Moments before lunch, anticipation is heavy in the air. The tantalizing tick of the clock, the frantic glances at watches, counting down the seconds before students are released. It feels like an eternity, and they’re itching to get out.
At the sound of the bell, the juniors flock out in a hurry, pouring out of doors and sprinting to their cars to ration their thirty minutes of freedom. Escaping and entering the parking lot already chews up about half their lunch.
But with a new change, the stress of leaving and coming back to class on time is no more. Deserving juniors no longer have thirty minutes, but instead are allowed an hour off-campus on Fridays. An hour to go eat with friends, to destress, and to spend their time their way.
The School Improvement Team and administration recently agreed to give juniors the privilege of having an open campus once a week to reward and encourage zero tardies. Junior James Kelberlau, the representative for his grade, advocated for this decision.
“It was something Dr. Bearinger brought up and asked us students how we felt. We were all on the same page, and we really liked that idea,” Kelberlau said. “It grants the juniors more options and promotes students to be in class.”
Students who have zero tardies during the week and C’s or better in each class are qualified to leave during study hall. With this privilege to go off-campus, many hope it will increase good behavior from students.
“It provides an incentive for students to get to class on time and a motivation for them to try their hardest and be engaged in class. I think it’s definitely worth it,” history teacher Anna Mintken said.
A reward at the end of the week can motivate more juniors to work to get that open study hall.
“There were a lot of people who were late to class and had a lot of unexcused absences. By giving rewards [for being on time], it makes people actually want to show up to class on time,” Kelberlau said. “That way, this might acknowledge the students who are actually trying to put in the effort at school.”
Many juniors have taken great advantage of this new change. Junior Claire Savage greatly profited from the extra time.
“Being able to have open-campus and leave study hall gives me a really nice break. I feel like I usually hit a wall midday,” Savage said. “Being able to have a full hour to decompress makes it easier to deal with school when I come back.”
Seniors are no longer the only ones who are allowed to have open study hall. Fridays are a lot busier with almost all upperclassmen leaving the school. Senior April Collins believed this change would do good for the juniors.
“I think it’s a cool idea. It gets them into what it’s like to be a senior, because you don’t have to be in study hall,” Collins said. “I’m glad it’s only for one day because it’d be too much if it were the whole week.”
Juniors have more autonomy now, as this decision gives them a chance to do more without worrying about time constraints.
“I use the time to go home and have a nice warm lunch or rest, or I’ll go out to eat with friends,” Savage said. “It’s a lot easier to go out during the hour as opposed to the rush of having lunch off.”
Because this is still a new change, it is undecided how long it will last.
“There is a strong possibility it will continue into second semester,” principal Aaron Bearinger said. “[We] will look to see if [there is] a decrease in tardies and an increase in more students passing classes.”
As Friday finally arrives and study hall commences, seniors and juniors alike can walk out together to enjoy their leisure time. Instead of rushing to be the first car out, they can walk out of school calm and relaxed, with their time in their control.