What to expect as a new year at Manual approaches

Molly Gregory
August 2, 2021

On August 3, Manual freshmen will have the opportunity to enter the building for Crimson Day. During Crimson Day, the class of 2025 will be able to tour the building and familiarize themselves with people and the environment. This event will double as registration for most freshmen and will mark the approach of the first in-person fall semester JCPS has held since 2019. 

Freshmen unable to make Crimson Day will attend registration on August 5, which is also the set registration date for all sophomores, juniors and seniors. Seniors will register from 8 to 9:30 a.m., juniors from 10 a.m. to noon, sophomores from 1 to 3 p.m. and freshmen from 2 to 3 p.m. Freshmen and sophomores registering on this day will have the option to go on a small tour during their session, due to their lack of familiarity with the building. 

Although JCPS has made a step towards normalcy by returning to a five-day week, some COVID-19 policies will remain in place. For example, on July 27, the JCPS board voted to mandate masks for all students, regardless if the student has been vaccinated. The decision mirrors that of the CDC, who administered guidance later that day that, “everyone should wear a mask in schools regardless of vaccination status.”

Masks will be mandatory for all staff, students and visitors in the buildings and on buses. JCPS maintains that students should attempt to keep three feet between themselves at all times and six feet between themselves and teachers. The district also requires teachers to keep six feet between themselves and other teachers. Readers can view a JCPS powerpoint concerning COVID-19 protocol here.

In addition to reinstating COVID-19 precautions, JCPS has also made changes to the grading system. For the 2021-2022 school year, only progress and mastery categories will count towards percentage grades; whereas in the past, engagement, progress and mastery were all factors. Mastery will account for 70 to 90 percent of the grade and progression will account for 10 to 30 percent.

The mastery category focuses on assessments, such as long-term projects and tests, while progression includes homework and other daily assignments.

JCPS introduced this new policy in the Assessing Learning and Grading Framework, a collection of tactics the district says are designed to, “build a bridge from the Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) Grading Guidance and our experiences during NTI to our Future State of learning and assessment.”

Another change occurs within JCPS cafeterias. Every student, regardless of income or school, will be eligible to receive free meals during the 2021-2022 year.

Manual students can also look forward to new staff members this upcoming school year.  Stay tuned to RedEye’s social media for an article regarding new hires and retirements within the building.