Suncity School: WE ARE STUDENTS, NOT MACHINES — LET US BREATHE.
We are students, not robots. Please listen to us.

School is supposed to be a place where we learn, grow, discover our interests, and prepare for our future. But what happens when the school day leaves us so mentally exhausted that learning itself becomes difficult?

For much of the day, we move from one academic period to the next. One teacher leaves, another arrives, and we are expected to concentrate all over again, with barely any time to process what we have learned, stretch, or clear our heads.

Hours of continuous academic work can leave students feeling drained. Concentration drops, lessons become harder to follow, and the day begins to feel like an endless cycle of listening, memorising, writing, and repeating.

We want to learn. But we also need time to breathe.

We understand that education requires effort, discipline, and responsibility. We are not asking for fewer expectations simply because studying can be difficult. We are asking for a school environment that recognises that students have physical needs, limited attention, and a genuine need for balance.

What needs to change?
1. Short breaks between periods
Why must the next lesson begin almost immediately after the previous one ends?

Students need a few minutes between periods to mentally reset, stretch, drink water, and use the washroom when necessary. Moving straight from one demanding lesson to another leaves little room to process information or prepare for what comes next.

We request that the school introduce brief, structured transition breaks wherever the timetable allows. Even a few minutes could make the school day feel less exhausting and help students approach their next lesson with better concentration.

2. A longer lunch break — and the freedom to play
Our lunch break is approximately 25 minutes. Eating, finishing lunch, and preparing for the next classes can make that time feel rushed. We request an extension to around 35–40 minutes, subject to practical timetable arrangements.

Lunch should also be an opportunity to refresh ourselves, not simply another short interval between lessons.

We would like students to have safe, supervised access to suitable outdoor areas during lunch so that those who want to play football, run around, or spend time outside can do so. Students who spend much of the day sitting in classrooms should have reasonable opportunities to move and enjoy fresh air.

We are not asking for unrestricted access to the campus or for safety rules to be ignored. We are asking the school to explore a practical arrangement that allows students to use their break meaningfully.

3. More opportunities for physical education and sports
In our experience, PE takes place only about twice a week. Physical activity should be an important part of student life, alongside academic learning.

Sports give students opportunities to develop fitness, teamwork, coordination, discipline, and confidence. They also provide a healthy way to manage stress and return to classroom learning feeling refreshed.

We request a review of the PE timetable and more opportunities for students to participate in sports, fitness activities, and outdoor recreation. Academic success and physical well-being should support each other, not compete for importance.

4. Teaching that helps us understand, not just memorise
Too often, learning can feel like reading a chapter, memorising answers, writing a test, and then repeating the process for the next subject.

Reading directly from a textbook for much of a lesson does not work for every student. When lessons lack clear explanations, practical examples, discussion, or interaction, it becomes difficult to stay engaged and understand the material.

We would like teachers to have greater opportunities to use engaging teaching methods, explain difficult concepts in different ways, and encourage students to think independently.

We also want to be able to ask genuine questions, explore interesting ideas, and develop curiosity beyond simply memorising what may appear in an examination. Relevant questions should be encouraged, provided they remain respectful and appropriate to the classroom.

Education should help us understand the world, not just remember information long enough to pass a test.

We recognise that teachers have demanding jobs and that managing a classroom is not easy. Our request is for teaching and classroom environments that help both teachers and students make better use of lesson time.

5. Make long assemblies more comfortable
A school day can be tiring enough, but long assemblies and special events can add another challenge.

During Friday's special Sangeet guest assembly, students had to sit  for approximately hours. We were expected to remain quiet and seated, with little or no opportunity to stretch, change position, drink water, or use the washroom when needed.

My hips and legs began hurting badly, and I experienced significant discomfort. Other students experienced pain and discomfort as well.

An assembly should not require students to ignore physical pain simply to remain seated and silent.

We understand that special events require organization and that guests deserve respect. We are not asking students to disrupt assemblies or behave disrespectfully.

We request reasonable arrangements for lengthy assemblies, including appropriate seating where possible, brief movement or stretching breaks, access to drinking water, and permission to use the washroom when genuinely needed.

Students should be able to participate in school events without unnecessary physical discomfort. These arrangements are especially important when an event lasts for an extended period.

6. Respectful discipline and a safe learning environment
Discipline is necessary in school. Teachers must be able to manage classrooms, and students should respect their teachers and classmates.

However, discipline should not depend on fear or threats of physical punishment. Statements threatening to hit students can make classrooms feel intimidating rather than supportive.

We request that the school reinforce respectful classroom management and provide a safe, appropriate way for students to raise concerns about threatening language or unfair treatment.

Students should be held accountable for their behaviour, but they should also be treated with dignity. A respectful environment makes it easier for everyone to focus on learning and resolve problems constructively.

What we are asking the school to do
These concerns are about different parts of the same experience: how students spend their school day, how effectively we learn, and whether our physical and mental well-being is being considered.

We ask the principal and school management to:

Review the timetable and consider brief breaks between periods.
Consider extending lunch to 35–40 minutes and allowing supervised access to suitable outdoor sports areas.
Review PE provision and opportunities for physical activity.
Encourage engaging teaching methods that promote understanding, discussion, and curiosity.
Introduce reasonable comfort, movement, and basic-needs arrangements for lengthy assemblies.
Maintain respectful classroom discipline and provide a safe way to report concerns.
We also ask the school to collect student and parent feedback, meet with student representatives, and consider trialling practical changes. After reviewing the proposals, the school should communicate which improvements are feasible and what steps could be taken next.

We understand that timetables, staffing, supervision, and safety requirements place real limits on what can be changed. We are willing to work with the school to find realistic solutions.

But we ask the management to recognise that students are the people experiencing these routines every day. Our feedback deserves to be heard before decisions about our school experience are made.

Please listen to the students.
We spend a significant part of our lives at school. We want to leave each day having learned something, developed our abilities, and grown as individuals — not simply feeling that we have endured one period after another.

We want to learn with concentration, stay active, ask questions without unnecessary fear, and have reasonable opportunities to rest and recharge.

We are not asking for a school without discipline. We are asking for a school with balance.

We are not asking to stop learning. We are asking to make learning better.

Our voices matter, and the experience of students deserves serious consideration.

Let us work together to make Suncity School a place where academic progress, physical well-being, curiosity, and respect can thrive together.

Please listen to us. Give us room to learn, room to breathe, and room to grow.

Sign this petition if you genuinely believe students deserve a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging school day.