(Matt F./Staff)

The return of Common Hour on Wednesday, March 1, so students could meet with teachers or relax with their friends, with the stipulation to stay off their cell phones and and engage with others.

Co-director of Student Service, Dr. Ritter, says “You can end up working out a problem or understanding something more.” Students can take this hour to learn better by resting their cognitive functions. 

But only a certain kind of unwinding can be beneficial. Dr. Ritter states, “If you look at your phone right away, then that stuff that you learned in class doesn’t get a chance to be put in your long-term memory.” Scrolling through social media also creates unnecessary decisions, not giving the brain a chance to rest. These reasons are why teachers enforced the rule to ban unproductive work to ensure students take a positive rest. 

Our upcoming Common Hours will be on  April 19 and May 18. Faculty scheduled the first date because sophomores and juniors will need a break after the prior week’s standardized tests. Seniors will be working on their senior projects by the second Common Hour, yet the other grade levels will be sure to welcome the time off in the day.