While choices for the 2018-19 school year aren’t officially due until August, it’s becoming time to start making those final decisions. There are many electives to choose from such as PALS, photography and FFA. However down in the English hall, there’s a class that not everyone is familiar with.

CAPSTONE is a two-year program taught by English teachers who stress that it is truly unlike all other English classes.

Juniors will start by taking the first year class with Cheryl Collins and then are given the option to continue with Lauren Madrid in their senior year. Next year, however, Brent Grissom and Cassie Gray will be teaching CAPSTONE. 

“Students get to choose the areas that they are interested in to study and research,” Madrid said. “So that makes it both very individualized and independent, which is something that’s different from many of the other courses here at school.”

The course involves researching a variety of topics, developing them into a presentation and presenting the information to the class in unique ways. Those who enroll will acquire important research skills that they will likely use later in their lifetime, and for sure in college.

“CAPSTONE has taught me how to think critically by gaining information from a variety of different academic sources,” senior CAPSTONE student Alex Allen said. “[It has] taught me how to research at a higher academic level than we normally get in regular English classes.”

Senior Mina Kim, who has been in the class for two years, loves being in control of her own work during the CAPSTONE course.

“90% of the work is just about you and you’re mainly in control of your own work,” Kim said. “The independence of the class can be a bit freeing and it’s a breath of fresh air compared to other AP classes.”

For more information on CAPSTONE, speak to an English teacher or guidance counselor.