Official attendance for students is third period, which begins around 9:40 AM. Some wonder if that is considered to be too late.

If official attendance has always been taken later in the day, why change it now?

There’s been a discussion about whether or not official attendance should be taken during first period, as students are supposed to come in when school starts at 8:05 AM. 

WJPS English teacher Ms. Laverda commented, “I think it doesn’t matter since we don’t have free periods because then students would come later, what’s the point of delaying it? All grades should be marked for first period.”

Others who want to keep official attendance until third period think it gives those students who come late a chance at being marked present. 

WJPS eighth grader Amanda Rodriguez said, “I think it should be kept as third because I’m used to it and people are always going to be late so it wouldn’t work as first.”

“It should be third period because it gives students more leeway and freedom,” stated WJPS senior Carl Levy-Guerrier.