Evie Janis

Students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s take their homerooms as an opportunity to grow together and build life long friendships.

Every year, new freshmen arrive, and every year, they are assigned to a homeroom that they will keep for the rest of their high school careers. Many students are on board with this plan because they enjoy the community that the four years together build, and it makes it an easier transition into high school with a group by their side. However, some students aren’t so happy with the non-changing homerooms because of the difficulty of making new friends.

The thought of a homeroom that stays the same is very comforting to many students because they get to know many of the same students. “I like it because it keeps me connected with the same people every year, knowing I have that class every day with the same people. I’ve made a lot of good friends in my homeroom because I have to be with them every day, and you learn to make friends,” sophomore Leah Smith said.

Many students come to Benilde-St. Margaret’s for the first time their freshman year, and it can be difficult if you don’t know anybody. Feeling like you belong somewhere is essential to your ability to adapt and accept new things in that environment. “Freshman year is like the year that you learn to make and meet new people, and I think homeroom is a great way to do so,” Smith said.

With the already difficult transition from junior high to high school and for some students in different schools, it seems to be helpful to students that they can always depend on homerooms staying the same. “They can meet people, find close friends, and stay with those friends,” junior Beckett Snook said.

However, for some students, the non-changing homerooms can be more of an issue. Some students can feel uncomfortable with the people who surround them, and if you have trouble making friends, it can be more challenging for you. For people who are not as outgoing, homeroom with the same group of students can be stressful because you don’t feel a sense of belonging within your group of peers. “I don’t like it because I wish that I could have new people in my homeroom…I don’t really know them that well,” sophomore Katie Driver said.

Assistant Principal Matthew McMerty-Brummer offers a new perspective on the relationship from student to teacher. He explains the importance of students having comfortable relationships with staff in the building as an extra support system. “I think there is the opportunity for students to be able to connect with adults, and for adults to get to know students on another level,” McMerty-Brummer said.

Homeroom teachers have unique ideas about how their homeroom runs as well. Many feel conflicted about whether or not non-changing homerooms are good for students. “You could also kind of get to know each other throughout the four years, but if you don’t have anybody to connect with, it can be kind of a bummer,” homeroom teacher Bob Lyons said.

Non-changing homerooms are beneficial to students in their learning environment to create a comfortable space that they feel safe in to share their thoughts and opinions, and gives students an opportunity to take a break during the day. The majority of students seem to be content with the current homeroom policy, and the administration at BSM keeps in mind the needs of students when making decisions about policies. “I think the school does a good job of continuously reviewing policies to see what changes could potentially be made in order to improve the student experience,” McMerty-Brummer said.