Among the many changes seen by students at the start of the school year, one change that will have a unique impact on seniors is the administration’s decision to move seminar to the end of the day.  Beginning second semester, seniors will be permitted to leave campus during their seminar periods, so long as they meet certain guidelines.

According to Associate Principal Heather Royce, only seniors in “good standing” will be permitted to leave school during their seminar class.

Students will be identified as “in good standing” upon meeting the following criteria: grades being C’s or above or a GPA better than 2.0, good attendance and no serious disciplinary infractions.

Senior IB student Jack Walker believes that having an optional seminar will teach seniors lessons for the years to come. But Walker, along with other IB students, will only have the option to miss one seminar each week, due to the Theory of Knowledge class.

“I think a pro is that it gives seniors more freedom which is something like they will have in college,” Walker said. “There isn’t going to be time at college when your professors are going to make you work for an hour and a half.

According to Royce, moving seminar to the end of the day eliminates scheduling conflicts created by students in Out of Job Training, consortium, or those who travel to Broadmoor. Royce said that students who have to leave school for these programs end up missing part of their classes because they have to go in the middle of the day. Now that seminar is at the end of the day, it is much easier for OJT students to leave without missing any classes.

Royce also said that the switch will benefit students involved in sports that have games or meets and are forced to miss their last class and leave school early.

One potential issue with the optional seminar is that according to state law, students are required a certain number of hours of “contact time” at school. However, Royce said that seniors will still meet these required hours if they do choose to leave seminar.

Junior Cameron Mendez, who transferred from North to East, feels that even though he isn’t involved in any programs that require him to leave school, the move is easier on students.

“[The switch] is good because you get through all of your classes and get to do your homework so you don’t have as much to do at home,” Mendez said.

Royce and other administrators hope that seniors with the option to skip seminar will not just leave, to leave, but stay when they need to work with a teacher or make up work.

Walker, along with Royce and Johnson, ultimately feel that an optional seminar will have a positive impact on seniors.

“Overall I like [optional seminar],” Walker said. “I think giving seniors privileges is always a good idea.”


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