SOPHOMORE ORIENTATION: Beating the clock
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–
The sound of a bell echoes throughout Davis High as teachers begin their classes at 7:45 in the morning. For incoming sophomores, DHS’ bell schedule may be hard to adjust to, especially on block days.
Before the first period bell rings, students scramble to classes to avoid being marked tardy. Getting to school on time is usually not so difficult for bikers. For those with cars, however, tardiness can depend on the flow of traffic.
“[The traffic] depends on where you go,” junior Kathy Hu said. “By the gym, it’s not that bad. [But] the big parking lot near the IPAB has lots of traffic. It’s like stop-go, stop-go.”
Being on time to first period is just step one of adjusting to DHS. A good tip for sophomores is to learn which teachers are strict in enforcing the tardy policy.
Junior Jiyoon Choi had math teacher Linda Liuzzi for Introduction to Analysis last year.
“She has a policy where we’re only allowed three tardies, bathroom breaks, or locker runs per quarter, and she also allows us to drop our lowest test score at the end of a semester if we have less than four tardies that semester,” Choi said.
Choi believes that the policy is reasonable and generous. “As long as you manage your time wisely and make sure to get to class on time,” she said, “it’s really not bothersome at all.”
To avoid tardies, students must learn to manage time properly. The passing period is only six minutes, so they need to make the most of it.
According to junior Shreya Sudarshana, Sophomore Orientation is a great time for students to get a feel for the high school.
“[Sophomores should] figure out which classrooms have bathrooms close to them so they can plan ahead,” Sudarshana said.
The DHS map can aid students in their search for bathrooms. The bathrooms can be busy during passing period, and the lines may make students tardy.
“Don’t go to the bathroom during passing period. Go during class,” junior Nicholas Borowsky said.
Junior Brendan Deas agreed with Borowsky. “Don’t get distracted by friends during passing period,” Deas said.
Junior Kate Gieschen suggests a compromise that will get students to class on time and also allows friendship and bathroom breaks during passing period.
“Talk to people while [you] walk instead of stopping and talking to them,” Gieschen said. “Then you have time to go to the bathroom if you need to.”
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