The following letter was sent to San Luis Obispo High School Principal Leslie O’Connor and San Luis Coastal Unified School District Superintendent Eric Prater.
20 July 2020
Dear Dr. Prater and Mr. O’Connor,
We write to you as students from San Luis Obispo High School who are deeply committed to ensuring all students receive a valuable education. On July 16, 2020, the district decided to adopt the semester system at San Luis Obispo High School this school year in order to align San Luis Obispo High School’s school calendar with that of other schools in the district. The semester system would require students to take six classes per day instead of five, two trimester long classes (ie. English) would be two semesters long instead, and athletics would be considered extra-curricular rather than an elective.
All of us agree that we prefer the trimester system we have been using. We like the rigorous and fasted paced classes that allow us to learn a full year’s worth of material in two trimesters, giving us more opportunities to take electives. On the new semester system, we would have almost all core classes (ie. English, science, math, history, language, and PE (Physical Education)), leaving no space for electives in our schedules. While these core classes are extremely important, electives are often overlooked. Electives give students an opportunity to learn more about themselves and the world through hands-on activities, allowing them to study new topics and learn valuable life skills. Specifically, electives zero in on topics that an English or science textbook does not adequately teach. On the trimester system, we would only be taking two trimesters of each course, giving us more opportunities to take electives that are specific to our career goals, thus preparing us for the workplace.
In addition, many universities such as Cal Poly are on a quarter system, similar to the trimester system; therefore, the trimester system better prepares students for college life. Since the trimester system is twelve weeks instead of eighteen weeks, it teaches students not to procrastinate and manage their time effectively.
From an athletic standpoint, student athletes all prefer having their sport fifth period. For example, during second trimester, spring sport athletes would have homework for their five classes in addition to two hours of practice after school and morning practice as well. During the third trimester, sports were during fifth period and those athletes only had four classes to worry about. This allows student athletes to allocate more time to their sport and focus on studying for their academic classes. Being able to practice during the school day would help reduce the amount of stress on scholar athletes, as they would not have to stay up as late doing homework. In addition, many sports competitions take place during the week; therefore, many student athletes leave after lunch to compete. By having sports be considered an elective, the student athletes would only be missing one academic class instead of two. However, the semester system would force all sports to take place after school, intensifying the stress scholar athletes need to cope with.
On July 20, we learned that CIF announced all sports will be played between December and June of this academic year, and the seasons will be split into two sessions rather than three. With this new change, it would be fitting to have session 1 athletes enroll in their sport second trimester, and session 2 athletes enroll in their sport third trimester, as the trimester schedule closely aligns with CIF’s tentative schedule. The trimester system would give two sport athletes the opportunity to play both of their sports while also allocating enough time for academics.
While doing a sport is a privilege, through participation in a team sport, athletes learn the values of good communication, dedication, time management and team building. In addition, it takes a commitment to be a scholar athlete and over time, athletes gain an understanding that hard work leads to success. These skills learned on the field transfer to the classroom, ultimately leading to improved grades and heightened academic performance. On the trimester system, student athletes must juggle all of the stresses and work other students face; but being able to train during the school day and have one less academic class to worry about alleviates the workload on scholar athletes. However, the semester system would put student athletes at a disadvantage as they would be dedicating over ten hours per week outside of the school day to their sport, in addition to time spent doing homework for their six classes. While at this point in time high school sports are on hold, when student athletes resume their sport and in person learning, the pressure of balancing academics and athletics would be strengthened.
The trimester system puts students on a more academically rigorous schedule while ensuring students and athletes receive a more personalized education specific to their interests and career goals. As students, we had no say in the decision to adopt the semester system – a decision that directly affects our education. We are discontent with the lack of communication between students and administration. While it is understandable that San Luis Obispo High School would like to align their school calendar with other schools in the district this year as distance learning will be continued through winter break, we do not feel this new change to the semester system is beneficial to our education. Already, this new form of online learning combined with stresses from the pandemic are negatively impacting our learning. An additional change that would impact athletics, graduation requirements and much more, that students have not been notified about, is only intensifying the pressure students are facing as we approach the upcoming school year. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION TO ADOPT THE SEMESTER SYSTEM AND KEEP THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM, based on input from students, families, and staff.
