Sabenah Abudu-Abrams
Brett Schlossberg ‘26 has had the longest week of his life and uses his free period to catch some z’s. School is not for the weak, but at least there is a break in his schedule from the stress. Sept. 19, 2025.
R-periods are an upperclassmen privilege that Woodward reminds students of daily. When students have this free period in the middle of the day, they have the perfect opportunity to get extra study time in or to finish an assignment before it’s due. By the time students reach junior or senior year, they often crave this additional time to study, socialize with friends and meet with teachers.
Mr. Hunter Smith is a history teacher in the Upper School who teaches classes such as AP Gov, and often encounters a variety of students who struggle to find time in the day to take a break.
“I feel like there’s great value in having some open periods in the day for students, whether it’s catching up on homework, whether it’s doing something due later, or reviewing for tests, that sort of thing, and I think there’s value in just having a break during the day,” Mr. Smith said.
As college rears its frightening head towards upperclassmen, it becomes harder to manage stress, so for many students, having a time in the day that can be dedicated to any subject is extremely helpful and convenient.
Madison Hay ‘26, who uses her R-period to chill and work, has a set list of teachers that she likes to visit during her free time.
“My stat teacher doesn’t have a class during my R period, so sometimes if I don’t understand the lesson, I’ll just go and see him,” Madison said.
The great thing about Woodward teachers is that they love their job and are willing to help students whenever they can.
“I have a few [students] that will come sometimes, they’ll ask ‘can I come and ask some questions,’” Mr. Smith said. “I have some that just come in here and sit during their free period, and then I also have some, particularly if they’ve missed a couple of days and they have a bunch of assessments they have to make up, they can come during their R-period which seems to be convenient for them and it’s convenient for me too.”
As long as students take initiative and ask if a teacher is available, spending an R-Period in a class can be similar to repeating a previous class, except that it’s just one student who can ask as many questions as they want.
In contrast to basic study halls, as long as a teacher is available and willing, students can go see them if they need some extra assistance outside of class. Aside from using R-periods to do work, the real excitement comes when the R-period falls first or last in the day. When students have their R-period as their first class, they tend to do one of three things: sleep an extra hour, go get food before class or study/meet a teacher for a core class.
“In the mornings, I like to go to get Chick-fil-A sometimes with my friends,” Madison said.
Food spots like Chick-fil-A or Starbucks are very popular among Woodward students, and it is the perfect way to spend some time before morning classes.
Krishna Gadde ‘26 is a senior who is as enriched in her academics as she is with her sleeping schedule.
“I like to come in late and have a nice long morning,” Krishna said. “I like to sleep in, and I like to get Starbucks.”
Whatever decision a student makes, they are free to come to school any time before the second class of the day.
When students have their R-period as the last class of the day, once they check themselves out at the front office, they are free to leave for the day. This is the best time to have a free period for most students; however, it becomes much more difficult to enjoy it when students play a sport and have practice after school. If students are lucky enough to be able to leave, they can either go home early or hang out with friends.
“[When my R-period is] last, I like to leave early and then sleep when I get home,” Krishna said.
Sleep is a very important part of a schedule, and having an extra dose of it can greatly benefit people in the long run. Whether students catch up on rest or catch up on some studying, having an R-period is a sign of responsibility because whatever students choose to do, they have the reins to make that decision.
“I mean, I’m sure there are students who spend their R-period doing things that are not academically related, but I also think that’s part of teaching, particularly as an upperclassman to learn how to manage your time,” Mr. Smith said.