East’s 2023 midterms will take place from Friday Dec. 15, through Tuesday Dec. 19, giving students and teachers a weekend break in between the testing days. 

Kristin Rude, who teaches Spanish 2, 4 and AP Spanish Literature, is unaffected by the broken up testing schedule. 

“It doesn’t really affect my plans, because I just have certain things I do in the days prior to the exams no matter what [days] they are.” Rude said. 

Brian Schaeffer, an AP Gov and AVID teacher at East, echoed Rudes opinion on how the schedule affects teachers. 

“It really doesn’t bother me as much so I can go either way. It’s really what’s best for [the students]” Schaeffer said. 

Unlike many other teachers, Robyn Mellas, an anatomy and science teacher,  believes the broken up testing schedule is unfair and unnecessary. 

“I think [midterms] should be three consecutive days in a row,” said Mellas. “It just kind of gives students that are taking things next week an unfair advantage to those that have to take finals on friday.” 

Alternatively, Mr. Schaeffer feels that the break may help students with their midterms and grades. 

“I think it actually benefits the students because it gives two days to focus on that Monday final rather than on Monday where you have all the finals back to back so you’re cramming for all of them,” Schaeffer said. 

Casandra Fichter, an AP Calc teacher at East also thinks the schedule will benefit students taking midterms.

“In my opinion, I almost think that students get more time to study then because they get a full weekend as opposed to right in a row,” Fichter said. “It’s definitely more convenient for students, I think”.

Mellas, however, believes that losing the extra day before midterms is inconvenient for both students and teachers. 

“I just don’t think that it gives students or teachers enough time to prepare for midterms just from trying to get the old scores and everything in.” Mellas said.

This was the first year since before the pandemic that East will be following the Friday, Monday, Tuesday schedule for Midterms. While teachers don’t know exactly why it has changed from the 2022 school year, Mrs. Fichter and Mr. Schaeffer had some ideas. 

“It just depends on how the calendar falls. I think it all depends on where Christmas lies. And then they give us a couple of days before Christmas off as well.” Fichter said.

“I think it’s this way because it’s all based on the number of days that we have to be here,” Schaeffer said. 

Teachers have split opinions on the 2023 midterm schedule and how it will affect students, but no one will really know the impact the schedule has until tests are completed and grades are submitted.

Jordan Fikis, Mae Robinson, and Mia Rivera are staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.