Additionally, we are writing to you to ask for extensive written clarification on what school and athletics will look like under this new system. As students, we have received no emails this summer from San Luis Obispo High School nor San Luis Coastal Unified School District. It is not fair to us to have to sit through three hour long board meetings in an attempt to gain a view of what school will be like during the 2020-2021 school year. This would have been good information to know before we registered for our classes and we believe more communication with students is needed so we know what to expect this upcoming school year. These past few months have been very stressful with COVID-19, and the lack of information we are getting combined with these unexpected changes are only making things more stressful than need be.
We request clear communication to students outlining what the 2020-2021 school year will look like and the decision to adopt the semester system be reconsidered based on input from students.
Signed,
1. Emily Pan, Sophomore2. Lucille Reed, Sophomore3. Emma Jantos, Freshman4. Emily Niebuhr, sophomore 5. Madeline Shannon, sophomore 6. Kylee McNabb, sophomore 7. Katya Harris, Sophomore 8. Holly Schmitt, sophomore9. Enrique Ernstrom, sophmore10. Mary Zawalick, Sophomore11. Matt Horn, Sophomore12. Josiah McCarley, sophomore 13. Julia Bellardo, Sophomore14. Gwendolyn Brussel, sophomore15. Ashley Sirois, Sophomore 16. Dawn Sirois, Parent17. Faith Frederick, Junior 18. Isabella Nino de Rivera, Sophomore19. Brinley Ewen, Sophmore20. Adamaris Rojas Oritz , sophomore21. Preston Sirois, Parent22. Amanda Ardantz, Senior 23. Adamaris Rojas, sophomore 24. Sophia Liu, sophomore 25. Bonnie Smith, Community Member26. Diego Freeman-Garcia, sophomore 27. Eleanor Mann, sophomore 28. Karsyn Diesta, Sophomore29. Grace Greenelsh, senior30. liz evans, sophmore31. makena swithin, sophomore32. Broderick Hill, shophmore33. Rodica Caprau, Junior34. Morgan Mosichuk, Junior35. Chloe Dow, sophomore36. Kai Matson, Junior 37. Nico di Santo, sophomore 38. Holly Speake, 8th Grade39. Jared Treichler, sophomore 40. Pierson Kromhout, sophomore 41. Talia Zundel, Sophomore42. Katharine Karleskint, Sophomore43. Sophie Pettis, sophomore 44. Matthew Davi, Sophomore45. Brandon Jensen, Sophomore46. Shawn McNabb, parent47. Matthew Hartford, sophomore48. Kylie Meas, Sophomore 49. Annika Ernstrom – Senior50. Owen Blackwell, sophomore 51. Calianna Fritch-Armstrong, junior52. Cole Ragsdale, sophmore53. angie perkins, sophomore 54. Zachary Hill, Senior55. Leili Nelson, sophomore56. Xiaomin Jin, parent57. Kathryn van Lingen, Senior58. Rodica Caprau, Junior59. Gabby Worden, Sophomore60. Kayla Crosno, Sophomore 61. Katelyn Goldsmith, Sophomore 62. Sofia Latta, junior63. Elia Kim, Sophomore 64. Maria Chechopoulos, Alumni65. Nathan Danner, senior66. Wesley Morgan, senior67. Morgan Hunting, senior68. Benjamin Handy, senior69. Kai Wikler, Sophomore70. Corey Albright-Juarez, Senior71. Sonja Cowgill, Senior72. Kai Uyeda, senior73. Isaac Garcia, senior 74. Olivia Cusick, Sophmore75. Olivia Cisneros, Senior76. Marguerite Zuniga, Senior77. Vivian Swenson-Ruiz, senior 78. Carmen Silver, Senior 79. Alina Jacinth, senior80. Kelly Miller, Senior81. Kaylie Hall, senior 82. Francine Pojas, Senior 83. Matthew Johnson, Senior84. Ashton Todd, stuent85. Laura