When the lunch bell rings, many seniors stream toward the exits with backpacks on and keys in hand. Some head to nearby fast-food spots, others drive home, and a few grab a quick coffee before returning to class. This is the privilege of being a senior who is no longer limited to remaining in the commons during lunch.
Many seniors take advantage of this opportunity. Vansh Chimaladinne (‘26) said he usually goes to “nearby fast-food places or a local café because they’re quick and affordable.” He added that he leaves campus about three or four times a week, saying that off-campus lunch feels like “a nice break from school.”
Other seniors prefer simpler options, such as going home. “I don’t eat out every day, but once in a while is fine,” Soorya Krishnan (‘26) said. Regardless of where they go, seniors say the ability to leave campus makes lunch feel different during their final year.
South’s security team plays a key role in making senior lunch possible while keeping students safe. Security officer Mr. Kelvin Marzan, who is in his fourth year working at South, monitors students as they leave and return to the building during lunch periods. Mr. Marzan checks students out as they leave and checks them back in when they return. Mr. Marzan said safety always comes first. “If there’s an accident or something going on, we don’t want you getting hurt trying to make it back,” he said.
Mr. Marzan believes senior privilege is a positive part of the high school experience. “I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “They’ve been here for four years, and they earn it as long as they don’t abuse it.” While some students may temporarily lose the privilege if they misuse it, Mr. Marzan said most seniors handle the responsibility well. He also noted that seniors are not supposed to bring food back into the building, explaining that meals in classrooms can be disruptive, especially when food smells distract others.
Security officer Ms. Cecilia Cartmill shared a similar perspective. “It’s good that seniors are able to leave campus for lunch,” Cartmill said. “Seniors worked hard all through their high school years, and I think that they have earned the privilege to go out for lunch.”
Ms. Cartmill agrees about the importance of school safety and accountability. “For the most part, I believe students understand the importance of school safety,” she said. However, she explained that when students leave assigned areas without permission, it can make it harder to locate them during emergencies.
According to Ms. Cartmill, most students follow the rules. She added that while “everyone pretty much behaves. Some just need a couple of reminders to get to class on time or not to roam around the halls.”
For seniors, leaving campus for lunch is about the small but meaningful freedom that reflects the trust placed on them during their final year at South.
