Empty classrooms and quiet hallways have become the norm this school year because of the implementation of the hybrid learning schedule, but the administration's decision to transition to four days of in person learning has brought back the entirety of the student body to Northern’s halls once again. This decision causes students to adjust to learning primarily in person since they have been remote, which will be difficult for those who are accustomed to learning remotely. As this decision was enacted, there were varying opinions and viewpoints on the eradication of the cohorts and the return to four days a week of in person classes. Although the transition has already been enacted, acknowledging the opinions of the students that it affects is important in order to engage the student body.
Allie Tutich:
Throughout the school year, I had become adjusted to the hybrid schedule and began to develop a routine in my life in regards to education during a pandemic. So, the return to a four-day week spurred another feeling of disturbance in my routine. Instead of having more time to focus on myself and preparing for entering college, I will now spend more time in school, which I was not excited about. Personally, I would have been content with remaining in a hybrid schedule because I had been accustomed to the sense of freedom and flexibility that this system offered to students. In addition to a more structured schedule, the stress of interacting with a larger number of students in the hallways or in the classroom is a negative aspect of this transition. Within the hallways, it is difficult to maintain social distancing because of the volume of students passing from one class to the next, especially in the center intersection. The risk that this presents to students may lead to more cases within Northern. Also, the sudden transition back to a four-day schedule, it seems that the administration rushed this return, instead of waiting for a convenient time, such as the beginning of the fourth marking period. Although the risk of having the entirety of the student body in the school building is concerning to me, I also am grateful for the opportunity to see classmates that I have not seen during this school year because of the cohorts. The unity that this transition instills in the student body is a positive aspect of this decision, which will alter the experiences of students throughout the end of the 2021 school year. The transition to nearly full in person learning may not be something that I desired, but it will certainly impact the remainder of the school year and my educational experience
Mary Wells:
Just recently we passed the year mark of when the school shut down, and we all began living in a pandemic. Although hopes are up as more vaccines are being given every day, I still think Northern’s administration has leapt before they looked with their decision to send students from both cohorts to school four days a week. Merely a few weeks ago, I was worrying that the musical would get postponed for two weeks because we were just a case away from shutting down, and now I sit cramped shoulder-to-shoulder, desk-to-desk with other students in many of my classes.
It seems as if this decision was made with a very low amount, if any, consultation from staff or students. Even those who spend every day wishing for a return to how school used to be were not fans of this rapid change. Students had become accustomed to getting a healthier amount of sleep on the days they were not at school in person, but now their schedule has been disrupted. The first Monday everyone was back, I heard quite a few extra-sleepy cohort B students reminding each other to change their alarms to wake them up on Mondays and Wednesdays now too. As well, many students appreciated the extra time allotted for them to do homework, as it relieved stress and allowed them to make time for work, sports, extracurricular activities, or anything else they would not normally have time for. Although most students knew they would have to return to full time school eventually, it was still an unpleasant disruption to have it happen so soon. Teachers, as well, were often in favor of sticking to the old schedule, as it was what they were accustomed to. Maybe it was not ideal, but it was what we had been doing for about seven months now - not even counting the end of last school year - and it was the routine.
Should Northern have waited until next year to return? In my opinion, yes. However it feels as if my opinion - and the opinions of many others who are not in charge, yet are directly affected by these changes - was not considered when making this decision. Perhaps in further years, hopefully no longer in a pandemic, Northern’s administration should take this into account and take steps to hear the opinions of the students and staff at Northern before making drastic changes that will affect them.
Mary-Kate Holubowicz:
As a junior in high school, I was really looking forward to having more freedoms as the school year progressed. However, due the pandemic, many of the activities that I was planning on doing have been put on hold. When I heard that we were doing a hybrid model for school, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first, but I honestly think that it helped me more than I originally thought it was going to. Yes, we didn’t have as much in-person learning time or time to ask questions, but I felt that I had more time to process the information that I was learning more. Especially for one of the classes that I come in for. I don’t think that I would’ve been able to understand what I do now if we were 4 or even 5 days a week.
Now though, we are in 4 days a week, and I’m not excited. There are more people that are going to be in the same hallways, the same classrooms, and much closer together. I know that the school district is trying to gradually get us back to some sort of normalcy, but I think that there should be a few other things that should’ve been considered. For example, my father has lung issues right now that haven't been resolved yet. I only go in for 2 classes a day and the rest CAOLA so that I have a lower chance of being exposed and bringing it home to him. I know that not everyone has people in their family with health issues, but that’s something that needs to be considered when making decisions like returning 4 days a week.
I also feel that we’ve gotten this far without going in the 4 days that it seems like a waste of time to do it for only a marking period. It makes it harder on the students to transition from one way of learning to another. Some students might even notice a drop in their grades in the last marking period because they will find it harder to learn after being on a hybrid schedule for so long. I don’t know what next year will look like, but I honestly don’t want to try and go through something like we did this year again,especially since it’s going to be my senior year.
Jenna Clark:
I do not know how each person feels about the change to four days a week, but I know that people are divided. The change does not really impact me, personally, because I am completely cyber school. Everyone who is (completely) cyber schooled has no difference in schedule, so I am fortunate that way. Cyber school students who are going back to school for four days a week have to wait until the beginning of the fourth marking period to start. That in itself is chaotic, because all other students have already gone back to school for four days. I wish that the school would have decided to wait until the fourth marking period to start school for everyone four days a week, but I understand why they did not. Changing so quickly is quite an adjustment, though, and that will resort to more students struggling. Just losing sleep is huge, and I know that I would not do very well with that. Students need to remember that they are going four days a week instead of two, and parents need to remember that as well. Also, I feel as though doing remote learning on Friday would be harder now that people are in school for four days. Maybe I am wrong, but the school might want to consider just having Friday off to let the teachers have more time to prepare and grade.
Haydn Paxton:
This year has been everything except normal, so when I heard that Northern made the decision to go four days a week instead of two, I was excited. Being a senior in high school, I wanted this year to be as “normal” as it could, and not seeing everyone throughout most of the year made it difficult. However, this switch to seeing everyone was a lot to take in all at once. I do think that Northern should have waited until the fourth marking period, so there was not as an awkward shift as there was. As I knew before, everyone being back would crowd the hallways and rooms again, which can make some uncomfortable, but with the help of everyone, I believe it would work. I think that being in school most of the time benefits students as well. For example, it is easier to understand what teachers are talking about because there are no cohorts. Attending school for four days affects time management and encourages interaction among students and teachers too. Overall, as a senior I am happy to be with everyone for my last marking period of high school. I think it was the right decision to go back, with COVID cases not rising as much at the moment. Also, I think that the connections people have made from being together again is great, and it is heartwarming to see others whom I would not normally see.
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