Cubanski, Senior86. Diana Fuchs, Alumni87. Zachary Zang, senior88. Oscar Castillo, junior 89. Jane Culbreath, Sophmore90. Henry Crew, Sophomore 91. Mia Fraysier, sophomore92. Kaia Blackwell, Sophomore93. Rachel Morgan , parent94. milla rucks, sophomore 95. Landen Allison-Bullock, sophomore 96. Jonah Shin, Senior97. Danica Hergenroeder, Senior98. Ian McKay, senior99. Jackson Stitt, freshman 100. Karna Stitt, parent 101. Isabella Osgood, senior102. Helen Ringley, Senior103. Gus Ringley, Sophomore104. Zac Oates, sophomore105. Nicholas Bircher, senior106. Trish Ringley, parent 107. Maggie McKay, Freshman108. Madison Ptacek, Sophomore 109. lucy shrubb, freshmen 110. Lindsay McKee, Junior 111. Payton Pinckert, Freshman 112. Christian Cuevillas, Sophmore113. Grisha Dekhtyar, Junior114. Alejandra Pinzon-Betancourt, Alumni115. Claire Hughes, senior 116. Mary Pinzon-Betancourt, Alumni117. rebecca mckee, freshman118. annabelle demarest, sophomore 119. solen bourroux , student120. Christopher Jewell, Junior121. Jerilynn Campbell, parent122. Katie Sokolowski, Freshman123. Siena Boscaro, freshman124. Alexis Sargenti, Sophmore 125. Sage Lindvall, sophomore 126. Makenna Siebenlist, junior127. Stephanie Hunting, Parent128. Tanner Van Brasch, Senior 129. Trish Ringley, parent 130. Miley Rosecrans, Junior 131. alexis haas, senior 132. Perla Reyna, Senior 133. Meili Laiho, senior 134. Charlotte Bigler, junior135. Savannah Forsythe, junior 136. Kaedin Bryan, student137. Baden Ewen, junior138. Ulibeth Avila, Junior 139. Zoey Nielsen, Sophmore140. Audie Stevens, Junior141. Holly Roberts, junior 142. Charlie Jansen, Junior143. Erin Garnsey, sophmore144. Gannon Gibson, senior145. Alexandra Prodanav, senior146. Rozy Jones, junior147. Clara Landeros, sophomore 148. Hari Mistry, Sophomore 149. Jared Treichler, sophomore 150. ben watkins, junior151. Aeven sylvester, junior152. Gaylynn kirn, sophomore 153. Avery Machamer, sophomore 154. Alex Warden, Junior 155. Jack O’Brien, Senior156. Rowan Norby, sophomore 157. Nate Browning, Sophomore158. avery weeks, sophomore159. Davin Laiho, Freshmen160. Lucas Koch, Junior161. Brennan LePage, Junior162. Sanjay Sreejith, senior163. Sophia Lea, Junior164. Lauren Anderson, Junior165. Max Threlkel, senior166. Luke Holland, junior167. Marisa Lea, senior168. Sasha Sheridan, senior169. Sam O’Sullivan, Junior170. berlyn ellsworth, Junior171. Nathanael Severn, Junior172. Nina Moutafov, Freshman173. William Holton, sophomore 174. Lauren Horsley, Senior 175. Emilie Giannini, Senior176. Brittney Sagredo, Junior177. Braidon Stewart, Junior178. Bridget Tuohy, junior179. Lizette Crooks, Senior180. Gabriel Irwin, Junior181. Lucy Moseley, Sophomore 182. Thomas Byde, sophomore 183. Jovanni Rodriguez, Junior184. Lucy Crew, Sophmore 185. Ashley Danner, alumni186. Ainsley Stephens, freshmen187. Mia Jess, Sophomore 188. Carys Villani, softmore189. Collin Santoyo, Senior190. Katie Sokolowski, Freshman191. Anthony Man, Senior192. Chancellor foster, sophomore 193. Jennifer Michel, sophomore 194. rebecca mckee, freshman195. Joseph Castillo , alumni196. Owen Wells, Sophomore 197. Fiorela Echano, senior198. Lily Rogers, sophomore199. Jahan Ramezani, Senior Class of 2020200. Camryn Kay, Senior 201. Logan Blackwell, Alumni202. logan johnson, sophomore 203. Savanna Henderson, sophomore 204. Ava Karp, Senior205. Gabriel