Students are familiar with how ANP (Academic Network Period) works: kids go to their class and at 9:05, they can go to their teachers and get help, go the library or work on other school projects.

But this school year, administrators have brought change to ANP: OHS has introduced ANP Seminars. The purpose is to help students utilize their time in the classroom, create new relationships, to bring kids a new interest and to improve the mental health of students, said Mrs. Christy Mathews, English and ANP Administrator. This resulted in a change that administrators thought was needed.

“They needed to be more engaged and teachers needed to be more engaged with the kids,” said Mathews.

ANP Seminars will begin on Oct. 12, lasting 40 minutes each. They will occur six times throughout each semester. During the second semester, students can change their chosen seminar. Students will still have time to work in their ANP classes, but travel time will not be available on seminar days.

There are many different types of seminars offered, some involving sports, reading, science, helping animals, and even more. In early September, Mathews sent an email to students to ask them to sign up for seminars.

Ms. Jennifer Lieberoff, Spanish teacher, is hosting the stress management seminar to help students with stress. “I think students have a lot of issues with time management and stress and anxiety and there is a lot of pressure put on students,” said Lieberoff.

Not only is she optimistic to be hosting the seminar but so are some students who signed up for the class.

Jojo Hinds, (10) is excited about the stress management seminar as well.  “I get stressed out very easily,” she admitted, “and I have anxiety, so I figured that would help with trying to contain it.”

With all the different types of seminars being offered, students have many options to choose from that coincide with their interests.

Mr. Nick Aboussie is running the College Bound Student Athlete seminar. He says the goal is to inform kids of the process of what it will take for them not only to be a student but to be an athlete. He thinks it will benefit the kids and help them if they decide to pursue athletics in college.

“I definitely think it’s going to be a positive thing for kids…”  said Aboussie.