Bayfield High School students have a lot of new choices as they register for the next school year.
Along with the groups of core classes (English/ language arts, math, science, social studies), students have an expanded list of electives.
Those are grouped under performing and visual arts, PE, foreign language, and career/ technical (CTE). Grouped under CTE are skilled trades, agri-science, technology/ engineering, health sciences, emergency/ public safety, and FACS, which includes things like catering and culinary, child development, fashion design/ merchandising, job skills, career pathways, and job internships.
They are contained in a new course catalog approved by the school board in February, along with a revised schedule and graduation requirements for BHS.
Principal Leon Hanhardt and Superintendent Troy Zabel both stressed to the board that the course catalog is "a working document" and is a work in progress. Board member Carol Blatnick objected to lack of course descriptions.
"There hasn't been a course catalog for several years," Hanhardt said.
Zabel said there hasn't been one in the years that he's been superintendent. But he agreed course descriptions will be critical as students are moved into pathways for life after high school.
The catalog had to be ready for students to register, Zabel said.
BHS counselor Peggy Whiteman noted they were working with current eighth graders and their parents to help their transition to high school, do an inventory of student interests, and get them onto four year pathways.
"We're finally getting to that point," Hanhardt said. "It will still go year to year, but students will be coached through their ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Plan) process."
Starting with the class of 2018, completion of the ICAP process will be a graduation requirement.
Students must have at least 28 credits to graduate. For 2016 graduates, that will include nine elective credits.
