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The first day of 2026-2027 included the debut of The Hook, a weekly edition of video announcements led by senior Harrison McAfee. Along with a student crew of on-air anchors, camera and lighting operators, sponsors Mrs. James and Mrs. Weyant offer support through additional editing, coordinating the simulcast, and hosting LEAD time throughout the week for production. For the debut edition, student staff returned earlier in the summer and recorded in the renovated athletic office next to the HS gym. Students and teachers enjoyed the first edition of the Hook as it aired towards the end of Mod D on Tuesday, August 25th, to start the school year.
Earlier in the day, teachers aired a video from Dr. Dwulit explaining the return of No Cell, Bell to Bell. For a second consecutive year, school policy is no cell phones in classes. 11th and 12th grade students can use phones during Open Mods and LEAD, otherwise phones go into wall hangers at the start of class.
A majority of the staff remains the same from 2025-2026, with changes mostly a shift of familiar teachers from the middle school up to the high school. Mr. Smith moved up from decades as a middle school social studies teacher to replace Mr. Lincoln as the Personal Finance teacher. Mrs. Barkovich moved up after a decade at the middle school to return as a 10th and 11th grade English teacher. This is the first year for High School Choir teacher Alex Coker, who relocated to Pittsburgh after teaching in his hometown of Chattanooga, TN. He replaces Mrs. Dudley, who moved into the Kindergarten position opened with the retirement of Mrs. Simmons.
For students in the incoming freshman class, the shift to high school signaled a mix of welcome change alongside new challenges. “This school year looks exciting to me because I have more freedom and more interesting classes,” says freshman Audrey Witul, a sentiment echoed by Evelyn Neville, who is eager for “high school sports and more academic independence.” Natalie Richardson shares the enthusiasm, noting that the selection of classes is a major draw, while Gianna Colasante adds, “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and getting to experience a new school.”
“I’m excited for the classes, but also nervous to manage homework, schoolwork, sports, and taking care of myself,” explains freshman Piper Roedersheimer. Olivia Hubbell is simply “excited about this school year because I have good classes,” but others find a mix of emotions. Gwen Hamerick notes, “I’m not really nervous but I am excited to have all of my classes I chose,” while Rosa Herrle keeps it simple: “I’m nervous but I also am looking forward to it.”
For many, the challenge lies in the sheer volume of work. Gertrude Davis balances “all honors and playing three sports,” noting that having an open mod makes it “manageable.” Others, like Odessa Smith, admit, “I’m excited to see my friends, but I’m nervous it’s going to be stressful because I have a lot of classes plus band.” Stella Lope echoes these concerns, adding, “This year I am taking 2 math classes, so I am excited to see how I do. I am a little nervous, though, because I am going to have to manage all of my classes alongside sports.” Valerie Jones and Zach Long summarize the collective mood of the freshman class: “super excited but also nervous for what may be hard.”
By the time students reach their junior and senior years, the focus often shifts from “new beginnings” to “getting the job done.” For many upperclassmen, the approach is one of disciplined determination. Noah Neiss, a junior, is looking for an impactful year both academically and on the football field, aiming to “continue to put in work for another state championship.” This sentiment of grinding and staying “locked in” is shared by his peers. Seniors like Calder Mahan view this as the final stretch, noting, “This year for me is going to be a lot of fun since it’s my last year at Avonworth, but still going to be grinding from the jump all year long.” Juniors Andy Le and Cole Rogalsky emphasize consistency and dedication as the keys to their upcoming success.
Despite the hustle, students remain grounded in the spirit of the school community. For students like Neveah Evans, the goal is about “making new memories, making new friends, and seeing what this school year has in store,” while Anna Fowler is “looking forward to football games starting and the fun activities that I get to do with my friends.” Avonews reporter Logan Greely also asked a few staff members about the start to the year. Whether it’s looking forward to spending the year across from Mr. Tuffiash, as Mr. Wolfe notes, or the blunt, classic advice from Mr. Smith to “Do your job,” the Avonworth community seems ready for whatever the 2026-2027 year brings.
Reporting by Journalism 1 students: Jayden Jones, Logan Quigley, Jaidyn Hudgens, Reese Dawson, Havana Brosius, Evelyn Neville
