Many students at Aliso Niguel have recognized the dysfunction in the school’s bell system and they have voiced their opinions on the issues.
Some students, as well as some teachers, agree that the school bells can be too loud throughout the day. Depending on where students are on campus, the bells can sound louder and more unpleasant to listen to so many times a day.
With the bells ringing fifteen times a day on average, students complain about the sound that the bell makes. Students provided their own description of how the bell sounds.
Sarah O’Brien (10) says that, “I just moved here from Singapore not too long ago, so this is my first year at Aliso Niguel. The first time I heard the bell I thought it sounded like a tornado warning.”
Additionally, Hannah Mottaghi (10) states that , “The bells at Aliso Niguel are really loud and annoying to listen to. I don’t really feel or want to hear a siren kind of sound when I am in class everyday.”
Luna Kitsu (10) says, “The school bells sound like a scary alert instead of a normal bell. It sounds like a never ending alarm clock that pierces my ears.”
Students hope that the school will be able to change the volume and the sound that the bell makes to a more pleasant sound.
Unknown to some of the students, Aliso’s school bells are not manually operated by the school staff members. The school bells are set to go off based on Aliso Niguel’s class time schedule. The schedule is input into a special online system that is programmed to ring the school bell at each designated time period.
Last year, Aliso Niguel had a special bell schedule committee. The committee was responsible for developing bell schedules that would be the most efficient for students as well as teachers.
The committee was run by Aliso Niguel’s staff and faculty members who all collectively gave their input on the school schedule. It is unclear whether or not there were any student members that were involved within the committee.
By reinstating the committee and allowing more students to become members, students can voice their opinions more clearly and offer their input in regards to the school bells. This is something that would be a great opportunity for the school to improve the problems students have regarding the bells.
Last year was the first year that Aliso implemented the two minute bell to let students know that they have two minutes to get to their class before it starts. The idea was a suggestion that was given to the school and it has proven to be a very beneficial system to help reduce the amount of tardies students receive.
Vice Principal, Mrs. Hosseini expresses her hopes that students will feel welcomed to share their thoughts and opinions.
She states that “We all have a say in how things happen, students have a say too, now that we know that [the bells are] a concern I am happy to look into it.”
Mrs. Hosseini explained that if students are willing to start sharing their ideas, the staff members can reflect on student feedback and use it to make Aliso an enjoyable and comfortable learning environment for all students as well as teachers.
