On Jan. 19, D128 put the hybrid schedule into effect. The high school has utilized the block schedule so they can send two groups of students into the building at separate times, allowing them to socially distance students.

There are currently 500 students in-person, and students will have another opportunity to start hybrid on March 29.

Teachers also have to wake up earlier, perfecting their lesson plans and making their commutes to school. Because classes are longer, some teachers spend their mornings planning out what would normally be two lessons to make use of all the class time.

“[It’s difficult] to keep classes on the same pace when you have the same type of class on two different days,” math teacher Mr. Jared Gustafson said.

Despite the initial challenges from the new block schedule and the adjustments to hybrid, many students and teachers are glad to be back in a physical classroom and see a few familiar faces.

“I am happy to be back; seeing students in person is really nice. The cliche ‘we do a lot of this for the kids’ is true,” Mr. Gustafson said.

Students are able to take a break from staring at their screens all day and have found it easier to focus while at school.

“I prefer it much better than doing everything online; I can’t stare at a screen for hours on end, so going to school changes that up a bit,” Ryan Kuczynski (11) said.

Alexa Cieslinski (10) said she felt the same way about being in-person.

“ [Hybrid] helps me focus more and feel like it’s school,” he said.

Teachers have been working on keeping online and hybrid kids connected—making sure everyone feels welcomed. Whenever there is a class activity, those in-person are able to join the Zoom and be with the rest of their classmates.

“It’s basically similar to Zoom, where you’re listening to the teacher go through their lesson. Sometimes you’re on the Zoom and join the breakout rooms,” Bradley Auw (12) said.

Teachers are also seeing more participation from students who are back in-person.

“Kids are more willing to interact with you if they are sitting in a room with you versus staring at a computer screen,” Mr. Gustafson said.

While it is nice for students to see their teachers and a few of their peers, many students are missing most of their friends and the small interactions being in a school full of kids has brought them. Classrooms are not nearly as full as they used to be—some classes only have one or two students back.

Kuczynski said his least favorite part of hybrid is not being able to be with his friends and all the classes having next-to-no kids.

“It feels like it’s lacking a lot of what made normal school bearable and fun. Connections with other people, talking and joking in the halls, you can’t do any of that,” Auw said.

One thing many students wished for was a change in the block schedule. Instead of going in for only half of the day, students would like to be able to stay the full day they are scheduled.

“I would prefer going in for a full day on Monday and Tuesday and not going in at all on Thursday and Friday,” Cieslinski said.

Kuczynski agreed, adding that he also wishes more students were present.

Many students hope to see classrooms continue to fill up over time, decreasing the number of classes that only have a couple of students.

Hybrid has been helpful for those who struggle being online everyday, and it gives teachers a chance to see some of their students in person. While hybrid learning is still new, students say it’s not comparable to what VHHS was just a year ago.

“It really can’t compare to normal school in my eyes,” Auw said.