SCSI, detention, referrals, missing grades, less time for assignments are some of the consequences students at Miami High face for tardiness.

Being to school on time can prepare students for success in the real world. Principal Mr. Valdes explained that punctuality for anything, builds a positive character, and will make you more responsible.

Junior Niurka Rodriguez said, “I would not depend on someone who comes late to everything, because it shows that person is not accountable.”  Andrea Maltes, a freshman who claims to arrive on time to any appointments, stated, “Being late to anything is disrespectful to the other person. This is because you are stealing their time, when they can be doing something else.”

Punctuality also has academic benefits. Freshman Michel Otero said, “Being on time doesn’t make me worry about getting punished, and I don’t stay behind in class.”

There are many reasons that students don’t arrive on time—from putting other things before school to having transportation issues. But those issues can be resolved.

Chemistry teacher Mr. Ceballos said, “Many of my students claim that they work till late hours and that they arrive late because they end up oversleeping. What I tell them is to find a different job where they would work less hours.”

Sophomore Bari Guerra said, “The main reason I come late is because the bus I catch is always arriving early or too late, and I end up missing it. I just need to wake up earlier and catch the earlier bus, even if I have to wait.”

Andrea Rodriguez, a senior who gets to school at 6:40A.M., claims, “I get everything ready the night before and I eat breakfast so that way I can have energy and be in the right mindset.”

Senior Maria Perez sets many alarms.

Angie Rubi, a junior, recommends early arrival to school. She said, “When one comes earlier, there are less chances of being late, while simply being on time, your chances for being late rise.”

Students who are chronically tardy face serious consequences. Junior Anisleivys Gil, who has been tardy a lot, claimed, “If you come late too often, then you will be given a contract. Then if you keep coming late, you will be called by one of the administrators that would deal with you.”

Jennysey Molina, a junior that was given a contract for exceeding the limit of 20 tardies, said, “Assistant Principal Mr. Arscott called me to his office where he took away my driving privileges due to the fact that I kept coming late while I was in a contract. Now, I have to be present to school for six weeks straight with no tardies if I want to get my license back.”

Many students are not aware how their lateness affects others in class. Sophomore Mauricio Lopez said, “When someone walks in class late, everyone stops their tasks and pays attention to the person, ignoring the teacher. I know students that start conversations every time someone walks in.”

Freshman Anthony Bardales explained that when students don’t arrive on time to class, others will follow their actions and more will end up arriving late.

A senior who wanted to remain anonymous said, “Teachers shouldn’t let students with unexcused late passes make up the opening routine. Opening routines should only be for students who come on time.”

Lacking time management at an early stage of a student’s life will affect him/her in the future. “If teens make unpunctuality a habit in school, most of the time, their brains will think it’s alright to be late for other things,” said Algebra 2 teacher Mr. Suarez, who believes that having great time management makes you more professional. Senior

Edison Fritz stated, “When I come late, I feel as if I’m not in the right mentality that day. I just don’t want to be that way when I get my future dream job; I would feel untrustworthy because I can’t depend on someone who can’t even arrive on time to school.”