One-lunch Wednesdays leave mixed opinions among students
GBHS students share a variety of opinions on one-lunch Wednesday.
Students talk with friends as they wait in the lunch line.
During the first few days of school, students were sent an email informing them about the one-lunch Wednesdays which would be starting in the following weeks. Lunch would become a thirty minute block starting from 11:09-11:39 a.m.
During the first one-lunch, Student Government had a lemonade stand in the front of the quad.
“(The commissioners) thought it would be fun on the first one-lunch to do a lemonade (stand).” Tamara Givens, student government teacher, said.
One lunch makes it easier for Student Government to do these fun activities because there is only one set up and clean-up.
An email survey was sent out to students which noted that out of the 651 students who took the survey, 63% liked one-lunch but 28% wanted some changes. 51% would like to move it to second lunch and 80% like it on Wednesdays or don’t have a preference.
Many students wanted more opportunities to spend time with their friends even if it was only for one day out of the week.
“(Administration) took it into consideration and decided to see if food services was at a point where they could make that happen.” assistant principal, Jennifer Buschmann said.
This decision would help the staff as well. During the pandemic last year, teachers would eat lunch together after teaching on Zoom.
“They really enjoyed eating together so it was also something that teachers missed.” Buschmann said
Many students were uncertain that this decision would be effective against rising COVID-19 cases.
“(It) seems counterproductive in…trying to limit (COVID-19) exposure as there are so many people especially in the cafeteria,” senior Luke Iwai said.
(It) seems counterproductive in…trying to limit (COVID-19) exposure as there are so many people especially in the cafeteria.
— Luke Iwai
Buschmann assured that they are only allowing a limited number of people in the cafeteria regardless of the amount of lunches.
Sophomore Sabine Kanz has COVID-19 concerns too as people don’t wear masks in the lunch lines, but it is “to be expected.”
Many seniors who have an off period during fourth period were not happy about this situation. For seniors who have second lunch, they can leave campus on a typical day when lunch starts. Seniors with first lunch were not affected by this decision.
“Personally I would…hate to have to stay,” senior Alana Six said, but, “a lot of people have (had) positive responses.”
Six feels the freshman and sophomore voices’ are being heard more right now where they are sharing their happiness with the one-lunch Wednesday.
Kanz shared a more optimistic outlook on one-lunch Wednesdays.
“I think it’s a very cool step to be able to see…friends that I don’t see ever,” Kanz said.
It seems that many students are in favor of this decision as it gives them time to spend with their friends who they would have never seen in the regular school day.
“It is a great time to (see) everybody together,” sophomore Lauren Wong said. “I hope that we can (continue) it in the future.”
Batul is a senior and Features Editor. This is her third year on the Gazette staff.
anonymous • Nov 4, 2022 at 8:46 am
I believe that there are valid reasons for people to either prefer one lunch or to contradict the idea of it. One lunch gives students opportunities to spend a little more time with their friends, if they were in different lunches. However, it would interfere with the way normal lunch works. If there are already problems happening in the first or second lunch, it would be harder to control the students during one lunch. Lunch lines would be too long, and students would have a limited time to eat.
mia • Apr 22, 2022 at 12:12 pm
I think both sides of the argument had good reasons. Its fun to see people that I don’t usually see but it’s more crowded and chaotic than just normal lunch. Also the fact that this makes it easier for SG to do activities involving the whole school.
Aubrey • Apr 22, 2022 at 12:02 pm
I believe that one lunch Wednesday definitely has some problems, such as not enough food or space for people to be at. However, it is really nice to be able to see friends I would not see otherwise.
ML • Apr 22, 2022 at 8:18 am
Both sides have a reasonable argument. If we have one lunch we can sit with friends we don’t get to see otherwise. On the other hand one lunch is a bit crowded and it would be easier if there were two separate lunches.
James • Apr 22, 2022 at 8:06 am
I think that we should not have one lunch Wednesday because it is way too crowded there is no where to sit and get your food take the whole lunch and there is no time to eat.