Single Lunch

· What's the purpose of having a Single Lunch Hour?

The real purpose of changing to Single Lunch is to provide new opportunities for our students. Having Single Lunch will give students time during the school day to conduct school business with the main office or guidance, get remediation, intervention or enrichment for class work, or attend a club meeting or a pep rally.

· How does it work?

Students will be free to eat anytime from 11:45 to 12:45. It will be up to each student to determine how to schedule his/her own hour. One student may get extra tutoring in a classroom with a teacher and then eat later in the hour. Someone else may eat as soon as possible and then attend a club meeting. All offices and the library will be open during lunch, and teachers will divide their time between assigned supervision, their own lunches and activities such as club meetings, remediation, etc.

· What's the daily schedule?

First, second, third and fourth periods will be morning classes. Lunch will be served from 11:45 to 12:45, and fifth and sixth will be afternoon classes.

· What about homeroom?

We will not meet homeroom daily, but students will still have a homeroom teacher that they will meet with occasionally. For example, report cards will be distributed there, and certain tests will be administered through homeroom.

· When does it begin?

February 16, 2010, that's the Tuesday after Winter Break.

· Why then?

It will give us time to work out many of the problems that may arise this school year. Then, when school begins in the fall, ¾ of the student body will already be used to Single Lunch, and only freshmen and new students will have to adjust to the new schedule.

· What kind of changes will take place?

Obviously, the biggest changes are scheduling. But other issues for students are time management and increased responsibility at school.

· Where can we eat?

Maps will be posted that show open and restricted areas. Basically, the cafeteria and gym lobby will be open every day. The Pioneer Patch will be open on certain days. Students may purchase food at these sites and eat it there or in an open area, such as a hallway. Hopefully in nice weather that will also include the courtyard and other outside areas.

· Can I check out and go eat?

No. Our school policy already says no check outs except with a parent present during that time. Only excused check outs will be allowed from 11:45- 12:45. If you have an appointment during that time, you must get your slip prior to 11:45. There will be no way for us to reach large numbers of students during that time. Only limited announcements will be made to locate students.

· Can my parents bring me lunch?

No, for many of the same reasons already stated; that's just not manageable.

· So, what will students see as the down side of Single Lunch?

We hope very little, but students might see losing part of the hour as a negative.

· Losing part of the hour, what do you mean?

If an area is not cleaned up properly, students may be assigned lunch detention. Everyone will have to be responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Teachers will have their trash cans at their doors as well as additional ones in the hallways. If an area is left messy, it will be restricted from use for a time. If there is a wide spread or continued mess, Mr. Bennett could deduct time from our lunch period. Everyone will have to do his/her part to make this work; that may even mean that students will correct friends for leaving their stuff. We're a school community, and all of our citizens have to do their part.