The deans at South are welcoming the students back from winter break this month and are also reinforcing old and new expectations this semester.

With the times of COVID, students face a few more rules to keep everyone as safe as possible in the building.

“The only expectations in the building that changed were the media center procedures; it is now limited to sophomores and freshmen on certain days for when they can come to the media center during their study hall,” dean Brooke Twohill said.

Another dean, Jessica Bernacki also weighed in, reminding students of the policies regarding the nurse, “…tell your teacher before you go to the nurse. We need to know if it is COVID related versus if you were just to get an ice pack.”

Bernacki also adds the reinforcements of existing expectations such as dress code.

“For dress code we also give hero slips now just so we can track warnings,” Bernacki said.

Both Bernacki and Twohill plan on being stricter with these expectations now that students are used to being back in school.

Regarding masks, it is still a statewide mandate to require masks over the mouth and nose inside the building for students, teachers, and staff.

“We do remind people to pull up their masks,” Bernacki said.

The consequences of violating school and district mandates are also in place and reinforced this semester.

“As far as dress codes and tardies go, everybody starts clean for the semester and gets three warnings,” Twohill says.

After the three warnings are given, the next offenses will result in detention. If the unwanted behavior continues, suspensions and parent contact is also an option.Even though there are many expectations to abide by, there are benefits for everyone involved. Bernacki and Twohill address these great benefits of following expectations and rules.
The expectations are in place for everyone to feel safe and stay healthy.

Bernacki also addresses the students’ strong dislike of the hoods and hat rules. She says that, “[It is] because we need to identify students in the hallway.”

The rule against hoods and hats is strictly a safety protocol for the entire district.

“[One benefit is] a calmer environment and teachers don’t have to deal with unwanted behaviors all the time so they can get to their curriculum,” Bernacki said.