For years, A/B days were a big part of the Seven Hills calendar. Anytime the school held a special event, students braced themselves for the familiar routine: eight shortened classes, rushed transitions from class to class, and constant confusion. This year, however, Head of the Upper School Mr. Tate threw out the old A/B system in favor of a redesigned schedule used on days like the Halloween celebration. For many students, this change was overdue. And personally, I agree. The old format felt rushed, disorganized, and unproductive. The new schedule, by contrast, feels clearer, calmer, and more fun.
For some students, the frustrations with A/B days have been a persistent feeling. Junior Avery Wang said she “didn’t really like them because they make the day feel longer, and we have to attend all our classes for 40 minutes, and we don’t even learn that much.” She added that the schedule itself was confusing. “I usually forgot which class I was supposed to be attending during the old A/B day schedules.”
Her experience reflects what many students felt during those days, with too many transitions and too little learning. Junior Emma Hassell shared a similar viewpoint. “We don’t get much done in the 40-minute classes, and it feels so much more rushed,” she said. “I’m hurrying to my next class, and it is really disorganized.”
The new special schedule, first seen on Halloween, has been met with much positive feedback. I was glad to see the change as well. Halloween felt less like a rush of activities and more like a structured school day with room for both learning and celebrating. Wang agreed. “I really liked the Halloween celebration that we did,” she said. “We don’t have to waste time going to every class for a short period of time, and we can actually learn something while still having fun.”
Hassell also demonstrated her appreciation for the shift. “I liked the new format because I feel like we did learn a lot of things,” she explained. “It felt much more organized and direct.” When students returned to campus for the afternoon festivities, she said, “there was no rush to get back to classes after the Halloween activities.”
Beyond convenience, the new approach seems to create a clearer sense of community. Wang emphasized that the replacement schedule allows her to “spend more time doing activities and learning as a whole with my community and friends.” Hassell echoed this sentiment, saying, “The new schedule is just a much clearer system and everything is less hectic.”
But the shift away from A/B days is part of something larger, a broader wave of changes driven by student feedback. Both students noted that Mr. Tate and Mr. Polifka have been adjusting policies throughout the year, something many feel has strengthened communication between administrators and the student body. “I am really happy that he [Polifka] is taking the time to reflect and respond to student feedback,” Wang said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the next changes he is planning to make.”
Hassell agreed, noticing that the administration has been more responsive. “I think a lot of these changes are big new developments,” she said. “I’m happy that they are listening to the students and parents.”
While opinions differ across campus, for many of us, the elimination of traditional A/B days represents progress. The new format is more focused, more manageable, and far more productive. If this year is any indication, the administration’s willingness to listen and to change may signal a stronger, more organized future for special days at Seven Hills.
