Artwork by Natalie Baram

YES

Helena Gomes ‘27

REPORTER

      In today’s fast-paced academic environment, maintaining a balance between academic success and mental well-being has become a challenge for students. In acknowledgment of this issue, Renew, Recharge, & Refresh Day, or RRR Day, was introduced to the high school to focus on students' well-being.

         RRR Day, the day after midterms, is when students are given a break from academic pressure and are offered multiple wellness-focused and fun activities. Having a day when students can take their minds off academics and hang out with their friends gives them a chance to refresh so that they are able to continue to succeed in their academic journey. Throughout high school, the amount of stress and anxiety among students continues to rise due to exams, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities. Breaks can improve concentration and productivity, proving how RRR Day helps students in their academic performances, especially after midterms, which can be extremely stressful. Additionally, the opportunity can also allow students to make new friends and build stronger bonds with teachers and peers through collaborative activities.

          While some may argue that this day is a waste of time and that they would rather just stay at home, RRR Day gives students a chance to have a different experience and try out new things with their friends, which can boost mental health and school performance far more than having a day off can. Many people had a great time with their activities during last year’s RRR Day, including playing Minecraft with their friends or decorating cookies. Some students have stated that they are “ looking forward to just hanging out and not having to stress about any exams,” along with wishing “we could have RRR Days every week.”

    Taking breaks is essential, and that is why RRR Day is such an important component of promoting students’ well-being. Learning how to manage stress and maintain a balance between academics and mental health is vital to an enjoyable life.

NO

Jocelyn Glembocki ‘27

REPORTER

Refresh, Recharge, Renew day, also known as RRR day, will have its third anniversary this year. With this big day coming up, many students and staff have found themselves calling into question, “Is RRR day really worth it?”

With the three Rs representing the 3 levels of self care, this special day was created in an effort to relieve students' stress and encourage them to take a day to relax and take care of themselves following midterms. Despite these good motives, the actual day leaves much to be desired.

The terrific effort illustrated by teachers to organize this day often goes unappreciated by students. The activities for students require a lot of planning and substantial effort from teachers. After a long week of midterms, most of the students would just prefer to have a day off, get some sleep, and recharge at home. Additionally, the way activities are selected is unfair to underclassmen. Upperclassmen receive the opportunity to pick activities sooner, leaving the underclassmen with limited options.

Although some students really enjoy the day, the majority seem unhappy with it. After discussing the aspects of RRR day with some classmates, most students say they “want to skip school” or that “it is a pointless and boring day.” Most simply wish to have no school at all. In fact, some even consider sacrificing a day of Summer for this purpose. Science teacher Mr. Mark Lacianca has stated that he “hopes students get use out of RRR day,” especially with his efforts in his activities. Perhaps, the purpose of this day should be revisited. Hearing opinions from both students and teachers should determine if teachers should continue working on RRR day, especially if the students are not finding it as beneficial as the teachers hope.

Despite the school’s thoughts and good intentions, most students have a negative view of RRR day. Ultimately this suggests that the original goals of the day are not very effective for most students.