Starting with the 2023-24 school year, District 211 board members decided that the first week of school would now be five days instead of the two-day first week in previous years.
“It all depends on the district scheduling and it’s all based off of the end date of our calendar,” Assistant Principal Travis Hastings said. “It really just fits into the calendar of having enough days in the school calendar because we have to meet state expectations. There’s a set end date and that all works backwards.”
Other districts like 214 and 207 started with a half week. District 214 had its first day on Wednesday, Aug. 14. District 207 had only freshmen come in on Aug. 14 and everyone else had their first day on Thursday, Aug. 15.
“In the past we’ve had our two institute days, Tuesday, Wednesday, and then kids come Thursday, Friday, and I just think that’s a better model,” social studies teacher Leslie Schock said. “I’ve also seen other school districts where they have institute day Monday, Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday where they just walk their schedule and meet their teachers and it’s not so overwhelming. Kids can’t learn if they don’t feel comfortable, if they feel overwhelmed, if they feel anxious.”
Schock explained how during a time when mental health is starting to be taken more seriously, kids’ emotions are things that really need to be taken into consideration when it comes to changes that will affect them.
“I think [it benefits students] on some level,” senior Izzy Steinbach said. “It forces you to get into the groove of things and you can’t procrastinate your work as much because by Friday, you’re already being taught material.”
Students learn to adjust to their new routine as the school year progresses, making it a bit less overwhelming when coming to school.
The district plans to keep the Monday start for the near future. The District 211 2025-26 school calendar says school will be starting on Monday, Aug. 11.
