This time of year students you are making decisions on what courses to take next year so newspaper reporters interviewed students that have taken the classes to provide you with information from the students perspective.  Check back every few weeks to see the exciting choices you have available.

Chopping, Cooking and Cupcakes 

By Sofia De Silva Condero

There are a variety of topics and classes at Cypress Springs High School. Electives designed to teach specific skills and establish a foundation of knowledge. However, one stands out from the rest: Culinary.

The culinary elective aims to teach everything from the fundamentals of cooking to the intricacies of the kitchen and its operations. The culinary elective is open to all Cy Springs students except for freshmen. There are a variety of people in Culinary from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of skills, such as chopping, baking, decorations, and frosting.

The class is downstairs in the last hallway and consists of a baking area with ovens, a dish area, cooking stations, and dry food storage. During the marking period of the elective, students learn about new cooking techniques, how to use new equipment and prepare food for various catering events, exercises, or competitions, like cupcake battles, gingerbread houses contests, volunteer service and mystery boxes challenges.

“I honestly think Culinary is the best elective I could have choose,” Charlotte Brennecke said. “We learn how to make food from different cultures and that is really fun.”

The kitchen is a place where they can experiment and practice, develop their own style and passion for cooking. Brennecke has been in the course for five months, but she already sees cooking as a career.

“I think all the students should consider the culinary elective,” she said. “People looking for a space to be creative and express themselves would fit perfectly well.”

With the intention of providing students with something to look forward to and further explore both in class and at home, culinary education introduces a variety of cuisines and cultures.

Students also have the opportunity to get certification in different areas of culinary which can immediately gain them employment at a restaurant.

Any student who is interested in cooking or just needs a fun break from their schedule is welcome to enroll in the culinary program.

Teacher Prep equips you with classroom management skills

By Karen Garcia Trigueros

Are you looking for a way to add fun into your school day while also gaining useful career skills. Do you enjoy being around elementary children? Yes, then Teacher Prep is calling you!

¨Just volunteering in the classroom and being able to hang out with my class and the teacher that is pretty nice,” Alison Rosenfeld said.

Teacher prep is a class that teaches you how kids develop mentally and gives you the chance to work with elementary age students. It gives you insight to the behaviors of said children. It teaches you how to stimulate elementary age children mentally and help them think more outside of the box. You also learn to manage the classroom, clean up and deal with kids in various situations.

Students love the fact that Teacher Prep is a two-block period so an add bonus is when you exempt exams you are basically exempting two periods. One of the fun things you get to do is that you get to travel off campus three days a week to Andrea Elementary School and work with the kids there.

Students primarily assist the classroom teacher and gain valuable insight by observing what happens in the student’s classroom and school environment. You also get the opportunity to develop a lesson plan based on what the students are currently learning and then teach the class once a marking period.

“Mrs. Sanders makes this class great. She is for the students; she really sees things in the middle from both the student’s side and the teacher side. She really knows how to be in the middle and shares her experiences with us which is so helpful,” Rosenfield said.

This class is for juniors and seniors. The prerequisite for this class is having taken Principles of Education. Students interested in being a teacher, working in neonatal or other medical professions would benefit from taking this course.

AP English fosters communication

By Kameryn Howard

AP English is a challenging and a rewarding course that prepares students for college-level literary analysis. It requires a deep understanding of literary devices, literary periods, and literary movements, as well as the ability to write critically and clearly about literature.

Sydney Caddick, a student in AP English, finds the class to be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. She believes that the class has helped her to become a better reader, writer, and thinker.

“AP English has pushed me to think more critically about literature and to really dig deep into the meanings of the texts we read,” she says. “It has also helped me to become a more confident writer, as I have had to learn how to express my thoughts clearly and persuasively.”

One of the things that Sydney likes most about AP English is the opportunity to discuss literature with her classmates. “I love the class discussions,” she says. “We have such great conversations about the texts we read, and it has really helped me to understand them better. I have also learned a lot from my classmates’ perspectives on literature.”

Overall, Sydney feels that AP English has been a valuable experience for her. She believes that the skills she has learned in the class will serve her well in college and in her future career.

“AP English has been one of the most challenging classes I have taken,” she says, “but it has also been one of the most rewarding. I feel like I have grown so much as a reader, writer, and thinker, and I’m so grateful for the experience.”

 Get creative in Ceramics

 By John Mercer

Do you want to unleash your creative side? Well, there are many art classes to choose from and Ceramics is a campus favorite among students.

“Ceramics is not just about creating something beautiful, it’s about the process of creation. The feeling of working with clay and watching it transform into a piece of art is truly magical,” Kimora Lee says.

Lee believes joining a ceramics class can be a great way to tap into your creativity and explore a new medium. Not only will you learn the technical aspects of working with clay, but you will also have the opportunity to express yourself and create something truly unique.

“I love the tactile nature of ceramics. The feeling of the clay in my hands and the way it responds to my touch is so satisfying,” Lee says.

Ceramics is a very hands-on and tactile medium, which can be very satisfying for those who enjoy working with their hands. It is  a great way to channel your energy and focus into a project, and the result can be a beautiful piece of art that you can be proud of.

“Ceramics has taught me patience and perseverance. It is not always easy, but the challenges are what make it so rewarding,” she said.

It requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to learn and make mistakes. But with practice and dedication, you will be able to create beautiful pieces that you will be proud of. So, if you are looking for a new hobby or a new way to express yourself, consider joining a ceramics class and see where it takes you.