As I’m sure you have heard by now, Homewood High School ranked #1 in the Birmingham Metro Area and #2 in the state of Alabama per the U.S. News and World Report’s most recent update. This honor felt good to receive, but in some ways it confirmed what we, as a community, already knew: Homewood is an exceptional place full of exceptional opportunities.
What distinguishes a good school from a great one? Is it determined by the number of AP classes offered? The participation in extracurriculars? The quality of cafeteria food?
All of these attributes support the development of any great school, but they fail to explain what makes Homewood special—the continual attention paid to where we can improve.
Whether for the classroom or for the athletic departments, constant adjustments strive to make the quality of education for each student more effective. With updated textbooks, grading periods and communications platforms, it can feel overwhelming to keep up with the demands of navigating a brand new class schedule.
Frankly, when I first heard the news, I simply could not picture a world in which everything was fine under these new guidelines. Everything felt unfamiliar. My first instinct involved detailing each and every reason why this was a horrible idea. Then I started to pay attention.
Even though larger scale changes like the FOCUS Act from the State or the 0% homework grades seem disruptive, I have seen that my classmates choosing to embrace the changes are noticeably more at peace than those holding on to how things used to be.
These first few weeks mean many of us still need to find our rhythm, but the response to the adjustments has been a testament to the resilience of the Homewood student body.
Our diverse student population of approximately 1300 comes from a variety of backgrounds that make our school a melting pot. The policies were not, by any means, easy to deal with but their general acceptance has led to the creation of a new normal.
As the new editor of the Tricorne this year, I’m most looking forward to bringing the unique stories of students, faculty and the greater Homewood community to life.
Our small but dedicated staff includes talent powerhouses in the exact areas needed to accomplish this massive undertaking. Ranging from photographers to sports enthusiasts, video editors and graphic designers, we cannot wait to share with you all the changes we have in store.
Even if grappling with the effects of a new curriculum and phone policy still poses a challenge, we have many other aspects of the school year to look forward to.
The club fair Aug. 21 gave insight into some of the 40 clubs and organizations available for students to get involved with. Football, volleyball and flag football started their seasons with rivalries against John Carroll, while cross country plans to compete in Alabaster Aug. 28. This fall’s theater production, Seussical, will feature a mashup of music genres ranging from rock to salsa. Open auditions are on Aug. 26. Also, renovations on the auditorium will begin this semester.
Now, my point is not to say that our school is perfect since we’ve made adjustments. Issues are the reason change exists in the first place! Announcements will be made and we’ll all still work together to get onboard.
However, when you choose to embrace the changes that come your way, you may be surprised at how the change can embrace you back.
With honor and loyalty,
Miyelani Mathebula
Editor-in-Chief
