CLOSED CAMPUS
SHOULD STUDENTS BE ABLE TO LEAVE CAMPUS DURING BRUNCH AND TUTORIAL?
BY DIYA BAHL
Senior Camryn Harvel: Yes
“I think there should be an open campus [during tutorial and brunch], only because some people aren’t doing anything during those times, so why require them to stay?” senior Camryn Harvel said.
Harvel believes that an open campus during brunch and tutorial should be implemented in order to accommodate getting food or simply spending time with friends outside of school. According to Harvel, their desire to leave school during breaks has especially increased with the ability to drive.
“It is different now [that I can drive] because I can just go anywhere and it’s way easier and faster [than walking],” Harvel said. “If we have all this time [during tutorial and brunch], there’s no point staying [at school].”
Assistant Principal Janice Chen: No
“[Tutorial] should be [a] time for students to utilize productively to go see teachers, to get extra help, to make up assignments or tests or to work with their group members if they need some extra time,” assistant principal Janice Chen said. “It should really be time for students to hopefully shave off homework time at the end of the day so that they can go to sleep earlier or spend more time with their family.”
Though Chen herself does not patrol the student parking lot to ensure students do not leave campus during brunch or tutorial, she believes this is necessary, especially during the beginning of the school year in order for students to re-familiarize themselves with what is and isn’t allowed.
“[Patrolling the parking lot] usually just happens during the first couple weeks of school,” Chen said. “I think this year because of COVID, students haven't necessarily been on campus, especially ninth or 10th graders, so [patrolling the parking lot is] just for reacclimating folks to our school rules.”
Junior Urmi Sumant: Yes
“I haven't [tried to leave campus during Tutorial],” junior Urmi Sumant said. “I usually do homework during Tutorial because there's always so much work to do, and on top of that, there's extracurriculars and other activities at home, so it's just a time to do work for me.”
Though Sumant personally uses Tutorial time to finish homework, she believes those who would rather spend the allotted 35 minutes outside of school to get snacks or spend time with their friends should be able to.
“I think [an open campus] would be a good idea,” Sumant said. “If [a student] wants to go somewhere to just have fun, relax or, for example, go to 7-Eleven for snacks, then I think that should be an option.”
CHANGING SCHEDULE
ARE STUDENTS AND STAFF IN FAVOR OF THE NEW BELL SCHEDULE?
BY ISHAANI DAYAL
Math Teacher Kathleen McCarty: Yes
“I teach AP Stats, so [we] can really build on the concepts that we’re learning and I don’t feel rushed,” McCarty said. “Wednesday is a catch up day where I try not to bring in anything new. [I] love the 90 minutes of working with [students].”
McCarty administers tests on block schedule days for more flexibility with time. She explains that the additional time for testing has also benefited students with 504 plans, which allow certain learning accommodations to students with disabilities.
Senior Jonah Tien: Yes
“Before we went [to] virtual [learning], I always wanted to have more block schedules in person because I felt like we got more done in [those periods],” Tien said. “[Block periods were] more fun because you actually got to be more involved in the classroom rather than just sitting there and having things pass over your head. You could ask the teacher questions, you could be more actively engaged.”
Tien also appreciates the seven period schedule on Wednesdays, however. His only grievance is that he finds himself having more homework on Tuesday nights to prepare for Wednesdays, but Tien describes it as a “minor factor” in the bigger picture.
Senior Vidhya Kalimani: No
“It’s a very tiring schedule, because there’s a seven period day in the middle of the week and we end up getting a lot of homework for it,” Kalimani said. “I don’t prefer block schedules because I can’t focus for that entire one and a half hours, and [there’s a] lack of communication on certain days because we only see [teachers] three out of five days. I would rather see somebody or see the class every day for shorter periods than some days for long periods.”
Kalimani’s freshman and sophomore year adhered to the previous bell schedule, which she prefers over the altered schedule this year.
REQUIRING VACCINES
SHOULD MVHS ADMINISTRATION REQUIRE PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR STUDENTS?
BY JIYA SINGH
Junior Ambhranee Yakkundi: Yes
“We have herd immunity with vaccination[s], and the more people that get their vaccination, the less cases we're gonna have,” Yakkundi said.
