In reaction to an email written by Principal Varela discussing a new late policy, students have been stressing getting to school on time. The policy enacted on January 5, 2026, explains that students who arrive at or after 7:40 AM will be processed as late. This is different from the original policy as teachers had the choice of marking one late and sending them to get a pass, or having the leeway of being late by a few minutes.
Students, especially seniors who are driving to school, are finding a great burden by this new policy. Ankit Krishnam (‘26) said “This new policy should be removed right away. Closing the senior entrance at 7:35 only leads to students becoming more late to class. It’s completely unnecessary to make us walk around half the school to enter from the front (main) entrance.”
Along with Krishnam, over a dozen other students have been seen rushing over to main after the bell rings. Some could not reach senior entrance in time, and some had been stuck in the drop-off line. However, it is to no surprise that Assistant Principal Mr. Emanuel Caravano does not accept any of these excuses. And beyond the frustration some students have for the policy, they are not enjoying the comments he has to share either; including phrases such as “shame” to each individual. Mr. Caravano responds to student complaints by saying “We’re not being harsh. We’re saying these things with an air of lightheartedness for them to recognize that what they are doing affects their classroom, as well as the operations of our school and the community.”
Whether or not this method is effective, it has forced many students to come to school earlier and on time. Data collected by the ID scanner proves that before the policy, an average of roughly 150 students would be late to school. After the policy was enacted, the average of late students was lessened to around 50.
Still, students remain to see no harm in being a few minutes late to class. Aashi Patel (‘27) said “I’m usually on time, so the policy hasn’t really affected me yet, but my teachers tend to start class late anyway. We usually spend time after 7:40 settling down before starting any real classwork.” This reason is also commonly used by other students as a justification for being “late”: because they would not necessarily be missing an assignment.
Though it is not the goal to be late or miss work on purpose, there are many factors to a student’s tardiness that the policy makes difficult to work with. In response to the many excuses heard by admins such as Mr. Caravano and Principal Peter Varela, Dean Mr. Douglass Hunt gives his take on the problem. He said, “Your excuses don’t outweigh your responsibility. Everybody has issues but regardless they should be consistent.”
And so as this week marks the third week into the new late policy, students are trying to comply and adjust alongside it, no matter the general dislike. But the future of whether or not this policy will remain lies in question.
