Numerous things have changed in Utica High this year, from construction changes to new policies.

Methods of communication have changed at Utica. One major change is the absence of video announce-
ments. Instead, a group of students announce important information over the P.A. system, typically around the end of first hour.

Some students are not huge fans of the new announcements.

“I think the new announcements are more convenient,” senior Sophia LaBrecque said, “but they’re a little less effective than the video announcements.”

The announcements usually take place near the end of first hour, and are read by students in teacher Brian Drobnich’s class.

“They announcements are often interrupted by the bell or are hard to hear and understand,” LaBrecque said. “It just gets hard to hear because people are getting ready to leave and making noise near the end of the hour.”

P.A. announcements may not work as well for some students, and those students believe other measures can be taken to prevent confusion and misunderstandings.

“I think that both emailing and having P.A. announcements would be beneficial,” LaBrecque said. “I know many students don’t check their email, but if a student was confused about something they heard on the announcements, they’d know they’re able to check their email for clarification.”

“I feel like the P.A. announcements are as good as they’re going to get,” LaBrecque said, “but I feel like emailing as well as P.A. would help, and I think I’d change when the announcements happen.”

Utica’s physical appearance is also undergoing changes. Near the beginning of the school year, new drinking fountains were added to the school that have screens to track the amount of plastic water bottles saved.

“I think the counters on the drinking fountains are a great idea,” junior Ani Quartuccio said. “It encourages more people to use it, instead of buying plastic bottles.”

The amount of plastic bottles saved being displayed can also help promote the importance of conservation and recycling.

“Environmental conservation is very important,” Quartuccio said. “We should definitely be encouraging our generation to focus on it.”

Students emphasize that their peers need to concentrate more on their actions in regards to the environment, whether it’s recycling or using a water bottle.

“Paying attention to environment conservation is important because everything around us is part of the environment,” sophomore Katarina Isakovic said. “If you buy a reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic water bottle and throwing it out every day, you are doing something beneficial for the environment.”

The counters on drinking fountains could be a way to en- courage students to take initiative and focus on how they take care of the planet.

“It may not seem like much,” Isakovic said, “but if everyone starts learning and being more conscious about how their decisions and actions affect the environment, I think the world could take a step toward a healthier environment.”