The 2025-2026 school year at Chapin High School started on Thursday, August 7th. With the start of the new school year, a new lunch system was introduced.
For the past 11 years, Chapin High School has had its first lunch from 11:33 to 12:03; this lunch was for sophomores and seniors to attend. The second lunch was for freshmen and juniors. Outside of your designated lunch, students could go to teachers’ classrooms for enrichment, go into the arena, or sit outside in the picnic area.
However, many students did not follow this schedule. Students would go to the cafeteria during unscheduled times and wander around the halls, disrupting study time for other students.
To help create a more structured lunch environment, Chapin High School’s Principal, Mr. Davis, and staff came up with a new system. This new organized system is called NEST. (Necessary Enrichment Study Time)
NEST is a time for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to go to an assigned class to get help from teachers and work on classwork. During NEST, seniors have time in the cafeteria for each lunch. Senior announcements will also be made during this time.
For the first couple of weeks, NEST will be assigned; after that, only students with a D or F will have NEST assigned to the class in which they are doing badly in.
The teachers and students had contrasting opinions on this new lunch setup.
I interviewed students from various grades, and their opinions were remarkably similar.
Rylie Hinken (12th) said, “I think it was a good idea, but they failed to consider that everyone does not like the lunchroom.” Also, “A lot of people have social anxiety and would have to sit in the lunch room alone.”
Kat Geguzys (12th) stated, “I don’t like the lunch system because we all get herded into the cafeteria and then we all have to walk down Eagle walkway, even when it’s raining.”
Julia Mikolajczyk (12th) expressed her dislike of NEST by saying, “I hate NEST at lunch because it’s awkward and different.”
Emma Vermeer, (!1th) said, “I think that while NEST may be helpful for students who are struggling in their classes, it feels unfair to those who want a full hour of break, but can no longer have it because of NEST being present.”
The teachers had contrasting opinions from the students. Many believed that NEST was a good idea and that NEST added a structure to the students’ lunch.
Mrs.Pietro explained, “I think it will encourage students to go to the classes where they need extra enrichment.”
Ms. Krenek said, “I think that NEST is great for the kids, and it’s more of a structured environment for students to get the help they need. Just like with any new programming, there’s going to be something we need to work out, but overall beneficial.”
Students may feel that NEST is time taken away from their lunch, but the teachers agree that NEST is a good time for extra learning and help with assignments.
NEST is a new system being tested for the first year. While many have differing opinions, the school will be implementing it, at least for now. Will NEST last? Will it help students with their struggling grades? We will have to wait and see.
