Since my freshman year, North Forsyth started school on a Thursday. Looking at the calendar, the graduating class of 2024 started their senior year on Thursday, Aug, 3. It gave the students a chance to dip their feet back into the school routine without diving in headfirst, giving freshmen a chance to become familiar with their schedules and navigate the school. The first day of school after summer break was a Thursday, as was the first day after winter break. However, the 25-26 school year began on a Tuesday, and everyone was off balance.
“We’ve never started school on a Tuesday,” shared junior Natalie Samara. “I almost missed the first day of school because I thought it started on Thursday and not Tuesday.” She also stated she had no time to adjust before she was working again, which led to frustrations. Instead of a nice, slow ease back into the grind, students like Samara were forced to focus and readjust much quicker than they are used to, and after two weeks of not picking up a pencil to do notes, handwriting was atrocious.
Samara wasn’t the only one thrown off balance. A student who wished to remain anonymous was driven to school on the 5th, unaware school didn’t begin until the next day. Because of the blip, the student ended up having to be driven to a Starbucks, as the parent had work close by. It was an unfortunate start to that student’s day.
For teachers, the kind souls who teach us students all we need to know, their first day back was a Monday. Mondays are already regarded as the most hated day of the week; it’s the day everyone forgoes the carefree life at home and work begins once more. A first day back after a break, no matter if it’s two months or two weeks, is never enjoyable.
Students are expected to retain information from at most seven different classes. The first day back is most likely the least taxing as students are mostly expected to take notes, a simple task. It is only the second week back, and yet people are preparing for quizzes, myself included. Starting after a break on a Thursday was preferred because we had two days of basic notes and information that wasn’t overwhelming to the brain, an easy way back into the routine.
This new turnaround wasn’t easy, and suffice to say, it is the wish that next year starts properly on a Thursday.
