Forget the snooze button because Seattle Prep’s Late Start mornings have been cancelled. The beloved Late Start is out, replaced by a surprising Early Release, leaving students and teachers alike scrambling to adjust their mid-week routines.
In an email to parents last week, the Seattle Prep Academics Office announced that 9:30 AM Late Starts are gone. Starting next week, on Wednesday April 9th, a new schedule will be used. Students will be released from classes at 1:40 PM, following a day of 75-minute classes and 5-minute passing periods.
To quote the email: “We cannot undervalue the importance of Vitamin D for our students. We hope the newfound Early Releases will allow students to spend more time outside and tanning in the afternoon. Increased Vitamin D exposure has proven to increase productivity, which will in turn support student’s academic success.”
This announcement comes as late start-related tardies have been on the rise. Several Prep teachers have noticed students coming late to class with their Starbucks drinks and administrators are growing concerned about the effect on the profitability of food sales in commons and the cafeteria.
For many students, the Early Release schedule is discouraging, “OMG, this is so annoying, what am I supposed to do before my 3:00 violin lessons?” complained Audrey Sais ‘26.
Math Teacher Ms. Sassi feels differently: “I am so pumped because I will finally be able to make it to my hot yoga class on Wednesday afternoons.
The Early Release schedule is designed similarly to the Late Start schedule; the time that students are on campus remains the same. However, students will have more time between the end of classes and after school activities to complete assignments and meet with teachers. This way, students will be able to maximize time at home to get more sleep and family time.
So, Prep says goodbye to late mornings, hello early afternoons. May the newfound free time be filled with productive homework sessions, or at least, a good nap.
