DGS transitions into new late start schedule

Marc Alvarez

More stories from Marc Alvarez

Issue 3
January 25, 2019
Issue 5
May 18, 2018
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This year, late starts have been moved from Wednesdays to Mondays. School now starts at 9:20 a.m. and late starts will take place every week. Normal periods are 38 minutes long and lunch periods are 44 minutes long.

The administration made the change with a focus on consistency for both students and teachers. Associate Principal Georgia Hash said that teachers found themselves going three or four weeks without important staff meetings before the change. She also said the new consistency will help students.

“This is just a lot more consistent for the teachers and for [the students]. Because it’s not, Is it a late start? Is it not a late start? You guys just know if it’s a Monday and there is school than there is a late start,” Hash said.

According to the online newspaper Suburban Life, the change enjoyed widespread support among students and parents who responded to survey administered by the district. 80% of those surveyed cited the consistency of weekly late starts as a potential benefit.

After the second Monday late start, student reactions have been mostly positive, but some have expressed reservations. While the extra time to sleep in is appreciated by most, some feel that 9:20 is too early.

“I enjoyed the Wednesday late start just because 10 o’clock feels a lot later than eight o’clock. Whereas now 9:20 doesn’t feel as late as it should,” senior Jackson Kamedulski said.

Kamedulski did see some positives and said he believes the change will overall be a good one. He likes that late starts will now be every week instead of every two weeks.

“But it is nice to have it every Monday. And I feel like it’s less of something to look forward to, but overall it will be better in the long run,”Kamedulski said.

Many students have found other ways that the new Monday late starts are beneficial. Students now have more time over the weekend to do homework as they are able to sleep in on Monday mornings.

Senior Tyler Smiles enjoyed the extra time he now had with his Sunday nights. However, he has found a different use for the extra time he now has.

“I like them because I can stay up later and watch the entire Sunday night football game every week.  It’s nice. You can actually watch the entire game without having to go to bed,” Smiles said.