Starting this year at Triton Regional School District, the first Wednesday of each month will now be a half day for professional development instead of Fridays like the years prior.
Last February the school committee decided that it would positively affect the school district if the half days at the beginning of each month changed from the usual Fridays to Wednesdays.
On Wednesday, October 1st Triton experienced the first half day of the year. As middle and high school students rushed out of school at 10:43, most were wishing this shortened day was 2 days ahead instead.
Students and staff around the district are all experiencing and adjusting to the same change to the new school year and opinions are strongly negative. Does anyone prefer Wednesday half-days over Friday half-days? The Triton Voice set out to hear from people around Triton High School!
In an interview with the Triton Voice, Mr. Brian Forget, Superintendent of Schools, spoke about the reason behind why this switch was made.
“The purpose of the half days is professional development and so for educators the idea is that for the middle of the week people are fresher and more prepared to learn new things so that was really the motivation,” said Forget. Forget also stated that after this past half day “faculty and staff and teachers are more engaged and they feel more fresh and ready to learn new content, new methods.”
The district has only experienced one half day so far this year and Support teacher, Mrs. Wagner said “Yeah it’s a little soon for me to say I would say initially my feeling is negative”.
Students around Triton High School have strong opinions towards the new half-day change. Triton Voice interviewed many students around the school and each student shared similar thoughts.
Student Jane Myette shared her thoughts and stated that, “it was disorientating to come back to school on a Thursday because half days have always meant an early start to the weekend”
Student Jack Atchinson had a lot to say.
“I think that the half day switch has unnecessarily changed from something that teachers and students alike enjoyed,” Atchinson said. “I think it was nice to have a Friday half day so that the kids could enjoy a long weekend. If it were up to me I would reverse the change.”
Some students also think that this is an inconvenience and interferes with schedules and taking weekend trips. Staff and students around Triton would sometimes take the half-day Friday off since they would only be missing a half day instead of a full day. “I think that the half day switch is inconveniencing families unnecessarily, especially when it comes to child care and weekend trips.” said junior Lucie Remignanti
Support teacher Mr. Reise is happy to have any half days and is spreading positivity about this change and tells students.
“Any half day is a good day even if it’s on a Wednesday!”
Most people may not be a fan of this new switch, but Mr. Forget said that this change may not be set in stone and the district is just trying it out to see if it works.
