NPHS’s lunch policy has become a topic of discussion among students, as upperclassmen enjoy off-campus lunch privileges while underclassmen remain on school grounds.

According to school officials, there are several reasons why freshmen and sophomores are not permitted to leave campus for lunch.

Principal Brian Henry explained the school’s position: “We’re content right now that underclassmen can’t go out for lunch because they are starting high school for the first time. There’s no ‘professional period’ at the middle school, so we really want our students to be here and have that opportunity to get the academic support they need. And so being here, having one lunch, having the opportunity to connect with your peers and friends, and then being able to go over to a professional period, that really helps our students get off on the right foot and put them in a good position, as opposed to leaving every day.”

As Henry emphasized, freshmen and sophomores should see professional period as an opportunity to access extra help in their classes, and focus on their academics.

Another key reason that open lunch is only available to upperclassmen is that freshmen and sophomores typically cannot drive themselves, which makes it harder for them to leave the building independently. However, allowing juniors and seniors the privilege of going off campus is seen as a reward for their demonstrated responsibility. Over the years, upperclassmen have shown they can manage their time effectively by returning to school on time after lunch.

Henry also pointed out that there are timing and logistics issues.  Because most upperclassmen are licensed drivers, Henry said, it is easier for them to get back and forth to school.

“Our juniors will park at the community pool parking lot and some on the street, while our seniors park in the student parking lot, so they’re close enough where they can get to cars, and some of them carpool to go get a bite to eat,” he said.

Around the 2018 school year, juniors were granted the same off-campus privileges that had previously been reserved for seniors. The freedom to leave campus for lunch is a highly anticipated benefit, but students must wait until their junior year to enjoy it.