BHS to offer seven new courses for students next year

By Ava Quattelbaum

To provide more diverse learning opportunities for students, teachers at BHS proposed seven new courses that would be added to the course cataloged for the next school. According to Aimee Harkins, Head of the school’s Counseling Department, they were recently approved by the Board of Education

With class registration underway for next school year, school officials are encouraging students to start thinking about what classes to take. Many of the new courses are advanced level classes in several different subjects.

The new courses were proposed after teachers and administrators received input from student surveys and classroom feedback. All seven of the new courses were approved by the Board of Education on Dec 10.

“The goal of these classes is to give students equal opportunity and an equal experience,” BHS principal Lee Panagoulias told the Board at the meeting recently.  

Last year, the school added another eight new courses to its Program of Studies. This year’s course offerings include twenty-five AP/ECE courses, and seventeen new courses added over the last two years to the catalog – along with the seven new courses this year.

For students considering UConn as an option after high school, the university offers dual-credit classes for high school students through its Early College Experience Program (ECE). Among the seven new courses are two UConn ECE ones.

ECE Fundamentals of Nutrition (0.5 BHS credit & 3 ECE credits) – This course introduces students to the principles of human nutrition, which includes the functions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, and their roles in supporting overall health. This information will apply key nutrition concepts to students through guided learning activities and develop skills for making informed decisions about food and health in daily life.

ECE Contemporary Social Issues in Sport (1 BHS credit & 3 college credits) – This course examines the role of sports as a social, cultural, and political force in the modern world. Students will be exploring how athletics intersect with issues such as race and class, gender and equity, religion, nationalism, leadership, inclusion, and ethics. The goal is that by the end of this course, students will understand how sport serves as a lens for studying society and a platform for civic engagement.

In addition to the advanced ECE offerings, BHS has also expanded other honors opportunities for underclassmen, specifically Freshmen. If you are a rising Freshman and want to push yourself when working with many aspects of literature and perfecting your writing skills, the school is now offering English 9 Honors.

English 9 Honors (1 credit) – This is a fast-paced, rigorous course that requires a student with a strong aptitude for English and is designed to prepare students for future honors and AP classes. This course is fitting for students who enjoy English and are considering a pathway in humanities, and are willing to put in extra time and effort.

If these last classes haven’t spoken to you, don’t worry. If you’re an AP student wanting to challenge yourself, there is a class for you… and it might be one of the two new APs coming next year.

AP Precalculus (1 credit)  – This is a full-year advanced mathematics course that emphasizes modeling, functions, and graphical analysis. Students will learn how to model real-world phenomena, make predictions, and justify mathematical reasoning using multiple representations (graphical, analytical, numerical, and verbal). This will build on standard Algebra I and II, and Geometry, preparing students for AP Calculus or other advanced math courses.

AP Personal Finance (1 credit)  – This course introduces students to the foundations of business, entrepreneurship, and personal finance. Students will examine how businesses identify customer needs, create value, compete in markets, and make informed decisions, which will prepare students for college programs in business, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Connecticut law requires all students to receive instruction in personal finance, and this course will fulfill the state requirement while providing a more rigorous, AP-level experience.

For future musicians, if you are looking for experience performing in an ensemble, there is a choice for you, too.

Percussion Ensemble (1 credit)  – This is a performing ensemble option for students who play a percussion instrument. Students enrolled in percussion ensemble will perform with the concert band at concerts and performances, but rehearse separately during the school day in order to provide opportunities for more percussion-centric repertoire and individualized instruction. The topics covered will be technical studies and repertoire on snare drum, drum set, mallet instruments, timpani, and auxiliary percussion.

Lastly, BHS wants to be more inclusive to native Spanish speakers; 17% of the student body identifies as Latino or Hispanic. The new Spanish Heritage Learners I is a class that provides a comfortable environment for those who have a background, but are not yet fully confident in speaking Spanish.

Spanish for Heritage Learners I (1 credit)  – This course is designed for students who already have a personal, familial, or community connection to Spanish and want to strengthen their language skills in an academic setting. This will honor and celebrate students’ bilingualism, fostering an inclusive, asset-based environment where students can take pride in their heritage and grow as skilled, confident Spanish speakers.

Course registration will begin in early February for rising Seniors and Juniors; then rising Sophomores and Freshmen will register in March.