Starting this year, Williston students have found themselves with an extra hour on blue Fridays.

Traditionally, the schedule on blue Fridays was no different than any other day in Williston’s seven-block class schedule. However, starting this year, classes start at 9:20 a.m. on blue Fridays.

This schedule change, made in an effort to support wellness on campus, allows students to sleep in, work out, or get some work done before their busy day. Faculty meetings are now during that time once a month, instead of Thursday nights.

Kurt Whipple, a longtime math teacher at Williston, is enjoying the schedule change.

“I like the meetings on Friday Mornings, it frees up some time on Thursday nights,” he said. “I’m also a morning person, so maybe I’m a little biased.”

According to a study conducted by the CDC, “Teenagers aged 13 to 18 years old who reported sleeping less than 8 hours were considered to not get enough sleep.” The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends teenagers aged 13-18 years old should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep per 24 hours.

Nevin Conroy, a junior from Portland, Maine, enjoys the extra sleep every other  Friday.

“As a boarder, I don’t feel like I get enough sleep,” Nevin said. “The 50 minute sleep in really helps.”

Aaron Hammer, a senior from South Hadley, Mass., agrees.

“Blue Fridays are like the worst day since you’ve had a whole week, but you’re not done so i enjoy sleeping in,” he said.

Aaron added, “I sleep in and try to go to bed at the same time. I usually feel less tired on blue Fridays compared to green even though we have to go to school on Saturday.”

Andie Kinstle, a senior from Easthampton, Mass.,, likes the slow start the sleep ins provide. Although she said she hasn’t “noticed any significant changes in how I feel on Blue Fridays v. Green Fridays,” she did say that “on Blue Fridays I don’t have to be at school as early, so I guess that does make things feel a little calmer and more relaxed in the mornings.”