Mack Garcia, sophomore 206. emma stoudenmire, junior207. Jen Rucks, parent208. Mae Cubanski, Freshman 209. June McIvor, parent210. Anakoni Berger, Senior211. Brooklyn Powers, Sophomore212. Ronan Biggs, sophomore213. Aiden McGuire, sophomore 214. Celia Lober, Senior215. Michael Berger, parent216. Autumn Wozniak, Alumni217. Paul Miser, Sophomore218. Aubrey O’Leary, freshman 219. Marcus Rudnick, Sophmore220. Emily Hamilton, parent221. Hayden Ventrella, Senior222. Cooper Groshart, sophomore223. Jake Shin, righetti student, junior 224. Liberty Massman, Junior 225. Chris Dzukola, Alumni226. Hanna Jorgensen, senior 227. Lil Daane, Junior 228. Ryan Schisler, junior229. Nick Massman, parent230. Nathan Durrant, Junior231. Jasmine Riffle, junior232. Ellery Yasumoto, Senior 233. Nivashini Saravanakumar, junior234. Cherie Dart, Parent235. Katie Sokolowski, Freshman236. Siya Ranat, Junior237. Victoria Amaya, Senior238. Emily Sincoff, freshman 239. Paris Uhler, Junior240. Dominick Harris, Sophomore241. Malia Maire, Junior242. Mikayla Maire, Junior243. Jake Maire, Freshman244. Ashley Picasso Ramirez, Junior 245. Kalani Ruiz, Junior246. Brian Jones, Senior247. Iain Van Kleeck, Sophomore248. Owen Moseley, senior249. Madeline Larrimore, Senior 250. McKenna Kasselman, Senior251. Isabella Hoffmann, senior 252. India Drazsnzak, Junior253. Doreen Kasselman, parent254. Karen Rumore, parent255. Eric Hoffmann, parent256. Evan Sosa-Hammond, Junior257. Leslie Galicia,
Junior258. Owen Pearson, Sophomore259. Ava Jacobs, sophomore260. Daniel Owens, junior261. Logan Hernandez, Senior262. Alex Goodman, Graduate Class of 2020263. Sophia Campbell, sophomore264. Ryana Richards, Senior265. Katerina Edwards, sophomore266. Julia Minicucci, senior267. Gavin McDiarmid, Junior268. Floricel, parent269. Vivian Man, parent270. Gary smith, parent271. Oswaldo, parent272. Sydney Sharp, junior273. Sufyan Sajjad, senior274. Isaiah Bueno, Junior275. Natalya beck, junior276. Stella McSween, junior277. Dylan Hosn, Freshman278. Natalie Hosn, Freshmen279. Patty Flores, Parent280. Emery Marroquin, Sophomore281. Sonja Lundquist, Freshman282. Kai Winstead LeRoy, Junior283. Michelle Lea, parent284. Jennifer Kinsey, Alumni285. Emmit Bowers, Senior286. Danny Moollor, Junior287. Audrey Drenckpohl, freshman288. Sophie Beaton, Senior289. Zoe Elliott, Freshman290. Samantha Cusick, Sophomore291. Elizabeth Stulberg, Senior292. Dylan Koch, Freshman293. Emma Galambos, alumni294. Nicholas Chaves, Junior295. Laura Cooper, parent 296. Niko Čimbur, Junior297. April Engelmeier, Senior 298. Maggie McKay, Freshman299. Aiden O’Leary Senior 300. Grace Rubio, senior301. Coco Steel, senior 302. Helen Hoadley, senior303. Angelica Gonzalez, Junior 304. Ellie Pearson, sophomore 305. Emily Gardner, senior306. Bryce North-Wilson, Senior307. Dakota Margason Senior308. Tom Morgan, Parent309. Violet Emerson, Junior310. Vanessa Castrejon, Senior311. Luke Reiss, sophmore312. Mox Burnham, Freshman313. Martin Nelson, Senior314. Ernie Kim, parent315. Heather Diesta, parent316. Doris Kim, parent317. Mackenzie Nguyen, junior318. Isabella Bonini, junior319. Talia Doane, Junior320. Brian Vormbaum, Junior321. Nicole LePage322. Ojanni Lopez junior323. Sam S, junior324. andrea finn, junior325. Evan Clausen, senior326. Ayden Kim, Junior327. Lucas Waggoner, senior328. Amir Stratton senior329. Anthony