This school year Cresskill decided to establish a new bell schedule, replacing our old one that had been in place for years. Our new bell schedule was tested during the final few weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, receiving mostly positive feedback from the students, and as a result it was put into place for the following year.
The changes from the old to new bell schedule include a 7:50 am first bell compared to the previous 7:40 am. Furthermore, students are now dismissed at 2:44 pm compared to the old 3:00 pm dismissal. However, the later arrival and early dismissal provided by the new schedule also come with a shortened period between classes. In the past, students were given 4 minutes to get from one class to another, but this year it was cut down to just 3 minutes. During the final few weeks of the school last year students greatly supported the testing of the new bell schedule. However, since the new schedule became permanent, some students have begun to show mixed feelings about it.
The later arrival is undoubtedly beneficial for the students, and for parents who need to drop their kids off. It gives the students those extra couple of minutes to get ready or time for a quick bite of breakfast and helps the parents when there is heavy traffic.
“I enjoy the extended time to get to school because it allows me to have more time to get ready,” says a Cresskill freshman.
On the other hand, the 2:44 pm dismissal is favorable for our student-athletes. With our old bell schedule, students who had away games were forced to leave their period 9 class early to change their clothes and catch their bus to their game. However, with school ending 16 minutes earlier, this is no longer an issue. Students also have more time with their teachers after school for extra help which is very beneficial.
Nevertheless, with all the benefits this new schedule brings, the shortened periods between classes have been a major problem for many students. Cresskill’s school building by no means is large, which includes the width of its hallways. Additionally, Cresskill middle and high school students both share the same building, creating extremely packed traffic of students who are rushing to get to their classes.
A Cresskill sophomore states, “Since the beginning of the school year, I’ve been having trouble getting to class on time due to the crammed hallways.”
Currently, the additional time in the morning and the jammed hallways have been the prominent positives and negatives. However, as we enter our second month of the new schedule, both students and staff will begin to uncover more benefits, flaws, and potential changes that can be made to improve student life at CHS.