Day in the Life - Preston Grade 9
Before School
On Tuesdays, I arrive at school at 7:35 am to meet with my Mu Alpha Theta club. This is Saint Andrew’s competing math team. This year, we placed sixth in the Florida Math League. We spend meetings before school preparing for upcoming competitions.
A DAY
A Block - AP Computer Science Principles
My computer science class is interesting because it covers such a wide range of topics. So far this year, we’ve learned about everything from internet safety to basic coding to internet privacy. I like the class because I think having a more in-depth knowledge of computing, copyright law, and code will be useful regardless of what field I decide to work in in the future.
C Block - Resource Period
I do not have a class during C period, so I am free to spend this time however I’d like. I usually spend this time working through homework with my friends in the library. 75 minutes sounds like a lot of time, but it goes by very quickly when I am trying to finish as much of my homework as possible.
Lunch
Lunch lasts only 40 minutes, which is unfortunate because the food is delicious. Mariani Great Hall offers a wide variety of options that change every day. It's hard to decide, but I would have to say that Taco Tuesday is my favorite. While the entree is different every day, there is always pizza, a salad, and a yogurt bar. After I get food, I spend the rest of the period sitting at a table, eating and talking with my friends.
E Block - Spanish I
I like my Spanish class for several different reasons. My teacher, Señora Young, not only covers the basics of the Spanish language but also immerses us in Hispanic culture. We’ve done this by celebrating El Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) and Cinco de Mayo in class. We also go beyond just reading a textbook. We practice speaking and listening in Spanish, which helps us actually interact with people in Spanish-speaking countries.
G Block - English 9 Honors
My favorite part of my English class is that my teacher lets us openly discuss the text we are reading with our classmates, rather than just handing us a quiz. The topics and themes we discuss often have a direct correlation with what we see in real life and in society around us, so the conversations are always engaging.
B DAY
B Block - Honors Physics
My first class of the day, Physics, starts at 8:15 am. Physics is one of my most interesting classes. This year, we’ve learned about everything from kinematics to balanced and unbalanced forces to circuits. The material can be really hard at times, but my teacher, Mr. Meyerink, does a fantastic job catching my classmates and me in extra help, so I feel confident on test days. I love this class because it is interesting to see how what we learn shows up in real life.
Advisory/Chapel
I meet with my advisory three times a week. On Mondays, I go to advisory and check in with my advisor, Mr. Berger. On Tuesdays, we meet in the chapel. I serve on the Saint Andrew’s chapel team. I show up to the chapel a few minutes early, so I have time to put on proper attire. I carry either a candle or the school banner in procession at the beginning and end of the chapel. On Fridays, we meet in Roberts Theatre for assembly. Assembly usually consists of school-wide announcements, guest speakers, or a theatrical performance.
D Block - AP Precalculus AB
This is by far my most challenging class. This year, we covered more topics than I can count, from concavity to trigonometry. The material is very difficult, but my teacher, Dr. Winer, does a great job explaining it. Despite the difficulty of the material, I still feel confident when I sit down to take a test.
F Block - Honors World History
I like my world history class because it covers human history from the Neolithic Revolution to World War II. Having so many topics to cover means we cannot spend too much time on any one thing, but I still feel like I have a good understanding of the events we learn about.
H Block - AP Human Geography
Human geography is the study of people’s culture, economies, agriculture, boundaries, and migration. At Saint Andrew’s, Human Geography is a single-semester class, so it moves quickly. I think other Saint Andrew’s students and I have an advantage on the AP exam because all of the material is fresh in our minds.
After School
Once the final bell rings at 3:05 pm, I go pick up my baseball bag from the athletic building and hurry to the field. I have to go quickly because practice starts at 3:25 pm, and the field is conveniently located on the other side of campus. Practice lasts about 2 hours, so I get home around 6:00 pm. Once I get home, I try to get my homework done as quickly as possible, then study for any tests I have coming up.