An earlier ending

During the spring semester at Granite Bay High School in 2009, a decision was made about the new start and end times of the following school year.
For some students, the change in schedule was not welcome. The main reason for this was due to a shortening in summer, as well as the unfamiliarity a new schedule would bring to the student body.
“When I first found out that we would lose summer last year, I was not in favor of the change at all because it seemed like more time in school,” GBHS junior Kevin Kong said.
However, the early start meant an early finish, and now that school is coming to an end, many students and faculty members say they are beginning to appreciate the change.
According to GBHS math teacher Duane Blomquist, the change, along with a seemingly faster summer, better suits finals and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate testing schedules.
“AP and IB testing are always in May. We now have a good fit for those testing situations,” Blomquist said.
Kong agrees.
“Once we had to start preparing for the IB exams, I became glad that we started the school year earlier, or else we wouldn’t have had the time we did to study,” Kong said.
By starting the schedule earlier, students are allotted more time to study and prepare for the exams. The schedule that Granite Bay, along with many other schools in the state, followed in prior years meant less time to prepare for the AP exams, and more time
sitting around after testing ended.
“There’s not really a point for me to go to school anymore after AP tests are over. I feel like I can get more done at home. After the AP tests, I feel that the AP teachers don’t really have much for me to do.” GBHS junior Kristi Shinfuku said.
As well as that, before the change, many students complained about finals starting after winter break.
The main complaint here was that the entire winter break was spent either studying for finals, or simply forgetting a significant portion of material that was to be on the final.
“I think starting earlier is really helpful because I don’t have to struggle to remember things over winter break,” Shinfuku said. “In past years, I was really stressed out and had to spend winter break preparing for finals which didn’t make break as fun as it could have been.”
Other than testing schedules, the early shift has benefited those who have been eager to get a head start on the job market.
“It helps because we get out earlier and I feel there’s less competition with other people,” GBHS senior Christian George said. “It also allows me more hours to work so I can get paid more.”
This change is especially helpful because during the springtime, an extreme lack of motivation, or “senioritis,” sets in for many students due to summer quickly approaching, Blomquist says.
“Typically, students are not motivated in June, teachers either,” Blomquist said.