Despite pushback from many students and teachers, San Luis Obispo High School has shifted its schedule from the beloved trimester system to a new semester block schedule. This switch was a result of the alignment of schedules for SLOHS and Morro Bay High School during COVID-19 distance learning.

Students now have 12 classes per year instead of 15 and the block schedule means that students switch between periods one, two, and three and four, five, and six depending on the day.

  “So far I’m liking the block system. If I don’t have any small group instruction, I have a considerable amount of time to get homework done and get out of the house,” said senior Hayden Ventrella.

  One of the obvious benefits of the new system is the late start time and relatively early end time, depending on SGI assignments. Students now have more time to get ready in the morning or sleep in a bit more, and are free to get work done over a 48 hour period.

  “The new semester and block schedule has gone very well for me. I have time to focus on each class and have much more energy,” said sophomore Savanna Henderson-Witt.

  However, a major drawback that many students are still upset over is the loss of 3 classes as well as the inability to take classes like Auto Shop, Wood, and Ceramics in person.

  “I’ve lost some of the electives that I was excited about taking this year like woodshop, welding, and auto, but I’ve gotten anatomy which has been fun so far. It sucks because even if I were still in these classes, it wouldn’t be the same since we can’t work in the shops as of now; hopefully that changes by the end of the year,” said senior Kaylor Jones.

  Before the start of the new school year, there were many petitions signed by students and teachers alike to save the trimester system; however, it seems so far that this system is working out for many students and their schedules at home.

SLOHS Teachers will still be voting on the 2021-2022 schedule choice in early January.