Yakkundi, who received the vaccine as soon as she was eligible in the spring, believes that vaccinations should be mandatory for students at MVHS to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment.
“People shouldn't feel pressured to protect other people,” Yakkundi said. “They should just [get the vaccine] because they should want to protect other people and showing vaccination proof shouldn't [require] much of an effort.”
Senior Parth Aeron: No
“[Student vaccination requirements] are going to make some people angry,” Aeron said.
Aeron is vaccinated and admits feeling safer going out in public since his vaccination — however, he still believes that MVHS should not require proof of vaccination for students.
“I don't think [requiring student vaccinations] is right for someone that didn't vaccinate themselves … even though they probably should,” Aeron said. “[For just one COVID case on campus], I don’t think [vaccinations] are that necessary, probably not for a while.”
Freshman Jeffrey Song: Yes
“There should be [a vaccination requirement], and that way we can make this school a little bit more safe,” Song said.
Song’s family, with the exception of his two year old sister, is vaccinated. He believes that getting the vaccine might not prevent cases on campus entirely, but will definitely help.
”[Mandatory vaccinations] might not 100% prevent [COVID-19 cases], but at least there's less of a chance of [people getting COVID-19] ,” Song said. “Students would probably feel pressured, but if it helps to make the school safer, I think that it is worth it.”
ABOVE THE NOSE
HOW DO STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL ABOUT THE MANDATORY MASK RULE?
BY LILLIAN WANG
Sophomore Kaavya Ahuja: Pro
“I don't really hate masks or love them,” Ahuja said. “It's not really that hard to breathe, but sometimes they fog up my glasses.”
Ahuja says that her glasses are the only real drawback of the mandatory mask rule, emphasizing the importance of wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think we should keep wearing masks until the pandemic fully goes away,” Ahuja said.
Physics teacher Michael Lordan: Pro
“There are certainly challenges [when wearing masks],” Lordan said. “Just from a personal level, there's a certain discomfort associated with wearing a mask, but the fact that we can be in person is worth it.”
Lordan finds some of the limits the mandatory mask rule has placed on student activities disconcerting, such as not being able to eat during club meetings at lunch.
“Not being able to do the things that I normally do has been a learning curve, but I'm getting used to it,” Lordan said.
Senior John Winton: Pro
One argument against masks that Winton often hears is that wearing one makes it difficult to breathe. However, Winton believes people with breathing issues should consider consulting a medical professional before opting to not wear a mask in public.
“I think it's important to wear a mask,” Winton said. “Do it to be respectful and courteous of others, because it's not just to protect yourself, it’s to protect other people.”
SCHOOL EVENTS
WHAT IS A SCHOOL EVENT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER MISS?
BY MICHELLE CHEN
Freshman Naoka Baba: School dances
“Probably one of the bigger dances because it's a fun time to socialize with your friends,” Baba said.
Baba anticipates the MVHS dances because she believes that high school is a “bigger version” of middle school. Moreover, she looks forward to fully experiencing the dances without additional organizing and planning responsibilities.
“In middle school, I was in Leadership so I had to set up the dances,” Baba said. “It was fun doing stuff behind the scenes, but I didn't get to participate.”
Science teacher and leadership advisor Jenna Smith: Homecoming week
Although Smith believes that picking a single event is “practically impossible,” she says that she would choose Homecoming week.
“It's the first main thing that's huge on campus that offers the opportunity to anybody to get involved in a variety of ways, and it's the first time our whole school gets together for a common cause,” Smith said.
While Smith believes that the Welcome Back rally is similarly important because of its proximity to the beginning of school, she describes how “Homecoming has a whole new aura about it” due to its long planning process.
Senior Jacob Vrabel: Running of the Bulls
“Aside from getting your IDs and [photos taken], [Running of the Bulls is] a way to get familiar with the school and to take a look at it before you actually start going to class,” Vrabel said.
Vrabel, who moved here after ninth grade, describes ROTB as his first impression of MVHS. He also cites how the New Student Lunch event, which is typically held around the same time as ROTB, helped him socially.
“It was nice to meet with other people who were in the same situation because it's a weird experience moving midway through high school,” Vrabel said. “It was nice to be able to connect with other people and just help to take an edge off the nervousness.