Additional Reporting by Livia Kam ’26

Providing 15 minutes of relaxation from the bustling school day, the scheduled break period from 10:36 a.m. to 10:49 a.m. has benefited many MFS students and faculty since its inception in 2022. 

The addition of the break period was announced in August 2022 along with the new morning prep period, intending to improve student wellness by allowing juniors and seniors with two morning free periods to sleep in longer. Since then, many have also appreciated the benefits and conveniences associated with the break period, including opportunities to snack, socialize, and reset.

According to Susan Batastini, the Director of Wellness and Student Support, MFS is the only school in South Jersey that has a built-in 15-minute break during the morning hours. 

Upper School math teacher Katie LuBrant said the break period is a perfect time to “take care of any personal needs like the restroom,” while also providing an additional chance for her to meet with students.

Batastini explained that “especially when students work so hard, it’s important that students take time during that break to hydrate, get a snack, and organize themselves for the next classes.” 

“There are tremendous benefits,” she added. Beyond wellness advantages, Batastini described the break time as an “added cushion” that allows students to connect with teachers and to socialize with peers who may not share classes.

Jaya Lawrence-Gupta ’26 also appreciated the chance that the break provided to grab a bite at the Dining Hall Commons.

“It’s a good opportunity to get food, like if you were rushing out of the house that morning and didn’t get breakfast and want to get a snack or smaller meals,” said Lawrence-Gupta. 

Lawrence-Gupta highlighted the SAGE scones that are only offered during the break period. “It’s one of the few options from SAGE that are perfect.”

Many students choose to go to the Dining Hall Commons to get a snack or drink to refuel for the day. Other students hang around the Senior Benches to talk to their friends. 

Adrian Liang ’26 shared that he spends his break time playing games on his phone. “Sometimes I go to my next class early and sit there.”

Lucas Lu ’26 said that he often goes to the library to get work done or relax before heading to his next class.

In addition to keeping stomachs full, the break period at MFS also allows students and faculty to relax and unwind.

“[The break period] helps [students and teachers improve] mental health by just being able to decompress for a few minutes,” said health and PE teacher Michael Brunswick. It “adds to the energy in the class or focus in class for those last 2 periods before lunch.” He often sees students snacking during classes after the break period.

Batastini said the break is necessary for students’ well-being during their busy days. 

“US students have so much happening during lunch because a lot of times clubs are happening during that time, so students are going 100% even [during] their lunch break,” she explained.

Research supports that kids who start their day with a healthy breakfast are more ready to learn through better school attendance, class participation, and fewer visits to the nurse’s office.

“Our only ‘scheduled break’ is during lunch, which is from 10:36 [a.m.] to 11:26 [a.m.],” said Gwen Teske, a student from Lenape High School.

Iniya Malaikani, a student from Moorestown High School, shared a similar sentiment.

“We don’t [have a break period],” said Malaikani. “Our passing period is five minutes long.”

Overall, MFS’s break period effectively prepares the school community to continue a nurturing learning environment throughout the school day.

“I feel like we’re used to always doing something throughout the whole day, and [the break period] gives you a minute to take a deep breath and process to check in with yourself if anything happens in the day,” Lawrence-Gupta said.

Batastini added that the break also allows US students to prepare themselves for college. “When you look at colleges, you have [those] breaks in between your classes … giving [a 15-minute scheduled break period] to US students prepares them for college and how to take care of themselves in those short breaks of time.”

While supporting the break period, US English Teacher and Department Chair Dan Sussman recognized its downsides.

“The only way I would ever possibly consider supporting a proposal to get rid of the break is if there was a radical shift in passing time,” Sussman noted. “Ten minutes is maybe not enough time to go buy a scone and eat it, but it’s a lot of time compared to five. Obviously, it’s all a matter of trade-offs.”