Expectations for Next Year
Esther Olojo 23' Staff Writer
Elena Webster 24' Staff Writer
Elena Webster 24' Staff Writer
As the school year is coming to an end and more uncertainties arise, it is natural for us to seek out a somewhat clear view of the future. You may be wondering what changes or improvements are being made for next year.
Principal Novak explained that next year, he hopes to implement more initiatives that help staff and students feel more connected to the school and each other, having dealt with the challenges facing the pandemic and various adjustments to in person learning. With a new school year comes new students, and administration plans to welcome incoming freshmen with an orientation, better known as “Fresh Fest,” as practiced in previous years, so long as the current restrictions are lifted. Administration hopes to continue most of the traditional activities we’ve seen this year such as homecoming festivities, spirit weeks, prom, and senior field day, and make them better.
Principal Novak expressed his desire to open things up where students are able to direct more activities and plan. “One of the things that the leadership team has been working on is a rotating study hall proposal… We saw that students struggle to go from having four classes at a time to seven and just in general with school,” Mr. Novak states. There are plans to establish a study hall to help students cope with the workload and provide more extra help opportunities. It’s set up to be held once a month during one of the period blocks.
Some of the issues that came this school year were bus driver and teacher shortages. These were challenges faced due to the pandemic, but moving forward to next school year, these issues should be improving. Mr. Novak stated that the bus shortage was something for Dr. Martirano, the superintendent, to work on. However, Mr. Novak believes that the shortage of bus drivers has improved over this school year. When it comes to the teacher shortages, Mr. Novak stated, “I’d say that there’s probably somewhere between 15 to 20 hires that I could be making this summer.” Mr. Novak explained that there will be teacher changes because many teachers might want to switch schools to be closer to their home or for other reasons. Mr. Novak will make new hires this summer for teachers that he believes will be the best fit for Howard.
Due to the pandemic, some standardized tests were curbed - students had to take, but not pass them - and Howard did not have midterms. Mr. Novak said that, as of now, all of the standardized tests along with midterms and finals are “on the table.” However, Mr. Novak suggested that if midterms and finals were something that students believe should not be included for next school year, they have a voice for advocacy. Mr. Novak stated, “I think it’s going to be August of next year that the policy is going to go for a vote.” If you are interested in having a say in the policy, you should reach out to the Student Member of the Board with your opinions.
Mr. Novak responded to new classes and further changes to the Howard High curriculum by saying, “One course that's being offered next year that is not currently is Health II. The state updated the graduation requirements so they made it so that health now has to be one full credit.” When it comes to new classes at Howard, Health II will be offered next year. Due to the change in graduation requirements, Health II will now be offered so students can receive a full credit of health. More graduation requirements include new math and language requirements. “Depending on your graduation year, there are four years of passing math. It was that you had to be enrolled for four years of math, not pass four years of math. So now it actually is four years of passing math. Another one is languages. It used to be that you could essentially have two non consecutive languages, for example Spanish I and then the next year you take French I and that was your language requirement. So now you’d actually have to go Spanish I, then Spanish II or French I, French II,” Mr. Novak stated.
Classroom locations are categorized by subject, “like the world language classes being out in the Villa and the social studies hallway, the Math hallway, etc.” Principal Novak shared that there won’t be any major changes to them, except in the case that a teacher leaves or retires. He did, however, explain how administration is trying to figure out a way to spread out administration so they’re not all just in the front office.
On changes to the physical school, Mr. Novak says, “One we have ordered…we’re just waiting to install some bottle fillers on the water fountains, so that’s just something we’re just excited about.” Next year, expect to see bottle fillers on the water fountains, especially convenient for those who bring their water bottles to stay hydrated throughout the school day. Principal Novak shares his collaboration with the environmental club to try to launch some increased recycling during lunch, but with those he explains the challenges of getting students to stick with the program. He hopes that with the help of the club they can train students to put their stuff in the recycling instead of just throwing it in the trash.
With the plan to open a new high school soon, redistricting is again a topic of discussion. Depending on how they redraw the lines, Howard may shift from 1800 to 1600 students. Although redistricting is not going to take place next year, it will be soon. Principal Novak adds that they wouldn't typically move juniors and seniors, but possibly have freshmen coming in for one year and then move to a different school.
The 2023-2024 school year will also implement later start times. Principal Novak pointed out that in order to do this we need to make sure we get the bus routes straightened out and figure out how to make it work with activities such as sports. He spoke at the board meeting to make sure that if they’re going to go through with the proposal they do it with full funding as he states, “Some things could have unintended consequences, and we just want to make sure we can plan for that.”
