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The first day of the 2024-2025 school year at Avonworth High School in Pittsburgh, PA, was a day filled with mixed emotions, new experiences, and a completely transformed environment. After an extended summer break that stretched from June through August, students returned on September 3rd to a school that looked dramatically different from the one they had left in May.
The changes were immediately visible as students arrived at the school. The entrance to the building was clean and finished, with evenly paved and freshly painted roads leading up to it. Small trees had been planted around the parking lot, adding a touch of greenery. Upon entering the building, students were greeted by a new wall decoration in the main entrance, featuring photos of fellow students participating in various clubs and sports, setting a welcoming and inclusive tone.
The cafeteria had undergone a significant transformation, adopting an “unfinished chic” appearance with concrete floors, new doors to the auditorium, and a bar for the Lopes Lounge. The space was now adorned with wooden structures, and the ceiling seemed lower than before. Inside the main high school area, the renovations were mostly complete, with every classroom featuring new carpeting, lighting, stark white walls, and windows that opened into the hallway.
In addition to the physical changes, there were also notable shifts in the faculty and school policies. Four new teachers joined the high school: Mr. Ahmed Affenah in the math department, Mr. Derek Johncour and Ms. Maaike Hartmann in the science department, and Mr. Cory Neville in the music department. New policies were introduced as well, such as the rule that teachers could no longer turn off the fluorescent lights in classrooms, deemed “conducive to learning,” and a ban on personal appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, and mini-refrigerators due to new insurance regulations.
The new construction also included spaces apparently designed for open mods, though on the first day, students were still confined to the library or cafeteria for these periods. Only teachers seemed to be utilizing the new areas during their planning times. As the year progresses, however, these spaces may become more accessible to the student body.
For many students, the first day of school was a blend of excitement, nervousness, and nostalgia. Seniors felt the bittersweet reality of their final year of high school, while sophomores and juniors navigated the new building layout and adjusted to new routines. Freshmen, in particular, faced the typical nerves associated with starting high school, yet many found the day more welcoming and manageable than they had anticipated.
Throughout the day, there was a sense of both awe and disorientation as students took in the many changes. The new 40-minute MOD schedule was a significant shift, making the day feel both rushed and shorter, and while the pace was challenging for some, it also created an opportunity to adjust to the new normal.
Despite the whirlwind of changes — from construction to new teachers and policies — the first day at Avonworth High School highlighted the resilience and adaptability of the student body. It set the stage for a school year filled with growth, learning, and the forging of new memories. Students, faculty, and staff alike seemed ready to embrace these changes, looking forward to the opportunities they might bring and the fresh start they symbolized. The day was not just a return to school, but a step forward into a year of transformation and discovery.
