January has always been an odd month for New York City students. We finish winter break right at the beginning, and typically there isn’t another break until mid-February, known as mid-winter break.

However, high school students also receive a bonus week off towards the end of January, known as Regents week. This is a week where students can retake their Regents exams from June. 

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the state has canceled the exams. According to the New York City Department of Education guidelines, “This cancellation applies to all Regents Examinations that had been scheduled for the January 2022 Regents Examination period.”

The most recent news on Regents week, according to the WJPS administration, is that school will remain in session and in-person as any other typical school week. 

This decision begs the question, why cancel Regents due to COVID-19 concerns when schools continue with in-person instruction? There is no social distancing in the hallways of WJPS, so how could this diminish concerns of the virus spreading?

WJPS principal Dr Werner said, “I think that it was a good decision for the state to cancel Regents week because COVID rates vary throughout the state, and this is necessary to keep everyone safe. WJPS does not have a high number of students taking the Regents exams, so I am grateful for the extra week of instruction since we have missed so much.” 

While the administration may be happy to see students receive additional instruction, many are not pleased to find out their week off has been canceled.

WJPS senior Amber Matos said, “It’s stupid to make this decision, and I don’t plan on coming in. They shouldn’t do this because Regents week has always been a thing. I don’t think anyone will come in that week, or very few students will show up.”

WJPS senior Nicholas Martinez said, “I feel like they really should’ve made it so everyone could stay home since it really is a reserved break for upper students and no one will show up anyway.”

Overall, this decision will most likely cause further issues and strain between the DOE’s relationship with students. They never listened to students in the past. Why would they now?