Semester Classes Galore!

Natalie Peckham

With the new semester beginning, many students have taken their finals and will be leaving classes to move on to new classes for the last two quarters of the year.

Semester classes here at Bel Air are a great way to allow students to take various classes throughout the year instead of just their set, eight full-year classes. The ability to choose your electives as certain semester classes allows you to participate in things you may not have been able to if you were taking a full-year class.

Here at Bel Air, various semester classes include:

  1. Contemporary Issues: Take a twist to the classic “current events” with Mr. Andrews and discuss your opinions on what is going on in your world.
  2. Law in America: Learn more about the law system during the class, participating in debates and discussions about your opinions.
  3. Astronomy: Stars! YAY!
  4. Marine Science: If you ever wanted to dissect a shark, this is the class for you! Mr. Clemmer has a way of making the ocean and its inhabitants quite enjoyable.
  5. Physical Education: You cannot go wrong with any of the gym classes that are available at our school. Mr. Markland, Mrs. Donaldson, Mrs. Gwin, Mr. Reddish, and Mr. Webb all put an interesting spin to their class that makes them all different, fun, and unique!

In addition, an advantage of taking semester classes is receiving the experience of a semester environment, which gives you a nice pre-requisite for college classes. Almost 90% of colleges and college classes run on a semester program, switching classes in the middle of the year.

In college, the year is split into two fifteen-week semesters, give or take a few depending on the school. Bel Air allowing semester classes is not only allowing a greater variety in classes, but also showing the workload and experience needed for college classes. The shorter period makes for a more condensed curriculum, taking a midterm and final all in a period of two quarters.

Registration for the 2017-2018 school year is quickly approaching, allowing students to decide what classes they will be taking in this next year of high school. Think of taking a semester class – expand your horizons and allow yourself to take more classes this upcoming school year.