When I was choosing classes from 8th-11th grade, the Oyster River High School (ORHS) Program of Studies was my best friend—so much so that I would read it for fun whenever I felt down! I realize, however, that a 64-page detailed document is not everyone’s preferred reading material.
Instead, here’s a 3-page article that’s hopefully more fun, and gives you some help from the experts: those who have picked four years’ worth of classes. I asked many of the seniors of the class of 2025 for their favorite electives and non-required classes. Here are their answers.
AP Physics 1
(Prerequisite: A2/Trig)
As Maya More (‘25) falls asleep, she thinks of physics. Force, momentum….if momentum is mass times velocity, and force is mass times acceleration… is force just momentum over time??
You may not know these terms yet, but if you take AP Physics 1, you’ll learn them! And who knows, eventually maybe you’ll dream about them too.
A lot of people recommend this class. Oliver Sterndale (‘25), says, “The teacher, Mr. Thibault, is great; he teaches things very well. He’s very direct with his teaching and that helps a lot. Also, I liked the content.” Sterndale liked the class so much that he is now taking AP Physics 2, also with Jim Thibault, ORHS physics teacher.
Not only did More really like the class, but she is also proud to know how the topics she learned have stuck with her even afterwards. “Every time you see the trick where somebody pulls the cloth off the table [and everything on the table stays exactly where it is], you’re like, ‘I know exactly how to do that!’”
If you want to dream about science, or at least witness some cool explosions, take AP Physics 1.
Intro to Business /AP Economics
Want to be a successful businessperson? While you may still be in high school, you can get a head start on your dreams by taking Intro to Business and/or AP Economics.
Courtney George (‘25) recommends Intro to Business. “I think it’s a very interactive class. You get to choose your own business that you get to work on…you get to expand on that through the different topics that we go over in class.”
Parker Keeler (‘25), recommends AP Economics. “I really like Mr. Lacasse; he’s very funny and makes the class very entertaining…it’s a good balance of working and also having fun.”
Keeler is deciding between pursuing business or economics after ORHS. “I think I’m going to go down the path of economics—[the class] might have had a sway on that decision,” says Keeler.
While AP Econ was the class that set Keeler down her path, Intro to Business is the class that set George down hers. “I want to be a business major—actually, one of the activities we did in class helped determine that…and I realized I liked the management part of that,” says George.
If you want to learn more about how the business world works, take AP Economics and/or Intro to Business.
Childhood Development 1 & 2
Ever seen the little kiddos roaming the halls, their cute art covered in scribbles and badly spelled names hung outside some of the classrooms? Well, if you take this class, you get to hang out with them!
Childhood Development is the one class I wish I had time to take during my own high school career. Childhood Development 1&2, which are separate classes taken in the same year, cover the whole span of the, well, development of children. Students can put what they’ve learned into action by working with the preschoolers that are a part of the Preschool Education Program (PEP).
Ainsley Beaupre (‘25) recommends this class. “I’m going into education, so a child development class was really interesting for my career path.”
If you like spending time with kids, or want to work with them in the future, take this class. If you don’t like kids…still take this class! You were a kid once, you know. Learn about who you used to be!
AP US History
(Prerequisite: US History)
When I first heard the term APUSH, I was confused. Is that a company? A brand? Nope! It’s ORHS’s Advanced Placement United States History course.
Abby Trojan (‘25), recommends this course. “I like history and I love Mrs. Van Dyke—I loved [the class] so much that now I TA [Teaching Assistant].”
While every student is required to take US History their sophomore year, Trojan emphasized how APUSH really dives deeper and goes over much, much more of American history than what the required course covers—which interested her immensely.
Trojan is planning on pursuing anthropology and archaeology when she leaves ORHS. While the school doesn’t have any classes related to her career path, “It’s the closest class to what I want to do,” says Trojan.
If you enjoyed sophomore year’s US History class, take AP US History.
Linguistics
TAKE LINGUISTICS TAKE LINGUISTICS TAKE LINGUISTICS. Okay, has it been burned into your brain yet? Take. Linguistics.
