This past week, De Soto High School, along with the rest of the USD 232 school district, announced its middle school and high school adjustments to the new hybrid scheduling. 

With the previous schedule having back-to-back in-person days, home days, and a Wednesday C-Day, the secondary hybrid schedule has adjusted this weekly routine. 

 The new schedule of students going every other day, was announced at the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 2. It also means that the stay at home C-Days no longer exist. The intent is for both cohorts to have more frequent in person learning rather than only going twice a week. Along with this, each cohort’s off days will not only be checking in with their first block teacher at 7:50 am, but also with every other block on that day (4 total). 

Despite the short notice, the new secondary schedule officially started Monday, Nov. 9. Because of the sudden change, many teachers are beginning to organize their classes to fit properly with this hybrid schedule. 

“I think overall it is a good idea so that the students get to be in person every other day and can ask their teachers questions,” said physical education teacher Junelle Woolery. 

With Woolery teaching different physical education classes, the secondary hybrid schedule impacts the in-school participation with her students. 

“I will have less in-person time to instruct and ensure that my students are being physically active,” Woolery said. “My students who are on Zoom will just have the opportunity to ask me questions. I think it is a great opportunity for them to be physically active on their own, which is what they will need to do after they graduate from DHS.”

Additionally, teachers who educate other subjects, such as DHS social studies teacher Micah Tenner, are impacted by the scheduling as well. 

“I am excited that the new schedule will allow me to have more in-person contact with my students,” Tenner said. “This helps me, especially in Psychology as I can do demonstrations and labs that are dependent on students being in front of me.”

With the schedule transitioning, Tenner plans on following the same layout as he did previously.

“My plan is to roughly be doing the same thing as I was doing before — on your remote, you’re working on whatever I put in Canvas, and on your in person day, we are going to do stuff as a group,” Tenner said. 

In regards to the teachers themselves changing plans, students like senior Weston Madden must stay on top of their new schedule. 

“I like the new hybrid because it allows me to see my friends more often,” Madden said. “It’s better than remote learning.”

Despite enjoying seeing his friends more, Madden does not support the district’s transition. 

“I feel like we had a good system. Every student got to see their teachers in person the same amount every week,” Madden said.

Regardless of the schedule change, DHS continues to try and find ways to adapt to COVID-19 during times like these.