On Tuesday, August 21, Fossil Ridge High School hosted its bi-annual Add/Drop event, which is designed to allow students to make changes to their schedules before the semester begins. This year for the first time, Fossil’s traditional Wednesday late start schedule was moved to Tuesday, so that every student had a chance to attend their classes on Monday before they made any changes. As a result, students didn’t have to miss a full block period of any classes they chose to add.

The Add/Drop event was otherwise very similar to last year’s. At the check-in days the week before school started, students could pick up an Add/Drop form from the counselors. Forms were color-coded by grade level, and each had a unique number to the student. Students then arrived at the school at the designated time for their grade level, lined up by number, and were let into the gym to make any changes they needed to. Numbers reached into the two and even three hundreds for some classes, pointing to the high popularity of Add/Drop.

Students who had a mistake on their schedule, such as a class that they hadn’t met the prerequisites for or the lack of a graduation requirement, didn’t have to rely on Add/Drop to make the change. They were responsible for meeting with their counselor to address their schedule directly. However, all other changes, like changing an elective or switching class periods, were made on a first come, first serve basis. Seniors were allowed in the gym beginning at 7 a.m., juniors were allowed in at 7:20 a.m., and so on.

Fossil Science teacher Steve Walder attended the event to help his department, and he explained that he felt that Fossil’s administration hoped that, “the student walked away with the best schedule that meets their needs and their future plans.” He felt that, at least from what his department has seen, the changes made to Add/Drop over the last semesters have helped to streamline the process.

Students seemed to agree with Walder for the most part. Josh Lee, a senior, hoped to change five of his classes at Add/Drop, and he had gotten through four of them just half an hour after arriving. However, he ran into a snag that many students experienced – the most popular classes and class periods, particularly those in the middle of the day, filled up quickly. Then, students were left standing by the board that listed the availability of classes, hoping a spot would be vacated. Mark Hanna, another senior, expressed his frustration with the same situation, stating, “people would eat me for my seat in Putnam’s [class].”

Eva Miller, a freshman, came to Add/Drop hoping to make a single change – to add Ridge TV. She had heard rumors that Add/Drop could be “confusing, but it was still a good way to get into the classes you want.” She was slightly nervous that she might not get into the class she hoped, but otherwise, she appreciated the chance to manipulate her schedule.