by Nathan Rettkowski
Triton Voice Staff Writer
On March 15 in the high school library, many eighth graders flooded in, ready to learn of the electives they may choose in their future high school career. On March 5, another two events, Future Freshman Night and the Electives Fair were held. Eighth graders were able to see the high school courses Triton has to offer, including electives, which are an essential for high school courses.
Overall, electives allow students to express their creativity as well as pursue courses that may be useful for their future careers. They also give students a chance to display skills not found in traditional classes. They are also some of students’ favorite courses and are one of the biggest choices incoming freshmen have to make.
Triton STEM Technology teacher Mr. Matthew Guerin teaches eight of the elective technology classes offered by Triton: Engineering Tech 1 and 2, Game Design, Robotics, Coding, Architecture, Construction, and Graphic Design.
Guerin’s favorites are the two engineering classes, his specialty since he majored in them during college. They are classes where students get to use a 3D modeling application called “Autodesk Inventor” and get to 3D print and design for engineering challenges. There is also an online coding section where students program robots on Vex VR.
Senior Daniel Jones would recommend the class. “If you have the chance to take this as your science class I would absolutely take the opportunity,” said Jones. “It gives you the chance to work with technology that will very likely help you in your future, especially if you decide to do anything with computers or a sort of you know art or creative field especially.
“I find that even if it doesn’t help you out the professional setting just the knowledge of how to be able to you know 3D model and 3D print and all that could help you out in the future just even for your own entertainment and enjoyment so I say this is very much a worth”
In the robotics class there are about five groups for two students and every group has their own robot, which they build for a course in the workshop. They have three official attempts to get the fastest time possible. They try to make and design a robot that can make the fastest time.
Teacher’s Assistant and senior Luke Aham recommends the class and the club that accompanies it.
“I took the class sophomore year, and I wish I could do it again,” said Aham. “You can do the club, but it’s not the same as doing it in school. I think it’s so much more fun with all your classmates and everyone will let full classroom with Mr. Guerin. He is new but he’s having a great time with it. You can 3D print so many parts there’s so much materials that you can use to your advantage and build whatever you want. It’s such a fun and creative class, I’d recommend it to anyone.”
Triton Music Arts
Music teacher Craig Kemp teaches all the music courses for the Triton Arts Department, including. Intro to Music, AP Music Theory, and Sound Recording Technology. He enjoys teaching all of his electives and loves the variety of different lenses he can look at music through in all of his classes.
“Music in general is a combination of all the other skills in all the other subjects in one,” said Kemp. “Like for example, there’s a lot of mathematics that goes into creating music. You have to have the timing accurate. You have to pitch, which is also getting into science and frequency. There’s a lot of physical activity, when you’re making music as well making sure that your posture and your breathing is correct. There’s history. Where was this piece written? Who was it written by? What was it written for? ♦
