Searching for a way to improve the tardies by the students of The Columbus School there was a new policy implement, and it greatly affected the art department.

For this new year (2017-2018) a new tardy procedure was implemented by the HS directives because the students were taking too long to get to class. The new system consisted of only having 4 minutes to get to class, this impacted the art classes, and changes needed to be made.

“So we really wanted to make sure that students felt a need to get to class. Students were given a certain amount of time to get to class, we found that with the 5 minutes students were socializing in the hallway, getting to class wasn’t a priority,” High School principal Roger Arbabi said.

Art is far away from the main building and because people were socializing before class they got even more late to class. With the new approach they only had 4 minutes to get there, adjustments were required.

“After the first week of school, I told the art teachers ‘please allow your students to be 2 min late after the bell’ here, and then release them to 2 min early. That gives them 6 minutes to get there and 6 minutes get back.,” Arbabi commented.

Tardies have many effects that could influence the learning environment. Something that teachers and directives stress is academic excellence for their students  and tardies won’t help that.

“For me the tardy policy should be more consistent, because as a school we are focused on academic excellence, and being late means to me that a student is not using his time properly,” Art teacher Gloria Velez mentioned.

Students have developed strategies that helps them get faster to their art classes and after getting early to their other class. Art teachers really value those strategies.

“Some strategies that some students have implemented is that after rest if they have art they take their things, this avoids going back to the locker, the same applies to the classes they have after art,” Art teacher Sofia Arcila said.

There have been many complains about the new method that has been enforced. New ideas are welcomed and should be communicated.

“If I have a students that comes to me and says ‘hey I got this idea that will work better’ I’m willing to listen to it,” Arbabi mentioned.