Expect the best. Get the best. Be the best.

This is OHS’s expectation for their students and staff. With the new school year already almost a month in, new standards are being established for the year.

“Right now we are focusing on keeping the students safe and making it available for them to contact us if a problem arises. I expect for their to be respect on both hands, for the teachers and for the students,” said Thomas Pratt, lead monitor at OHS.

Although Pratt said that this year’s goal is safety and respect, some students disagree on the real goal of the school.

Several students said that the monitors are dress coding in full force this year.

“It seems like admin is more concerned with dress code than education,” said Ruby Escobrza, senior.

Escobrza was a dress code victim on the second day of school because her shirt was too short.

Another victim was Lauren Massahas, a senior who got dress coded for a spaghetti strap shirt.

“It’s hot outside and it’s not like I’m showing off my whole body. I think [monitors] are just more strict with dress code at the beginning of the year than any other time of the year,” said Massahas.

“They are definitely dress coding more than they were last year. I think school in general is just getting harder. People are getting suspended more frequently and admin is just getting more strict,” said Jacob Defea, who was dress coded on the first day of school.

Pratt said that since this is his first year he has nothing to compare dress code from last year.

“They weren’t enforcing [dress code] last year so why are they starting this year?,” Escobraza said.

Teachers seem to take a different approach on the subject and aim to focus more on the kids than anything else.

“This year I think the school is focusing on forming more relationships with the students to help emotionally with positive interventions like with the stay classy OC cards and more mentoring,” said Cindy Garraway, English teacher.

Garraway said that administration may have gotten feedback that many students don’t have any adult figures in their life and that is why they are trying to focus more on mentoring them.

“Students should be proud to come to O’Connor and let it be a safe place to come and connect with others, even adults,” Garraway said.

Despite the school’s overall goal, Garraway said that she has her own personal goals for her students.

“I expect my students to treat others politely, have pride in their school, be classy, and just be kind,” said Garraway.” Honestly, that is my number one goal, to just be kind.”

However, maybe the school is doing something right because Garraway said that this year students have been more respectful and she has a good group of kids this year.

“Every year is different, but the same,” Garraway said, “Usually by now attention-seeking students have made themselves known to the class, however this year none of my students have taken on this role.”