Newburyport High Before 8:15

The Report journalists Martina Gutiérrez, Lily DeJordy and Laurel Soward investigated what Newburyport Students are up to before the 8:15am bell to start the school day. They uncovered a mix of volunteering, early practices, and a moment of serenity.

Run Club - Lily DeJordy

At the Bresnahan elementary school in Newburyport, kindergarteners through third grade are at school prior to 8:15 running around frantically in circles for one of the gym teachers at the Bres, Mr. Valli’s run club. This run club meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings for Bresnahan students that are interested in running. 

The students meet at 7:20 in the gym and the kids have the opportunity to play soccer and socialize with each other before the club starts. Meanwhile, Mr. Valli is greeting kids with a smile at the doors as they come in. Once the club actually starts at 7:25 the kids do their drills to warm up, just as the high school cross country team does, and then finally get to run laps outside with all of their friends and volunteers. 

The laps are one sixteenth of a mile, and are counted by a scanning device which scans each kid’s name on a paper with a barcode for every lap that they run. These scanned laps add up over time and the kids are able to track their progress throughout the club. 

Not only are the little kids there, but so are many girls from the Newburyport Clippers Cross Country Team to volunteer. The girls get there at 7:15 and stay until 7:45 to help Mr. Valli with all of the kids and to start their morning off on the right foot. The kids really look up to the volunteers and it is a great community service earning opportunity for the cross country team members.  

And although it is definitely difficult sometimes to wake up and be at the Bres an entire hour before highschool students actually need to be at NHS…Audrey Powers, a regular volunteer, says that  “It’s really nice to see all of the kids in the morning and they are always so excited to see us. Also it is nice to be outside in the morning and get fresh air and exercise. Plus, Coach Valli is really nice so it’s great to see him in the morning working with the younger kids.”

When asked why Mr. Valli wanted to start this run club, he explained that he “really wanted to get kids moving in the morning, that was my initial thing, but then it built into something much bigger than that. I was able to kind of connect it from the elementary school, to the middle school all the way up to our high school cross country team.” This small club transformed into something across all three schools that encourages kids to get moving. 

Mr. Valli also noted that “We got a lot more kids than we originally expected, and I think the big piece is that they see the highschool teams and they see these girls coming every morning and it really motivates them to come and enjoy running.” This great turnout in the kids allowed the club to become something even bigger and better than what it was originally going to be which is part of what has made this club such an incredible success.

There is a competitive aspect to this run club as well, the kids are encouraged to run as many laps as they can and the laps are added up and turned into miles. From there, the kids get certificates for each milestone they reach. For example, once a student hits 5 collective miles they will receive a certificate. The certificates are presented to the kids in the mornings and every kid is supportive of one another's achievements. When asked why Mr. Valli added that aspect he replied “The kids who are naturally competitive are gonna love it, and the kids who aren’t really competitive can feel proud of themselves for just kind of continuing to improve and it's also a way to track their progress. I think its been super helpful for the program” 

It is important that this club has a positive impact on the students, so when asked if Mr. Valli has noticed any benefits in the kids from coming to this club he stated that “We get feedback from teachers, and it’s been awesome for everyone because it allows them to exercise before school and it allows them to be social before school. That way, when they get to class they are ready to learn and can concentrate better.” 

This club has made a difference in the teachers, kids and volunteers in many different ways. It is a great opportunity for these kids to be able to have that time in the morning to wake themselves up and get their energy out before settling down for their school day. The teachers have an easier time teaching because the behavior and attention span in the kids has improved, and volunteers leave the Bres to go to the highschool in a better mood than usual when they attend the club.

Library - Laurel Soward

It hits 8:15, and students rush out of the library doors, in a hurry to get to their first period classes. The library at NHS is one of the many morning hang out spots for students before the school day starts. Kids from grades 9-12 take up every corner of the library, but the atmosphere stays calm and productive. Some kids sit in comfy chairs to finish their homework, while others gather by tables to swap drinks from Starbucks and Aroma Joes. Most kids arrive at the school around 8, but some early birds enter the library and find their usual spot around 7:30. The library may be full of students, but the noise level always stays at a cheerful hum. 

No matter the circumstances, the school library is most students' safe haven before the chaos of classes.. One junior, Meryl Amaral, mentioned that, “It’s a calming place in the morning before school”. Sometimes, friends don’t have classes together; and the only time they have to talk is those precious 15 minutes before class. The library offers a quiet and focused environment where students can get a head start on their day. Amaral also mentioned, “If I have lingering homework that I didn't do, sometimes I’ll do that”. The library also has resources like computers and books that can help kids with assignments or engage them in a piece of literature. It also has printers that students can use if they don’t have one at home. The library is also a welcome space that allows kids to relax on cushioned chairs and couches before they’re forced to sit in stiff plastic seats for six hours. Starting the morning off in the NHS library sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. 

Hockey - Martina Gutiérrez

Morning workouts in a school setting are a great way to start the day off with energy. For students who play sports at school, getting up early and engaging in physical activity not only improves their athletic performance, but also fosters a disciplined routine that can benefit their academic and personal lives.

We interviewed two students that play girls varsity hockey who train at 5:40am every wednesday, Riley Freeman and Holly Sullivan, two juniors from nhs.

They were asked if this affects their studies. They both agreed that it doesn't, even sometimes helps. Holly said that:  “It is helpful to have before school so after school i can do homework an already have worked out but it does cut my tuesday night studying short because i have to wake up at 5:47am the next day”

They are really passionate about their sport, Riley has been doing the high school team since 8th grade but has been playing hockey her whole life.

Morning workouts in a school setting not only enhance athletic performance but also provide valuable benefits to students’ academic and personal routines. As shown by Riley Freeman and Holly Sullivan, students who commit to early training can still manage their studies effectively, using the extra time in the afternoon to focus on homework or other responsibilities.

These are just a few of the many ways that Newburyport High School students keep active before the 8:15am bell.