Students headed back to class in Montgomery and Prince George鈥檚 counties Tuesday, starting a new school year with everything from a stricter cellphone policy to renovated athletic facilities and newly opened schools.
At James Hubert Blake High School in Montgomery County, Maryland, students streamed in with sleep still in their eyes and phones in their hands, ready for another academic year.
Meanwhile, students at Frederick Douglass High School in Prince George鈥檚 County gathered on a newly renovated football field to start the year. Elsewhere in the county, students were welcomed into two new elementary schools.
Cellphones go away in Montgomery County
At Blake High School, senior Vallery Espinal-Ramirez is looking forward to all the traditions that come with her final year.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for senior sunrise, get to be with my friends, get to enjoy the sunrise, which I feel like is a rare thing for people to do. It鈥檚 so beautiful. I鈥檓 excited to be here,鈥� she told 91欧美激情.
The seniors will watch the sunset together on the last day of school in the spring. Others, such as Victoria Azamati, are looking forward to the fun events ahead.
鈥淗omecoming is really the biggest thing that we have right now, we鈥檙e trying to plan right now,鈥� she said.
But students are also adjusting to a new policy designed to help reduce digital distractions and improve attention in school.
Students must put their phones away from the time they enter school until the last bell rings. They can鈥檛 use them between classes or during lunch.
鈥淭here鈥檚 students who are still going to be able to sneak on their phone, and also I could also like see an increase of anxiety for students who might need their phone, or may be alone and may have social anxiety,鈥� Azamati told 91欧美激情.
Blake High School Principal Ahmed Adelekan said the goal is to reduce distractions so students can focus on learning. As for enforcement, he said it will start gradually.
鈥淚t starts with a conversation, and then you know progressively you go from there. And you know parents are going to be huge as far as helping us implement the policy,鈥� he told 91欧美激情.
Katie Hamill, staff development teacher at Blake High School, said removing distractions can help students direct their attention toward learning.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been focusing on the science of learning, and we know attention is limited, and so when we can put away distractions, we can direct that attention on what we鈥檙e trying to learn and discuss that day.鈥�
Superintendent Thomas Taylor said the school system has reached a 鈥渃ritical mass鈥� with the issue of cellphones in school.
鈥淥ur middle schoolers have been used to an all-out cellphone ban, bell to bell, for the last several years, and now they鈥檝e matriculated to high school. So this is a shift that we鈥檝e been working toward for the last several years, and now we鈥檙e ready for full implementation one year ahead of the state law,鈥� he said.
New year brings changes in Prince George鈥檚 County
At Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, students gathered on the school鈥檚 newly renovated football field for the first day back.
The county鈥檚 investment in the school has already had an impact on its culture, according to Athletic Director JC Pinkney.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen an influx of student athletes coming out for fall sports, over a 15% increase on the rosters from last year to this year,鈥� Pinkney said. 鈥淒ouglass has been on the map, but it鈥檚 been kind of low key. We sit back off the unbeaten path 鈥� but now people are starting to recognize. This has probably been one of the county鈥檚 best kept secrets.鈥�
The new school year also brings a new principal to Douglass. Kimberly Boldon came from Montgomery County to work in the community where she grew up and still lives.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the place to be,鈥� the Suitland alum said with a smile. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for me to give back to the community that has given so much to me.鈥�
It may be her first day at Douglass, but she already knows what she鈥檚 walking into.
鈥淭he culture is phenomenal,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 really special here is the kids and what they bring, all of their talents, all of their passions, all of their energy.鈥�
Boldon won鈥檛 be the only one walking into a new school this year. For students making that transition, Douglass senior Mayokun Ogunmakinwa offered some advice.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be scared to make friends,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lways say hi to somebody, you never know, they might want to be your friend too. Don鈥檛 be afraid to socialize.鈥�
鈥淭hose that you meet in your first year are most likely to be the ones you end the year with,鈥� she added.
Elsewhere in Prince George鈥檚 County, the school system is celebrating the opening of two new elementary schools: Templeton Elementary School in Riverdale and Margaret Brent Elementary School in New Carrollton.
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