This year at RAHS, there were many new policies implemented, affecting attendance, phones, and homeroom.
The attendance policy rules that everyone with a 80% or higher rate of absences is not allowed to participate in any school activities, including sports and prom. Five or more tardies for one class per trimester stop you from participating as well.
There were varying opinions on how successful this new policy was, with junior Erik Braaten saying “this new rule was not effective mostly because people just don’t care.”
Sophomore Elinor Rogers says otherwise, saying “if people don’t go to class, there should be a punishment.”
The phone bins were the most controversial new policy beginning this year. Junior Stella Dejong says, “the idea of the phones was good, but the execution could have been better. My teachers don’t even make us put them in the bins, and the only ones who actually care are my elective teachers.”
Junior Elsie Gruis agrees, and says “the first maybe month of school I would put my phone in the bin for all my classes and then it kind of became optional and teachers started to not care.”
Even if the phone bins are not strictly adhered to anymore, they may still be working. Gruis says, “I don’t go on my phone during work time like at all, so it was a little effective,” and Rogers says “I get less anxious when doing work at school knowing that I can’t go on my phone.”
As far as homeroom, RAHS students seem to like the idea, but feel that it could be improved. Dejong says, “I feel like [homeroom] should be more grade level instead of school-wide just because they have lessons that are directed more towards each grade.”
Gruis has a similar opinion, saying “each grade can have a different focus, because it doesn’t make sense for everyone to have to hear about the ACT when they give it to juniors, and they can have a lot more information about the end of year for seniors.”
RAHS students seem to think the admin and staff is on the right track with the policies implemented this year, but want them to grow and improve to make the school better.
