Every year the juniors and seniors have to decide on what classes to take that will benefit and prepare them the best for college. One of the major decisions they have to make is whether or not to take an AP class. GNA offers an AP U.S History, AP Calc, AP Literature, and an AP Bio class.

The classes are intensely designed, so you need to put a lot of time into your work. If you don’t keep up on your work you will very easily fall behind. These classes are the closest thing to a college class that we offer at GNA.  Most students will take the class and the exam to prepare them the best for college and to get the highest grade they can get and get the credits. The teachers will prepare you to the best of your ability.

After talking with a few students and teachers, this is what they had to say.

Name: Deyonna Wood

Grade: 11th

What AP exam did you take?

I took the AP United States History Exam.

How prepared were you?

I feel as though I was pretty well prepared for this exam.

How did you think you did on the exam?

I think that I did well on this exam. 

Will you be interested in taking another AP class or exam? If so, which one?

I am interested in taking another AP class. Next year I am taking the AP Literature, AP Bio, and AP Calc.

Did your teacher prepare you enough for this exam?

Yes. Mrs. Muench prepared us well and worked hard to make sure we were prepared. 

Would you recommend an underclassman to take an AP class?

I would recommend taking an AP class if you’re ready to do a lot of work. If you are taking this class you need to be ready to work every day of the year and take the class seriously. 

Name: Gabe Jenceleski 

Grade: 11th

What AP exam did you take?

I took the AP United States History exam.

How prepared were you?

I spent the year working on my testing, strategy, and studying information. 

How did you think you did on the exam?

I’m fairly certain that I did pretty well.

Will you be interested in taking another AP class or exam? If so, which one?

Hopefully, I can take our newest class, AP Government and Politics. 

Did your teacher prepare you enough for this exam?

Definitely, I felt super confident going in. 

Would you recommend an underclassman to take an AP class?

Certainly! Only if they can commit to a class like that. 

Name: Katie Ward

Grade: 11

What AP exam did you take?

AP US History 

How prepared were you?

Pretty prepared, I kept up with my assignments all year and reviewed the weeks before the test.

How did you think you did on the exam?

Fairly well, at least a 3 or 4.

Will you be interested in taking another AP class or exam? If so, which one?

Yes, next year I will be taking AP Bio and AP Calc.

Did your teacher prepare you enough for this exam?

Yes, all of the material on the exam, especially the essays, were covered in Mrs. Muench’s class multiple times.

Would you recommend an underclassman to take an AP class?

Yes, but only if they were seriously willing to commit to the work. 

Name: Zack Golembeski

Grade: 11

What AP exam did you take?

US History.

How prepared were you?

About as prepared as I could be.

How did you think you did on the exam?

I think I scored at least a 3.

Will you be interested in taking another AP class or exam? If so, which one?

No, I will not.

Did your teacher prepare you enough for this exam?

Yes, Mrs. Muench helped by giving daily lectures.

Would you recommend an underclassman to take an AP class?

Yes, it is a great test for responsibility and gives college credits. 

Name: Mr. D Prushinski 

Class: AP Bio

What is your goal in teaching AP?

To foster a learning environment that allows students to establish an understanding content at collegiate standards. 

Do you feel challenged while teaching your AP class?

Yes, I feel that my students individuality makes me look at the content and try to personalize it to them and this can be a challenge. 

How do you encourage students into taking the exam?

By structuring the course with a foundation dedicated to the life long learning self-motivation and valuable skills for that 21st-century workforce. 

What strategies do you use to assess your students?

I implement a scaffolded approach to my students learning tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. I look to involve them in a multisensory approach to each class highlighting tactile learning with an emphasis on analytical evaluations. 

Name: Mrs. Warman

Class: AP Calc

What is your goal in teaching AP?

To prepare students who want to challenge themselves with a college-level math course while they’re still in high school

Do you feel challenged while teaching your AP class?

Absolutely! I get asked a lot of great questions, which gives me the opportunity to approach mathematical concepts from a variety of viewpoints. 

How do you encourage students into taking the exam?

The potential to earn college credit for a low or no cost is a great selling point.

What strategies do you use to assess your students?

Homework problems, USA Test Prep practice, AP practice tests, closing thoughts posted on the door as they leave the classroom, and index cards that are green, yellow. and red which give me immediate feedback about their understanding of new topics.