MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL
VOL. 57, NO. 3
November 19, 2021
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539 41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
CA Teens Look Forward to a Late Start for the 2022-23 School Year By Shaily Desai, Anandita Devata, Shelley Li & Steffi Zhou Staff Writers In 2019, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom signed CA Senate Bill 328, which requires middle schools and high schools to start after 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. respecFor the 2022-23 tively by the 2022-23 school year. Because MSJ usually begins the day at 8 a.m., the administrative team will need to propose a new schedule School year, CA high CA is CA is the to be voted on in order to comply with the mandate. The the first state to schools must start at first state Smoke Signal contacted FUSD schools and MSJ pass a bill mandating latto mandate later faculty and students to gain insight into er start times for secondary schools, the bill’s possible implications. mainly due to a concern of sleep deprivastart times tion among students. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), developing adolescents experience a shift in their circadian rhythms, known as “phase delays,” making it biologically harder for them to fall asleep and wake Following up early. In particular, studies done by the AAP indicate According to that teenagers find it difficult to sleep before 11 p.m. the passage of Senate Bill 328 in CA, Ohio introAAP, teenagers and wake up earlier than 8 a.m. Referring to rePossible New Schedules for Next Year search on adolescent sleep, Newsom said, duced a similar bill in 2019 find it difficult to “The science shows that teenage stu- that mandated later start Although the new MSJ schedule for next wake up earlier times for public schools. In dents who start their day later Former CA Gov. year is still in its planning stages, an 8:30 a.m. addition to sleep deprivation, than 8 a.m. increase their academic start and 64,800 instructional minutes throughout the state also mentioned safeJerry Brown vetoed performance, attenthe school year are mandatory. Based on other schools ty concerns, addressing the numdance, and overa similar bill in the past that have already made the transition, Principal Jeff Evber of accidents that occur as students all health.” due to opposition from ans is planning to create two possible schedules for next wait for their buses in the dark. Other states’ school year. These schedules — a modified block schedule and schedules already comply with the mandate, such teachers and school a six-period schedule — will be presented to the staff as those in Washington, which start no earlier than boards. in the winter and voted on in the spring. The staff will 8:45 a.m. Researchers at the University of WashIn also vote on whether or not to keep Read period and ington found that the later start time allowed the past, advisory for the next academic year. high school students to get on average a similar bill Acknowledging the fact that school may end lat34 more minutes of sleep, improve was presented to Former CA Gov. er, thereby impacting athletes and students who work their grades, and decrease Jerry Brown, but he vetoed it due Other schools in FUSD, like American after school, Evans said, “We want to be mindful of their tardiness to to opposition from teachers and High School (AHS) and Irvington High School starting later but also ending as early as we can so classes. (IHS), have already implemented the late start school boards. “[School schedules] that we still respect people’s after-school time.” schedule for the 2021-22 school year. AHS made the are the types of decisions best hanchange to an 8:30 a.m. start last year during distance learndled in the local community,” Brown ing, while IHS made the change this year. said in his veto message. According to AHS Principal Megan Barrington, most students a n d supported the implementation of the late start. “Whatever we more able to can do to help our students feel better is going to make them enjoy their social lives.” Providing an insight on the do better in school,” Barrington said. Additionally, because AHS is the only school in its area that starts at 8:30 a.m., morning schedule change from the perspective of the traffic is reduced, and parents have an easier time dropping off IHS student body, IHS Associated Student Government President Nosheen Ullah said, “[When] some of my friends students at school. Later starts have also allowed students who have sports every day get home, it’s [already] super late, more time to socialize. “I see more kids hang- and then they end up not being able to do any homework.” For schools like MSJ that will implement the mandate next ing out in the courtyard before school, just chatting with friends,” IHS Principal Nathania year, both Barrington and Chaney-Aiello advised reaching Chaney-Aiello said. “It does seem like they out early to the groups most impacted — crossing guards, are more awake breakfast servers, athletes, and bus drivers — and ensure a smooth transition for them.
8:30
Insight From FUSD Schools Post-Transition
STUDENT OPINIONS In a survey conducted by the Smoke Signal of 194 MSJ students, 86.6% of them expressed a desire for school to start after 8:00 a.m., citing a lack of sleep and little time to prepare for school in the morning as main reasons for this desire. Currently, 95.3% of MSJ students sleep for eight or fewer hours on weeknights, which is lower than the eight to 10 hours of sleep recommended for high school students by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 86.1% of students surveyed
FACULTY MEMBER OPINIONS
think a later start time would help them feel more rested and productive throughout the school day, leading to improved results and test grades. A majority of those surveyed also mentioned increased transportation time and improved attention span in their classes as immensely important benefits of a late start. The survey reflected that many students felt an implementation of a later school schedule would boost their mental wellbeing and productivity.
Students aren’t the only ones affected by the late start, as MSJ faculty members are also affected by changes in their schedules. From a survey of 44 teachers, 65.9% support the bill, saying it would help students become more alert, improve mental wellness, and allow more time for prep in the morning. “Students are not awake and active at 8 a.m. School should [just] start at 9 a.m,” one teacher said. Teachers also mentioned that the later start time would be beneficial to zero period
Students IMMENSE EFFECT
NO EFFECT
More time for sleep Transportation and preparation Improved attention Mental wellness
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194 students and 44 faculty members were asked to rank how they will benefit by a 8:30 a.m. start time on a scale of 1-10, with 1 representing no effect to 10 representing immense effect.
NO EFFECT
classes and help ease the stress of the morning commute. Other teachers express opposition to the mandate, listing reasons such as additional missed class time for student-athletes, less time for extracurriculars, and heavy afternoon traffic. “I feel like this will bring on more negative impacts,” another teacher said. “With school ending at a later time, all extracurricular activities will also start or end later. In the end, it will only displace the sleep time.”
Faculty
IMMENSE EFFECT
More time for sleep Transportation and preparation More alert students Mental wellness
HOMSJ: HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
SMOKIE PODCAST: CHILDHOOD MEDIA
With the holiday season just around the corner, learn more about the MSJ community’s plans to celebrate with friends and family through the Smoke Signal’s latest HOMSJ episode.
Missing your childhood? Listen to the latest episode of the Smokie Podcast to hear two staff writers reminisce on childhood media and how it shaped their lives.
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