Adjustments in the French course offerings at Hellgate spark debate over the International Baccalaureate program's curriculum
Hellgate High School, the only public high school in Missoula offering both Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, is making strides to enhance its language offerings, particularly in the French department.
Principal Judson Miller confirmed that the school will continue to provide both AP and IB programs indefinitely, despite the complexities that come with managing such a diverse range of advanced classes. However, he acknowledged that having enough staffing and sectioning for all the classes Hellgate would like to offer can be challenging.
The drive to expand the French program at Hellgate comes from within the department itself. The current French teacher, Katie Wyskiver, will not be returning for the 2025-2026 school year. In her place, Brady Baughman has been appointed as the new French teacher. Baughman emphasised the importance of the school and district's support for languages and classes, especially in the future.
The goal is to have another French teacher at Hellgate to provide more sectioning for French 1, 2, and 3/4. The process of getting approval from the district and IB, finding a qualified teacher, and determining demand and periods for the class can be lengthy.
Initially, some students were concerned that there might not be a French class for the 2025-2026 school year due to a misunderstanding. However, Principal Miller confirmed that there was never a question about the existence of a French program at Hellgate.
Currently, there is only one French 3/4 class offered at Hellgate. This has led to concerns among students like Senior Lucy Hutchins, who expressed worries about finding time to take classes expected by competitive colleges while also doing the IB Diploma, as many of these classes are only provided in AP at Hellgate. Some students, like Senior Aiden Latrielle-Marsh, even considered taking a French class through a university or online due to the initial uncertainty.
The uncertainty about the French class has led some students to question the overall IB sectioning at Hellgate. There seems to be a growing vocal concern from students planning on doing the full IB Diploma about the IB Diploma itself at the beginning of this school year.
Despite these challenges, there is strong participation in both AP and IB programs at Hellgate. It is rare to see a high school, especially a high school this size, have both AP and IB programs, according to Principal Judson Miller. The school is working towards providing more sections and more staff for its language departments in the future.
In conclusion, the expansion of the French program at Hellgate High School is a testament to the school's commitment to providing a comprehensive and diverse range of advanced classes for its students. The school and its community continue to strive towards making language learning accessible and beneficial for all students.
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