Last year, the School Board proposed later start times for high school students but after this proposal fell through, a new option has been created in which seniors can opt out of their R1 or W2 classes in order to allow for more time to sleep in.

This opportunity, however, is only offered for students who have an elective as their first period class and those who are on track for graduation. Also, this option will only be available starting the 2014-2015 school year, as schedules are final this year.

“One of the reasons I think it was implemented was to give students who are well on track to graduation different opportunities to expand themselves. They could take the first period off, and could do even do dual enrollment at Northern Virginia Community College, or NVCC,” Principal Vincent Randazzo said. “I think it gives more flexibility to those students who are well on their way towards graduation, whether it be a standard diploma or advanced diploma, and really get started on the next phase of their life.”

Although this option could ease the stresses that come along with senior year, most notably college searching, this drop in classes could result in some athletes being unable to play during their winter or spring seasons.

“The major impact could be eligibility for those students. If you’re one of those students that has the opportunity to drop R1 and W2, you’re now down to five classes. The VHSL states that you have to pass five classes. So if you are only taking five classes and you fail one, you are ineligible,” Director of Student Services Karl Kerns said. “So for seniors, that could affect whether or not they can play a spring sport, or even a winter sport if they don’t pass all their classes. It could have a huge impact on those seniors and seniors need to be aware that they have to pass all five classes.”

Another concern related to the dropping of first period elective courses is the drop of enrollment that could result in these electives, resulting in their withdrawal from the curriculum.

“Next year, if students drop their first period classes in advance, then there will be a lack of student enrollment in electives, which is already a problem,” Randazzo said. “Electives are important. Electives are the courses that make us well-rounded. There are things that students take that they are really passionate about, like band or chorus. Those courses are directly related to the core courses. They are a great gateway to knowing and we would be missing those if students didn’t take those courses due to this opportunity to drop them.”

When deciding whether or not it be a good idea to drop your R1 or W2 classes, Kerns suggests that parents of athletes, as well as the athletes themselves, should look at the pros and cons and be sure that they really think about the decision before making it final. Like Kerns, Randazzo believes that each student should take this decision seriously.

“The situation has to fit the student,” Randazzo said. “You don’t want to put students in bad situations, you want to put them in situations where they can succeed. “

Another concern related to the dropping of first period elective courses is the drop of enrollment that could result in these electives, resulting in their withdrawal from the curriculum.

“Next year, if students drop their first period classes in advance, then there will be a lack of student enrollment in electives, which is already a problem,” Randazzo said. “Electives are important. Electives are the courses that make us well-rounded. There are things that students take that they are really passionate about, like band or chorus. Those courses are directly related to the core courses. They are a great gateway to knowledge and we would be missing those if students didn’t take those courses due to this opportunity to drop them.”

Students also have to remember that if they drop their first period elective, they need to have a ride to school.

When deciding whether or not it be a good idea to drop your R1 or W2 classes, Kerns suggests that parents of athletes, as well as the athletes themselves, should look at the pros and cons and be sure that they really think about the decision before making it final. Like Kerns, Randazzo believes that each student should take this decision seriously.

“The situation has to fit the student,” Randazzo said. “You don’t want to put students in bad situations, you want to put them in situations where they can succeed.”