Principal Novak explained that next year, he hopes to implement more initiatives that help staff and students feel more connected to the school and each other, having dealt with the challenges facing the pandemic and various adjustments to in person learning. With a new school year comes new students, and administration plans to welcome incoming freshmen with an orientation, better known as “Fresh Fest,” as practiced in previous years, so long as the current restrictions are lifted. Administration hopes to continue most of the traditional activities we’ve seen this year such as homecoming festivities, spirit weeks, prom, and senior field day, and make them better.
Principal Novak expressed his desire to open things up where students are able to direct more activities and plan. “One of the things that the leadership team has been working on is a rotating study hall proposal… We saw that students struggle to go from having four classes at a time to seven and just in general with school,” Mr. Novak states. There are plans to establish a study hall to help students cope with the workload and provide more extra help opportunities. It’s set up to be held once a month during one of the period blocks.
Some of the issues that came this school year were bus driver and teacher shortages. These were challenges faced due to the pandemic, but moving forward to next school year, these issues should be improving. Mr. Novak stated that the bus shortage was something for Dr. Martirano, the superintendent, to work on. However, Mr. Novak believes that the shortage of bus drivers has improved over this school year. When it comes to the teacher shortages, Mr. Novak stated, “I’d say that there’s probably somewhere between 15 to 20 hires that I could be making this summer.” Mr. Novak explained that there will be teacher changes because many teachers might want to switch schools to be closer to their home or for other reasons. Mr. Novak will make new hires this summer for teachers that he believes will be the best fit for Howard.
Due to the pandemic, some standardized tests were curbed - students had to take, but not pass them - and Howard did not have midterms. Mr. Novak said that, as of now, all of the standardized tests along with midterms and finals are “on the table.” However, Mr. Novak suggested that if midterms and finals were something that students believe should not be included for next school year, they have a voice for advocacy. Mr. Novak stated, “I think it’s going to be August of next year that the policy is going to go for a vote.” If you are interested in having a say in the policy, you should reach out to the Student Member of the Board with your opinions.
Mr. Novak responded to new classes and further changes to the Howard High curriculum by saying, “One course that's being offered next year that is not currently is Health II. The state updated the graduation requirements so they made it so that health now has to be one full credit.” When it comes to new classes at Howard, Health II will be offered next year. Due to the change in graduation requirements, Health II will now be offered so students can receive a full credit of health. More graduation requirements include new math and language requirements. “Depending on your graduation year, there are four years of passing math. It was that you had to be enrolled for four years of math, not pass four years of math. So now it actually is four years of passing math. Another one is languages. It used to be that you could essentially have two non consecutive languages, for example Spanish I and then the next year you take French I and that was your language requirement. So now you’d actually have to go Spanish I, then Spanish II or French I, French II,” Mr. Novak stated.
Classroom locations are categorized by subject, “like the world language classes being out in the Villa and the social studies hallway, the Math hallway, etc.” Principal Novak shared that there won’t be any major changes to them, except in the case that a teacher leaves or retires. He did, however, explain how administration is trying to figure out a way to spread out administration so they’re not all just in the front office.
On changes to the physical school, Mr. Novak says, “One we have ordered…we’re just waiting to install some bottle fillers on the water fountains, so that’s just something we’re just excited about.” Next year, expect to see bottle fillers on the water fountains, especially convenient for those who bring their water bottles to stay hydrated throughout the school day. Principal Novak shares his collaboration with the environmental club to try to launch some increased recycling during lunch, but with those he explains the challenges of getting students to stick with the program. He hopes that with the help of the club they can train students to put their stuff in the recycling instead of just throwing it in the trash.
With the plan to open a new high school soon, redistricting is again a topic of discussion. Depending on how they redraw the lines, Howard may shift from 1800 to 1600 students. Although redistricting is not going to take place next year, it will be soon. Principal Novak adds that they wouldn't typically move juniors and seniors, but possibly have freshmen coming in for one year and then move to a different school.
The 2023-2024 school year will also implement later start times. Principal Novak pointed out that in order to do this we need to make sure we get the bus routes straightened out and figure out how to make it work with activities such as sports. He spoke at the board meeting to make sure that if they’re going to go through with the proposal they do it with full funding as he states, “Some things could have unintended consequences, and we just want to make sure we can plan for that.”