Plymouth High School students will have some new courses to choose from next school year. A list of 12 new classes was approved by the school board Tuesday.
Principal Jim Condon said the school is partnering with Ancilla College for a series of three courses in Culinary Arts and Hospitality. “The second and third courses would most likely be offered off-campus in the near future and instructed by the chef that was employed by Ancilla College,” he explained. “Those programs are both high-demand and guarantee high wage for the students who graduate from that program.”
Also on the list is an Introduction to Entrepreneurship class. Condon explained that the course is in line with efforts taking place at the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation. “One of the things that we want to look at is promoting those within our community, the possibility of expanding their horizons and taking chances, taking risks, becoming entrepreneurs,” he said. “So we are looking at opportunities to create an entrepreneurship hub, for lack of better terms, throughout the county, and we feel that this would contribute towards that.”
The school board also approved some new math courses. But Assistant Superintendent Jill VanDriessche said those will depend on some decisions made at the state level. “So there are three additional potential classes, with an Integrated Math Lab and an Integrated Mathematics II, along with the Finite [Math]. We’re asking that those be considered, as well,” she said. “However, we’re waiting, pending the results of the waiver submitted by the Indiana Department of Education, with regards to the General Diploma and then the State Board of Education’s adoption to the graduation pathways, which will be tied directly to these three courses.”
Other new classes will include Robotics Design and Innovation, Sports and Entertainment Marketing, and Digital Applications and Responsibility. Meanwhile a second-level Landscape Management class is being added, and the Interpersonal Relationships class is being brought back. Condon explained that many of those will qualify for vocational training funding.
