After The Final Bell

How are students who stay late after school enduring the harsh weather conditions? 

After seven hours of classes, the final bell frees students to go home and relax. However, a few students are stuck with no place to go after school.

Some students leave right away. Mary Fredericksen (’14) goes her locker, then walks across the street to her car and heads home. She is not interested in staying a little after school because “there is nothing to do”.

Other students have to stay after school for practices. Senior Veronica Martinez (’14) stays after school for cheer practice which ends around 5:30.

“Cheer is something to do after school and keeps me occupied after school,” she says.

Even without a practice, some students are still at school after 5:00 because they do not have a ride home. When 5:00 comes around, all remaining students face the harsh conditions of outdoors as the library and 700’s hallway are closed and students must go outside.

In the warmer seasons, this is not a problem. Unfortunately it is not always warm. When the weather gets cold, wind increases, and there is the potential of rain, students have no protection besides the library to keep warm. The students’ precious safe haven from the cold is taken away from them as the clock strikes 5:00

As seniors who have stayed late after school and continue to stay late, Kayla Thompson (’14) and Austin Brown (’14) expressed this concern and had a few suggestions to keep students warm.

Kayla, who stays at school until 6:00, believes “the gym, field house, or cafeteria should be open for students to escape the cold.” The only problem with this suggestion is that winter sport teams use these facilities to practice.

On the other hand, Austin, who leaves school at 5:30, thinks “a classroom should be open for students after school.” A classroom is a reasonable idea because no one is using them after school.

Megan Perry (’14) used to stay late after with only homework to occupy her time. This year she escaped staying after 5:00. The secret to her early leaving is her drivers license. Megan advises people to get their driver license to flee from the “desolate and boring” after school environment.

Waiting to leave after school is a tedious task for students who stay after 5:00 especially during the frigid winter months.