The Westside High School curriculum has changed drastically in the past year due to COVID-19, which has been difficult for both teachers and students. Although the transition has been a challenge, everyone has given their best efforts to make it work out. Student and teacher opinions on the new learning experience vary, but senior Cassidy Smith said that the instructors have been a big help with adjusting to online learning. 

 “The high school [instructors] have stepped up to teach us [online], and even though it’s a challenge they are doing really well,” Smith said. “Learning online still requires a lot more time because I am teaching myself, but the videos the teachers send out help me a lot. It helps so much to be in class with the teachers. It just makes learning so much easier.” 

Westside staff are trying very hard to make sure that everything goes smoothly when they cannot physically help students and to make sure that everyone does not suffer when they learn online at home. Social studies instructor Jonathan Preister stated the following when asked about the situation from a teacher’s perspective. 

“It’s stressful trying to make sure the students all feel included in the learning environment, even if they are online,” Priester said. “The transition to online and in-person learning was difficult but necessary, and I think the school and all the teachers have really stepped up and done a good job. The scheduling is the hardest part.”