Security officer Bobby Mahaffey checks ID’s as school officials welcome back hundreds of high school students as they line up and head back to school at Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The new school year got underway this week for the more than 3,300 students at Oak Park-River Forest High School with a theme of “Pack Pride” and new rules for cell phones – among other changes, tweaks and more.

Freshmen started Monday and the first day for all other grades was Tuesday.

“The faculty, staff and administration are excited to usher in the new school year,” said Lynda Parker, assistant superintendent/principal.

Along with a new academic year, the the school will see a number of new rules, starting with cell phones

“All students will silence and store their cell phones while in instructional spaces in the phone home that has been provided in every classroom,” Parker wrote in her welcome back letter to families in July.

Parker said the change aligns with current research around educational best practices as well as current research on the effects of cell phones on teenagers’ academic achievement, social and emotional well-being and mental health.

Her back-to-school letter also pointed out that students will be expected to wear their identification cards at chest level on their person.

“These changes are meant to optimize the learning experience for all students and help staff throughout the building to easily identify our students,” Parker said.

School spokeswoman Karin Sullivan told Pioneer Press in an email that there are 18 new teachers/long-term substitute teachers this academic year.

“We have four new courses this year: Entertainment Arts, Speech Communication, English for Career and College Preparation, and Physics-Chemistry A,” Sullivan said.

Entertainment arts is described as offering hands-on experience in stop-motion, motion graphics and experimental media while speech communication is described as helping students understand and apply principles of communication in their own interpersonal, intrapersonal, group and public speaking.

English for career and college prep is described as students preparing for college-level reading and writing across the curriculum while physics-chemistry A is described as helping students construct their own understanding of major scientific ideas by consistently practicing the process of science.

“The board is discussing but has not approved two significant capital projects,” Sullivan said about what might be coming to the high school.

Teachers and administrators welcome back hundreds of high school students as they line up and head back to school at Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Hundreds of high school students line up and head back to school at Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Hundreds of high school students line up and head back to school at Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

School buses arrive to drop off students at Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

One project is a potential redo of the athletic fields, since the school’s agreement with nearby Concordia University to use its track expires in spring 2024. The other project is from the five-phase Imagine Oak Park and River Forest High School Masterplan, the district’s guidepost for capital projects.

“The second phase of Imagine OPRF focuses on building a new, four-story/five-level physical education and athletics wing including a full basement on the southeast (Scoville and Lake) corner of the building,” according to the Facilities Master Plan on the school’s website.

According to the plan, the wing would include physical education classrooms, PE and athletics offices, PE equipment storage and a conference room; improvements to the performing arts green room; all-gender locker rooms and an elevator that complies with accessibility requirements.

Other amenities are also listed.

The school is the lone one in Oak Park and River Forest School District 200, serving the towns of Oak Park and River Forest. Officials say district leaders continue to look into the possibility of using a block schedule or having a later start to the school day.

“We will take the first part of the 2022-23 school year to gather feedback on a few bell schedule options and make a final decision in January 2023,” Laurie Fiorenza, assistant superintendent for student learning, stated in a May 3 letter to SD200 families and students.

She explained that waiting to make the decision ensures that families and students have time to plan if there is any change to the current bell schedule. The current school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:11 p.m. Monday to Friday – except for late-arrival Wednesday, where the school day starts at 9:12 a.m.

Fall 2022 will also mark a return to campus tours of the school for prospective families.

“An OPRFHS guided campus tour is meant to provide a general overview and history of the school’s facilities for prospective families. Tours do not include shadowing students, classroom visits or visits with faculty or coaches,” communications department personnel wrote on the department web page.

Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.