Students at Poquoson High School have a variety of ways to spend their lunch time thanks to an innovative program that the school has implemented.
The One Lunch program began as a way to assist students who needed extra help with a class, or to catch up on missed work, explained Principal Andrew Roberts. But administrators soon saw that this time could be used in an assortment of different ways.
“That kind of evolved into, ‘Why stop there?’ Let's let's try to enrich, let's try to provide some athletic or exercise opportunities. Then we start talking about the club opportunities and just fun activities that any staff member could sign up to do, and it evolved into a pretty cool thing that we're trying to still build as we go.“
Students love the free time and the diverse activities they can choose to attend. One Lunch allows them to choose how to spend their lunch period, where they eat and who they gather with. It also lets them fit in activities that were previously reserved for after-school hours.
“We have an open gym for the first 30 minutes and they can go play basketball, volleyball or go lift weights. It provides a place for students to be themselves, explained Bernie Busonick, who teaches criminal justice and independent living at the high school. ”In class, you're kind of structured and you're doing your own thing, whereas here they can relax, let their hair down a little bit and enjoy being around the company of their friends.“
Zaynah Weems, a junior at the high school, said it has made her hectic schedule a bit easier to manage. “It's been really helpful with my dance schedule and my show choir schedule, not having to stay after school as long for club meetings and things like that because I can get it done during One Lunch.”
“We have coaches now that are signing up to do film sessions, and my drama teacher is starting to practice their one act plays,” Roberts explained. “They're starting to see the advantage of having that embedded time, where they don't have to depend on after school for both the student and the teacher or sponsor, or coach. So just maximizing the time that they're already here.”
He said the football coach has been using the time to review previous game footage and plan the day’s practice. Students have also formed some of their own clubs. Weems said her older sister started a diversity club that she is now facilitating.
Other students play chess, work on homework, catch up with friends, or participate in whatever fun activities are happening that week. Each week, they receive a schedule of the One Lunch offerings. When WHRO visited recently, it was the week before Homecoming. Students were selling Homecoming tickets, tie-dying t-shirts and planning for the big event.
Library Media Specialist Lisa Parzanese helps coordinate daily activities offered in the library media center. “Almost every student is engaged in some way,” Parzanese said. Even if they are not participating in that day’s activity, they enjoy using the space to play games with friends, work on a puzzle, or enjoy the comfortable seating to work on schoolwork by themselves.
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