By Melissa Brisco
Copy Editor

Seven periods a day seems far too long while students are enduring them, but when trying to squeeze in required classes along with electives, seven periods doesn’t seem like quite as much. This year CHS implemented a new program in hopes of helping with that.

Having a fourth year of science created a scheduling conflict for many students, so this year the staff is offering an alternative: evening science classes. Students were able to sign up for one of two available science classes that take place Monday nights from 5-8 p.m.

For current seniors, having a fourth year of science is not required; however, having a full senior schedule looks better to colleges and can also offer the opportunity of being in another AP class. For freshmen, sophomores and juniors, four years of science is required, as a pillar of the state’s four by four plan.

“If I had known about the evening science classes I would’ve signed up for them because I actually intended to take a science class my senior year, but it wouldn’t fit into my schedule,” senior Michael Tapscott said. “I wanted to take a science course because it looks good to colleges to have taken four years of science.”

Although the physical class will be only three hours, with the remaining two hours completed online, the class will end up being the same amount time as an ordinary class taken during the school day.
Some students just decided to take the classes for something new and different.

“The class just sounded fun and interesting,” senior Shaylee Zuagg said.
Through the online portion, students are given their assignments which will be due by the next class through Blackboard.

Due to the fact that this was the first year to try out the program, only two classes were offered: pre-AP chemistry and research and design (a nutrition based class) taught by Jeb Puryear and Jodie Deinhammer respectively.

“They are offering night classes this year so fourth year science is an option, students can take more classes, students have an option of taking a flex period and it could help solve overcrowding,” Deinhammer said.
One road block that evening classes are dealing with already is communication between the students and teachers. Having the student e-mail currently down ihas been a huge obstacle.

The classes will count as a pre-AP credit, and will be taught in a different way. Theywill be less of the teacher standing at the front of the class and more based on service learning.

“They [the classes] will be different because there will be less direct teaching and more problem solving,” Deinhammer said. “The students will be figuring out things themselves with projects. It will be more project based learning.”

Students in the new classes are not finding the online portion too difficult.

“The online work is alright,” senior Kelly Lim said. “We have to do discussion boards where we talk about stuff from class and we have online quizzes.”
New Tech High@Coppell students were also given the opportunity to be a part of the classes. One such student who has embraced this opportunity is Junior Scott Dance.

“I am taking the night science classes so that I don’t have to take a science class next year,” Dance said. “There are nine or 10 other New Tech students kids. The classes are pretty similar [to the ones offered at New Tech], but the nature of the course is different. The classes are basically the same. I think it’s a good opportunity.”

The classes so far have proved to be a success. Both are already full with a waiting list for next year.

Also, for the first time this year, some science classes that begand during the school year to meet during the day have now switched to be meeting during the evenings, as well.

IB standard level Physics teacher Bill Montana’s second period class was too large to fit, so he decided to offer the option for students to have a free second period study hall in the library and instead come from 5:15 to 7:30 PM on Monday and Thursday evenings.

“My class was extremely large, I had 28 students originally,” Montana said. “I just asked for volunteers to come for evening classes because I thought it would be better for both classes to provide for a smaller and more intimate learning environment, and seven students signed up.”

Junior Priyanka Krishnamurthy is one of the students in Montana’s class who decided to take the class evening class.

“I decided to take the it because I thought it would take less time,” Krishnamurthy said. “I wouldn’t say that the classes are more difficult, I actually think that they are easier. During second period we just go to the library. so that we can get ahead on our other work and so far, things are going fine.”

With this new development in the CHS science program, a variety of benefits are anticipated to come forth to help better.