MHS Students and Staff Reflect On Ac Lab

Claire Lowder, Staff ReporterMarch 1, 20221 Comment

  • Jonathan Pirrello, sophomore, often spends Ac Lab practicing guitar.

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  • Matthew Del Pizzo, history teacher, often spends Ac Lab reviewing material with his AP World History students.

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  • Lenah Bumiller, junior, finishes math homework while sitting in the Flex Room during Ac Lab.

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  • During Ac Lab, some teachers may spend quality time with their students playing games, watching movies, or having casual conversations.

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  • Sophomore Zubia Rajput, said she spends her time working on homework, relaxing, and going on her phone during Ac Lab.

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  • During most Ac Lab periods, Kacey McBride, chemistry teacher, has a large group of students come in to review, whether it be with her help or independently.

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  • Sophomores Lexi Arvidson, Amelia Rose, and Livia Kloeppel, frequently meet during Ac Lab to help each other with schoolwork.

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  • Many students make up work during AcLab for classes like Food Fundamentals, Food Science, and Family Relations.

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  • Xien Louden, junior, commonly hangs out and talks to friends during Ac Lab.

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On many Tuesdays and Thursdays, Lylian Martinez, senior, finds himself catching up on homework. 

Martinez said he likes to stay organized and up-to-date with his schoolwork and so he utilizes Ac Lab, which was added to the weekly schedule this school year, for this exact reason.

“Ac Lab gives me extra time to finish any work I might have,” Martinez said.

Not to be confused with Flex Time, a blocked period of the 2019-2020 school year that, Associate Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said was removed as a result of COVID-19, Ac Lab, is a 96-minute block that occurs every B-Day. 

During Flex Time, Martinez said he attended club meetings, studied and socialized with friends in the halls. However, this interaction has been virtually nonexistent since Ac Lab was implemented Martinez said.

Although Martinez personally enjoys the structure of Ac Lab, Zain Meer, sophomore, does not, and said he doesn’t enjoy the controlled structure of Ac Lab. He said he doesn’t enjoy the controlled structure of Ac Lab.

“The idea itself is counterintuitive,” Meer said. “Personally, I don’t like the structure. I mostly find myself procrastinating.”

The aspect that keeps him from traveling during Ac Lab, Meer said, is the lack of freedom.

“I like staying in my homeroom because I get to choose what work I want to do or what I dedicate my time to,” Meer said.

Dr. Waeckerle said she thinks Ac Lab is a helpful addition to students’ busy schedules.

“The main purpose of Ac Lab is academic support,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “Whether that be getting help from teachers, making up tests or labs [or] doing reviews.”

Ac Lab is not only useful for students but teachers as well, she said. It gives them time to plan lessons, connect with and provide extra help to students outside of class and sometimes just have a break to relax.

“What people think of Ac Lab depends on what attitude they go into it with,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “You have to use it to your biggest benefit, and then you’ll get the most out of it.”

The main difference between Ac Lab and Flex Time, she said, is Flex Time gave more freedom to students. 

“It was very open,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “Maybe not for all Rockwood high schools but at least here at Marquette.”

Because Flex Time was cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020, MHS never saw the long-term effects of a study hall for all students held during the same hour. 

Principal Dr. Stephen Hankins said that currently there are no plans to change the structure of Ac Lab going into the 2022-2023 school year. He said he plans to conduct a survey asking questions like, “How are you using your time in Ac Lab?” and “How has Ac Lab affected your stress level?”

“We’re interested in seeing student opinions,” Hankins said.