The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

WLHS freshmen are invited into AP program

Advanced Placement preparation courses have, until recently, been reserved to select students at West Linn High School.  Now the program has been broadened to include students in all grade levels.  Nearly 160 freshmen are enrolled in the new AP Human Geography course this year.

“Traditionally, Human Geography is taught at the freshmen and sophomore level,” Matt Kellogg, social studies teacher and department chair, said. “It’s seen as a good introduction into AP classes.”

Human Geography is a study that encompasses many social sciences, examines cultural phenomenons occurring around the world, and draws conclusions on outcomes of such occurrences, according to Kellogg.

“It’s a vast field. It’s a lot of critical thinking on analysis; you’re looking at maps from around the world, making conclusions and problem-solving,” Kellogg said.

The idea to incorporate freshmen into the AP program came around the middle of last year, at which point teachers were selected to teach the class: Kellogg and Leah Martin, social studies teacher.  Even though freshmen are the only students eligible to take the class, the curriculum has not been adjusted to accompany for “lack of experience.”

“The AP format doesn’t really let you modify [the curriculum]. They essentially give you an outline of everything that needs to be taught.  It’s a college-level test, and we’ve been moving through it at a rapid pace. I haven’t seen the need [to adjust curriculum] at this point,” Kellogg said.

Those that signed up for AP Human Geography should “expect it to be hard,” according to Natasha Venecia, freshman.  “The class is meant to be for the people that are meant to be in it,” Venecia said.

Although Venecia suspects some freshmen signed up for the course because of outside pressures, she also believes others have a general interest for social studies.

“I like all that we’re learning,” Venecia said. “It’s actually really interesting.  I look forward to the class each day.  You’re learning about people in Africa, in Asia, about people all over the world.”

Both Kellogg and Venecia are able to verify that the AP class will be different than any other social studies class the freshmen class has taken.  However, they believe the students are generally capable of a good performance.

“My classmates are really smart,” Venicia said. “I’ve never met so many people who are so smart.”

Tools and abilities that students will adapt during this class, according to Kellogg, revolve around writing, as three essays are included on the final test.

Venecia is open to these challenges.  “[AP Human Geography] prepares [students] for challenges, it teaches them many tools to be successful throughout high school, college, work, and last of all it’s a good way to improve your learning capabilities and to know you are capable of doing challenging, time-consuming work,” she said.

Kellogg hopes that if the students demonstrate abilities to tackle AP curriculum, the AP program will be expanded for freshmen, and administers can “strengthen AP offering in the social students department.”

Although the class has never been taught at WLHS, Kellogg said ”…it will be nice to have gotten through it one time.”

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Camille Collier, Editor-In-Chief
During eighth grade, young Camille Collier, senior, was in her language arts class taught by Graeme Sandell at Rosemont Ridge Middle School. While many eighth graders sit and stare at the wall not thinking about their futures, Collier was doing just the opposite. At this time, she had decided that she wanted to be a part of the Amplifier during her high school years. “Mr. Sandell really aided my interest in writing,” Collier said. On the first day of freshman year, Collier walked into the Amplifier classroom and has worked her way to becoming the editor-in-chief. Over the past three years, Collier has made countless memories during her time in Amplifier. “The obvious reason I love this class is because of the people,” Collier said. “The other staff members I have the privilege of working beside present different views and really work well as a cohesive whole. I am delighted that there is a group of teenagers out there as competent as the staff.” Not only does Collier enjoy the people she is surrounded with, but the demanding environment that is the journalism world. “I just love the sense of urgency that is journalism. Without it, it makes it kind of a bore so having to work feverishly to track down people to interview, write, edit, and upload a story is a really accomplished feeling.” Not only does she have an admiration and respect for her classmates, but they feel the same way about Collier. “She’s a really funny and intelligent person,” Nicole Gray, senior, said. “Without a doubt she keeps everything and all of us in order.” Collier stays busy not only with the Amplifier, but runs on the Varsity Cross Country Team along with taking four rigorous advanced placement classes that include AP English, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry and AP French. Collier has managed to stay highly successful with such a stressful workload by simply re-adjusting her mindset towards the classes. “It’s one thing when you’re taking a bunch of hard classes in which you are not vested and have no interest,” Collier said. “It’s another when you actually feel privileged to study topics that intrigue and inspire you.” Collier’s one piece of advice is to “actually select classes that inspire even a little bit of your interest.” With Collier’s strong academic success, she has been able to set herself up in a position to attend a highly elite university. She has set her goals high in hopes of studying microbiology. Collier isn’t just envisioning her college life, but her life after college and her career. “I want to be really interested in my work, whichever specific endeavor I chose. I want to be in a place where I’m working hard and I’m feeling good about my hard work,” she said. “I want to have the mindset I do right now, which is that hard work doesn’t dissipate into despair and it eventually pays off.” Collier doesn’t want to just have a “ho-hum, work 35 years then retire” kind of life. For her, life is more important than just sticking to daily norms. She wants to make a difference. “Life is a journey and I don’t want to sit around and do nothing,” Collier said. I want to break barriers. I want to have an impact.”  
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WLHS freshmen are invited into AP program