Louisa Rich-Gayko

A group of friends talks and eats lunch while discussing plans for the weekend. After being in class all morning and waiting in line for school lunch, a conversation about weekend plans is the perfect way to de-stress. Having a designated lunchtime is crucial for students to build connections with friends.

“Tick, tick, tick, tick.”

I stare up at the clock during fourth period, impatiently waiting for it to be 12:14 p.m. so I can leave the learning behind for 45 minutes and enjoy some time catching up with my friends. 

But then I remember that I have a club meeting I am supposed to attend. I sigh and decide I can skip it because I would rather enjoy my one time of the school day where my mind gets a break from constantly spinning. 

Carlmont holds club meetings during lunch, which is a major reason many clubs have low turnout each year. At the beginning of this school year and last year, I attended various meetings, excited to be part of an extracurricular that aligned with my interests. But I was unfortunately met with a classroom holding five people who were trying to keep the club going, but clearly failing.

The same thing has been happening across campus, so as a better alternative, we should move them to flex time. 

Flex is already a designated 30-minute period during the week when students get the freedom to choose which class they want to go to, while still having the structure of a designated learning time. This period would be the perfect time for club meetings, and I would be much more inclined to attend them. 

According to Edutopia, designated breaks during a school day decrease stress, increase productivity, boost brain function, and provide opportunities for students to learn social skills.

Breaks are a mandatory part of school and beneficial to academic performance, so it is important that students get that break instead of spending time at club meetings, which often have a similar environment to a classroom. 

The low student turnout in many clubs reflects the idea that, for many students, lunch is the only opportunity to see friends who are not in their classes. Replacing that time with structured commitments limits these important interactions.

Further, according to Cross River Therapy, 45% of high school students are stressed almost every day. This statistic highlights the importance of a break during which students can relax, eat, and socialize. 

On the other hand, in flex time, students are already expected to be doing something productive, making it a natural fit for club meetings. Moving clubs to flex would eliminate the conflict students currently face and increase attendance, as students would no longer have to sacrifice their break to participate.

However, clubs are still an important part of school and should not be overlooked. 

According to the Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts, joining a club has various benefits, including building confidence, developing practical skills, and supporting social growth. Clearly, school activities are incredibly important and should be available to all students.  

If Carlmont wants to increase club participation and support student well-being, it needs to reconsider when clubs meet because no student should have to give up their only break just to be part of something they care about.