Ever since the pandemic started back in 2020, many students feel online schools have affected them heavily, and getting back in person has been challenging for them.

Freshmen and Sophomores feel especially harder to transition back into in-person classes since they’re new to the environment at Hall High School. However, Hall High School offers a variety of support, such as the math center and writing center. The writing center is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during periods 4,5, and 7, while the math center is available Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday during periods 4-8.  Students should be encouraged to use these resources given to them in order to get extra support in their classes. 

Receiving academic support is entirely up to you, but if you are struggling in your classes, it is highly recommended that you should stop by the writing center or math center. Patrick Moriarty, a math support teacher at Hall High School, said that “students should be encouraged to come to academic support”, especially if they are struggling in class. He also mentioned that students can come and get support whenever they feel like they need it, without an appointment or anything, making it very convenient for the students.

Lynette Freeman, a long-term English substitute teacher at Hall High School, also emphasizes the importance of encouraging students, especially the lower classmen, to come to academic support, because most students were online last school year. Freeman also states that “This year will bring challenges that they had not faced before, and they will need help in adjusting their expectations”, hence why students should be coming to academic support. 

Though, some students have a busy schedule. They might also participate in extracurricular activities after school, making them not have enough time to gain support in their classes even if they plan on doing so. Thankfully, students could meet with their teachers before school. There is even an option of meeting virtually via Google Meets, according to Freeman.  

To add onto the idea of encouraging students to come to academic support, Building & Sustaining Student Engagement, a student engagement project from the University of Nebraska, includes that going to academic support would also “likely have a positive impact on the vital decision of students to remain in school”. Students who are suffering in their classes and getting academic support would most likely succeed because they are being helped with their class content and would not have the feeling of being behind everyone else. 

Since some students are not aware of these academic resources, Lynette Freeman mentioned that “Guidance counselors are another great resource. Students can ask their guidance counselor in person, by email or even through their parents”.

Online school has certainly affected many students, but it is important to know that Hall High School has the resources to help us get back on track, which is why students are strongly encouraged to receive academic supports provided by the school.