Dear Glen Rock High School Students,

I wanted to reach out and address the concerns stirring around the building. I know you’re frustrated. We know the new restrictions feel frustrating, and at times unfair. Honestly, I felt the same. After a meeting with Mr. Morelli and hearing the reasoning behind these actions and enforcement, my perspective shifted – and I wanted to share that with you.

Let’s start with the “20 minutes equals a cut” rule. I agree, it feels harsh and yes it’s ridiculous that twenty minutes can determine if Seniors are exempt from finals. And yes, I was angry too. We never realized that this isn’t a new policy. It’s been in the student handbook for years and is a rule across Bergen County. It just simply hasn’t been enforced until now. While the rule seems unreasonable, it exists for a reason: If a student leaves the building, administration must know where the student is.

“So, if you’re in the wellness center or if you’re in guidance or if you’re in the nurse and you miss more than 20 minutes, then it’s excused because we know where you are, right? If you’re at a college meeting, then we know where you are, right? But if you’re just not in class for more than 20 minutes, that’s considered a cut. If you come in more than 20 minutes late, it could be considered a cut,” Morelli shared.

Even if the chances of something going wrong are really low, the consequences of not knowing a student’s whereabouts could be serious. Especially in today’s society, where the unknown could happen at any time.

“There’s also like, I’m a parent, right? I would not be able to go to sleep at night, look myself in the mirror, knowing that we dropped the ball and then a kid got hurt on my watch,” Morelli added.

Now, for the Seniors – finals. We know. We’re all dreading them. But here’s what actually changed: Morelli added more flexibility, not less. Seniors now have the opportunity to get out of finals by maintaining an A minus average or higher and never cutting a class.

Unfortunately, cuts will apply to an AP class, even if you are registered for the AP exam. However, if you do end up taking the finals, no matter the circumstances, remember, this is what college is like. This is a practice for what the next four years will look like for us.

Morelli made it clear that the school isn’t about punishment. It’s about safety, responsibility, and getting us ready for our futures.

Another hot topic steaming up in the halls is leaving when a teacher is out. As seniors, we’d all love to go home when a teacher is out, especially if it is the last period and the Senior lounge is packed. Many of us were mad about this. It’s boring to just sit there. However, Morelli explained that independence is gradually earned. Jumping from zero to one hundred would only create chaos, something the administration hopes to avoid.

“Good morning, and happy Friday! Ms. Giurlando and I are looking to be updating senior privileges after Thanksgiving,” Morelli posted on Schoology on Friday, November 21st.

So yes – you’re frustrated. You’re allowed to be. After hearing the “why”, I realized the reasoning isn’t control, it’s protection. The school’s priority is truly our safety and transforming each student into responsible adults. The independence we want is coming, we just have to work for it each day.