District 128 students begin year with later bell schedule

Students at Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools started the 2018-19 term Monday with a new bell schedule.

Classes at both schools will begin each day at 8:45 a.m., later than during the 2017-18 year. Likewise, classes will end at 3:25 p.m. at both campuses.

The average duration of class periods has been trimmed by three minutes to 45 minutes each, too.

Officials changed the schools' schedules to give students more time to sleep.

Some health authorities - including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - advocate starting middle school and high school classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to ensure students get enough sleep.

Vernon Hills High senior Jack Farag took advantage of the schedule change to get more sleep Monday morning.

"The late start time definitely helped me be more rested and ready for school," he said.

Fellow senior Mackenzie Mahler appreciated the start change, too.

"I slept at least an extra hour this morning," she said. "I feel like I'm less rushed in the morning and have plenty of time to get ready as well."

Mahler also likes the shorter class periods.

"It's less time for people to get distracted, and more kids are able to pay attention for the whole time spent in class," she said.

Monday also saw the implementation of District 128's new mission statement, which has been dubbed #DARING. It's an acronym for Dreamers and Doers, Aware, Resilient and healthy, Inquisitive, Nimble and Global.