Advanced Placement Classes and Scores
In early July, millions of students across the country received the scores from their various Advanced Placement (AP) exams in May. Depending on their scores, students could obtain college credit while still in high school. The program allows interested students to enroll in one of the many advanced placement classes offered at their schools. Students have the unique opportunity to learn more challenging curriculum and gain credits for their success.
The preparation for such advanced classes usually begins in the summer with small assignments allowing students to introduce themselves to the class. Lowell High School offers many AP classes in English, math, social studies, science, art, and foreign language. The diversity in classes allows every student a chance to challenge themselves in areas of interest. Whether they choose to take the final exam and college credit or not.
Rebecca White spent part of her sophomore year taking the AP Language and Composition Course. The English class allowed students to study many topics including rhetoric and postmodernism.
Looking back on class a few months later Rebecca says; “I was nervous about taking the exam, but when I found out I passed relieved and excited. Even if I hadn’t passed I think I would take the class again. It’s helped me write essays in other classes, and hopefully help with the essays I’ll have to write to get into and throughout college.”
After her first experience with an Advanced Placement class last year Rebecca plans to take 3 different classes next year.
“I’m kind of nervous about them, but I have faith in myself. AP classes are really about time management and paying attention, the coursework is just harder than normal classes.”
Summer Mentoring Trip
New and returning mentors spent a part of their summer at Depaul University to learn how to better support and guide their peers. The Red Devil Peer Mentoring program teaches students how to positively influence and impact the lives of students around them. The mentors specifically mentor freshman transitioning from middle school to high school. It helps students with many changes and problems while offering encouragement, support, and information.
The annual three-day trip provides valuable knowledge to mentors. Students are taught the procedures, skills, and responsibilities they carry as mentors through lectures and activities. Many of the activities focus on team and relationship building that can later be used with the mentees. Junior Nicole Karm has attended the mentoring trip again this year, enjoying the team activities most.
“We were grouped with people we didn’t really know. Over the course of three days we really got to know them.”
The program is well known for giving students to make new friends among both the mentees and fellow mentors. Junior Kathy Kennelly plans to continue to be a mentor throughout high school. “I’m still friends with half of my mentees. It teaches you a lot about empathy and having sympathy for others. The class helps you gain communication, public speaking, self-confidence, and leadership skill that you can’t pick up in just any normal classroom.”
The mentoring program allows students the unique opportunity to relate to their peers in an entirely new way. Nicole describes it as “A really good program. It makes a difference in people’s lives.”
Soccer Prepares for Season
School’s right around the corner and no one knows that more than Lowell High School’s soccer players. The athletes have been working all summer to prepare themselves for game season. The intensely competitive sport is quickly gaining popularity after the United States win for the women’s FiIFA World Cup. Students, often motivated by potential college scholarships and the sheer desire to win constantly fight hard and to their best abilities. Players must be agile and quick, while thinking ahead. Each player plays a unique role in the success of the game making teamwork an important aspect.
Practices began in early June and will continue until the season ends. Students involved spend four days each week dedicating themselves to the sport. In late August the season will become more intense as games begin and practices increase to six time a week. The team competes against many teams including; Hammond, Hanover, and Andrean.
Summer practices often begin with plenty of running and conclude with drills designed to improve important skills. Kelsey Tiemens has been playing soccer for 10 years. A junior in high school, she continues to practice and play even when the season has long been over.
“Soccer is one of my favorite sports because it is so unpredictable, everything you do is improvised, that is carried through with skill,” says Tiemens. Kelsey’s motivation and dedication is shared throughout the team making summer practices a great time to grow closer with teammates and improve.