mulay, senior330. Katie Moersdorf, senior331. Ari Maksoudian senior332. Victoria Stulberg, Senior333. Ava Buschur, Junior334. Cassidy Thomson, junior335. Jillian Cupernell, Alumni336. Isaac Rudnick, Senior337. Quin Danciart, Senior338. Kristina Berger, parent339. Grace Smith, Sophomore340. Riley Wilkerson, Juinkr341. Amalia Eulate, Senior342. Sierra Kabaker, junior343. Olivia Greenelsh, Sophomore344. Allison Dierks, senior345. Mike Cockslong, Senior346. Olivia Huff, junior347. Nikolas Perez, Junior348. McKenna Kasselman, senior349. Elle Jensen. Sophomore350. Hannah Stephens, Junior351. Will, parent352. Nayah Holmes senior353. Penelope DellaPelle, Senior354. Leo Maksoudian, junior355. Mikayla Maire, Junior356. Hilary Goldsmith, Parent357. Savannah Brewer- junior358. Jill Goldsmith, Senior359. Clay Bitler. Sophomore360. Sydney Yeager, junior361. Ian Hammons, junior362. Casandra Monroy363. Taryn Lonsbrough, Junior364. Max Templin, Junior365. Tasha Steinmaus, senior366. Ayden Kim, Junior367. Avery White, sophomore368. Nicolas Pittarelli Junior369. Reece Candaele, senior370. Sasha Allen, Junior371. Missi Allison-Bullock, parent372. Cade medrano, community member373. LeeAnn Moore, Junior374. Litzy Ramirez, senior375. Benjamin Torres, senior376. Nate patague, senior377. Malia Maire, Junior378. Cypris Hogan, senior379. Xue Paape, Senior380. Ella Butterfield, Junior381. Cecilia Chao, senior382. Jackson Gomes, Senior383. Elijah Lynch, Senior384. Meily Mounts, Senior385. courtney bloomstine, senior386. Melanie Castillo, Senior387. Milana mounts, junior388. Jack Walter, Senior389. Avery Quinn, senior390. Tessa Moore, senior391. Jullisa Cruz, Senior392. aaliyah beck, senior393. Gabriella Orozco, alumni394. Seamus Cappellano, senior395. Gianna Lucchesi, senior396. Zoe Bumen, senior397. Christian clegg, alumni398. Bella Garritano, Alumni399. Camden Lunceford, junior400. Marcy Rourke, parent401. Sara McDonald, senior402. Lisa Winick, parent403. Bryson Jakins, Junior404. Michelle Hernandez, Senior405. Asher Bryson, Sophomore406. Genevieve Dandurand, Senior407. Landen Williams, Senior408. olivia maxie, sophomore409. Emilia Gambucci, Junior410. Victoria S. Dandurand, Parent411. Tania Zamora, Sophomore412. Olivia Greenelsh, Sophomore413. Monet Newton, sophomore414. Kaitlyn Waller, Sophomore415. Victor Torres, sophomore416. Rosa Cassandra Santana, Sophomore417. reggie miller, sophomore418. Daisy Hummell, senior419. Ian Wellman, Senior420 .Max Ranta, Freshman421. Liz Ranta, Parent422. Eric Alvarez, Sophomore423. Geneva Franciskovich, senior424. Madison Montoya, Senior425. Samantha Linder, Parent426. Alice Jansen, freshman427. Kea Gildersleeve, junior428. Lexi Alltucker, Sophomore429. Paolo Piurque, Senior430. Kaya Burden, Junior431. Dawson Sennes, Freshman432. Charlotte Dierks, freshman433. Nicole Immoos, sophomore434. Garrett Beutel, student435. Raquel Kalpakoff, senior436. Josh Kim, Senior437. Joe Simard, senior438. Aman Thandi, alumni439. Julianna Vigil, freshmen440. Shannon Lucero, Freshman441. Jasmyn Haas, parent442. Troy Warrecker, Freshman443. Benjamin Oetman, Freshman444. Marina Warren, Junior445. Mattea Kalpakoff, Freshman446. Daniel Owens, junior447. Ainsley Lonsbrough, Senior448. Michaela Warnke, junior449. coco israel, junior450. Eliana Feuerstein, Junior451. Haley French, senior452. Ava