The Beekman School allowed optional finals for the spring semester of 2020. This was deeply important because COVID-19 changed all of our lives in a way that affects us emotionally and physically. These changes still affect us today with the addition of a truly abnormal political climate that changes from day to day which gives us an unhealthy amount of stress and anxiety.

The seniors have worked hard for the past 3 years expecting a normal senior year. In a year with so many uncertainties, the added stress of possibly not being on campus in the fall, a probable virtual graduation, and the anxiety of waiting to hear from the school of our choice, midterms seem impossible for all of the senior class. We are facing the possibility of not getting to experience a normal senior year. The added stress of sitting through a 2 hour test that is worth a huge portion of our grade contributes to the deterioration of our mental health. 

This week introduced even more unprecedented situations which are incredibly distracting and distressing. We have political chaos in addition to the pandemic that is breaking records every single day throughout the United States. We are expected to study and take midterms in the midst of a possible impeachment or invocation of the 25th amendment and January 20th during the inauguration while a possible attempt of a second coup may take place. All of these circumstances led us to reach out to one another in the senior class and relate to one another’s difficulties and anxieties.

From speaking with different staff members of The Beekman School, the only way for the seniors to be able to have the options below is to use our voices and express how much there is a need for optional midterms. The plan that we would like to enforce for fall 2021 midterms for seniors are as follows:

A(90-100)- exempt from midterm

B(80-89)- optional

C and below(79 and below)-  mandatory midterm

Original request by

Julia

Jazmin

Sydney

Dinah

Grace

Faleh

Nathan

Sam

Azzam

Fawaz

Bryan

Lancy