Among the many issues that the recent construction to New Trier has raised, possibly the most difficult burden for students and faculty is the lack of days off in order to complete the three year long remodeling of the school.
The construction has jeopardized the days off throughout each semester in an effort to complete the process as soon as possible. This makes the 2016 3rd quarter to be the longest quarter in New Trier history, with almost no days off and a few national holidays being disregarded.
The days off in the quarter act as a much needed break for many students and staff. The ability to relax on those days is among the many other reasons why students feel so strongly about their necessity.
Junior Jordan Smith said, “School is constantly my main focus, and I always feel like I’m giving it my full attention.”
Smith isn’t alone. Students in all grades said that President’s Day gave them something to look forward to during their heavy school week.
Teachers see and feel the burden of the more rigorous school year as well. They often use the days off school to prep and plan for their classes. Shao-Yun Guo, a first year mathematics teacher, described the school year as tiring and “difficult every day even for teachers.”
Guo even sees the changes in his students. He said, “You can tell when students are tired and when they just need a break. Student health is very important and should be taken seriously.”
Student health is already a huge concern at New Trier as many students make academics their top priority, and often forget to take a break now and then.
Guo went on to mention the idea that days off aren’t just a party, but some offer religious and cultural importance. Recently, rather than get the usual day of for remembrance on Martin Luther King Day, New Trier offered different discussions about race and current social injustices.
There was much debate within the community of whether or not holding school on MLK day was appropriate, but it was due to the construction that a full school day was in fact held.
Despite the many difficulties and controversies that have come along with the extended third quarter, many Trevians can look past the quarter and find the benefits from the fewer days off.
Because of the rigorous construction schedule, the 2016 summer has been extend to three months, rather than the usual two.
Sophomore Kelsey Ortega said, “It’s worth it in the end to have the longer summer rather than a few days throughout the year.”
The construction is supposed to be completed in 2017 and the school hopes to return to a regular schedule again by next year.
While the quarter is shortly coming to an end, the question still stands of whether or not the construction is hindering student and faculty’s success and if the ends truly justifies the means.