IsabellaHayes

“Crusaders don’t snooze on success!”

This phrase was first used over the announcements last quarter by Dean of Students and Assistant Principal Mr. Jeremy VanAckeren as part of a new initiative to combat tardies — an issue that accounts for the majority of discipline points alongside device infractions.

The initiative first came about during a conversation with the principal of Millard North, who has enacted a similar strategy to help prevent tardies. Marian’s version involves a quarterly drawing for prizes for two students who have not received a tardy — a gift card for a student who does not drive to school and a prime reserved parking spot for one who does — rewarding the valuable skill of being punctual. “You’re going to have to be on time in college, you’re going to have to be on time if you have a job… so it’s a lifelong skill that carries over,” VanAckeren said.

Arriving late to class also carries consequences beyond just receiving points. “If you’re late, you’re missing things in class that, most likely, are pretty important and you’ll have to catch up on… and when you walk in late, it’s kind of a disruption,” VanAckeren said.

Presently, it’s too soon to tell whether the number of tardies has significantly decreased.

However, many are hopeful that as a result of this new incentive, Crusaders will stop snoozing on success.