Article by: Daniela Baez, Freshman & Jaycee Atkinson, Senior
Easton Valley Junior High / High School adopted a new early out schedule this 2025-2026 school year with two major adjustments. Every Friday is now an early out instead of Wednesday, with a different Friday bell schedule. The new changes don’t stop there; the schedule now has set A and B days.
To get a better understanding of the new Friday early-out schedule, we spoke with several staff and students to hear their thoughts. When asked whether he preferred this year’s Friday early-out or last year’s Wednesday version, Mr. Watson, a teacher at Easton Valley, said he favors the new Friday schedule. He believes it will be more beneficial in the long run, offering greater opportunities in the future for both students and staff.
Maddison Edwards, a junior at Easton Valley High School, shared her thoughts on the newly implemented Friday schedule. When asked about the change, she expressed concerns about the pace of the day, saying that having all her classes in one day makes her feel rushed.
Hunter Cram, a sophomore, was also interviewed about the updated schedule. When asked what he would change, Cram said he prefers a more consistent structure. “I’d rather have the blocks go in numerical order instead of jumping around,” he said, referring to the current schedule’s out-of-sequence class periods.
School counselor Brooke Collister also shared her perspective. When asked whether she preferred the revised class schedule or the early dismissal aspect of Fridays, she emphasized the value of having all classes meet on the final day of the week. “I like that students and teachers can connect before the weekend,” she said. “It gives everyone a chance to check in and wrap things up.”
To gather a broader view, we asked a variety of students and staff the same question: What is one flaw and one benefit of the new Friday schedule? The most common benefit stated was the opportunity to see each teacher before the weekend, allowing students to clarify assignments or catch up on material. However, many also noted a drawback: the shortened class periods sometimes make it difficult to complete assignments, though this might fix itself with time.
It is still early in the school year, and opinions may shift as students and staff continue to adjust. While the schedule may not be perfect in everyone’s eyes, many agree that the new Friday schedule was the right step forward for Easton Valley.