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SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 17, 2002 Principal Mari Brabbin and language arts teacher Bob Simpson direct traffic during the noon shift change at Eagle Point High School on Monday. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Shift in time challenges students The double-shift schedule dictated by the burning down of the middle school, makes Eagle Point’s first school day one of traffic snarls and confusion By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — For a while Monday, the entrance and exit to the high school looked a little like dysfunction junction. It was the first day of double shifts for middle school and high school students, creating a traffic jam as parents and buses dropped off or picked up students at noon. Tammy Medcott, who has one child in high school and another in middle school, found the traffic confusing. "It’s really wild," she said. "I couldn’t tell where I was supposed to go." Administrators expect it will take parents a few days to get used to the traffic flow for the new shifts, in which middle school students arrive at 11:50 a.m. and high school students leave after noon. High school students start their day at 6:30 a.m., which means some of them have to get up by 4 a.m. to catch a 5:30 a.m. bus. Middle School students start the day at 12:30 p.m. and end it at 6 p.m., which means some of them won’t get home by bus until 7 p.m. The double shift was created to make up for the loss of the middle school, which was destroyed last month in an accidental fire. Principal Mari Brabbin, who became a traffic cop for about 15 minutes to unsnarl the congestion in front of her school, said that overall the first day went fairly smoothly for students. But she added, "It’s going to be harder for parents than it is for them." Middle school parents were supposed to drop off their children at the back of the school, but many drove to the front, creating a traffic jam where the high school students were being picked up. The day was also difficult for teachers, administrators and students who rose before the sun. Health teacher Jody Streetman said, "If I can do it, anyone can." Senior Manda St. Saver of Shady Cove said, "I got up at 4 o’clock and the bus came to pick me up at 5:30. It was completely dark and I couldn’t see anything." Manda expects to get just four or five hours of sleep each night with a schedule that includes a 40-minute bus ride to school, work in the afternoon, and a return home at about 9 or 10 p.m. in time to do homework. Manda, who was a few minutes late this morning because of the long bus ride, thinks it will be a grueling schedule. "Kids are not made to get up this early," she said. Junior Trina Pulido, who caught the bus in White City at 6:05 a.m., said, "I have to have eight hours of sleep or I’m not very nice." Trina wasn’t completely alert after rising early. "I almost fell asleep in first period class," she said. Her day became even stranger when she discovered she would be eating lunch at 9:05 a.m. Her friend, junior Rhonda Miller, had one thing in mind as the school day ended — a nap. "As soon as I get home, it will be the first thing I do." Both girls thought they would eventually get used to getting up early. "I think we will have it down within a week," said Rhonda. Middle school students didn’t seem to mind their later schedule, with some reservations. Sixth-grader Chad Nelson leisurely got out of bed at 9:30 a.m., but wasn’t looking forward to staying at school until 6 p.m. "We have the advantage at first, but they have the advantage second," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S