Jenny Antonio: Bring Back Early Release!
As of this year, our schedule has changed from early release on Tuesdays, releasing students at 2:20 PM to late start Wednesdays where school starts at 9:00 AM. It would seem that this would be a beneficial change for everyone, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!
For starters, as a student who doesn’t have a car and has to take the bus as a means of transportation, it makes no difference since I still have to wake up early for school. On normal school days, I get up and get ready around 5:45 AM to make it to my bus that comes around 7:04 AM. On late Wednesdays, I wake up at 6 AM instead of 5 AM, and my bus arrives exactly at 8:08 AM. Of course, I do appreciate getting a little bit more rest and having the ability to stay up even later to do homework.
Nonetheless, the late start on Wednesdays doesn’t make a huge impact on my daily life because it’s like any other day for me. From my perspective, many other bus riders don’t get a huge boost in sleep like it would seem. On the other hand, many students who are in closer proximity to the school have a chance of longer sleep and overall better rest. Sadly, if only this was the case for every student on campus.
Furthermore, everyone would look forward to early release on Tuesdays, including me. It always felt great being able to cut class and go home early. Also, since we had early release, students would be given the opportunity of Tuesday school for the removal of negative attendance marks. Moreover, I find it more resourceful to have more time during the afternoon, as I can put more time into my schoolwork and on myself.
Overall, having early release created a better balance around school and other after school activities. Unlike in the morning, the time I’m given is enough to just get ready for school and head to the bus. In short, I would love to have an early release again instead of a late start because it would benefit me and others far more.
Juan Gomez: The Benefits of a Late Start
Starting this year, Dinuba High School began classes at 9:00 AM every Wednesday instead of the usual 8:00 AM. This change removed the early release on Tuesdays and allowed students to have a midweek break. This new late start day has many benefits for the students and staff.
Starting school an hour later allows the students to get more sleep, which can improve their mental well-being. Many students are often sleep-deprived because of the homework and early school start times. Studies show that more sleep helps reduce stress, anxiety, and improve moods, which can lead to better academic performance. Having the extra hour to sleep in has really helped me not end up oversleeping and coming in late.
Ever since we’ve had these late starts on Wednesday. I’ve been waking up more refreshed and focused. Personally, having an extra hour to start the day and get ready is really refreshing. Giving students the extra hour to prepare in the morning can improve their attendance. The late start reduces the rate of students being tardy and absent. This can help out the students who have other responsibilities in the morning and give them a well-deserved break. The extra hour to get ready has benefited me and given me time to make myself a full breakfast.
A later start in the middle of the week allows students to catch up on sleep for the second half of the school week. This can help reduce students getting burned out and increase their productivity in school. The change of starting school at 9:00 AM brings many benefits for students and staff, even if it is only one day a week. Better academic performance and improved mental health are just some of the many benefits that come from starting an hour later. The advantages of the late start are endless and bring many students to enjoy the late start.
Overall, I believe that the late start on Wednesdays is a great addition to our schedule. The extra hour to sleep in and get ready helps me feel better prepared and ready to take on the school day.