OH releases new courses for ’25-26

OH is now offering a variety of new electives for students who want to expand their interests. These classes can range from studying different cultures to learning new language skills. Many additional Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes have also been added to the list for next school year.

“The new CTE courses for next year include Collaborative Cooking Leaders and Clinical Experience in Education,” said CTE Department Chair Daniel Okoren. “In addition, the course that has been called ‘Introduction to Teaching’ will now be called ‘Introduction to Education’ and this will now be offered as a Dual Credit course,” he added.

Another one of these new CTE courses is Career Seminar: a class that can assist in finding students their career paths.

“It is great for freshmen and sophomores but open to any grade level. Whether you are just starting to think about what you want to do in the future or if you know your future career path, this class will give you the tools to plan your course of action to reach your career goals,” said CTE teacher Jennifer Musielak.

Career Seminar has nine units to get students on track for their careers, ranging from strengthening students’ employability skills to learning life skills. These skills can help students to be better candidates when they start looking for a career, or even just a part-time job.

“Students should take this class so they can have a plan for life after high school. We will discuss all aspects of how their interests and abilities should be used to help them select a career that will fit best with their personality and learning style. We will also discuss income and making sure to consider finances when it comes to selecting a path that will align with their lifestyle desires,” said Musielak.

Similar to a consumer education class, which goes into building a resume and being a better candidate for employers, Career Seminar goes into depth in resume building, giving students an introduction to cover letters and professionalism.

“Students will have the opportunity to hear from people in the workforce and even participate in mock interviews which give them real-life interviewing experience. Students will leave class with a resume [and an] elevator pitch they can use and continue adapting as their lives evolve and change. They will also make a plan for their future that can help set them up for the next steps as they pursue their career dreams,” Musielak said.

AP African American Studies

Another upcoming class is AP African American Studies. In this course, students will study the challenges and achievements of African American culture and discuss topics such as the African Diaspora dating back to 900 BCE and onto the civil rights movements dating to modern times.

Students will be given the opportunity to study artifacts from African American history and artwork symbolizing African American culture. 

Taking AP African American studies can be a great way to get your AP credits while also being able to experience one of the newer history courses at OH.

For more information about AP African American Studies, students can learn more through the AP Night handout.

American Sign Language

A new courses for this current school year, American Sign Language (ASL), has gained interest this past year.

“I think students should take this class because for many of them, it is completely new. It is the third most popular language in the United States, so the opportunities to use ASL are definitely out there,” says ASL instructor Keith Strnad.

Students who take ASL can use the new skills they obtained to communicate with hearing-impaired peers. This can help a ton with communication outside of the classroom.

“I especially like when students come to me, excited to share a story of how they encountered a deaf person/family and were able to have a conversation with them,” said Strnad.

ASL has a total of 18 units that emphasize communication in real-world situations. These situations can range from simple topics such as family conversations to more complex topics like finances.

“For some, it can be difficult to wrap their head around that concept at first. Like any class, I suppose, there are students who are able to pick it up quickly, and it takes other students much more time and effort,” said Strnad.

“The hope for all of the World Language classes is that students will make a connection with the outside world – not just in the classroom. The deaf community, by and large, is an overlooked community. They appreciate when someone has taken the time to learn about their world, culture, and language.”

The goal for these classes is to persuade students in discovering a new passion or interest they can keep in their life. The teachers hope these classes will leave a positive impact on the students.