Late Start – Yackelin Castro
Imagine waking up on a Friday morning, completely drained after staying up late to finish a workload of homework. Your eyes are swollen, and you’re struggling to resist the urge to yawn as you pull the handles of your fridge to search for an energy drink to help you survive the school day. This constant cycle of exhaustion is why a late start would be more convenient and beneficial rather than an early dismissal once a month.
From a student’s perspective, simply being able to go to bed knowing I can get a little more sleep allows me to feel more prepared for the next day. Waking up with a little bit more energy gives students more time to put together a proper meal, finish any schoolwork, and possibly put themselves together mentally and physically. By having a calm start to the day without having to rush everything in the morning, not being agitated helps us students remain calmer for the rest of the school day and have a better day.
A late start is far more convenient than an early dissmisal for both students and staff for a few good reasons. To start, early dismissals might cause a hassle between timing and practices after school. Having to drive home from school to have to return an hour later for practice can be a waste of time and also tiring. If students don’t drive home they would have to stay in the school library or Starbucks, which would be a waste of time.
Sophomore Jason Cardoza said, “I think an early dismissal is less convenient because I cannot drive or park on campus and all I would do at school would be sitting around and wasting time.”
For teachers, the idea of having to make it through the school day and stay after school, to attend a long meeting is dreadful. This would make the school day feel way longer and there might be a higher chance that they might not want to stay. It’s more convenient to have a late start so that teachers can use that time to have the meeting in the morning and get it over with.
Early Dismissal – Jennifer Velazquez
Think about it. When the last bell rings earlier, we suddenly have space in our day to breathe. We can hit practice without rushing, get homework done before midnight, or even go to Starbucks early.
Sophomore Addison Bethel said, “When school lets out early, it feels like I actually have time to wind down and do schoolwork.”
If I had to pick between late start or early dismissal, I’d choose early dismissal every single time. Sure, sleeping in sounds nice, but let’s be honest—most of us would just stay up later the night before. Early dismissal actually gives us something, way more valuable: time.
It’s not just about free time, though. Ending the day earlier means we aren’t dragging ourselves through the last period half-asleep. By the end of the school day, most of us are fried anyway. Getting out earlier lets us recharge, so we show up to the next day ready instead of drained.
Some people argue that late starts help us get more sleep. But in reality, we probably just stay on Tik Tok or FaceTime until 1 AM and then the “extra rest” is gone— then you recover from it by drinking unhealthy amounts of caffeine.
Early dismissal doesn’t mess with our mornings; it just gives us freedom in the afternoon. So, if I’m voting, it’s early dismissal all the way. It respects our mornings, saves us from burnout, and gives us time to actually live. Late start might sound cool, but early dismissal is there for you.
