Last August, 443 Punahou freshmen entered the Academy. Since the beginning of the school year, these students have experienced a flurry of new schedules, a variety of classes, and a new wave of information, all with a mix of occasional spikes of stress.
Although large amounts of breaks and freedom were exciting, some ninth graders reported feeling confused or overwhelmed. Some say finding a coinciding break with peers was challenging and only got harder as homework and studying built up. Past freshmen also related to these experiences when they were new additions to the Academy community.
To get a peek into the minds of current freshmen, about 30 students from the Class of 2028 were interviewed. We asked questions such as: “Did students enjoy their personal school schedule?” and, “Do freshmen appreciate their mandatory study hall?”
One concern among the freshmen was the different amounts of breaks they get and when they start. According to interviews, on ACE days, the average break time is 1 hour; contrastingly, the average break time during BDF days is about 2 hours. Some other students get only 30-45 minutes as their sole break on some days, while other students get 3 hours or more. Many students voiced their preference for more breaks or spaced-out breaks in between classes.
Administrators and their software make an organized timetable to produce students’ schedules. The scheduling team with Jessica Mountz, Donna Au, and many others determines the sections, days, times, classmates, and rooms students’ classes are in. Even with hundreds of students and teachers on the Punahou campus, the scheduling team must handle and update schedules with efficiency every year.
Additionally, students discussed how long or short their classes were. Teachers determine class length depending on how much time they believe each class needs. This can lead to long school days. Furthermore, students’ start times vastly differentiate from each other. Start times range from as late as 9:30 am and 10:30 am, to as early as 7:00 am and 7:45 am. One of the early starting classes is the marching band.
Students in these classes such as Aviv Tabori ’28 and Abi Gochu ’28 stated that they don’t mind starting early for marching band, but they understand that other students do not enjoy the early mornings.
However, Tabori said, “It helps you train a lot of discipline by getting up early and [planning] to go to bed early to get the rest you need.”
Additionally, Gochu said, “Honestly I don’t mind it, but I know that others do. Most of us have after-school activities, so it makes sense to fit the class in the morning.”
Another popular debate topic amongst the Class of ’28 is study halls. Study halls are mandatory 55-minute courses for every freshman if the course fits inside their schedule. This has brought many opinions.
Some students believe that study halls are not enjoyable and should be optional: “They should get rid of study halls,” Noah Khan ’28 said.
In contrast, others disagree and state that study halls are appropriately mandatory and beneficial for students. For example, Abi Gochu ’28 stated, “[Study halls] help people.”
Yet, many students remain ambivalent and believe that having a separate period for study hall should be optional for students. This includes Mia Yeung ’28 who said, “Study halls should be optional.”
Punahou is known for its unique scheduling format and college-based curriculum. However, the Academy’s complicated schedule structure still came as a surprise for some Punahou freshmen. Although experiencing new transitions, classes, and teachers were frightening at first, the Class of 2028 has shown adaptability and enthusiasm, paving the way for a promising and successful high school journey.