The last day of school at Cal High can be a stressful one, as many students are consumed by third and sixth period finals.

But the last day of school should be a joyous one. It should be an opportunity for students to say goodbye to their friends and teachers before they leave for the summer, or in the case of seniors, forever.

While our finals week schedule is necessary, it is only four days long. Because of its shortened length, it would be easy to end our four days of finals with a minimum day, similar to the first day of school where all six periods meet for 30 minutes and students are dismissed after just four hours.

This shortened day could be one where students sign yearbooks, have fun, and enjoy one last hurrah with their friends. Rather than ending the school year with classes where students are scrambling to take tests that could make or break their grades, we should end school on a positive note, celebrating all the connections students made during the past year.

Adding the minimum day would not create much of an impact on the school year schedule, as teachers would not need to create lesson plans and students wouldn’t be attending another stressful day of school.

It would be reminiscent of the field days many students enjoyed in elementary school when a day was spent playing outside and having fun with friends. 

This minimum day would allow students to focus on other aspects of school. It would recognize  that along with academics, an important aspect of school is the connections formed between people and the bonds students and teachers make. 

It would also give teachers a chance to celebrate with their students and reflect on their year. For seniors especially, this day could serve as the last day of their K-12 journey, a moment to appreciate their last high school memories without the pressure of exams.

Additionally, a celebratory minimum day would be beneficial for students’ mental health. The end of the year can be filled with anxiety about final grades, looming college applications and scary new transitions to college. 

Having one day carved out for joy could help alleviate some of that stress and leave students with a reminder of the fun aspects of school.

A minimum day following the conclusion of finals would be a perfect way to celebrate the end of the year and decompress after the stress of the finals.