Students React to the Enrichment Block

The Enrichment block at Seton Hall Prep is a new aspect of the school, and students are giving mixed reactions to it. On Fridays, students have an hour for this period. Two days prior to this hour-long Enrichment block, there is an announcement sent on the student portal that an online sign-up genius would be available. The students would then have to go to the website and then sign up for the activity they want to do or must do during the following Enrichment block.

Here’s where some of the controversies start. The school has made it a policy that if you fail to sign up for the Enrichment block before lunchtime on Thursday the student would receive one detention. This past week, there were about fifty people that received detentions for failure to sign up for an activity. It’s safe to say that remembering to sign up for an Enrichment block is not always on the top of people’s minds.

Attending Seton Hall Prep is not an easy thing, and the curriculum is rigorous and challenging. Free time is not always available, and the stress levels rise. Students are therefore stressed out and generally focus on the classes rather than signing up for an Enrichment block. When they do remember, it is unfortunately, most likely going to be too late and the website would then prevent them from signing up after lunchtime.

I asked students about this topic and some explained to me that they would try to sign up during the class before Thursday lunch, and the website would already be closed. A technological error? Student laziness? Some say getting detention is not a fair punishment for simply forgetting to sign up for one enrichment block. Some say that the stressful nature of having the possibility of detention cancels out the supposed “stress relief” that the enrichment activities would provide.

Another universal concern with the enrichment period is some grades being required to go to a grade-wide assembly that lasts the entire period. About a month ago, juniors would have to spend their enrichment blocks in an assembly block for three weeks in a row. This then becomes an issue because the student wouldn’t be allowed to sign up for something they would want to do and would also create stress if they were planning to study for a test next period.

Other than the signing up issue, generally, these activities have positive reactions to them. Some (but not all) of the different opportunities that the enrichment block provides are, trying Tai Chi, Kung Fu, calligraphy, building Legos, and making friendship bracelets. A lot of these activities are brand new things for students to try out. Each of these “classes” are moderated by a specific teacher, and if a student likes the teacher then they can choose to be with them during their enrichment period. Students love this because they can spend more time with teachers in an environment other than the classroom.

I asked Alejandro Echaniz ’21 about his favorite activity and he had to say this, “Rocking out with Dave Kahney ’90, because it is a very fun atmosphere where everyone is laid back and can just relax. It’s very chill and somehow relaxing while rock music plays.” These types of periods really do help students relax and get out of the stressful nature of going to high school.

I also asked Andre Vignier ’21 about his favorite activity and he responded with, “Beach Games because I was able to play volleyball the entire time. It’s much more fun to expend physical activity rather than being cooped up in a desk” Kids also just like the chance to exercise instead of sitting down, and the Enrichment block fills that need.

During this period the school also gives the choice of letting the student spend the time having a silent study period to work on anything they need to get done. I know many people find this as an excellent time to do some last-minute studying for a test that they would have that day. These silent study periods double as help classes if the student signs up for a class that is moderated by the teacher they need help from.

Overall, this new Enrichment period has been getting complicated reactions from across the school. There are those who find complications with the sign-up system and how it causes them even more stress. Some don’t like that some events are mandatory to sign-up for, and it makes them feel even more stressed.

However, the enrichment block to some is quite helpful like Justin Liu ’22 said, “Stress relief? Yes. It is really good this year, and compared to last year with 2 activity periods, having another one helps you enjoy your time at school even more than you have done before.”

Yes, the Enrichment block has been getting mixed reviews, but I believe that over time, people will come to love it for the opportunities it provides and the time it affords.