Two years ago, the Priory senior lounge was moved from the corner room across from the library to the landing on the way to the 300s. The old room was quickly transformed for a new purpose. Furniture was replaced and coffee machines were installed. The senior lounge was now a new teachers’ lounge, leaving seniors without explanation as to why this had occurred. This new school year, I have set out to finally solve the senior lounge mystery. I first interviewed a number of teachers to hear what knowledge they have. Through my research, I have discovered that the primary reasons for this change were as follows. During the renovations of the school two years ago, specifically the 400s and ASC, teachers needed extra space to work. Reclaiming the senior lounge as a staff space was the solution to this problem. Also, seniors had become a great distraction for teachers, as the lounge is right next to many teachers’ offices. There was also a constant problem of trash being left on the floor, as well as slight damage to the room. I also interviewed current seniors to get their perspective on the matter. Most seniors are content with the new lounge, but would still prefer to be in the old room. As it on a landing, it is also way too easy for younger students to enter the lounge. This has already led to multiple incidents, which I’m sure many of you have heard…
My Analysis:
Perhaps one of the most recognized aspects of being a high school senior, at any school, is senior traditions and privileges. At Priory, having a private senior lounge has been a staple of senior traditions, dating back to the earliest years of the school. However, quite recently, the senior lounge has been relocated from the classic corner room by the library, to the open landing going up the stairs. Of course this area is still off-limits to non seniors, but now it is way more likely for this rule to be broken. Before I continue, I would like to make sure it is known how hard the Priory Mother’s Club is working to make this senior lounge special for us. They constantly buy us snacks, new furniture and banners, and put our pictures up on the bulletin boards. This effort has been an amazing gesture and shows how truly devoted our own parents are to giving us a great Priory senior experience.
Now, back to my analysis. It seems the main reasons for the senior lounge being relocated was to give teachers extra room during and immediately after school renovations, and because the seniors were becoming very loud and distracting while in this room, as it is right next to teachers’ offices. However, senior students are wondering whether having a senior lounge in the open is more or less distracting than in a closed room. Seniors are also wondering if, now that renovations are complete, this space could be given back to the seniors or if an equivalent room elsewhere on campus can be found. It is a very complicated issue, but for now, the current senior lounge area is a good solution.
