While many students dread the end of summer, Landon Buscher, senior, welcomes the return to school with open arms.

He had fun this summer traveling to the Ozarks, Detroit and Denver, but he is ready to return.

Though the “official” end of summer isn’t until September 22, when the Autumnal Equinox occurs, the end of Labor Day weekend signals the end of extended time without school for many students and staff.

Buscher said he misses summer sometimes but that he is able to be more productive and feels like he’s getting more things done compared to during the summer.

Beth Dierker, programming teacher, feels differently. 

“During the summer, I dread going back to school because I know I’m going to miss my kid and won’t be able to spend as much time with him,” Dierker said. 

She also had various issues during the beginning of this school year including faulty technology and general stress. 

“I miss summer all the time,” Dierker said. “The first week was very stressful and I had a lot of technology issues, and now I don’t even have time to play Connections.”

Arrow Van Den Berg said the first two weeks of school were a bit rough, especially with the change in sleep schedule.

“Once my sleep schedule gets back on track, I’ll have more energy, but I think in middle school I had more energy because I didn’t have as much studying,” Van Den Berg said. “It’s just kinda sad.”

Ashley Hobbs, AP Psychology teacher, said students and staff are having to retrain their circadian rhythms as they continue adjusting to the early mornings and general busy-ness of school, causing intense sleepiness in the process.

“Sleep deprivation is an issue that plagues our nation anyway,” Hobbs said. “When we don’t get enough sleep, our memory function is worse; we can’t consolidate memories because we do that when we sleep.”

Hobbs said she tries to be loud, engaging and get people moving during class, as well as utilizing repetition, to improve focus and memory.