Returning to the 2012-13 school year, students should prepare to meet old friends and new changes, including a different Seahawk Seminar, a new personal electronics policy, and new cottages added to the campus.
The Class of 2016 faced these changes first during the freshman orientation Aug. 30. Seniors and new executive council members Eric O’Brien, Abby Studen, Becky Oswald, Lisi Mueller, and Carson Gillions tried to create some Seahawk spirit among the students while explaining the ins and outs of high school.
“Freshman orientation was really exciting,” Gillions said. “It was cool to address such a large group of new students. I hope they liked our jokes.”
New principal Kimberly Retzer also attended the orientation and introduced the school’s new personal electronics policy, which will allow students to use electronics, including cell phones and iPads, for instructional purposes.
“We looked at what various other high schools were doing with electronics,” Retzer said. “There will be a personal electronics policy given to students on day one which will outline where and when they can be used.”
Students may also use electronic devices during lunch.
During orientation freshmen discovered the new trailers, referred to as learning cottages, which have been added to the school grounds. Last year saw the addition of two cottages, which became the rooms for the 500 classrooms. The new cottages sit on the flagpole side near both the flagpole faculty and student parking lots. Both hold the 600 and 700 classrooms respectively.
In addition to changes in structure and regulations, over 30 new staff members joined the South Lakes family. One is the Class of 2013 sub school Principal Jeanene Sims. Sims takes the position held by Retzer from 2009 to 2011.
“It was just time to go to a different school,” Sims said, who spent the last seven years at Marshall.
One of the biggest differences for her is the size of South Lakes, which holds nearly a thousand more students than Marshall.
Seahawk Seminar returns to the 2010-11 form where the seven classes rotate through two, 45-minute blocks. The difference is the addition of an eleventh period, an advisory period exclusive to Seahawk Seminar that will group students of different grades together with one teacher.
“Our goal is building new relationships of students to students and student to staff,” Retzer said.
Despite the changes, Retzer looks forward to a successful year.
“I expect we’ll have a great year,” Retzer said. “I’m looking forward to great spirit, good academics from students and for them to represent South Lakes well at all times.”
