Art by Tula Winton
This year, Riverside has gone back to a three-lunch system used by other Durham Public Schools high schools, and students have big feelings about it.
During the 2022–2023 school year, students at Riverside enjoyed Smart Lunch, a single 55-minute lunch period (12:20–1:15) in which passes were not needed to move around campus. The entire campus was open, including gazebos, outdoor seating areas, the cafeteria, hallways, teachers’ classrooms, the practice field and the area outside the cafeteria. With only one lunch period, students experienced greater freedom and flexibility.
In 2023–2024, Pirate Block was introduced. The new schedule divided lunch into two periods: A Lunch (12:00–12:45) and B Lunch (12:50–1:25). Lunch assignments rotated depending on the day and floor location of a student’s classes. On Wednesdays, students attended homeroom based on their last names.
Now, for the 2025–2026 school year, the administration decided to introduce a different way to operate lunch. Students are assigned A, B or C lunch based on the classroom they’re in. This separates students into three lunch periods. This year’s switch to three lunch periods has been one of the biggest schedule changes Riverside has seen in years. For many students, the adjustment feels sudden compared to the flexibility of Smart Lunch or even Pirate Block. Administrators, however, argue that the move was necessary to improve safety, reduce overcrowding, and make it easier to manage student movement during the day.
“It’s much more effective and convenient for the teachers,” said psychology teacher Gabrielle Minnick, who has taught at Riverside for more than 15 years and is active in student support initiatives. “A good portion of the decision was to make sure our students are safe.”
Administrators also pointed to logistical benefits of the new plan. With fewer students moving all at once, hallways and outdoor areas stay calmer and easier to monitor. Teachers report that it’s now simpler to arrange make-up work and that the new schedule gives them more time to plan.
Minnick said that the multiple lunch periods make it easier to know where students are and give them the opportunity to make up work and go to clubs, but also acknowledged that the transition has been difficult, especially for club participation.
“High schoolers should have their freedom,” said Minnick. “It’s important to figure out what’s best for you, but some take advantage of this free time to do things that they’re not supposed to do.”
“But some students took advantage of the free time, so a certain level of structure benefits the school,” stated Minnick. Staff also pointed out that while freedom can be positive, too much of it sometimes led to problems. During Smart Lunch, for example, some students skipped class after lunch or wandered into areas they weren’t supposed to be in. Teachers say that the new schedule helps cut down on those issues by keeping students more accountable for where they are.
Other staff members say the tighter schedule is improving academic habits. By shortening social time and increasing opportunities for help, they hope students will be more likely to stay on top of assignments and recover missed credits. However, they also acknowledge that it may take several months for everyone to adjust to the change and for clubs to find new ways to meet.
She also remarked that staff members now have more time for planning and preparation.
Student reactions have been mixed. Timothy Arthur, a Junior who participates in multiple extracurricular activities, described the change as “terrible” and said, “I prefer Pirate Block for the larger block of time it provided for work, socializing, and off-campus activities.”
Arthur also said that his club participation dropped from three clubs to one due to the loss of lunch time meetings.
Some students, however, said they understand why the change was made even if they don’t like it. Sophomore Maria Lopez explained that having fewer people in the cafeteria makes it easier to find a seat and reduces the noise level. “I don’t love that we have less time, but at least it’s calmer and I can actually eat without rushing to get in line,” she said.
Other students agreed with Arthur’s concerns, saying that the new schedule has limited their ability to participate in extracurriculars or meet with teachers during lunch. Club sponsors have had to shift meetings to before or after school, which some students can’t attend because of transportation or work schedules.
Allison Swaim, an English teacher at Riverside and a club sponsor, remembered Smart Lunch as a strong support system for students. She explained that this year feels more like a reset and noted that she has observed fewer students roaming the halls and fewer discipline problems under the new lunch structure.
Looking ahead, both students and staff are still figuring out how to make the new system work best. Club sponsors are testing out different schedules, and administrators are gathering feedback from teachers to see if adjustments are needed. For now, Riverside is treating this year as an experiment, one that could shape how lunch is organized for future students.
“[ABC lunch] offers benefits such as built-in academic support, safer supervision, and less crowded hallways,” Swaim said. “However, it has also limited club participation, reduced social opportunities, and created a more rushed feeling during lunch.”
