Ray-Pec High School has introduced their new Panther Hour. The hour has been combined with lunch time so students can now choose when they eat lunch, sitting wherever they please.

Elleah Watson had this to say, “I honestly thought it was pretty nice. It was like a study hall where I could eat lunch whenever.”

The innovative new structure of Panther Hour makes it convenient for all, and gives the students more freedom from when they get to eat to where they get to eat. In addition to students moving outside the lunch room to eat, they now get 48 minutes to decide how to spend their time. Giving the students the freedom they want, allowing them to get homework help, and get make-up missing assignments, while not taking up valuable class time. The school trusting it’s students is something to be proud of, though some have complaints.

“It’s definitely a little overwhelming with that many people, but most people go do other things,” Watson said.

Some find it overwhelming to have 1,392 students moving around the building at once. Some have found it difficult to find a place to sit. Many areas, like the library, are blocked off from food and drinks. However Panther Hour also promotes students to connect socially.

Jaxson Fuqua said, “It was good because I got to walk around with my friends.”

Connecting with friends before was hard because of the three lunch blocks. Students didn’t always get to have long periods of social time to connect with peers. Ray-Pec is showing that they care about the relationship between students.

Though Panther Hour has its downsides like the noise level and crowded areas, it has its upsides like the freedom of lunch times and places to eat. Students are ecstatic about the newfound freedom that they now have.