Did you know that when someone calls you to the office to go home, it’s students? Have you ever checked out a book from the library and noticed it was students behind the counter? Do you ever wonder why students are the ones always coming to your class, asking for someone to be sent to the office? These kids are all student monitors, assisting teachers and staff, not for money, but for a grade.

Each department chair is assigned a group of student monitors, who are then divided amongst the teachers and staff in the department. Librarian Ms. Torossian says that her monitors stock shelves, check in and check out books, and assist other students when it comes to using the computers.

Ms. Maria Diaz, in student services, says that her student aides sit at the front counter and greet and assist parents and other students. “They also assist in picking up students when we need them here,” she said. “Sometimes it can be very busy here and they are a big help.”

Students become monitors for different reasons. Senior Carl Rodriguez, who’s a monitor for both the library and counselor Dr. Insignares, says that he wanted to develop his professionalism.  “Being a monitor is good in the way that it teaches me many useful life skills,” he said.

Senior Gabriella Villanueva, who become a monitor during her junior year, said that she loves helping in the office.

Senior Tre Thompson, who monitors for English teacher Ms. Rodgers, became a monitor after completing the first semester Dual Enrollment Preparing Student Success course. He said that he likes being a monitor, not only because it’s a free period from schoolwork, but he also likes that he can be there to help one of his favorite teachers.

Being a monitor is not always as fun as relaxed as students want it to be. Gabriella said that being in the office for first period can be overwhelming because there are lots of students coming in late.

Senior Kelly Garcia, who’s a monitor for the attendance office, chose the class because she wanted a relaxed period, but she says, “There’s nothing free about it, especially during third block, when parents are always here picking up their kids.”

Tre Thompson warns students that having too many monitor classes on your schedule looks bad on college applications.

Not every student chooses to be a monitor, but they’re still given the class. This happened to senior Johnathan Sosa-Medina, a monitor for Dr. Insignares, who has made the best of the situation. He says that the bad thing is that everything is hands-on and that he sometimes has to walk around the whole school. “But the good thing about helping the counselor is that he’s conveniently there for me to ask questions about anything,” he said.

“Being a monitor is good in the way that it teaches me many useful life skills.” -Carl Rodriguez

“Sometimes it can be very busy here and they [student monitors] are a big help.” -Ms. Maria Diaz