The early release program made its debut last year and was successful in decreasing tardies and absences by considerable amounts. 

Last year early release decreased excused tardies by 83 percent and unexcused tardies by 46 percent. It also decreased excused absences by 30 percent while lowering unexcused absences by seven percent.

Early release gives students holding a C-minus or higher, no disciplinary problems and no tardies or absences the option to leave school during seminar.

The first early release the school year occurred Friday Sept. 21, and assistant principal Jennifer Smith hopes that it will continue to be an incentive for students.

“I hope that everyone continues their attendance so they have to learn,” Smith said.  

Junior Mariah Kalma remains excited for the time off gained by early release.  

 “It gives me a chance to go home before cross-country practice and relax,” Kalma said.   

However, students who did not qualify for early release, such as senior Brett Logbeck, may not share the same excitement as Kalma.

“It’s kind of hard [to be excited] when you have two Fs and a D,” Logbeck said.

For students like Logbeck, who didn’t qualify for the first early release oppurtunity on the 21, first semester offers eight more opportunities, the last one being on Friday Dec. 14.

Connor Oswald