Hillsboro is the only Metro school currently running an open lunch program. Instead of sorting students into diff erent short lunch periods throughout the school day, all students break for lunch at the same time and are relatively free to move about the buildings and courtyards. During lunch a student might choose to join a club, compete in a video game tournament, practice yoga, work on homework, make-up work, rehearse for a performance or even fi nd a comfortable spot with friends to simply sit and eat lunch. Teachers are able to support a wide variety of activities since everyone has freedom-of-choice from 11:25-12:15 each day.

Though it seems like the sheer number of teenagers roaming the halls would get chaotic, the opportunities to fi nd something interesting to do, plus the principals, resource officers, counselors and teachers are working together keep the energy level calm. It is important that none of us forget the value of this unique benefi t, and we encourage students to behave respectfully so we can continue to enjoy this perk. Students should remember to control their volume, clean up their trash (and any other trash they come across,) and follow the guidelines of the Open Lunch program. Remember our program is the envy of Metro High School students across the city!