No one can argue that the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma offers benefits like better preparation of college courses, strong critical thinking and research skills. AHS prioritizes the IB diploma, which is one of the reasons we were recognized as a Distinguished Virginia School.
However, this push has come with the absence of certain electives, especially science ones. that are approved by FCPS, like Human Anatomy and Physiology, Astronomy, and Oceanography. There are similar courses in the academy programs, but those courses take up 2 or more elective spaces.
It also contributes to how little Dual Enrollment (DE) classes AHS offers, though the administration is working hard to change that.
The problem is that not every student feels capable of or has the time to do an IB course, and students feel it is unfair to take away options that many could be interested in. There are many electives AHS students have the privilege of taking, but some science electives we wish we had.
Electives we love:
Marketing is one of the most informative electives AHS offers, and there are many different forms, from Entrepreneurship to Fashion Marketing.
“I originally just wanted the Business credit, but then I started to enjoy the class. We did these IB requirements called IAs where we critiqued a business on what they could do better, and I used my job as an example; that was one of my favorite projects that we did,” Junior Yasmine Bouchamla said.
These career specific courses work hand in hand with High-Quality Work-Based Learning (HQWBL) to help students reach their goals. AHS has a thriving Theatre Arts program that is supported by the parent Booster Program. It was established in 1956 and has positions for all kinds of people.
“You are immediate friends with everybody in the program, whether it’s tech or costumes. I’m an actor and my favorite [part of class is] the Shakespeare unit, but I also love the Improv unit,” junior Lucia Pedrick said.
From being on stage and performing, to working backstage in lighting, this elective builds community.
Auto Technology teaches students how to perform repairs and functions on cars. From Auto Tech 1 to Auto Tech 3 DE, students get diverse opportunities. People who pass the program are eligible to take the Automotive Service Excellence Student Certification examination. In Auto Tech 3 DE students earn credit for the AUT 266 college course through Northern Virginia Community College.
“You get the advantages of learning how a car operates and if your car ever breaks down or has issues you can sort them out yourself,” junior Diana Gutierrez said.
This is another example of a career specific course that allows students to express their ingenuity with their two hands.
Electives we want:
Human Anatomy and Physiology are usually gone over in the Sports Med elective, but not in depth. You could also apply to an academy course, but they could take up two or more elective spaces. Anatomy is one of the most sought after electives, since many students aspire to be in the healthcare field.
“I decided to do anatomy because I want to be a pediatrician in the future. I thought it was a good idea to start in freshman year so that I would know all the medical terms really well. It is definitely a lot of studying, but if you are interested in the medical field it is definitely worth it,” said Izabella Hernandez, freshman at Bishop Ireton High School.
Astronomy is a subject that traces back to ancient Mesopotamia, and would be an addition to AHS now. It studies the influence of celestial bodies (planets, stars, moon) in the past and present on human lives, personalities, and earthly events.
Despite its boring title, Geospatial Analysis is an interesting subject that we use almost daily. Geospatial Analysis is the study of methods used to manage, visualize and analyze data on places to find patterns and trends. It is used to plan infrastructure, track disease and monitor deforestation. Careers like being an architect and an engineer are very compatible for this course.
Electives build career specific abilities in students. However, AHS has a few limiting factors which reduce elective options. Stimulating students’ interests is important to making students feel included and to building community. AHS would thrive not only when succeeding academically, but also in originality and ingenuity.
