Nearly every day, at roughly 11:55 a.m., 6th grade students check the clock, and sigh internally. They are late for lunch, as usual, and they are growing hungrier by the second. But why are 6th graders late for lunch? Well, here’s a look at the schedule:
(Wednesday) Classes vary slightly depending on your homeroom.
7:55-8:10- Arrival/Breakfast/Yondr pouches
8:15-8:55- W.I.N time (What I Need)
9:00-9:45- Spanish/Art
9:50-10:45- Language Arts/Math
10:50-11:50- Language Arts/Math
11:50-12:20- Lunch
12:30-1:15- Social Studies/Science
1:20-2:05- Social Studies/Science
Notice anything odd? Well, for starters, most classes leave a 5-minute gap between the end of that class and the start of the next one because you have to get to the right classroom. There isn’t one between the second Language Arts/Math class and Lunch, the second Language Arts/Math ends at 11:50 a.m., and Lunch starts at 11:50 a.m. You might have also noticed that the second Language Arts/Math is five minutes longer than the first.
Why? What is the reason behind it being seemingly insignificantly five minutes longer? If it was shortened by five minutes, would that increase the average of 6th graders getting to lunch on time? Lunch is a very important period for kids, as they get the nutrients they need to energize themselves for the afternoon classes.
Kids are called to get lunch from the youngest grade to oldest grade. Because 6th grade is the oldest grade in their lunch period, it takes even longer to get actual food to eat, because unless you brought a packed lunch, kids have to just sit there. Sure, they’re with their friends, but wouldn’t you rather be full and with your friends than hungry and with your friends?
Slightly shortening the second Language Arts/Math class would have benefits for the students, but also 6th grade teachers! Teachers also have to have lunch sometime, too! If it takes longer to drop kids off, there is less time for students as well as teachers to eat. This is why we should shorten the second Language Arts/Math class and hopefully give 6th graders more time to eat.
