Magnificat High School - Magnifier Yearbook (Rocky River, OH)

Page 88 text:

For a mad scientist, a chemistry lab might turn into an explosive situa¬ tion but for sophomore Michelle Lamb it is routine. Labs gave stu¬ dents the opportunity to put their many hours of studying into use. Photo by T. Pietromica. An Honors Geometry class sets the scene as sophomore Patty Pahl tries to find the area of a square in¬ scribed in a circle. The Honors Ge¬ ometry class was a sequel to Honors Algebra freshman year. Photo by Dawn Tarka. Honors classes A mind-expanding experience! She has a permanent carrel in the R.C. furnished to her decorating tastes where she spends all her free time, including lunch mods, essentially a home-away- from-home. She sits pol¬ ishing her lat¬ est assign¬ ment to per¬ fection. This exaggerated illustration of an honors student triggers ques¬ tions in the minds of many. Why do students submit themselves to such rigorous classes? Are they truly worth the effort? Students have several reasons for being in the honors college preparatory program. “I took honors courses because 1 felt that it was an opportunity for challenge, a chance to go into more depth in certain subjects,” explains junior Catherine Kreiser. The honors program is very fulfilling for some students. “I think an honors class is worthwhile because it motivates me to work harder. It also gives me a sense of satisfaction because I have done my best,” she continues. Magnificat’s honors courses not only develop good study habits but also foster analytical thinking because of the depth at which the subject is taken. New addi¬ tions such as Advanced Place¬ ment French, AP Spanish and honors computer math offer a challenge to the student and the opportunity to test her potential. The honors program prepares students to take the advanced placement examinations in areas such as literature, foreign lan¬ guage, math and science. Accord¬ ing to Mr. David Stoffer, senior guidance counselor, “Eighty-five percent of the seniors who took the 1983 examinations received a three or better, the accepted grade for advanced placement.” A ranking of three enabled a student to receive college credit or exemption from a particular class. Courses in the honors program are not sim¬ ply academi¬ cally more difficult ver¬ sions of their regular coun¬ terparts. Hon¬ ors students may begin an honors program in the ninth grade with math by taking honors algebra, for example, which cul¬ minates with calculus in senior year. States Sr. Helen Jean Novy, director of curriculum, “Honors challenges are also presented as semester college courses, such as Chemistry II and Biology II. An¬ nually, every course at Magnificat is evaluated by the appropriate department in light of student needs and readiness, and depart¬ mental goals. An option for hon¬ ors is not just a choice for the present; it is an investment for the future.”® —Joy Gorecki “Honors classes are worthwhile as long as the student realizes the time and effort that must be put forth in order to make the most of her learning.” — Sara Schoek ’84 84 HONORS CLASSES

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In the language lab, Mrs. Gerrity helps sophomore Cathy Nieberding and freshman Julie Lesko. One of the many uses of the language lab was to get help from the language teachers. Photo by T. Pietromica. In the writing lab, located by the teachers carrels, Sr. Mary Patricia helps freshman Cathy Patton. The writing lab was a place to get help in reading or writing. Photo by M. Probst. LABS 83

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With Honors World Lit class goes poetry, as senior Jenny Stringer dis¬ covers. After learning about lyrics, each student was required to write an original poem and share it with the class. Photo by A. Sheridan. “Each day is exciting because of the insights each student brings,” ex¬ plains Sr. Helen Jean Novy. Sr. Helen Jean taught Lit classes as well as Micro Magic, and was director of curriculum also. Photo by A. Sheri¬ dan. HONORS CLASSES 85