The Great STHS Campus Dash: Can Students Make It Across School in Just 4 Minutes?
The tick of a clock sparks a mass exodus at STHS. Students spill out of the classrooms, kicking off a frenzied four-minute race across campus to their next class.
They scramble to gather backpacks, squeeze in gulps of water from scarce fountains, and hustle along the winding paths between portables, trying to reach rooms sometimes seeming a quarter-mile away before the next teacher shuts the door.
This breakneck routine has sparked heated debate: Is four minutes really adequate for transitions or are scholars being set up to fail?
To delve deeper into the issue, we sought feedback from teachers and scholars.
What does Wayside Think?
One of the first we approached was Mx. Roszypal, whose classroom is in P604, situated at the distant end of the portables.
Given the considerable distance scholars need to traverse to get to their class, we believed their insights would be especially relevant.
When asked about the four-minute transition time, Mx. Roszypal commented,
“I believe that 4 minutes is okay, but students deserve an extra minute. I have students coming from the GYM, and they’re running all the way here. They arrive sweaty, catching their breath, without a chance to get water en route, and just barely avoiding tardiness.”
Many juniors and seniors at STHS remember when the school allowed a five-minute transition. So why did Principal Mr. Sosa of Wayside Schools decide to shorten it by a minute for the 2023–2024 academic year?
In our discussion, Mr. Sosa explained,
“Last year, we noticed that students could reach their classes in 4 minutes. During some test runs, we prompted them to hasten to their classes, and they generally had an extra 1–2 minutes left over.”
What happened to the Water coolers?
So, while students might have informally followed a four-minute transition last year, making it official has led some to critique the change.
Adding to the discontent is the decision around the “water rule”. Scholars are only allowed to get water between passing periods, during lunch and before or after school.
This was not an issue in previously when STHS portables were equipped with water coolers.
In the 2021–2022 academic year, most portable classrooms at STHS were equipped with such coolers, facilitating students to hydrate without major detours.
However, then Principal Underwood and the Wayside administration at the time opted to remove these coolers to reallocate funding and promote the use of the new water fountains in the main building.
This shift was met with frustration among some scholars, as many now feel the pressure of trying to hydrate and reach their subsequent class within the shortened time frame.
What’s the verdict? Is 4 minutes enough?
To determine the viability of the four-minute transition, we undertook a time trial. Two journalists from The Raven Post timed themselves on average walking from different portables to different classes.
Our findings revealed that a direct walk from one class to the next averages around 3 minutes and 30 seconds. But when a water stop is added, this time extends to 4 minutes and 5 seconds, teetering on the brink of being late.
So in short, yes, 4 minutes is adequate time for scholars to transition between classes, provided they stay focused on getting to their next destination.
While many scholars may groan at hearing the idea, lingering along the way to chat cuts into precious seconds that could make the difference between an on-time arrival and a tardy mark.
While the condensed passing period presents challenges, the administration encourages scholars to carry water bottles that can be refilled before school, during lunch, and after school when time is not so pressed. Staying hydrated is important, and planning ahead helps scholars adapt to the four-minute transitions.
By streamlining their walks between classes and utilizing the ample opportunities to refill bottles, scholars can achieve punctuality and maintain energy levels throughout the action-packed school day.
Written by: Daneidi and Daniela
