In recent months, while the weather gets worse, students and teachers find it hard to arrive at school on time, whether it be by train, bus or car. Traffic on the highway caused by icy roads or car accidents factors into commute and an increasing number of students are tardy to school because of it.

The school’s policies are somewhat accommodating for students arriving late for weather-related reasons, whether they be traveling through public or private transportation, as emails are sent out to teachers when there is an extreme crash on the beltway.

Freshman Raquel Bowman believed that the school could be less strict on their tardy policy because of the amount of traffic on the highway, which is how many students arrive at school. “They could be more lenient with their policies on traffic because for me and my carpool, we take one main highway to get here,” Bowman shared. She added “it is usually very thick in traffic but we leave early enough to get here on time.” She explained that if there’s a major crash that shut downs a few lanes, her carpool will not arrive until after class already started. “If the traffic shuts down the whole highway, we have to take a back way that is more complicated and gets us here at 7:59.”

Freshman Julianna Cantrell, however, understood that the school is already lenient enough with their policies regarding traffic. “I think that since the school opens at 8:00, we all should be fine; you just need to wake up a little earlier,” Cantrell expressed.

Senior Luciana Rieke also desired the school to be more lenient with allowing students to arrive late if they are stuck in traffic. “I usually leave around 6:50,” Rieke mentioned, “Sometimes traffic is really, really bad and I don’t get here until really late.” Rieke proposed a solution to the issue, saying “I think the school should give a five minute leeway for students that arrive late.”

Assistant principal, John Sullivan, the school does not have a specific policy regarding students arriving late to school due to traffic. “If people know they’re going to be late and they call ahead, we will excuse the tardy,” Sullivan explained. He added, “We probably excuse a handful of students every week. If there’s a major accident, we will send an email to all teachers.” Students are excused on a case-by-case basis, so it is best to speak directly with Mr. Sullivan if they arrive late to school for traffic or weather-related reasons before they go to class.