SHS administration has been updating the policies for iPASS over the years. This year, SHS hopes to make iPass more academic.
“They’re not able to meet as often because we’ve kind of tightened the expectations for iPASS, and that students are really using it primarily for academic reasons,” Assistant Principal John Morse said.
As the policies change to make iPASS more academic, it has impacted how clubs meet and run.
With these new rules in place, clubs can only meet every other Wednesday during iPass. Furthermore, students are only allowed to change iPass rooms if they have school work that has to be completed.
Teachers used to be able to put students as ‘always welcome’ on their iPass lists. However, this led to many students roaming the halls instead of being in the classrooms. Teachers are now no longer allowed to put ‘always welcome’ students.
Students used to have to ask teachers if their friends could come to their iPass, and teachers could say ‘no’ to their request, but it was hard for them. Administrators hope that the changes will help teachers.
“So, you know, kind of one of those things where we just, if anyone’s going to be the bad guy, it’s going to be us,” Morse said.
The administrators have realized that clubs can not meet as often. That means the students who meet with multiple clubs will meet with their clubs even less.
They believe that the clubs will evolve and overcome the challenges.
“Certainly when we’ve had club sponsors and students reach out about (it),they’re concerned because they can’t meet with a certain club as often as they could, (and) sometimes necessity drives change and new things and innovation. So, we’ve kind of challenged club sponsors and clubs.”
Clubs have voiced their concern about the meeting times, as they compete with each other for members.
As some clubs have stricter attendance policies, meaning students participating in these clubs have trouble participating in other clubs.
“During our call-out meeting, we had over 50 attendees, and we are very grateful for that,” senior Bawitha Lang, president of the Myanmar Student Association (MSA), said. “ But I know we would have had more students (who) wanted to join even more.”
Clubs have introduced leadership positions to make the most of the limited time available. They could range from secretaries to presidents.
They help to keep the club organized and orderly.
“We can all work together so that one person doesn’t have to do all the work and the club doesn’t get chaotic,” Lang said.
Even though the new policies are meant to help make iPass more academic, clubs have had to change to accommodate the policies in place.