Final exams are approaching after a long three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and apart from the seniors in the building, no one has taken final exams yet.

“We did require final exams in the fall of 2019 before the pandemic impacted schools. Each district in the state and country makes the decision of how they structure their instructional format, grading, and end of semester requirements,” said district head of curriculum, Daniel McDonnell who has a doctorate degrees Educational Administration and Leadership from DePaul University.

With final exams back in the curriculum, most students will now have to prepare for their first ever final exam. 

“I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating but it’s definitely going to be new. I’m mostly concerned about how it’s going to go because I have never had it before but I am sure it will be fine,” freshman Dyson Cranfield said.

In past years, one of the studying methods offered to lower classmen was Cocoa and Cram. This year, it is returning with a new name, Cookies and Cram. The National Honors Society will be there to tutor students in all subjects. Teachers will also be available for tutoring and questions. 

“[Cookies and Cram] gives people an opportunity to come into the cafeteria, have some snacks and treats but more importantly get some tutoring and work with their peers and ask teachers questions. It is a big tutoring session and it gives them a push towards taking that final exam at the end of the week,” said principal Bob Yanello. 

Sophomores and Juniors will have their Cookies and Cram on December 15 from 2:30 pm to 4 pm and Freshmen will be on December 19 at the same time.

Yanello also advised that students complete any study guides given and keep themselves organized to adequately prepare for the finals. 

The way the finals are incorporated into the final grade is the same as it was back in 2019 with an 80-20 ratio. Students also have not overlooked the change in the grading system.

“ Coming out of the pandemic, we once again discussed grading on what we learned while going through the pandemic and how the grading system should be modified to apply what we learned and return to a more ‘normal’ year,” McDonnell said, explaining  the 75-25 ratio was decided for the 2022-2023 school year. He also suggests that students start reviewing for finals sooner than later and to participate in any class studying activities.

The schedule for final exams is as follows: December 20 will be fourth, fifth, and sixth hour, December 21 will be first and second hour, and December 22 will be third and seventh hour. Each exam is 65 minutes with a ten minute passing period.