Szytel, freshman453. Christopher French, Senior454. Zaryah Olivera, Freshman455. Hayden Roberts, freshman456. jj niven, senior457. Taven Olsson, student458. Max Ranta, Freshman459. Paloma Smith, sophomore460. Summer Matson, parent461. Jonathan Hernandez, Junior462. Sydnee Leonardo, Freshman463. Aashna Kishore, freshman464. Alina Ashby, freshman465. Baylor Smith, sophomore466. Jacob Zakaria, junior467. Atticus Drake, Freshman468. Eli Clifford, Senior469. Sofi David, junior470. Kavita Kishore, Parent471. Charlotte Beck, Freshman472. Wayne Frederick, Parent473. brady birdsong, sophomore 474. Nicholas Chaves, Junior475. Eric Dandurand, Parent476. Sharon Frederick, Parent477. rylee leseman, senior478. Paloma Dandurand, Senior479. Nina Ramezani, junior480. John Krill, Alumni481. Julia Bloom, Senior482. Ahmed Qandhawi, Senior 483. Will Warden, junior484. Emily Loreto, sophomore 485. Justine Heinsen, parent486. Matt Gildersleeve, parent 487. James Gregory, sophomore488. Marina Warren, Junior 489. Christy Candaele, parent490. Thomas Wilimek, Freshman491. Hunter Wren, Freshman492. Tracy Jewell, parent493. Matthew Le, Junior494. Gavin Tuohy, Senior495. Aisling Meyer, Junior496. Ari slade, junior497. Flannery Clausen, Freshman498. Claire Notley, Senior499. Xavier Harney, alumni500. Natalie Wells, Senior501. Sadie LaChapelle, Senior502. Grant Cindrich, alumni 503. Micah Sunata, alumni 504. Emory Campbell, Senior505. Kate Maddaloni, Senior506. Lindsay Smith, Sophomore 507. Elly Jenkins, Junior 508. Ariel Sim, Senior 509. Morgan Hall, Senior510. Clio Nelson, Senior511. Ben Jackson, senior 512. Eithan Bates, Freshman513. Ula Simonsen-Webb, senior 514. Lauren Alanna Marchbanks, senior515. Hannah Marchbanks, alumni516. Kaitlin Turner, Freshman517. Natalie Niznik, sophomore 518. Jasmine Santiago Adame, Junior519. Jacob Gearhart, Junior520. Desi Villagoodwin junior521. Natalie Ellm
an, Sophomore 522. Tracey Marchbanks, parent523. Anne Turner, parent524. Janey Rubio, Sophomore525. Alexis Ponce, Junior526. Phoebe Johnson, junior 527. Asiajade Hagans, Freshman528. Paul Marchbanks, parent529. Nicolas Garcia, Senior530. Sonia McSwain, Junior531. Liz Ranta, Parent532. Malia VanDerripe, sophmore533. Tekuru Schwartz, junior534. Andrew Daymude, senior 535. Tina Ventrella, parent 536. Michael Ventrella, parent537. Ryan Garcia, Senior538. Samantha Whitehead, Freshman 539. Camille Rowlands-Rees, Senior540. Clio Nelson, Senior541. Breann Gonzalez, parent542. Dalilia Olivera, Sophomore 543. Rebecca Gee, Freshman544. Emily Russell, Junior545. Etienne Brennan, junior 546. Celina Liu, Alumni547. Emmersen Hill, junior 548. Jude Shin, sophomore549. may ritter, sophomore 550. Allison Ryan, senior 551. samantha ross, junior 552. Paris Uhler, Junior553. Grace Byde, Junior 554. Jedidiah Tzou, Senior555. Ryan Garcia, Senior556. Lauren Lepe, junior 557. Jennifer Shaevitz, parent558. Paris Uhler, Junior559. Paige Beckett, Junior560. emma stoudenmire, junior561. Ayden Kim, Junior562. Jessica Stephens, Aunt of senior563. Charles M. Wood, community member564. Erica A. Stewart, parent565. Becky Moseley, parent566. Sadie LaChapelle, Senior567. Reece Candaele, senior 568. Nicole LePage, parent569. Serena Stamford, sophomore570. Yanelly Cardenas, Freshman571. Ayden Kim, Junior572. Jeremy Toews, Junior573. berlyn ellsworth, Junior574. Scott Nairne, SLOHS Teacher