Not only are South Lakes students back in-person for the 2021-2022 school year, there have been considerable changes that differ from pre-pandemic years.  Changes have been made to the grading system, lunches, school calendar, and more.

Grading has changed from previous years. A few years ago, teachers were encouraged to use a rolling gradebook system. In addition, there is a move to incorporate the 4.0 grading scale.    There are some departments piloting the new system as opposed to the traditional 100 point scale. 

In addition to grade scale changes, FCPS changed from Blackboard to Schoology. While there are many opinions regarding Schoology and the decision to switch, it is definitely a change that is here to stay. 

Another development was the introduction of Teacher Advisory during SS. Similar classes existed in past years like Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) and SOAR.  Teacher advisory has combined their efforts. Lesson topics include SOAR concepts like  health, proper conduct, and safety..  It also informs students about mental health and awareness, like what was shared in E.I.. Because advisory classes are separated by counselor, it is more efficient and convenient for counselors to meet with students.

Snow days, lunches, and the school calendar also have changes implemented. Now students have laptops and experience with online learning, only the first five days of snow will be time off from school, so once those few days are spent, students will spend school days in online classes learning from home. While some may not be happy about it, the alternative is extending the school year, which most students would oppose. 

School lunches have been free this year, and while it may not go beyond this year, it has impacted students’ daily routine. Many students have taken advantage of this opportunity by grabbing lunches before school. They might be able to sleep just a little bit longer without the need to grab a bite to eat before leaving for school. 

Lastly, Religious and Cultural Observance days (RCOs) have been added to the school calendar. While many students relish the extra time to complete work or catch up, it has led to some odd droughts of class content making some classes rush or cut their curriculum. Additionally, there have been RCOs where classes are barren and empty. 

While opinions on them may differ among students, teachers, and parents, there is no doubt that life after the pandemic has brought about changes that are here to stay.