Even though the end of the grading period is near, there is another reason behind the schedule change.  Not only do the grades on the report card matter, but the high school experience as a whole adds to a complete education. With four classes on Thursday, and the other four on Friday, administration believes it allows students to become more well-rounded.

“If you think about the graduate profile, and you think about kids really having a great high school experience, part of having a great high school experience happens outside of classes,” Mayfield said. “What we want to allow is for students to have a great experience at school, and sometimes those aren’t academic subjects, so we want as many kids to participate as want to participate.”

Some think the logistics of the schedule are interfering with the classroom learning and that too much class time is being missed.

“I think we are taking too much time out of class for homecoming,” AP US History teacher John Connor said. “I’m all for homecoming, I’m all for having a pep rally and dress up days, but I don’t think it’s necessary to take a half a day for what should be outside activities.”

Even with the activities being held during the day for maximum student participation, people could still try to leave. There are precautions in place to stop skipping, because the school day is a regular length, if not a regular schedule.

“We have staff that will be outside that will be paying attention to the parking lot and will monitor that, because we want everyone to stay,” Mayfield said.

Although there are ways to stop people skipping school, as usual, in the past, students have checked out with their parent’s permission.

“Homecoming’s not usually that bad,” receptionist Rhonda Lloyd said. “[However,] if it’s hot, kids will want to leave and not stay for the events.”

Leaving is not only discouraged by staff, but also by students who want the experience to be enjoyable for everybody.

““It will be fun, but we need participation,” Comerford said. “The more people who do it would like it. I don’t think they would do it if it was outside of school.”

Although absences will be given for students leaving, the Mr. Lovejoy and Powderpuff is designed for students to enjoy the activities. It is not a free pass to leave school.The reason behind the schedule is for student’s to be able to participate in the Homecoming activities, without affecting their time outside of school.

“Obviously, we are doing it during the day so everyone can be a part of it,” Mayfield said. “I hope everybody stays and wants to be a part of it.”