As the end of the school year approaches, incoming high school students begin to anticipate the massive change from middle school to high school. Current high school students moving between the grades are also bracing themselves for bigger, better things in the upcoming school year. Amongst the chaos of the ending year, outgoing seniors have little pieces of advice to help ease some of the worries of the new classes of high schoolers.
“Nothing is as deep as it seems. Embrace every moment, good or bad.” – Sinclair Atkins
“Try to develop consistent and sustainable study habits before you start taking a lot of AP classes.” – Lauren Patrick
“Try everything because you will learn a lot and meet a lot of really cool people.” – Eloise Fleschner
“Don’t get involved in drama, this isn’t middle school. Nothing is as serious as it seems.” – Amanda Jessing
“Don’t skip class. Once you start, you can’t stop.” – Anna Quinn
“Late work is better than no work.” – Jasmine Stange
“Space out your classes! Don’t wait till the end to take the hard ones.” – Fatima Azouz
“Do your homework. Don’t slack off, it’ll pay off. It sucks now, but it’ll work out.” – James Cantor
“Take classes that you’re really going to enjoy, not just for a GPA boost.” – Tisya Misu
“If you’re planning on going to college, start looking for scholarships now!” – Ian Lafrenz
As reassuring as these quotes might be, some questions simply need straightforward answers. Most underclassmen come into high school wondering a lot of the same things. Frequently asked questions are best answered by outgoing students who have experienced it all. From questions regarding the social culture at Ida B. Wells High School (IBW) to concerns about college, there should be an answer to at least one question incoming students may have.
Q: Do the classes I take determine my high school pathway?
A: Not necessarily. If you find a class that you really enjoy, there are likely more classes for you to take to further pursue your interests. However, if you end up taking a class that you don’t enjoy, you are not obligated to take the more advanced classes in the pathway. If it’s not a good fit, talk with your counselor about dropping or replacing the class at the end or start of the semester (as long as it’s not a graduation requirement).
Q: What are the necessary credits to graduate?
A: Every student needs 24 total credits: four language arts credits, three math credits, three science credits, three social studies credits, six elective credits, two world language credits (both the same), one P.E. credit, one health credit and one arts credit (or a third year of a language or enrollment in a CTE Pathway class). Alongside the class credits, two Career-related Learning Experiences (CRLE), one resume and one My Plan Project are also required for students to graduate.
Q: Is there a grade restriction for off-campus lunch?
A: Nope! Every grade is allowed to go off-campus for lunch. IBW is surrounded by great options; including a food cart pod and the Hillsdale Shopping Complex, both of which are great lunch spots.
Q: What sports does IBW offer?
A: There are a variety of mens, womens and intramural Varsity and JV sports with many cut and no-cut options. In the fall, football, soccer, cross country, cheer and volleyball are offered. In the winter, basketball, swimming, wrestling, dance/drill and cheer are offered. In the spring, baseball, softball, track and field, tennis and golf are offered. IBW also offers extracurriculars including orchestra, band, choir, solo music and speech and debate.
