After a week or so of surviving the new block schedule, students had mostly positive reactions to it with one exception: the overcrowded lunch block, but administrators promise that situation will change.

Principal Michael Rewick met with journalism students earlier this week to listen to student feedback and to outline his plans for improving the lunch situation.

“On the first day, I saw what the front of the building looked like and knew it needed to be changed,” said Rewick.  And change the situation, he did.  On Tuesday, September 10, custodians moved picnic tables from the oval to the rear of the building outside of the North Gym.  This move, says Rewick, will ensure the safety of students, which in addition to ensuring that all students are fed during lunch, is Rewick’s top concern.

In addition, Rewick promised to continue to improve the lunch situation by considering several options.  These include establishing a quiet room in the Media Center, holding activities in the auditorium, organizing club meetings in teachers’ rooms and organizing additional outside activities during warmer months.

“Things are settling down and people are finding their place,” said Rewick.  Students, he added, are already branching off to the band and TV Production rooms, which alleviates the crowded situations.

Rewick is open to student suggestions and is making every effort to afford them freedoms about their lunch choices.  “This is not my school,” he said, “It belongs to the students.  We will take your recommendations.”  Rewick said that the block schedule gives students more of an opportunity for choice and freedom during their lunch period.

Students weighed in on the lunch block as well.  “Lunch is very hectic and being late to class is a common occurence,” said James Adamo, a sophomore.

Lunch aside, students seem to be settling in with the new schedule.

“It’s not as bad as I thought. It’s a nice change of pace from day to day and I’m excited to see how the rest of the year goes,” said Nicole Collins, a senior.

“It feels like the day is going much more efficiently and since we have less periods, the workload will be severely less stressful,” said Nicole Bergman, junior.

Teachers, too, expressed satisfaction with the new schedule.

“I like seeing my students for longer periods and I feel that I’m able to get more done thanks to the extra time,” said Andrew Poalillo, math teacher.

“I think the rotation of classes is really great because you see kids at different times of day as well as having a day off,” said Joseph Fleissner, english teacher.

The district officially approved the block schedule last year.  The schedule is based on a four-day rotation and within those days, three morning blocks and three afternoon blocks rotate.  A unit lunch is scheduled from 10:22 to 11:13 a.m.