Did you think senior year was supposed to be full of unscheduled periods? Well, think again. Unlike previous years, seniors’ schedules have been filled to keep them occupied.
Both administration and seniors share different view points about schedules.
“I understand seniors are upset, but I can’t please all 61 of them; making schedules is harder than it looks,” said Mr. Touhey.
As seniors received there 2009-2010 schedules, reactions varied from being content to displeased. As a senior you look forward to see how many early dismissals and unscheduled periods you have. To the surprise of many seniors their schedules did not live up to their expectations. “I don’t know what happened to my schedule this year, I think I had more unscheduled periods junior year,” said Justine Amaro.
Upset seniors tried to get their schedules changed, but not all were successful.
So why the change? Assistant Principal Mr. Touhey says, “Seniors need to be kept busy, and that’s why study hall has been implemented in several Seniors’ schedules. We don’t want seniors roaming the building with nothing to do.”
He is not the only one who feels this way. Principal Sister Joan Gallagher concurs with him. Sister Joan sees the packed schedules as “good for college transcripts. Seniors will definitely get their money’s worth, and broaden their horizons.”
To some seniors those reasons weren’t sufficient as to why some don’t even have lunch everyday.
Senior Leslie Gonzaga shares, “I only have three unscheduled periods during the week, and no lunch on Wednesday’s. On Wednesday I feel I’m going to die with 9 back to back classes, I’ve always look forward to eating my hamburger and fries.”
Having all nine periods on four out of the five days was a disappointment to seniors. “I only get to leave early Monday’s and Tuesday’s, something I didn’t anticipate as a senior,” said Sandra Tlapanco.
However, not all seniors were affected by this change. There are seniors who leave at 2:00 or 1:20 on most days. “I can’t complain about my schedule. I got all the classes I wanted, and leave early four days,” said Julie Rosario.
Those privileged seniors with numerous frees will be checked on by administration as to how prudently they are using their unscheduled periods, commented Sister Joan.
Senior Andrea Montes de Oca said that seniors with numerous frees should take advantage of them to get work done.
“The way I see it we shouldn’t even complain because I see how some of us have frees last periods, and we stay those forty minutes to wait for our friends,” she said. “I know because I get to leave four days early and I stay most of the time. So why not use those forty minutes in a class?”