The new 2024 through 2025 school year is bringing in lots of new changes around school.
Some of these new changes include the updated cell phone policy, the new concrete island at the entrance closest to QuickTrip, safe defend boxes put into every teacher’s room, and many more.
The cell phone policy was put into effect by the Wentzville School District last school year.
This year, the rules consist of students not being able to use their phones along with other non-school-provided technology within class time from bell to bell. These items must not be visible during class time. These prohibited items can be stored safely inside one’s backpack. Students are allowed to use their technological devices after the end of class bell rings. This included Power lunch, passing period, and before and after school.
The district have changed their consequences if a student is to be caught with their phone out at an inappropriate time.
For a first-time offense, the student may be assigned a detention or ISS. For a second offense or multiple offenses, the policy now states that students may receive a principal or student conference, along with detention or ISS.
There are also new safety features added into every classroom by the brand SafeDefend.
With the rising cases of unfortunate school shootings and intruders, the Wentzville School District have put SafeDefend boxes in every classroom and hallways in every school in the district as a percussion in case of an intruder. Anytime someone opens a box, law enforcement is immediately notified.
Inside these boxes you can find medical supplies to help if needed, along with defense weapons such as a baton and pepper spray.
To avoid unwanted activation of these boxes SafeDefend has added a feature to each box that matches with staff members fingerprints. Staff members and other faculty are the only ones able to open these SafeDefend boxes.
Some new additions to the school building in the surrounding areas include the concrete island on the entrance closest to QuickTrip. Which took away the ability to turn left. And also new entrance by the football field which helps traffic coming from Paul Renaud. The entrance is connected back behind the baseball fields.
Although there was a lot of change, some traditions remain the same.
Students started their first day of school on Monday, Aug. 19. With an almost normal schedule, students went to an assembly during their 9th hour. This assembly included performances from cheer and dance, a chant from STUCO, and the annual bridge walk.
The bridge walk has been a tradition for our school and students ever since our school opened for its first academic year. This bridge walk consist of freshman students, walking into liberty from the campus bridge by the football field while band and cheer are lined up welcoming them into the building. And as time goes by, you will experience the bridge walk once more, but this time as a senior walking out of the school.
Freshman Lexi Davis shares how she feels about this Liberty tradition.
“I think it’s a cute little tradition that I’ll be looking forward to for my senior year. I thought that the band and people cheering for you when you enter the gym was funny but I loved it,” Davis said.
For senior Lilly Brown, the first day represented her last first day of school before she graduates in May.
“It feels almost bittersweet, getting to do it again. It reminds me of when I did it as a freshman and I’m very excited to get to do it again,” Brown said.
After the Bridge Walk, the freshman joined the rest of the school in the large gym for the annual first-day-of-school assembly.
During this assembly, Dr. Edgar Nelson gave a speech to the students. Nelson brags about our outgoing academic greatness, and mentions that we are not just the best in the Wentzville District, but in the entire St. Charles County.
This was followed with a performance by the belles dance team, and the cheerleading team. Students even experienced a practice chant presented by STUCO to get students hyped for game days.
After the assembly, everyone either went back to their 9th hour, or to lunch, which is split up into 2 separate times just for this week.
