PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM

Originally published January 24, 2023

The Locker Lottery is a way to get students' opinions on seasonal topics. To start, we gather one boy and girl are chosen from each grade. The sixth graders are Sydney Berry and Lane Quinlan, the seventh graders are Landon Vanderwell and Kyran Huber, and the eighth graders are Garrett Benshoof and Caitlyn Johnson.

What is your opinion on middle school relationships?

S.B.: “I think it’s fine as long as you don’t do stuff your not suppose to do.”

L.Q.: "There mostly cringy but like unless there cringy in 8th grade."

K.H.: “they should not be a thing because our brains are still developing.”

L.V.: ”You do you, over all I don’t care.”

C.J.: “They are okay unless it becomes more than just hanging out.”

G.B.: “It’s fine if casual, but nothing more”

What is your opinion on PDA (public display of affection) ?

S.B.: “its fine to do in public, but at school you should not do that stuff, its a bad example.”

L.Q.: "its kinda weird to be in school doing that but its not my business like i wont stop anyone."

K.H.: “I think it's pretty nasty.”

L.V.:”I don’t really care, you do you.”

C.J.: “Holding hands is fine, but dancing and kissing are too far for middle-school.”

G.B.: “It’s okay to hug and hold hands, but that is about it for the age we are.”

Do you think valentine's day should be celebrated in Mt Baker?

S.B.: “No because we're all young and haven't found love”

L.Q.: " i think if you want to celebrate it you can but if you don't

want to you cant stop anyone from celebrating a holiday."

K.H.: “Love is Love.”

L.V.:”Not really, I think Mt Baker should focus on academics not relationships.”

C.J.: “It can be fun if you get the candy, but people that don’t get the candy can be upset.”

G.B.: “It should be celebrated, but it shouldn’t be a big thing so students don’t feel left out.”

Do you think there should be more electives that can help you in the future such as a class to learn how to save and spend money wisely, etc?

S.B.: “I think yes because we should learn about money because it will be helpful in the future."

L.Q.: "Yes its a good life skill to have."

K.H.: “Yes, because we need more experience for the future.”

L.V.:”No, because we have more than enough electives.”

C.J.: “Yes, They are very important and helpful to students.”

G.B.: “Yes, because students should know economics and financial information."

Do you think electives should be optional?

S.B.: "i think electives should not be optional because like PE your getting a workout in everyday by running the mile or doing the pacer, and your doing a skill."

L.Q.: "yeah i think they should be required because there fun"

K.H.: “No because you can miss out on life skills.”

L.V.:”No, because electives can teach you more about life.”

C.J.: “No. Lots of students would have no way home, if they worked like after school clubs.”

G.B.: “No. They should be mandatory as they count for high school and college credit.”

Do you think MBMS should have a school uniform, why or why not?

S.B.: "i think MBMS should not have a uniform and i like wearing my own clothes and i don't wanna wear a musty uniform."

L.Q.: " no, never."

K.H.: “No.”

L.V.:”I do not think we should wear a uniform because we dress just fine.”

C.J.: “No, but if we did have them, I would prefer everyday clothing instead of suits and skirts.”

G.B.: “No. There is no reason for them as long as the dress code becomes a bit stricter.”

Do you think MBMS hallways are too crowded?

S.B.: "i think MBMS hallways are way too crowded there is alot of people at this school and not enough space in the hallway."

L.Q.: "Yes especially like going to get your backpack at the end of the day."

K.H.: “Yes.”

L.V.: “ Yes, because there are way too many people in Mt Baker.”

C.J.: “Yes. When people huddle or fight, it wastes a lot of time to get around them.”

G.B.: “Yes. If people could be directed through the cafeteria during passing time, it could work as a shortcut and get people out of the hallways.”

Do you think school should start earlier or later and why?

S.B.: "i want school to be later, i think school should start later cause where just kids waking up at 6:00 am everyday and thats too early and I cry."

L.Q.: "If i would have to choose one hour later because my brain does not work in 1st period."

K.H.: “later because we are getting up when the street lights are on and that's a sign that school starts too early.

L.V.: “Later because I think in the first and second period you are not focusing that much.”

C.J.: “As someone who has zero period, it feels early, but I don’t think change is necessary.”

G.B.: “I think school starts at a good time. PLC Mondays are nice, but it’s better to only have those once a week.”

What are your thoughts on the length of our classes?

S.B.: "my thoughts are they should be shorter and there like 55 minutes each and thats along time so it should make lunch longer cause I don't have enough time to eat."

L.Q.: "I think they are a good amount of time, nothing longer."

K.H.: “I think they are fine.”

L.V.: “I think they are perfect.”

C.J.: “Classes have a good length, but the four-minute passing time feels too short.”

G.B.: “Besides Monday where classes are shorter, most students can handle the amount of time."

Are the school buses late, early, or neither?

S.B.: "the school buses are always late, at least for mine. One day on a 2-hour late start the bus never even came and we had to get a ride."

L.Q.: "My bus is late bringing me to school but sometimes it's on time."

K.H.: “Both.”

L.V.: “Our bus at the start of the year was late but later on in the year it came on time.”

C.J.: “School buses could come earlier as they tend to arrive later than they are supposed to.”

G.B.: “They could come earlier, but there's nothing we can do to change that.”