According to the Student Handbook, seminar is a required part of each student’s schedule.

The main purpose of seminar is to provide students with the opportunity and responsibility to seek help from teachers. However, students are not allowed to go to their lockers, go out to the parking lot or use the vending machines.

The vending machines are on at most times of the day, except for seminar. Sophomore Alyssa Owens said she believes the snack machines should be operable during seminar period.

“It would help students from feeling hungry during their third period before they go to lunch,” Owens said. “A lot of times the passing period isn’t enough time for students to get food from the machines because there is a long line.”

Seminar hall monitor, Myrna LeCount, said students should use seminar passing to see teachers for help.

“We just follow the rules in the handbook,” LeCount said. “It says that there is no food or drink allowed in the halls during passing period and so the vending machines are not supposed to be used.”

Sophomore Gracie Tomlinson said she thinks the vending machines are turned on enough as it is.

“They’re on all the time,” Tomlinson said. “The only time we can’t use them is during seminar. I think that people can go a few minutes without a snack.”

Owens added the school could make extra money if the vending machines were left open during seminar.

“I use the vending machines whenever I get hungry,” Owens said. “I don’t think it would be a problem if the vending machines were available all day because students get hungry at different times in the day.”

Junior Kodi Custine said using the vending machines during seminar doesn’t have an affect on them.

“I get why some people would want to use it during passing period,” Custine said. “The lines to the vending machines are usually pretty long, but they are on most of the day.”

Custine added they believe students could become irresponsible around the machines.

“Some people might use it for a social reason,” Custine said. “Seminar is for homework. We’re lucky we even have the vending machines.”

Consequences for not following the handbook can result in a student losing their seminar pass for the semester. Any teacher or supervisor may issue a “no-pass” to a  student.

For more information about seminar rules, visit the Student Handbook.