Academics
OHS offers classes designed for each student’s learning level, from individual assistance to Advanced Placement. Advanced Placement classes are offered in History, Biology, Chemistry, Government & Economics, English Composition, Art and Calculus. Dual enrollment is an option for students to earn both high school and college credits at Southern Union State Community College whose Opelika campus is located directly across the street from the high school. Courses available for dual enrollment include Pre-Calculus, Calculus and US History 1.
Career Technical classes prepare students for immediate transition following graduation into the workplace or articulated courses offered at Southern Union and other community colleges. Programs include horticulture, business information technology, family and consumer science, engineering, and health science. The annual horticulture department plant sale raises thousands of dollars for scholarships and program expenses. A new Avatar Apps and Answers class is leading the way for innovative programs which will allow students to stay abreast of the ever-changing technological world. Beginning January 2012 a new course, Direct Current, will be the first dual enrollment technical course.
Continuing the strong arts program of the school system, OHS offers band, chorus, visual arts, theater, and video production. The band department includes concert, symphonic and jazz bands in addition to the award-winning “Spirit of the South” marching band. Four different choirs are offered by the choral department: the Ovations coed show choir, the Impressions girls’ show choir, Women’s Chamber Choir and Chamber Choir. The show choir groups perform and compete all over the country and have received countless accolades including Grand Champion in the Fame Showchoir America Competition in Washington, D.C., Best Show Design, Best Choreography and Best Vocals awards in numerous competitions, and was the highest ranked Alabama school in the 2009 National Showchoir Ranking System.
The OHS Theatre Society is known around the region and state for its quality performances. A play in the fall, an advanced theatre competition at mid-year and a spring musical all attract hundreds from surrounding communities. In addition to performances, theatre department courses include set design, set-up and light/sound production.
OHS also provides unique opportunities for students in courses such as desktop publishing, guitar, and foreign languages including Latin, Spanish and French. Students enrolled in desktop publishing produce Perspectives, an award winning literary magazine for which the art and graphics are provided by students enrolled in an advanced art class. Other publications include The Mainstreet Gazette, a student newspaper, and ZigZag, the student yearbook.
Athletics is another important component of the high school experience. The athletics program is a competitive 6A program that offers many different opportunities. Sports include football, baseball, track, cross country, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, golf, basketball, swimming, softball and tennis. A newly formed cheerleader competition squad recently placed second in the state competition. Students may also choose to participate in any of approximately 30 clubs ranging from Future Farmers of America to the National Honor Society.
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Famous quotes containing the word academics:
“Our first line of defense in raising children with values is modeling good behavior ourselves. This is critical. How will our kids learn tolerance for others if our hearts are filled with hate? Learn compassion if we are indifferent? Perceive academics as important if soccer practice is a higher priority than homework?”
—Fred G. Gosman (20th century)
“Almost all scholarly research carries practical and political implications. Better that we should spell these out ourselves than leave that task to people with a vested interest in stressing only some of the implications and falsifying others. The idea that academics should remain “above the fray” only gives ideologues license to misuse our work.”
—Stephanie Coontz (b. 1944)