After consulting with the ABC Science Collaborative, Chapel Hill High has decided to return to a normal lunch period after Thanksgiving break, also allowing for seniors to leave campus during the period.
District superintendent Nyah Hamlett noted that the change to the lunch schedule, effective November 29, will “provide additional opportunities to increase socialization and connectivity for all students.”
The new lunch period will run from 12:35-1:15, allowing for the transition back to the traditional bell schedule.
“We are excited about this opportunity because it also means we can resume lunchtime club meetings and tutorials,” principal Charles Blanchard said.
Seniors who have received permission from their parents or guardians will be allowed to leave campus, provided they obtain their off-campus school ID and show it to a staff member before leaving.
“I’m excited to go out with friends for lunch instead of sitting outside with my class in the cold, especially now that it’s November,” senior Krista Jirles said.
Many have already started planning their lunchtime trips.
“I’ve been really craving bagels recently, so I’m excited to go to Bruegger’s Bagels after break,” senior Olivia Warner said.
Hamlett and other district officials are still encouraging seniors to follow COVID saftey protocols while they are off campus.
“Seniors will be encouraged to continue to adhere to school masking requirements while off campus. This will require additional safety measures and a revision of practices associated with leaving campus for lunch,” Hamlet said.
While underclass students won’t be able to venture off campus for lunch, they will be able to see friends who were not part of their fourth-period lunch cohorts.
“I’m really excited to see more friends. I also think it will be really nice to be able to go to teachers at lunch for extra help, and have club meetings,” junior Abby Ludwig said.
All students will be allowed to eat in the cafeteria, the outdoor eating space behind the C/D connector, the courtyard and any extended learning areas in the A and C building hallways.
“I’m most excited for people, including myself, to find their niche. One of the best parts of high school is falling into place and learning who you are, and that will be so much easier when we have time to meet people, go to club meetings and relax,” freshman M. J. Mestas said.
Students will still be expected to maintain at three feet of distance from their peers throughout the lunch period, and they are still expected to wear masks or face coverings except for a 15-minute window when they are eating.
“We want to make sure we are being safe,” Blanchard said, “but with how the numbers are looking—especially in a community like ours with high vaccination rate—we have not seen a lot of spread at school which makes it easier to move back to having one lunch period.”
