For many freshmen, transitioning into high school means heavier workloads, higher expectations, and harder classes. Here at Grandview, students are only allowed a maximum of one off period during their freshman year. Both faculty and students hold varying perspectives regarding this topic, with many students stating that they would advocate for a change to the policy. 

“My reasons for wanting to change the policy are the heavy workloads, AP classes, honors classes, and how it’s different from middle school,” Lauren Mack (9) said. 

Freshmen also dislike their limited break times. Their workloads are sometimes too heavy to complete in one off period, leading to worse grades and an overworked home environment.

“Considering I’m in all honors and in one AP class, one off period is not enough time because I don’t have any A’s right now in any core classes,” Elizabeth Kastsianok (9) said. “I know [my grades] can be better if I had more time.” 

While many freshmen share these frustrations, teachers and counselors emphasize that the limited break time is intentional and meant to help students build structure and balance as they transition into high school.

“When you come straight out of middle school, where you have no off-periods, then go into high school and have multiple right away, it’s hard to transition,” Cadance Hobbs (Counselor) said.

The goal, staff say, is not to restrict students, but to give them space to grow at a manageable pace. Managing time is a crucial skill as students move into high school, and having just one off period allows freshmen to learn how to organize their day without becoming overwhelmed.

“I don’t think [what they do on their off] should be monitored,” Hobbs said. “If students are passing their classes, then I think it’s good that it’s up to the students, so they can learn responsibility for managing their time.”

In addition, freshmen are required to spend the first 45 minutes of their off period in One Pack – a structured program that provides study support and helps new students adjust to Grandview’s expectations. While this setup is not always popular, staff members believe it helps create consistency and accountability.

“So far, I’ve seen quite a few freshmen in the halls during their off periods, maybe not utilizing their time to the best of their abilities, but I think One Pack helps combat that in terms of study skills and executive functioning,” Christine Decker (Social Studies teacher) said. 

As the year goes on, however, some students begin to see the value in the system. What once felt like a restriction slowly turns into a learning experience. 

“At first I thought having one off was pointless, but now I kind of get it,” sophomore Whitney Wakeham said. “It forced me to figure out how to manage my time, and it actually made my sophomore year way easier.”

Others agree that starting small helps freshmen adjust before taking on more responsibility. 

“Looking back, I think it helped me not get overwhelmed right away,” sophomore Danya Chybli said. “One off period might not feel like much, but it teaches you balance early on.”

Ultimately, the policy seems to serve its purpose. Though many freshmen may wish for more freedom, the single off period helps them build habits that last throughout high school. 

“I didn’t like it at the time, but honestly, it helped me way more than I expected,” Wakeham said.