Harper Travis
Editor
To start the 22-23 school year, a PRIDE period has been introduced to students and faculty. PRIDE stands for preparation, respect, integrity, determination and excellence. PRIDE period takes place during 3R or 4B period from 9:59 a.m. to 10:34 a.m. During these 36 minutes, teachers present a slideshow to students that review a new topic every day.
During PRIDE period, students discuss topics such as respect, meditation, mental health, school rules and social-emotional health. “Acclimation to school, getting started in classes, and going over school-wide expectations are heavy subjects being talked about right now,” said ACHS Executive Principal Peter Balas.
The purpose of the PRIDE period is to encourage students to connect with each other and teachers each day. PRIDE period is also used as a way to disseminate new information to students. Balas said, “From a principal’s perspective, it has some really cool opportunities for us to be able to connect with kids and each other daily.”
This time is not intended to replace Lunch and Learn. If Lunch and Learn is reinstated, there will still be a PRIDE period. Both Lunch and Learn and PRIDE have practical social and emotional benefits that are important for students to have. “Lunch and Learn and PRIDE period are not mutually exclusive,” said Balas. “We can find a way to make both of them complement each other.”
PRIDE period is still evolving for everyone at ACHS. Students and teachers should continue to be patient and flexible with the implementation of PRIDE since instruction is still in the beginning stages of launching. “We’re still launching. We are not perfect yet,” said Balas.
