This year, instead of studying in class for 30 minutes before the exam, students will have the choice to participate in optional intervention on finals’ half days. Previously, students would start in their first exam class at 7:20 and study for half an hour before taking their final exam. Now, they will have the option to ask teachers for help with class material or arrive later.

“Teachers were saying that the 30 minutes study time wasn’t being used,” Assistant Principal Tony Grippi said.

Students can now choose whether they would like to take advantage of the optional intervention time. There are several options available. Students may ask a teacher for additional help with exam material or ask to study in that teacher’s classroom. These options require a pass from the teacher. Another option is studying in the library which requires a library pass. The third option is to wait in the commons where they will be serving a hearty breakfast. All of these options require students to arrive at school at 7:20 and stay in their designated area until they are released for exams at 8:15.

“I hope that a lot of our students utilize our intervention option so they can get better grades,” Grippi said. “We want to make sure that the students know that they can get help.”

If a student chooses not to participate in the optional intervention, they need to be at school and in their exam class before the beginning of the first exam at 8:20. It is recommended that students arrive at least 10 minutes early. Students who arrive before 8:15, but after 8:00, will be required to stay in the front lobby. If a student arrives after 7:20, but before 8:00, they may go to their designated area or the commons.

“I think this will affect [finals] in a good way because kids will be able to get more help and increase their finals’ scores,” sophomore Kaitlin Eifert said. “It will give kids a chance to get the help that they need.”