In years past, there has been a reckoning that comes with the end of the semester. As the days wind down until Christmast break, the academic stress on students usually does anything but that. However, the school has extended a lifeline to students, at least for this current exam season.

Students will now be allowed to exempt semester exams this winter as long as they are passing the class; no form or any other requirements were stipulated. The obvious exception is dual credit classes, which require exams no matter the circumstances. This system is essentially how spring exams are run, but the administration has never gone by the same standards for first semester testing until now. 

Many students that are bogged down by the stress they’ve already gone through this semester are grateful for this temporary leniency.

“I’m exempt from all of my exams because I’m not in any DC classes, so that’s a relief,” senior Zane Johnston said. “I’m really glad that I don’t have to try to study for them, and it’ll be nice to not have work for both days.”

Students are appreciating the decision, of course. But what was the motivation of the school administration to cancel exams they have previously instituted without fail?

“I think just with everything that students and teachers and staff have been going through we, we want to try to, you know, give everyone a little Christmas break,” Bettie Stark, Associate Principal for College and Career Readiness, said. 

Even as a one-time measure, the pressure is now, in part, off of students’ shoulders. Students who might’ve been relying on the heavy weight of these tests to raise their averages still have the opportunity to take these tests. 

“’I’m so happy I don’t have to take my test,” senior Jacob Kaminsky said. “Some people might need to take it to raise their average, but I’m grateful I’m doing good and won’t have to.”