Despite the name, purple days are making some people feel blue.

Purple days are usually on Mondays when students have all 7 classes in 45-minute time frames. This new schedule has been a change and not everyone has taken a liking to it. 

Senior Hayden Degitz said he wasn’t fond of purple days after the first day.

“It was exhausting. I love red and blue days. I never have been exhausted on red and blue days,” he said.

However, science teacher Sharon Kang has a more optimistic view on purple days going forth.

“I think it’s something to get used to. I really liked the first day of the semester seeing all of my classes were really good. I am still trying to find how to use them in the best possible way,” she said.

Freshman Gregorie Cruz said he thought purple days were a great way to start off the year.

“It gave me a chance to get familiar with all my classes and the building in general,” he said.

According to assistant principal Eric Wilhelm, the idea and eventual finalization of purple days came from a group assembled by the district.

“A calendar committee of teachers and administrators met for this year. There was representation from five schools: the traditional high schools and Fern Ridge,” Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm says before the decision was made a variety of ideas were pitched.

“They (the calendar committee) finally made this decision last spring. They played with quite a few schedules, a lot of schedules were discussed. They voted and decided that this (purple day schedule) was the best schedule for Parkway. Parents and kids surveyed were surveyed and agreed,” he said.

Wilhelm continued voicing the ideas that the committee thought were beneficial for both students and teachers.

“The communicated benefit the committee came up with is it gives teachers and students more time to meet frequently through the week. Teachers and students felt seeing each other more often would benefit them academically and more time to get work done,” he said.

Cruz’s feelings aren’t completely reflective of what the committee hoped for.

“It’s a little bit harder to pay attention because the teachers are trying to get everything in a shorter amount of time. It feels like a bit much at times, but is still a good way to catch up after the weekend,” Cruz said.

Degitz said he thinks the seven classes in one day seems excessive and makes the day harder.

“There’s more homework to do. It’s hard to do your homework the night before. It’s exhausting. You feel like you’re going to the last class, but there’s always another,” Degitz said.

Kang is a bit more hopeful on the future of purple days.

“I don’t think we’ve had them long enough to tell. I like the consistency of seeing my students at least three times a week,” Kang said. 

Wilhelm discusses the future of purple days.

“The purple day schedule is here to stay. The school district decided all four schools would have the same schedule. The first time in eleven years all the schools have the same schedule. I can’t imagine after all the work that has been put in they’ll go back and change it. That’s just my opinion,” Wilhelm said.