WHS students strive in AP courses

High school hasn’t changed much in the past 15 years. Walk down the hallway and hear the same conversations about weekend plans and the same laughter echoing through the hallways.

But take a deeper look and see these same people change from silly teenagers to serious students at the ringing of the school bell.

Two Advanced Placement (AP) classes exist at Wahkiakum High School, thanks to a rural high school grant, said Principal Loren Davis.

Adding rigorous courses to the curriculum will help college bound kids prepare for their future. “It raises the bar,” he said.

Jeff Rooklidge has been the Environmental Science (ES) teacher at WHS since 1986. He said this is the first year it has been offered as an AP option. APES is offered to all classes, but seniors get priority, then juniors, then sophomores, and then freshmen. There often isn’t room for freshmen at that point. He will only take 10-12 students because of safety and transportation issues.

In order to participate in the class, students need a background in biology and one year of physical science.

“We tell them that it would be beneficial to have at least Algebra I and preferably Algebra II,” he said.

At this point, no minimum GPA is required to stay in the class.

Students in AP ES earn college credit if they pass the placement exam given in May.

“The AP organization that oversees the exam says that one of the criteria of getting college credit is students have to pass that exam. It’s given throughout the entire United States,” he said.

Because of the block schedule, Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to being out in the field. Fridays, students will analyze the data collected and find what it means.

“The objective of the class is for students to gain skills in forestry and fish biology in a field based situation,” Rooklidge said.

The latest project took the class to Duck Creek off Crown Camp Road.

The rain poured down as the kids walked into the stream in boots and chest waders and immediately went to work gathering data for their Friday session.

Juniors Jessica Asmus and Sarah Doumit didn’t mind the rain at all. “It’s the best part!” they said in unison.

Senior Valle Ledtke said she didn’t mind being outside either. “Rather than getting the data given to you in class, you get to go out and collect it yourself,” she said.

Students are learning how to conduct a habitat assessment by examining three specific areas. First is the hydrology component that looks at how the stream flow affects the fish habitat. The second area is the study of the biological health of the area, looking at the vegetation in the stream and the overall health of the stream, and third is the chemistry of stream and water quality.

Rooklidge said that each AP Science teacher usually has a focal point depending on where the class is taught. Being in Washington, “I chose that just because in Cathlamet especially, forestry and fish are such an important part of the heritage, the economy of the area.”

The class works on three main reaches of focus, Duck Creek, Nelson Creek and Birnie Creek. Rooklidge said that data collected is often given to the Department of Fish and Wildlife or other organizations. When this happens, the kids see they are part of the bigger picture. Rooklidge said, “It’s neat for the students to know that they are learning something but they are also making a contribution to wildlife and their community by helping out these agencies and organizations.”