TCS students express frustration over the new Wednesday schedule, while Principal Navarra defends it as essential for addressing post-pandemic academic gaps, causing tension between academic goals and student concerns.
The extended Wednesday schedule was a decision made by the Junta Directiva to balance academic recovery post-pandemic. It has sparked mixed reactions among students and staff. While some students feel the extra 40 minutes don’t add much value, Principal Paul Navarra defends the change as essential to addressing the academic gaps caused by the disruption.
“I think the school just made a pointless decision. We only had 40 minutes, and students used that time more effectively before,” Fernando Altman, senior, said.
Students are concerned about how the extended schedule affects their after-school activities, especially sports. With the additional minutes added to each class, students are finding that their training times have been drastically shortened. This, for many, has caused frustration as students struggle to maintain a balance between schoolwork and extracurricular commitments, which are vital to many students’ personal development.
“Poly used to be fun and effective on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30. Now it’s from 2:10 to 3:30, and almost half of our training session got cut,” shared Pablo Nichols, senior, said.
Another complaint is that the extra five minutes added to each class don’t seem to make any change. Many students feel that these additional minutes have not contributed to covering more material or improving their overall academic experience. Instead, they claim that this time is often wasted, with the final moments of class filled with distractions as students prepare to leave. For students, these added minutes do not justify the extended school day, especially when their afternoons are being compressed as a result.
“No, because honestly, it’s just five minutes, and people at the end of class just get up and grab their phones. It doesn’t really make a difference,” Altman said.
On the other hand, the administration argues that the extra time brings consistency to the teaching schedule, making it easier for teachers to plan lessons. The consistency in class lengths helps educators cover the necessary material efficiently across all sections. Which helps teachers deliver lessons in a more structured manner. According to Vice Principal Navarra, the change is less about immediate benefits to students and more about giving educators the tools to ensure all sections cover the necessary material efficiently.
“The extra time helps teachers plan their lessons more consistently. Before, there were significant differences in class lengths between Tuesday and Wednesday, which made it hard for teachers to cover the same material across sections,” Paul Navarra, Vice principal, said.
Despite the reasoning provided by the administration, many students feel that the extended day has drained their energy levels. The additional class time has left them with fewer opportunities to rest and engage in non-school-related activities that are crucial for maintaining a healthy balance. As a result, they find themselves more exhausted by the end of the day, with little time left for relaxation or hobbies. This has intensified their frustration, as they believe their well-being is being sacrificed for minimal academic benefit.
“It’s pointless, I think it’s more tiring because classes last longer, and last year we had more time on Wednesdays to rest or do other outside-school activities,” Nicholls said.
While Vice Principal Navarra acknowledges the students’ concerns, he remains firm in his belief that the schedule adjustment was necessary to ensure academic standards are met. Navarra emphasizes that the decision was not taken lightly and that it reflects the school’s commitment to providing the best possible education for its students. Even if the benefits are not immediately understood, Navarra believes that the long-term outcomes, particularly in terms of consistency and academic achievement, will prove the change to be worthwhile.
“Getting back to instructional time pre-pandemic is a positive thing. It helps alleviate the issue that teachers were concerned about when they had different class lengths. I believe the schedule has been successful,” Navarra said.