As of this school year the policy on lunch privileges has changed as a new criteria has been added in which lunch privileges can be revoked on a weekly basis for tardies or unexcused absences. 

The new policy was proposed by the administration team and inspired by San Luis’ principal who shared the idea of doing criteria check-ups on a weekly basis instead of quarters like previous years. Administration adapted this policy in order to use lunch privileges as an incentive to encourage students to reduce the amount of tardies and improve attendance. 

In fact, Learning Director Mrs. Pam Snively stated, “Just this week we revoked 53 lunch cards. But out of that 53, over 400 students had zero tardies and had zero unexcused absences. So we had almost very close to 90% of the students that are on the lunch program have zero tardies and zero unexcused absences.”

Though good attendance and punctuality rates were the administration’s main goal to promote responsibility with this new policy because it’s a life skill students need, their ultimate goal for students was to give them an enjoyable high school experience by being able to go off campus with friends and have lunch instead of just having the cafeteria food. 

However, regardless of this policy’s positive goals this new policy has received negative feedback from students especially seniors without a fifth or sixth period when they get their lunch passes revoked and are forced to stay on campus during lunch and leave until fifth period begins. 

Senior Sidney Silveira stated, “I believe it’s unfair to change the policies so drastically compared to last year. We have to stay for lunch when our lunch card is revoked even though we don’t have a 5th or 6th period due to absences that weren’t deemed excusable like religious events.” 

Regardless of the feedback students have expressed about the new policy, Snively would like to give a shout out to all the lunch card holders for holding the line for excellence by getting to class on time and being in class to get good grades. 

“I applaud them because that’s not easy to attain. So we’re very proud of them. Very proud of our Tiger students,” stated Snively. 

The new lunch privilege policy has truly displayed the students’ determination to come to school and be on time to each and every class they have. These new standards give students a deeper sense of responsibility, but also a goal to look forward to every day which is to show up and be on time.