Before vacations, the Bedford administration puts together half-day schedules with movies, breakfasts, and sometimes sports games in the gym. These half days are intended to be fun for all and a good way to get into the holiday spirit.

Or at least that’s how it’s supposed to be.

In reality, many students don’t attend half days, preferring to skip school.

“I think it’s a waste of time,” says seventh grader Catherine Wallace. Like many others, she believes that there are better ways to spend her morning. “We don’t do anything educational,” she points out. Little academically goes on in the classrooms of BMS on half days, so she thinks there is nothing useful to get out of participating in them.

Likewise, seventh grader Elena Lim concludes that, “It would be fine if there was something of importance to do. But if not, then what’s the reason for a half day?”

According to Mrs. Jacquelin Mellin, assistant principal in charge of the sixth grade and who oversees attendance taking, half days see a big drop in attendance. According to the front office, on an average school day, about 32 students are absent, which is 4 percent of the 855 Bedford student population. By contrast, Mrs. Mellin said that 139 students, over 16 percent of students, weren’t in school the day before Thanksgiving and 27 percent or over a quarter of students were absent the day before holiday break.

So why do we have half days that don’t have a lot of formal learning going on and are less attended?

8th grade red team leader Mrs. Colleen Rondon answers, “It’s good to have some fun in school occasionally to build community and good relationships with those on your team.”

But, does this apply to people who don’t enjoy the type of fun that goes on during half days? Do they have a reason to attend school?

Dr. Rosen believes they do. “We have few opportunities for students to interact outside the curriculum and these are moments in time that we leverage to build our school community.”

Even though many students would prefer to stay home on half days, some of them don’t have that choice. “It’s been going on for so long that it’s institutionalized, making it difficult to change. Families are accustomed to half days; it’s a decision that each family makes,” said Ms. Emily Elterich, the 7th grade red team leader.

Yet, some students, like 7th grader Leah Chapman, are given a choice. “My parents agree with me that there’s no point of going to a half day, since you’re not going to learn anything anyway, so they let me skip school that day,” she said.

6th grade red team leader Ms. Elizabeth Smith explains, “With so few students attending, we can’t do new curriculum work, so we work on other skills, but then people say it’s not worth coming. It’s like a downward spiral.”

On the other hand, some students like half days.

“I go to half days because I’m one of the few people who actually likes school,” says 7th grader Jaiyana Khan. Many students have a marvelous time on half days and are grateful to the school faculty for planning them.

Some students wonder if half days could simply be eliminated. However, Mrs. Elterich explains, “There will always be a day before vacation. If you take away the half day, the previous day will become the day before vacation. We will always have a lot of absences, but we don’t want it to be a waste of time for those who are here. That puts teachers in a tough situation.”

Mrs. Mellin points out that BMS doesn’t decide when there’s a half day, the board of education determines the calendar at least two years in advance.

“We do a considerable amount of planning to make sure that the activities are designed to align with our school goals. Each half day we treat as an unique occurrence,” Dr. Rosen aid. “When we host spirit games, those events are tied to our team colors and vertical teaming, which all relate to our guiding principles.”

Some Bedford administrators proposed different suggestions to improve half-days.

Ms. Rondon says, “It would be really great if we come up with a way to shorten periods, so we don’t lose the opportunity to see our classes.”

Mrs. Elterich has a different opinion, “It’s not ideal that we run a regular schedule and let the teams decide. I’d prefer a more consistent approach, without fitting the whole day with short periods.”

Alternatively, Ms. Smith believes, “It’s good to keep things within the pod, so we can make a decision about kids there and what’s best for them.”

Dr. Rosen continues to stress the role of half days, “Not only is it the law to attend school, I also think students will find our events and activities to be both enjoyable and worthwhile.”