Wilson HS: New Free Period Policy

[jsteele]

I just received this from Wilson:

Friday, January 5, 2018

Seniors & Parents of the Graduating Class of 2018,

Starting Monday January 8, 2018, all seniors who are not enrolled in a class during 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th periods must report to the library and remain until the period is over. However; the library will be closed during 7th period on odd days and 8th period on even days. While in the library you must respect the rules or you will be asked to leave the building.

Library Rules are as followed:

1. Sign – in (Name, ID number, and Time)
2. Water Only
3. Eat outside Library
4. Respect each other and the environment
5. Cell phones are welcome but take calls in the hall
6. Use Headphones
7. Quiet conversation

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thank you,

This impacts my son who currently has a free period during which he normally leaves campus. Now it looks like he will have to go to the library instead. This policy change is being sprung without much warning -- coming on a Friday night and taking effect on Monday. Does anyone have any idea what the origin of this is?

[Anonymous]

Seems like a great policy to me.

Will also make the uptight women of Tenleytown who get peeved with Wilson kids happy.

[Anonymous]

One of the things some people have liked about Wilson (and GDS and Sidwell) is allowing some kids some freedom before they go off to college and are overwhelmed with it. So much for that....

[Anonymous]

I went to a high school that had this policy. We read, did homework, studied etc. it was a study hall.

I was fine in college.

Can I ask why kids have a free period? (Sorry my kids are early elementary). Why aren’t their schedules filled with classes, study halls, or electives?

[Anonymous]

Does this mean no more open lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a high school that had this policy. We read, did homework, studied etc. it was a study hall.

I was fine in college.

Can I ask why kids have a free period? (Sorry my kids are early elementary). Why aren’t their schedules filled with classes, study halls, or electives?

Are you serious? I had free periods in high school. And I went to a fancy private college, to boot.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a high school that had this policy. We read, did homework, studied etc. it was a study hall.

I was fine in college.

Can I ask why kids have a free period? (Sorry my kids are early elementary). Why aren’t their schedules filled with classes, study halls, or electives?

Seniors may have free periods because they fulfilled their credit requirements early. My son has used his free period to do community service work which is also required for graduation. Sitting in the library when there is no need to do so doesn't seem like a particularly good idea and is likely to be distracting for the kids who actually have work to do in the library.

Based on what some correspondence I've had with the Assistant Principal, I think the policy change is aimed at kids who previously hung out in the atrium. Now they will have to go to the library instead. I'm unclear how it will apply to those who want to leave campus. It shouldn't effect open lunch.

[Anonymous]

Hey Jeff-
Perhaps an explanation will be in the weekly newsletter.
Or
Email Kimberly Martin for an answer. Let us know when you send the email and then we can have a pool here as to how long it takes to get a response. My bet will be the 12th of Never.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Hey Jeff-
Perhaps an explanation will be in the weekly newsletter.
Or
Email Kimberly Martin for an answer. Let us know when you send the email and then we can have a pool here as to how long it takes to get a response. My bet will be the 12th of Never.

The Assistant Principal has been very responsive.

[Anonymous]

So no Angelica’s for my daughter; oh well.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey Jeff-
Perhaps an explanation will be in the weekly newsletter.
Or
Email Kimberly Martin for an answer. Let us know when you send the email and then we can have a pool here as to how long it takes to get a response. My bet will be the 12th of Never.

The Assistant Principal has been very responsive.

Glad to hear. AP assigned to our grade hasn’t been as responsive. Just sent a second request today for a response after first email was sent Dec 19. Spouse sent email to principal on October. No response was received from anyone.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a high school that had this policy. We read, did homework, studied etc. it was a study hall.

I was fine in college.

Can I ask why kids have a free period? (Sorry my kids are early elementary). Why aren’t their schedules filled with classes, study halls, or electives?

Seniors may have free periods because they fulfilled their credit requirements early. My son has used his free period to do community service work which is also required for graduation. Sitting in the library when there is no need to do so doesn't seem like a particularly good idea and is likely to be distracting for the kids who actually have work to do in the library.

Based on what some correspondence I've had with the Assistant Principal, I think the policy change is aimed at kids who previously hung out in the atrium. Now they will have to go to the library instead. I'm unclear how it will apply to those who want to leave campus. It shouldn't effect open lunch.

I wouldn't like something being sprung and I'm all for reasonable rules (meaning exceptions can be granted). I would surely grant one for a child wanting to go do community service. Have you asked? That being said, I am all for Wilson intentionally tightening ship. I hope they look at all their policies and procedures, to create a conducive and motivating learning environment. - uptight Tenleytown mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a high school that had this policy. We read, did homework, studied etc. it was a study hall.

I was fine in college.

Can I ask why kids have a free period? (Sorry my kids are early elementary). Why aren’t their schedules filled with classes, study halls, or electives?

Seniors may have free periods because they fulfilled their credit requirements early. My son has used his free period to do community service work which is also required for graduation. Sitting in the library when there is no need to do so doesn't seem like a particularly good idea and is likely to be distracting for the kids who actually have work to do in the library.

Based on what some correspondence I've had with the Assistant Principal, I think the policy change is aimed at kids who previously hung out in the atrium. Now they will have to go to the library instead. I'm unclear how it will apply to those who want to leave campus. It shouldn't effect open lunch.

I wouldn't like something being sprung and I'm all for reasonable rules (meaning exceptions can be granted). I would surely grant one for a child wanting to go do community service. Have you asked? That being said, I am all for Wilson intentionally tightening ship. I hope they look at all their policies and procedures, to create a conducive and motivating learning environment. - uptight Tenleytown mom

This is the norm EOTP, students who have community service bring in a signed letter and get a waiver! Rules change periodically, I'm sure the change is due to issues with students wandering or congregating and causing a disturbance. Really folks, this is not that bad ... students not in class report to the library! The world is not coming to an end.

[Anonymous]

The directions don't even make sense.

They're supposed to stay in the library, while simultaneously eating outside the library and going into the hallway to take phone calls?

[Anonymous]

It says kids will be kicked out of the library if they don’t follow the rules, then where will they go?
Also to the pp with younger kids who asked why do they have a free period? Seniors at all DCPS schools usually have multiple free periods. It is weird but that’s what it is. Kids can usually fulfill almost all the graduation requirements by junior year. I knew a senior last year who had 3 free periods and didn’t come to school until lunch.