Counselor Christina Norment has helped the teachers and the rest of the counseling department develop the list of new classes for next school year. At Harrisonburg High School, there are multiple new classes planned such as Sports and Medicine, Nurse Aide I, Strings Orchestra, Improvisation for Theater and other new changes to the science department.

“The science department is changing how they’re doing science. This will really will affect the incoming freshmen more than anybody else and the STEM students. Instead of going straight into Earth Science, now students will be going into Environmental Science and Earth Science will be more like an elective you can take later for your 3rd or 4th science. STEM students will have the option of taking Earth Science Honors [and] they won’t be with freshmen anymore,” Norment said.

Next year, HHS will be adding a class for students who want to be in the medical field for athletes who have been injured. Another opportunity for juniors and seniors will be the new nursing class that will also be taking place next year.

“A new class I’m excited about is Sports Medicine for people who are interested in the medical field but want to work with athletes and athletics. I would imagine people who are interested in physical therapy might find that class interesting,” Norment said. “Nurse Aide 1 is a class where you would actually go for two blocks for one semester. I think it would be 3rd and 4th block and you would work at a nursing home and get your CNA license. Both of those classes are only for eleventh and twelfth graders.”

In the music department, AP Music Theory and Strings Orchestra will be offered if the classes get enough interest.

“AP Music Theory might run if enough people sign up for it. That’s a class that’s not brand new, but it’s on run for certain years,” Norment said. “We are also offering a Strings Prchestra class for the first time for people who play string instruments. It’s something they’ve been working on for years and we finally have that offered.” 

The drama department is also offering an opportunity for the students who are interested in shows and musicals.This class allows the students to get creative and give others advice on their acting skills.

“Improvisation For Theater was a class they tried to get enough interest last time, but they weren’t able to run the class and that one is being offered again. If you are interested in improvisation, you may want to sign up for that class [because] if they get enough interest, then they will run it,” Norment said.