This winter, as the first semester concludes, students will not be preparing for weird semester test schedules and two hour long exams. Instead, students will have already worked towards perfect attendance all year in order to be granted an extended lunch every three weeks. While teachers may still offer semester exams, they will be taken during regular class time and students may not be exempt.

The cancellation of semester tests cause confusion and disappointment for students.

Semester tests will no longer be taken the last week of each semester, therefore normal classes will continue to take place. This results in an extra week of class time. For students who find it important to meet all the requirements in order to be exempt, this is many hours of extra class time that is usually avoided. This also means a delay in starting winter or summer vacation.

Since obtaining an 85 grade point average no longer results in a reward at the end of the semester, students will have less initiative to keep their grades as high. Although they may be motivated to attend class every day, without working hard for high grades their attendance will be pointless. Semester tests were a good source of motivation to keep grades high.

Cancelling semester tests takes away fairness for all class grades. For freshmen and sophomores who earn the extended lunch but are required to stay on campus, the new change is very disappointing. Also, the temptation to leave campus may be too strong, which will result in many extra and avoidable disciplinary actions.

The semester test cancellation not only causes disappointment for students, but it also results in more work for faculty including teachers, principals, and attendance workers. Perhaps an alternative plan can be made for the last week of each semester that would keep students motivated to keep their grades high, not extend school for those who meet requirements, and keep it fair for freshmen and sophomores.