By Jessica Lu,
Staff Writer
With the upcoming school year, the curriculum guide offers new classes for students to take.
English 4
English 4 replaces Creative Style and Humanities as one of the options to satisfy the senior English graduation requirement.
The course reinforces the knowledge taught in English 1 to 3 and continues to help students develop their critical thinking, reading and writing skills. They explore themes about their lives through a variety of media, including literature and non-fiction.
English 4 is a name change. Like other English courses, there are standard requirements, but there is flexibility in how each teacher guides their students in accordance with the general curriculum.
Financial Algebra
Financial Algebra serves as an alternative for students who would like to take a math class that gives more practicality to algebra.
The course provides financial knowledge on the use of mathematics after graduation. Students will explore topics such as personal and business finances, annuities, interest formulas, investment growth and the U.S. tax code. The class is helpful for students who are interested in starting small businesses.
Mainly targeted towards seniors, it will help those who aren’t interested in calculus-required industries continue exercising their math skills. As per curriculum guide recommendation, students should take Algebra 2 before this course.
Financial Algebra along with Logistics Management (not covered) are both courses in the approval process.
Screen Printing
Screen Printing is an advanced option for students who took a year of Graphic Communications and have interest in pursuing specifically screen printing, a process in which a designer transfers a stenciled design onto a surface using ink and a mesh screen.
The course focuses on screen printing as an artistic process, educating students on the use of the different presses while enhancing their occupational skills associated with the graphic design profession, such as marketing and budgeting.
Students can expect to further practice and improve their abilities with this specific style of design while continuing to explore a variety of graphic design media. This course is school board, Cal State and UC approved.
Advanced Systems Design and Fabrication
Advanced Systems Design and Fabrication is the next level course for students previously enrolled in Engineering Design Technology and Advanced Computer Aided Design.
EDT is now under the name Digital Design and Fabrication and ACAD is under Intermediate Digital Design and Fabrication for the upcoming years.
Prospective students can expect to work with project development processes and concept generations, advanced prototyping, 3D parametric digital design and modeling, as well as electronics and mechanics, amongst other units.
Through this course, students acquire skills to test for a professional certification in SolidWorks, a 3D modeling software, a step up from earning their associate certification in Intermediate Digital Design and Fabrication. This class prepares students who are interested in engineering for college courses, providing experience in skills such as advanced prototyping that projects may require.
This course is available only for students who took the introductory and intermediate prerequisite classes. Advanced Systems Design and Fabrication is school board, Cal State and UC approved.