After more than a year of waiting and many voices advocating for the student body, the sophomores have finally received lockers, with freshman lockers currently being distributed.
After the distribution of lockers, many sophomores are now expressing their excitement and relief with their new lockers and are being seen using them every day, before and after school, especially during the cold months.
Sophomore Urmi Ayat said, “Students should have them. All my classes are mainly on the fourth floor. So when I need to put away… for example, my jacket during cold weather, it’s easier to just leave it in the locker.”
Sophomores have expressed their frustration about the delay. Ayat “had to carry around heavy bags all day, even to go home.”
Camila Dona-Verez, a sophomore, stated that she wants to decorate her locker with many photos of her and her friends.
The long delay in getting the Class of 2029 their lockers started when staff member Mr. Li left in the middle of the last school year. Mr. Chong explained, “I had to take on the responsibility of assigning lockers.”
The process of assigning lockers is also a very “tedious process because whatever lock I put on someone’s locker, if it’s new, I have to indicate it and then find a combination to it.”
Giving lockers was a promise made by Mr. Chong, and he says, “It was a promise that I could not deliver, so I apologize for that.”
Many of the freshmen have expressed their need for lockers. Nicholas Ramishvili said, “I don’t want to keep going to all my teachers asking them, ‘Can you hold my coat for me?’ and I think it’s just annoying. Having my own locker is better.”
Ms. Mornhinweg, the current freshman team lead, also said the need for lockers had been a regular concern among ninth-grade teachers this fall, especially now that colder weather means students are carrying jackets with them all day. But she also said lockers are currently being distributed to them through their Foundations classes.
Multiple teachers have brought this up as an issue. Mr. Weiss, who advocated consistently over the past year, said he raised concerns for the need for lockers on the first day of school last year.
Mr. Weiss also said, “Lockers give students a place for their belongings and a sense of ownership over the building.”
