october 2015 | vol. 10, issue 1
A New Day
inside
Zachary Hammer Reporter
Freshmen
2
Meet the new Class of 2019
New Teachers
3
New faces at The Hall
Walt
4
Lunch at its finest
Gun Control
5
The dangers of guns in school
Sports 6 Mid-season updates
A&E Review
7
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Perspective 8 The values we share
B
oisterous chatter amongst students, slamming of lockers in the hallways, the scraping of the metal chairs in the courtyard, *DING* “Please pardon the interruption.” It’s passing period here at the Hall. However, in a few short minutes, class will start again and the hallways will settle. The mayhem in the corridors is a mere distraction from the immaculate order that is the foundation of Stuart Hall. And where does that order come from? Naturally, the schedule: it provides the concrete background on which we build our lives. It tells us where to go, what to do, and creates structure. Without it, our impeccable little haven, nestled deep within the core of San Francisco, would descend into utter chaos. Sin and debauchery would run rampant through the hallway: things like playing video games during school, eating snacks in the classrooms, and cell-phone usage would become commonplace. It’s a dangerous world out there, and our schedule is our only aegis against the terrors of the outside world. So, naturally, what’s a new year without throwing last year’s schedule completely out the window? This year’s block schedule featured 75 minute class times throughout the week. There was a 20 minute passing period with a bus to get students back and forth. Lunches were 40 minutes each day, with the exception of a 55 minute lunch on Wednesday. The universal 75 minute classes allowed for an additional hour-long period each day for various purposes. On Mondays, it was used for assembly and the advisory period. On Tuesdays and Thursdays it was used for elective period.
Wednesdays, had the longer lunch and an office hour period and on Friday it was used for chapel. This year, classes vary from 75 to 85 minutes, with the elective period gone completely. Now, electives take place during normal block periods, allowing for more time for the acting lab, writing for the newspaper and yearbook, singing a capella, or playing in the Jazz band. Lunches are universally longer, allowing for more time for off-campus dining or for various clubs, such as the Meditation Club sponsored by Mr. Roos or Partners in Health moderated by Mrs. Saltveit. Because lunches are now longer, the passing periods have been reduced to 10 minutes. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, classes are 85 minutes, allowing for a long lunch and a 3 PM dismissal. The assembly on Mondays and the chapel period on Fridays have remained the same, but Thursdays now feature an collaboration period to allow for students to collaborate with
their peers or teachers, and helps to prepare them for the unstructured atmosphere of college. There have been mixed reviews so far about the recent changes. Although it is early in the year, it is apparent that the 10 minute passing periods are not popular. When asked how he felt about the new schedule, senior Dylan Coe told the roundtable, “They took away the 20 minute passing periods, so sometimes I feel rushed getting to class.” Convent students, who also share our new schedule, have voiced their dislike of the shorter transition times as well. Senior Cat Heinen remarked, “The 10 minute passing periods make it difficult to get from SHHS and CHS and many people have been arriving late, often disrupting the class in the process.” While there have been a few gripes and groans about the changes, the longer lunches this year have been praised. The year is still young and although there are still some bumps in the road to smooth out, the new schedule seems to be working well.