By the time most students finally roll out of bed in the morning, most do not have the time to make themselves something to eat–or rather let their parents prepare them something to eat. Rushing off to school, a large number of students usually fail to consume what is the most important meal of the day: breakfast.
For the 2014-2015 school year, a new snack time policy allows Walpole High School students to enjoy a snack prior to the designated lunch block later in the day. Rather than going through their morning classes hungry like in the past, students now have the opportunity to eliminate their appetite by third block. Given more freedom, many students are excited about this significant change–a change that countless students have hoped for in past years.
Senior Emerald Walsh said, “Snack time is a great way to break up the day in between the second and third classes, rather than waiting until lunch.” Until this year, administration prohibited eating outside of the cafeteria–whether it was in the classrooms or the hallways. Students, only allowed to eat during lunch block, had to go hours without food during the morning; many were finding that it was harder to focus during school if they were hungry. Due to this issue, Walpole High School’s administrators created a new snack policy, which grants students a ten minute break in between blocks B and C to eat.
Although the break is five minutes longer than the normal passing time between classes, some students believe it is still not enough time. Senior Leah Erwin said, “The ten minute break is nice, but fifteen minutes would be better for a break.” Most students are already hungry by the end of first block, so the break after the morning classes helps cut down the time students have to go without eating. Students no longer have to sneak food in class or in between classes in the hallways, for they are not required to be confined to eating in the cafeteria like in past years. They are able to go anywhere in the school, including classrooms, to eat.
Despite generally positive feedback from students, Principal Stephen Imbusch explained that there are some drawbacks to having a snack time. “Because of the new policy, there could be heightened incidences of food allergies, or trash left on the floors. However, we need to be vigilant. I believe the pros outweigh the cons,” said Imbusch.
The cell phone policy also has undergone significant provisions for this upcoming school year. At first, the use of cellphones was completely prohibited during school and resulted in a detention if students were caught using them. Then, the policy changed to allow for the use of cellphones during lunch in the cafeteria. The newest revision to the cell phone policy is that phones are allowed in the classrooms with teacher guidance and can be used during passing time in the hallways. Although passing time is only five minutes, the goal of the policy is that by giving the students a chance to quickly use their phones in the hallways, they will have less of an urge to use their phones during class when they are not allowed to.
Sophomore Kayla Frost said, “The new cell phone policy is helpful because it allows students to text in between classes if they need to, instead of having to wait until lunch.” Using cellphones as a supplemental learning tool in classrooms makes it easier to look up words in a dictionary app or for the use of other school-related apps.
Imbusch said, “I would hope that students will interact socially with each other as opposed to staring at a screen throughout lunch and passing times. My hope is that by not penalizing students for using phones in the halls, we have a better chance of teaching them proper cell phone etiquette.” With the addition of a snack time to this year schedule and a less stringent cell phone policy, students at WHS are rewarded more freedom throughout the school day. The ten minute break to eat in the morning, and the ability to use phones between classes also helps decrease the amount of students who disobey rules against eating in class and using their phones.
