This year at De Soto High School is one full of many changes, including the four brand new elective classes offered for students to take. These classes include History of Rock and Roll, Percussion Ensemble, Advanced Weights and AP European History.

Advanced Weights is a class that requires regular weights as a prerequisite, and AP European History is only available to sophomores. History of Rock and Roll and the Percussion Ensemble are open for any student to take.

“I recommend anyone who loves rock or wants to learn about rock to take the class. You do not have to be in band,” band teacher Matt Bradford said. “We will listen to a lot of music, and there will be some research projects on different artists and styles of the music.”

The Percussion Ensemble is a class for “learning about percussion instruments, including set-up of different kinds of percussion instruments, and a little bit of repair so they know how to fix things. But there will be a lot of playing of all the instruments, and we will learn basic exercises so everybody is speaking the same language,” Bradford said.

A new face at De Soto High School, Katherine Wilbur, is the teacher for AP European History.

“AP Euro is beneficial to the students because they will be taking World History, and this gives them the chance to have the rigor of an AP class,” WIlbur said. “They get to dig deep into it, really think on a much higher level of thinking, and also can receive AP credit and take the class for college credit as a sophomore.”

AP Euro is available to sophomores as an alternative to the required World History class.

Lastly is the Advanced Weights class, coached by Brian King and Junelle Woolery.

“We’re just hoping that we can get more work done. We will be split, so we can have a class that is lifting while the other class is working on hip and shoulder mobility, core strength, functional movement, speed, agility and mechanics,” King said.

Quite possibly the most difficult part of all of these new classes would be scheduling them, according to Crissy Johns.

“Some of the classes are still only single sections, and it still could conflict with what students want, but it’s easier sometimes because it offers more electives for students,” Johns said.

These new classes are in full effect for the current school year, with many students enrolled already.