On Thursday, Feb. 12, Principal Michael Miller sent out a presentation on the possible elimination of Fast Fridays due to nearly half the school having poor grades that led to interventions. Students and staff aren’t taking it very well.

“I don’t think some students should be punished for other students’ actions,” junior Cesar Martin-Acosta said. “Not to mention the fact that some teachers simply don’t grade things on time, leading to students having what would be a good grade, a bad one.”

Martin-Acosta believes that getting rid of Fast Fridays will only demotivate students.

“I can confidently say if Fast Friday was canceled, more and more students will have Ds and Fs, as it’s the only incentive that allows students to actually try in their classes, even if they don’t want to go to college,” Martin-Acosta said.

Junior Alonna Mackey agrees with his sentiment.

“The percentages last semester were lower because we had continuous Fast Fridays every Friday, and it made students want to get their work turned in and leave early,” Mackey said. “But this semester, we haven’t had any, so it makes kids not want to work, and they don’t really care.”

English Teacher Emily Graham believes that Fast Friday is a great motivator for her students.

“Personally, I like Fast Fridays as a teacher, because it seems it makes the younger students more aware and conscientious about when things are due,” Graham said. “They frequently come to me and say, ‘Hey, what do I still need before the Wednesday deadline?’ So to me, that shows me that Fast Friday is prompting them to think about ‘what’s due, do I have it turned in,’ whereas if without the motivator of Fast Friday, I’m not sure if all of them would be so on top of their work.”

Graham also appreciates getting to work with students one-on-one, and doesn’t think they’re as comfortable asking for help in just a normal class period. She thinks it’s a fantastic motivator and reward for students who perform well in class.

“I think that we’re always gonna have, unfortunately, good kids that don’t get their work turned in or aren’t motivated to get their work turned in, no matter what we try,” Graham said. “So, I think Fast Friday is the best thing I’ve seen in many years. That is the motivator for kids who don’t do as well and a reward for kids who do really well.”