Nora Malone
Editor
It’s everyone’s favorite feeling: rushing through the halls as the clock strikes 8:40 a.m. The bus was late, or there was traffic, or maybe you just slept in. Either way, you’re late. But not to worry, the staff of ACHS is ready to help with their new tardy policy, a plan that will make you even tardy-er than you were.
“The 2.0 Tardy System is very efficient,” said Ms. Ruspe Atel, head of the planning committee for the new system. “We can quickly turn a 5-minute tardy into a 15-minute one.”
Instead of going directly to class, late students must first go through a scavenger hunt to find an open Academy.
“We plant clues around the school, specially designed to take as much time as possible and culminate in a map of the singular Academy that will be scanning IDs that day,” said Ms. Atel.
The program has been well-received by many students.
“I’ve had a great experience with it,” said senior Ty Ardy. “I had my physics final and my bus was stuck in traffic, so I walked in the door at 8:35, but thanks to the new program, I didn’t get to my class until 8:50—by that point, the test had started, so I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t recommend this program enough.”
Parents have been expressing similar views, “I’m glad this program exists. It really holds kids accountable for being late, even when it’s entirely out of their control. I think it teaches them important things about how the world works, and that forgiveness is never expected.”
This program is a champion of a new nationwide movement called KKO (Keep Kids Out) which focuses on giving kids the consequence of being left out when they break rules.
“The best punishment is FOMO,” says the company’s website.
Teachers are also on board with this new system. “I had a student who would always be slightly late to my class every morning because they had to drop off their younger sibling at school,” said Ms. Nufon. “But now because of this new program, they’ve had to drop my class entirely, rather than build up that many tardies. This system definitely does what it says it does.”
Overall, the system has gone over well with many in the school community.
“It’s rare that a system as effective as this comes along,” said Ms. Atel, “But this one is amazing at keeping kids out of their classes and blaming them for it.”
