Bellarmine seniors had been long accustomed to the schedule of an 8 a.m. start, 80 minute classes, 10 minute passing periods, 25 minute lunch, and a 2:25 p.m. release. But when COVID-19 hit and students were forced to move into a distance learning model for 13 months, the schedule changed multiple times. 

First, students adjusted to a 9 a.m. start, 60 minute classes, 15 minute passing, 60 minute lunch, and a release at 2:30 p.m. in the distance learning model at home. 

Then as students started to come back to school in person at both 25% and 50% occupancy, the schedule changed again to a 9 a.m. start, 65 minute classes, 15 minute passing, 35 minute lunch, and a 2:25 p.m. release. 

And now, as students have returned to campus at 100% occupancy, the schedule has changed yet again. Students now have an 8:45 a.m. start, 70 minute classes, seven minute passing, 45 minute lunch, and a 2:30 p.m. release. With all of these changes in the last year and a half, seniors had a lot to say about this last and final change. 

In an optional and anonymous survey conducted by the journalism staff to gauge senior’s thoughts on the new schedule, 88 out of the 240 seniors responded. A series of questions were created based on the changes added to the schedule, the first being, “Is the later start time causing you to get stuck in rush hour traffic?” Nearly 82% of seniors said, “No.” 

When asked if “the forty-five minute time slot for lunch [is] too long, too short, or just right,” 73.9% of seniors it is, “just the right amount of time,” while 10.2% said it is, “too short,” and 15.9% said it is, “too long.” 

The third question of the survey asks, “Is 7 minutes for the passing period long enough?” 51.1% of seniors said, “No.” 48.9% of seniors said, “Yes.” 

The fourth question of the survey asks, “Are 70 minute classes enough time for you to feel confident in what you have learned? Is 70 minutes too much time? Is 70 minutes not enough time?” 77.3% of seniors said it is, “just the right amount of time,” 19.3% of seniors said it is, “too much time,” and no seniors said it is, “not enough time.”

The fifth question of the survey asks, “Is the later start time actually allowing you to sleep in, or are you thinking you can just go to bed later because you don’t have to get up as early (so the amount of sleep you are getting is more or less the same)?” 51.1% of seniors said, “I am actually able to sleep in.” 37.5% of seniors said, “I am sleeping the same amount of hours.” And 11.4% of seniors said, “I am actually sleeping for a less amount of time.” 

The final question of the survey asks, “Is the later start time beneficial for you outside of potentially getting more sleep? Are you able to use the extra time in the morning to study, are you able to workout in the mornings etc., please explain.” 72.7% of seniors said, “Yes.” They explained that because of the extra time the new schedule grants them they are able to sleep in, study for their classes, exercise, eat breakfast, and not feel rushed in the mornings. 

The seniors clearly have a lot to say about this new schedule. Most of their responses were positive, and according to principal Cindy Davis it looks like this schedule is here to stay so the positive response is appreciated and valued.