by Eli Hull (Posted on November 2, 2026 @ 11:58 a.m.)

At the beginning of this new school year, Alamo Heights Junior School changed its first passing period from ten minutes to five minutes. The change was made because the administration believed students did not need ten whole minutes to get to class. However, some students think the new passing period is too short, especially students who have football practice in the morning.

According to Dr. Guthrie, students were not using all ten minutes to get ready for class. Some students would go to their first-period classroom to drop off their backpacks and then walk around campus until the bell rang.

“Kids didn’t need 10 minutes to get to class. They would go to their 1st period class to drop off their backpack,” Dr. Guthrie said.

Even though the administration believes five minutes is enough, some students have had trouble getting to class on time. George Macdaniel, an eighth grader who plays football, explained how the shorter passing period affected him after morning practice.

“On the 1st day of school, we had football practice, and after that, I kind of just took my time, and then I realized that the bell rang a lot faster, and I was tardy,” Macdaniel said.

Macdaniel explained that it has been harder to get everything done in the locker room after football practice because there is less time to get ready for class. Students who play sports in the morning have to get used to moving faster so they can make it to class on time.

Another eighth grader, Eli Fordham, has also noticed the difference, saying, “I was barely able to make it to class, and I realized that it is shorter than what it typically is,” Fordham said.

To help students get to class on time, the school started opening its doors about one minute earlier. Dr. Guthrie said this gives students an extra minute to enter the building and get to their classrooms.

“So we started opening the doors about a minute early, and letting them come into the building a minute early,” Dr. Guthrie said.

The extra minute of open doors is supposed to help students who spend time in the courtyard before school. Even though one minute might not seem like a lot, it could help students get to class before the bell rings.

Dr. Guthrie also explained that fewer seventh and eighth graders use lockers now than they did in the past. Before, students needed more time to stop at their lockers between classes. Now, most students carry their belongings with them, so the administration believes a ten-minute passing period is not necessary.

Dr. Guthrie said that only about five percent of seventh and eighth graders use lockers, although some sixth graders still use them.

Not everyone agrees with the new rule. Some students want the school to bring back the ten-minute passing period because it gives them more time to get ready for class.

“I want to tell the administration that I would like it to be changed back to 10 minutes, please,” Macdaniel said.

Dr. Guthrie also explained that he is not the only person who makes decisions about the school schedule. He said that many people are involved in making these decisions because they can help find problems together and figure out what needs to be changed.

The new five-minute passing period has caused different opinions among students and staff at Alamo Heights Junior School. The administration believes five minutes is enough time to get to class, but some students disagree. As the school year continues, students will have to adjust to the new schedule.