Coming back to in-person learning has brought challenges to many students. In order to help make the adjustment smoother, a new Pride Time period has been created during W4.
“We recognize that COVID has created a substantial disruption in students’ learning,” Principal Shawn DeRose said. “At the beginning of the year we made a really really strong push to support students and build relationships with students and pride time allows us to really focus on meeting the needs of individual students in the area of which they need support.”
The new Pride Time period assigns each student a class to go to based on their specific needs. Students were assigned a class based on a core subject that they are struggling with and will be able to receive extra help during this period.
“This new structure allows us to identify students by name and need,” DeRose said. “Ensuring that everyone is getting the support they need and that nobody is falling through the cracks.”
In previous years, a different type of Pride Time period was used and students would have to get requested by their teachers each day if they wanted to receive extra help.
“We realize that the previous structure around Pride Time was that teachers or students would have to request to go to pride time,” DeRose said. “There were students who were not getting the support that they needed during Pride Time for whatever reason.”
Some students, however, miss the old structure of Pride Time, as it met their changing needs.
“Our old Pride Time was better because we were able to get requested every W4,” junior Adrianne Anez-Pinto said. “Each day I have specific areas I need help in and having the same subject every Pride Time I will not be able to receive help in the other subjects I need it from.”
Some students have decided to voice their displeasure with the new period.
“I have discussed my concerns with administrators and I have signed a student-produced petition as well,” senior Madeline Dosen said.
Senior Jewel Coulter has started a petition to attempt to reinstate the old Pride Time structure.
“I started a petition for the Annandale community to voice our concerns and to put pressure on the people in power,” Coulter said. “So that when administrators make decisions affecting student’s education and faculty’s jobs they will ask for the community input.”
Many students feel that it is important that administrators make decisions that reflect and help the community as a whole, and listen to the concerns of all.
Students feel that when faced with issues that they do not agree with, it is important to speak out and use their voices to make a change.
“Students have power if they think something is wrong and should push to fix it,” Coulter said. “Students may think we don’t have a voice and they may be right, but you have to push and make a voice for yourself. Students expressing their opinions are crucial, especially when it comes to something important such as their education which has an effect on their future.”
Coulter, like many others, hopes these voices will be heard and valued by administrators.
Despite the backlash being received for the new period, the decision remains firm and DeRose sees for its potentially promising future.
“Students have done a really good job in responding and are showing up,” DeRose said. “Overall we are getting off to a strong start and we’re only going to get stronger.”