By implementing Lunch and Learn into the high school schedule, administrators allow students time to decompress and meet with teachers. Students use Lunch and Learn to accomplish certain tasks or socialize with friends.
According to Social Studies Teacher Jennifer Reed-Duka, Lunch and Learn is advantageous for students who have a busy schedule.
“It is so flexible for students because a lot of kids are so stretched thin after school,” Reed-Duka said. “This gives students who are really busy a chance during the day to get things done that they need to and to see people that they need to see.”
For students who have trouble staying after school, Lunch and Learn can be used for them to participate in clubs. According to president of the TedEd Club Jenny Nguyen, lunch and learn helped her get the club on track for the year.
“Due to technical difficulties our district was having earlier in the school year, our club was behind on schedule for the year,” Nguyen said. “But because of the time that was given to us from Lunch and Learn, the club was able to catch up with where we are supposed to be.”
The Astronomy club has also seen benefits from Lunch and Learn to hold events and meetings, according to the president of the Astronomy Club Aliza Thomas.
“We were able to go out into the library courtyard and watch Mercury’s transit across the Sun. There is no way this could have been easily observed from home as it occurred during the school day,” Thomas said. “Many students were able to go out and view this astronomical event that will only be visible again in 2032.”
While some students went to club meetings, others went to go visit teachers and get work done. According to Assistant Principal Josh Klimovich, one of the biggest benefits of Lunch and Learn was allowing students to meet with teachers and get help during the school day.
“As a former teacher at Souderton, not being able to have time to work with students because you’re so worried about today’s activities makes it hard to give a make-up test or have a review session,” Klimovich said. “It is nice to give a time during the day when students can get help and teachers are available because during school and after school aren’t always the best times to meet with teachers.”
According to freshman Macey Coll, allowing students to get help during Lunch and Learn has helped her to reduce stress and anxiety.
“A primary cause of school stress is keeping up grades and doing homework. With an hour lunch, there is time to do homework and visit teachers for extra help,” Coll said.
According to Assistant Principal Bill Coddington, Students not only go over to teacher’s room to get academic help, but some students also go to hang out with their teachers.
“A lot of students hung out with teachers, not necessarily to get academic help, but just building their relationship and eating lunch with them. It’s almost like a recess from school for an hour,” Coddington said.
Many students also used Lunch and Learn as a time to relax and hang out with friends. According to junior Alexa Peters, Lunch and Learn helps reduce stress and allows her to socialize with friends more.
“Having a designated time to decompress, catch up on work, and catch up with friends helps a lot of us alleviate our stress,” Peters said. “It breaks up the day and gives the students the time to get done what we need to get done.”
According to Principal Sam Varano, the true intention of Lunch and Learn was purely to help students do as they need to do during that time.
“I’m hoping that Lunch and Learn just gives students some unstructured time where they can make decisions,” Varano said. “I think that is the best real social, emotional learning that we can help students have, just having real time to make decisions for themselves.”