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By Lena Pearson

The final days of the school year are coming closer and closer, with many students, especially seniors, counting down until they are out for summer vacation. However, the final month before school is over isn’t simply a time to coast through classes and forget about studying, as there are many factors at play to end the school year successfully.

Despite the school year nearly being over, absences matter until the very last day before summer break. The Titans are expected to maintain a certain grade in each class along with a maximum amount of unexcused absences in order to be exempt from taking teacher-made exams at the end of the year. These exams impact a student’s final grade in the class and typically consist of material that was discussed throughout the whole school year. While teacher-made exams may not be something that all students have to tackle before summer, many Titans are busy studying away for their final Advanced Placement (AP) exams in May.

In AP courses, students work for the entire school year to gain a deep understanding of the class’s subject matter, the ability to critically think and the power of analysis in order to prepare themselves for the final exam at the end of the year. All students enrolled in AP classes must take these exams as required by College Board, as there is no possibility for exemption as there is with teacher-made exams. This year’s exams will be held from May 5 to 9 and May 12 to 16, with some students even taking multiple exams in one day. In preparation, AP course teachers at West have been providing their students with the opportunity to participate in practice exams in order to get the gist of how the test will truly run. This year for AP testing is different from the past, as all exams will now be given online rather than with paper and pen. The approaching AP season and its changes may be daunting for some students, but the reward of passing the exams and receiving college credits early is the driving motivation for many to do their best. 

Additionally, the seniors have a handful of things to check off of their to-do lists as the year comes to a close. As they have officially received their cap and gowns, graduation practice still awaits them on May 22, one day prior to walking the stage at the LJVM Coliseum on May 23. The senior Titans will be able to appear in their green gowns before this however, during their Senior Awards Day on April 25. At this event, seniors who have received significant awards, scholarships and sports recruitments from colleges will be recognized and celebrated. This event commends the hard work of the seniors this year and their dedication to getting into college or determining their plans for the future.

Although the end is in sight with summer vacation on the horizon, the Titans are having to remember that there are important things to be done before the excitement can commence. The end of the school year can also be bittersweet, so the graduating class is making sure to enjoy their final days on campus, even if they are spent studying hard and applying themselves until the very end. The Titans have worked tirelessly this year and are continuing to put their best foot forward in order to thoroughly enjoy their time off, as well as looking towards success for the years of education to come.