OHS class highlight

By Alivia Williams

Image of Owasso High School provided by ohs.owassops.org

Most students can recall a class that prepared them in a way no other class accomplished. Whether the contributing factor is the teacher, course material, activities, etc., it’s important that Owasso offers such diverse courses. After interviewing numerous students, these OHS classes proved to be the favorites. 

AP U.S. History

Teacher: Mrs. McBride

Available to juniors and seniors, AP U.S. History is a two-semester course registered through AP College Board. Students are given the opportunity in May to take the AP U.S. History exam, and if they do well, they can receive college credit. In “APUSH,” students learn about nine different time periods, starting in 1491 and continuing to the present day. With a heavy emphasis on national identity, society and culture, this class is designed for true history buffs.
Sophia Sim, a current student in “APUSH” states, “[Mrs. McBride’s] continuous efforts of teaching the content and strategic skills for the AP test in May prove her class to be beneficial.” 

AP Psychology

Teacher: Ms. Anderson

OHS AP Psychology is offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors. AP Psychology is a two-semester course, with the opportunity to take the AP exam in May. In this course, students learn about human behavior, psychological experiments and the ethics associated with scientific approaches. Students also learn to understand others' differences, especially through the biopsychosocial approach. 

Former AP Psychology student Declan Bunch expresses, “[Ms. Anderson] is a very passionate teacher, with a ‘college lecture’ teaching style…[the course] has thought-provoking material, [which bode for] great class discussions.”  

French

Teacher: Madame Wright

OHS students have the opportunity to take many French classes, starting with French I to AP French Language and Culture. The fundamentals are presented through four competency skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. There is a large emphasis placed on cultural awareness and exercised through various group activities. If one decides to climb the ladder to AP French, they can expect a rigorous learning environment while developing a larger understanding of structural context in French. At the end of the AP course, students are offered the option to take the AP exam in May. 

When asked about French, current AP student Saintsophie Vang explains, “[Madame Wright’s] teaching style is fun and keeps students engaged. She tries to encourage students to try their hardest and ask for help when needed…she encourages students to do extracurricular activities and enroll in National French Honor Society as well.”

Art

Teacher: Mrs. Collins

Various art classes are offered at OHS– from Art I, to AP Art, as well as Digital Art. There are even classes specific to drawing only, 2D/3D design and Art History. While fine art is a required credit, students also learn to express themselves through multimedia projects. Art helps students understand the ideas, feelings and concepts utilized in professional pieces. It’s important to note that AP art requires great dedication matched with rigorous coursework; this class gives students the opportunity to master their skills and publicly present their artwork. 

Current AP art student Kadence Morris voices the importance of art, “Mrs. Collins does a lot of experimentation alongside her art projects, and there is a lot of assistance and help [during] the learning process. When you [take] AP, there is a lot more structure…this is beneficial because [students] are given a lot of freedom in what [they] choose to create.”