public Speaking
A course whose primary goal is to build confidence and comfort in speaking in front of an audience. While the course specifically touches on the organization, research, and other aspects of speeches, students often find themselves better, stronger writers and presenters because of this class.
Foods and Nutrition
A course designed to cover the importance of nutrition throughout life, it teaches food preparation and healthy dieting while providing a hands-on approach to learning, allowing students to cook and develop skills that stretch beyond the scope of high school. Students are attracted initially by the ability to make food, but they are reeled in by the lessons they learn from this program.
In summary, try to explore as many electives as you can and ask questions to develop an understanding of what each one entails. Doing so will not only help you narrow down your course choices but also get you familiar with the room, subject, and, if you stick around, the teacher.
This article is not aimed at convincing you to take a certain course or to choose a class over a study hall. Instead, it’s meant to describe the many benefits of discovering what Shawnee has to offer and to encourage getting involved– all things that, in the end, will be useful in the future. Making informed decisions is not just a Renegade thing; it’s a brick on the path to success.
