As big as Staples may seem when freshmen walk through the front doors, it becomes a tight-knit community in no time. There are only so many teachers spread across the disciplines, and over the course of four years, many students have the same teacher twice, or even three times.

One may expect some students to groan at the thought of having a teacher for a second time, but Staples students showed nothing but enthusiasm, especially looking forward to comfort and familiarity right at the beginning of the year.

“It’s always good because you have a good, outstanding rapport with them and it makes you feel more comfortable early on. It helps to have them know your name already,” Caitlyn Rand ’13 said.

Rand has been in Spanish teacher Ana Deluca’s both Spanish 1 and AP Spanish Literature classes, in addition to having English teacher Christina Richardson for English 2 and now for Myth and Bible Honors.

Rand stressed that it is helpful to know the teacher’s style and grading policies before going into the class.

Jessica Ellison ’13 had science teacher Will Jones as a chemistry teacher two years in a row- for regular chemistry and then again for AP Chemistry. Ellison agreed with Rand in that she knew what she liked about  Jones’ teaching style before AP Chemistry even began.

“He uses a lot of analogies in class and does not assign any busy work. I knew that he would make AP Chem enjoyable while still challenging us,” Ellison said.

Teachers feel this same comfortable relationship when they have a student for a second time. Deluca said that making a relationship with her students is important to her, and she loves to see her old students in the hallway.

“When I have many of the same students again, there is a shorter period of adjustment at the beginning of the year. My old students are also able to calm the new students because they already know what to expect from me,” Deluca said.

Jones has had countless repeat students over the years.

“It’s usually fantastic when I have a student for the second or third time. Other times, it can be more difficult—you can get Patrick Connolly for a second time,” Jones joked.

Jones did second Deluca’s point that from a teacher’s perspective, it’s great to get right to work with a class that has a lot of repeat students.

“For me, it can be like meeting up with old friends,” Jones said.

Having a year or two in between having a teacher can change the student’s perspective of the teacher and the class. Rand, who had Deluca freshman and again senior year, said that she changed dramatically as a Spanish student.

Any time gap makes a difference in terms of knowledge. Students between sophomore and senior year “mature both intellectually and emotionally to become stronger students overall,” Jones said.

Having a teacher multiple times in high school can not only change the class dynamic for students and teachers but can have lasting impressions on their work.