Course selection at Osbourn High School is an event that happens every year in order to choose your classes. Typically, you will go to your counselor during your PE or English class (depending on your grade level), you will choose your classes, and have them input into the system for next year. This year, though, they are having you input your classes through Naviance, meeting with your counselor, and then having them input it through there.

“Students meet with your counselor during your scheduled classes based on your grade level and course. Meetings run from late January through late February. Juniors will come down through their English classes, Sophomores and Freshmen come during Health & PE,” said Ms. Laura Rotella.

“Course selection happens in several steps throughout January and February:

• Curriculum Night: Learn about classes from teachers and departments.
• Days of Academic Emphasis: Your current teachers explain next‑year course options.
• Course Information Fair: Explore electives and advanced classes you’re interested in.
• Teacher Feedback Days: Teachers give individual recommendations.
• Naviance Course Plan: You log in and choose your draft classes.
• Counselor Meeting: You meet one‑on‑one with your counselor to finalize choices.” Rotella continued.

Classes are chosen early because of a process. The school has to go through over two-thousand students, process their classes, and make sure that the teacher who teaches the subject they want will have enough spaces. In another scenario, where they started this process in March or April, they might miss the hiring window and could lead to cancelled classes.

“Even though it feels early, planning for next school year takes a lot of time. The school needs to know which classes students want so we can make sure we have enough teachers to teach them. For example, if many students want to take ASL 2 next year—or if lots of new students want ASL 1—we may need to hire another teacher. Schools try to hire in the spring so we can get the best, most qualified teachers. If we waited too long to collect course requests, we might miss the hiring window, which could lead to cancelled classes. Choosing courses early helps us build a schedule that gives you the classes you want and need,” said Rotella.

“Counselors meet with you individually to:

• Review your future plans
• Look at teacher recommendations
• Check the draft you built in Naviance
• Help you select the courses that support your goals (college, military, or workforce)
• Ensure you are on track for meeting graduation requirements,” said Rotella.

“Due to the cyberattack, we do not have access to PowerSchool this year. Naviance is a platform that integrates with PowerSchool, so we chose to pivot now, so that students could use the technology available to them to select courses, and then it will eventually transfer to PowerSchool when it becomes available again. Also, every student should have an Academic Career Plan, and part of the plan includes a 4-year Course Planner, which is where students will be selecting courses this year,” said Rotella.

“Students should follow the following steps:

• Learn about class options through Curriculum Night, Academic Emphasis Days, and the Course Info Fair.
• Talk with your teachers and get recommendations.
• Log in to Naviance, open the Course Planner, and add your classes.
• Review your choices with your family.
• Meet with your counselor to finalize everything,” said Rotella.

“Your counselor will help you choose classes that fit your goals, whether that’s going straight to work, joining the military, or exploring other training options.  There are so many certification classes that OHS offers, it might be ensuring students take advantage of a course that will get them into those paid entry-level jobs right away,” said Rotella.

Have you selected your classes for next year yet? Which classes are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!