For years, juniors and seniors at Mendham have been successfully leaving early and coming in late when they have their first or last period in study hall. This year another study hall privilege was added for just seniors. Seniors at Mendham have been participating in a pilot lunch program allowing students who have study hall directly before or after lunch to leave school for both lunch and their study hall period. This program has run twice this fall, starting in the middle of October, and is set to run next January 21st-24th.
If it continues to run successfully it will continue more often in the spring and possibly into next year. This program was implemented as a way to allow students to have more independence. When asked about the timing of the program, Ms. Meagher mentioned, “The inclusion of a study hall with lunch was deliberate. It provides students with a more flexible time frame to travel safely, whether to go home or visit a local cafe, without feeling rushed. Since the lunch period itself is only 45 minutes, adding a study hall ensures there is adequate time for students to enjoy their privilege responsibly while prioritizing safety.” This new option allows students to demonstrate their abilities in managing their responsibilities.
From an administrative side, it has been successful so far. Ms. Meagher said, “Students have demonstrated responsible behavior and adhered to the guidelines, which is encouraging as we move forward.” This program is set to continue running in the spring due to the responsibility and respect shown by the seniors this fall. Ms. Meager also remarked, “The administration will review the outcomes of this year’s program to assess its success.” Given its success so far, underclassmen should be hopeful about the senior off-campus lunch option continuing into the future.
Seniors at Mendham have been enjoying this program. Some students have been going home during this time to finish homework and prepare for the rest of the day. Others go and get lunch and spend time with their friends. Senior Fiona O’Neill is enjoying this program and she said, “It’s a nice break.” She can spend around an hour and fifteen minutes at home, making this program worth it, as it gives her plenty of time to rest for the afternoon. Another senior, Abby Deegan, also goes home and rests during this time, by studying or catching up on homework. But she also likes to go grab food and hang out with her friends. Overall Abby says, “It’s a nice way to break up the day, especially [in] senior year. There’s just a lot of stuff going on and I think it’s nice to just be able to go home and relax.” Both Fiona and Abby have enjoyed this option so far this fall and the time it gives them to be with friends or rest in the middle of a long day. Students and staff are excited about this new opportunity and hope it continues to run successfully into the spring and for years to come.
