HS students prepare for college level art course

A selected group of Marianas High School students are currently working to get a head start in their future college careers through the Advanced Placement program which introduces them to the demands of a college level work load.

MHS Fine Arts Department Chair Dorothy Haws said the 20-student class pioneers the entire CNMI’s secondary block in this landmark project to prepare high school students cope with the rigors of university life.

This school year, the Public School System paved the way for the first AP Studio Art course to be taught at MHS that through the process of pre-selection only cast students with promising skills to survive the advanced class.

“Last year, I started pre-selecting for the AP class and it’s more than just having talent, it has a lot to do with motivation,” said Ms. Haws.

Since the beginning of the program last semester, students have been readied to take the studio art examination portfolio that would put them at par with college students taking the same course.

The portfolio tests the students on their general art and drawing know-how. With plans to the expand the AP program next year, MHS may also offer evaluations on two-dimensional, three-dimensional arts, and art history, according to the art teacher.

With 17 students for the current semester, Ms. Haws has detected several enormous possibilities among local talents in her class.

“They are doing very well considering this course is more intense, more demanding, and is designed to compete with some of the best schools in the states. So these are motivated, dedicated students who would probably pursue art as a career, or a major in college,” said Ms. Haws.

Students under the AP program are required to accomplish more than they normally are expected to for their grade level. This, on top of other requirements they have to comply with their regular classes.

“Their portfolios are more of slide portfolios and in it are 40 pieces of work that have to be accomplished before they can submit it,” she explained.

AP courses are post secondary preparatory subjects for incoming college students which will allow high schoolers to be exposed to the rigorous course outlines in the undergraduate level.

Students who pass AP examinations are set to enter a university of their choice with less college credits to worry about. Successful AP examinees will have the privilege to breeze through college on some of the AP courses they have previously taken.

AP tests are conducted nationwide once a year. The testing body develops courses and tests which high school students take for a certain fee.

Under PSS original agenda, the implementation of the AP program during the first year would include the admission of 40 students in two areas of study, calculus and art.

For its second year, with an anticipated growth of the program, PSS sees the addition of two more areas of study to be introduced: language arts and computer science.

During the third year PSS expects to serve some 140 students and add science and social studies to the AP course menu.