“It was a disappointment to many upcoming freshmen that our high school experience would be so different than anticipated.”
This is what rising freshman Lacey Barnes, an 8th grader at West Hardin, had to say about not attending Central Hardin as a freshman next year. While most things are still up in the air, one thing we know for sure: rising freshmen will be attending the Bruin Academy next school year.
“Obviously, I’d rather go to Central,” East Hardin 8th grader Lia VanZant said. “I feel like most people don’t want to have to be off campus, but we can make it fun.”
The Bruin faculty and administration face the challenge of preparing for every scenario that might arise for the Class of 2028, but they are invested in making the experience a positive one for the newest Bruins.
As for PowerHour, here at Central, it will be the same. But as for the Bruin Academy, due to the time it takes to bus students back and forth from Central and Bruin Academy, they most likely will not have PowerHour at all.
“There has to be time to bus them back and forth, and that time has to come from somewhere,” principal Tim Issacs said. “There may be some time they get, but not PowerHour like the upperclassmen here.”
To elaborate, students will be bussed to and from Central and the old Lincoln Trail Elementary building to attend classes, just like students going to and from EC3 or John Hardin. Minimizing loss of instructional time means the freshmen are losing PowerHour.
Spirit weeks and pep rallies will be conducted the same as always. Points will be tallied up from Central and the Bruin Academy and placed on the student site, and just like students taking classes at EC3, they will be bussed to Central for pep rallies.
The only concern regarding pep rallies is timing. Due to the complex bussing routes and routines after school hours, pep rallies may take place earlier in the day. This would ensure that every student can receive sufficient and timely transportation.
“Just like EC3, buses will be brought. Although those buses will have elementary school runs, it wouldn’t surprise me if we have a first block pep rally instead of a fifth,” Isaacs explained.
Clubs are something that will be handled differently next year. Things are still in the works, but according to Isaacs, “bigger clubs, like FFA, for example, might meet first thing in the mornings or last thing in the afternoon.”
Isaacs would also like to make it known that he is “open to suggestions” concerning the Bruin Academy.
As for the outcome of this obscure decision, people are divided. However, most agree that many positive things will come from the Bruin Academy.
“There will be bumps in the road, but no major issues. I only see positives.” freshman counselor Angie Davis said. “Use this time to get to know your fellow students and bond together as the class of 2028 so you are a unified group when you do come [to Central] your sophomore year.”
However, there are worries about the class of ‘28 not being able to mature properly while being surrounded by only their grade level. Some rising freshmen have the same fears.
“I do believe that separating freshmen from upperclassmen deprives them of a momentous high school experience,” Barnes shared. “To speak plainly, most freshmen need the influence of mature students, so having upperclassmen provide a positive example is helpful.”
VanZant agreed with Barnes’s sentiment, sharing that she is disappointed that she won’t get to have classes with her older friends from soccer, swim, and track.
Overall, this is a different experience for everyone involved. The decision to send the kids there was a hard one that the board and administration thought long about. However, it will ensure the new Central building is done sooner rather than later.
We here at Central wish the rising freshmen luck on their unique high school journey, we hope to find creative ways to make them feel a part of the Bruin community, and we can’t wait to see them here in their sophomore year.
