Why wait for college when you can start now? Students can jumpstart their higher education with two new dual enrollment courses. Dewey is striving toward new programs and opportunities to give to its community. With new clubs, courses, and volunteer opportunities on top of the ones we already have, students have countless chances to get involved.
The dual enrollment with Albany University that was being set up at the end of the last school year, May 2024, has been proven successful. Students, mainly in their senior year, can now earn three college credits per semester upon passing the class by taking either European History or Psychology, or even both. Unlike College now courses, the credits that are earned through this course are accepted for the majority of colleges including Yale and Brown University.
Mr. Callis, a history teacher at Dewey, was the one to bring forth this idea to Dewey when he first heard about it. He is now teaching the European History course for those who signed up for it, like myself. “This is a space that is different from AP classes and from College Now.
AP exams, although they’re useful and AP classes are good, leaving [the question to] if someone gets college credits to a test instead of the product of a year’s worth of work isn’t fair,” Mr. Callis said. His goal is to ultimately create a college level experience in his course to help students adjust easier to their college classes when they graduate.
Now if you’re asking yourself what if I don’t plan on going to college? Well I can tell you that this class is still very important. “In this class we’re engaging with ideas and things that are not just about the past and not just about school but there are some great fundamental questions about being human and being a person in the world, and I think that’s worth doing no matter who you are,” Mr. Callis said.
Even though the course is primarily beneficial for those planning to go to college, it’s still such an important class for personal knowledge and development. Just as Mr. Callis is enthusiastic about teaching his class, his students are as eager to learn. “Everyday I discover new things which helps me make connections [even] to the things in my daily life,” Mehribon said. Mehribon Rustamova, a senior taking the European History course, believes the class is useful for her. “I would say there is a difference in workload [than in AP classes]…It’s more like college, you have a syllabus with readings and a couple of papers per semester,” Mehribon said. She thinks that the course is more like a college with rigorous readings due throughout the semester.
Students looking to really challenge themselves beyond AP courses should look into these courses. This dual enrollment with Albany University is a very special program that not many high schools offer, so students should take advantage of it, but not many people know about it.
Some shout outs to other existing opportunities that students may not be well informed about include the Maimonides internship that seniors are currently doing. This year-long internship at Maimonides allows students interested in the medical field to get hands-on experience with working at the hospital, a boost for college applications.
Students get to pick a specific role that interests them in the hospital, such as patient care, office work, etc. and get a schedule based on their role as well as their personal availability. “I get to work at the hospital two days a week, [after school], every week, and by the end of the year I will have over 100 hours,” Shakhzoda said. Shakhzoda Rustamova is a senior who is currently enrolling at the maimonides internship, she was first introduced to this internship at the end of the last school year when Mr. Pasternack, who oversees the internship, was going around classrooms to advertise it.
Interns get to leave school after the end of their 6th period everyday except on Thursdays, when they meet with Mr. Pasternack in class during 7th period to check up on how they’re doing. “I think this internship will help me get used to a medical environment, which is helpful for me, especially because I want to be a radiologist. I hope to get beginner level experience for my career choice [through this internship],” Shakhzoda said. If you’re interested in the medical field, you should definitely check this out!
The chess club has also made a comeback after failing to have enough students on it last year. A few clubs were recently created for those interested in joining: Math club, Heart to Heart, Archon club, and Book Club.
Students can earn volunteer hours daily by volunteering at the library or at the school nurse by going in their lunch period, or in their free time before or after their classes. Dewey is also offering more beach cleanups during the weekends in which students can earn up to 3 volunteer hours.
With more holidays and cultural events being incorporated into the school year, students can also earn volunteer hours from contribution to planning, setting up, and hosting events at the school. Students can also volunteer in giving out candy grams, helping host seasonal holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even planning afterschool events like the October Halloween Senior Scare room. Some of these events are initiated by clubs such as the Muslim Student Association (MSA), Committee of Student Affairs (COSA), and Multicultural Club, so students can earn volunteer hours as well as be involved in clubs.
Speaking about hosting, JD’s place that was hosted by the students last year for teacher appreciation week might become an annual tradition from now on. Last year, Ms. Kong, the counselor of the Business and Hospitality Academy, worked with a group of students and staff to create a Valentine’s themed restaurant. She sent out emails to all the students about this internship opportunity for the 2024-2025 school-year on October 30th. Students need to fill out a form if they are interested in interning in this restaurant program.
They will be interviewed to get recruited for the team. The internship will help students culminate their leadership, collaboration, creativity, and organization skills. The deadline to apply for the program was Sunday, November 3, 2024. Can’t wait for the premiere of Season 2!
Stay tuned for more news at Dewey, there will be more things to come!
