After a year of remote learning, the return to an in-person learning model has started with students attending classes on a hybrid basis, with some students at home and some in the classroom. The campus learning environment is much different than students’ personal space at home, causing this transition back to school to be all the more challenging for students and teachers alike.

Students returning to school will be met with a good amount of changes that affect the environment and campus life substantially. First off, the number of students on campus at one time is far less than there used to be. Approximately 250 to 350 students will be on campus at the same time, which leaves rooms and hallways fairly sparse. Many students are still choosing to remain at home.

Novato High senior Sally Krieger shared her experience of being back on campus.

“Being back on campus was strange. It’s not the same with only three students in a class. It’s definitely not how I thought senior year would go, but I’m happy to be back on campus, even if it’s just for a few days at a time,” shared Krieger.

There are also new changes in place like arrows around campus directing students the proper direction which may surprise some people. Normal things like groups of students socializing and lines at the bathroom are much more uncommon, causing the campus to be eerily quiet.

Assistant Principal Jim Larson shared what he thinks will be one of the harder challenges for students.

“My perception of our kids is they’re less worried about maybe getting sick [and] that it will be more of an adjustment of getting up and actually getting out of bed and not doing class on the couch,” explained Larson.

While some people think students don’t want to come to school, there are others who think the opposite. 

Novato High senior Jordan Levin shared his thoughts on how students will react to being in classrooms.

“Although we haven’t been at school in person in over a year, I feel that students are anxious to come back, and will transition easily from a fully online schedule to the new hybrid schedule,” said Levin. “I think students will adapt to in person learning quickly and smoothly over the next few weeks.”

The immense changes made over the last year have no doubt left an impact on students and the way they work. Many students’ study habits have decayed and they may feel somewhat left behind.

“I think that attending in-person classes is sort of like riding a bike. We’re taught at a very young age and don’t ever really forget. We’re used to having breaks from school and even though it’s been a year since returning, I feel that it will be a little anxiety-inducing. But, students will quickly adapt to being back in a classroom,” Krieger said.

Even though the transition to an in-person learning model will come with many changes, with the structure and discipline of on-campus learning, many students will adapt and some will revert back to their old habits.