A few changes are coming to the math department, and not in the form of delta symbols. Starting next year, there will be some differences in the course names and weights.

 

Although the materials and basis of the classes will not change, some classes’ names and weights have changed. CP Geometry, CP Algebra I, and CP Algebra II which have been referred to as CP classes this year, and previous years, will be renamed as Honors classes and be weighted starting next school year. As most know, a weighted class will help, to improve most students GPAs if they do well in the class.

 

To be scheduled for these classes, students must have a certain grade point average and/or teacher recommendations. With this new incentive, the school may see more students seeking and working to get into higher classes.

 

One student’s opinion, Brielle Long, freshman, regarding these changes is, “I like the changes; the classes being weighted helps. Also, the weighting will probably improve my GPA too.”  According to Long, if any changes were to be made in the math department, “I would like better grouping in the classes, so students could go more at their own pace.” Lastly, Long stated, when asked if she feels the school places a great enough importance of math and sciences, “Yes I do, but maybe they could have more math and science clubs. Some people are really interested in math and sciences, and it would help engage them.”

 

You may find most students are pleased with these changes, though they may mean little, if the teachers are not on board also.

 

As for a teacher’s point of view, Mr. Spirk, head of the math department, when asked why he think’s these changes have been made, said “I think they’re trying to get all the classes on the same page. We all will have the same names for courses and it will keep all the weighting even too.” Spirk answered, in regard to how these changes will affect students grades, “I don’t think students grades will change much, maybe it will cause GPAs to be a bit lower.”  Spirk also stated, after being asked of the possibility for more courses to be offered, “We’re so small; we can’t offer more classes, we would not have enough students to fill these higher classes. We tried to have a higher trigonometry class, but we did not meet the ten student requirement. We do have a niche in the business maths. Hopefully, AP statistic class, will off set this.”

 

Many of the departments are seeing changes occurring, more classes are being offered, clubs created are being created, Jim Thorpe is adapting as a school to the innovations and movements made in our world.