As the month of September is now halfway expired, Arrowhead students and staff alike are finding ways to adjust to the new year. Between schedule changes, preparing for early assessments, managing time, and the whole slew of other factors occurring these past few weeks, starting off the new year has been a hassle for the residents of Arrowhead. Some more than others.

“More or less, it’s okay,” said Arrowhead senior Jeremy Mason in regards to how the school year has been going thus far. “My favorite class so far is AP Statistics because it has the math components I  like of other classes I took and applies to my desired career path. My least favorite class would probably be physics because it’s really easy and I just don’t see its application to real life…Multitasking has been the hardest thing so far. I try to not have homework so I just do homework during the class. I’m not good at it, so I’m trying to get better.”

Not all seniors’ ‘hurdles’ are the same height, or even on the same ‘track’ for that manner. “Being in a cast right now has been a challenge. Having to put up with lack of mobility makes for a difficult time. Especially when taking notes or doing homework,” says Alex North who underwent shoulder surgery the past summer. “Otherwise, the most difficult part of school so far is getting back into the swing of things and having to adjust to not having as much free time than in the summer.”

Jake Julius, a junior at Arrowhead, says, “Getting accustomed to waking up early again [is the hardest part of adjusting back to school]. Time management is more crucial with the different activities I need to manage.” Julius says,  “The adjustment [from South to North Campus] was very easy. Although the school layout is slightly more complex, I think most juniors would agree they like north a lot better than south. The general vibe you get is more relaxed than down at south. The coffee shop is a great example of that vibe. Classes also seem to have more personal responsibility for your learning rather than being handed information and evaluations.”

At south campus, concerns are slightly different at north. “Adjusting to the new teachers has been the hardest part for me,” says Sophomore Brooke Gohde. “The biggest difference between being a freshman and a sophomore is that this year there are more speeches and the classes are harder.”

As far as new implementations down at south, Gohde says, “Phones can’t even be out on the tables in the library anymore.”

On an instructor’s side, the adjustment experience thus far has been “overall, very positive,” says math teacher Nick Brengosz. “The only thing that stands out as being difficult to me so far is just getting to know new students.”

Brengosz said, “Students have been doing a great job of paying attention and staying focused in class…The atmosphere has been positive and the junior and senior students are getting along and integrating well.”

With students and teachers adjusting to the new year in different ways, varied results and opinions have been established. As far as the overall scope goes, students and teachers both have faced individual challenges and triumphs in the past couple of weeks.