Liberty is switching it up this year and introducing a new schedule for the 2022-2023 school year. One of the biggest and most talked about changes this year is the new lunch schedule. This time will be known as SOAR Time.

Instead of in earlier years having the 25-minute lunch, SOAR Time (also known as Power Time on student schedules), will be a 60-minute period of lunch and student choice time. This will also be a time for students to practice their time management and self-care. From 10:47 a.m. to 11:42 a.m., students will be free to eat, relax, participate in other activities, and more.

“I like it but I don’t know what to do with all the extra time,” junior Mason Leone said. 

During this time, the gyms will be open for students to play games and hang out with friends. Students can also go to the auditorium for quiet time. Some other things available for students to do are: meet with their teachers during their office hours, meet with clubs, study for tests, complete unfinished work, make up late tests or quizzes, visit their counselors, and take care of other individual needs.

“You don’t have to stay after school to like retake a test now,” said senior Amanda Dudley.

But there are some spaces students will not be able to go during this time. These areas are: in the locker rooms, locked classrooms, the athletic fields/areas, the parking lot, and off campus. 

Consequences for tardies, parking violations, etc. may result in loss of SOAR Time.

Office hours are 30-minute teacher helping periods that take place two times a week; each teacher’s schedule will be different. If a teacher has red office hours, they will be available during the first 30 minutes of lunch. If a teacher has blue office hours, they will be available during the second half of lunch.

With this much freedom and time, there are a few cons that come along with it. One of the biggest concerns was on the first day of SOAR Time. People were starting to worry about the amount of space available. 

Some students had trouble finding places to sit at during lunch, as well as the long line to get food. But as the week went on, students got more comfortable and things started to move more smoothly. There were also concerns about the amount of freedom we have, maybe too much freedom.

“I do like the freedom and just being able to relax, and like, go at my own pace, but at the same time I know some people are going to take advantage of that,” senior Carissa Dixon said.