Every school day at East begins with students finding their seats and teachers preparing lessons. But lately, that familiar rhythm has been thrown off. The morning announcements, a reliable 7:30 a.m. tradition, have been moved to the end of first period. While this change might seem minor, it causes more confusion than convenience for both teachers and students.
Some teachers have voiced concerns about the new timing, saying that the announcements interrupt their lessons and break the flow of class.
“It’s hard to keep students focused when they know the bell is about to ring,” said Ms. Jaclyn Pitt. “When the announcements start, most students stop paying attention anyway.”
The end of the first period is often when teachers wrap up important explanations or collect assignments, but the sudden interruption leaves lessons unfinished and students distracted. For students, the problem is just as clear. By the time the announcements come on, most are already mentally checked out and focused on getting to their next class — or simply getting out of the room. Instead of listening carefully to updates about clubs, activities, and schedule changes or plans, they start packing up their bags and chatting with friends. As a result, many students miss important information that could have helped them.
Even worse, there have been multiple occasions when announcements were completely forgotten or skipped. Without a consistent morning routine, communication across the school has become less reliable.
When announcements were at 7:30 a.m., they helped start the day on the right note. Students could listen as they settled into class, teachers could take attendance without losing valuable teaching time, and everyone could hear the updates. Bringing announcements back to the morning would restore that structure and ensure that all students receive the information they need to participate in school life fully.
Morning announcements are meant to bring the school together, not interrupt it. For the good of both teachers and students, East should move them back to 7:30 a.m., where they belong.