One of the biggest changes in this new 2025/2026 school year is the passing period music disappeared. For years, a staple before class started was the music. Now its been replaced by a bell. While many people want the return of the music, it might not be a bad thing that it is no longer here.

First of all, the music was the same for as long as I can remember at Cathedral. From “Happy” by Pharrell, to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, for every class period every day the music was essentially the same. Listening to the same passing period music from freshman year through junior year gets really old. The only time the music would be different was during December, when we’d get Christmas music. But even that could get old because of how many times Jingle Bells plays.

Also, how many times did the music just not work? It was constantly glitching and ending early or starting late. For the music having to play for one minute, it never felt like it played for that whole minute or started and stopped on time. For some teachers this was more of a distraction than a helpful reminder that the passing period was up.

Mr. Marc Quaranta said, “Honestly, I like the bell. It could be a little louder, maybe, but most of the time the music was too repetitive and sometimes was so distorted it wasn’t even enjoyable. Maybe add a one minute bell, and then a
louder bell to start class. And music could always be added for Homecoming week or something like that.”

The music was also not the best reminder that class was about to start. Something about the music didn’t add any sense of urgency for students to get to class. If you watched the group of students that stand in front of the innovation wing stairs as the song was halfway through you could tell there was no sense of urgency. People would hear the music and just think “whatever I’ve got time.”

Now with no music, unless you’re continually checking, you’re not totally sure when class will start. Without hearing the music students are just walking to class like they should. Maybe it will take some time to get used to not having the music, but was the music really helping us? And was a minute version of the same songs every day really making us that much happier?

Besides the changes in our schedule this year, another big change that seems to be stirring some conversation is the new bell. In past years, rather than having a traditional bell like every other school, we had music. Everyone loved the bell; it was fun and something that made us look forward to heading to our next class.

When I think about our old bell, it takes me right back to freshman year. I remember rushing from biology by the ramps to my English class, while Ain’t No Mountain High Enough played in the hallways. One day, I walked in just as the music ended, and Mrs. Shevlin was still singing it at the front of the room. That moment stuck with me and I’m sure many other students have those kinds of memories too, where certain songs became a connection to classes, teachers, and even moods. But now, the freshmen this year might never experience that feeling. It’s a
tradition that they are missing out on.

Beyond nostalgia, the music helped manage time between our classes. When the song started, you knew it was time to wrap up a conversation you were having and get to class. This new bell is easy to miss and getting to class late is already becoming more common. Also, I’m sure everyone can agree that the music lifted up our moods when getting into class.

The song was playing and we felt more relaxed and less anxious entering the classroom which gave us a much-needed burst of energy. This new bell, on the other hand, sounds like my alarm. It’s the kind you dread hearing first thing in the morning. Instead of entering class with a little bit of energy or a smile, I’m just reminded of
how rushed and tired I am.

There was even a petition to get back the music only a week into the school year. During CORE last year, one of the Google Forms asked us what songs we wanted to hear this year. I remember it created more conversation and engagement in the group, and it felt like we had a voice in what was going to be played. That’s why it came as a surprise and disappointment when we came back to school and heard that lifeless, five-second bell instead.

Senior Yohali Castro said, “The music between classes was one of the few things that actually made school less stressful and it was something that I looked forward to every day, even if it was just for a minute.”