Elective opportunities at Perrysburg High School are endless

Evelyn Simpson
eSomethin staff

As the school year winds down, one of the things students struggle with is picking classes for the upcoming year, specifically electives. For some students, an elective is just a fun extra class, but for others it’s an opportunity to get an experience with a passion they could pursue in the future.

At Perrysburg High School, we have over 20 electives for students to choose from, so there are plenty of opportunities for students to explore.

If you are struggling to find a class that interests you, here are some ideas so you can find a place to start:

First is Principles of Foods, a class taught by Jennifer Kregel. She has been teaching this class for around 31 years. The class entails practicing basic food skills along with knowing and identifying the nutrition of food. In this class, students make homemade french fries, sausage biscuits and gravy, breadsticks, and chocolate covered strawberries.

“Most of the time I think students use what they learn in my class more than what they learn in other classes,” Kregel says.

Kregel also explains that the class is not just about cooking, but about learning life skills students will use daily, especially when it comes to nutrition and independence.

Leyana Aboujokh is a freshman in the class and enjoys it a lot. Her favorite thing she has done is decorating and making cakes.

“The class is very fun and hands on, it definitely teaches a lot of life skills,” she says.

Another popular elective is Yearbook. This class is for sophomores, juniors, and seniors and is led by Joy Wagener, who has been teaching it for about nine years. In this class, students create a yearbook and learn skills such as design, layout, and communication. The work starts early, with the group meeting once or twice during the summer, and continues throughout the year.

This class gives students an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone by talking to new people, going to sports events, and working together to produce something meaningful.

Wagener says the class teaches real-world skills like marketing, communication, planning, and working with others.

“A reason you should care about a yearbook is because in 10 or 20 years when you are an adult, most people all they have left from high school is a yearbook. All the papers are gone but this book is forever.”

Ceramics & Sculpture is another elective taught by Mrs. Yarnell. It is a fun class where students use clay to make art. If you don’t enjoy traditional art, this class offers a different, more hands-on experience that many students find engaging and creative.

Band is also a great elective option at. Mr. Williams, who has been teaching for 11 years, says the class is about more than just music.

“Students get the opportunity to work together to make enjoyable music and show who they really are,” Williams says.

He explains that band helps students become more confident, make more friends, and express themselves.

Beatrice Hudson, a student who has been in band for three years, says her favorite part is the connections she has made.

“Meeting all of my closest friends,” she said when asked about her favorite thing.

She also shared that band has had a positive impact on her life.

“Band has made me a happier person.”

Band also offers opportunities such as college credit, leadership experience, and performing at events like football games, which helps bring school spirit and pride to the community.

Williams adds that band helps bring people together and creates a more positive environment at school.

Overall, electives give students the chase to explore interests, learn skills, and create memories. Whether it’s cooking, making a yearbook, making art or playing music there is something for everyone.

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