This year, along with the many changes that came from the new schedule, there came something that was brand new to a lot of students: Pascack Period.

Alloted time in the school day where students get to go to classes such as LGBTQ+ Issues (run by junior Charlie Leppert), Audition Prep Workshop (run by choir director Ms. Argine Safari), and Sisterhood in Society (run by English teacher Ms. Diana McKenna) is something completely different than anything Pascack Valley has done before, but also something many students were able to appreciate.

Allie Leight, a junior here at PV, said that she “liked how you don’t have to waste a whole year’s course on something you want to do for fun.” It’s very true since this period allows for students to try out new things and gain new insights from different kinds of people.

This time also allowed students to relax and catch up on academics. Junior Taylor Bender said, “I like that I can go to extra help if I need it and I can just chill with my friends.”

Whether it be during Homeroom, Quiet Study, or simply taking the time one week to work on something, many student find the time very helpful, as it enabled them to do homework and catch up on projects.

Mr. John Puccio himself noticed how students began to have a “better liking of it, because we saw a rise of students creating their own classes to teach and a rise of students who wanted to sign up for classes.”

Pascack Period allowed students to learn to be independent, and also, in some cases, was an opportunity for them to see if they want to pursue a career in teaching. Lastly, it has the added benefit of letting students see through the eyes of their teachers when it comes to lesson preparation and classroom conduction.

All in all, Pascack Period was a success, and hopefully it will return next year.