I’m really, really biased about this class. This is my favorite class I have ever taken, ever. I liked it so much that I’m going to major in it!
When I took this class, it was taught by Alex Eustace, ORHS English and Acting teacher. He really knows his stuff, so he made the class very engaging. Usually though, Shawn Kelly, ORHS English teacher, teaches Linguistics, and I guess he’s okay too (he grades my articles, so I have to say that…).
And don’t worry, I’m not the only one who likes this class. Anika Pant (‘25) also enjoyed the class, and says, “I really liked the discussion-based aspect of it.” And I agree—if you ever want to argue about whether you believe swearing a lot means you’re smarter or stupider, this class is for you.
Although More likes physics so much she dreams about it, she also enjoys other classes, including this one. She says, “The content was so interesting; I was fascinated.” And no, I didn’t pay her to say that.
TAKE LINGUISTICS. There, it’s burnt into your brain.
Advanced Studio Art
(Prerequisites: Drawing and Painting 1&2 OR Ceramics 1 & Advanced Ceramics)
A few weeks ago, I bumped into Maggie Zhang (‘25) in the hallway, where she was holding what looked like the world’s biggest canvas precariously balanced on top of her other school supplies. When I begged her to show me her art piece, she cautiously showed me, warning me it was unfinished—and showed me one of the coolest paintings I’ve ever seen. This painting was one she’s working on in Advanced Studio Art. Based on what I’ve heard, you can do whatever you want in this class—ceramics, drawing, painting, and more.
Zhang agrees with what I’ve heard. “[I like] the amount of freedom I have, and I like art in general. We had so much freedom to create what we want [so] I got to just make cool stuff.”
Zhang is a STEM girlie, but she’s one of the most talented artists I’ve ever seen. “I definitely want to continue making art in college, even if it’s not my major. I love art too much to drop it,” she says.
Not only do you get to make art in Advanced Studio Art, but seniors in the class get to display their creations in the Senior Artist showcase in the spring. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve felt inspired by the sheer amount of talent in the room!
If you like art, take Advanced Studio Art. I can’t wait to see what you make!
Career Technical Education (CTE) Courses
In the middle of every school day, the yellow school busses return, and teenagers pile in. You might ask yourself: Where do they go? Is it a daily field trip? Why am I not invited?
These students are taking one of many CTE courses—technical classes taught at one of three neighboring high schools: either the Dover Regional Career Technical Center, Rochester R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center, or the Somersworth Career Technical Center.
Nicholai Robinson-Kiang (‘25) recommends the CTE course Electrical Technology 1. “I like the class because it’s hands-on and I like handson learning, when you actually get into things and can deep-dive into the subject,” he says.
As I’ve talked to all these seniors, I’ve noticed a common trend: their favorite classes often correspond with what they plan to do after high school. I asked Robinson-Kiang whether this was also true for him, and sure enough, it was. “It’s a trade class for electricians and I’ve been thinking about doing a trade, I’m just not sure which trade to do yet,” he says.
The CTE program doesn’t just include electrical classes; there’s so many to choose from: health science, cosmetology, animation, restaurant management, and more. All of these, in my opinion, are super cool subjects.
If I were a cooler person, I would have taken a CTE course. If you’re a cool person, take a CTE course (talk to Sean Peschel, ELO coordinator, to make that happen).
Unfortunately, you can only take so many classes in your four years of high school. Hopefully, these recommendations have helped you narrow down your selection, or if nothing else, given you some insight into cool courses!
If you want more inspiration on classes to take, here are some other honorable mentions:
Photography (recommended by Pant)
Genocide in the Modern World (recommended by More)
Drawing and Painting 2 (recommended by Colin Caron (‘25))
AP Physics 2 (recommended by Jack Smith (‘25))
AP Statistics (recommended by Dom Couture (‘25))
Adulting (recommended by Beaupre)
Philosophy (recommended by More)
Best of luck on your course selection journey!
-Paige Stehle
Mouth of the River 
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