It’s a new school year, which means new teachers, policies, and even technology. Everyone is excited for what this year will bring. Change can be very scary at times, but it also means new opportunities. My favorite part of this year so far is our new U.S. history teacher, Ms. Thompson.
Ms. Thompson is a new addition to Santaluces Community High School, and she has already made many great impressions. I chose to interview her so everyone can learn more about her and what she thinks about the new policies.
When I interviewed her about how she feels about the new school she said, “I love it, the kids are so intelligent and the community is really good.” She also stated that being a new teacher feels “overwhelming but exciting.”
When I asked her how she feels about the new phone policy she said, “Keeping the phones away keeps the students focused.” Her response to how she got ready for the year was, “I tried to get my area right, making it a cozy place people want to be at.” One of her favorite policies is wearing IDs, but if she could change something, she said she’d want it to be “more focused on student engagement and positive reinforcement.”
Ms. Thompson also shared her goals for students: “I want them to give their best everyday, give 100%, and don’t limit themselves.” For what she thinks students expect from her, she said, “To help them pass the EOC, teach them how to think, and be kind.” Overall, she seems like she’s prepared and ready for the new year.
Other than new staff, we’ve got new policies and technology. One of the main policies students don’t agree with is the phone policy: you are not allowed to use your phone during instruction time. Even though most people dislike it, this could improve learning. For technology, we got brand new Chromebooks with protective cases.
Even though change can definitely be hard for some people, it seems like we’re all ready for it. We can take these changes and hopefully become a better school. In the end, it’s all about making this year worth remembering.
