The new schedule CRLS has put in place for the 2021-2022 school year is far too challenging. Last year’s schedules were, honestly, all over the place, and changed far too many times. The 2020-2021 schedule change incorporated advisory and study support blocks, though the times of these varied throughout the year. The CRLS administration made the poor decision to keep many unpopular aspects of last year’s schedule, such as a later start at 8:35 and community meeting (CM) only once a week, while simultaneously getting rid of the favored asynchronous Wednesdays and longer passing periods.

The most significant change to this year’s schedule has been shifting CM to only on Wednesdays for thirty-five minutes, rather than a 15-minute meeting every day. CM, even when only fifteen minutes long, provides a break between academic classes that students need. The only benefit of reducing CM meetings days is an additional five minutes for each academic class. In reaction to the schedule change, Lila Valaskovic ’23 told The Register Forum, “Even though it’s [class time for] only five more minutes, without CM breaking up first and second period the school day is so much more demanding. And no one’s requiring teachers to give students a break or anything.”

This change is especially hard on those who have lunch C. Without CM between first and second period, many students must go almost five hours straight with no break at all. Five minute passing periods don’t even allow enough time to get a mask break or go outside. History teacher Mr. Cohen has a class with lunch C. He told The Register Forum that it is “unhealthy for students, for my third-period class, to have 85 minutes, 85 minutes, 85 minutes— then lunch, without any break.”

In addition, passing periods of only five minutes, though an increase from the four we had two years ago, simply isn’t enough. Keelin Ercolani ’22 believes passing periods should be longer. She
explained to The Register Forum, “I don’t mind not having CM, but I do think we need longer getting to class blocks; I want to be able to wander the halls a little.” As an alternative to CM, longer passing periods would provide students with a chance to go outside for a mask break, or possibly get something to eat.

This new schedule is incredibly taxing for students—especially after a year online. Students are accustomed to being able to turn off their cameras and take a break when needed or make something to eat when hungry. Valaskovic added what we’ve all been thinking: “After the really difficult year we’ve had . . . We lost a lot of learning last year, and the school needs to still acknowledge that we’re not over it, and it’s still hard.”

This article also appears in our October 2021 print edition.