Elizabeth:

In August 2019, North Forsyth High School introduced Raider Time and Wellness. Raider Time and Wellness replaced Instructional Focus (IF). Raider Time was a time set aside every day for students to receive help from teachers, work on homework, study, or complete any missing assignments. Wellness was created to give students a time to relax every Wednesday. This year, students have Raider Time and Wellness on even days.

Raider Time has countless benefits for students. One of the obvious benefits is that students have extra time to complete work during the school day. Junior Riley Lucas said some benefits of Raider Time are “the amount of extra time I have to finish homework or make up any assignments. It helps balance my schoolwork and make sure I have everything completed. It also helps me complete something I was supposed to do the night before as homework. I can have Raider Time to finish it.” Raider Time helps keep students on track and prevents most students from falling behind.

Many students have hectic lives with school work, extracurriculars and jobs. Junior Olivia Freeman expressed, “It really helps lower my overwhelming amount of homework so I don’t have a lot to do when I get home. This means that I can spend time with family and go to work.” Many students use Raider Time as a study hall to prevent their schoolwork from taking up their time outside of school.

Wellness also has many benefits since it provides students a break in their day. Sophomore Carson Lepley commented on how he feels about Wellness. “I can have a time where I don’t have to do school work. It feels like recess.” Throughout elementary school, recess was the favorite time of day for most kids. It was implemented to provide a break in the school day. Although high school students are older, they need recess more than ever.

Another benefit is socialization, especially for students who do not have classes with their friends. On days when there is no Raider Time, students are restless and exhausted. Junior Olivia Freeman also explained that “wellness is one of the only times I get to relax in school. I get to see my friends that I don’t have classes with.” Schooldays can be tiring, but with Wellness, students can have a much-needed break.

In past years, North Forsyth has run on a seven-period bell schedule. This year, the school has switched to a block schedule. Many students prefer the block schedule, rather than the seven-period schedule. Junior Riley Lucas also commented, “I personally don’t like the regular seven-period day schedule. I just feel like I’m constantly moving with no time to relax and the block schedule gives me more time to balance my work and get things done.” Sophomore Hayden Linn agreed and added to Lucas’s statement by saying, “I do not prefer a seven-period day schedule, but I do prefer block days because I can get more work done.” 

For many students, Raider Time and Wellness are one of the most important periods in the school day. It provides students with many benefits like catching up on work, socializing, connecting with teachers and being able to take a break.

Jen:

Raider Time has been an up and down roller coaster since it was first introduced to North Forsyth High School in August of 2019. Although with the many attempts of trying to make Raider Time work in the schedule, it just seems to fall short every time. 

The students at North Forsyth have a lot to say in regards to Raider Time. Freshman Alyssa Simpson expressed her frustration with Raider Time. “It’s hard to find sessions with your teachers or options of where to go.” Junior Sydney Tucker added to Simpson’s statement by saying, “All the classes are full and you just have to go to a class where you don’t even know the teacher.” Sophomore Paul Rickert said similarly, “The first part of Raider Time is the most annoying. Most of the time I don’t have stuff to do, so I’m just sitting there.”

However, the Students at North aren’t just bashing Raider Time without a plan B. Simpson demanded that the school should “make more options.” Tucker remarked, “Homebase once a month is good, but not every day.” Rickert suggested what he would change about Raider Time too by saying, “Give more [options] for people to do who don’t really need help.” 

With the recent schedule change, taking away Raider Time as a whole hasn’t helped at all. Both parents and teachers alike are furious at the schedule change. Especially right before the final exams. But the people who are really suffering from this sudden schedule change have been the students. Since finals, EOC and AP exams are all coming up, this is a countdown to the end and students need all of the help they can get.

But of course, the actions of a few outways the actions of the many. I, too, have had trouble signing up for classes I need help in. I find that some of these “help sessions” are just sitting at a desk working on classwork; Not getting up and reteaching the material I need to be reviewed. Even some of the teachers don’t take Raider Time seriously, so why should we?