New classes for a new year

Holt High School offers new class opportunities for students

IsaIah Wummel WEB EDITOR

Take another look at your schedules, Holt students. There are going to be new classes available for the 2023-2024 school year.

For some students, school is a place where they are forced to learn the same things that everyone else has. Holt High School has been changing this over the years by adding new classes to get students immersed in topics that they want to learn. Social studies teacher Stacie Forbes shared her opinion on the matter.

“It’s important for students to have these new classes to keep them motivated to learn,” said Forbes

These new classes also allow students to invest in things that they want to learn, giving them a chance to find out more about them and their interests. This opportunity also allows students to discover what it is they want to do with their futures.

“It gives new pathways for students to find themselves,” said Forbes.

These classes also give students a chance to bond and interact with others, allowing them to develop relationships with peers they wouldn’t have otherwise.

Junior Milo Metts shared their thoughts.

“I think it will be good for students to make friends and talk with people that share the same interests and joys,” said Metts.

One such class is social studies teacher Robert Dozier’s African American Studies class. This class covers the participation of the descendants of the African Diaspora here in the United States. This class has only been around for a couple of years, but has made significant changes in the lives of students. Dozier shared his expierence.

“One of my past students who came from a more conservative background, Connor Collins, decided that he was so touched by the class that, for his own birthday, he decided to make me a black panther on a nameplate as one of his own projects for 3D printing,” said Dozier.

Seeing these classes making an impact shows that students are getting more involved. Metts also feels that the class variety and involvment gives students a community and a voice.

“I feel like students need to be heard,” said Metts.

One new class offering is Study of the Holocaust taught by Forbes and social studies teacher Rebecca Stewart. Here, students will learn about human rights during the Holocaust and other genocides.

“This class doesn’t just focus on the Holocaust, but focuses on how the Holocaust led to other events and similar events ...such as the Armenian Genocide,” said Forbes.

Although there are these newer classes available, students will want more choices later on.

Metts voiced their opinion on wanting there to be more classes in the arts.

“If I had the ability to choose new classes for students based on what I think they would enjoy, I would create some theater and art classes,” said Metts.

New classes are how schools evolve, and this shows that Holt can do more than just keep up, but thrive. It gives students a chance to explore a new specification in their learning and develop their ideas. It is unique for a school to offer these particular classes.

With these distinct classes that the school is beginning to offer, students will not only have more variety when it comes to electives they can take, but, if they believe they know what field they want to go into, they can begin to learn more about it.

Said Metts, “I’m glad to be in a school that doesn’t just think about me as a number, but as a student with specific interests and hopes for the future.”