Welcome or welcome back, KHS students! Last week marked the beginning of a new school year, as well as the beginning of journeys for both students and staff here at KHS. There have certainly been a lot of changes around the school, including almost twenty new additions to the staff and some stricter regulations. Some notable new policies include a stronger enforcement of senior release rules and parking passes; seniors now need to sign a form with senior release permission and need to register their vehicle for a parking pass. It’s easy to become irritated with the possible inconveniences of these policies, but it’s also important to remember that they are there for a reason, and as Mr. Tombleson, our new principal, has emphasized, all of the rules are there for our safety. Just because there are things we need to adjust to, we are all still part of the same KHS community, and the school has so much to offer for everyone.
As we enter this new school year, we should ask ourselves what we can do to better contribute to the school community, and a large part of that is participating in the countless clubs and activities within the school. Some of them may seem daunting at first, but if you push yourself out of your comfort zone, the experience you gain could be very rewarding. A couple years ago, the thought of joining the school newspaper was very intimidating to me, and it was nerve wracking to think of a large group critiquing my writing. However, once I came to a few meetings, I saw what an inclusive and supportive environment it actually was, and I enjoyed the process of working as a group to achieve a common goal. You never know if an activity is really not for you until you try it, and considering KHS is such an encouraging community, people will be nothing but supportive as you test out new interests.
Another great way to get involved at KHS is to join the student senate. Even though students haven’t always felt heard in the past, I sat down with Mr. Tombleson and he expressed that communication is crucial in solving problems and wants student groups like the student senate to have an influence in the school. He approaches brainstorming solutions with a “how can we do this” mentality, rather than a “do this” attitude. He wants students and staff to know that “[collaboration] isn’t just a word for [him]”, and it’s really important to get people together to work through issues.
Tombleson also noted that schools around the country are still recovering from COVID, and that the effects in RSU21 are present in attendance rates and declining test scores. He believes that behavior is a form of communication, and when students are consistently missing from classes, there is an unmet need they might be struggling to fill. He wants to help students as best as he can, and he aims to give students all the support they could need. If you ever feel as if you aren’t doing well or have a concern, he is an excellent person to reach out to, and he will always be willing to listen to your needs and help you come up with solutions.
The beginning of the school year may feel chaotic because of changes with teachers and schedules, but the initial transition will soon be over, and we will all become acclimated to our new routines. When I first entered high school three years ago, we were still in the midst of the COVID era and were required to wear masks in school. It was the first year the whole student body was back in the same building, and it was a change all of us students needed to adjust to. The school year felt like something we needed to survive, rather than enjoy, which made the transition even more difficult.
I encourage you to shift your mindset from just surviving to thriving. Challenge yourself in your classes, join activities you might not have considered before (like the Herd), participate in sports, dress up during Spirit Week, and go to school events. Time really flies, so make the most of your high school years while you can and put your best foot forward; I promise you that hard work pays off. You will succeed.
