Students Enter Uncharted Territory As They Return to Campus With a Four-Day Schedule
April 14, 2021
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Monday, April 12 was the first day of the four-day learning model.
Seniors Egan Arntson and Brooke Heth sit in the cafeteria to get work done.
During lunches, students were required to sit at designated seats at tables, in a desk in a courtyard, or in a metal folding chair surrounded by red tape on the ground.
During lunches, students were required to sit at designated seats at tables, in a desk in a courtyard, or in a metal folding chair surrounded by red tape on the ground.
Chairs and tables are arranged in the main hallway and in courtyards marking appropriate seating for students during lunches.
Chairs and tables are arranged in the main hallway and in courtyards marking appropriate seating for students during lunches.
Chairs and tables are arranged in the main hallway and in courtyards marking appropriate seating for students during lunches.
During lunches, students were required to sit at designated seats at tables, in a desk in a courtyard, or in a metal folding chair surrounded by red tape on the ground.
On Monday, April 12, roughly 80% of the student body filed into La Salle to begin the newly introduced four-day model. The switch has brought a mixture of emotions to students, with many of them feeling both excited and anxious.
“It’s going to be hard to switch to a different learning style again, but I’m really enjoying seeing the people I haven’t seen in a while,” senior Vishal Casper said.
In early March, non-remote learners began coming on campus in cohorts, after a year of being completely online. Just three weeks later the administration announced that La Salle would be returning to a nearly normal school schedule, which came as a surprise to many.
“I enjoy seeing my friends, and the people I haven’t seen over the last year,” senior GiGi Gottsch said. “But honestly I felt very anxious while being there.” Gottsch expressed that the change is a lot to process, especially as a senior so close to graduating.
Some students expressed their concerns about the plan to return to full-time learning, but have enjoyed being back in the community environment regardless of those concerns. “While I’m still not fully on board with how the change happened, I admit that being back in person with more people is really nice,” senior Luke Thompson said.
Junior Hannah Reddick feels better equipped to learn when she is in an in-person environment. “I personally learn better when I’m in contact with other people, not just over Zoom,” she said. “It’s really good for me to be around people and do school with my teachers.”
Despite the transition’s slightly quick arrival, Reddick said she felt prepared to make the switch to four days of in-person learning. “I personally feel like the change felt sort of fast because of the long break from in-person learning we had right before, but I was ready and I was comfortable.”
Other students felt that the increased volume of people was slightly overwhelming. “It’s a little weird, being around that many people,” sophomore Dom Burkhart said.
Similarly to Gottsch, senior Brooke Heth feels that the change paints her senior year in a different light than she had in mind. “I wish we could have more than normal social interactions as the time comes to a close,” Heth said. “But at least we’re getting some sense of social time and some sense of closure.”
