As the school year progresses, students at Skyline get to experience new classes. Skyline provides a number of different electives in categories such as fine arts, sports, and writing. Unfortunately, Skyline does not have a place where students can leave reviews on classes they’ve taken, so it is important to ask around before choosing which electives will best fit one’s schedule. 

Several students at Skyline enjoy taking electives in the fine arts department, the most popular being ceramics. “It’s fun playing with clay,” a Junior at Skyline said. “The class is so chill [and] we can just talk and mush clay together.” Beginning Ceramics introduces students to basic building methods, both by hand and on the wheel. Students are also taught to use glaze along with different glazing methods. As it stands, most students, especially the upperclassmen, have taken ceramics at least once in their high school careers. Though fewer students, those who take beginning ceramics usually go on to take at least one more year of it. 

Another popular class in the fine arts department is painting, most notably Beginning Painting. Beginning Painting features an easy introduction to watercolor and acrylics, and many students who have taken it have learned at least a few tips from Lisa Darling, the painting teacher. One reason for Beginning Painting’s popularity is that many students find it to be an easy and relaxing class. 

Many students also enjoy taking  Graphics as an elective. In Graphics, students learn to make diverse types of media: from vinyl to printing t-shirts, Graphics offers a variety of fun projects throughout the year. In Beginning Graphics, students are taught to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create designs to later print on different types of media. Many students who take Graphics only take a year of it, but that is mostly due to the fact that Graphics is a full-year class. Another student said, “[Graphics] is so fun… I really liked that class a lot! I made so many things there, it’s so worth it.” Graphics also provides students with the opportunity to earn certificates that they can later add to their portfolio for either college or job applications. 

As the school year continues on, it is important for students to know which electives are best for them, and to try new things. Especially with the new school building next year, electives will become even more fun with new classrooms.