As flowers bloom and spring showers begin, Archbishop Riordan High School released course request packets in February 2025 to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors for their class schedules for the upcoming school year in the fall.

At least three new classes will be introduced for the 2025-2026 school year: African American Literature, AP Seminar: Journalism, Media, and Democracy, and Business Basics.

AP Seminar is primarily opened to rising juniors and seniors. Being a stepping stone from Journalism, it is a course designed to empower students to become critical thinkers and advance research skills.

In a day and age where technology is essential to everyday life, this course aims to review and look at how various aspects of media impacts the world on a local, regional, and global level.

As more news outlets shift from print to digital platforms, it is up to the next generation to understand algorithms driving the internet and advocate for the continuation of democracy in an age dominated by false information.

Isabella Thumas ’26, who signed up for AP Seminar, stated, “I think this class will challenge me academically by having to write many essays and other research based papers that will have me spend careful thought and consideration put into them.”

It is recommended to be concurrently enrolled alongside Advanced Journalism, because both classes are two semesters long, following an A/B schedule every day.

Another new class that will be introduced to students is Business Basics. It is a class that is required for all students that are in the Business Program at Riordan. But it is also open to anyone who has an interest in business.

This course introduces students to the role business plays in society, such as entrepreneurships, marketing, and financial management. It is not just a class but an investment that will be useful in the future even after high school.

Christopher Fern, who is the lead director of the program, stated “Whether students plan to pursue business in college or simply want to develop practical skills like financial literacy and communication, this program offers valuable experience for motivated learners who are curious about how companies grow, market products, and manage finances will benefit the most”

“I firmly believe that this course will be valuable to me in the future, as I intend to pursue an economics course in college,” said Juvenal Orozco ’26. Furthermore, he added, “My recent entry into the stock market has heightened my interest in understanding the intricacies of its operations.”

Business Basics is like a blueprint, it will act as a guide to help students construct their own future careers, one lesson at a time.

Both AP Seminar and Business Basics provide valuable opportunities for students to grow intellectually and become prepared for life after graduation.