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NEWS
Echo Wednesday, September 27, 2017
WEB PREVIEW
Photo Used with permission from the National Association for College Admission Counseling
College Fair gives education options
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s college approaches for sophomore Will Matthews, he begins thinking about where he should start looking. According to Matthews, while a college fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center Sept. 27 may benefit some, but not all students may be able to attend. “(A college fair with) a wide variety (of colleges) would be more easier and more helpful, but because it’s not at school less people will go,” Matthews said.
Marta Hill martahill@slpecho.com
Photo Yonah Davis
Construction disrupts bus routes
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onstruction on Brunswick Ave and other St. Louis Park side streets causes school bus riders a bumpy ride on their way to school. This portion of the construction includes street rehabilitation and water main. The bus routes have gotten much worse ever since construction began this summer, according to The Agnus Corporation, which runs St. Louis Park Transportation.
Creston Halstead crestonhalstead@slpecho.com
GLCs enforce senior open lunch policy
Some people have family situations (and) maybe (the attendance policy) should be more flexible. Josie Briant, freshman
Photo identification required to leave school during lunch Annabella Strathman annabellastrathman@slpecho.com
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ccording to assistant principal Charles Johnson-Nixon, the administrative team looks to make the practices with attendance-taking at the school more clear to staff and students this year, without making changes to the school’s policies. “We aren’t making any policy shifts. What we are trying to do is bring accountability to the policies and streamline it so that there’s clarity, (and) there’s transparency in it,” Johnson-Nixon said. “We tweaked the way attendance data is being pulled so that we really don’t let anyone slip through the cracks and hopefully we’ll get everyone so they can get the attention they need and be in school.” Sophomore Amaya Fokuo said attendance gives structure to students’ school day. “I think (attendance is) important because having some structure keeps people on the right track,” Fokuo said. “I think that’s important because not everybody has that kind of structure at home, so school can provide that for them.” According to Johnson-Nixon, the administration hopes to help students get the support they need by pulling individual data. “We will be looking at students who have significant absences to see what’s going on, making sure that they are getting supported and if they’re not in class we need to know why so we can help them.”
Photo Grace Farley
On time: Grade Level Coordinator (GLC) Joe Yager checks senior Ryan Klaers’ ID at the C doors Sept. 12 as he tries to leave the building for lunch. According to Johnson-Nixon, the administration enacted a photo ID requirement allowing only seniors to leave the building for lunch. “Technically only seniors are allowed to leave the building for lunch, so if a senior has their ID and they’re going out for lunch, all they really have to do is flash it,” Johnson-Nixon said. “If they don’t have that, especially for me, someone who’s new to the building, I don’t know all the seniors and so I’m going to look at someone and say ‘what grade are you in?’” Johnson-Nixon said. Sophomore Amira Ali said she was caught off guard for the first time by the GLC’s new enforcement. “I went to Super America and the GLC Rob (Griffin) was there basically waiting for me and I didn’t know that then. I didn’t want to eat school food, I don’t like it, so I sneaked out with my friend and the GLC was there,” Ali said. “I didn’t really get in trouble, he just told me to go back, and I didn’t get any food.” Junior Leensa Ahmed said she thinks juniors should also be allowed to leave school for lunch. “I went (to McDonald’s) before and I
never got caught,” Ahmed said. “I think that (the administration is) trying to set an example for the younger people who just started high school.” According to Johnson-Nixon, this year’s initiative to push attendance more regularly aims to provide accountability. “We are looking at attendance, wanting our teachers to be very serious and purposeful about taking attendance. When we do that, if something happens and a parent needs to get in contact with that student, if the attendance is taken, we know exactly where that student is going to be,” Johnson-Nixon said. Johnson-Nixon said requiring students to carry their IDs allows for the school to better ensure students’ safety, as well as instill a habit that will benefit students outside of a school environment. Da’ud said she thinks this policy unfairly limits lunch options for students. “I hate this policy because it’s unfair. It’s our lunch break, and we should be allowed to eat what we want,” Da’ud said. “Mcdonald’s isn’t even that far off, but still there are security guards or GLCs at every exit. Nothing serious could happen, there are people always outside.”
School cuts supply of student planners
Student guidebook now on web Atticus Raasch atticusraasch@slpecho.com
Photo Brooklyn Donelson
Josh Broderson fills athletic trainer role
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ew athletic trainer Josh Broderson wraps junior Anna Long’s shoulder before practice. Broderson was employed after the school switched to Tria instead of Farview’s Institute of Athletic Medicine, where Jeremy Sheppard, last year’s athletic trainer, was employed.
Racquel Fhima racquelfhima@slpecho.com For more content go to slpecho.com
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truggling to stay organized, senior Annika Vignes said she wishes the school had given her a planner as they had in years past. Vignes said planners are necessary for students to keep up with all of their work. “I was angry because I really like planners because it helps me organize my days and keep track of all of my homework,” Vignes said. Assistant principal Charles Johnson-Nixon said cost issues kept the school from giving out the planners as they did in previous years. “Unfortunately (money) boils down to everything. It’s
Photo Illustration Grace Farley
expensive to make ( the student guidebooks),” JohnsonNixon said. “I actually like them, I have one myself, one of the old ones, but it’s a lot of money to make and print them,” he said. According to senior Ryan Klaers, many of the planners were not put to use when given out for free. “I don’t mind the school not giving out planners,” Klaers said. “I ended up forget-
ting to use them, and I feel like they go unused a lot.” Vignes said students may be negatively impacted without a way to document assignments. “I think for students who are like me and actually like organizing their stuff, (they) will be affected,” Vignes said. “They won’t be able to plan out as well and they’ll have to pay for their own planner.” Johnson-Nixon said although not printed, the new student handbook will be put
on the school website. “One thing I know is that we’re going digital,” JohnsonNixon said. “We are getting (the student handbook) online.” Klaers said having easy access to the student guidebook is beneficial. “I think it’s good, and I like that (the handbook) is online,” Klaers said. “If a student really has a question about it they can find it anywhere,” he said.