The Pepperbox

The Student News Site of Arcata High School

The Pepperbox

The Pepperbox

Navigating life and school after an attempt
Navigating life and school after an attempt
Ell Franklin and Anthony VasekNovember 3, 2023
“I’ve been focusing more on myself and what I need because I used to be a really bad people pleaser. I’ve always put everyone else first before me.”
[tnp_form id="1"]
The CCLL Leadership team 

(top row, left to right: Erika Homan, Carolyn van Mantgem, Melanie Zapper, Taylor Nada, Tim Clewell.
bottom row, left to right: Johanna Mauro, Fionn Conroy, Kayla Gaskill)
Hello CCLL!
Taylor Nada, Online Editor • December 7, 2023
This year, the Arcata Arts Institute joined a new program known as the Creative Careers Leadership Lab (CCLL), an organization aimed at helping art students gain skills to succeed in future careers in the arts.  
Pepperbox Broadcast
Pepperbox Broadcast
Rey Barber, Art Director • November 17, 2023
“It’s the first time we’ve ever had a broadcast,” Kloe Bryant said, “so it’s really just testing everything out,”
Difference Between America and Other Countries
Shu YamashitaNovember 14, 2023
“In Italy, we have just one class and the same classmates, we don’t change classes. We have been in the same class for four years. We have twelve subjects,”
Is study hall really for studying?
Kyndle Eisner, Production Manager • November 14, 2023
“I feel like it’s less strict than last year, but the pass system is stupid and doesn’t work.”

Is study hall really for studying?

“I feel like it’s less strict than last year, but the pass system is stupid and doesn’t work.”

The study hall bell rings at 11:30 a.m., class is over, what do you do? Students are using this time for a range of tasks. Some use this time to work on assignments for other classes, while other students are using it as a time to socialize. This is a new change from last year’s “flex time,” but it is unclear to students if the change is only in the name or also in the meaning. 

Study hall is attached to the second period of the day, before lunch. This is different from last year, since “flex time” was after lunch. The change in attendance during study hall has been noticed by many. Teachers have reported that their classrooms feel fuller than last year during this unstructured time because of the fact that study hall is before lunch. Having a study hall after lunch caused students to just not come back for flex.  

Students have also expressed the change in the dynamic of the classroom moving from “flex time” to “study hall”. The way that the teachers use this time has been observed, with some students saying it has changed since last year, and others saying there is no difference. 

“I feel like it’s less strict than last year, but the pass system is stupid and doesn’t work.” Senior Evangelina Reed said. In a given week, Reed has culinary and leadership for her study hall periods. 

“There is no difference from last time and my teachers pretty much let me do what I want.” Junior Reece Thompson said. He has German and APES for his study hall periods. Thompson said that he does homework in study hall only around 25% of the time. 

“Flex was more strict. Last year my teachers took my phone and this year they don’t care as much. I just think it depends on the teachers.” Junior Finn Warner, who has German and US History, said. “I do work sometimes but most of the time I play video games.” 

The overall consensus is that teachers have become more lenient with study hall time compared to last year’s “flex”, leaving this time up for students to decide what they need to get done during that time. Students feel that the pass system confuses them and makes it more challenging for students to use this time to move to other classes to make up assignments or get help. It is still unclear all the rules that come with our study hall periods. 

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Pepperbox

Your donation will support the student journalists of Arcata High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
About the Contributor
Kyndle Eisner, Production Manager
Kyndle Eisner is a senior at Arcata High School. Before high school, it was one of her main goals to be a part of the school newspaper. Although this was not able to happen her first three years of school, she was able to attain this goal this year. Writing and discussing issues in the community have always been something she’s enjoyed. The Pepperbox now gets to be that public outlet for her. Growing up third gen-Humboldt, she holds a unique perspective on life in Humboldt. She has always been interested in investigative journalism and finds writing enjoyable. As a female dual-sport athlete for soccer and basketball, she enjoys writing about sports.
Donate to The Pepperbox

Comments (0)

All The Pepperbox Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *