This year, a new leaf has been turned for SHS seniors. Many still appreciate the traditional senior perks of having access to the senior cafeteria and PAC for lunches–not to mention the coveted senior parking lot. However, starting this year, the previous privilege of being able to arrive late or leave school early due to a scheduled study block has been revoked. 

According to Assistant Principal William Luette, this privilege was only in place due to COVID-19: “The reason we allowed it during Covid was because we didn’t want as many people in school.”  (A lower student population could minimize the spread of Covid.) When asked if he had a role in making the policy change for seniors, Luette explained that the Massachusetts Department of Education does not allow the policy due to a “time on learning issue”: students need to attend school for a certain number of hours to meet state requirements.  

Although many seniors understand why this senior privilege was short-lived, they are still frustrated by the decision. Senior Emily Quinn said she has a B Block (morning) study, so the new policy hit close to home. Quinn noted, “I don’t personally work well in the morning. I work a lot better at night, and I have to come into a study where I can’t function well.” In fact, some seniors attempted to schedule morning or afternoon studies with plans to leave early or arrive late during their senior year. 

Similar to Quinn, senior Emma Dawber was upset by the policy change, stating, “I think that you should be able to leave whenever you want during study.” Dawber proposed a trade-off of privileges, saying that without the senior study privilege, students should “be able to leave for lunch.” Luette responded to this idea by saying it would be a “safety issue,” and students wouldn’t have the ability to go very far within the school’s 23-minute lunch period. 

Despite this privilege being taken away from seniors, most students are still enjoying their senior year. Dawber was very enthusiastic, saying she enjoyed standing on the edge during home football games, an unwritten privilege among SHS seniors. Quinn added that this year members of the senior class are “starting to come together, with a lot more inclusion.”

As attendance policies are changing with a new administration and guidelines from the State, it is up to the students to speak up and voice their opinions on school issues.