Starting day one, Byers students jumped back into class this year. Though it was a whirlwind, the 2019-2020 school year has brought many exciting changes for both teachers and students. We welcomed many new staff members to Byers this year and others have taken on new positions. Most notably, Ms. Curry has taken on the role of director and is already vocal about changes she wants to see in the community.
All students have gained more privileges, including updates to the dress code and cell phone policy. There have also been improvements to existing structures; electives are now refined into tracks and student voice is incorporated into morning meeting. There is also now a designated block each Wednesday to discuss important issues impacting our own community as well as the world around us.
Freshmen are transitioning from middle school and are adjusting to high school life. Sophomores have the opportunity to take more challenging courses. Juniors are beginning to experience the workforce through their internships. Seniors are entering their final year and have already begun applying to colleges. Each grade level has its own unique set of challenges and experiences. So here’s what we have to say about it:
Freshmen - Try new things (especially coming to newspaper), by joining some clubs or finding a new hobby. Believe it or not, this is the year where you’ll have the most free time. Build new relationships with your peers and teachers as they will be the people who support you the rest of high school. Make sure you practice good study habits - this will set you up to be successful for the rest of high school. And most importantly, WALK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HALLWAYS!
Sophomores - To AP Chem students: it’ll kick your butt, but you will get through it. As classes get harder, make sure to ask for help when you need it. Don’t learn that the hard way! Start thinking about what kind of college you might like to attend, but don’t stress too much about it. Realize that now the freshmen will look up to you, so be aware of the example you set.
Juniors - Make sure that in the craziness of AP classes, you make sure to have a balance. Internships, after school activities, and standardized testing all seem to take more time than you think they will. So, don’t take on more than you can chew. At this point, you should be getting more serious about your college search - it seems like it’s still far away, but senior year is going to come quick.
Seniors - We’re not exactly qualified to give advice about something we haven’t done yet, but we do know one thing: #dontgetsenioritis.
Regardless of what grade you’re in this year, there are a lot of exciting things to look forward to. This is the first year DSST: Byers is fully built and will have a class graduate. Homecoming is coming in October, and later we will have our first senior prom. As our school has grown, the sports teams have only gotten better, and we can definitely look forward to some amazing moments. We hope this year filled with great memories, new friendships, and success.