A change that most students noticed within the first week of school is the lack of sweep. Unlike last year, tardy students will be able to go to class instead of spending the period in sweep. Principal Brandi Haskins said this is because administration did not want students to miss out on class time.
“Our priority is for students to be in class as much as possible,” said Mrs. Haskins. A lot of students feel that no sweep is a good thing.
Junior Da’shia Hunter said, “Some students have classes that are far from each other and it’s not fair for them that they have to run or else they miss out on a whole lesson”. However, the OCR rules still apply and after five tardies, you will be sent to OCR for the day.
Another change involving Lobos this year is the North Gate being locked. The gate near the 1000 buildings will no longer be available for student drop off and pickup because it was deemed unsafe for students.
Mrs. Haskins said leaving the gate open was too risky because there wasn’t anyone to guide traffic between students walking to school and parents driving. “Rather than have something happen and have somebody get injured, we would rather close that entrance and bring everyone through an entrance that is going to be safer.”
Along with locking the North gate and sweep no longer being in effect, there is also a lot more students here at La Joya. This will result in some school wide adjustments when it comes to events like assemblies and school dances.
Assistant principal and athletic director Derek Fahleson said that, “Assemblies are going to be very different. We’re not going to be able to have one assembly anymore. We’re going to have to have split assemblies.”
Administration is currently working out a schedule for A and B assemblies. “We’re going to divide it up so there’s a similar number of seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen,” he said.
He also notes that there will be more opportunities created. “We have a lot of kids on our campus and some are new and they want to start new clubs that we haven’t had in the past.”
Changes made this school year will cause students to modify some things, but Lobos can be assured they were all made in their interest.
