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HURON EMERY HURON HIGH SCHOOL, 2727 FULLER RD., ANN ARBOR MI 48105
SEPT 2025 VOL. 11, ISSUE 1
NEWS
briefs
HURON CELL PHONE GUIDELINE GETS AN UPGRADE JAEWON LEE NEWS EDITOR
Huron introduced a new change this year – a cell phone pocket expectation. This new guideline mandates all students to turn in their devices to a pocket holder in the classroom, usually near the door of the classroom. The goal of the new expectation is to make sure students are more focused on schoolwork rather than their cell phones. “I am a huge fan of the new cell phone [expectation],” English teacher Daniel Crowley said.“In past years, I allowed students to keep their phones in their pockets, believing that doing so would encourage them to learn to self-monitor, and to eventually be able to become wholly responsible for their use of technology. The number of students who come to class exhausted because they spent all night on their phones has dramatically increased since I began teaching, but what’s more, I’m struck by the legions of Ann Arborites who seem glued to their phones.” Crowley said the new expectation is a “great step” in the direction of making students more focused. “[The expectation is] urging students to slow down and experience learning as teachers have been trained to deliver it, rather than insisting teachers adapt their instruction to another paradigm shift,” Crowley said. Junior Keunhyung Cho READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM
Every classroom has cellphone pockets for students to drop their phones in before the start of class. PHOTO BY SATVIKA RAMANATHAN
Senior Emily Hu sets up her new school Macbook. PHOTO BY BRODY TURNER; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SATVIKA RAMANATHAN.
Apple-y ever after: AAPS transitions to Macbooks ISHAAN KAMAT WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF High school students in Ann Arbor are starting the 2025-26 school year with a major technology upgrade. All district high school students received Apple MacBook Air M4 laptops, replacing the Chromebooks they had used for nearly a decade. The rollout is part of Ann Arbor Public Schools’ effort to provide faster, more reliable devices that support both classroom learning and digital testing. The decision follows a spring pilot program in which students and staff tested different devices for speed, usability, and learning potential. The district ultimately chose the MacBook Air after determining it best met the needs identified in the pilot. While many district leaders emphasize the upgrade as a step forward, reactions among students and teachers have been mixed. For some, the switch is welcome. Junior Juna Sakamoto said the difference in
performance was immediately noticeable. “The Chromebooks were super slow, and my old one was outdated,” Sakamoto said. “The MacBooks are lighter, sleeker, and way faster in comparison.” Teachers also anticipate changes in the classroom. English teacher Sheri Horwitz said she hopes the new devices will cut down on technical issues that plagued Chromebooks. “I fully expect that this will hopefully mean there are a lot fewer tech issues compared to using the Chromebooks over the last few years,” Horwitz said. “I also expect that more students will come prepared, since some didn’t always bring their Chromebooks before. I think a lot of teachers are more comfortable using MacBooks and Apple products, so we’ll hopefully find more ways to make them assets to students.” Horwitz also noted that while the laptops create opportunities, they could also present challenges. “This is definitely a moment that is full of
NEWS PAGE 3 COLLEGE APPLICANTS FACE NEW CHALLENGES
opportunities and also students excessively, but I challenges,” she said. “Unlike don’t think these restrictions the Chromebooks of the are excessive.” past, a big challenge is that In addition to smoother students will probably feel classroom activities, Horwitz more comfortable using the sees long-term benefits in MacBooks for non-school preparing students with digital activities, which could lead skills. to more distractions in the “I hope that using classroom.” updated devices will help T o my students limit those become more distractions, technologically the district literate,” she has installed said. “Many restrictions of my past on apps and s t u d e n t s settings, struggled though some with tasks like students have formatting expressed documents, frustration with doing online them. Horwitz research, and said she views typing. These the limits as a Technical support staff Holly products are Perry hands Hu a Macbook. designed positive. in “ A s PHOTO BY BRODY TURNER a way that teachers, we is intuitive are already dealing with a lot and can really build that of distractions, and I think confidence.” anything that helps these Students also devices actually be a help commented on the logistics of rather than a hindrance is the rollout. Shin described the useful,” Horwitz said. “We See MACBOOK, PAGE 2 obviously don’t want to restrict
DEI PAGE 6-7 THE LOCAL IMPACT OF RECENT BANS
SPORTS PAGE 11 THE MULTISPORT ATHLETE GRIND