The start of the school year has brought some unforeseen changes in school policies and student schedules. We’ve seen our beloved community time be severed into multiple different times throughout the week such as Performing Arts block, chapel, and advisory on Friday morning, beneficial resource period, and lastly flex period which it’s still kind of ambiguous of what we’re supposed to do during this time. It may be too early to judge, but as of now, it seems as if this is just an overcomplication of what the community was. However, the school says the addition of a resource period is quite popular among students. 

If one is looking at this in a positive light, one could say that the school is trying to bring something new and exciting to the school schedule, but in reality, it’s made a good schedule overly complicated.  

“Flex period is a good time to catch up with your grade and feel more connected,” says freshman Nikhil Krishnan

However, one could argue that Nikhil and other freshmen would have a more negative view of the flex period if they had experienced how enjoyable community time could be. When asking older kids at Convent and Stuart Hall High School, it seemed they had a less favorable view of the flex period.  

“Flex takes up valuable time we have in class, I appreciated being able to choose when I got to go to lunch and it added an element of surprise and excitement to an otherwise normal period”, is what Junior Cabot Dick had to say when asked about community time or flex period. “I much prefer community as opposed to flex” is what Junior Ross Tulley had to say in a brief interaction talking about the flex period. Flex period is unpopular with older students because it can sometimes be inconvenient. 

Although the flex period isn’t a favorable adaptation to the schedule and community time is missed, resource period is a good positive. “Resource is a good period for people to catch up, especially if they don’t share resource periods with their teachers and miss class from sports.” is what Ms. Kramer had to say when asked about the addition of resource periods. She also commented on the ambiguity of flex period thus far. 

In conclusion, the loss of community has drastically altered the schedule and overcomplicated a solid schedule. However, the addition of resource periods has been pretty well perceived by students. However, flex period and performing arts are much less favorable and flex period is just not clear what we’re supposed to do. Overall, flex period seems like an unnecessary change in schedule.