New Year, Newer Electives, Newest Judah

Imagine that you have just arrived for your high school years at Judah Christian School. Welcome, freshman! Think of how much you’ll grow when you take SMARTS Cognitive Enhancement, AI Research and Professional Software Skills, the College and Career Workshop, the Media Production Workshop, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Dual Credit Psychology, and Dual Credit College Strategies as your high school electives. 

That’s exactly what you could have at Judah starting next year. These electives will add depth, adventure, and academic exploration to your schedule, confidently preparing you for college, career, citizenship, and life. Let’s look at what each of these new electives might look like for the 2026–2027 school year.

SMARTS Cognitive Enhancement will be taught by Mrs. Herche in fall 2026. Mrs. Herche said, “The class will set the stage for how God has made all of our brains work differently, how He gave us different inclinations and different talents.” You will broaden your mental capacity to set goals, remember tasks, grow your cognitive flexibility, organize, and prioritize. You will reflect on and target specific mental skills that you can enhance. We have amazing sports, but doesn’t your brain deserve a workout too? Throughout this course, you will have your brain challenged, grown, and expanded, giving you the mental strength that you’ve always wanted in your classes, your career, and even your everyday life.

AI Research and Professional Software Skills will be taught by Mr. Hallett in spring 2027. Judah superintendent Blake Porter told us that AI is “changing our culture, changing our world. Do you know how to prompt? Do you know how to use it effectively to do a job? Well, these are things that we all need to learn.” In this elective, you will be guided through using AI as a resource rather than as a way of rushing past needed thought processes. By doing this, you can become a world-class researcher, adding to your technology toolbox. 

The College and Career Workshop will be taught by Mrs. Bylsma in both fall 2026 and spring 2027. Some students may feel overwhelmed by potential colleges and careers. As junior Trinity Evertt-Walthour said, “Having somebody guide me through where to find the right things for college would be very helpful.” Well, this elective will do just that. You will explore career interests and college options for after high school. Not only that, but you will also be equipped to consider questions that are often daunting or overlooked: What career best fits your skills and interests? Which college has the right program for you? Is college the right path, or could professional trades or military training be a better option? Our College and Career Workshop is the place to find answers to these questions and more. As Mrs. Bylsma said, “You will discover what you need to pursue in specific careers, allowing you to develop a clear plan to acquire those skills and credentials.”

The Media Production Workshop will be taught by Mrs. Kennedy in fall 2026. Mrs. Kennedy explained that this elective will be an overview of many types of media and performance production, leading up to you working on your own project. Throughout the semester, students will get hands-on experience in audio and sound technology, video and film, music production, and theater science. For your big project, you could choose to grow your skills in video production, song composition, podcasts, short films, DJ sets, and much more. Join Mrs. K for a semester full of fun learning experiences that will prepare you for whatever media productions you are interested in, whether professional or personal. 

Human Anatomy and Physiology will be taught by Dr. Varvel in spring 2027. Dr. Varvel said that many students have requested a human anatomy elective over the years and that he looks forward to teaching what he studied in depth in medical school. He said, “God created us in His image. Let’s learn more about that creation.” He also said, “Before you ask, no, we aren’t going to be dissecting anyone.” You will concentrate on the human system, exploring structure and functions and looking at how that knowledge helps to diagnose disease, perform safe medical procedures, and live a healthy life. Dr. Varvel said, “The course will center on visual learning, including 3D computer imaging and using the fun anatomy coloring book. We’re even hoping to get a field trip in.” So, if you are ready to master the language of the human body, prepare to learn with Dr. V next fall.

Dual Credit Psychology will be taught by Mrs. Miller in fall 2026. Junior Eiralys Unzicker said, “It’s really interesting that it’s from a Christian worldview, because I’ve only really done surface-level learning of psychology. But to go deeper and to have that worldview as the background, I think that would be really good to learn with that.” In this elective, you will survey major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in psychology at a college level. You will be taken through a curriculum designed to help you evaluate theories and research in light of scripture, applying a biblical perspective to the study of God’s human creation. You will be able to learn more about your own thoughts, the thoughts of others, and, most importantly, how to help people effectively through the love of Jesus.

Dual Credit College Strategies will be taught by Mrs. Miller in spring 2027. You will learn how to answer the question “How am I going to get through college?” You will also work through questions such as these: How am I going to continue to grow in my faith? How am I going to use the college that Jesus has placed me in to share, to be a witness, and to get involved in campus ministries? These are all things to consider as you head into your college years. Mrs. Miller said that the elective will help you “use scripture to remember that we take everything before the Lord, seeking His Word and His Kingdom first, and thinking about how we’re going to manage our time.” 

By taking these electives, you will be able to graduate with that much more preparation and readiness for your future. So, “freshman,” join us and be the one who takes the first step to success with our electives and get that head start to life.

—Kelsi Drollinger, class of ’27