After the unique nature of the prior year, students can find some new additions around campus. Upperclassmen may recognize some of them from pre-pandemic years, but it’s all new for underclassmen. 

A notable difference this year is the layout of classes. Last year, students had block day every day, with three classes per day, each class taking a total of two hours. This year, the administration has gone back to the original schedule, where students attend all six classes every day. With the usual scheduling of classes, Tuesday and Wednesday are the block days for the week. Many teachers prefer the schedule this year. “It allows the students to see the content daily,” French teacher Scott Nichols said.

Sophomores are having to adjust to attending all six classes most days after only knowing the all block schedule. This year, with the exception of the designated block days, students may have a heavier workload, with assignments due the next day. Some students struggle with this change, because when each class occurred every other day, there was more time allowed to complete assignments. “We’ve never been in high school at a normal pace, so it seems like it really sped up this year, when this is just the average,” Sophomore Stella Jones said.

Beyond the change in workload, the class runtime is also different. This year, a normal class is around an hour long. After being accustomed to a two hour class, the shorter classes have taken time to adapt to. “The classes feel short, I feel like I don’t have enough time to even like process, like we sit down and then we immediately pack up,” Sophomore Scarlett Adams said.

Another re-added aspect to the school year is the inclusion of conferences. Conference is an allotted period of time after the first class on a block day (period one on Tuesdays, and period two on Wednesday). This time can be used for clubs to gather, students to make up tests, and to gain additional tutoring. Students can attend a club meeting by receiving a club pass, signed by the club’s leader. 

The lunch period has also undergone various adjustments. Last year a fourth lunch was added to limit contact between unmasked students. The three-lunch schedule has been reinstated, resulting in larger numbers of students at each lunch.

Lines for popular items, such as the burritos, sometimes spill out into the middle of the cafeteria. Students may have a difficult time finding seating, and some students have said that they barely get their lunch in time. “There’s a lot more people and the lines are a lot longer and a lot slower moving,” Jones said. 

Other new additions to the cafeteria are some new food options, such as the new burger stand, where students can assemble their own cheeseburger or veggie burger. This area contains a self-serve station containing various burger toppings for students to build their burger. Many new types of ice cream are now sold, and can be found in the snack section. 

Initially, in the first days of school’s opening, the coffee shop, “Java City Coffee” reopened to the enjoyment of many students. The shop was closed last year, and students were eager for the opening. However, after the first few days, the shop closed again. 

Adding to the new school year, the teaching staff, as well as the administration office have welcomed new additions. While there is no telling where this year will lead, something that remains the same is Perry’s drive to provide a safe, learning environment for its students.