For the past few years, FHS has been using purple passes as a hall pass for any type of use. However, a new pass has been introduced to FHS that will be used specifically for academic enrichment (AE). The hot pink AE pass has brought some complications but also simplicity to its purpose.
Dr. David Ferguson, the new principal at FHS, along with the other administrators put the hot pink pass into place to “differentiate between AE and regular hall passes during the day,” Ferguson said. With people forging passes, faking their way to places they shouldn’t be and general safety within the thirty minutes given for academic enrichment, “the new changes with the passes here at FHS regarding safety, security and knowing where students are supposed to be, gave us administrators and other faculty and staff know the difference between an AE pass and a regular purple pass,” said Ferguson.
A common spot students at FHS tend to go to for AE is the library. Librarian Kathryn Davis enjoys the idea of the new pass due to the distinction between AE and other hall pass uses. “I think it helps distinguish where kids are going at times, so there’s no confusion… we know it’s an AE pass because it’s bright pink and we know where kids are going to and from during AE because they are carrying them at that time,” says Davis.
The students at FHS have different opinions on the passes. Freshman Abigail Nash says, “I definitely think they are easier for AE because it differentiates the purple and the pink. With the purple passes, you go to the bathroom, guidance or other locations, but with the pink passes, it indicates that you’re going … for AE at a specific time.” However, Senior Kenyon Hunt contradicts Nash’s statement. “I don’t know why they went in that direction, I think it was kind of random to change the color. It just makes it more complicated and it’s a waste of ink,” says Hunt. Nevertheless, other students agree with Nash. “It is smart because people can’t use their AE hallway passes for anything except AE,” says sophomore Jamilah Sarre.
Math teacher Emily Melton enjoys the idea of the hot pink pass for AE. “I love the new color passes for Academic Enrichment. Having a different color pass for Academic Enrichment helps me at the end of the day to see who has come for help versus who used the bathroom or went to the nurse,” says Melton. However, English teacher Austin Siebel contradicts Melton’s opinion. “I don’t understand why they have to be pink, that’s the big thing, I don’t mind filling them out, but I don’t understand why we can’t just use the purple passes,” Siebel states.
Whether or not the idea of new color passes for different locations will be put into place is undecided however, “we are going to keep everything else pretty standard as of right now. The nurse has her own passes, and everyone else has their passes, so right now this is for AE primarily,” says Ferguson.
