As students abandon their summer routine, dust off their backpacks, and fill their reusable coffee cups, they’ll discover that this year at North Atlanta is different. The daily schedule has undergone a slight change. Dubs used to watch the clock for 8:45 and 3:45, signaling the start and end of the school day. Now, they will find themselves watching for 8:30 and 3:30. The shift has sparked varying emotions among warriors.
For junior Carmen Anderson, the announcement of the new schedule was confusing, however, while experiencing it for the first week she found everything was ultimately the same. She praises the individual who allowed more lunchtime yet kept the duration of each period. Having to change her morning routine didn’t bother her because she realized she’d leave earlier. On the days of after-school cheer practice, she considers that the time she has to decompress after has become longer. “I wouldn’t change a thing, even if the fifteen minutes made a bigger difference than I originally thought,” she said.
As incoming freshmen adapt to NAHS, their impressions of the schedule differ from the other classes. Amia Buehrle, a freshman, approaches the schedule through a different lens. On top of experiencing her first weeks as a high schooler, Buehrle finds it challenging with the A/B-day rotation changing all four classes. Additionally, coming from Sutton Middle School, she relishes ending 40 minutes earlier than she would at Sutton, but despises the almost hour-early difference in the morning. The enormous 11 stories we call home for ten months is a place she must learn to navigate with a new agenda. “Most of the times when I went home from Sutton it was already late, my mom would be cooking dinner, now I feel I have hours to myself,” she said.
Students and the faculty share similar opinions on this year’s new schedule. Robin Oliver, an NAHS teacher, is one example. Oliver advocates for a longer lunch period for students and teachers. Due to his previous teaching job and personality, he’s used to being an early bird, so the 15-minute morning difference did not affect him, though he understands buses will have some trouble adjusting. When it comes to his teaching, Oliver merely changed when he enters the building. “It’s nice getting home without it being dark,” he said. “I can now hike in the light with my dogs.”
The introduction of the new bell schedule shocked students and faculty. Many find adjusting to be difficult. However, for some, setting alarms early, rushing to buses, and anxious driving has become the new normal. NAHS is sure that true Warriors will tackle the new bell schedule with resilience.
