The adoption of online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe, negative impact on test scores for some students across the country. At Lane, it was no different, in math at least, where SAT test scores in 2022 dropped compared to 2019. However, ELA test scores were seen to rise. The school is attempting various different methods to help close the gap in learning that has caused the issues. Reporter Renee Aldana has more on the impact of online learning and how students and schools are coping.

College is one of the largest stressors for high school students, and so knowing what factors are important, or less important, is very valuable information. Demonstrated interest is one such factor, where schools track how much a student wants to go to the school based on their interaction with the school’s various platforms and events. A&E Editor Nina Figurelli has more on what demonstrated interest fully entails and its value.

Everybody loves them, everybody waits all year for coffee shops to release them: holiday drinks, one of the best parts about cold weather. Nothing is nicer than having a delicious, holiday-themed drink to warm your hands, but it is important to make sure you get the best ones. The Champion has a holiday drink review comparting Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts to ensure that our readers are investing in the best hand and heart warmers from the most popular chains.

Happy new year from The Champion staff! There will be no newsletter next Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will be back in your inboxes on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.