Loading ...Teachers are hoping to have their courses approved for next school year after 16 new course proposals were presented to the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education Tuesday night in the district office.
Chief Academic Officer Sharon Ofek spoke on behalf of the teachers present to provide quick summations of each course.
“We thank the staff from both high schools to step out of their comfort zones and to create new courses,” Ofek said.
Most of the focus of new classes was directed towards potential yoga and calculus classes.
“I’ve heard from many students that the fact there is no course between IAC and AB Calculus, which is frustrating since that AB is the least challenging class they can take and yet they are still struggling,” Paly Associated Student Body School Board Representative David Tayeri said.
The current Yoga class offered at Paly, available to 10th graders only, has seen a rise in popularity due to the push to increase social and emotional wellness at Paly.
“To support the social emotional needs of the students that students are getting in their normal physical education, ” Paly Physical Education teacher Sheri Mulroe said. According to Mulroe, yoga will also qualify as a PE credit. [10th graders only]
Despite all 16 courses being on track for approval at the next board meeting, it’s not guaranteed that all will run.
“Often times we get questions about courses and when do they run, when there are enough students, then they make the decision to run that course or not.” Ofek said.
With 16 new classes potentially set to be offered, School Board Representative Jennifer DiBrienza is looking forward to seeing the courses provided in the next school year.
“I’m glad to see a lot of the hands-on thinking doing type classes and I’m excited to see what kids sign up for in the fall,” DiBrienza said.
Here is a complete list of the potentially offered courses and their course description for the next school year:
Classes to be added at Paly and Gunn:
Classes to be added at Paly:
Classes to be added at Gunn:
AP Computer Science Principles
Chinese Civilization and Culture