Students Coming Late To School Reaching Epidemic Proportions — Get An Alarm Clock!
by Claire Owen
Last Friday, Walkersville’s Find Out First sent out an email alerting parents and students on the alarming numbers of late arrivals occurring, and warning about the disciplinary actions that will be taken.
The email goes on to say that car riders are the biggest concern. Principal Tracey Franklin wrote the email explaining her reasoning. “The drop-off pattern has remained consistent for years at WHS and has been evaluated multiple times by transportation and legal authorities in partnership with the school for best practices including efficiency and safety of all students,” wrote Franklin. “From our evaluation the issue is becoming a greater concern because of the number of car riders being dropped off between 7:20am and 7:35am.” It seems that Franklin just wants students to try to make an effort to leave their house five to ten minutes earlier, as to avoid this.
Senior Regan Farr commented on the late policy, “I was running in the school the other day at 7:28 and I almost made it to my classroom but the bell rang when I was like ten feet away from my class, the administration made me turn around to go back to the office and sign in late. By the time I actually got to sign in and get a late pass it was 7:33.” Farr thinks it is ridiculous to make students get a pass. “I don’t see the point in turning around to go get a late pass because in the end I missed more time of class then I would have if I walked in 30 seconds late,” she explained. From a student’s point of view you can see how this is just a waste of time, and you actually end up missing more class time than intended.
Attendance Secretary Shelley Dowling, commented on how bad it has been lately. “It is getting worse. It always gets worse when it is dark in the morning, and as it starts getting brighter in the morning it will get better. But we are also ending the school year, and it typically drops off,” said Dowling. The most common excuse Dowling gets is about oversleeping. “A lot of kids say that it’s their parents fault, but it’s their parents fault they are coming here late because they did not get up when their alarm went off and missed the bus,” Dowling explained. It has gotten so bad that in term three, 38% of students have had at least one late arrival.
If you are late, there will be consequences. Franklin wrote, “Students will be assigned detentions after three late arrivals to school. Increased accumulations of late arrivals will result in Saturday School and/or loss of privileges to participate or attend extracurricular events.” So if you plan on participating in after school activities, or play a sport, your attendance is very important.
Some advice from Dowling to make sure you arrive on time is, “Put your alarm clock across the room so you have to get up out of bed, so you physically get up. Do not use your phone, buy an alarm clock — they have them at Walmart for five dollars!”
