Author: Michael Demuro

What’s the Best Time to Have Your Free Bell?

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By Teddy Kraus ’25

Everyone loves their free bell. Whether you’re feeling productive and looking to get some homework finished, you’re eager to catch up on conversation with a friend, or you’re tired and just want some time to relax, free bells are objectively awesome. 

The big question is, when’s the best time to have one? With the current schedule, there are five possibilities: the first bell in the morning, the long bell, the bell before lunch, the bell right after lunch, or the last bell of the academic day. After polling over 30 students using a ranked-choice voting system (1st place vote gets 3 points, 2nd place gets 2 points, and 3rd place gets 1 point) here are the results:

First BellLong BellBefore LunchAfter LunchLast Bell
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As you can see, the most popular responses were the long bell, the first bell, and before lunch. Here are the cases for why each spot is the best:

Picture this: you had a busy night and couldn’t get all your homework done for the next day. Lucky for you, you have a long bell free bell. An hour and a half of freedom to get your work done for the day. “When I see a long bell free bell on my schedule,” says Finn Ruderman, ‘25, “I can’t explain the feeling of elation that courses through my body. I can finish a whole movie, I can write a whole essay, or even hit the court with my boys. The possibilities are endless within an hour and a half.” Students love having the extra time to do whatever they want.

When you’re dismissed from class at noon, and all you want is lunch, it’s a dejecting feeling to see such a long line in Fleck Hall. With the free bell before lunch, you don’t have to worry about that line at all. Since lunch opens at 11:10, and everyone else has class, you essentially have the whole lunch room to yourself. “It’s like a long bell, but with food,” says Lucy Ruiz ‘25. Students can eat lunch before the crowd hits and then have until the next class at 1:10 to get some work done. 

What’s better than more sleep? With the first bell free, you can sleep in for an extra 50 minutes and feel energized. John Redington ‘26 strongly agrees: “It sets me up for a productive day. With the extra sleep, I feel like I can conquer the world. It’s like a slingshot.” You also miss the morning rush and don’t have to worry about traffic, avoiding the stressful situations that can come on other days without the first bell free. 

Every time has its perks, but it’s up to you to make the most of them. So, what’s the best time to have your free bell? That’s up to you to decide. 


So Nice, He did it Twice

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By Teddy Kraus ’25

You know you’re doing something right when you’re in the same group as Arnold Palmer. That’s the case for Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Werner ‘25, who has just won back-to-back PIAA golf state championships. 

Coming off last season’s state title as a junior, Werner didn’t focus on the expectations surrounding him that he would win back-to-back titles. He says, “Although I did win last year, I didn’t go into this year with the expectations of winning again. I always attempt to attack the course shot by shot. Obviously, I want to win, but I keep myself from looking too far ahead.” This mentality allowed Werner to keep his head down and play his game while blocking the noise and pressure around him. 

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Werner. He entered day 2 of the tournament tied for second place. “I started off poorly with three bogeys in my first four holes,” recalls Werner, “but I’m proud of the way I turned it around.” He went from being three over par to finishing the tournament six under.

For an athlete, there’s no better feeling than securing a championship, and this was the case for Werner. “It was pure relief” he states “I’m blessed for the opportunity I’ve been given, and the support I’ve received. I’m honored to be able to represent my school, friends, and family proudly.”

The relief coming off back-to-back titles is more than warranted, given that Werner is one of only seven golfers to win back-to-back PIAA golf state championships, along with the legendary Arnold Palmer. Talking about the group he’s cemented himself in, Werner says” I’m honored to have earned a spot into that exclusive group, and it feels like the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s satisfying when you put in hours and hours each day and it ends up paying off. I’m blessed for the opportunity I’ve been given, and I’m beyond grateful.” It’s safe to say those hours of hard work paid off. Werner’s already legendary career will continue at Penn State, where he’s committed to playing golf next fall.