As part of Oak Park High School’s push for cross curricular programs concerning sustainability, science teacher Anastasia Kokiousis has created a CP environmental class for students.

Previously the options for senior year science were CP physics, AP physics, Anatomy & Physiology, and AP environmental science. Now, seniors have an option to take an environmental science course that is taught at a college prep level.

“[This would be a good class for] students that are really passionate about the environment. AP environmental science is a pretty intense class,” Kokiousis said.

According to Kokiousis, CP will not include the same rigor as AP environmental science. The tests in AP are meant to prepare students for the AP test, so CP tests and some assignments will be less intense, as they are not preparing for that assessment. However, the labs will remain essentially the same for both classes and encourage interaction with nature.

“Ideally, to learn about the environment, we would be outside. So I try to make labs and activities where we can go outside and do things that are hands on,” Kokiousis said.

With this drive for environmental awareness, two other sustainability courses have been developed. Social Sciences teacher DJ Cook’s Geopolitics in the World Today is an environmental economics class. English teacher Mr. Kinberg’s Environmental and Sustainability Literature recognizes sustainability with a literary perspective. Students who take all three classes are eligible to be acknowledged for environmental achievement.

“If you take all three [classes] your senior year, you get to wear a green cord at graduation. It’s a special accolade [to show you are] environmentally friendly, which is why it’s green,” Kokiousis said.

The class will be available during the 2020-21 school year.

“Every day they learn something that happens in their own life, whether it be carbon dioxide emissions, or how much waste they’re producing, or what habitat they’re affecting, or an invasive species. That just gives an extra benefit of the class when you’re really interested in it and you can see it happening in your own life. It makes it more fun to be in the class and learn about the topics,” Kokiousis said.